On the bank were woods so dense2 that sunlight could not penetrate3 the shade. Dick was conscious of a sad misgiving4 when he looked at the character of the territory through which they must necessarily pass. It did not seem practicable by any means to convey the canoe below the falls.
As they neared the shore, Dingo became intensely agitated5. At first Dick suspected that a wild beast or a native might be lurking6 in the papyrus7, but it soon became obvious that the dog was excited by grief rather than by rage.
The dog, however, was too impatient to be caressed9; bounding away, he sprang into the water, swam across the twenty feet that intervened between the shore, and disappeared in the grass.
In a few moments the boat had glided10 on to a carpet of confervas and other aquatic11 plants, starting a few kingfishers and some snow-white herons. Hercules moored12 it to the stump13 of a tree, and the travellers went ashore14.
There was no pathway through the forest, only the
Dick took his gun and Hercules his hatchet18, and they set out to search for Dingo. They had not far to go before they saw him with his nose close to the ground, manifestly following a scent19; the animal raised his head for a moment, as if beckoning20 them to follow, and kept on till he reached an old sycamore-stump. Having called out to the rest of the party to join them, Dick made his way farther into the wood till he got up to Dingo, who was whining21 piteously at the entrance of a dilapidated hut.
The rest were not long in following, and they all entered the hut together. The floor was strewn with bones whitened by exposure.
"Some one has died here," said Mrs. Weldon.
"Perhaps," added Dick, as if struck by a sudden thought, "it was Dingo's old master. Look at him! he is pointing with his paw."
The portion of the sycamore-trunk which formed the farther side of the hut had been stripped of its bark, and upon the smooth wood were two great letters in dingy red almost effaced22 by time, but yet plain enough to be distinguished23.
"S. V.," cried Dick, as he looked where the dog's paw rested; "the same initials that Dingo has upon his collar. There can be no mistake. S. V."
A small copper24 box, green with verdigris25, caught his eye, and he picked it up. It was open, but contained a scrap26 of discoloured paper. The writing upon this consisted of a few sentences, of which only detached words could be made out, but they revealed the sad truth only too plainly.
"Robbed by Negoro-murdered-Dingo-help-Negoro guide-l20 miles from coast-December 3rd, l871-write no more.
"S. VERNON."
Here was the clue to a melancholy27 story. Samuel Vernon, under the guidance of Negoro, and taking with him his dog Dingo, had set out on an exploration of a district of Central Africa; he had taken a considerable quantity of money to procure28 the necessary supplies on the way, and this had excited the cupidity29 of his guide, who seized the opportunity, whilst they were encamping on the banks of the Congo, to assassinate30 his employer, and get possession of his property. Negoro, however, had not escaped; he had fallen into the hands of the Portuguese31, by whom he was recognized as an agent of the slave-dealer Alvez, and condemned32 to spend the rest of his days in prison. He contrived33 after a while to make his escape, and, as has been already mentioned, found his way to New Zealand, whence he had returned by securing an engagement on board the "Pilgrim." Between the time when he was attacked by Negoro and the moment of his death, Vernon had managed to write the few brief lines of which the fragments still survived, and to deposit the document in the box from which the money had been stolen, and by a last effort had traced out his initials in blood upon the naked wood which formed the wall of the hut. For many days Dingo watched beside his master, and throughout that time his eyes were resting so perpetually upon the two crimson34 letters in front of him, that mere35 instinct seemed to fasten them indelibly on his memory. Quitting his watch one day, perhaps to pacify37 his hunger, the dog wandered to the coast, where he was picked up by the captain of the "Waldeck," afterwards to be transferred to the very ship on which his owner's murderer had been engaged as cook.
All throughout this time poor Vernon's bones had been bleaching38 in the African forest, and the first resolution of Dick and Mrs. Weldon was to give the residue39 of his remains40 some semblance41 of a decent burial. They were just proceeding42 to their task when Dingo gave a furious growl43, and dashed out of the hut; another moment, and a terrible shriek44 made it evident that he was in conflict with some dread45 antagonist46.
Hercules was quickly in pursuit, and the whole party followed in time to witness the giant hurl47 himself upon a man with whom already Dingo was in mortal combat.
[Illustration: The dog was griping the man by the throat]
The dog was griping the man by the throat, the man was lifting his cutlass high above the head of the dog.
That man was Negoro. The rascal48, on getting his letter at Kazonndé, instead of embarking49 at once for America, had left his native escort for a while, and returned to the scene of his crime to secure the treasure which he had left buried at a little distance in a spot that he had marked. At this very moment he was in the act of digging up the gold he had concealed50; some glistening51 coins scattered52 here and there betrayed his purpose; but in the midst of his labours he had been startled by the dashing forward of a dog; another instant, and the dog had fixed53 itself upon his throat, whilst he, in an agony of desperation, had drawn54 his cutlass and plunged55 it deep into the creature's side.
But vengeance58 was already accomplished59. Negoro gave no sign of life; death had overtaken him on the very scene of his guilt60. Dingo, too, had received a mortal wound; he dragged himself back to the hut, lay down beside the remains of his master, and expired.
The sad task of burying Vernon's bones, and laying his faithful dog beside them having been accomplished, the whole party was obliged to turn their thoughts to their own safety. Although Negoro was dead, it as very likely that the natives that he had taken with him were at no great distance, and would come to search for him.
A hurried conference was held as to what steps had best be taken. The few words traceable on the paper made them aware that they were on the banks of the Congo, and that they were still 120 miles from the coast. The fall just ahead was probably the cataract of Memo36, but whatever it was, no doubt it effectually barred their farther progress by water. There seemed no alternative but that they should make their way by one bank or the other a mile or two below the waterfall, and there construct a raft on which once again they could drift down the stream. The question that pressed for immediate61 settlement was which bank it should be. Here, on the left bank, would be the greater risk of encountering the negro escort of Negoro, while as to the farther shore they could not tell what obstacles it might present.
Altogether Mrs. Weldon advocated trying the other side, but Dick insisted upon crossing first by himself to ascertain62 whether an advance by that route were really practicable.
"The river is only about 100 yards wide," he urged; "I can soon get across. I shall leave Hercules to look after you all."
Mrs. Weldon demurred63 for a while, but Dick seemed resolute64, and as he promised to take his gun and not to attempt to land if he saw the least symptom of danger, she at last consented, but with so much reluctance65 that even after he had entered the canoe she said,-
"I think, Dick, it would be really better for us all to go together."
"No, Mrs. Weldon, indeed, no; I am sure it is best for me to go alone; I shall be back in an hour."
"If it must be so, it must," said the lady.
"Keep a sharp look-out, Hercules!" cried the youth cheerily, as he pushed off from the land.
The strength of the current was by no means violent, but quite enough to make the direction of Dick's course somewhat oblique66. The roar of the cataract reverberated67 in his ears, and the spray, wafted68 by the westerly wind, brushed lightly past his face, and he shuddered69 as he felt how near they must have been to destruction if he had relaxed his watch throughout the night.
It took him hardly a quarter of an hour to reach the opposite bank, and he was just preparing to land when there arose a tremendous shout from about a dozen natives, who, rushing forward, began to tear away the canopy70 of grass with which the canoe was covered.
Dick's horror was great. It would have been greater still if he had known that they were cannibals. They were the natives settled at the lacustrine village higher up the river. When the piece of thatch71 had been knocked off in passing the piles a glimpse had been caught of the passengers below, and aware that the cataract ahead must ultimately bring them to a standstill, the eager barbarians72 had followed them persistently73 day by day for the last eight days.
Now they thought they had secured their prize, but loud was their yell of disappointment when on stripping off the thatch they found only one person, and that a mere boy, standing74 beneath it.
Dick stood as calmly as he could at the bow, and pointed75 his gun towards the savages76, who were sufficiently77 acquainted with the nature of fire-arms to make them afraid to attack him.
Mrs. Weldon with the others, in their eagerness to watch Dick's movements, had remained standing upon the shore of the river, and at this instant were caught sight of by one of the natives, who pointed them out to his companions. A sudden impulse seized the whole of them, and they sprang into the canoe; there seemed to be a practised hand amongst them, which caught hold of the rudder-oar, and the little craft was quickly on its way back.
Although he gave up all as now well-nigh lost, Dick neither moved nor spoke78. He had one lingering hope yet left. Was it not possible even now that by sacrificing his own life he could save the lives of those that were entrusted79 to him?
When the canoe had come near enough to the shore for his voice to be heard, he shouted with all his might,-
"Fly, Mrs. Weldon; fly, all of you; fly for your lives!"
But neither Mrs. Weldon nor Hercules stirred; they seemed rooted to the ground.
"Fly, fly, fly!" he continued shouting.
But though he knew they must hear him, yet he saw them make no effort to escape. He understood their meaning; of what avail was flight when the savages would be upon their track in a few minutes after?
A sudden thought crossed his mind. He raised his gun and fired at the man who was steering80; the bullet shattered the rudder-scull into fragments.
The cannibals uttered a yell of terror. Deprived of guidance, the canoe was at the mercy of the current, and, borne along with increasing speed, was soon within a hundred feet of the cataract.
The anxious watchers on the bank instantly discerned Dick's purpose, and understood that in order to save them he had formed the resolution of precipitating81 himself with the savages into the seething82 waters
Nothing could avail to arrest the swift descent. Mrs Weldon in an agony of despair waved her hands in a last sad farewell, Jack and Benedict seemed paralyzed, whilst Hercules involuntarily extended his great strong arm that was powerless to aid.
Suddenly the natives, impelled83 by a last frantic84 effort to reach the shore, plunged into the water, but then movement capsized the boat.
Face to face with death, Dick lost nothing of his indomitable presence of mind. Might not that light canoe, floating bottom upwards85, be made the means for yet another grasp at life? The danger that threatened him was twofold, there was the risk of suffocation86 as well as the peril87 of being drowned; could not the inverted88 canoe be used for a kind of float at once to keep his head above water and to serve as a screen from the rushing air? He had some faint recollection of how it had been proved possible under some such conditions to descend89 in safety the falls of Niagara.
Quick as lightning he seized hold of the cross-bench of the canoe, and with his head out of water beneath the upturned keel, he was dashed down the furious and well-nigh perpendicular90 fall.
The craft sank deep into the abyss, but rose quickly again to the surface. Here was Dick's chance, he was a good swimmer, and his life depended now upon his strength of arm.
It was a hard struggle, but he succeeded. In a quarter of an hour he had landed on the left hand bank, where he
[Illustration: The bullet shattered the rudder scull into fragments]
was greeted with the joyful91 congratulations of his friends, who had hurried to the foot of the fall to assure themselves of his fate.
The cannibals had all disappeared in the surging waters. Unprotected in their fall, they had doubtless ceased to breathe before reaching the lowest depths of the cataract where their lifeless bodies would soon be dashed to pieces against the sharp rocks that were scattered along the lower course of the stream.
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收听单词发音
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1
cataract
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| n.大瀑布，奔流，洪水，白内障 | |
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dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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misgiving
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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papyrus
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| n.古以纸草制成之纸 | |
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8
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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caressed
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| 爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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aquatic
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| adj.水生的，水栖的 | |
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moored
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| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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dingy
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| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
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trampled
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| 踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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hatchet
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| n.短柄小斧；v.扼杀 | |
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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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beckoning
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| adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
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whining
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| n. 抱怨，牢骚 v. 哭诉，发牢骚 | |
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effaced
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| v.擦掉( efface的过去式和过去分词 )；抹去；超越；使黯然失色 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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verdigris
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| n.铜锈；铜绿 | |
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scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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cupidity
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| n.贪心，贪财 | |
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assassinate
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| vt.暗杀，行刺，中伤 | |
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Portuguese
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| n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语 | |
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condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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memo
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| n.照会，备忘录；便笺；通知书；规章 | |
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pacify
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| vt.使(某人)平静(或息怒)；抚慰 | |
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bleaching
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| 漂白法，漂白 | |
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residue
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| n.残余，剩余，残渣 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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semblance
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| n.外貌，外表 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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hurl
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| vt.猛投，力掷，声叫骂 | |
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rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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embarking
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| 乘船( embark的现在分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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52
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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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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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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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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climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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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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ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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demurred
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| v.表示异议，反对( demur的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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oblique
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| adj.斜的，倾斜的，无诚意的，不坦率的 | |
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reverberated
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| 回响，回荡( reverberate的过去式和过去分词 )； 使反响，使回荡，使反射 | |
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wafted
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| v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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canopy
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| n.天篷，遮篷 | |
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thatch
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| vt.用茅草覆盖…的顶部；n.茅草(屋) | |
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barbarians
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| n.野蛮人( barbarian的名词复数 )；外国人；粗野的人；无教养的人 | |
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persistently
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| ad.坚持地；固执地 | |
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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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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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80
steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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81
precipitating
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| adj.急落的，猛冲的v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的现在分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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82
seething
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| 沸腾的，火热的 | |
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impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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85
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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86
suffocation
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| n.窒息 | |
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87
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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88
inverted
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| adj.反向的，倒转的v.使倒置，使反转( invert的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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89
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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90
perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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