As may well be supposed, Fred Linden was amazed at what met his eyes. The sight of Terry in friendly converse3 with a strange Indian was the opposite of what he expected to see. He slackened his hurried walk and looked inquiringly at Terry. The latter could talk fast when he chose, and the few sentences he rattled4 off as his companion came up made the matter tolerably clear.
While the questioning and talk were going on, Deerfoot stood leaning on his long gun and gazing with a certain natural dignity at the two friends. He said nothing nor did he appear to show any special curiosity, though had any one studied his countenance5, he would have seen that he was watching Fred Linden. He had said that he carried a message to him, and it was no more than natural that he should wish to know something about him.
As for Fred himself he did not try to hide his profound interest in the remarkable6 warrior7 who had appeared at such an opportune8 time, but of whom he had never before heard a word. He knew that the settlers along the frontier often found valuable allies in the friendly Indians, and he concluded that this red man was one of those who, having been maltreated by his own people or kindly9 used by the whites, had given his loyalty10 to the56 latter; for in the brief narrative11 of Terry Clark, he had time only to tell the leading facts about the rescue of himself. Just then, therefore, the Irish lad knew more about Deerfoot than did the American.
But it takes only a little time for such a group to become acquainted with each other. A general handshaking followed, and it happened more than once that all three were talking at the same moment. Had any one been able to translate the expression of Deerfoot's countenance, he would have seen that he was pleased with both the lads whom he now met for the first time. There was a rollicking good nature, a cheery courage and ever bubbling hopefulness about Terry that were contagious12, and like so much sunshine that went with him wherever he went.
Fred Linden was of that manly13 mold and rugged14 appearance that he would have drawn15 favorable attention wherever he might be.
Such a lad in these days would have been picked out as a born athlete, one who was capable, with proper training, to become a first-class ball player, oarsman or boxer16. He was a swift runner, a strong leaper, an expert rifle shot, and his rugged frame and rough, outdoor life gave him an endurance that few men could surpass. He was as tall as Deerfoot, with broad shoulders, muscular arms and legs, clear, keen eyes, a fine chest and a symmetrical frame.
The clothes of the two boys, it is hardly necessary to say, were of homespun, for a hundred years ago it would have been hard for them to procure17 any other kind of goods. The short coat was somewhat like those used to-day by bicyclists, reaching only a short distance below the waist, where the girdle was fastened in front. The trowsers, of the same material, reached to the knees, below which were the hunting leggins, common along the border. Then came the warm, woolen18 stockings and thick, heavy shoes, while the head was surmounted19 by a woolen cap, made by the deft20 fingers at home, and without any pattern. It was soft, and having no forepiece, sat on the head in whichever position it happened to be first placed. In this respect it resembled the valuable sealskins of the present day. The coats of the lads were open in front, and within were the pockets, which they used as required, the trowsers also being provided with a couple of these prime necessities.
When the rattling21 conversation had gone on for several minutes, Terry ran a few steps and picked up the bell that the Indian had placed on the ground. The string which had held it about the neck of the animal was missing, having probably been cut by the knife of the impatient Wolf.
"I'll take the same back home wid me and put it on Brindle if I iver maat her; I shouldn't be so 'stonished that I couldn't spake if I should find that the spalpeen had killed her."
"No," said Fred, "she isn't harmed; I found her off yonder, cropping the buds and leaves, as innocently as though she hadn't done any thing wrong in leading us on this long chase. I started her toward home, and if she keeps up the gait she must be pretty near there by this time."
This was good news to Terry, for the loss of the animal would have been serious to the family of Mr. MacClaskey, her owner. The Irish lad had hardly picked up the bell when Deerfoot pointed22 to the gun lying on the ground, where it had been left by the Wolf.
"That belongs to my brother."
The delighted Terry could hardly believe what was told him, and he stood looking doubtfully at Deerfoot, as if suspecting he had heard him amiss.
"It was you who captured the gun, Deerfoot, and so, if it belongs to any one, ye are the spalpeen."
The Shawanoe looked down at his own handsome weapon and shook his head. He had no need of any other weapon. Besides, this singular youth could not have conscientiously23 taken it. He did not feel justified24 in keeping it for his own use, no matter if in sore need of such a weapon; but, since the Winnebago had made his demonstration25 against Terry Clark, and was compelled to leave the gun behind, when he was permitted to go, it seemed proper that the prize should fall into the hands of the Irish lad.
What gave special propriety26 to the act was the fact that, although Fred Linden was the owner of a fine gun, Terry had none. When his father lost his life, his rifle was never recovered, and though there was one in the family of MacClaskey, the youth had no claim upon it. He longed for such a weapon, with a longing27 that it would be hard to understand. The prize, therefore, was appreciated to its full value. He picked it up with an embarrassed grin, which quickly became natural when he turned it over in his hands and saw what an excellent piece it was.
"More than likely it belonged to a white man in the first place," said Fred; "so it is right enough that it should come back to one of his own race."
"It's loaded," said Terry, slightly raising the hammer and noticing the powder in the pan. Then he brought the gun to his shoulder and pointing it at the white trunk of the beech28, which partly showed through the intervening branches and undergrowth, he said:
"If the spalpeen should peep out from behind that tree, I'm thinkin' I could hit him a harder blow than when I landed me two fists on his mug."
"The Winnebago is a long ways off," said Deerfoot, with a shake of his head; "he may meet my brother some day, but it will not be in this place."
The young Shawanoe having learned all that was to be learned about his young friends, now reached his hand in the breast of his hunting shirt and drew out a small, closely-printed Bible, from between the leaves of which he took a piece of paper that had been folded several times. He glanced at the superscription, as if to make sure it was right, and then handed it to Fred, who, as may be supposed, took it with astonishment29. He recognized the penciled writing as that of his father.
Parting the folds, he read the following:
My Dear Fred: **
You know that when we left home there were three of us, Hardin, Bowlby and myself. There are three of us still, but Bowlby considers himself of no account for some weeks to come, because of a hurt to his foot which will prevent his getting around for a long time. Such being the case, I have concluded, now that I have the chance, to send for you to join us. You are old enough and strong enough to make a full hand, and you can give us good help. Since we have all the animals, you will come afoot, but you will find no trouble in keeping to the trail, which has been traveled often enough to make it plain. It is no more than a hundred miles from Greville to our camp at the foot of the Ozark Mountains, so you ought to have no difficulty in reaching here in the course of three or four days. Love to your mother and Edith.
I send this by a young Shawanoe warrior, called Deerfoot. He is the most remarkable Indian I ever knew. I shall have a good deal to tell you about him when you reach here.
Your Father.
"Deerfoot bids his brothers good-by," said the young Indian, offering his hand, when he saw Fred had finished reading his letter; "he hopes that he shall see them again."
"It won't be our fault if he doesn't," was the cordial response of Fred Linden, in which Terry heartily30 joined him. After a few more pleasant words they parted, Deerfoot following in the footsteps of the fleeing Winnebago, while the others moved to the northward31 in the direction of the creek32. They turned aside a little from the direct course so as to hunt for Brindle, that Fred had seen, but she was not found. To their delight, however, they saw her footprints on the edge of the creek, proving that she had gone home with the directness of one who felt remorse33 for wandering from63 the straight path. She had swum the stream, and was doubtless before the MacClaskey cabin at that moment.
But standing34 close to the edge of the creek, the boys became aware of a hard fact: it had not only risen with great rapidity during the last half hour, so as to become a rushing torrent35, but it was still rising so fast that it was extremely dangerous for the boys to try to cross it in the canoe. Indeed, they hesitated to make the attempt, but finally concluded to do so.
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1
deception
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| n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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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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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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opportune
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| adj.合适的，适当的 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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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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contagious
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| adj.传染性的，有感染力的 | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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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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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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boxer
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| n.制箱者，拳击手 | |
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procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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woolen
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| adj.羊毛(制)的；毛纺的 | |
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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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deft
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| adj.灵巧的，熟练的（a deft hand 能手） | |
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rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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conscientiously
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| adv.凭良心地；认真地，负责尽职地；老老实实 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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beech
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| n.山毛榉；adj.山毛榉的 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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32
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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34
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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torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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