THE eastern side of the Cordilleras of the Andes consists of a succession of lengthened1 declivities, which slope down almost insensibly to the plain. The soil is carpeted with rich herbage, and adorned2 with magnificent trees, among which, in great numbers, were apple-trees, planted at the time of the conquest, and golden with fruit. There were literally3, perfect forests of these. This district was, in fact, just a corner of fertile Normandy.
The sudden transition from a desert to an oasis4, from snowy peaks to verdant5 plains, from Winter to Summer, can not fail to strike the traveler’s eye.
The ground, moreover, had recovered its immobility. The trembling had ceased, though there was little doubt the forces below the surface were carrying on their devastating6 work further on, for shocks of earthquake are always occurring in some part or other of the Andes. This time the shock had been one of extreme violence. The outline of the mountains was wholly altered, and the Pampas guides would have sought vainly for the accustomed landmarks7.
A magnificent day had dawned. The sun was just rising from his ocean bed, and his bright rays streamed already over the Argentine plains, and ran across to the Atlantic. It was about eight o’clock.
Lord Glenarvan and his companions were gradually restored to animation8 by the Major’s efforts. They had been completely stunned9, but had sustained no injury whatever. The descent of the Cordilleras was accomplished10; and as Dame11 Nature had conveyed them at her own expense, they could only have praised her method of locomotion12 if one of their number, and that one the feeblest and youngest, the child of the party, had not been missing at the roll call.
The brave boy was beloved by everybody. Paganel was particularly attached to him, and so was the Major, with all his apparent coldness. As for Glenarvan, he was in absolute despair when he heard of his disappearance13, and pictured to himself the child lying in some deep abyss, wildly crying for succor14.
“We must go and look for him, and look till we find him,” he exclaimed, almost unable to keep back his tears. “We cannot leave him to his fate. Every valley and precipice15 and abyss must be searched through and through. I will have a rope fastened round my waist, and go down myself. I insist upon it; you understand; I insist upon it. Heaven grant Robert may be still alive! If we lose the boy, how could we ever dare to meet the father? What right have we to save the captain at the cost of his son’s life?”
Glenarvan’s companions heard him in silence. He sought to read hope in their eyes, but they did not venture to meet his gaze.
At last he said,
“Well, you hear what I say, but you make no response. Do you mean to tell me that you have no hope — not the slightest?”
Again there was silence, till McNabbs asked:
“Which of you can recollect16 when Robert disappeared?”
No one could say.
“Well, then,” resumed the Major, “you know this at any rate. Who was the child beside during our descent of the Cordilleras?”
“Beside me,” replied Wilson.
“Very well. Up to what moment did you see him beside you? Try if you can remember.”
“All that I can recollect is that Robert Grant was still by my side, holding fast by a tuft of lichen17, less than two minutes before the shock which finished our descent.”
“Less than two minutes? Mind what you are saying; I dare say a minute seemed a very long time to you. Are you sure you are not making a mistake?”
“I don’t think I am. No; it was just about two minutes, as I tell you.”
“Very well, then; and was Robert on your right or left?”
“On my left. I remember that his poncho18 brushed past my face.”
“And with regard to us, how were you placed?”
“On the left also.”
“Then Robert must have disappeared on this side,” said the Major, turning toward the mountain and pointing toward the right: “and I should judge,” he added, “considering the time that has elapsed, that the spot where he fell is about two miles up. Between that height and the ground is where we must search, dividing the different zones among us, and it is there we shall find him.”
Not another word was spoken. The six men commenced their explorations, keeping constantly to the line they had made in their descent, examining closely every fissure20, and going into the very depths of the abysses, choked up though they partly were with fragments of the plateau; and more than one came out again with garments torn to rags, and feet and hands bleeding. For many long hours these brave fellows continued their search without dreaming of taking rest. But all in vain. The child had not only met his death on the mountain, but found a grave which some enormous rock had sealed forever.
About one o’clock, Glenarvan and his companions met again in the valley. Glenarvan was completely crushed with grief. He scarcely spoke19. The only words that escaped his lips amid his sighs were,
“I shall not go away! I shall not go away!”
No one of the party but could enter into his feeling, and respect it.
“Let us wait,” said Paganel to the Major and Tom Austin. “We will take a little rest, and recruit our strength. We need it anyway, either to prolong our search or continue our route.”
“Yes; and, as Edward wishes it, we will rest. He has still hope, but what is it he hopes?”
“Who knows!” said Tom Austin.
“Poor Robert!” replied Paganel, brushing away a tear.
The valley was thickly wooded, and the Major had no difficulty in finding a suitable place of encampment. He chose a clump21 of tall carob trees, under which they arranged their few belongings22 — few indeed, for all they had were sundry23 wraps and fire-arms, and a little dried meat and rice. Not far off there was a RIO, which supplied them with water, though it was still somewhat muddy after the disturbance24 of the avalanche25. Mulrady soon had a fire lighted on the grass, and a warm refreshing26 beverage27 to offer his master. But Glenarvan refused to touch it, and lay stretched on his poncho in a state of absolute prostration28.
So the day passed, and night came on, calm and peaceful as the preceding had been. While his companions were lying motionless, though wide awake, Glenarvan betook himself once more to the slopes of the Cordilleras, listening intently in hope that some cry for help would fall upon his ear. He ventured far up in spite of his being alone, straining his ear with painful eagerness to catch the faintest sound, and calling aloud in an agony of despair.
But he heard nothing save the beatings of his own heart, though he wandered all night on the mountain. Sometimes the Major followed him, and sometimes Paganel, ready to lend a helping29 hand among the slippery peaks and dangerous precipices30 among which he was dragged by his rash and useless imprudence. All his efforts were in vain, however, and to his repeated cries of “Robert, Robert!” echo was the only response.
Day dawned, and it now became a matter of necessity to go and bring back the poor Lord from the distant plateau, even against his will. His despair was terrible. Who could dare to speak of quitting this fatal valley? Yet provisions were done, and Argentine guides and horses were not far off to lead them to the Pampas. To go back would be more difficult than to go forward. Besides, the Atlantic Ocean was the appointed meeting place with the Duncan. These were strong reasons against any long delay; indeed it was best for all parties to continue the route as soon as possible.
McNabbs undertook the task of rousing Lord Glenarvan from his grief. For a long time his cousin seemed not to hear him. At last he shook his head, and said, almost in-audibly:
“Did you say we must start?”
“Yes, we must start.”
“Wait one hour longer.”
“Yes, we’ll wait another,” replied the Major.
The hour slipped away, and again Glenarvan begged for longer grace. To hear his imploring31 tones, one might have thought him a criminal begging a respite32. So the day passed on till it was almost noon. McNabbs hesitated now no longer, but, acting33 on the advice of the rest, told his cousin that start they must, for all their lives depended on prompt action.
“Yes, yes!” replied Glenarvan. “Let us start, let us start!”
But he spoke without looking at McNabbs. His gaze was fixed34 intently on a certain dark speck35 in the heavens. Suddenly he exclaimed, extending his arm, and keeping it motionless, as if petrified36:
“There! there! Look! look!”
All eyes turned immediately in the direction indicated so imperiously. The dark speck was increasing visibly. It was evidently some bird hovering37 above them.
“Yes, a condor,” replied Glenarvan. “Who knows? He is coming down — he is gradually getting lower! Let us wait.”
Paganel was not mistaken, it was assuredly a condor. This magnificent bird is the king of the Southern Andes, and was formerly39 worshiped by the Incas. It attains40 an extraordinary development in those regions. Its strength is prodigious41. It has frequently driven oxen over the edge of precipices down into the depths of abysses. It seizes sheep, and kids, and young calves42, browsing43 on the plains, and carries them off to inaccessible44 heights. It hovers45 in the air far beyond the utmost limits of human sight, and its powers of vision are so great that it can discern the smallest objects on the earth beneath.
What had this condor discovered then? Could it be the corpse46 of Robert Grant? “Who knows?” repeated Glenarvan, keeping his eye immovably fixed on the bird. The enormous creature was fast approaching, sometimes hovering for awhile with outspread wings, and sometimes falling with the swiftness of inert47 bodies in space. Presently he began to wheel round in wide circles. They could see him distinctly. He measured more than fifteen feet, and his powerful wings bore him along with scarcely the slightest effort, for it is the prerogative48 of large birds to fly with calm majesty49, while insects have to beat their wings a thousand times a second.
The Major and Wilson had seized their carbines, but Glenarvan stopped them by a gesture. The condor was encircling in his flight a sort of inaccessible plateau about a quarter of a mile up the side of the mountain. He wheeled round and round with dazzling rapidity, opening and shutting his formidable claws, and shaking his cartilaginous carbuncle, or comb.
“It is there, there!” exclaimed Glenarvan.
