"There's a clean hundred miles or more of level plain," added the hunter. "I've traveled it many a time and I ought to know."
"You're right," said Dick. "That's a good sweep of prairie, and we ought to make good time over it, for our horses have had a long rest."
"There's only one thing that troubles me," ventured Ned Chadmund, when the heads of all their animals were turned westward; "I'm so hungry and faint that I can hardly sit on my horse."
"That's bad," said Tom, feelingly. "I never thought of that when we had a good chance among the mountains to fetch down some game. We ain't apt to run agin anythin' in the hash line while riding along on the prairie; but we'll try it, and if we don't we'll turn off to a little spot where I know we shall hit it."
Ned expressed his willingness to do this, and the company started. Instead of going in Indian file, as they had done while among the mountains, they rode side by side at an easy swinging gallop3, the prairie lightening up as they advanced, and the surface continuing of the same impact character, which rendered it the most favorable possible for horseback riding. To one who, like the boy, had tramped and trudged4 along until scarcely able to stand, this change was of the most pleasing character. He felt comfortable and anxious to ride ahead for hours, the only drawback being that gnawing5 hunger, that weary faintness, which could only be dissipated by food.
Occasionally, while riding along in this manner, the three would halt and listen, and then, when certain that they heard nothing, move on again. This was repeated several times, until the two hunters remained motionless longer than usual. When Ned asked the cause of this, Tom replied by asking him whether he heard anything. He answered that he did not.
"What do you make it?" inquired Dick.
"Can't tell."
Hardynge remained standing8 beside his steed for several minutes, looking off to the southward, and then he knelt down and bent9 his ear to the ground again.
"It is off yonder," he added, pointing to the southward, and leaping at the same time upon the back of his mustang.
Ned listened to catch some explanation; but at this interesting juncture10, for some reason only known to themselves, the two men began talking in the Indian tongue. It was interesting to hear their gutteral exclamations11, but it would have been much more interesting could he have understood what they were saying, and to know why it was, when talking, that they laughed and looked meaningly toward him. The lad affected12 not to notice all this, although it piqued13 his curiosity not a little.
A half mile more was ridden at a leisurely14 gait, when all three drew up their mustangs, and Dick Morris looked meaningly at their young comrade.
"Do you hear anything now?"
Yes, there could be no mistaking it, faint though it was. All three sat motionless and listened. At first, it might have been taken for the far-off rumble15 of thunder—a fluttering, distant rattle16, such as is occasionally heard during the hot summer months. It was not exactly of that character, either, being more like a continuous rattle, coming from some point many miles away.
"What do you suppose it is?" asked Tom, of the lad.
"I never heard anything like it before. What is it?"
"Does it sound like the tramp of animals?"
"Not much, it seems to me. It can't be that."
"That's just what it is."
Ned started.
"So it is—so it is. I can notice it now. I hear the sound of horses hoofs17 on the prairie. The sound is growing more distinct, too, and they must be coming this way, Tom. Is that so?"
"That's just what's the matter. We'll see 'em all inside of half an hour, unless we turn tail and run."
"Let's do it, then, for there can't be much time to spare."
The hunters showed no disposition18 to flee from the danger approaching, and Ned began to grow alarmed.
"Why do you stay here?" he asked. "If your horses are so fleet that no one can catch them, what is the use of letting them do it?"
"Don't get scart, my boy," returned Tom Hardynge. "We'll take care of you."
He much preferred that they should all take care of themselves by giving their animals the rein19 and permitting the Apaches to make no nearer approach. But the scouts20 were obstinate21 and remained as motionless as statues. The tramping of myriad22 feet came nearer and nearer, until the sound partook of one general, thunderous undertone of the most trying character to the lad. It seemed to him so much like suicide—this waiting for a terrible danger as it steadily23 approached—that he was strongly tempted24 to start his horse away on his own account.
"Look!" called out Morris, pointing toward the southwest.
Following the direction indicated, the lad saw what appeared to be a heavy cloud lying low down in the horizon, but creeping slowly upward, like the sulphurous vapor25 that sometimes hovers26 over a battle field.
