Victor Shelton allowed his brother to lead him away from his threatening pose in front of the chieftain of the red men. He saw the rashness of his last act, and hoped the leader would overlook it. And Black Elk not only did that, but he did more. He deliberately9 strode across to Victor, offered his hand, and said something, which Mul-tal-la interpreted:
“He says my brother is a brave youth; he is the master of his sons; he would be glad to adopt you and have you live with him as the one who, when he dies, shall become the leading chief of his tribe, which numbers many hundred warriors10.
“Great C?sar!” exclaimed the astonished Victor. “Give him my thanks, but tell him the thing can’t be thought of.”
Black Elk was so pleased with the boys that he still urged Mul-tal-la to go with them to his village and stay for a long time. The Blackfoot finally convinced the chief that being on his return to his own home, from which he had been absent many moons, it would not do to linger on the road. He had sad news to carry to his people and to the relatives of the companion who had met his death in the East. He would be blamed if he delayed in bearing the sorrowful message to them.
So finally the two parties separated. Black Elk shook hands with each of the three, and the grim warriors came forward and did the same. Then the Shoshones passed down the slope and headed toward the rocks on the other side of the valley, where George and Victor Shelton first caught sight of them.
The horses being ready, our friends mounted and started forward again. Their course was a little to the east of the range through which they would soon have to force their way in order to reach the Blackfoot country. Mul-tal-la explained that he had a pass in mind, which was a day’s ride away, and probably would not be entered before the following morning. It will be remembered that our friends had partaken of no food since the previous evening. None referred to it, for they could well wait until the middle or, if necessary, until the close of the day.
The weather continued favorable. Summer had come, and in the lower portions of the country the heat at midday was often oppressive. Mosquitoes had begun to annoy the travelers, who might count upon being plagued by them for the rest of their journey. These pests are more unbearable11 in cold regions, during the brief summer season, than in the temperate12 regions of a country.
The sun shone clear and strong, but the three were already upon elevated ground, and the nearness of the mountains doubtless helped to cool the air. At intervals13 they came upon the interesting creatures peculiar14 to the West and known as prairie dogs, their dwellings15 consisting of holes burrowed16 in the ground, often covering acres in extent, beside which the little animals would sit and gaze at the horsemen as they filed past. Sometimes they emitted queer whistling noises, and, upon observing anything suspicious on the part of the travelers, whisked into these openings and vanished in a twinkling. Then they could be seen peeping out, and, when the seeming danger had passed, they clambered back to their posts, as lively and watchful17 as ever. To-day the prairie dogs have become so harmful to agriculture in some parts of the West that the problem of extirpating18 them is under consideration and is a serious one.
The Blackfoot as usual kept his place at the front, while the brothers rode side by side, talking when disposed, and sometimes going for miles without exchanging more than a few sentences. This conversation revealed the fact that both did not feel entirely19 at ease regarding Black Elk and his Shoshones. At the time of which I am writing this tribe numbered more than five thousand people, and was one of the most important in the West. Their main villages lay to the westward20 of the Rocky Mountain range, about the headwaters of the stream now known as South Fork of the Lewis River. With so many warriors, it was not strange that some of their hunting parties often came through the passes in the Rockies and roamed over the level country on the east. Since they were generally provided with horses, it seemed singular that Black Elk and his companions were on foot. Mul-tal-la said beyond a doubt all owned animals, which were at no great distance.
When the Blackfoot was told by the boys of their fears, they were surprised to find that he shared them, though not to the same extent. He explained that for some time to come the chieftain’s principal emotion would be that of exasperation against his sons for the sorry showing they had made against the two white youths. They were sure to receive punishment at his hand for running away that would last them a lifetime.
But after the first burst of passion was over, Black Elk would begin to think of the two white lads that had brought this disgrace upon the royal household, and, as he mused21, his resentment22 would kindle23 toward them. All the Indians not unnaturally24 looked upon every white man as an intruder. Though history shows that the aborigines welcomed their visitors, yet the action of the latter was so cruel that the friendship of the red men was turned to enmity. Thus most of the trappers and hunters who ventured into the West and Northwest took their lives in their hands, and many never came back from the wild solitudes25. The story of the settlement of our country is a continuous one of outrage26 and massacre27, in which the fault lay almost always at the door of the palefaces.
Black Elk could not fail to feel resentful over the fact that the disgrace of his sons had been inflicted28 by members of that hated race. It was quite likely, therefore, that, repenting29 the magnanimity he had shown, he would try to visit his vengeance30 upon the two youths while they were yet within reach.
The duty of our friends, therefore, was plain: they must lose no time in hurrying beyond danger. When Mul-tal-la was asked what the result would have been had the apparently31 honest invitation of Black Elk been accepted, the Blackfoot smiled.
“My brothers would have been treated well for a time, but they would not have lived long.”
“How would it have been with you?” asked George.
“Mul-tal-la did not hurt Young Elk or the Antelope32; his skin is of the same color as Black Elk’s. They are brothers.”
This was another way of saying the Blackfoot had nothing to fear from the Shoshones. It was the boys who were in peril33.
Victor more than once was tempted34 to ask their companion the cause of his absence the night before, but refrained after speaking to George, who told him if Mul-tal-la wished he would give the information without questioning. If he did not, it was not tactful to bother him.
The boys noted35 that the Blackfoot, from his place in front, occasionally turned his head and scanned the horizon, especially to the south and west.
“That means that he doesn’t believe we are through with the Shoshones,” said Victor, when his brother commented upon the action.
“If they intend any harm, I don’t see why they don’t follow us, without trying to hide from our sight. We can’t travel fast, and they wouldn’t have any trouble in overtaking us before we went many miles.”
“That isn’t the Indian fashion of doing business.”
Inasmuch as Mul-tal-la showed no such interest in studying the country they were leaving behind them, George frequently brought his spyglass into play. Whenever they reached an elevation36, though of slight extent, he directed the instrument toward the points which he saw were passing under the scrutiny37 of their guide. The most careful study, sometimes shared with Victor, failed to reveal anything of a disturbing nature. It was well to be on guard, but it looked as if the Blackfoot was unduly38 suspicious.
The surface of the country became more broken, for the two were gradually entering the foothill region of that mighty39 range which extends over many degrees of the American continent. The air remained clear and sharp, different species of wood were met, and it was not yet noon when they halted beside one of the numerous small streams which issued from the mountains, and, frolicking and tumbling eastward40, finally found its way into the Missouri and so on to the Gulf41.
The water was crystalline and cold. The horses drank from it, for it was not imprudent to permit them to do so, since their gait had been moderate and they were neither too warm nor too tired. The draught42 was refreshing43 to the boys and the Blackfoot. The latter told them that if they would start a fire he would try to woo a meal from the brook44, which contained numerous deep pools and abounded45 with eddies46, where fish were sure to be found.
George and Victor set to work with animation47. From the stunted48 pines they broke off dry twigs49 and fractured larger limbs into pieces until something of a pile was gathered and heaped up against a small boulder50. It took some time to make the flame catch from the steel and tinder, but both had had a good deal of experience in kindling51 a fire in difficulties, and they succeeded in starting a blaze of no mean size.
Mul-tal-la was ready, and appeared with three fish, weighing two or three pounds apiece. They resembled salmon-trout, but were not. However, there was no doubt they would make an excellent meal, and it did not take our friends long to prepare it. As you remember, the boys had brought considerable seasoning52 in the form of salt and pepper, and they made sparing use of them. The Blackfoot, like the rest of his people, did not know the use of condiments53 in preparing his food. It would have mattered little to him had he been forced to eat his fish raw, but he had learned to show deference54 to the tastes of Deerfoot and other civilized55 persons, and often affected56 a fastidiousness which was foreign to him.
When the midday meal was finished Mul-tal-la borrowed the glass from George Shelton, and walking a hundred paces or so to the westward, climbed a rock and pointed57 the instrument to the south and west. He held his erect58 posture59 so long, with the instrument immovable, that the boys, who were watching him, were sure he had made the discovery for which he had groped so long and hoped not to make.
Such was the fact. Some five or six miles to the southwest he descried60 a finger of smoke climbing into the clear air, and showing distinctly against the blue sky, near the foothills. Such a sight was so common and so natural in that part of the world that it would not have caused the Blackfoot any unrest had he not noted a new and disquieting61 feature. The line of vapor62 did not climb the sky, as such lighter63 substance naturally does, but its course was sinuous64 and waving, like a ribbon held by one end and shaken out.
This proved that it was meant as a signal by those who had kindled65 the fire. That thin, vibratory line of smoke was a message sent for miles across the wild country, and the wireless66 telegram carried an important meaning. Who was sending it?
“Black Elk, the Shoshone chieftain,” was the instant answer which presented itself to the Blackfoot. Did it bear any relation to the red man and his white companions? Undoubtedly67 it did in the estimation of Mul-tal-la.
To whom was the message sent?
That question remained to be answered. Of course it could not be meant for Mul-tal-la and his young friends, for there was no conceivable cause for any signal of that nature. It followed, therefore, that the oscillating line of vapor was intended for other Shoshones who were in the neighborhood.
Accordingly, Mul-tal-la now began scrutinizing68 with the utmost care every other portion of the landscape within his field of vision. To the east and south the view extended for a long distance, but was shortened by the towering mountains to the west and northwest. Somewhere among these rugged69 masses must be the other wandering Shoshones, and, sooner or later, they were sure to catch sight of the signal fire, because it was too conspicuous70 to remain hidden for any length of time.
If the signal was seen by those for whom it was intended, they would reply much in the same manner, for the peculiar code does not admit of much variation. Perhaps the most that it could tell would be that the notice had been seen and understood. The party of the second part would then proceed to act.
Again and again the Blackfoot’s eye ranged over his field of vision, but at the end of an hour no new discovery had rewarded his efforts.
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1
elk
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| n.麋鹿 | |
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discomfiture
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| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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exasperation
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| n.愤慨 | |
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overthrow
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| v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆 | |
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cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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cardinal
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| n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的 | |
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8
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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10
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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11
unbearable
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| adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的 | |
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temperate
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| adj.温和的，温带的，自我克制的，不过分的 | |
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13
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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14
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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15
dwellings
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| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
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16
burrowed
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| v.挖掘（洞穴），挖洞( burrow的过去式和过去分词 )；翻寻 | |
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watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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extirpating
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| v.消灭，灭绝( extirpate的现在分词 )；根除 | |
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19
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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21
mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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22
resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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kindle
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| v.点燃，着火 | |
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24
unnaturally
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| adv.违反习俗地；不自然地；勉强地；不近人情地 | |
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25
solitudes
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| n.独居( solitude的名词复数 )；孤独；荒僻的地方；人迹罕至的地方 | |
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26
outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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massacre
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| n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀 | |
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28
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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29
repenting
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的现在分词 ) | |
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30
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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31
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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32
antelope
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| n.羚羊；羚羊皮 | |
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33
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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36
elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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unduly
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| adv.过度地，不适当地 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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40
eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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41
gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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42
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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43
refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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44
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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45
abounded
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| v.大量存在，充满，富于( abound的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
eddies
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| （水、烟等的）漩涡，涡流( eddy的名词复数 ) | |
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47
animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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48
stunted
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| adj.矮小的；发育迟缓的 | |
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49
twigs
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| 细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
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50
boulder
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| n.巨砾；卵石，圆石 | |
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51
kindling
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| n. 点火, 可燃物 动词kindle的现在分词形式 | |
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52
seasoning
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| n.调味；调味料；增添趣味之物 | |
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53
condiments
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| n.调味品 | |
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54
deference
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| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
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55
civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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60
descried
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| adj.被注意到的，被发现的，被看到的 | |
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61
disquieting
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| adj.令人不安的，令人不平静的v.使不安，使忧虑，使烦恼( disquiet的现在分词 ) | |
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vapor
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| n.蒸汽，雾气 | |
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lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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sinuous
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| adj.蜿蜒的，迂回的 | |
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65
kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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66
wireless
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| adj.无线的；n.无线电 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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scrutinizing
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的现在分词 ) | |
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rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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