Possessing a remarkable1 memory of places, he easily recalled the location of the pass which he and his companions had used when on their journey eastward2. Naturally he planned to utilize3 it again on his return with his three friends. He did not forget that during his visit to Black Elk4, on the former occasion, he had described the route by which he crossed the formidable mountain range. The Shoshone chieftain praised his skill and wisdom in making use of the pass, which he himself had traversed more than once.
It followed, therefore, that Black Elk would expect his old acquaintance to guide the youths over the same course. He had therefore signaled to the Shoshones in the mountains to cut off the little party, and the most promising5 place for that was in the pass which was familiar to both. Consequently, the prudent6 thing for Mul-tal-la to do was to mislead Black Elk as to his time of entering the pass.
It has been said that the entrance could be reached by the close of the afternoon, but the first intention of the Blackfoot was to camp at this entrance until the following morning, arranging to make the passage by daylight. You must not form the idea that when a mountain pass is referred to, it is in the nature of a road which can be followed without trouble and that few difficulties are met. The great South Pass through the Rockies is twenty miles wide in many places, and a party of emigrants7 have often entered and tramped it for a long way before learning they were journeying over an old route that has been used by thousands of persons in crossing the plains.
A mountain pass as understood in the West may be described as a means of getting across or through a range. It often involves steep climbing and descent, winding8 past wild and dangerous precipices9, with the hardest work conceivable. It requires several days and sometimes a week or more to traverse. It has happened that a party, after penetrating10 to a long distance, has discovered that they have been following a blind path, and they are obliged to turn back and hunt for a new one. The most experienced mountaineers sometimes go astray. On one of Fremont’s exploring expeditions his guide lost his way and the most disastrous11 results followed. Many of the hardiest12 scouts13 and all of the mules14 froze to death, and the explorer himself had a narrow escape from a similar fate.
It would have been impossible for the two Blackfeet to find their way through the range had they been forced to depend upon themselves, but the trail had been used for years by hunters and wild animals, and was so clearly marked that, traveling only by daylight, it was easy to avoid going wrong.
Mul-tal-la explained the problem that confronted him, and the boys saw it was both difficult and dangerous. His plan was to press on till they arrived at the entrance to the pass, and then, instead of waiting until morning, do the utmost traveling possible by night. The Shoshones would not expect this. Therefore, if all went well, our friends would gain a good start and, by keeping it up as long as they could, might throw their enemies so far to the rear that they would be eluded16. The Blackfoot thought they could reach the comparatively level country beyond at the end of three days, provided they made good use of the nights, which, you will remember, were partly lit by the moon, and provided also the weather continued fair.
“The smoke of this fire will tell Black Elk where we are,” remarked George Shelton, when they were about to resume their journey.
“Yes; had Mul-tal-la seen the signal of Black Elk the fire would not have been started, but it is too late now.”
“It seems to me,” said Victor, “that since you have located Black Elk and his party, the only thing left is to keep a lookout17 for the Shoshones in front.”
“My brother speaks the words of wisdom.”
“Thanks—and now, Mul-tal-la, why not go by that pass you have been talking about and take a new one through the mountains?”
The Blackfoot explained that that was the question he had been turning over in his mind, but the plan could not be followed, because he had no knowledge of any other path. There might be none, or, at best, he would have to spend a long time in hunting for it, and when found, they were likely to be turned back by obstructions18 of which they could know nothing until they faced them. The conclusion was therefore clear: they must use the old pass with which he was familiar.
But the Blackfoot had a little trick in mind, which he explained to his friends. They would select a camping site among the foothills near where they would have to make the change of route to enter the mountains. They would start another fire, whose smoke would give their enemies the impression that they had halted for the night. The Shoshones, following the rule of their race, were not likely to molest19 the travelers until the night was well advanced, and by that time Mul-tal-la hoped to be beyond reach. Care and skill and not a little good fortune were necessary to success, but the faithful guide was hopeful.
It took only a fraction of the time I have used for a full understanding to be reached by the Blackfoot and the boys. At the request of George Shelton, their friend retained the spyglass, while he and his brother depended upon their unaided eyesight. Mul-tal-la held his position a hundred yards, more or less, in advance, with the laden20 Zigzag21 plodding22 after and the brothers bringing up the rear. All were fortunate in one respect: none of the animals—omitting the previous accident to the horse Simon and later to Whirlwind—had fallen lame23. This was fortunate when it is remembered that all were unshod and they had been obliged to pass more than one rough place. This good fortune could hardly be expected to continue, now that the hardest part of the journey thus far confronted them.
The course wound among the elevations24 and depressions, past boulders25 and rocks, with grass, trees and undergrowth continually obtruding26, and with the rugged27 outlines of the mountains towering above the cloud line on their left. At varying distances the great peaks climbed far into the sky, their crests28 white with snow, and in some cases the fleecy clouds wrapped them about so closely that it was hard to tell where one ended and the other began.
Now and then a breath of icy air was wafted29 over the lads, and they involuntarily shivered. Then in the soft hush30 the weather for a time became oppressive. Up and down, to the right and left, in and out, the three pushed onward31, making better progress than at any time for weeks before.
The guide gave the boys no attention, for none was necessary. They understood matters, and the part they had to play was simple. The Blackfoot could be seen now and then to check his horse and lift the instrument to his eye. While he gave his chief attention to the front, he did not neglect to scan every portion of his field of vision.
One fact puzzled the Blackfoot. Hours had passed since Black Elk sent his signal across the miles of country, but the reply, so far as Mul-tal-la could discover, was yet to be given. It could hardly be done without his seeing it. The fact that nothing showed suggested the possibility of there being no Shoshones in that section to answer the command of their chief. Such might be the fact, but it was unlikely that a veteran like Black Elk would call to any of his warriors33 unless he knew they would respond. Mul-tal-la acted as if such a contingency34 was out of the question.
The sunlight was still in the air when the Blackfoot reined35 in his horse and dropped from his back. They were in a rough, broken section, filled with rocks, undergrowth, stunted37 pines, oaks and other varieties of trees, while a small brook38 brawled39 and splashed and tumbled some distance away in its eager hunt for a channel to the Platte.
“It looks as if we are done for the day,” said George, noting the action of their friend. “If we are, we have made better time than we expected.”
The Blackfoot beckoned40 them to approach, and they rode up beside him.
“Here we wait till night,” he explained. “When we turn yonder we begin to travel over the trail that will bring us into the open country on the other side of the mountains—if Black Elk does not say no,” he added, with his meaning grin.
“You have seen nothing of the answer to his signal?” asked George.
“No; the sky in front and over the mountains is clear”——
“How about that?” broke in Victor, pointing to the westward41, in which direction the pass extended.
The others turned and saw that which they had been hoping not to see. A spiral, oscillating line of smoke was creeping slowly upward in the clear air. Moreover, it was not more than half a mile distant. Although the reply of the Shoshones to their chief had been delayed, it had come at last. The warriors were on hand, and in the path which the travelers had intended to follow.
The three scanned the telltale column of vapor42 in silence. In the circumstances the glass could give no help. The interval43 was too brief and the object itself too ethereal and vague to call for any strengthening of vision. Finally George asked, involuntarily dropping his voice, as one does in the presence of danger:
“Will that change your plans, Mul-tal-la?”
He thought for a minute, with his eyes still on the smoke, before answering.
“Mul-tal-la cannot speak of a surety, but he does not think so.”
As he explained matters from his point of view, the former course that he had indicated remained the right one to follow. The discovery simply added another element of danger to that which was there from the first. By kindling44 the fire where they had halted, they would give the impression that they had gone into camp for the night. This subterfuge45 ought to lure46 the Shoshones to the place in order to make their attack during the darkness.
The situation could not have been more delicate. To carry out the plan of the Blackfoot it was necessary for him and his companions to set out over the pass as soon as it became dark. They would thus be going directly toward the hostiles, who, in case they did not wait until a late hour, would be coming at the same time toward the travelers. Using the one road, it would seem that an encounter was inevitable47.
The hope of averting48 such a meeting rested on the fact that the pass was of varying width, and in many places two or three routes were open. Two men following opposite directions might miss each other by a half-mile interval, and without the possibility of mutual49 discovery. Again there were stretches where they would have to come face to face. A not important advantage of our friends was that they would be expecting—and would, therefore, be on the lookout for—the Shoshones, while it was not likely the latter would be watching for the Blackfoot and the boys, who were supposed to be at the entrance to the pass, where the smoke of their camp-fire spoke50 of their presence.
A vigorous blaze having been started, Mul-tal-la took the lead as before. It was understood that he was to hold his place considerably51 farther in advance than usual. Upon the first sign of their enemies he would warn them by signal, when they could conceal52 themselves, if possible, until the hostiles passed down the trail to the supposed camp. If this could be accomplished53, the danger would be past and the problem solved. Everything depended upon the skill of the Blackfoot.
Night had begun closing in when the start was made in the order named, excepting that Mul-tal-la, as has been stated, led by a longer interval, and Victor Shelton was at the extreme rear. The guide was invisible to the boys most of the time.
The trail steadily54 ascended55, and for an hour or more was easy traveling. It wound to the right or left, passing into deep hollows, climbing steep ridges56, circling obstructions in the form of massive piles of rocks, but without interposing any difficult places where it was necessary to halt or grope one’s way.
The little company had penetrated57 more than a mile in this manner without hearing or seeing anything to cause alarm. Mul-tal-la was beyond sight, but the boys, George leading, were silent, listening and peering into the gloom, which, as yet, was unlighted by the moon. That would not rise for some time to come.
Suddenly a soft tremulous whistle came from the front. This was the signal agreed upon, and the brothers instantly halted. Zigzag was so well trained that he did the same. It had been deemed best to place him between Jack58 and Prince, so as to hem15 him in, as may be said.
Fortunately the check came at a favorable point. The rocks and undergrowth on the right offered a good place for hiding, and George Shelton, slipping from his saddle, grasped the bridle59 rein36 of his horse and forced him to one side. The animal stumbled, but a few steps took him far enough. Leaving him, George dashed back to Zigzag, and with harder work almost dragged him after Jack. Victor was on the ground almost as soon as his brother, so that the boys and three horses were speedily bunched together, beyond sight of anyone passing over the trail unless his attention was drawn60 to them.
Quick as they had been the precaution was not a minute too soon. Mul-tal-la must have failed to discover his peril61 until it was almost upon him.
The first warning was a singular one. A sneeze sounded, followed by a guttural exclamation62, and the next moment the crouching63 lads saw the dim outlines of a warrior32 striding stealthily over the pass to the eastward. He was moving slowly, with head thrust forward, and carried a long bow in his hand. Before he passed out of sight a second loomed64 to view, then a third, a fourth and a fifth—all gliding65 like so many phantoms66 of the night, and doubtless making for the supposed camp of the travelers a mile or more away.
Stooping low and silently watching the shadows, the brothers were beginning to breathe freely when, to their consternation67, Zigzag emitted a whinny which, in the stillness, could have been heard half a mile away.
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1
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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3
utilize
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| vt.使用，利用 | |
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elk
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| n.麋鹿 | |
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promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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6
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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7
emigrants
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| n.（从本国移往他国的）移民( emigrant的名词复数 ) | |
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8
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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9
precipices
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| n.悬崖，峭壁( precipice的名词复数 ) | |
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10
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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11
disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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12
hardiest
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| 能吃苦耐劳的，坚强的( hardy的最高级 )； （植物等）耐寒的 | |
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13
scouts
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| 侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员 | |
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14
mules
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| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
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15
hem
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| n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制 | |
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16
eluded
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| v.（尤指机敏地）避开( elude的过去式和过去分词 )；逃避；躲避；使达不到 | |
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17
lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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18
obstructions
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| n.障碍物( obstruction的名词复数 )；阻碍物；阻碍；阻挠 | |
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19
molest
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| vt.骚扰，干扰，调戏 | |
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laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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21
zigzag
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| n.曲折，之字形；adj.曲折的，锯齿形的；adv.曲折地，成锯齿形地；vt.使曲折；vi.曲折前行 | |
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22
plodding
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| a.proceeding in a slow or dull way | |
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lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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24
elevations
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| （水平或数量）提高( elevation的名词复数 )； 高地； 海拔； 提升 | |
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25
boulders
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| n.卵石( boulder的名词复数 )；巨砾；（受水或天气侵蚀而成的）巨石；漂砾 | |
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26
obtruding
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| v.强行向前，强行，强迫( obtrude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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28
crests
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| v.到达山顶（或浪峰）( crest的第三人称单数 )；到达洪峰，达到顶点 | |
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29
wafted
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| v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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30
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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31
onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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32
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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33
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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34
contingency
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| n.意外事件，可能性 | |
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35
reined
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| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
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36
rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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37
stunted
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| adj.矮小的；发育迟缓的 | |
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38
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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39
brawled
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| 打架，争吵( brawl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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42
vapor
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| n.蒸汽，雾气 | |
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43
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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44
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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45
subterfuge
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| n.诡计；藉口 | |
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46
lure
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| n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引 | |
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47
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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48
averting
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| 防止，避免( avert的现在分词 )； 转移 | |
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49
mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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50
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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51
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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52
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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53
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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54
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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55
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
ridges
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| n.脊( ridge的名词复数 )；山脊；脊状突起；大气层的)高压脊 | |
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57
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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58
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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59
bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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60
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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61
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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62
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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63
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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64
loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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65
gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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66
phantoms
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| n.鬼怪，幽灵( phantom的名词复数 ) | |
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67
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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