He had no hard feelings against Captain Meinhold, for he perfectly3 understood the reason that had led him to take such a course. He knew the gallant4 officer too well to suppose that it had been a cowardly anxiety on his own account.
He was not long left unrewarded for this self-abnegation, however; for a messenger from the council soon summoned both himself and Congo to attend the deliberations of that body.
The border king found that the braves were much excited over the new proposition that had been made to them, and were quite disposed to be good-natured.
Black Panther himself, in spite of the high-sounding speech he had made scorning the silver of the palefaces, was really of a selfish and covetous5 nature. He now found a good pretext6 for abandoning his lofty, patriotic7 stand in the fact that a near relative of the slain8 man had set him the example.
The orator9 was examining the pictured prizes with much interest. With his eyes fixed10 solely11 on the horse and regimentals promised to himself, he was descanting loudly on the benefits that would accrue12 to others from the proposed arrangement.
The rifles were very much needed, he said, as nearly half of the braves were without guns, and the blankets would be of much service; while the whisky and tobacco and pipes and trinkets would make the hearts of all the people glad.
He professed13, indeed, not to believe in the ability of Buffalo Bill to make all these gorgeous promises good. He must be a very great man if he could do so; but personally he, Black Panther, was willing to give him a trial.
They would risk little in doing this. The prisoner would remain in their hands, and could as well be put to death a few weeks hence as now.
In short, Black Panther said—quite mildly now—that he agreed with Bulboo and with his cousin, the good chief, and would give his voice for postponing14 the execution, and for finally releasing the prisoner if all the presents came.
There was no difficulty about this, especially as so many of the warriors15 had originally been in favor of mercy, and had been overruled in the vote taken on the subject.
In a few minutes another vote was taken, and a favorable decision was announced.
Buffalo Bill, delighted beyond all expression, hastened to ask permission to inform the prisoner of his respite16. This was granted by the council.
The chief and others followed to see the man released from his bonds.
No words could describe the ecstasy17 of joy with which the good news was received by poor Hare, who swooned in his first excitement. For a minute or two he lay on the ground, unconscious of the good fortune that had come to him.
When he revived he found himself on the grass, resting in the arms of his two friends.
After restoring him fully18 by dashing cold water in his face, and dressing19 his wounds, they told him the particulars of what had taken place and what they had promised in his behalf.
“It will probably take pretty nearly all you have in the world to pay your ransom,” said Buffalo Bill.
“Oh, that’s of no consequence! What of that?” exclaimed the happy man. “If you had been where I was just now, you would have thought millions of dollars a cheap price to pay to get loose.”
“Of course,” said Buffalo Bill. “And you are to stay here quietly until the presents come. Running Water says you will not be bound, but you will be watched. If you try to escape, you will be killed. It would be foolish for you to try to get away, for even if you did they would follow you and track you down.”
“That’s all right. I’ll consent to that willingly enough. But, for Heaven’s sake, don’t fail to get the things here on time. Do you think you can do it? How can I ever thank you for all you have done for me, Cody? I owe my life to you.”
“I have only done what I would have wished any other man to do for me,” the king of the scouts20 replied.
“May Heaven help you in the same way when you are in your utmost need!” continued the grateful man. “And Congo, too—for he has done what he could. He has, at least, stayed near me and encouraged me.”
“He has done a great deal more than that,” replied Cody, “as you will find out presently. But our other friends are gone, Hare.”
“Gone? I thought they were back in the woods waiting for you.”
“No; they took the boats and went, as they had a right to do. They got alarmed for the safety of the women, and Captain Meinhold, I suppose, thought it was best to go. I do not blame them. They thought there was no hope for you, and they were all in great danger. They gave me fair warning repeatedly, but I——”
“Massa Cody wouldn’t go an’ leave you, sah, till de last was ober, let come what would. Dat’s it, sah.”
“I see—I see. I am even more indebted to him than I supposed. Cody, you have risked life and everything for me—for me, a traitor22!”
“I have only done my duty,” replied the border king simply. “Say no more of it.”
But Hare, who, if he could not always be courageous23, was at least grateful, would not be repressed on this point, and he continued to manifest his gratitude24 to his deliverer with childlike earnestness and simplicity25.
“But how are you to get off, and when?” he asked.
“I do not know. Probably our red friends will help to put us in the way of getting to the nearest white settlement or to Fort McPherson.”
“Ah, I hope you get through safely, both for your sake and for mine. If you are lost, I shall be lost also. Yes; even if anything happens to delay you beyond the three weeks stipulated26, my fate will be sealed.”
“Never fear. We shall doubtless get through without trouble, or one of us, at least; and even Congo could attend to your business. He could get assistance, you know.”
“Is there money enough at my command, I wonder?”
“How much can you raise?”
“About a thousand dollars. I will give you a letter which will enable you to get the money.”
“It ought to be enough. If it is not, I will make up the deficiency.”
“Yes, yes; and I will repay you the last cent, if I have to live on bread and water to do it. But you may have time to communicate with my father, and he will supply all you need. How will you get the things here?”
“The best way will be to charter a small sloop27 and sail across the lake, I suppose,” replied Buffalo Bill. “It will be quicker and less perilous28 than traveling by land through a country so infested29 by Indians, who, if they are not actually hostile, are yet not by any means to be trusted—especially if they saw articles so much coveted30 by them as those which we shall bring.”
“Massa Cody, dere’s Cap’n Running Water an’ Bully31 Boy, looking as if dey was waitin’ to spoke32 to you,” said Joe.
“So they are. They are too polite to interrupt our talk. You find more courtesy among Indians than you do among most white men. I will go to them.”
He went, and the chief, advancing to meet him, pointed33 to the lake and asked if he and Congo would like to be sent in a canoe to rejoin their friends, who had not been gone more than an hour and could be easily overtaken.
Of course, the border king replied in the affirmative, and instant preparations were made for departure, Cody hurrying back to bid Hare good-by and give him a last word of advice.
Hare promised compliance34 with his admonitions, and his friends, after a more formal farewell with the chief and principal braves, proceeded to the beach and embarked35 in a canoe which was awaiting them, manned by two young Indians who had been instructed by Running Water to go “much quick.”
Certainly the red paddlers propelled their little bark[291] with great rapidity, and within an hour, on doubling a little promontory36, they came in sight of Captain Meinhold’s boat, apparently37 about three miles ahead.
But here a new difficulty occurred, for the men in the forward boat, having discovered the pursuing canoe, believed themselves to be chased with hostile intent, and they quickened their speed to escape.
They could not distinguish white men from red at that distance. They could only see that there were four people in the craft behind them, and as it was impossible for them to conjecture38 the true state of things, it was most natural to suppose that those four men were foes39.
The outbreak of which they had witnessed the beginning, and from which they had fled, had ended, they did not doubt, in the arrest of Buffalo Bill and Congo and the sending of the canoe after themselves.
“It’s just as I expected,” said a man named Hutton, who was not by any means a courageous fellow, and had been one of the foremost in counseling Captain Meinhold to leave. “That obstinate41 fellow Cody has brought ruin upon us all. Here we are now with four or five Indians after us, and probably more behind, and nothing but a pistol or two to defend ourselves with. In a little while they will be within rifle shot, and then they will begin to fire upon us.”
So they made for the shore with a view of scattering42 and hiding in the wood until night. But they were a long way from the land, having kept far out for safety.
In spite of the most exhausting labor43 at the oars, the Indians gained on them. The canoe, increasing its speed and taking a diagonal course, was soon within bullet range.
While, however, the wearied fugitives44 were expecting a shot and were watching for the leveling of the guns, so that they might throw themselves down in the bottom of the boat, they saw a more welcome sight.
Two hats were waved in the air, and, as the Indians did not wear hats, the conclusion was inevitable45 that they were followed by friends instead of foes.
A closer inspection46, which but for their alarm they might sooner have made, justified47 this hope, and they turned joyfully48 to meet their pursuers.
The tidings which Buffalo Bill brought were most astonishing and gratifying to Captain Meinhold, who complimented the scout21 highly on his success, and took shame to himself for having deserted him, even for the sake of the women.
But the border king was not disposed to blame any one, and, so far from reproaching the captain, he awarded him a large share of credit for the happy result.
“If you had said no when we talked of going back with Hare,” he said, “his fate would have been sealed. The rest of the men would have sided with you, and I should have been obliged to submit.”
“Tell you wot, gemmen, afore you leave these red boys you better borry or buy one of dere guns, or we shall starve ag’in,” said Joe. “We ain’t got a mouthful o’ nuffin’.”
This was considered a good idea, and the attempt was made to purchase a gun and some ammunition49, the men offering all the silver they had, and the women some jewelry50. But the Indians refused to sell, saying that the guns did not belong to them, but to two other braves, and had only been lent to them for self-protection on this trip.
“Let’s take them by force,” said Hutton. “Our lives may depend on it.”
This proposition was indignantly rejected by the others, and the Indians, who fortunately did not understand it, offered instead a fishing line which lay in the bottom of the canoe.
They would take nothing for it, but after it had been delivered and thankfully accepted they suddenly turned their canoe around and started homeward, waving a parting salutation.
The voyagers, after an hour of brisk rowing along the coast, all felt the pressing demand of hunger, and went ashore51, where some searched for edible52 roots and fruits and others for bait for fishing.
Congo soon had a pocketful of worms, and, while others roamed on land for food or rested beneath the trees, he rowed out about twenty rods from shore and tried his luck.
Perhaps the finny inhabitants of this part of the lake had never before seen a baited hook, and had no tradition of their ancestors having been caught by one. Perhaps there was a political or educational convention of fishes assembled at this particular time and place; but, whatever the cause, Joe’s success was immediate53 and extraordinary.
Perch54 and bass55 and catfish56 contended for the honor of being caught. No sooner did the impaled57 worm drop in the water than it was seized by one of the voracious58 throng59 and darted60 at by others, who followed the envied captive almost to the surface of the lake, little dreaming that his upward flight was other than voluntary.
“Bress my soul!” exclaimed Congo, as he soon found himself the center of a circle of flopping61 life which grew momentarily larger and more demonstrative. “I neber seed nuffin’ like dis afore. Dis ’ere must be an enchanted62 line! Whoop63! Here comes anudder! A whopper, too! A three-pound bass, dat ar is! Dere you go, dancing wid de rest, w’ile I cotch your brudder an’ de rest ob your relations.”
Thus Joe fished and chattered64, nor did the sport cease until the last of his bait had gone, by which time he had upward of sixty fish, averaging over a pound in weight, and all caught in a little over an hour.
Great was the amazement65 and delight of the party when they heard of Joe’s success. After a hearty66 repast, during which everybody grew jollier than they had been for a long time past, the voyagers resumed their journey, taking with them the remainder of their provisions, but feeling reluctant to leave so wonderful a fishing ground without further sport.
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1
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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buffalo
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| n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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covetous
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| adj.贪婪的，贪心的 | |
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pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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patriotic
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| adj.爱国的，有爱国心的 | |
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8
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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orator
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| n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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accrue
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| v.(利息等)增大，增多 | |
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professed
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| 公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的 | |
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postponing
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| v.延期，推迟( postpone的现在分词 ) | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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respite
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| n.休息，中止，暂缓 | |
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ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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20
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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21
scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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24
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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26
stipulated
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| vt.& vi.规定；约定adj.[法]合同规定的 | |
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sloop
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| n.单桅帆船 | |
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perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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29
infested
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| adj.为患的，大批滋生的（常与with搭配）v.害虫、野兽大批出没于( infest的过去式和过去分词 )；遍布于 | |
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30
coveted
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| adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图 | |
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31
bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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32
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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33
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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compliance
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| n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从 | |
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35
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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36
promontory
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| n.海角；岬 | |
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37
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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38
conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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39
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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40
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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41
obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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42
scattering
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| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
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43
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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44
fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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45
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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46
inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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47
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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48
joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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49
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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50
jewelry
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| n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝 | |
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51
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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52
edible
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| n.食品，食物；adj.可食用的 | |
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53
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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54
perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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55
bass
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| n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴 | |
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56
catfish
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| n.鲶鱼 | |
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57
impaled
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| 钉在尖桩上( impale的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58
voracious
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| adj.狼吞虎咽的，贪婪的 | |
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59
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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60
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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flopping
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| n.贬调v.（指书、戏剧等）彻底失败( flop的现在分词 )；（因疲惫而）猛然坐下；（笨拙地、不由自主地或松弛地）移动或落下；砸锅 | |
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62
enchanted
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| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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63
whoop
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| n.大叫，呐喊，喘息声；v.叫喊，喘息 | |
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64
chattered
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| （人）喋喋不休( chatter的过去式 )； 唠叨； （牙齿）打战； （机器）震颤 | |
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65
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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