I sat there till it was very dark, and the longer I sat the colder and stiffer I grew, yet I felt no disposition1 to walk farther. At length a large owl2, flapping down close to my head, gave utterance3 to a long hiss4, followed by a sharp, clicking sound, ending with a sudden loud, laugh-like cry. The nearness of it startled me, and, looking up, I saw a twinkling yellow light gleam for a moment across the wide, black plain, then disappear. A few fireflies were flitting about the grass, but I felt sure the gleam just witnessed proceeded from a fire; and after vainly trying to catch sight of it again from my seat on the ground, I rose and walked on, keeping before me a particular star shining directly over the spot where that transient glimmer5 had appeared. Presently, to my great joy, I spied it again in the same place, and felt convinced that it was the gleam of firelight shining from the open door or window of some rancho or estancia house. With renewed hope and energy I hastened on, the light increasing in brightness as I progressed; and, after half an hour's brisk walking, I found myself approaching a human dwelling6 of some kind. I could make out a dark mass of trees and bushes, a long, low house, and, nearer to me, a corral, or cattle-pen, of tall, upright posts. Now, however, when a refuge seemed so close, the fear of the terrible, savage7 dogs kept on most of these cattle-breeding establishments made me hesitate. Unless I wished to run the risk of being shot, it was necessary to shout loudly to make my approach known, yet by shouting I would inevitably8 bring a pack of huge, frantic9 dogs upon me; and the horns of the angry bull I had encountered were less terrible to contemplate10 than the fangs11 of these powerful, truculent12 brutes13. I sat down on the ground to consider the position, and presently heard the clatter14 of approaching hoofs15. Immediately afterwards three men rode past me, but did not see me, for I was crouching16 down behind some scrubby bushes. When the horsemen approached the house the dogs rushed forth17 to assail18 them, and their loud, fierce barking, and the wild shouts of some person from the house calling them off, were enough to make a dismounted man nervous. However, now was my only chance, and, starting up, I hurried on towards the noise. As I passed the corral the brutes became aware of my approach, and instantly turned their attention on me. I wildly shouted. “Ave Maria,” then, revolver in hand, stood awaiting the onset19; but when they were near enough for me to see that the pack was composed of eight or ten huge yellow mastiff-like brutes, my courage failed, and I fled to the corral, where, with an agility20 surpassing that of a wild cat, so great was my terror, I climbed up a post and placed myself beyond their reach. With the dogs furiously barking under me, I renewed my shouts of “Ave Maria”—the proper thing to do when you approach a strange house in these pious21 latitudes22. After some time the men approached—four of them—and asked me who I was and what I did there. I gave an account of myself, then asked whether it would be safe for me to descend23. The master of the house took the hint, and drove his faithful protectors off, after which I came down from my uncomfortable perch24.
He was a tall, well-made, but rather fierce-looking gaucho25, with keen black eyes, and a heavy black beard. He seemed suspicious of me—a very unusual thing in a native's house, and asked me a great many searching questions; and finally, still with some reluctance26 in his manner, he invited me into the kitchen. There I found a big fire blazing merrily on the raised clay hearth27 in the centre of the large room, and seated near it an old grey-haired woman, a middle-aged28, tall, dark-skinned dame29 in a purple dress—my host's wife; a pale, pretty young woman, about sixteen years old, and a little girl. When I sat down my host began once more questioning me; but he apologised for doing so, saying that my arrival on foot seemed a very extraordinary circumstance. I told them how I had lost my horse, saddle, and poncho30 in the wood, and then related my encounter with the bull. They listened to it all with very grave faces, but I am sure it was as good as a comedy to them. Don Sinforiano Alday—the owner of the place, and my questioner—made me take off my coat to exhibit the bruises31 the bull's hoofs had inflicted32 on my arms and shoulders. He was anxious, even after that, to know something more about me, and so to satisfy him I gave him a brief account of some of my adventures in the country, down to my arrest with Marcos Marcó, and how that plausible33 gentleman had made his escape from the magistrate's house. That made them all laugh, and the three men I had seen arrive, and who appeared to be casual visitors, became very friendly, frequently passing me the rum-bottle with which they were provided.
After sipping34 maté and rum for half an hour we settled down to discuss a plentiful35 supper of roast and boiled beef and mutton, with great basins of well-seasoned broth36 to wash it down. I consumed an amazing quantity of meat, as much, in fact, as any gaucho there; and to eat as much as one of these men at a sitting is a feat37 for an Englishman to boast about. Supper done, I lit a cigar and leant back against the wall, enjoying many delightful38 sensations all together—warmth, rest, and hunger satisfied, and the subtle fragrance39 of that friend and comforter, divine tobacco. On the farther side of the room my host was meanwhile talking to the other men in low tones. Occasional glances in my direction seemed to show that they still harboured some suspicion of me, or that they had some grave matters to converse40 about unsuitable for a stranger to hear.
At length Alday rose and addressed me. “Señor, if you are ready to rest I will now conduct you to another room, where you can have some rugs and ponchos41 to make a bed with.”
“If my presence here is not inconvenient,” I returned, “I would rather remain and smoke by the fire.”
“You see, señor,” he said, “I have arranged to meet some neighbours and friends, who are coming here to discuss matters of importance with me. I am even now expecting their arrival, and the presence of a stranger would scarcely allow us to talk freely over our affairs.”
“Since you wish it, I will go to any part of the house you may think proper to put me in,” I returned.
I rose, not very cheerfully, I must say, from my comfortable seat before the fire, to follow him out, when the tramp of galloping42 horses came to our ears.
“Follow me this way—quick,” exclaimed my impatient conductor; but just as I reached the door about a dozen mounted men dashed up close to us and burst forth in a perfect storm of yells. Instantly all those who were in the kitchen sprang to their feet uttering loud exclamations43 and looking greatly excited. Then came from the mounted men another wild outburst as they all yelled together, “Viva el General Santa Coloma—viv—a.”
The other three men then rushed from the kitchen, and in excited tones began to ask if anything fresh had happened. Meanwhile I was left standing44 at the door by myself. The women appeared almost as excited as the men, except the girl, who had glanced at me with shy compassion45 in her large, dark eyes when I had been roused from my seat by the fire. Taking advantage of the general excitement, I now repaid that kindly46 look with one of admiration47. She was a quiet, bashful girl, her pale face crowned with a profusion48 of black hair; and while she stood there waiting, apparently49 unconcerned by the hubbub50 outside, she looked strangely pretty, her homemade cotton gown, of limp and scanty51 material, clinging closely to her limbs so as to display her slender, graceful52 form to the best advantage. Presently, seeing me looking at her, she came near, and, touching53 my arm in passing, told me in a whisper to go back to my seat by the fire. I gladly obeyed her, for my curiosity was now thoroughly54 aroused, and I wished to know the meaning of this outcry which had thrown these phlegmatic55 gauchos56 into such a frenzied57 state of excitement. It looked rather like a political row—but of General Santa Coloma I had never heard, and it seemed curious that a name so seldom mentioned should be the rallying cry of revolutionists.
In a few minutes the men all streamed back into the kitchen. Then the master of the house, Alday, his face on fire with emotion, thrust himself into the midst of the crowd.
“Boys, are you mad!” he cried. “Do you not see a stranger here? What is the meaning of all this outcry if nothing new has happened?”
A roar of laughter from the new-comers greeted this outburst, after which they raised another yell of “Viva Santa Colomal!”
Alday became furious. “Speak, madmen!” he shouted; “tell me, in God's name, what has happened—or do you wish to ruin everything with your imprudence?”
“Listen, Alday,” replied one of the men, “and know how little we need fear the presence of a stranger. Santa Coloma, the hope of Uruguay, the saviour58 of his country, who will shortly deliver us out of the power of Colorado assassins and pirates—Santa Coloma has come! He is here in our midst; he has seized on El Molino del Yí, and has raised the standard of revolt against the infamous59 government of Montevideo! Viva Santa Colomal!”
Alday flung his hat off, and, falling on his knees, remained for some moments in silent prayer, his hands clasped before him. The others all snatched off their hats and stood silent, grouped about him. Then he stood up, and all together joined in a viva, which far surpassed in its deafening60 power their previous performances.
My host now appeared to be almost beside himself with excitement.
“What,” he cried, “my General come! Do you tell me that Santa Coloma has come? Oh, friends, the great God has remembered our suffering country at last! He has grown weary of looking on man's injustice61, the persecutions, the bloodshed, the cruelties that have almost driven us mad. I cannot realise it! Let me go to my General, that these eyes that have watched for his coming may see him and rejoice. I cannot wait for daylight—this very night must I ride to El Molino, that I may see him and touch him with my hands, and know that it is not a dream.”
His words were welcomed with a shout of applause, and the other men all immediately announced their intention to accompany him to El Molino, a small town on the Yí some leagues distant.
Some of the men now went out to catch fresh horses, while Alday busied himself in bringing out a store of old broadswords and carbines from their concealment62 in some other part of the house. The men, talking excitedly together, occupied themselves in scouring63 and sharpening the rusty64 weapons, while the women cooked a fresh supply of meat for the last comers; and in the meantime I was permitted to remain unnoticed by the fire, smoking peacefully.
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1
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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owl
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| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
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utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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4
hiss
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| v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满 | |
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glimmer
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| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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7
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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8
inevitably
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| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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10
contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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11
fangs
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| n.（尤指狗和狼的）长而尖的牙( fang的名词复数 )；（蛇的）毒牙；罐座 | |
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truculent
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| adj.野蛮的，粗野的 | |
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13
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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14
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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hoofs
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| 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 ) | |
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16
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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assail
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| v.猛烈攻击，抨击，痛斥 | |
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onset
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| n.进攻，袭击，开始，突然开始 | |
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agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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latitudes
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| 纬度 | |
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descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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gaucho
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| n. 牧人 | |
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reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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29
dame
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| n.女士 | |
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poncho
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| n.斗篷，雨衣 | |
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31
bruises
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| n.瘀伤，伤痕，擦伤( bruise的名词复数 ) | |
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32
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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33
plausible
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| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
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sipping
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的现在分词 ) | |
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35
plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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broth
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| n.原(汁)汤(鱼汤、肉汤、菜汤等) | |
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feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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fragrance
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| n.芬芳，香味，香气 | |
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40
converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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41
ponchos
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| n.斗篷( poncho的名词复数 ) | |
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42
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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43
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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44
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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45
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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46
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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47
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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48
profusion
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| n.挥霍；丰富 | |
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49
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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50
hubbub
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| n.嘈杂；骚乱 | |
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51
scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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52
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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53
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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54
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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55
phlegmatic
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| adj.冷静的，冷淡的，冷漠的，无活力的 | |
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56
gauchos
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| n.南美牧人( gaucho的名词复数 ) | |
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57
frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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58
saviour
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| n.拯救者，救星 | |
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59
infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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60
deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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61
injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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62
concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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63
scouring
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| 擦[洗]净，冲刷，洗涤 | |
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rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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