His friends found him utterly4 despondent5, and Buffalo6 Bill, who was first at his side, said nothing of his last interview with Running Water, or of the promised conference of the morning. He did not wish to arouse hopes which might be doomed7 to disappointment.
“I know it will be useless for me to run,” the captive said, “and I am resolved not to attempt it, save on one condition.”
“What is that?”
“Let me have that loaded revolver,” the man whispered. “Smuggle it to me somehow, so that none of these guards will see it.”
“What will you do with it?”
“Use it on myself in case of failure in the lines. It will save me from the stake. Otherwise, they may as well burn me first as last, and I will at least escape the additional torture of running the gantlet.”
The unfortunate man had begged repeatedly for the weapon before, when his friends visited him, and they had refused to give it to him.
But, as he now seemed resolute9 in his present determination, Captain Meinhold promised to give it to him, on his word of honor that he would not make use of it except in the last extremity—not until the fagots around him were fired, or some equivalent torture was begun.
Buffalo Bill, Meinhold, and the other men had debated long and earnestly together as to the course they should take if things came to the worst with Hare; and they had found it very hard to arrive at a decision.
Their natural impulse, being all brave men, was to die in his defense10, ineffectual as a fight would undoubtedly11 be.
But they had to think first of the women in the party. If necessary, Hare must be sacrificed for their sake. In the event of a fight, the chances were a hundred to one that they would spend their lives as the squaws of Indian braves.
Captain Meinhold exhorted12 Hare to do his best in running the gantlet, reminding him that there was a chance of escape if he was vigilant13 and active.
“Well, captain, I will try,” the doomed man replied. “I will do my best, if I have this pistol as a last resort.”
“You shall have it.”
“How am I to get it?”
“It is in my pocket. I will find an opportunity, in a few minutes, to give it to you when these men are not looking. Then you can take it up and secrete14 it about you. As you have already been searched, they will probably not trouble to look you over again.”
Hare was supplied with an early and good breakfast—a repast which he would have enjoyed but for the doom8 which awaited him, and which was now so close at hand.
As it was, he ate pretty heartily15, and while he was doing so the captain succeeded in giving him the pistol unobserved.
The rest of the white men and Congo breakfasted, as they had supped, unobserved.
The women of the party were served, by the orders of Running Water, by the women of the tribe.
Breakfast was over in the chief’s tepee about sunrise, and still earlier in the other lodges17, so that when Running Water and his guests went forth18, the bustle19 of preparations for the great event of the day was everywhere to be seen.
The women were running in and out of each other’s lodges, clamorous20 and merry. The children were playing heartily, with whoop21 and shout, for they were anticipating a gala day as inspiriting to them as the Fourth of July to our own boys. Here and there, a brave, with his war paint on, might be seen hurrying about the village with all the important air of a militia22 officer on training day.
Outside of the village, on the edge of the timber, two rows of larger boys and girls were playing a mimic23 game of running the gantlet.
They rehearsed it with great accuracy, excepting that they were very careful not to hit the seemingly frightened fugitive24 at whom their blows were aimed with apparent fury.
Had not a loud laugh pealed25 out now and then from the two ranks, and been echoed by the runner himself, the scene might have seemed as real as the terrible one shortly to be enacted26 by the braves.
Running Water did not require to be reminded of his promise to the king of the scouts27. He called a hasty and informal council of his warriors29 in front of his own lodge16. They came to it rather wonderingly, and some of them were a bit surly, for they did not wish their sport to be deferred30 by talking.
He told them that their white brethren had something to say to them, but he was interrupted by derisive31 cries, and by inquiries32 whether the palefaces could not talk as well to them later on, when the great business of the day was over.
A tall, sinewy33 brave strode forward. His face bore an expression of courage and daring, but was savage34 and cruel even beyond that of any of his fellows.
Over his head and shoulders he wore the skin of a large black panther, with the head and its grinning teeth still preserved. He had slain35 the animal in a hand-to-hand fight with a knife. This deed had won him the respect of his comrades, more than all his other achievements in war and hunting; for the black panther is a foe36 which some hunters regard as even more terrible than the grizzly37 bear.
He had been named Black Panther in honor of the deed. Besides being such a distinguished38 warrior28, he was the orator39 of the tribe. He aspired40 to the chieftainship of that band of the Sioux nation over which Running Water ruled, but as he had not been able to get it he had left the band and gone to dwell with another. He had returned on a brief visit to his brother shortly before Congo came to the village.
Standing41 right in front of the chief, with his right arm upraised impressively, Black Panther said:
“Do the palefaces wish to pay for the blood of Strong Arm? How much will they give? The big fire canoe, that makes white the waters of the lake when it passes by, could not carry enough silver to pay for this great crime! The great lake itself could not wash out the sin of our brother’s blood from our hands, if we should accept money for it and let the paleface who slew42 him go free. Tell that to the palefaces.”