A sudden thought flashed across his mind, and with a terrible cry, he called out, “Fire! fire! Oh, suppose Robert were still alive! That bird.”
But it was too late. The condor had dropped out of sight behind the crags. Only a second passed, a second that seemed an age, and the enormous bird reappeared, carrying a heavy load and flying at a slow rate.
A cry of horror rose on all sides. It was a human body the condor had in his claws, dangling50 in the air, and apparently51 lifeless — it was Robert Grant. The bird had seized him by his clothes, and had him hanging already at least one hundred and fifty feet in the air. He had caught sight of the travelers, and was flapping his wings violently, endeavoring to escape with his heavy prey52.
“Oh! would that Robert were dashed to pieces against the rocks, rather than be a —”
He did not finish his sentence, but seizing Wilson’s carbine, took aim at the condor. His arm was too trembling, however, to keep the weapon steady.
“Let me do it,” said the Major. And with a calm eye, and sure hands and motionless body, he aimed at the bird, now three hundred feet above him in the air.
But before he had pulled the trigger the report of a gun resounded53 from the bottom of the valley. A white smoke rose from between two masses of basalt, and the condor, shot in the head, gradually turned over and began to fall, supported by his great wings spread out like a parachute. He had not let go his prey, but gently sank down with it on the ground, about ten paces from the stream.
“We’ve got him, we’ve got him,” shouted Glenarvan; and without waiting to see where the shot so providentially came from, he rushed toward the condor, followed by his companions.
When they reached the spot the bird was dead, and the body of Robert was quite concealed54 beneath his mighty55 wings. Glenarvan flung himself on the corpse, and dragging it from the condor’s grasp, placed it flat on the grass, and knelt down and put his ear to the heart.
But a wilder cry of joy never broke from human lips, than Glenarvan uttered the next moment, as he started to his feet and exclaimed:
“He is alive! He is still alive!”
The boy’s clothes were stripped off in an instant, and his face bathed with cold water. He moved slightly, opened his eyes, looked round and murmured, “Oh, my Lord! Is it you!” he said; “my father!”
Glenarvan could not reply. He was speechless with emotion, and kneeling down by the side of the child so miraculously56 saved, burst into tears.
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1
lengthened
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| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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oasis
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| n.（沙漠中的）绿洲，宜人的地方 | |
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verdant
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| adj.翠绿的，青翠的，生疏的，不老练的 | |
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devastating
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| adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的 | |
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landmarks
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| n.陆标( landmark的名词复数 )；目标；（标志重要阶段的）里程碑 ~ (in sth)；有历史意义的建筑物（或遗址） | |
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animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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dame
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| n.女士 | |
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locomotion
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| n.运动，移动 | |
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disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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succor
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| n.援助，帮助；v.给予帮助 | |
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precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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16
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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lichen
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| n.地衣, 青苔 | |
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poncho
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| n.斗篷，雨衣 | |
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19
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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fissure
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| n.裂缝；裂伤 | |
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clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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avalanche
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| n.雪崩，大量涌来 | |
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refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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beverage
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| n.(水，酒等之外的)饮料 | |
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28
prostration
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| n. 平伏, 跪倒, 疲劳 | |
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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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30
precipices
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| n.悬崖，峭壁( precipice的名词复数 ) | |
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31
imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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32
respite
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| n.休息，中止，暂缓 | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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speck
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| n.微粒，小污点，小斑点 | |
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petrified
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| adj.惊呆的；目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆，使惊呆；变僵硬；使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词) | |
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hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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condor
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| n.秃鹰；秃鹰金币 | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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attains
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的第三人称单数 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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calves
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| n.(calf的复数)笨拙的男子，腓；腿肚子( calf的名词复数 )；牛犊；腓；小腿肚v.生小牛( calve的第三人称单数 )；（冰川）崩解；生（小牛等），产（犊）；使（冰川）崩解 | |
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43
browsing
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| v.吃草( browse的现在分词 )；随意翻阅；（在商店里）随便看看；（在计算机上）浏览信息 | |
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44
inaccessible
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| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
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45
hovers
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| 鸟( hover的第三人称单数 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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46
corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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47
inert
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| adj.无活动能力的，惰性的；迟钝的 | |
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prerogative
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| n.特权 | |
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49
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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50
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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51
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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52
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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53
resounded
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| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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54
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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55
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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56
miraculously
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| ad.奇迹般地 | |
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