It would be hard to say which emotion was the most poignant3 in the breast of the young wanderer. He had learned to love the noble mustang during their brief companionship, and he had discovered, too, how impossible it was for him to make any substantial progress without a good horse to ride. He had lost the best steed he had ever bestrode, and was again thrown upon his own resources. It was natural and creditable to the lad that, as he looked at the fallen steed, and reflected how faithfully he had served him, his hands should seek his eyes. So they did, and he spent full ten minutes in a regular old-fashioned cry, such as he had not enjoyed since receiving a good trouncing at the hands of his parent.
When his grief had subsided4 somewhat, he bade the unconscious form good-bye, and with his rifle over his shoulder started ahead again. He could not bear even to remove the blanket which was strapped5 around the body of the mustang, and which was likely to be of great service to him in his wanderings.
It was already growing dark, when he aimed for the hills, and, as his eye swept over the the prairie, he saw no Indian or sign of danger. He was hopeful that for the time being, at least, he was free from molestation6. His greatest trouble was, that he was ravenously7 hungry again, and he counted upon considerable difficulty in securing the wherewithal with which to satisfy his cravings. True, he had gun and ammunition8, but the game which he wished to meet seemed to be, as a rule, reluctant to put itself within his reach.
After reaching the hills, the lad's next proceeding9 was to hunt up some suitable spot in which to pass the night. The air was so warm and sultry that he could have made no use of the blanket, had he possessed10 it. The place was full of stunted11 trees and undergrowth, with jagged, irregular masses of stone lying here and there, and constantly obtruding12 themselves in such a way that he received a number of severe bruises13.
After tramping about for a short time he discovered that the hills were mainly in the form of a ridge14, passing over the crest15 of which he went down the opposite slope and found himself among a mass of larger rocks, and in a still wilder section. There, while searching, it occurred to him that he might find a suitable retreat among the rocks. The sound of trickling16 water directed his steps a little to the left, where a tiny rivulet17 was found dripping down from the dark stones. After quenching18 his thirst he renewed his hunt.
Although he continued for some time, he was not as successful as he desired. Nothing in the shape of a regular cavern19 presented itself, and he finally nestled down beside one of the largest rocks which could be discovered, with the intention of sleeping until morning.
Ned thought it strange that he should feel so frightened. With the gathering20 of darkness he grew so nervous that all possibility of sleep was driven away. He examined his rifle several times—a curious mistrust taking possession of him—and then arose to his feet and listened.
All seemed as quiet as at creation's morn. There was a soothing21 influence in the faint sound of the dripping water, and an almost inaudible roar seemed to steal forth22 from the great prairie, such as is sometimes noted23 when in the vicinity of the becalmed ocean. Without any thought he thrust his hand into an inner pocket, when he felt a small package wrapped up in paper. Wondering what it could be, he drew it forth.
It was a box of matches!
Suddenly he remembered how they came there. On the day before leaving Santa Fe it occurred to him that he would be likely to need such a convenience, and he had carefully wrapped up a box and placed it in this out-of-the-way corner, where it had lain forgotten.
"That's lucky!" exclaimed the delighted lad, as he drew them out, recognizing them more by the touch than by sight. "Now I'll build a big fire, and fix things splendidly."
A fire was his great desideratum, and, had he believed it possible without great trouble and work, he would have kindled24 one before that. The capture of a new horse could have pleased him scarcely more than the discovery of the matches, and he set about reaping the advantage at once.
In such a place there was little difficulty in procuring25 fuel, and it took Ned but a short time to gather all he could possibly need; but, to guard against all contingencies26, he continued collecting until he had a huge pile, made up of dead limbs, branches, and a number of green sticks thrown in. In a few minutes the flames were under way. He had kindled them against the face of a rock, and they burned with a cheery heartiness27 that did much to dispel28 the gloom which had begun settling over him. He seated himself as near the fire as he could without being made uncomfortable by the reflected heat, and then he assumed as easy a position as was possible in such a place.
"I wonder if anybody will see that?" he asked himself in a whisper, after it had continued burning some time.
Rising and reconnoitering the ground, he was gratified to learn that the light was better screened than he had reason to expect, considering the carelessness with which he had kindled it. The rock at the rear shut off all view from that direction, while the undergrowth was so matted and dense29 in front, that it seemed impossible for any one to see it from the prairie. Having made this survey, he returned to his position, feeling much easier in mind than before.
