Koppy, under the impetus1 of the conference, set his mind more firmly to the problem facing him. Under the present method of attack the outcome was a question of endurance. And in endurance the disposition2 of the besieged3 was an enormous factor to offset4 the hopelessness of rescue or escape. So long as they remained within the shack5 they could come to little harm, if food, water, and ammunition6 held out.
Exposed to the rifles of the besiegers were, however, two of their principal foes7. The Indian dashed recklessly from post to post. Sooner or later he would pay for it. The continued impunity8 of the boss was more maddening. Above the rails Koppy could see the slight bulge9 on which so many shots had been wasted. Probably it was only Torrance's clothing. From the floor of the forest he seemed to be reasonably protected.
Koppy raised his eyes. With a smile he selected a thick-stemmed tree and, with the aid of willing and suddenly excited hands, lifted himself to the lower boughs10. There, leaning against the trunk, a circle of projecting boughs about him, he laughed. Torrance lay in full view. Gloatingly Koppy slid his rifle along a convenient branch, took aim, and fired. The ring of metal told how close he was.
The next bullet must have touched Torrance's shoulder, for he winced15 and edged closer to the near rail. Koppy cheered and recklessly waved his rifle.
A shot snapped from over the grade, and a piece of bark flicked16 stingingly into the Pole's face. The surprise of it almost tumbled him from his perch17. And before he could cover himself completely with the trunk of the tree a second bullet whipped through the leaves so close to his eyes that he felt the wind of it.
Across the grade the Indian jerked in his rifle with an oath and ran to the shack.
"Dang rotten toy!" he sputtered18, slamming the borrowed gun on the table. "Gi' me my own. I got two cartridges19 left. One'll do. Thar ain't no better place for it."
The crowd beneath Koppy's perch was growing fast. The Pole could hear their whispered exclamations20, see the whites of their faces turned up to him for the report of each shot. In a wave of anger and misgiving21 he realised the rashness of adding another responsibility to those of leadership. Only too eagerly they were piling on his solitary22 shoulders the whole burden of the fight.
He must kill the boss! He must kill the boss!
It ran through his head like a threat--a dirge23. His aim wavered. Bullet after bullet sped harmlessly about Torrance. A cold sweat broke out on the Pole. He leaned out to order others into the surrounding trees--but realised as he glowered24 into their upturned faces that this was no time for orders, but for action.
He reported a hit--boasted, shouted, forced himself to laugh exultantly25.
Where would it all end?
He gripped his fists until the nails bit into his palms, and took a fresh hold of himself. With set teeth, steadier than he had ever been, he thrust the rifle out again along the branch.
At that instant Werner clambered up the grade--and close behind him Morani.
Koppy gasped26. A flash of pride at the unexpected temerity27 of two of his lieutenants28. But it faded swiftly before two driving fears. Torrance had risen to meet them; and Koppy knew the force of that great fist. But if his own men won! Koppy had a vision of vanished glory--of lost leadership. Morani and Werner had taken their lives in their hands to accomplish that which he was failing to do from the protection of a tree.
Snapping his teeth together, he put his eye coolly to the rear sight. If his own men were in the way--well, that was their lookout29. He was aiming at Torrance.
A hush30 fell over the forest. From the foot of the tree the bohunks read crucial drama in Koppy's manner. . . .
With a bellow31 of rage Torrance was on his feet. A single blow he struck at Werner's mad eyes. The head before him snapped back, the bent legs crumpled32. As if he had been shot, Werner's limp body slid backwards33 down the sand. For a moment it hung balanced over the edge, then bent slowly over and plunged35 out of sight.
Morani, alone now but forced to carry it through, struck swiftly. Torrance managed to take the point of the stiletto on his left arm. With his right he grabbed the Italian's arm and jerked sideways and down. A sickening snap, and Morani's dark face went a sickly cream. Without changing his hold, Torrance flung out sideways, as a petulant36 child discards a doll that has lost favour. Morani had never a chance. Lifted clear of the trestle, he pitched headlong into the chasm37.
But in the effort Torrance's foot slipped. He tried to drop to save himself, but too late. Clawing at the ends of the sleepers39, he fell over the way Morani had gone. The breath in a hundred throats held. Mahon closed his eyes.
But in the scramble40 the contractor41's right leg fell between the sleepers, and as his body turned for the final plunge34, his foot caught and held. The leg snapped, but it held. Torrance's head, swinging down outside the trestle, crashed into one of the supports. And there he hung, unconscious.
In the fleeting42 moments of the triple tragedy Koppy could not pull the trigger. But as the boss lay motionless in the open, an evil smile came to the Pole's face. Closing his left eye, he took firm hold of the stock of his rifle and set his finger to the trigger.
Something passed swiftly across the sights. He opened both eyes and raised his head. Tressa Torrance was climbing fearlessly out on the trestle supports to her father's assistance, calling for help.
Koppy gasped. A veil seemed to fall over his eyes. A drop of sweat fell to his rifle butt43. When he could see once more he slowly drew back the gun, eyes staring. Slowly he turned to the expectant faces below him. They knew nothing of what had happened--was happening--out there on the trestle. But they felt in some vague way that he was failing them.
With deliberation Koppy shifted his rifle about, reversing it. Wonder began to dawn on the faces at the foot of the tree, but not a sound came from them. Coolly and firmly the butt slid out along the branch where the barrel had been.
He felt steadier now--no nerves--no fears. With unhurried care he caught the trigger over a twig44 and let it rest there. His head turned slowly about in a half circle, not toward the crowd below but out over the green forest and up into the brightening sky. Then he leaned out and peered at the shack. Moving back in the arc, his eyes rested on Tressa supporting her father's head, though a false step meant certain death.
And Ignace Koppowski smiled--a cleaner, more human smile than had crossed his face for many a year.
"Good girl!" he shouted. "I'll help. Listen."
With the smile still on his lips he jerked the barrel of the rifle toward him.
With the explosion came another from across the grade. And before the first echo two others from the forest behind.
There was blood now, more than they wished. It spurted46 over them from their fallen leader. It welled from a shrieking47 companion who lay twisting on the ground beside their dead leader.
One incredulous moment--then, clutching and clawing, but silent as ever in their fears, they ran for the camp, the only haven48 they knew. The panic spread through the rest out among the trees. And a trail of weapons marked their course.
From a growth of shrub49 a woman in an Indian blanket peered toward the grade. She saw the Indian standing50 there furiously snapping his empty rifle after the fleeing bohunks. And with a smile she faded away.
Westward51, along the grade, from the shadows Helen Mahon stepped, rifle in hand. In a puzzled way she looked first toward the spot where the squaw had fired from. Then she ran for the trestle.
When she reached it Torrance's body lay on the grade. Mahon, at the sound of her feet, swung about and held out his arms.
"Darling," he murmured, "you saved us. You haven't lost your aim."
But she shook her head. "I fired to frighten. Some one else--"
They carried the limp body within the shack and laid it tenderly on the couch. There was still life, and they worked with prayers on their lips. . . .
From outside broke two sharp whistles. Mahon, with a puzzled frown, looked from the front door. An awkward little broncho was trotting52 past the corner of the house toward the stable.
Williams came to him. "I'm afraid it's no use, sir," he whispered. "Nothing could stand up under that."
Mahon appealed to his wife. "Help us, Helen, it's got past us."
The sudden thunder of hoofs53 along the river side of the shack drew the two Policemen to the door. Three horses, the broncho in the lead, were climbing the grade. The broncho started out on the trestle, head bent, measuring each step, moving from sleeper38 to sleeper. And at its heels, obedient as sheep, were Torrance's two horses.
Six hundred yards of open trestle before the fill-in at the other side! Mahon held his breath. . . .
"Mother o' Mike!" The horses had trotted54 out to safety, and Murphy was capering55 gleefully about.
Mahon rushed to the corner of the shack and looked about. The Indian was nowhere in sight.
Helen, with wet cheeks, was bathing the white face of the contractor. Tressa, searching Helen's eyes for hope, saw it vanish in those tears. With a crooning cry she sank beside the couch and lifted her father's head in her arms.
"Daddy! Daddy, speak to me!"
But the face was the face of the dead.
Stooping, she gently brushed her father's lips with her own, as her mother had done in the days of long ago.
"'Jim!'" she whispered. "'Jim!'"
"Mary!" he murmured. Then a sigh. "It hurts--so." One limp hand trembled to his bruised58 head. "All right, Mary!" Then in a stronger voice: "All right, Mary, I'll stay."
The film passed from before his sight.
"By hickory, Tressa, I thought I was dead--and Mary was taking me in hand. She can get along without me, she says, but you can't. But you needn't tell Adrian. Where's my pipe?"
Murphy was capering about the room, whooping59 and rubbing his eyes. The injured man fixed60 him with stern gaze.
"Murphy, what are you doing here, making a fool of yourself at this hour? Don't you know you're due at the gravel61 pit in less than two hours? That fill-in commences to-day--no matter what's happened."
But Murphy was already far up the grade, brandishing62 his shillalah and shouting at the top of his voice:
"'Uggins! 'Uggins! I'm coming."
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1
impetus
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| n.推动，促进，刺激；推动力 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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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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offset
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| n.分支，补偿；v.抵消，补偿 | |
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shack
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| adj.简陋的小屋，窝棚 | |
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ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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impunity
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| n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除 | |
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bulge
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| n.突出，膨胀，激增；vt.突出，膨胀 | |
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boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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12
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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malignantly
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| 怀恶意地； 恶毒地； 有害地； 恶性地 | |
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joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16
flicked
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| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的过去式和过去分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
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17
perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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sputtered
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| v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的过去式和过去分词 )；发劈啪声；喷出；飞溅出 | |
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19
cartridges
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| 子弹( cartridge的名词复数 )； （打印机的）墨盒； 录音带盒； （唱机的）唱头 | |
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exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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misgiving
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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23
dirge
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| n.哀乐，挽歌，庄重悲哀的乐曲 | |
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24
glowered
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| v.怒视( glower的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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exultantly
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| adv.狂欢地，欢欣鼓舞地 | |
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26
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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27
temerity
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| n.鲁莽，冒失 | |
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28
lieutenants
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| n.陆军中尉( lieutenant的名词复数 )；副职官员；空军；仅低于…官阶的官员 | |
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29
lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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30
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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31
bellow
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| v.吼叫，怒吼；大声发出，大声喝道 | |
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32
crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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33
backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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35
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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petulant
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| adj.性急的，暴躁的 | |
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chasm
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| n.深坑，断层，裂口，大分岐，利害冲突 | |
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38
sleeper
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| n.睡眠者，卧车，卧铺 | |
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39
sleepers
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| n.卧铺（通常以复数形式出现）；卧车( sleeper的名词复数 )；轨枕；睡觉（呈某种状态）的人；小耳环 | |
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40
scramble
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| v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料 | |
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contractor
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| n.订约人，承包人，收缩肌 | |
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42
fleeting
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| adj.短暂的，飞逝的 | |
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43
butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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44
twig
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| n.小树枝，嫩枝；v.理解 | |
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45
gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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46
spurted
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| （液体，火焰等）喷出，（使）涌出( spurt的过去式和过去分词 )； （短暂地）加速前进，冲刺 | |
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47
shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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48
haven
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| n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所 | |
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49
shrub
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| n.灌木，灌木丛 | |
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50
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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51
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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52
trotting
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| 小跑，急走( trot的现在分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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53
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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54
trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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55
capering
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| v.跳跃，雀跃( caper的现在分词 )；蹦蹦跳跳 | |
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56
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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58
bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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59
whooping
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| 发嗬嗬声的，发咳声的 | |
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60
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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61
gravel
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| n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石 | |
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62
brandishing
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| v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 )；炫耀 | |
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