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CHAPTER XIV. CHAP’S AMBASSADOR.
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The stretch of white sand, of which Adam had spoken, was so far away that neither of the boys had noticed it; but the practised eyes of the sailor had singled it out as a place where a landing could be made, and toward it The Rolling Stone was now steered1, Phœnix taking the tiller, and Adam using the pole whenever he could.
 
Phil was ordered to refresh himself with some crackers2 and cold meat, as it would be some time before they could have their coffee.
 
“I’m not going to eat anything,” said Phœnix, “till we have cooked a regular supper; but I tell you it’s jolly to think of getting something good and hot when we land.”
 
“That’s so,” said Adam.
 
And Phil assented3 heartily4. But not one of them imagined how hot a thing was waiting for them.
 
[141]The Rolling Stone thus moving slowly up the river, gradually came into sight of the keen-eyed maiden5, who surveyed the water from the high ground in the vicinity of the Browns’ cabin, and, as we have seen, she informed Chap and his companions of its approach.
 
When the boat at last touched the shore, it was still light by the river, and Chap and the Indians were well concealed6 in the dusky recesses7 of the forest, not far from the water; and over the underbrush and between the trees Chap could catch sight of the little red pennant8, made from an old handkerchief which he himself had hoisted9 to the topmast of The Rolling Stone.
 
The sight made him furious to rush down and recapture his boat; but the others restrained him. It was not time yet. The fellows must have no chance to push off and get away.
 
“Look here,” said Mary Brown, who had closely followed Chap’s party, “I wish there wasn’t goin’ to be a fight. I’d hate to see people killed so near our house. I’ve been thinkin’ of a good thing to do, and I’ll tell you what it is. I’ll go down and talk to them fellers. They won’t be scared off when they see a girl comin’, and then I’ll just tell ’em the whole thing. I’ll tell ’em there are five of you here, and you’re bound to have the boat back, and they might as well give it up first as last, and not have nobody shot.”
 
[142]“And as soon as you began to talk that way,” said Chap, “they’d all jump aboard and push off.”
 
“No, they wouldn’t,” said the girl; “for I wouldn’t talk to ’em if they wasn’t all ashore10, and the minute any of ’em started to go aboard, I’d give a scream, and then you all could come peltin’ down.”
 
“And what would we do with them,” asked Chap, a little contemptuously, “if they agreed to all that? Let them walk off, scot-free?”
 
“There ain’t no use a-doin’ anythin’ to ’em,” said Mary Brown, “when you’ve got your boat. That’s all you want.”
 
The Indians, who understood all that Mary Brown said, and had listened to her with great attention, now expressed themselves as well satisfied with the plan she proposed. If the men would give up the boat without fighting, what was the good of fighting? But this did not satisfy Chap.
 
“I want the rascals11 punished,” he said.
 
“Humph!” said The Talker. “S’pose you first one shot. Won’t do you no good then to lick ’em.”
 
“They won’t believe you,” said Chap to Mary, “when you tell them there are five of us. They’ll think it a trick.”
 
“That’s their lookout,” said the girl. “If they[143] don’t believe me, you can pitch into ’em; but you oughter try first to do without fightin’.”
 
Finding that his companions were very unwilling12 to resort to violence, if the boat could be regained13 peacefully, Chap was obliged to submit, and Mary Brown started off to treat for a surrender of The Rolling Stone.
 
“Mind,” she said, as she left, “if they cut up, or try to get back into their boat, I’ll scream, and then you all come.”
 
“Oh, we’ll come quick enough!” said Chap, clutching his club. “You needn’t be afraid of that.”
 
When Mary Brown went out on the river-beach, she saw only Adam and Phil, for Phœnix had gone up the shore to look for dry sticks for the fire. She walked up to our two friends, who were quite surprised to see her, not knowing that there was any habitation in the neighborhood, and after wishing them “good-evening,” she related to them the purpose of her mission.
 
While she was speaking, Phœnix came up, and his appearance made her quite uneasy. She had supposed there were only two persons in the boat, but if there were three, it would make the fight a great deal worse, if there should be one, and she therefore urged, with increased earnestness, that they should give up the boat peaceably, before they were set upon by the determined14 men in the woods.
 
[144]“Give us a moment to think this over,” said Adam, when she had finished.
 
And the girl retired15 to a short distance, while our friends drew close together in anxious consultation16.
 
“Those two rascals,” said Adam, “must have waded17 ashore somewhere, and come across these Indians. And now they’re a-goin’ to try to take the boat from us. They’ve had time enough to get around here, for we came up very slow.”
 
“Perhaps it’s all a made-up story,” said Phœnix.
 
“That couldn’t be,” said Phil, “for how would that girl know that we had taken the boat from anybody?”
 
“Whether her story is true or not,” said Adam, “we’re not goin’ to give up the boat, are we?”
 
“No, indeed!” answered both of the boys.
 
“I’m glad we took the guns from them fellers,” said Adam, “for now we’ve each got one. Let’s jump aboard and get the shootin’-irons. That’s the first thing to do.”
 
The three now moved toward the boat, which had been drawn18 up in shallow water.
 
“Don’t go aboard yit!” exclaimed Mary, quickly stepping toward them; but, as no attention was paid to her words, she gave a loud scream, and ran into the woods.

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1 steered dee52ce2903883456c9b7a7f258660e5     
v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 );操纵;控制;引导
参考例句:
  • He steered the boat into the harbour. 他把船开进港。
  • The freighter steered out of Santiago Bay that evening. 那天晚上货轮驶出了圣地亚哥湾。 来自《简明英汉词典》
2 crackers nvvz5e     
adj.精神错乱的,癫狂的n.爆竹( cracker的名词复数 );薄脆饼干;(认为)十分愉快的事;迷人的姑娘
参考例句:
  • That noise is driving me crackers. 那噪声闹得我简直要疯了。
  • We served some crackers and cheese as an appetiser. 我们上了些饼干和奶酪作为开胃品。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 assented 4cee1313bb256a1f69bcc83867e78727     
同意,赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The judge assented to allow the prisoner to speak. 法官同意允许犯人申辩。
  • "No," assented Tom, "they don't kill the women -- they're too noble. “对,”汤姆表示赞同地说,“他们不杀女人——真伟大!
4 heartily Ld3xp     
adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很
参考例句:
  • He ate heartily and went out to look for his horse.他痛快地吃了一顿,就出去找他的马。
  • The host seized my hand and shook it heartily.主人抓住我的手,热情地和我握手。
5 maiden yRpz7     
n.少女,处女;adj.未婚的,纯洁的,无经验的
参考例句:
  • The prince fell in love with a fair young maiden.王子爱上了一位年轻美丽的少女。
  • The aircraft makes its maiden flight tomorrow.这架飞机明天首航。
6 concealed 0v3zxG     
a.隐藏的,隐蔽的
参考例句:
  • The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。
  • I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。
7 recesses 617c7fa11fa356bfdf4893777e4e8e62     
n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 );(工作或业务活动的)中止或暂停期间;学校的课间休息;某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 );将(墙)做成凹形,在(墙)上做壁龛;休息,休会,休庭
参考例句:
  • I could see the inmost recesses. 我能看见最深处。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I had continually pushed my doubts to the darker recesses of my mind. 我一直把怀疑深深地隐藏在心中。 来自《简明英汉词典》
8 pennant viuym     
n.三角旗;锦标旗
参考例句:
  • The second car was flying the Ghanaian pennant.第二辆车插着加纳的三角旗。
  • The revitalized team came from the cellar to win the pennant.该队重整旗鼓,从最后一名一跃而赢得冠军奖旗。
9 hoisted d1dcc88c76ae7d9811db29181a2303df     
把…吊起,升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He hoisted himself onto a high stool. 他抬身坐上了一张高凳子。
  • The sailors hoisted the cargo onto the deck. 水手们把货物吊到甲板上。
10 ashore tNQyT     
adv.在(向)岸上,上岸
参考例句:
  • The children got ashore before the tide came in.涨潮前,孩子们就上岸了。
  • He laid hold of the rope and pulled the boat ashore.他抓住绳子拉船靠岸。
11 rascals 5ab37438604a153e085caf5811049ebb     
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:
  • "Oh, but I like rascals. "唔,不过我喜欢流氓。
  • "They're all second-raters, black sheep, rascals. "他们都是二流人物,是流氓,是恶棍。
12 unwilling CjpwB     
adj.不情愿的
参考例句:
  • The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
  • His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。
13 regained 51ada49e953b830c8bd8fddd6bcd03aa     
复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 ); 赢回; 重回; 复至某地
参考例句:
  • The majority of the people in the world have regained their liberty. 世界上大多数人已重获自由。
  • She hesitated briefly but quickly regained her poise. 她犹豫片刻,但很快恢复了镇静。
14 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的;有决心的
参考例句:
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
15 retired Njhzyv     
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的
参考例句:
  • The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
  • Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。
16 consultation VZAyq     
n.咨询;商量;商议;会议
参考例句:
  • The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
  • The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。
17 waded e8d8bc55cdc9612ad0bc65820a4ceac6     
(从水、泥等)蹚,走过,跋( wade的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She tucked up her skirt and waded into the river. 她撩起裙子蹚水走进河里。
  • He waded into the water to push the boat out. 他蹚进水里把船推出来。
18 drawn MuXzIi     
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的
参考例句:
  • All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
  • Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。


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