"Strange what has become of Dick and Tom," he muttered, following up this train of thought, as usual whenever he was left undisturbed for a few minutes. "Can it be that they have been killed by the Apaches? It might be, and yet I don't know how it could happen, either."
He was still meditating30 upon this ever-interesting query31, when he was roused to a sense of his situation by the sound of something trampling32 through the bushes behind him.
"Indians!" he exclaimed, springing to his feet, rifle in hand, and casting his terrified glance in the direction from whence came the sound.
The words were yet in his mouth, when he felt that he had committed a blunder. No Indian would approach in that manner.
"It must be some animal," was his conclusion, as he stepped back, so as to bring himself as close to the fire as possible.
The next moment, a huge, dark, unwieldy body advanced from the gloom with a growl33, and he saw an immense grizzly34 bear lumbering35 toward him. As quick as thought his rifle was at his shoulder, and he fired full at him, the distance being so short that he could not fail to hit the mark; but the wound, however severe it might have been, was not fatal, and did not deter36 bruin's advance in the least. Knowing that it would be sure death if he were once seized by the powerful monster, and aware of the dread37 which all animals have of fire, he dropped his gun and caught up a blazing brand, which he flung in the very face of the brute38.
This was more than a bear, as courageous39 as was this giant grizzly, could stand, and he retreated with an awkward haste which was ridiculous. For the instant he was panic stricken, and continued falling back until he was invisible in the gloom. But he was not disposed to give up the contest by any means. Ned knew he would be back again, and fortified40 himself as well as possible by hugging his own camp fire, stooping down and holding himself ready to hurl41 another torch in the brute's face if he should persevere42 in his attack.
For several minutes all was quiet, and he began to hope that his fright was such that he would keep at a respectful distance. Such was not the case, however. A growl from another direction warned him that the brute was about to advance from that quarter. The lad peered out into the gloom, wondering whether the creature would eventually overcome his dread to such an extent as to press him to the wall. At any rate, he was not disposed to wait and hastily ran around to the other side of the blaze, by which maneuver43 it was interposed directly between him and his enemy.
"I wonder what he will do now?"
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1
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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2
succumbed
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| 不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的过去式和过去分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死 | |
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3
poignant
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| adj.令人痛苦的，辛酸的，惨痛的 | |
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4
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；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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5
strapped
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| adj.用皮带捆住的，用皮带装饰的；身无分文的；缺钱；手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词)；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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molestation
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| n.骚扰，干扰，调戏；折磨 | |
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ravenously
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| adv.大嚼地，饥饿地 | |
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8
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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9
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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10
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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11
stunted
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| adj.矮小的；发育迟缓的 | |
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12
obtruding
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| v.强行向前，强行，强迫( obtrude的现在分词 ) | |
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13
bruises
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| n.瘀伤，伤痕，擦伤( bruise的名词复数 ) | |
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14
ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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15
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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16
trickling
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| n.油画底色含油太多而成泡沫状突起v.滴( trickle的现在分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动 | |
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17
rivulet
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| n.小溪，小河 | |
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18
quenching
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| 淬火，熄 | |
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cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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20
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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21
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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24
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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25
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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26
contingencies
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| n.偶然发生的事故，意外事故( contingency的名词复数 )；以备万一 | |
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27
heartiness
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| 诚实，热心 | |
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28
dispel
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| vt.驱走，驱散，消除 | |
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29
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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30
meditating
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| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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31
query
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| n.疑问，问号，质问；vt.询问，表示怀疑 | |
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32
trampling
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| 踩( trample的现在分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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33
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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34
grizzly
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| adj.略为灰色的，呈灰色的；n.灰色大熊 | |
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35
lumbering
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| n.采伐林木 | |
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36
deter
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| vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住 | |
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37
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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38
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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39
courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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40
fortified
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| adj. 加强的 | |
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41
hurl
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| vt.猛投，力掷，声叫骂 | |
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42
persevere
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| v.坚持，坚忍，不屈不挠 | |
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43
maneuver
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| n.策略[pl.]演习；v.(巧妙)控制；用策略 | |
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