“Quick! they’ll soon be here!” he added in his terrible excitement.
“I shouldn’t wonder if there were twenty. I’m sure I saw a dozen, any way.”
“More likely dar’s a tousand!” angrily exclaimed Jim, gathering5 his implements6 together, preparatory to making a move. “Dis yer’s a nonsince—jest as we gits in among de gold, dem Injins has to ’gin dar tricks.”
“Hurry, Jim,” admonished7 the young man, beginning to grow nervous. “It won’t do to be caught here.”
“Dey hain’t cotched dis pusson yit, an’ if dey undertooks it, somebody’ll git hurt. I can swing dat pick kind o’[10] loose when I makes up my mind to do so. I’s ready—now whar does ye pitch to?”
George Inwood, loaded down with his gun and implements, hurried up the channel of the brook, for several hundred feet, and then, making a sudden plunge9 to the right, disappeared as abruptly10 as if the earth had opened and swallowed him. The next moment, his brother Edwin, a lad some fifteen years of age—whisked after him, and then Jim came lumbering11 along, somewhat after the manner of an ox, when goaded12 off his usual plodding13 walk.
“Dis yer’s graceful14!” he muttered, not deigning15 to look behind him to see whether the envious16 aborigines were visible, “I never did like to trot17, s’pecially when an Ingin was drivin’ me, an’ only does it to please de boys.”
“Come, Jim, move faster!” called the voice of George Inwood from some subterranean18 point.
“Yas, yas, I’s dar!”——
Further exclamation19 was cut short, for at this instant the indignant African was seized by the ankle with such force, that he fell prostrate20 upon his back, and, despite his struggles and threats of dire21 punishment, was quickly drawn22 out of sight and hearing.
This was scarcely done, when a dozen Mohave Indians swarmed23 over the ridge24 of rocks and trees which bounded the northern part of the stream, and scattered25 here and there in quest of the gold hunters, whom they had been watching from a distance nearly all the afternoon. Each of them was armed with a gun, several displayed tomahawks and knives at their girdles, while the majority had large, beautifully woven and ornamented26 blankets thrown over their shoulders.
Running hither and thither27, their sharp black eyes darting28 in every direction, they could not be long without discovering traces of the interlopers. A sort of halloo, something like the yelp29 of a large dog, when a cow flings him over the fence, told that one of the dusky scamps were on the trail. Immediately the whole pack darted30 up the channel, and the next moment, had halted before the mouth of a cave, the entrance being of sufficient width to admit the[11] passage of an ordinary sized man; but just now a large boulder31 prevented their ingress.
Certain that the gold hunters were immured32 here, and were within their power, the Mohaves indulged in a hop33, skip, and dance around the cave, flinging their arms aloft, and shouting continually in their wild, outlandish tongue. When their clamor had somewhat subsided34, a gruff voice from within the cave was heard.
“Hullo! dar I say! Hullo! I say! Can’t yese keep yer clacks still a minnit when a gemman wishes to speak?”
The singular source and sound of the human voice had the desired effect, and instant silence fell upon all.
“Am dar any ob yous dat spoke35 English? If dar am, please to signify it by sayin’ so, an’ if dar ain’t, also signify dat by obsarvin’ de same sign.”
Jim waited several minutes for a reply, but, receiving none, he became more indignant, and was about to burst out in a tirade36 against them, when George Inwood ventured to suggest that, as in all probability they could not speak the English language, as a matter of course, they were deprived of the ability of saying so.
“But dey orter to know ’nough to say no—any fool know dat,” persisted the African.
“But how can they understand what you say?”
“Clar—didn’t tink ob dat. What am we to do?”
“Defend ourselves—that is all that is left us.”
“I’ll go take a look at dem,” said Jim, beginning to creep along the passage toward the mouth of the cave.
“I insist that you be more careful in your dealings with them. You ought to know what a treacherous37 and untrustworthy set of people they are.”
Jim promised caution, as he always did in such matters, and Inwood kept close to him to see that he fulfilled his pledge. Reaching the mouth of the cave, the African gave a sneeze to proclaim his presence, emitted with such explosive vigor38, that the Mohaves gathered around, startled as though the ground beneath them had suddenly reddened with heat. They recoiled39 a few steps, and then waited with some anxiety for the next demonstration40.
Jim Tubbs had a voice, composed half-in-half of those tones which are heard when a huge saw is being filed, and that which is made by the rumbling41 of the distant thunder. The judicious42 mixture made from these, it may safely be said, was terrific and rather trying to a sensitive man’s nerves; and, as he was in rather an indignant mood on the present occasion, when he called to the Mohaves, it was more forcibly than politely.
“What does yer want?”
When a person has reason to believe that the one whom he is addressing has difficulty in understanding his words, he seems to think the trouble can be overcome by increasing the loudness of his tone. Jim repeated his question each time with greater force, until the last demand partook more of the nature of a screech43 than anything else.
