The place in which the fire was kindled2 was elevated, rocky, uneven3, and inclosed by a few stunted4 trees and undergrowth, so that while the young scout5 could catch a glimmer6, now and then, of the fire, he could see nothing more. The only way in which he could perfect his information was to crawl up still nearer. This he proceeded to do, using all the care and caution possible, until, after the lapse7 of nearly an hour, he reached a point where his view was unobstructed and perfect.
A severe disappointment awaited him. He saw four Indian warriors8 grouped around the fire, their dress, and the peculiar10 manner in which they were painted, proving that they belonged to some tribe other than the Apaches. Three of them were occupied in cutting up and preparing the carcass of some animal, which they had shot, while the fourth was on his knees in front of the fire, carefully doctoring it for culinary purposes.
Succeeding Ned's first feeling of disappointment was an undercurrent of hope that he was in a fair way to obtain another good meal.
"It isn't likely they'll eat up all they've got," he reflected, "and I don't suppose they're going to settle down there for life. All I've got to do, then, is to hang round until they go away, and then, if I can get the chance, I'll stuff enough to last a week."
Having made his reconnaissance he withdrew to a more secret place, where he would not be seen in case some of the warriors should take a look around before retiring for the night. It was fortunate that he did so, for he had scarcely crawled away beneath a dense11 mass of undergrowth when he made the discovery that he had placed himself in a curious and singularly dangerous position.
Twice he fancied he heard a faint rustling12 in the rear of where he was crouching13, and he was puzzled to know what it meant. He was sharp enough to protect himself from observation from this direction as well as from the front, and was no more than fairly secure when he caught the slight sound again, and the next moment detected the figure of an Indian stealing along, with his gaze fixed14 upon the camp fire and the forms around it.
The lad was naturally puzzled to understand the meaning of this. There was just enough fire light penetrating15 to where he was to show him that this redskin belonged to a different tribe from those in camp. Only a few minutes passed when he caught the glimpse of another warrior9 on the left, crouching along in the same manner as the other. Then followed the softest possible hiss16, such as is made by the disturbed serpent, and, at that moment, the truth of the whole matter suddenly broke upon Ned Chadmund.
The strange Indians were quietly preparing their supper, unaware17 of the fact that, while they were thus employed, a party of Apaches, their deadly enemies, were closing in upon them. Thus, it was, too, that, without the knowledge of either side, the lad was directly between them, where it would seem impossible that he should escape being involved in the conflict that was rapidly drawing to a head.
There was no hope of withdrawing, for the slightest movement would be sure to make known his position, and he could only wait, therefore, the issue of the encounter with an intensity18 of interest which it is impossible to imagine. What could be more painfully interesting, for instance, than to watch the movements of the strange Indians as they engaged themselves in preparing their supper, conversing19 with each other in their grunting20 fashion, and to note their unconsciousness that a circle of death was slowly but surely closing in around them; to know, which they did not suspect, that the most deadly kind of encounter was close at hand? The endangered party certainly showed a lack of precaution which belongs to their people in the most ordinary cases when they went into camp in this fashion, and left the way open for such a deadly and fatal assault to be made upon them. It must have been that while engaged in the chase during the day they had made their observations, and satisfied themselves that none of their enemies were in dangerous proximity21.
The odor of the cooking meat crept through the bushes to the nostrils22 of the hungry lad, who was almost maddened into charging upon the party himself in quest of some of the brown, crisp, roasting meat; but he restrained himself, in the hope that the issue of the unpleasantness would furnish him an opportunity to procure23 something for the inner man.
An Indian upon the warpath is as patient as the Esquimau who watches for a dozen hours beside the airhole, waiting for the seal to come to the surface. According to all human reasoning, there was no earthly necessity for any delay upon the part of the attacking Apaches, and yet, for full an hour longer, they maneuvered24 and reconnoitered, without striking a blow. Despite the tense condition of the lad's nerves, he began to grow drowsy25 and weary at the prolonged delay, and had the attack been deferred26 a short time longer, he would have dropped into a sound slumber27.
The four strange Indians were permitted to finish their supper, and to engage in a comfortable smoke. This, however, was never completed. They were stretched out upon the ground in the most indolent manner imaginable, when several rifles suddenly broke the stillness, the Apache war whoop28 rang out with startling power, and a number of figures charged through the bushes like a horde29 of demons30, all converging31 upon the group around the camp fire. Two of the latter had been instantly killed by the first volley poured in upon them. The others were wounded, but they were on their feet in an instant, fighting with the fury of tigers.
The battle was of the hurricane order, the third defender32 going down within a minute after the assaulting party closed in about them. The fourth, who was only slightly hurt seemed to have been caught at less disadvantage. He was a warrior of wonderful activity and strength, and used his hunting knife with good effect upon his first and second assailants with lightening-like quickness. Then as they began to crowd in upon him faster than he could provide against he circled his weapon around his head several times, so as to clear a brief open space, when, with a yell of defiance33, he bounded high in the air, and vanished in the forest, his speed so amazing that it was vain for any one to think of pursuing him.
The battle ended as abruptly34 as it began. It was over in an instant, and the petrified35 spectator could scarcely realize what had taken place directly under his own eyes. He lay motionless, peering through the leaves that shut him in, scarcely daring to breathe as he watched the movements of the victors. He could scarcely suppress an exclamation36 of terror when he recognized among them his old captor and enemy, Lone37 Wolf.
"Just think of it," whispered Chadmund. "I have spent hours and hours, and have traveled night and day to get away from him, and here he is, within fifty feet of me again. How can I keep him from seeing my trail again in the morning? It does beat everything how this thing is getting mixed."
He took heart again, however, when he came to reflect that the greater part of the night was still before him, that Lone Wolf had undoubtedly38 given up all expectation of finding him, and, by using ordinary caution, he could still keep clear of him.
The Apaches did not remain long upon the scene of the encampment. The two of their own number that had been killed were lifted up, and then Lone Wolf and his few intrepid39 warriors took their departure. Thus it happened that within fifteen minutes after the first gun had been fired, and the first yell uttered, the boy found himself alone upon the scene of the terrible fight. Dreadful as were the place and the associations, he could not forget that he was nearly famished40, and stealing his way to the fire, he hunted around until he found enough to satisfy the cravings within. This done, he made up his mind that it was best for him to do some traveling during the darkness, without waiting for the rising of the morrow's sun.
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1
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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2
kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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3
uneven
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| adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的 | |
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4
stunted
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| adj.矮小的；发育迟缓的 | |
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5
scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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glimmer
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| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
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7
lapse
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| n.过失，流逝，失效，抛弃信仰，间隔；vi.堕落，停止，失效，流逝；vt.使失效 | |
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8
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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10
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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11
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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12
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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13
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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14
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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15
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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16
hiss
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| v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满 | |
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unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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grunting
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| 咕哝的，呼噜的 | |
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proximity
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| n.接近，邻近 | |
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nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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23
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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maneuvered
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| v.移动，用策略( maneuver的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵 | |
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drowsy
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| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
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26
deferred
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| adj.延期的，缓召的v.拖延，延缓，推迟( defer的过去式和过去分词 )；服从某人的意愿，遵从 | |
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slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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28
whoop
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| n.大叫，呐喊，喘息声；v.叫喊，喘息 | |
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29
horde
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| n.群众，一大群 | |
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demons
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| n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念 | |
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31
converging
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| adj.收敛[缩]的，会聚的，趋同的v.（线条、运动的物体等）会于一点( converge的现在分词 )；（趋于）相似或相同；人或车辆汇集；聚集 | |
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32
defender
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| n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人 | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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34
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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35
petrified
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| adj.惊呆的；目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆，使惊呆；变僵硬；使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词) | |
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36
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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37
lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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38
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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39
intrepid
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| adj.无畏的，刚毅的 | |
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40
famished
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| adj.饥饿的 | |
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