“You are already partially1 aware of the means of communication which have been employed to advise us of your presence, and the deliverance of our daughters’ rescuers from their extreme peril2! Through the same source we have been advised of your daily progress for our relief, now happily consummated3. When the health of our families shall have ceased to tax your anxious care, we will then endeavor to make you sensible of our gratitude4 through the warmth of affectionate reciprocation5. For the present we will ask you to assume the responsibility of your own entertainment, for we are utterly6 powerless for the fulfillment of that duty so inseparably imposed by our obligations. But with our energies restored we shall claim the gratification of reassuming the privileges of our natural charge. Until this sum total of our past indebtedness shall have been fulfilled, please accept the keys of our city in token of our submission7 to your direction?”
In reply to this tender, M. Hollydorf said, “We will accept the keys, but only in the light of a necessary facility to render our sympathetic aid more readily effectual, and will certainly feel more sincere gratification when your own, and the health of your associate citizens, will admit of their restoration. 101Until then we shall rely upon your advice for direction, for we have already learned to prize its transmitted agency beyond measure, as it exceeds the power of material recompense.” Then taking the pr?tor’s hands, he continued with glowing warmth and tearful emotions: “Indeed we feel assured, beyond the possibility of selfish reflection, that in preserving your people, we have acted as agents for the opening of a way through which the children of our race may exalt8 themselves above the gregarious9 instincts of animality. We have already realized premonitory emotions, which bespeak10 an assured glimpse of immortality11, albeit12 our habits and customs intrude13 their practiced grossness to mar14 the beatific15 visions inspired from the influence of your exampled reflection.”
Here the tremulous cadences16 of a p?an hymn17 caused the pr?tor to beckon18 us beyond the threshold, and from thence we saw gathered in groups, before the portals of each door, the residents uniting in the choral anthem19 of thanksgiving to the Creator for blessings20 vouchsafed21 with deliverance. At its close, we were apprised22 that it was their morning and evening custom to offer grateful salutations of praise with the rising and declining sun. Then, in the fullness of their grateful joy, they left to engage in the nursing avocations23 of the day.
After their departure we engaged in preparation for our first hunting expedition; when nearly ready the mayorong appeared accompanied by three Indians whose bearing proclaimed them upland chiefs. With their introduction, he stated that they had visited him while he was attending the wounded of their tribe in the temple of the grove24; and as they evinced kindly25 emotions while endeavoring to make him understand the chief object of their visit, he followed them to the margin26 of the wooded growth, and he there beheld27 a train of horses loaded with 102panniers containing a plentiful28 supply of grain, so much needed by the famishing Heracleans. “Unable to withhold29 the elation30 of joyful31 surprise I embraced them, and could not resist the pleasure of bringing them to receive your personal acknowledgments for their timely supply of food.” The pr?tor and tribunes, having been informed of the Betonges chiefs’ introduction into the city by the mayorong, with the supply of food they had brought as a voluntary peace offering, hastened first to the hospitium, and then to the quarters of the corps32 to give them a fitting reception. To the surprise of all, Correliana, who accompanied her father, addressed the chiefs in their own language, with expressions of such grateful warmth that the eyes of the savages33 became tremulous with tokens foreshadowing the impressions of a moisture as nourishing to unselfish sympathy as dew to plants. When these exotic emotions had subsided35, the Indians in turn tersely36 expressed their regrets for the unmerited sufferings their tribes had caused from the remote acts committed by the old Heracleans, who paid the penalty of death for their oppressions.
Correliana, in explication of what appeared mysterious in her ready use of the Betongese idiom of the Quichua language, said that she had learned it from children taken from the Indian villages, and adopted as hostages to be educated with those of Heraclea. “You have been puzzled,” she continued, “with many mysterious passages since our first introduction, which have appeared more unaccountable to reasonable suggestion than this, still in due time they will be as readily solved.” After a lengthened37 conversation with the Indian deputation, Correliana proposed that the gates of the cinctus wall should thereafter be left open for the free ingress and egress38 of their Indian allies, in trustful confidence as leal as though mutual39 faith had been kept from the beginning.
Mr. Welson suggestingly asked, if the river Indians, 103or in more truthful40 expression, the reptile41 savages, would not avail themselves of this open invitation to wreak42 their poisonous vengeance43? To which Correliana smilingly replied: “Our benefactors44 have informed me that the river Indians, when in dismayed flight from their repulse45, met the old chief who had been retained as a prisoner on board of the Tortuga. Holding them in check while he described the power you had exercised over him, and one of your own kind, he urged that any further attempt against the city would result as in the battle they had just fought. His collar investment was, in their panic, a sufficient verification of authority, and although a victim to your sorceries they proclaimed him an embogator, or prophet itinerator of the tribes. His description of the effects you produced upon him, conjoined with the padre’s fears, has established your reputation as a magician capable of filling their bodies with tormenting47 scrouls, or demons48; this increased their panic, causing the tribe to disperse49 in all haste to their swamp feudalities. We are fully50 assured from the Betongese recital,—and they are not altogether free from the fear you have inspired,—that your presence will prove ample security for their absence from the highland51 valleys, as well as a protection to the Tortuga on her downward passage. In pledge of their fidelity52, the Betongese have volunteered an escort for the Kyronese remaining at the anchorage of the Tortuga.”
After the chiefs had partaken of food prepared by the Kyronese matrons, they were escorted without the cinctus gates, by all within the city able to walk. When the gate keepers, Jack53 and Bill, were notified that from thenceforward the gates were to be left unclosed, they fired a salvo of a single discharge, then limbering up the howitzer stowed it, with munitions54, in the keep of the gate tower; but asked permission to retain their quarters, with the more than probable 104inducement of having their rations55 brought and dispensed56 by two Kyronese maidens57, with whom they had been on “signal” terms from the day of their rescue.
Cleorita, after the Indians’ departure, expressed to Correliana the hope that her grandfather had not been by her judged over-presuming in caring for the wounded Indians, or bold in assuming the responsibility of introducing the Indian chiefs into the city? “For with truth, he says,”—she urged, “he would not have hazarded the venture, if he had not felt certain that they were trustworthy. Indeed we have seen many worse who have been grateful for kindness!”
“Say to your grandfather,” returned Correliana, “that we justly merit the punishment he has inflicted58, and I feel more sincerely indebted to him for the last service than the first. I will own frankly59 in self-reprobation, with the belief that the self-reproof includes all except your own kindred, that my thoughts were altogether diverted from the possible sufferings of our wounded foes60; and I will not pretend to assume even the merit of feeling sufficient solicitude61 to inquire whether any were injured.”
The mayorong, who, with Mr. Welson, had overheard this plea of his granddaughter in his behalf, and understood its import, said to Cleorita, “you have spoken according to my desire, but you must not forget that the members of the corps were fewer in numbers than ourselves, and were expected as the sponsors of the expedition to present themselves for the relief of the famished63 citizens, so we each acted the parts of our allotment.”
But Mr. Welson expostulated: “You need not attempt to say anything in our extenuation64, for we turned a deaf ear to the groans65 of the wounded, and passed them with as much indifference66 as we left the severed67 serpent. Now that we have seen the effects 105of your unselfish sympathy, we cannot withhold from ourselves the fact that you are the real deliverer of Heraclea. You have merited and will receive the untutored homage68 of the Indians.”
“You forget,” replied Cleorita, prompted by her grandfather, “the eminent69 services of the most favored of the magicians, who has controlled the savage34 ‘instincts’ of the river Indians?” With Correliana’s asservation, that the Heracleans were so universally indebted to the united members of the corps, and its adjuncts, the personal distinction of preference was resolved into the grades of adaptation for the parts enacted70, they separated, with mutual congratulations, to engage in the allotted71 avocations of the day.
In view of their peaceful prospects72, enhanced with food bestowed73 by their late foes, the Heracleans recovered rapidly from the pestilential flux74, so that in a few weeks they were able to enjoy the liberty of the open country, and enter upon the re?njoyment of the boon75 of self dependence76. The households enlivened by their reappearance, assumed the renovated77 impression of a happy vitality78 breathing outward for the kindred invocation of reciprocal goodwill79. Correliana, with renewed vivacity80 and mysterious facility, had conjured81 the ability for conducting her own correspondence with Captain Greenwood in English, also for ready communication with the members of the corps. Her Kyronese companions, Cleorita and Oviata, had with her revived a speaking impression of the language derived82 from their father.
On the morning of the 7th of October, after the journey had been prolonged far beyond the time set for its accomplishment83, from the grateful desire of the valley Indians to honor the people of the mayorong, the Kyronese remainder arrived under the conduct of Abdul, his grandson, and padre Simon. Their reunion and reception was joyful in the extreme. The compendic ejaculation of the padre, in sanction of the 106corps’ expressions of happy satisfaction, will prove ample for the exposition of the prevailing84 impressions of renewed goodwill. “By my soul’s salvation,” he exclaimed, “I have by the same tokens come to a belike conclusion! For surely I would have as soon thought to see the lion and lamb lay down peaceably together, as to have been entertained as I have been by these same Indians. It was so unnatural85, for you know the delegations86 from the tribes brought on to Washington are exhibited as specimens87 of wild beasts indigenous88 to the soil? But I can tell you, I never was treated more kindly in my life, bating I could not speak their language, nor they mine.”
Mr. Welson inquired, whether in the item schedule of good treatment they asked him to take something, or smoke a weed? The padre happily averred89, with a blush, that he had neither tasted of spirit or tobacco since his departure from the Tortuga. In testimony90 of the improvement from his abstinence all bore witness.
“But,” asked Mr. Welson, “had you no fear of being bitten again?”
The padre smilingly expostulated, “I see that you have not left off all your bad habits, yet, notwithstanding the good example of the Heracleans! Why not let bygones be bygones? My own thoughts are a sufficient torment46, without having my friends poke62 fun at my lameness91.”
“It is from no ill intention that we keep the crutch92 in view, but rather to prevent the necessity of its future use,” suggested Mr. Welson. The padre closed the sally port of banter93, by quoting the saw, “Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.”
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1
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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consummated
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| v.使结束( consummate的过去式和过去分词 )；使完美；完婚；（婚礼后的）圆房 | |
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4
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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reciprocation
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| n.互换 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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7
submission
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| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
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8
exalt
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| v.赞扬，歌颂，晋升，提升 | |
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9
gregarious
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| adj.群居的，喜好群居的 | |
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bespeak
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| v.预定；预先请求 | |
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immortality
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| n.不死，不朽 | |
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albeit
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| conj.即使；纵使；虽然 | |
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intrude
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| vi.闯入；侵入；打扰，侵扰 | |
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mar
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| vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟 | |
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15
beatific
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| adj.快乐的，有福的 | |
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16
cadences
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| n.（声音的）抑扬顿挫( cadence的名词复数 )；节奏；韵律；调子 | |
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17
hymn
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌 | |
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18
beckon
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| v.(以点头或打手势)向...示意，召唤 | |
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anthem
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| n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌 | |
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20
blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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21
vouchsafed
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| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
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22
apprised
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| v.告知，通知( apprise的过去式和过去分词 )；评价 | |
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23
avocations
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| n.业余爱好，嗜好( avocation的名词复数 )；职业 | |
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24
grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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25
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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27
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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28
plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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withhold
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| v.拒绝，不给；使停止，阻挡 | |
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30
elation
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| n.兴高采烈，洋洋得意 | |
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31
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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32
corps
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| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
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33
savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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34
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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35
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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36
tersely
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| adv. 简捷地, 简要地 | |
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lengthened
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| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
egress
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| n.出去；出口 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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40
truthful
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| adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的 | |
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41
reptile
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| n.爬行动物；两栖动物 | |
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42
wreak
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| v.发泄；报复 | |
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43
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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44
benefactors
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| n.捐助者，施主( benefactor的名词复数 )；恩人 | |
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45
repulse
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| n.击退，拒绝；vt.逐退，击退，拒绝 | |
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46
torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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47
tormenting
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| 使痛苦的，使苦恼的 | |
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48
demons
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| n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念 | |
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49
disperse
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| vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散 | |
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50
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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51
highland
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| n.(pl.)高地，山地 | |
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52
fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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53
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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54
munitions
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| n.军火，弹药；v.供应…军需品 | |
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55
rations
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| 定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量 | |
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56
dispensed
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| v.分配( dispense的过去式和过去分词 )；施与；配（药） | |
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57
maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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58
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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60
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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61
solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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62
poke
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| n.刺，戳，袋；vt.拨开，刺，戳；vi.戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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63
famished
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| adj.饥饿的 | |
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64
extenuation
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| n.减轻罪孽的借口；酌情减轻；细 | |
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65
groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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66
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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67
severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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68
homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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69
eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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70
enacted
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| 制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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72
prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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73
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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74
flux
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| n.流动；不断的改变 | |
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75
boon
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| n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠 | |
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76
dependence
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| n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属 | |
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77
renovated
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| 翻新，修复，整修( renovate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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78
vitality
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| n.活力，生命力，效力 | |
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79
goodwill
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| n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉 | |
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80
vivacity
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| n.快活，活泼，精神充沛 | |
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81
conjured
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| 用魔术变出( conjure的过去式和过去分词 )； 祈求，恳求； 变戏法； （变魔术般地） 使…出现 | |
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82
derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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83
accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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84
prevailing
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| adj.盛行的；占优势的；主要的 | |
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85
unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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86
delegations
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| n.代表团( delegation的名词复数 )；委托，委派 | |
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87
specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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88
indigenous
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| adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的 | |
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89
averred
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| v.断言( aver的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；证明…属实；作为事实提出 | |
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90
testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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91
lameness
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| n. 跛, 瘸, 残废 | |
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92
crutch
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| n.T字形拐杖；支持，依靠，精神支柱 | |
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93
banter
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| n.嘲弄，戏谑；v.取笑，逗弄，开玩笑 | |
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