It was his wish to secure an antelope2, which were quite abundant in this section, although almost entirely3 unknown a little further south, and he walked very carefully, well aware of the acuteness of their hearing. A quarter of a mile or so brought him to a broad, wild ravine, and, looking down this, the first object that met his eye was a group of Mohave Indians seated around a camp-fire. Three sat smoking, and two were engaged in dressing5 a fine plump antelope, and preparing it for their supper.
They were fully4 a hundred feet below where the boy stood, and several hundred yards distant. He watched them for some time with interest. Each had around his person or near him, one of those brilliant and wonderfully woven blankets, which have made the Indians of the distant southwest known all over the country. They were painted and daubed up like a lot of children’s toys, their coarse black hair hanging loosely over their shoulders, while its usual stiffness was intensified6 by the rainbow-hued stuff smeared7 among it. It makes a fellow look hideously8 comical to see his face of all colors, and there was something in the outlandish look of these Mohaves which would have[63] brought a grim smile to the countenance9 of him who had scarcely ever laughed.
They never once raised their heads, although Edwin scrutinized10 them so closely that he was sure they were a portion of the party which had attacked them at the cave, and he recognized the very individual who was so handsomely vanquished11 in his attempt to shake hands with Jim Tubbs. This being the case, he entertained much less fear of them than he would, had they been strangers.
But, recollecting12 that he had come out for the purpose of obtaining food, he turned away and wandered off in another direction. While he was asking himself whether it would be prudent13 to fire his gun in their vicinity or not, a fine plump young antelope rushed by him with the speed of the wind. Quick as thought his gun was over his shoulder, and, with a frenzied14 leap, the beautiful creature dropped, and, after a few frantic15 struggles, lay dead.
Edwin hurried up to him, and, drawing his knife, commenced dressing it and securing the choicest portions for their supper. Absorbed thus in his work, he forgot entirely the proximity16 of the aborigines. He had about completed his work, when, with lightning-like suddenness, a reflection of his peril17 came over him, and he rose erect18 and glanced about him.
Providentially his first look was directed toward the proper point, and he saw at quite a distance two Indians, standing19 perfectly20 motionless, and watching him seemingly with great interest. The moment he raised his head they darted21 each behind a tree, evidently not through fear, but with a far different object.
Edwin was a boy with an intelligence and perception beyond his years, and he immediately saw his danger, and looked furtively23 around to learn the best direction in which to retreat. His first thought was to run straight from the red men and, observing that the wood was thicker and more broken, he did not hesitate, but started off at once.
Casting one glance over his shoulder, he observed the two aborigines after him, although neither of them gave utterance24 to the “yell,” which, with the proverbial “ugh,”seems to be about the only language which ever emerges from the lips of the North American Indian, if the authority of story writers is to be taken.
In a race of this kind, we could not dare risk our reputation in saying that the little fellow was anything like a match for his lithe25 pursuers. He hadn’t been in training as long as they, and it was impossible that the cowardly Mohaves should not gain upon him with sad certainty.
All of which he expected, and he therefore turned all his energies toward finding some place in which he could conceal26 himself. Bounding over and among the rough and rugged27 rocks, he turned at right angles to the course he had been following, darted a few rods ahead, and then, to his dismay, found himself on the banks of a small, rapid stream.
But there was no time for hesitation28. He ran along the shore a little way, and then rapidly climbed a small tree, dragging his rifle as best he could after him. Here he crouched29 among the branches, and, panting and trembling, awaited the result.
As yet, he had not heard a sound, but he did not dare hope that his pursuers were off the scent30. He had read certain wonderful tales of the miraculous31 prowess of the “red men of the woods,” and had every reason to believe that they were perfect bloodhounds in such matters.
Nor was he mistaken; for he had not been in his elevated position five minutes, when, through the interstices of the leaves, he saw one of them walking along the edge of the stream, carefully examining the ground, occasionally pausing and looking about him, and now and then making a curious, gyrating motion with his hand over his head, which the boy did not understand, but which we suspect was a signal for his companion.
It would have been the easiest thing in the world for Edwin Inwood to load his gun, and shoot the Mohave who was stealing so cautiously upon him; but he hesitated. It is no light thing to take a human life, even if it belong to an Indian, and he did not wish to commit such a deed, unless his own self preservation32 demanded it. Whether it did or[65] not was the question which the boy considered, and upon which he was hardly able to decide.
Suppose he did slay33 the red man, his companion remained, against whom he could do nothing, and who would be sure to visit a cruel punishment upon him. No; he decided34 that the time had not yet come for him to do such a thing.
In the meantime, the Mohave was close at hand. Not once did he raise his head, but walked slowly along, examining the ground, and looking across the stream as though he expected to see the fugitive35. The heart of the latter gave a throb36 as he saw him pass beyond the tree which contained himself; but the temporary hope thus awakened37 was speedily dispelled38 by observing the red man suddenly halt, look around him as though he failed, for the moment, exactly to comprehend things, and then he raised his head and saw the youngster cowering39 among the branches.
The Mohave surveyed him quietly a moment, and then motioned for him to descend40. The boy could not refuse, as he was entirely in his power, and he obeyed without delay. The captor looked into his face with a curious expression, but still uttered no exclamation41 or word. Finally, he took him by the arm, led him a short distance down the stream of the brook42, and then motioned for him to fall behind and follow.
On the whole, this struck Edwin as rather a curious proceeding43. The Mohave had not deprived him of his gun, and did not even take the trouble to examine whether it was loaded or not, nor did he once look over his shoulder to see whether he was followed by the captive. It was a strong temptation to the latter to dart22 aside, and make another effort to get away, but he could hardly bring his mind to the “sticking point.”
As a matter of course, Edwin had strong hope of getting out of this difficulty, and he therefore paid strict attention to the route which they followed, so as not to be lost, when the opportunity should come to him. The Mohave literally44 took the “back track,” going over his own footsteps, and turning off from the stream at precisely45 the point where the boy first struck it.
As yet there was nothing seen of the other Indian, and the boy was wondering where he could have taken himself, when he made his appearance as suddenly as if he had risen from the very ground. He seemed to entertain the same constitutional objection to talking as did his predecessor46, for not a word was exchanged between them. One walked in the front and the other in the rear of the boy, so that, for the present, he gave over all thoughts of taking abrupt47 leave of them.
The party passed directly by the remains48 of the antelope slain49 by Edwin, and so on until they reached the gorge50 where he had first descried51 the Mohaves as they were seated around the camp-fire. This led the boy to think that they were a part of those who had besieged52 them in the cave.
Whether this was a matter for congratulation or fear was more than he could determine, although it gave him hope that the captured Mohave might be among them, who he was sure would not forget the magnanimity shown him when he was at the mercy of those whom he sought to injure.
Nightfall was close at hand, and the party made their preparations for remaining on the old camping-ground of their former friends. They had a portion of the antelope with them, and offered a piece to Edwin, who accepted it more for the sake of pleasing them, than on account of any hunger he felt. After this, they seated themselves upon the ground, and motioned for him to do the same. Their pipes were then produced, and then began the longest and dreariest53 evening of Edwin Inwood’s life.
He lay on the ground, looking up at the stars, communing with the Great Being who dwelt beyond them, wondering what George and Jim thought of his prolonged absence, and speculating as to what the morrow would bring forth54. Hour after hour wore away, and it was near midnight, when his ear detected a faint, regular jarring of the ground, and, raising his head, he saw through the gloom a party of men close at hand.
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1
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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antelope
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| n.羚羊；羚羊皮 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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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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intensified
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| v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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smeared
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| 弄脏； 玷污； 涂抹； 擦上 | |
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hideously
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| adv.可怕地，非常讨厌地 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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scrutinized
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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vanquished
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| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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recollecting
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| v.记起，想起( recollect的现在分词 ) | |
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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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proximity
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| n.接近，邻近 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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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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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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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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dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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furtively
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| adv. 偷偷地, 暗中地 | |
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utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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lithe
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| adj.(指人、身体)柔软的，易弯的 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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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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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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miraculous
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| adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的 | |
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32
preservation
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| n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持 | |
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slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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throb
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| v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动 | |
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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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38
dispelled
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| v.驱散，赶跑( dispel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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cowering
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的现在分词 ) | |
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40
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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41
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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42
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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43
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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45
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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46
predecessor
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| n.前辈，前任 | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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48
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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49
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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50
gorge
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| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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51
descried
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| adj.被注意到的，被发现的，被看到的 | |
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52
besieged
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
dreariest
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| 使人闷闷不乐或沮丧的( dreary的最高级 )； 阴沉的； 令人厌烦的； 单调的 | |
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54
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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