Running Water made no response. He recognized the force of the argument, and knew how it must appeal to the savage warriors, who were listening with intense eagerness to Black Panther’s words.
Black Panther went on, his voice becoming more and more passionate43 with every sentence:
“What do we want of their shining silver? We cannot use it. We are already rich in the things that we need. The forests, the lake, and the prairies are ours. We draw from them all that we want, and more—for we had abundance to give to the hungry palefaces who came begging to us, and then repaid our kindness by killing44 one of our best warriors.
“They ought all to die, and, if Black Panther had his way, they should. The ghost of Strong Arm is unappeased, and his widow and children weep over his body and cry out for vengeance45. They look reproachfully upon us.
“They ask, ‘Why tarries the avenger46? Why are the brethren and friends of the murderer protected—nay, more, even feasted in our lodges?’ It is not the part of a good chief, who should be the father of his people, to do this. Black Panther has spoken.”
Running Water looked angry at the last reference to himself, but kept his temper. He had been thoroughly48 won over by Buffalo Bill, and was determined49 to save Hare’s life, if he could do so. He knew very well that a quarrel would not help matters, but would probably destroy the last chance.
The speech of Black Panther was applauded by many of the warriors and by all the women. The chief, who looked much disturbed, translated it to the whites in English.
Buffalo Bill, who had been warned against making any offer of money for Hare’s life, spoke47 earnestly with the chief, and told him that he must impress on the warriors, as strongly as he could, that no such offer had been made by any of the palefaces—that they appealed for the release of the captive upon higher grounds.
Then he repeated what he had said on the previous night, and Running Water translated it, as well as he could, sentence by sentence, to the assembled ring of braves.
At first some of the men were inclined to jeer50, but they were soon all listening attentively51, although it was plain that many of them strongly disagreed with what was being said.
A long consultation52 ensued between the Indians, ten or twelve of them speaking in turn, slowly and seemingly without passion. Only by an occasional gleam in their eyes could the white men guess how powerfully they were moved.
The chief remained silent until all who wished to speak had finished. Doubtless he wanted to allow time for the effect of Black Panther’s vigorous speech to abate53.
At last he arose, with much dignity, and spoke for about five minutes in a slow but earnest way, with not a little emphasis and many gestures.
There were some nods of approval at his remarks, but no other manifestations54 of applause or agreement were made.
“What will they do?” asked the border king and Meinhold, in the same breath.
“Bad—bad!” replied the chief. “They must go with Black Panther. So it look. But we see soon. They count how many one side—how many other.”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
awakened
|
|
| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
vigor
|
|
| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
ordeal
|
|
| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
utterly
|
|
| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
despondent
|
|
| adj.失望的，沮丧的，泄气的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
buffalo
|
|
| n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
doomed
|
|
| 命定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
doom
|
|
| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
resolute
|
|
| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
defense
|
|
| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
undoubtedly
|
|
| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
exhorted
|
|
| v.劝告，劝说( exhort的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
vigilant
|
|
| adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
secrete
|
|
| vt.分泌；隐匿，使隐秘 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
heartily
|
|
| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
lodge
|
|
| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
lodges
|
|
| v.存放( lodge的第三人称单数 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
bustle
|
|
| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
clamorous
|
|
| adj.吵闹的，喧哗的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
whoop
|
|
| n.大叫，呐喊，喘息声；v.叫喊，喘息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
militia
|
|
| n.民兵，民兵组织 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
mimic
|
|
| v.模仿，戏弄；n.模仿他人言行的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
fugitive
|
|
| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
pealed
|
|
| v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
enacted
|
|
| 制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
scouts
|
|
| 侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
warrior
|
|
| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
warriors
|
|
| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
deferred
|
|
| adj.延期的，缓召的v.拖延，延缓，推迟( defer的过去式和过去分词 )；服从某人的意愿，遵从 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
derisive
|
|
| adj.嘲弄的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
inquiries
|
|
| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
sinewy
|
|
| adj.多腱的，强壮有力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
savage
|
|
| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
slain
|
|
| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
foe
|
|
| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
grizzly
|
|
| adj.略为灰色的，呈灰色的；n.灰色大熊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
distinguished
|
|
| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
orator
|
|
| n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
aspired
|
|
| v.渴望，追求( aspire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
slew
|
|
| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
passionate
|
|
| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
killing
|
|
| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
vengeance
|
|
| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
avenger
|
|
| n. 复仇者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
jeer
|
|
| vi.嘲弄，揶揄；vt.奚落；n.嘲笑，讥评 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
attentively
|
|
| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
consultation
|
|
| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
abate
|
|
| vi.(风势，疼痛等)减弱，减轻，减退 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
manifestations
|
|
| n.表示，显示（manifestation的复数形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
dubiously
|
|
| adv.可疑地，怀疑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |