Chapter 26 What Next?

 Some persons are said to have premonitions of coming ill, but this could not be said in the present instance of Bradley and his young companion. Bradley had the shrewdness to read the real cowardice¹ of Mosely, who was the leader, and did not dream that he would have the courage to take the horses. But then, he did not know the danger in which their two visitors had placed themselves by their recent theft. Danger will strengthen the courage of the timid, and, in this case, it decided² Mosely to commit a new theft.

 

The robbers were quite five miles away when Ben opened his eyes.

 

He looked about him with sleepy eyes, and it was only by an effort that he remembered the events of the previous evening.

 

It was with no misgiving³ that he looked for the horses. When he realized that they were gone, his heart gave a great bound, and he rose on his elbow. Next he looked for Mosely and Hadley, but, of course, in vain.

 

'They've stolen the mustangs!' he said to himself, in genuine dismay, and instantly seizing Bradley by the shoulder, shook him energetically.

 

'What's the matter, Ben?' demanded Bradley, in amazement⁴. 'You needn't be quite so rough.'

 

'It's time you were awake!' said Ben hurriedly. 'Those fellows have stolen our mustangs!'

 

'What's that you say?' ejaculated Bradley, now thoroughly⁵ awake.

 

'The mustangs are gone, and they are gone!' said Ben.

 

'When did you find it out?'

 

'Only just now. I was sleepy, and overslept myself.'

 

'Half-past seven o'clock,' said Bradley, referring to a cheap silver watch which he had bought for a trifle from a miner at Murphy's who was hard up. 'I'm afraid they must have been gone some time. It's a bad lookout⁶ for us, Ben.'

 

'So it is, Jake. You thought they wouldn't dare to take anything.'

 

'No more I thought they would. That Bill Mosely bragged⁷ so much I didn't think he had enough pluck.'

 

'Does it take much pluck to be a thief, Jake?'

 

'Well, in Californy it does,' answered Bradley. 'When a man steals a boss here, he takes his life in his hand, and don't you forget it. If it was only a year in the penitentiary⁸, or something like that, it wouldn't scare 'em so bad. That Mosely's a bad lot, and will likely die in his boots.'

 

'What's that?'

 

'Be shot standing⁹, or swing from the branch of a tree. I thought I'd said enough last night to put him off the notion of playin' us such a trick.'

 

'Probably he thought there wouldn't be any chance of our catching¹⁰ him when we were reduced to walk.'

 

'It's likely you're right, Ben, and I ought to have thought of that. I jest wish I could set eyes on the critter at this particular minute. To treat us that way after our kindness, that's what riles me.'

 

'What shall we do, Jake?'

 

'That's to be considered. Blamed if I know, unless we foot it, and that will be no joke, over these hills and through these forests.'

 

'We may come upon their track, and overtake them when they are not expecting it.'

 

'I wish we might,' said Bradley, the lines about his mouth tightening¹¹. 'I'd give 'em a lesson.'

 

'They are two men,' said Ben thoughtfully, 'and we are only a man and a boy.'

 

'That is so, Ben; but I'll match you against Hadley. He don't amount to a row of pins; and if I can't tackle Bill Mosely, then I'll never show myself in 'Frisco again.'

 

'I don't mind so much the loss of the mustangs,' said Ben, 'but I'm sorry that we shall be delayed in our search for Richard Dewey.'

 

'That's bad, too. I expect that nice young lady in 'Frisco is a-waitin' anxiously to hear from him. Plague take that rascal¹² Mosely!' he broke out, in fresh exasperation¹³.

 

'Well, Jake, suppose we get some breakfast, and then consider what we will do.'

 

'That's a good thought, Ben. We can't do much on an empty stomach, that's a fact.'

 

For reasons which need not be specified¹⁴, it was decided that the breakfast should consist of trout¹⁵. Despite their loss, both had a good appetite, and when that was satisfied they became more hopeful. 

1 cowardice   

n.胆小，怯懦

参考例句：

• His cowardice reflects on his character.他的胆怯对他的性格带来不良影响。
• His refusal to help simply pinpointed his cowardice.他拒绝帮助正显示他的胆小。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 misgiving   

n.疑虑，担忧，害怕

参考例句：

• She had some misgivings about what she was about to do.她对自己即将要做的事情存有一些顾虑。
• The first words of the text filled us with misgiving.正文开头的文字让我们颇为担心。

4 amazement   

n.惊奇，惊讶

参考例句：

• All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
• He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。

5 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

6 lookout   

n.注意，前途，瞭望台

参考例句：

• You can see everything around from the lookout.从了望台上你可以看清周围的一切。
• It's a bad lookout for the company if interest rates don't come down.如果利率降不下来，公司的前景可就不妙了。

7 bragged   

v.自夸，吹嘘( brag的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He bragged to his friends about the crime. 他向朋友炫耀他的罪行。
• Mary bragged that she could run faster than Jack. 玛丽夸口说她比杰克跑得快。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 penitentiary   

n.感化院；监狱

参考例句：

• He worked as a warden at the state penitentiary.他在这所州监狱任看守长。
• While he was in the penitentiary her father died and the family broke up.他坐牢的时候，她的父亲死了，家庭就拆散了。

9 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

10 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

11 tightening   

上紧，固定，紧密

参考例句：

• Make sure the washer is firmly seated before tightening the pipe. 旋紧水管之前，检查一下洗衣机是否已牢牢地固定在底座上了。
• It needs tightening up a little. 它还需要再收紧些。

12 rascal   

n.流氓；不诚实的人

参考例句：

• If he had done otherwise,I should have thought him a rascal.如果他不这样做，我就认为他是个恶棍。
• The rascal was frightened into holding his tongue.这坏蛋吓得不敢往下说了。

13 exasperation   

n.愤慨

参考例句：

• He snorted with exasperation.他愤怒地哼了一声。
• She rolled her eyes in sheer exasperation.她气急败坏地转动着眼珠。

14 specified   

adj.特定的

参考例句：

• The architect specified oak for the wood trim. 那位建筑师指定用橡木做木饰条。
• It is generated by some specified means. 这是由某些未加说明的方法产生的。

15 trout   

n.鳟鱼；鲑鱼(属)

参考例句：

• Thousands of young salmon and trout have been killed by the pollution.成千上万的鲑鱼和鳟鱼的鱼苗因污染而死亡。
• We hooked a trout and had it for breakfast.我们钓了一条鳟鱼，早饭时吃了。