"What is it?" he asked, terrified, knowing that it was not the presage27 of a storm such as sometimes sweeps over the prairies.
There was something strange and unnatural28 in its appearance, accompanied, as it was, by the tremulous, thunderous rumbling29. By and by, as this uproar30 came nearer and nearer, a still more curious sight presented itself. The prairie seemed agitated31, trembling and quivering with a peculiar32, wave-like motion, such as the ocean shows when it is subsiding33 after a severe storm. There was a sea, a living sea, spreading tumultuously over the plain. Dark, heaving masses were constantly verging34 nearer, as they moved rapidly toward the northeast. Suddenly light broke in upon the mind of Ned Chadmund.
"Correct," assented37 Tom, with a laugh. "They are passing pretty close, but we're out of their way."
The buffaloes surged so near to where the three horsemen stood that more than once Ned started with a fear that they would be overwhelmed; but the hunters showed such calmness and self-possession that he was reassured38. All at once a furious trampling39 was heard, and two of the animals that had become separated from the others in some way, dashed directly by the horsemen and out upon the prairie.
"Now, Ned," called out Tom; "there's your chance! Take that head one! He will make you a good supper if you can fetch him down!"
The lad and his animal were seized with a sudden inspiration seemingly at the same time. Just as the heart of the young hunter swelled40 with a wild desire to bring down the noble game, the mustang bounded away in pursuit of the very buffalo35 which had been indicated by the trapper. As the rider saw himself drawing rapidly near the huge body, lumbering41 awkwardly but rapidly along, he was seized with a fluttering which, perhaps was natural, but which, unless overcome, was fatal to any hopes of procuring42 any supper. The mustang drew steadily nearer, Ned's agitation43 increasing every minute, until pursuer and pursued were running side by side.
This was the critical moment when the rider should have fired, and when the horse had been taught to expect him to do so; but when our hero raised the heavy Indian gun to his shoulder, his trembling, together with the jolting44 of his mustang, now upon a dead run, told him that it would be useless to fire, when the only chance of hitting his prey45 was by the merest accident. Accordingly, he lowered his gun, in the hopes of quieting his nerves, so as to bring himself up to the self-appointed task. As he did so, his horse began shying off from the buffalo. He was afraid of the horns of the enraged46 creature, and having given him all the opportunity he could expect, he was not willing to keep him company any longer. The paths continued to diverge47 until they were twenty yards apart, when the mustang appeared to think all danger was passed. By this time Ned Chadmund felt that he was master of himself, and he turned the head of his horse toward the immense fugitive48, still gliding49 forward at the same terrific rate.
"I'll fetch him this time," he muttered, with a determined50 air.
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1
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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2
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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3
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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trudged
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| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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gnawing
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| a.痛苦的，折磨人的 | |
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scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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7
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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8
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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9
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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10
juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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11
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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12
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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piqued
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| v.伤害…的自尊心( pique的过去式和过去分词 )；激起（好奇心） | |
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14
leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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15
rumble
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| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
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16
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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17
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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18
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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20
scouts
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| 侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员 | |
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21
obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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22
myriad
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| adj.无数的；n.无数，极大数量 | |
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23
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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24
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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25
vapor
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| n.蒸汽，雾气 | |
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26
hovers
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| 鸟( hover的第三人称单数 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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presage
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| n.预感，不祥感；v.预示 | |
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unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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29
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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30
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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31
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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32
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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33
subsiding
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的现在分词 )；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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34
verging
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| 接近，逼近（verge的现在分词形式） | |
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35
buffalo
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| n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛 | |
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36
buffaloes
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| n.水牛（分非洲水牛和亚洲水牛两种）( buffalo的名词复数 )；（南非或北美的）野牛；威胁；恐吓 | |
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37
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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39
trampling
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| 踩( trample的现在分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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40
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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41
lumbering
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| n.采伐林木 | |
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42
procuring
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的现在分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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43
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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44
jolting
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| adj.令人震惊的 | |
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45
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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46
enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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47
diverge
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| v.分叉，分歧，离题，使...岔开，使转向 | |
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48
fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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49
gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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50
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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