The negro rode a considerable distance, when, as objects around him began to wear a singular look, he drew his animals down to a walk, and, on the edge of a rocky grove4 of small trees, came to a dead halt.
“Dis yere looks strange! I disremember dese trees; Ise afeerd Mr. Tubbs is off de track, an’ how is he gwine to git on agin, am de question.”
The country through which he was journeying, was a broad valley, interspersed5 with streams and canons, trees and open spaces, and huge boulders6 piled promiscuously7 here and there, and in some places so thickly strewn as to become almost impassable. There were acres where one could gallop9 as free as upon the beaten road, and then, for the same distance, it was the utmost that a horseman could do to pick his way along.
In the hurried manner in which Jim had made headway across the desolate10 tract11, it was not to be supposed that he entertained a very vivid recollection of the landmarks12; but he had quite a memory of places, and after he had rested his animal for a few moments, he became certain that he was lost. Under these circumstances, his only resource was to fall back on general principles, and take the course[45] which he believed would eventually lead him to the neighborhood of the cave.
By carefully studying the position of the moon, he believed he was going too much to the south, and, turning to the right, he followed this course at a slow walk, watching carefully for some landmarks which could be recognized. Discovering none, and it being well on toward midnight, he checked his horses, with the intention of waiting until morning.
Jim was pretty tired, and, tying the horses together, he lay down on the ground beside a rock, and in a few moments was asleep. He was undisturbed until daylight, when he was awakened14 in a manner which brought a howl of terror from him.
Some crushing weight descended15 upon his foot, and, starting up, he gazed about him for the cause. It proved nothing less than the baggage mule16 so frequently referred to, which, in journeying straight forward in the path which he had been started upon, had thus come directly upon the sleeping African.
“What!” he shouted, placing himself directly in front of the animal, and checking him in the same manner that a wall of rock would have done. “Dat ’ere is queer!” he laughed, “dat I put myself right afore you. Shouldn’t wonder now if you was on de right track; leastways we’ll try you.”
The mule was fired up, and, as it moved on again, the negro followed on the back of his own horse. To his great surprise and gratification, he had gone but a short distance when he caught sight of a small clump17 of trees which he recognized as a point passed by him shortly after he had started in pursuit of the Mohave and his prey18.
He was highly pleased at this, and pressing on until he had reached the grove, became convinced that he was on the right track, and would rejoin his friends in the course of an hour. Beyond this spot all was familiar, and he advanced without hesitation19 or misgiving20. Reaching the point where their animals had been tethered, he drove them in[46] among the trees, and, first securing them, started out in quest of his friends.
Jim had walked but a few yards, when it suddenly occurred to him, as he recalled the previous night’s experience, that there might be danger in advancing so openly to the cave. It was a very easy matter for a party of aborigines to conceal22 themselves along the banks, and rush upon and secure him before he could help himself.
It struck him, too, as he approached the cave, that an unnatural23 stillness reigned24 around it. The sun was now up, and it was high time that his friends were bestirring themselves. A vague fear took possession of the African, as he halted some rods away, and looked furtively25 about him. Everything was so quiet—nothing moving except the stream, and that made scarcely a ripple26 as it glided27 over its sandy bed.
Jim was standing28 in this apprehensive29 state when a slight noise in the rear startled him. Turning his alarmed gaze, he expected to behold30 a whole troop of painted red men about to swoop31 down upon him; but, in the place of that, recognized the smiling face of young Edwin Inwood.
“Bress me, but you scart dis chile dat time!” said Jim, his teeth fairly chattering32 at the remembrance of his shock.
“I threw a stone to let you know I was near; I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
“It wasn’t de stone dat scart me, it was de thought dat I tink it was sumfin’ else. Whar’s George?”
“Inside the cave.”
“Had breakfast?”
“No; we were just going to prepare it. Here he comes!”
At this moment, George Inwood made his appearance above ground, and he greeted the negro with great gladness. The latter soon gave an account of his pursuit and capture of the horses, and his safe return with them.
“You have done very well, Jim, especially when we remember that you had no gun with you. There are few men who would have dared to do so, even when fully13 armed.”
“But, dat ain’t all,” added the colored man, as he heaved a great sigh, “I seen de most awfulest ting you ever heard tell on.”
In answer to their anxious inquiry33, he gave what has already been given by us, winding34 up with the declaration:
“An’ when I looked back de last time, what do you ’spose I seen? Why, I seen dat island rise up, flap its wings, an’ fly away!”
“There, Jim, that’s a little too much,” laughed the elder Inwood.
“When it flapped its wings, didn’t it also crow?” asked Edwin, whose interest in the narrative35 was turned into equally intense amusement at this culmination36.
“You folks can laugh,” retorted Jim, indignantly, “but wait till you see what I did, an’ de shivers will run all ober you.”
“It may be possible that it was a mirage37,” said George, somewhat impressed by the earnest manner of his sable8 friend.
“A mirage by moonlight?” inquired Edwin.
“Such things have been heard of, I believe, although very rarely.”
“What’s a mirage?” demanded Jim.
By great perseverance38, George succeeded in giving Jim a sort of an idea of what he meant, although, in all probability, he would have regarded the mirage itself equally mysterious and wonderful as the bodily exit of a bona fide island before his eyes.
“All I got to say is, you jes’ go an’ see it, an’ den21 you’ll stop laughing at dem as what undertakes to explanify it to you.”
“Perhaps we shall have the opportunity, as I have concluded to leave these quarters.”
“What fur?”
“In the first place, our safety demands it. The Indians have found out we are here, and they will hover39 about and watch us, until some time they will pounce40 down upon us before we know it.”
“What ob dat? Didn’t they do it last ebening?”
“Yes; and Providentially we were able to drive them off; but you can see that if a hundred of them should come down here, they could keep us in the cave until we died of thirst or starvation, or were compelled to surrender, and our end in each case would be the same.”
“But we hadn’t orter leave de gold jus’ as we ’gin to find it.”
“We shall leave a very small quantity of it behind. The supply has about run out. You remember that we had a small lot yesterday. The reason was that we had gathered about all there was, and so you see there is nothing to keep us here, while we have every inducement to draw us away.”
As this was undoubtedly41 the case, there was no gainsaying42 the argument of Inwood, and it was decided43 to move their quarters without further delay. Breakfast was prepared, during which Edwin took his station and kept a sharp watch for straggling Indians. None were discovered, and he descended and joined them in the morning meal. Their baggage was piled on the mule, the five tiny sacks which contained the yellow dust, were taken in charge by George, and while it was yet early in the day, they took up the line of march.
Very appropriately, Jim led the way, he riding his nag44 with all the dignity of a conqueror45 at the head of his army. Inwood was not so particularly anxious to see the Enchanted Island, as he was to make sure that no Mohaves were following or watching them. The most vigilant46 scrutiny47 failed to detect any of the dreaded48 creatures, and our friends finally ventured to believe that with due prudence49 they could reach a place of safety.
It was past noon, when Jim, who was riding a short distance in advance, ascended50 a small elevation51, and then suddenly made a signal for his companions to hurry alongside of him. The next moment the three were side by side.
“Dere!” said Jim, pointing off to the east, “is de lake an’ de island.”
The beautiful, circular sheet of water lay a half mile away, and right in the center was an island about fifty feet in length, and half that distance in breadth. It was covered with young trees and dense52 vegetation, and in the bright sunlight had a cool, fresh appearance, which made it still more pleasant than when viewed under the witching rays of the moon.
George Inwood produced a small spy-glass from his pocket, and scanned it long and narrowly. There was something about this little island, aside from the marvellous stories related of it by Jim, which awakened his curiosity. While apparently53 still and devoid54 of life, he saw signs which convinced him that more than one person was upon it.
In among the leaves he could detect a fluttering, tremulous motion, and around the edge of the island were ripples55 which must have been caused by human hands, as the surface of the lake in every other portion was as smooth as a mirror. He thought he heard once or twice a plashing sound, which came either from the island itself, or from directly behind it. He decided to say nothing of his suspicions until he had learned more of it, what certainly wore a singular look, to say the least.
He was on the point of lowering his glass, when a slight movement among the bushes on the eastern shore of the lake caught his eye, and he immediately directed his gaze toward that point.
The naked vision would have discovered nothing, but by the aid of the lens he discovered a man standing on the very edge of the wood, and scrutinizing56 the party. At first glance, he took him to be an Indian, but a continued examination satisfied Inwood that the stranger was a white man, dressed and painted as a red man. What gave this impression was the fact that his outfit57 was not complete, being deficient58 about his head. This, instead of being bare, with the long, wiry black hair stained and ornamented59 with eagle feathers, (as is the custom of the Mohaves and Apaches) was surmounted60 by a slouched hat which entirely61 concealed62 the short hair.
The painted white man gazed long and intently upon the party, from which fact Inwood judged that he was displeased63 at their appearance and anxious to keep himself invisible. This, united with the curious facts noted64 regarding the appearance of the island, furnished food for speculation65, and Inwood lowered his glass and placed it away with the conviction that there was some mystery connected with this lake and the tiny island resting in the center, which, perhaps, it might be well for him to attempt to fathom66.
“What you tink ob him?” inquired Jim, much wondering at the continued silence of Inwood.
“It is the finest scene I have ever looked upon. Nothing could be more beautiful than the lake, and the island, and the green shores which surround, and the white mountain peaks away in the distance.”
“Wait till you see it fly away—den I guess you tink it beautifuller yet.”
“I am afraid I shall have to wait a good while,” said Inwood.
“Shall we go on?” inquired Edwin.
“I rather like the appearance of the country around here, and I think we are as likely to find gold as in any other place. We will hunt up some good spot, take up our quarters, and go to prospecting67. The best plan, I think, is for us to turn square around and start back again.”
“What dat for?”
Edwin, too, looked an inquiry, but George said he had a good reason, and accordingly it was done.
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1
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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rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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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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grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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interspersed
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| adj.[医]散开的；点缀的v.intersperse的过去式和过去分词 | |
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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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promiscuously
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| adv.杂乱地，混杂地 | |
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sable
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| n.黑貂；adj.黑色的 | |
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gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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tract
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| n.传单，小册子，大片(土地或森林) | |
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landmarks
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| n.陆标( landmark的名词复数 )；目标；（标志重要阶段的）里程碑 ~ (in sth)；有历史意义的建筑物（或遗址） | |
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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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14
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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18
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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19
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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misgiving
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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22
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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furtively
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| adv. 偷偷地, 暗中地 | |
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26
ripple
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| n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进 | |
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27
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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28
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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apprehensive
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| adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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31
swoop
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| n.俯冲，攫取；v.抓取，突然袭击 | |
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32
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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33
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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34
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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culmination
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| n.顶点；最高潮 | |
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37
mirage
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| n.海市蜃楼，幻景 | |
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38
perseverance
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| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
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39
hover
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| vi.翱翔，盘旋；徘徊；彷徨，犹豫 | |
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40
pounce
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| n.猛扑；v.猛扑，突然袭击，欣然同意 | |
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41
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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42
gainsaying
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| v.否认，反驳( gainsay的现在分词 ) | |
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43
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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44
nag
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| v.(对…)不停地唠叨；n.爱唠叨的人 | |
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45
conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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46
vigilant
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| adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的 | |
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47
scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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48
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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49
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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50
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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51
elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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52
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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53
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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54
devoid
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| adj.全无的，缺乏的 | |
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55
ripples
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| 逐渐扩散的感觉( ripple的名词复数 ) | |
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56
scrutinizing
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的现在分词 ) | |
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57
outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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deficient
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| adj.不足的，不充份的，有缺陷的 | |
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ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60
surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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61
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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62
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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63
displeased
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| a.不快的 | |
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64
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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66
fathom
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| v.领悟，彻底了解 | |
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67
prospecting
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| n.探矿 | |
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