By this time, the aborigines had obtained a good view of the black face, cautiously presenting itself at the opening made by the partial withdrawing of the stone, and one of them, laying down his gun and knife, as an earnest of his pacific intention, deliberately44 advanced to the entrance of the cave, and reached out his hand.
“Take it, Jim,” whispered Inwood, “he means that as an offering of good will.”
“I hope yer am well,” remarked Jim, as he thrust his immense digits45 through the opening. “I is purty well, an’ so am all ob us—gorry nation! what am yer at?”
The Mohave had suddenly seized the hand of the negro in both his own with tremendous force, and was now pulling with such astonishing power as slowly to drag the unsuspicious African forward.
“I tell ye let go!” shouted the latter, “it won’t do! Wal, if ye wants to pull wid dis chile, why pull, an’ see who am de best feller!”
Inwood, in his apprehension46 for the safety of the negro, seized his leg, and endeavored with his utmost strength to stay his forcible departure, observing which, the gentleman in dispute turned his head:
“Nebber mind, George, nebber mind if dem darkeys
[Transcriber’s Note: Several lines of text are missing from the original here due to a printer’s error]
Jim was six feet three inches in height, and along his limbs was deposited an enormous quantity of muscle almost as hard as the bone itself; he was not quick, but he was a man of prodigious47 strength, and when he chose to exert it, there were few living men who could withstand it. If there could ever be a suitable occasion to exert it, that occasion was the present.
And Jim did call it into play. Closing his great fingers around the hand of the Mohave, he held it as firmly as if it were thrust into the jaws48 of a Numidian lion, and then bracing49 his feet against the sides of the cavern50, he said:
“Now, my ’spectable friend, you pull an’ I’ll pull.”
At the first contraction51 of that muscular arm, the Mohave was drawn a foot forward; and, in dreadful alarm, he uttered a cry which brought several of his companions to his relief, and they, seizing him by his lower limbs, pulled as determinedly52 in the opposite direction.
“If yer gets dis feller back agin, I tinks he’ll be about a foot taller,” muttered Jim, as he gave another hitch53 with the hapless aborigine, which jerked not only him forward, but those who were clinging fast to his extremities54. They, in turn, united in a “long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether,” with no effect, except to give the subject under debate a terrific strain.
“Yeave ho! here ye go!”
And with amazing power, Jim Tubbs drew the Mohave clear into the cave, beyond all reach from his companions.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
brook
|
|
| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
acting
|
|
| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
catching
|
|
| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
shovel
|
|
| n.铁锨，铲子，一铲之量；v.铲，铲出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
gathering
|
|
| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
implements
|
|
| n.工具( implement的名词复数 )；家具；手段；[法律]履行（契约等）v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 )；执行；贯彻；使生效 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
admonished
|
|
| v.劝告( admonish的过去式和过去分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
cane
|
|
| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
plunge
|
|
| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
abruptly
|
|
| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
lumbering
|
|
| n.采伐林木 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
goaded
|
|
| v.刺激( goad的过去式和过去分词 )；激励；（用尖棒）驱赶；驱使（或怂恿、刺激）某人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
plodding
|
|
| a.proceeding in a slow or dull way | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
graceful
|
|
| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
deigning
|
|
| v.屈尊，俯就( deign的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
envious
|
|
| adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
trot
|
|
| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
subterranean
|
|
| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
exclamation
|
|
| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
prostrate
|
|
| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
dire
|
|
| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
swarmed
|
|
| 密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
ridge
|
|
| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
scattered
|
|
| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
ornamented
|
|
| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
thither
|
|
| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
darting
|
|
| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
yelp
|
|
| vi.狗吠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
darted
|
|
| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
boulder
|
|
| n.巨砾；卵石，圆石 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
immured
|
|
| v.禁闭，监禁( immure的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
hop
|
|
| n.单脚跳，跳跃；vi.单脚跳，跳跃；着手做某事；vt.跳跃，跃过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
subsided
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
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： |
|
|
|
|
36
tirade
|
|
| n.冗长的攻击性演说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
treacherous
|
|
| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
vigor
|
|
| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
recoiled
|
|
| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
demonstration
|
|
| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
rumbling
|
|
| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
judicious
|
|
| adj.明智的，明断的，能作出明智决定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
screech
|
|
| n./v.尖叫；(发出)刺耳的声音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
deliberately
|
|
| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
digits
|
|
| n.数字( digit的名词复数 )；手指，足趾 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
apprehension
|
|
| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
prodigious
|
|
| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
jaws
|
|
| n.口部；嘴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
bracing
|
|
| adj.令人振奋的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
cavern
|
|
| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
contraction
|
|
| n.缩略词，缩写式，害病 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
determinedly
|
|
| adv.决意地；坚决地，坚定地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
hitch
|
|
| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
extremities
|
|
| n.端点( extremity的名词复数 )；尽头；手和足；极窘迫的境地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |