We traveled in this fashion, sleeping in the daytime and pressing forward during the night, until the sixth day after our departure from the ship. By that time we were both considerably1 changed in health and appearance. Our clothes were torn to rags, our feet and arms were torn and bleeding, and our vagabond air increased with every mile we covered. Of our looks, however, we thought nothing; but we were perforce obliged to think a good deal of our unfortunate stomachs, which had not been either filled or reasonably satisfied since we set foot in those regions. Hunger and privation, in short, were doing their work upon us, and we were doubtful if we should manage to hold out until we had crossed the country and made Acapulco.
[Pg 108]
Towards evening of the sixth day of our travels, we were lying asleep in a little gully formed by the descent of a mountain stream into the plain which we were then quitting. We had arrived at this spot early that morning, and finding sweet and fresh water there had drunk heartily2 of it and lain down to sleep in a sheltered spot. We were both well-nigh exhausted3 that morning, and our hunger was exceeding fierce; but sharp-set as we were our limbs refused to carry us on any foraging4 expedition, and therefore we sank to sleep, and slept despite our hunger and danger. It was well towards evening when I suddenly awoke. I know not what it was that made me open my eyes so suddenly, but there flashed through my mind at that moment a notion that we were being watched. It was a strange feeling, and one that occasioned me considerable discomposure, not to say fright, and it seemed to enter my brain with the same ray of sunlight that [Pg 109]lifted my eyelids5. And so strong was this feeling, that I experienced no surprise or astonishment6 when I saw two eyes looking straight into mine from over the top of a rock which rose immediately in front.
Nevertheless it was a hideous7 and fearful sight that I looked upon. The eyes shone, not out of a human face foul8 or fair, but out of the slits9 in a black cowl, drawn10 so tightly over its wearer’s head that nothing of him was to be seen from forehead to chin. There was this horrible black thing, a blot11 upon the bright sunlit sky behind, peeping at me from over the rock, and out of its eye-holes gleamed two eyes, as keen and bright as those of a wild animal. If I had not just then been parched12 with thirst I should have screamed in my terror. As it was, I gave a feeble cry, and the black head instantly vanished. I leapt to my feet and ran forward to the rock. Below it the ground was broken and rocky, and at a few yards’ distance was a belt of wood [Pg 110]which stretched down to the plain. I fancied I could see a black robe disappearing amongst the trees, but though I waited a few moments I saw no further signs of a human being.
I returned to Pharaoh Nanjulian and woke him up. He was sound asleep when I touched him, but started to his feet as soon as I laid my hand on his shoulder.
“What is it, master?” he asked, scanning my face narrowly, as if he saw some sign of disturbance13 there. “You look alarmed.”
“I have seen a man watching us.”
“What kind of a man? Where has he gone?”
“Nay, that I know not. When I opened my eyes just now they fell full upon him. He stood behind that rock, peering over it at me. I saw naught14 of him but his head, and that was hidden in a black cowl with eye-slits, through which his eyes gleamed like fire.”
Pharaoh shook his head.
[Pg 111]
“’Tis a Familiar,” said he. “One of those accursed fanatics15, master, that dog and pry16 after honest men like sleuth-hounds, and leave them not until the flame licks their bodies. This is bad news, i’ faith. Which way went he?”
I told him that I thought I had seen a black robe vanishing among the trees below, but could not be certain. At that he seized his staff and went down the slope himself, examining all the likely places in which a man might have concealed17 himself. But he found naught, and so came back to me, shaking his head.
“You are sure you were not dreaming?” he asked. “Men dream of strange things when hunger is on them.”
“How could I dream of what I never saw in my life?” said I.
“You mean the black hood19, master? Alas20! I have seen it, and so has many a good man, to his sorrow. Those accursed [Pg 112]fanatics! They creep about in God’s blessed sunlight like reptiles21. You should see them walk the streets. Close to the walls they go, their hands meekly22 folded, their cowled heads bent23 to the ground, and yet their eyes note everything. God is on their lips—yea, but the devil is in their hearts.”
“What shall we do, Pharaoh?” I asked him.
“Marry, all we can do is to leave this spot and push forward up the mountains. There are yet two hours of daylight, but we must chance that. If we can escape this fellow until darkness sets in, we may yet give him the slip altogether.”
So we set out once more, our bodies refreshed by our long sleep, but the hunger still fiercely gnawing24 within us. We were driven to plucking the prickly pears again, troublesome as was the peeling of them, for we could eat them as we walked, whereas if we had gone a-hunting for wild [Pg 113]turkeys or rabbits we should have had to light a fire, and that would have attracted attention to our whereabouts. However, we were successful in knocking down one or two birds, and these we took along with us, intending to cook them as soon as we considered ourselves in safety.
As night fell we emerged from the wooded slope up which we had painfully traveled, and found ourselves on a good road, evidently much used for traffic.
“This must be the highway that leads from Oaxaca to Vera Cruz,” said Pharaoh, looking out upon it from a sheltering tree; “and lo! yonder is a post-house. We must bide25 awhile where we are or we shall be seen.”
So we sat down amongst the undergrowth, which was there thick and luxurious26, as it was in every wood we had yet crossed, and served to conceal18 us very well from observation. More than once, as we stayed there, we heard the voices of people [Pg 114]passing along the highroad above, and we judged from that, that if we ventured to show ourselves upon it before nightfall we should certainly be seen and stopped. Therefore, apart from our usual hunger and discomfort27, we were very well content to remain hidden until such time as the coast cleared.
Now about dark, and just as we were making up our minds to a fresh start, and wondering how we should fare in the mountainous range which we had yet to cross, there arose not far away along the highroad a chorus of shouts and screams of such exceeding bitterness, that we felt sure murder was being done. We leapt to our feet and advanced to the edge of the highway, but feared to go further lest we should be seen.
“’Tis some footpad affray,” said Pharaoh, “and none of our business.”
But just then came still shriller cries of entreaty28 for help, and they were so pleading [Pg 115]and full of agony, that we both leapt into the road with one accord.
“That is a woman’s voice,” said Pharaoh. “We must needs go to her assistance, come what will. Have your staff in readiness, master, and if there is need, strike hard.”
We ran swiftly down the road for some fifty yards, and then, turning a sharp corner, came suddenly upon the cause of the disturbance. In the middle of the highway stood a coach, drawn by two mules29, and on either side of it were two tall fellows of ferocious30 aspect, striving to drag from it the occupants, who screamed for help without ceasing. There was no driver or servant visible; the rogues31 had doubtless escaped to the woods at the first sign of danger.
“Take the two on the left,” said Pharaoh, “and get in the first blow, master. Look out for their daggers32.”
Now I had never been engaged in a fight since the days when Jasper and I occasionally [Pg 116]came to fisticuffs with the village boys at Beechcot, but I felt my blood warm at the notion of combat, and so I sprang in between the two desperadoes who were busy at the left side of the coach, and laid my staff about their ears with hearty33 good-will. They were trying to drag an old man from the coach when we came up, and were threatening him with what I took to be the most horrible of curses. I hit one of them fair and square on the shoulder before he knew of my presence, and he immediately turned and fled, howling like a beaten dog. The other turned on me with a cruel-looking knife, but I knocked it out of his hand with a blow that must have broken his wrist, and he too fled into the woods with a fearful imprecation. Meanwhile, Pharaoh had beaten off his men on the other side; one was limping along the highway howling with pain, and the other lay on the ground senseless. We had carried the fight with sharp and startling effect.
[Pg 117]
Inside the coach sat an old gentleman and a young girl, and both were so frightened, that when we assisted them to alight they were nearly speechless, and could only sigh and moan. Presently, however, the young lady found her tongue, and began to pour out an astonishingly rapid flow of words to me, none of which I understood, but which I took to be expressions of gratitude34.
“Say naught,” whispered Pharaoh in my ear, “I will talk to them in their own lingo35. Do not let them see that we are English.”
“Noble gentlemen,” said the old man, presently recovering his speech, “I know not how to thank you for this valuable assistance. Caramba! if you had not appeared when you did we should certainly have had our throats cut. Isabella mia, art thou safe? Did those knaves37 lay finger on thee?”
“They did but seize me by the wrist, father,” answered the young lady. “But yourself—you are not hurt?”
[Pg 118]
“Nay, child, I called too loudly for that. But certainly another moment would have been our last. Senor, is yonder villain38 dead?”
“Nay,” said Pharaoh in his best Spanish, “he breathes, Senor, and will come to presently.”
“I am beholden, deeply beholden to you both, gentlemen. Dios! to think that I should be unable to travel on even so short a journey with safety! And my own servants—where are they, rascals39 and poltroons that they are. Ho! Pedro, Chispa, Antonio! I warrant me the knaves are hiding in these woods.”
This was exactly the truth, for at the old gentleman’s call three serving-men came forward from the trees and advanced tremblingly towards the coach. At sight of them their master flew into a terrible rage, and scolded them with a vigor40 which at any other time would have amused me highly.
[Pg 119]
“Cowards and knaves that ye are!” quoth he. “A pretty body-guard, indeed. What, ye pitiful rogues, did I not fit ye all out with pikes and pistols before quitting Mexico in case we met with ventures of this sort? Oh, ye poltroons, to fly me at the first glimpse of danger! And thou, Pedro Gomez, my coachman these ten years, fie upon thee!”
“Most noble Senor,” said the man, trembling and bowing, “I did but run to find assistance.”
“Thou liest, knave36. Thou didst run to save thine own skin. But I will remember ye when we are safe in Oaxaca. I will have a convoy41 of soldiers over these mountains, and trust not to pitiful cowards like ye three. Tie me up this robber who lies there in the road, and fasten him behind the coach. We will see justice done on him at Oaxaca.”
While the men were doing this the old gentleman once more talked to Pharaoh, [Pg 120]thanking us again, and asking how he could reward us. Were we journeying to Oaxaca? If so, let us go along with him, and he would reward us bounteously42 for our protection.
“We thank your honor,” said Pharaoh, “but we are two poor shipwrecked mariners43, bound across country to Acapulco, where we hope to find ship. But if you would give us food and drink we would thank you, for in good sooth we are desperately44 hungered.”
Now it luckily chanced that the coach was well supplied with both the commodities which we desired so earnestly, and, therefore, the old gentleman made haste to reward us according to Pharaoh’s request, so that presently we found ourselves with our arms full of meat and bread and bottles of wine, our new-found friend pressing all upon us with great hospitality. Also, he would have us to take a purse of money, assuring us that we should find it useful, [Pg 121]and as we had not a penny-piece between us we accepted this offering with thankfulness.
“I am sorry that ye cannot accompany me to Oaxaca,” said he. “I should have been glad of the company of two such stalwart champions. But know, caballeros, that I am devoutly45 thankful to you, and will aid you if ever ye have need of me, and it lies in my power.”
So we thanked him and said farewell for that time, and when the coach had gone on, taking the wounded prisoner with it, we continued our way up the mountains, first supping heartily of the food and wine, and blessing46 God for it.
“’Tis always well to help them that need help,” said Pharaoh. “Verily we are rewarded for so doing. This meat and drink makes a new man of me, master.”
And so it did of me, and it was well, for previously47 we had been sorely put to it to keep any heart or soul within our starving bodies.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
considerably
|
|
| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
heartily
|
|
| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
exhausted
|
|
| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
foraging
|
|
| v.搜寻（食物），尤指动物觅（食）( forage的现在分词 )；（尤指用手）搜寻（东西） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
eyelids
|
|
| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
hideous
|
|
| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
foul
|
|
| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
slits
|
|
| n.狭长的口子，裂缝( slit的名词复数 )v.切开，撕开( slit的第三人称单数 )；在…上开狭长口子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
blot
|
|
| vt.弄脏（用吸墨纸）吸干；n.污点，污渍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
parched
|
|
| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
disturbance
|
|
| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
naught
|
|
| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
fanatics
|
|
| 狂热者，入迷者( fanatic的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
pry
|
|
| vi.窥(刺)探，打听；vt.撬动(开，起) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
concealed
|
|
| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
conceal
|
|
| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
hood
|
|
| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
alas
|
|
| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
reptiles
|
|
| n.爬行动物，爬虫( reptile的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
meekly
|
|
| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
gnawing
|
|
| a.痛苦的，折磨人的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
bide
|
|
| v.忍耐；等候；住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
luxurious
|
|
| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
discomfort
|
|
| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
entreaty
|
|
| n.恳求，哀求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
mules
|
|
| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
ferocious
|
|
| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
rogues
|
|
| n.流氓( rogue的名词复数 )；无赖；调皮捣蛋的人；离群的野兽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
daggers
|
|
| 匕首，短剑( dagger的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
hearty
|
|
| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
gratitude
|
|
| adj.感激，感谢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
lingo
|
|
| n.语言不知所云，外国话，隐语 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
knave
|
|
| n.流氓；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
knaves
|
|
| n.恶棍，无赖( knave的名词复数 )；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
villain
|
|
| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
rascals
|
|
| 流氓( rascal的名词复数 )； 无赖； （开玩笑说法）淘气的人（尤指小孩）； 恶作剧的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
vigor
|
|
| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
convoy
|
|
| vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
bounteously
|
|
| adv.慷慨地，丰富地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
43
mariners
|
|
| 海员，水手（mariner的复数形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
desperately
|
|
| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
devoutly
|
|
| adv.虔诚地，虔敬地，衷心地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
blessing
|
|
| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
previously
|
|
| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |