The indistinct rustling2 that had awakened3 his hope soon ceased, and he was compelled to believe the Comanche had given up his intention of trying to gain a stealthy shot at him and was now devoting himself to the inmates4 of the dwelling5.
How he longed to descend6 through the scuttle and take part in the stirring events that must soon be under way there! What short work he would make of the wretch7 who had dared to assume such a risk!
But it was useless to regret his own shortsightedness, now that it rendered him powerless to strike a blow for his friends. He crept to the peak of the roof, and scrutinized8 every portion thus brought into his field of vision. Not the slightest sound fell upon his ear that could indicate danger, nor could he discern anything of his enemies.
The wind was still blowing fitfully, and he heard the familiar rustle10 of the mesquite bush, with now and then a signal passing between the Comanches. He listened in vain for the noise made by the hoofs11 of their mustangs. They seemed to have ceased their aimless galloping12 back and forth13, and were probably plotting some new form of mischief14.
Suddenly the rattle15 of a horse’s feet struck him. It broke upon his hearing for an instant, and then ceased as abruptly16 as it had made itself manifest.
It was as if a steed were galloping over the soft earth, and, reaching a small bridge of planks17, dashed over them with two or three bounds, his hoofs immediately becoming inaudible in the yielding ground beyond.
That which might have puzzled a listener was plain to the Texan, who had spent many years on the plains of the Southwest. He knew that what might be called a peculiar19 eddy20 in the fitful wind had brought the sound to him. A sudden change of direction––ended as soon as it began––whirled the noise as straight across the intervening space as if it had been fired by an arrow.
The sound was similar to that which he had noticed many times that evening, but the impression came to him that it possessed21 a significance which belonged to none of the others. It was a single horse, and he was going at a moderate speed, which, however, was the case with most of those he had heard.
All at once the sound broke upon his ear again, but this time it was accompanied by the noise of many other hoofs.
“They are cattle,” was his conclusion; “a part of the herd22 has been stampeded, and one of the men is trying to round them up: it was his mustang that I heard––ah! there it goes again!”
It was the crack of a rifle and the screech23 146of a mortally struck person that startled him this time.
“I believe that was a Comanche who has gone down before the rifle of one of our men.”
As the reader is aware, the Texan was correct in every particular, for it was the report of Gleeson’s Winchester, which ended the career of the warrior24 pressing Avon Burnet so hard, that reached the captain as he lay on the roof of his own dwelling.
The whimsical nature of the wind, that had been blowing all the night, excluded further sounds. The stillness that succeeded seemed so unnatural25 in its way that it might have alarmed a more superstitious26 person. Once the faintest possible rumbling27 of the cattle’s hoofs was detected, but it quickly subsided28, and nothing more of the kind was noticeable.
It was clear that the Comanches in the immediate18 vicinity of the cabin must have noted29 all that interested the Texan. Whatever the issue of the remarkable30 meeting on the prairie, there could be no doubt that one of the red men had been laid low. Another had been shot by the captain a short time before, not to mention the other one or two that he believed had fallen.
Thus far, no one of the inmates had been harmed, unless perchance his nephew was overtaken by disaster. Consequently, the game the Comanches were playing, though they did their part with rare skill, was a losing one up to this point.
As the minutes passed, the Texan found himself more hopeful than he had been through the entire evening. He was strong in the belief that Avon had succeeded in reaching the camp of the cattlemen, and that the latter would soon appear on the scene with an emphasis that would scatter31 his assailants like so much chaff32.
The only vulnerable point for fire was on the roof, but the designs of the Indians had been defeated thus far, and he believed they could be stood off indefinitely, at least until the arrival of the cowboys, who would then take charge of business.
The two matters that gave him anxiety were the presence of the warrior below in the cabin, and the probability of himself being struck by some of the bullets that he expected to come scurrying33 over the planking every minute.
The two shots that had been fired came alarmingly near, and the next were likely to come still nearer.
But immunity34 from harm gives one confidence, and only a few more minutes passed when, instead of contenting himself with peering about him, the captain began stealthily creeping toward the part of the eaves where the last Indian had appeared and disappeared so suddenly.
Mindful of the risk of the action, he paused when close to the edge, and waited several minutes before venturing to peep over. The stillness was as if every living person were a hundred miles away. This, however, as he well knew, might be the case with a score of Indians grouped directly beneath.
But having gone thus far, he did not mean to return to his post without accomplishing something. With the greatest possible caution, he raised his head just far enough to look over. He held it in this position only a second or two, for, if any of his enemies were on the alert, they would be sure to observe him.
Nothing greeted his vision, beyond that which he had seen times without number. He did not catch the outlines of a single person or mustang, though convinced they were near at hand.
Had there been any doubt on this point, it would have been dissipated by a repetition of the signals that seemed almost continually passing between the besieging35 Comanches.
Captain Shirril noticed that the sounds came from the direction of the mesquite bush, as though most of them had gathered there apparently36 for consultation37, and were calling in the other members of their party.
“If that is so, they can’t do us much harm,” was his conclusion, “but they are not likely to stay there. I suppose they have gathered in Avon and my horses long ago, and we shall have to ride other animals on the tramp to Kansas.”
On the whole, the result of his survey was satisfactory; whatever mischief the Comanches were plotting, there was no immediate danger. Minutes were precious, but they were more valuable to the defenders38 than to the assailants. The cattlemen must arrive soon, and when they did so the siege would be over.
The reconnoissance, if such it may be termed, lasted but a few minutes, when the captain started on his cautious return to the scuttle, in the hope that something in the way of information awaited him there.
The door was raised fully9 six inches, the opening being toward him, so that the Comanche had him at his mercy. It looked indeed to the Texan as if his enemy had got the drop on him, and at last he was at his mercy.
The captain whipped out his revolver, but before he could fire a familiar voice called out in a husky undertone:
“Am dat you, captin’? And am you well?”
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1
scuttle
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| v.急赶，疾走，逃避；n.天窗；舷窗 | |
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2
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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3
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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inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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6
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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7
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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8
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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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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10
rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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11
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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12
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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15
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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planks
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| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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eddy
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| n.漩涡，涡流 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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screech
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| n./v.尖叫；(发出)刺耳的声音 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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rumbling
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| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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28
subsided
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| 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 | |
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29
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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30
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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31
scatter
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| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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32
chaff
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| v.取笑，嘲笑；n.谷壳 | |
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33
scurrying
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| v.急匆匆地走( scurry的现在分词 ) | |
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34
immunity
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| n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权 | |
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35
besieging
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的现在分词 ) | |
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36
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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37
consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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38
defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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39
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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