Unfastening the moon-shaped medallion, which my uncle had given me, I slowly spelled out the Nor'-Westers' motto—"Fortitude in Distress12."
"For-ti-tude in Dis-tress," I repeated idly. "By Jove, Hamilton, we need it, don't we?"
Eric's lips curled in scorn. Without answering, he impatiently kicked a fallen brand back to the live coals. I know old saws are poor comfort to people in distress, being chiefly applicable when they are not needed.
"What in the world can be keeping Father Holland?" I asked, leading off on another tack10.[Pg 235] "Here we are almost into the summer, and never a sight of him."
"Did you really expect him back alive from the Bloods?" sneered13 Hamilton. He had unconsciously acquired a habit of expecting the worst.
"Certainly," I returned. "He's been among them before."
"Then all I have to say is, you're a fool!"
Poor Eric! He had informed me I was a fool so often in his ravings I had grown quite used to the insult. He glared savagely14 at the fire, and if I had not understood this bitterness towards the missionary15, the next remark was of a nature to enlighten me.
"I don't see why any man in his senses wants to save the soul of an Indian," he broke out. "Let them go where they belong! Souls! They haven't any souls, or if they have, it's the soul of a fiend——"
"By the bye, Eric," I interrupted, for this petulant16 ill-humor, that saw naught17 but evil in everything, was becoming too frequent and always ended in the same way—a night of semi-delirium, "by the bye, did you see those fellows turning up soil for corn with a buffalo18 shoulder-blade as a hoe?"
"I wish every damn Red a thousand feet under the soil, deeper than that, if the temperature increases."
It was impossible to talk to Hamilton without provoking a quarrel. Leaning back with hands clasped behind my head, I watched through[Pg 236] half-closed eyes his sad face darkling under stormy moods.
At last the rain succeeded in soaking through the parchment across the window and the wind drove through a great split in chilling gusts20 that added to the cabin's discomfort21. I got up and jammed an old hat into the hole. At the window I heard the shouting of Indians having a hilarious22 night among the lodges and was amazed at the sound of discharging firearms above the huzzas, for ammunition23 was scarce among the Mandanes. The hubbub24 seemed to be coming towards our hut. I could see nothing through the window slit25, and lighting26 a pine fagot, shot back the latch-bolt and threw open the door. A multitude of tawny27, joyous28, upturned faces thronged29 to the steps. The crowd was surging about some newcomer, and Chief Black Cat was prancing30 around in an ecstasy31 of delight, firing away all his gunpowder32 in joyous demonstration33. I lifted my torch. The Indians fell back and forth34 strode Father Holland, his face shining wet and abeam35 with pleasure. The Indians had been welcoming "their good white father." As he dismissed his Mandane children we drew him in and placed his soaked over-garments before the fire. Then we proffered36 him all the delicacies37 of bachelors' quarters, and filled and refilled his bowl with soup, and did not stop pouring out our lye-black tea till he had drained the dregs of it.
Having satisfied his inner-man, we gave him the best stump-tree seat in the cabin and sat back to[Pg 237] listen. There was the awkward pause of reunion, when friends have not had time to gather up the loose threads of a parted past and weave them anew into stronger bands of comradeship. Hamilton and the priest were strangers; but if the latter were as overcome by the meeting after half a year's isolation38 as I was, the silence was not surprising. To me it seemed the genial39 face was unusually grave, and I noticed a long, horizontal scar across his forehead.
"What's that, Father?" I asked, indicating the mark on his brow.
"Tush, youngster! Nothing! Nothing at all! Sampled scalping-knife on me; thought better of it, kept me out of the martyr's crown."
"And left you your own!" cried Hamilton astonished at the priest's careless stoicism.
"Left me my own," responded Father Holland.
"Do you mean to say the murderous——" I began.
"Tush, youngster! Be quiet!" said he. "Haven't many brethren come from the same tribe more like warped40 branches than men? What am I, that I should escape? Never speak of it again," and he continued his silent study of the flames' play.
"In the lodges. Shall I whistle for them?"
He did not answer, but leaned forward with elbows on his knees, rubbing his chin vigorously first with one hand, then the other, still studying the fire.[Pg 238]
"How strong are the Mandanes?" he asked.
"Weak, weak," I answered. "Few hundred. It hasn't been worth while for traders to come here for years."
"Was it worth while this year?"
"Not for trade."
"For anything else?" and he looked at Eric's dejected face.
