That night pandemonium5 itself could not have presented a more hideous6 scene than our encampment. The lust7 of blood is abhorrent8 enough in civilized9 races, but in Indian tribes, whose unrestrained, hard life abnormally develops the instincts of the tiger, it is a thing that may not be portrayed10. Let us not, with the depreciatory11 hypocrisy12, characteristic of our age, befool ourselves into any belief that barbaric practices were more humane13 than customs which are the flower of civilized centuries. Let us be truthful14.[Pg 342] Scientific cruelty may do its worst with intricate armaments; but the blood-thirst of the Indian assumed the ghastly earnest of victors drinking the warm life-blood of dying enemies and of torturers laving hands in a stream yet hot from pulsing hearts.
Decked out in red-stained trophies15 with scalps dangling16 from their waists, the natives darted17 about like blood-whetted beasts; and the half-breeds were little better, except that they thirsted more for booty than life. There was loud vaunting over the triumph, the ignorant rabble18 imagining their warriors19 heroes of a great battle, instead of the murderous plunderers they were. Pierre, the rhymester, according to his wont21, broke out in jubilant celebration of the half-breeds' feat:[A]
Ho-ho! List you now to a tale of truth
Which I, Pierre, the rhymester, proudly sing,
Of the Bois-Brulés, whose deeds dismay
The hearts of the soldiers serving the king!
Swift o'er the plain rode our warriors brave
To meet the gay voyageurs come from the sea.[Pg 343]
And we taught them the plain is the home of the free.
We were passing along to the landing-place,
Three hostile whites we bound on the trail.
"They have come to attack us," our people cry.
Our cohorts spread out in a crescent horn,
Their path we bar in a steel scimitar,
Honor, our breath to the very death!
The governor shouts to his soldiers, "Draw!"
'Tis the enemy strikes the first, fateful blow!
Our men break from line, for the battle-wine
The shock of his strength—Ha-ha!—should be known
From the land of the sea to the prairie free
And all free men should be overthrown34![B]
But naked and dead on the plain lies he,
Greedily feast on the great and the least,
Without respect for a lord of note.
The governor thought himself mighty in power.
He thought to enslave the Bois-Brulés,
"Ha-ha," laughed the hawk. Ho-ho! Let him mock.
Whose cry outpierces the night-bird's note?
Whose voice mourns sadly through sighing trees?
Ha-ha! We know, though we tell it not.
We fought with them till none remained.
The coyote knew, and his hungry crew
Licked clean the grass where the turf was stained.
Ho-ho! List you all to my tale of truth.
'Tis I, Pierre, the rhymester, this glory tell
Of freedom saved and brave hands laved
The whole scene was repugnant beyond endurance. My ears were so filled with the death cries heard in the afternoon, I had no relish43 for Pierre's crude recital44 of what seemed to him a glorious conquest. I could not rid my mind of that dying boy's sad face. Many half-breeds were preparing to pillage23 the settlement. Intending to protect the Sutherland home and seek the dead lad's body, I borrowed a fresh horse and left the tumult45 of the camp.
I made a detour46 of the battle-field in order to reach the Sutherland homestead before night. I might have saved myself the trouble; for every movable object—to the doors and window sashes—had been taken from the little house, whether by father and daughter before going to the fort, or by the marauders, I did not know.
It was unsafe to return by the wooded river trail after dark and I struck directly to the clearing and followed the path parallel to the bush.[Pg 345] When I reached Seven Oaks, I was first apprised47 of my whereabouts by my horse pricking48 forward his ears and sniffing49 the air uncannily. I tightened50 rein51 and touched him with the spur, but he snorted and jumped sideways with a suddenness that almost unseated me, then came to a stand, shaking as if with chill. Something skulked52 across the trail and gained cover in the woods. With a reassuring53 pat, I urged my horse back towards the road, for the prairie was pitted with badger54 and gopher holes; but the beast reared, baulked and absolutely refused to be either driven, or coaxed55.
"Wise when men are fools!" said I, dismounting. Bringing the reins56 over his head, I tried to pull him forward; but he planted all fours and jerked back, almost dragging me off my feet.
"Are you possessed57?" I exclaimed, for if ever horror were plainly expressed by an animal, it was by that horse. Legs rigid58, head bent59 down, eyes starting forward and nostrils60 blowing in and out, he was a picture of terror.
Something wriggled61 in the thicket62. The horse rose on his hind63 legs, wrenched64 the rein from my hand and scampered65 across the plain. I sent a shot into the bush. There was a snarl66 and a scurrying67 through the underbrush.
"Pretty bold wolf! Never saw a broncho act that way over a coyote before!"
I might as well find the body of the English lad before trying to catch my horse, so I walked on. Suddenly, in the silver-white of a starry68 sky, I saw what had terrified the animal. Close to the[Pg 346] shrubbery lay the stark69 form of a white man, knees drawn70 upwards71 and arms spread out like the bars of a cross. Was that the lad I had known? I rushed towards the corpse—but as quickly turned away. From downright lack of courage, I could not look at it; for the body was mutilated beyond semblance72 to humanity. Would that I had strength and skill to paint that dead figure as it was! Then would those, who glory in the shedding of blood, glory to their shame; and the pageant73 of war be stripped of all its false toggery revealing carnage and slaughter in their revolting nakedness.
I could not look back to know if that were the lad, but ran aimlessly towards the scene of the Seven Oaks fray74. As I approached, there was a great flapping of wings. Up rose buzzards, scolding in angry discord75 at my interruption. A pack of wolves skulked a few feet off and eyed me impatiently, boldly waiting to return when I left. The impudence76 of the brutes77 enraged78 me and I let go half a dozen charges, which sent them to a more respectful distance. Here were more bodies like the first. I counted eight within a stone's throw, and there were twice as many between Seven Oaks and the fort. Where they lay, I could tell very well; for hawks79 wheeled with harsh cries overhead and there was a vague movement of wolfish shapes along the ground.
What possessed me to hover80 about that dreadful scene, I cannot imagine, unless the fear of those creatures returning; but I did not carry a[Pg 347] thing with which I could bury the dead. Involuntarily, I sought out Rogers and Governor Semple; for I had seen the death of each. It was when seeking these, that I thought I distinguished82 the faintest motion of one figure still clothed and lying apart from the others.
Surely it was a mistake! The form could not have moved! It must have been some error of vision, or trick of the shadowy starlight; but I could not take my eyes from the prostrate84 form. Again the body moved—distinctly moved—beyond possibility of fancy, the chest heaving up and sinking like a man struggling but unable to rise. With the ghastly dead and the ravening85 wolves all about, the movement of that wounded man was strangely terrifying and my knees knocked with fear, as I ran to his aid.
The man was an Indian, but his face I could not see; for one hand staunched a wound in his head and the other gripped a knife with which he had been defending himself. My first thought was that he must be a Nor'-Wester, or his body would not have escaped the common fate; but if a Nor'-Wester, why had he been left on the field? So I concluded he was one of the camp-followers, who had joined our forces for plunder20 and come to a merited end. Still he was a man; and I stooped to examine him with a view to getting him on my horse and taking him back to the camp.
At first he was unconscious of my presence. Gently I tried to remove the left hand from his[Pg 348] forehead, but at the touch, out struck the right hand in vicious thrusts of the hunting-knife, one blind cut barely missing my arm.
"Hold, man!" I cried, "I'm no foe, but a friend!" and I caught the right arm tightly.
At the sound of my voice, the left hand swung out revealing a frightful86 gash87; and the next thing I knew, his left arm had encircled my neck like the coil of a strangler, five fingers were digging into the flesh of my throat and Le Grand Diable was making frantic88 efforts to free his right hand and plunge89 that dagger90 into me. The shock of the discovery threw me off guard, and for a moment there was a struggle, but only for a moment. Then the wounded man fell back, writhing91 in pain, his face contorted with agony and hate. I do not think he could see me. He must have been blind from that wound. I stood back, but his knife still cut the air.
"Le Grand Diable! Fool!" I said, "I will not harm you! I give you the white man's word, I will not hurt you!"
The right arm fell limp and still. Had I, by some strange irony92, been led to this spot that I might witness the death of my foe? Was this the end of that long career of evil?
"Le Grand Diable!" I cried, going a pace nearer, which seemed to bring back the ebbing93 life. "Le Grand Diable! You cannot stay here among the wolves. Tell me whereto find Miriam and I'll take you back to the camp! Tell me and no one shall harm you! I will save you!"[Pg 349]
The thin lips moved. He was saying, or trying to say, something.
"Speak louder!" and I bent over him. "Speak the truth and I take you to the camp!"
The lips were still moving, but I could not hear a sound.
"Speak louder!" I shouted. "Where is Miriam? Where is the white woman?" I put my ear to his lips, fearful that life might slip away before I could hear.
There was a snarl through the glistening94 set teeth. The prostrate body gave an upward lurch95. With one swift, treacherous96 thrust, he drove his knife into my coat-sleeve, grazing my forearm. The effort cost him his life. He sank down with a groan97. The sightless, bloodshot eyes opened. Le Grand Diable would never more feign98 death.
I jerked the knife from my coat, hurled99 it from me, sprang up and fled from the field as if it had been infected with a pest, or I pursued by gends. Never looking back and with superstitious100 dread81 of the dead Indian's evil spirit, I tore on and on till, breath-spent and exhausted101, I threw myself down with the North-West camp-fires in sight.
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1
intoxicating
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| a. 醉人的,使人兴奋的 | |
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2
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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massacre
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| n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀 | |
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slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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pandemonium
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| n.喧嚣，大混乱 | |
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hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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lust
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| n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望 | |
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abhorrent
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| adj.可恶的，可恨的，讨厌的 | |
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9
civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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10
portrayed
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| v.画像( portray的过去式和过去分词 )；描述；描绘；描画 | |
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11
depreciatory
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| adj.贬值的，蔑视的 | |
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hypocrisy
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| n.伪善，虚伪 | |
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13
humane
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| adj.人道的，富有同情心的 | |
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14
truthful
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| adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的 | |
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15
trophies
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| n.（为竞赛获胜者颁发的）奖品( trophy的名词复数 )；奖杯；（尤指狩猎或战争中获得的）纪念品；（用于比赛或赛跑名称）奖 | |
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16
dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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17
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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18
rabble
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| n.乌合之众，暴民；下等人 | |
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19
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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20
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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21
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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22
pillaged
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| v.抢劫，掠夺( pillage的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23
pillage
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| v.抢劫；掠夺；n.抢劫，掠夺；掠夺物 | |
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24
acclaim
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| v.向…欢呼，公认；n.欢呼，喝彩，称赞 | |
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25
taunts
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| 嘲弄的言语，嘲笑，奚落( taunt的名词复数 ) | |
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26
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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27
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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28
flout
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| v./n.嘲弄，愚弄，轻视 | |
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29
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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30
venom
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| n.毒液，恶毒，痛恨 | |
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31
proffer
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| v.献出，赠送；n.提议，建议 | |
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32
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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33
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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34
overthrown
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| adj. 打翻的，推倒的，倾覆的 动词overthrow的过去分词 | |
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35
carrion
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| n.腐肉 | |
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36
hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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37
rangers
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| 护林者( ranger的名词复数 )； 突击队员 | |
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38
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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40
wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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41
woes
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| 困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉 | |
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42
tyrants
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| 专制统治者( tyrant的名词复数 )； 暴君似的人； （古希腊的）僭主； 严酷的事物 | |
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43
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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44
recital
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| n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会 | |
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45
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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46
detour
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| n.绕行的路，迂回路；v.迂回，绕道 | |
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47
apprised
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| v.告知，通知( apprise的过去式和过去分词 )；评价 | |
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48
pricking
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| 刺，刺痕，刺痛感 | |
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49
sniffing
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| n.探查法v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的现在分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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50
tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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51
rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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52
skulked
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| v.潜伏，偷偷摸摸地走动，鬼鬼祟祟地活动( skulk的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
reassuring
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| a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的 | |
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54
badger
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| v.一再烦扰，一再要求，纠缠 | |
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55
coaxed
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱 | |
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56
reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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57
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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58
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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59
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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60
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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61
wriggled
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等） | |
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62
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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63
hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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64
wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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65
scampered
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| v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑，惊惶奔跑( scamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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66
snarl
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| v.吼叫，怒骂，纠缠，混乱；n.混乱，缠结，咆哮 | |
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67
scurrying
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| v.急匆匆地走( scurry的现在分词 ) | |
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68
starry
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| adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的 | |
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69
stark
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| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
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70
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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71
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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72
semblance
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| n.外貌，外表 | |
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73
pageant
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| n.壮观的游行；露天历史剧 | |
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74
fray
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| v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗 | |
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75
discord
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| n.不和，意见不合，争论，（音乐）不和谐 | |
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76
impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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77
brutes
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| 兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性 | |
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78
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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79
hawks
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| 鹰( hawk的名词复数 )； 鹰派人物，主战派人物 | |
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80
hover
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| vi.翱翔，盘旋；徘徊；彷徨，犹豫 | |
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81
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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83
riveted
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| 铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 )； 把…固定住； 吸引； 引起某人的注意 | |
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84
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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85
ravening
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| a.贪婪而饥饿的 | |
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86
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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87
gash
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| v.深切，划开；n.(深长的)切(伤)口；裂缝 | |
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88
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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89
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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90
dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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91
writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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92
irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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93
ebbing
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| （指潮水）退( ebb的现在分词 )； 落； 减少； 衰落 | |
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94
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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95
lurch
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| n.突然向前或旁边倒；v.蹒跚而行 | |
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96
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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97
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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98
feign
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| vt.假装，佯作 | |
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99
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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100
superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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101
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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