"Nothing else," I put in hastily, fearing one of Hamilton's outbreaks. "We've been completely off the track, might better have stayed in the north——"
"No, you mightn't, not by any means," was his sharp retort. "I've been in the Sioux lodges for three weeks."
With an inarticulate cry, Hamilton sprang to his feet. He was trembling from head to foot and caught Father Holland roughly by the shoulder.
"Speak out, Sir! What of Miriam?" he demanded in dry, hard, rasping tones.
"Well, well, safe and inviolate42. So's the boy, a big boy now! May ye have them both in y'r arms soon—soon—soon!" and again he fell to studying the fire with an unhurried deliberation, that was torture to Hamilton.
"Are they with you? Are they with you?" shouted Hamilton, hope bounding up elastically43 to the wildest heights after his long depression. "Don't keep me in suspense44! I cannot bear it. Tell me where they are," he pleaded. "Are they with you?" and his eyes burned into the priest's like live coals. "Are—they—with—you?"[Pg 239]
"No—Lord—no!" roared Father Holland, alarmed at Hamilton's violent condition. "But," he added, seeing Eric reel dizzily, "but they're all right! Now you keep quiet and don't scare the wits out of a body! They're all right, I tell you, and I've come straight from them for the ransom45 price."
"Get it, Rufus, get it!" shouted Hamilton to me, throwing his hands distractedly to his head, a habit too common with him of late. "Get it! Get it!" he kept calling, utterly46 beside himself.
"Sit down, will you?" thundered the priest, as if Eric's sitting down would calm all agitation47. "Sit down! Behave! Keep quiet, both of you, or my tongue'll forget holy orders and give ye some good Irish eloquence48! What d' y' mane, scarin' the breath out of a body and blowing his ideas to limbo49? Keep quiet, now, and listen!"
"And did they," I cried, in spite of the injunction, "did they do that to you?" pointing to the scar on his brow.
"Yes, they did."
"Because they saw you with me?"
"No, that's a brand for the faith, you conceited50 whelp, you—they stopped their tortures because they saw you with me. Now, swell51 out, Rufus, and gloat over your importance! I tell you it was the devil, himself, snatched my martyr's crown."
"Le Grand Diable?"
"Le Grand Diable's own minion52. I saw his devilish eyes leering from the back o' the crowd, when[Pg 240] I was tied to a stake. 'Bring that Indian to me,' sez I, transfixing him with my gaze; for—you understand—I couldn't point, my hands being tied. Troth! But ye should 'a' seen their looks of amazement53 at me boldness! There was I, roped to that tree, like a pig for the boiling pot, and sez I, 'Bring—that Indian—to me!' just as though I was managing the execution," and the priest paused to enjoy the recollection of the effects of his boldness.
"A squaw up with an old clout," he continued, "and slashed54 it across my face, saying, 'Take that, pale face! Take that, man with a woman's skirts on!' and 'Take that!' howled a young buck55, fetching the flat of his dagger56 across me forehead, close-cropped hair giving no grip for scalping, not to mention a pate57 as bald as mine," and the priest roared at his own joke, patting his bare crown affectionately.
"Though the blood was boilin' in me enraged58 veins59 and dribblin' down my face like the rain to-night, by the help o' the Lord, I felt no pain. Never flinchin' nor takin' heed60 o' that bold baste61 of a squaw, I bawled62 like a bull of Bashan, 'Bring—that Indian—to me, coward-hearted Sioux—d' y' fear an Iroquois? Bring him to me and I'll make him enrich your tribe!'
"Faith! Their eyes grew big as a harvest moon and they brought Le Grand Diable to me. Knowing his covetous63 heart, I told him if he still had the woman and the child, I'd get him a big ransom. At that they all jangled a bit, the old squaw[Pg 241] clouting64 me with her filthy65 rag as if she wanted to slap me to a peak. At length they let Le Grand Diable unfasten the bands. With my hands tied behind my back, I was taken to his lodge. Miriam and the boy were kept in a place behind the Sioux squaw's hut. Once when the skin tied between blew up, I caught a glimpse of her poor white face. The boy was playing round her feet. I was in a corner of the lodge but was so grimed with grease and dirt, if she saw me she thought I was some Indian captive and turned away her head. I told Le Grand Diable in habitant French—which the rascal66 understands—that I could obtain a good ransom for his prisoners. He left me alone in the lodge for some hours, I think to spy upon me and learn if I tried to speak to Miriam; but I lay still as a log and pretended to sleep. When he came back, he began bartering67 for the price; but I could make him no promises as to the amount or time of payment, for I was not sure you were here, and would not have him know where you are.
"He kept me hanging on for his answer during the whole week, and many a time Miriam brushed past so close her skirts touched me; but that she-male devil of his—may the Lord give them both a warm, front seat!—was always watching and I could not speak. Miriam's face was hidden under her shawl and she looked neither to the right, nor to the left. I don't think she ever saw me. On condition you stay in your camp and don't go to meet her, but send your two Indians alone for her[Pg 242] with your offer, he let me go. Here I am! Now, Rufus, where are your men? Off with them bearing more gifts than the Queen of Sheba carried to Solomon!"
From the hour that La Robe Noire and Little Fellow, laden68 with gaudy69 trinkets and hunting outfits70, departed for the Sioux lodges, Hamilton was positively71 a madman. In the first place, he had been determined72 to disguise himself as an Indian and go instead of La Robe Noire, whose figure he resembled. To this, we would not listen. Le Grand Diable was not the man to be tricked and there was no sense in ransoming73 Miriam for a captive husband. Then, he persisted in riding part of the way with our messengers, which necessitated74 my doing likewise. I had to snatch his horse's bridle75, wheel both our horses round and head homeward at a gallop76, before he would listen to reason and come back.
Round the lodges he was a ramping77 tiger. Twenty times a day he went from our hut to the height of land commanding the north country, keeping me on the run at his heels; and all night he beat around the cramped78 shack79 as if it had been a cage. On the fourth day from the messengers' departure, chains could not bind80 him. If all went well, they should be with us at night. In defiance81 of Le Grand Diable's conditions, which an arrow from an unseen marksman might enforce, Eric saddled his mare82 and rode out to meet the men.[Pg 243]
Of course Father Holland and I peltered after him; but it was only because gathering83 darkness prevented travel that we prevailed on him to dismount and await the Indians' coming at the edge of the village.
At last came the clank, clank of shod hoofs84 in the valley. The natives used only unshod animals, so we recognized our men. Hamilton darted85 away like a hare racing86 for cover.
I threw myself to the earth and laying my ear to the turf strained for every sound. The thud, thud of a single horse, fore7 and hind19 feet striking the beaten trail in quick gallop, came distinctly up from the valley.
"I mistrusted them! I mistrusted the villains89!" repeated the priest. "If only you had enough Mandanes to ride down on them, but you're too weak. There are at least two thousand Sioux."
Hamilton and Little Fellow, talking loudly and gesticulating, rode crashing through the furze.
"I knew it! I knew it!" shouted Hamilton fiercely, "One of us should have gone."
"What's wrong?" came from Father Holland in a voice so low and unnaturally90 calm, I knew he feared the worst.
"Wrong!" yelled Hamilton, "They hold La[Pg 244] Robe Noire as hostage and demand five hundred pounds of ammunition, twenty guns and ten horses. Of course, I should have gone——"
"And would it have mended matters if you'd been held hostage too?" I demanded, utterly out of patience and at that stage when a little strain makes a man strike his best friends. "You know very well, the men were only sent to make an offer. You'd no right to expect everything on one trip without any bargaining——"
"Shut up, boy!" exclaimed Father Holland. "Just when ye both need all y'r wits, y'r scattering91 them to the four winds. Now, mind yourselves! I don't like these terms! 'Tis the devil's own doing! Let's talk this over!"
With a vast deal of the wordy eloquence that characterizes Indian diplomacy92, the tenor93 of Le Grand Diable's message was "His shot pouch94 was light and his pipe cold; he hung down his head and the pipe of peace had not been in the council; the Sioux were strangers and the whites were their enemies; the pale-faces had been in their power and they had always conveyed them on their journey with glad hearts and something to eat." Finally, the Master of Life, likewise Earth, Air, Water, and Fire were called on to witness that if the white men delivered five hundred rounds of ammunition, twenty guns and ten horses, the white woman and her child, likewise the two messengers, would be sent safely back to the Mandane lodge; none but these two messengers would be permitted in the Sioux camp; also,[Pg 245] the Sioux would not answer for the lives of the white men if they left the Mandane lodges. Let the white men, therefore, send back the full ransom by the hands of the same messenger.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
lodges
|
|
| v.存放( lodge的第三人称单数 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
lodge
|
|
| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
belongings
|
|
| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
notches
|
|
| n.（边缘或表面上的）V型痕迹( notch的名词复数 )；刻痕；水平；等级 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
morose
|
|
| adj.脾气坏的，不高兴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
contradictory
|
|
| adj.反驳的，反对的，抗辩的；n.正反对，矛盾对立 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
fore
|
|
| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
dreary
|
|
| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
tacked
|
|
| 用平头钉钉( tack的过去式和过去分词 )； 附加，增补； 帆船抢风行驶，用粗线脚缝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
tack
|
|
| n.大头钉；假缝，粗缝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
monotonously
|
|
| adv.单调地，无变化地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
distress
|
|
| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
sneered
|
|
| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
savagely
|
|
| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
missionary
|
|
| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
petulant
|
|
| adj.性急的，暴躁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
naught
|
|
| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
buffalo
|
|
| n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
hind
|
|
| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
gusts
|
|
| 一阵强风( gust的名词复数 )； （怒、笑等的）爆发； （感情的）迸发； 发作 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
discomfort
|
|
| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
hilarious
|
|
| adj.充满笑声的，欢闹的；[反]depressed | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
ammunition
|
|
| n.军火，弹药 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
hubbub
|
|
| n.嘈杂；骚乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
slit
|
|
| n.狭长的切口；裂缝；vt.切开，撕裂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
lighting
|
|
| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
tawny
|
|
| adj.茶色的，黄褐色的；n.黄褐色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
joyous
|
|
| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
thronged
|
|
| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
prancing
|
|
| v.（马）腾跃( prance的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
ecstasy
|
|
| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
gunpowder
|
|
| n.火药 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
demonstration
|
|
| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
abeam
|
|
| adj.正横着(的) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
proffered
|
|
| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
delicacies
|
|
| n.棘手( delicacy的名词复数 )；精致；精美的食物；周到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
isolation
|
|
| n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
genial
|
|
| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
warped
|
|
| adj.反常的；乖戾的；（变）弯曲的；变形的v.弄弯，变歪( warp的过去式和过去分词 )；使（行为等）不合情理，使乖戾， | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
abruptly
|
|
| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
inviolate
|
|
| adj.未亵渎的，未受侵犯的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
elastically
|
|
| adv.有弹性地，伸缩自如地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
suspense
|
|
| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
ransom
|
|
| n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
utterly
|
|
| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
agitation
|
|
| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
eloquence
|
|
| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
limbo
|
|
| n.地狱的边缘；监狱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
conceited
|
|
| adj.自负的，骄傲自满的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
swell
|
|
| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
minion
|
|
| n.宠仆；宠爱之人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
amazement
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
slashed
|
|
| v.挥砍( slash的过去式和过去分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
buck
|
|
| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
dagger
|
|
| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
pate
|
|
| n.头顶；光顶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
enraged
|
|
| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
veins
|
|
| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
heed
|
|
| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
baste
|
|
| v.殴打，公开责骂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
bawled
|
|
| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的过去式和过去分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
covetous
|
|
| adj.贪婪的，贪心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
clouting
|
|
| v.（尤指用手）猛击，重打( clout的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
filthy
|
|
| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
rascal
|
|
| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
bartering
|
|
| v.作物物交换，以货换货( barter的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
laden
|
|
| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
gaudy
|
|
| adj.华而不实的；俗丽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
outfits
|
|
| n.全套装备( outfit的名词复数 )；一套服装；集体；组织v.装备，配置设备，供给服装( outfit的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
positively
|
|
| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
ransoming
|
|
| 付赎金救人，赎金( ransom的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
necessitated
|
|
| 使…成为必要，需要( necessitate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
bridle
|
|
| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
gallop
|
|
| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
ramping
|
|
| 土堤斜坡( ramp的现在分词 )； 斜道； 斜路； （装车或上下飞机的）活动梯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
cramped
|
|
| a.狭窄的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
shack
|
|
| adj.简陋的小屋，窝棚 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
bind
|
|
| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
defiance
|
|
| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
mare
|
|
| n.母马，母驴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
gathering
|
|
| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
hoofs
|
|
| 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 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
darted
|
|
| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
racing
|
|
| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
groaned
|
|
| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
tugging
|
|
| n.牵引感v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
villains
|
|
| n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
unnaturally
|
|
| adv.违反习俗地；不自然地；勉强地；不近人情地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
scattering
|
|
| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
diplomacy
|
|
| n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
tenor
|
|
| n.男高音（歌手），次中音（乐器），要旨，大意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
pouch
|
|
| n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |