登陆注册
15490300000022

第22章 CHAPTER 5(3)

"Ay," returned the composed scout, "the Indians have hid the beasts with the judgment of natives! Water leaves no trail, and an owl's eyes would be blinded by the darkness of such a hole."The whole party was soon reunited, and another consultation was held between the scout and his new comrades, during which, they, whose fates depended on the faith and ingenuity of these unknown foresters, had a little leisure to observe their situation more minutely.

The river was confined between high and cragged rocks, one of which impended above the spot where the canoe rested. As these, again, were surmounted by tall trees, which appeared to totter on the brows of the precipice, it gave the stream the appearance of running through a deep and narrow dell.

All beneath the fantastic limbs and ragged tree tops, which were, here and there, dimly painted against the starry zenith, lay alike in shadowed obscurity. Behind them, the curvature of the banks soon bounded the view by the same dark and wooded outline; but in front, and apparently at no great distance, the water seemed piled against the heavens, whence it tumbled into caverns, out of which issued those sullen sounds that had loaded the evening atmosphere. It seemed, in truth, to be a spot devoted to seclusion, and the sisters imbibed a soothing impression of security, as they gazed upon its romantic though not unappalling beauties. Ageneral movement among their conductors, however, soon recalled them from a contemplation of the wild charms that night had assisted to lend the place to a painful sense of their real peril.

The horses had been secured to some scattering shrubs that grew in the fissures of the rocks, where, standing in the water, they were left to pass the night. The scout directed Heyward and his disconsolate fellow travelers to seat themselves in the forward end of the canoe, and took possession of the other himself, as erect and steady as if he floated in a vessel of much firmer materials. The Indians warily retraced their steps toward the place they had left, when the scout, placing his pole against a rock, by a powerful shove, sent his frail bark directly into the turbulent stream. For many minutes the struggle between the light bubble in which they floated and the swift current was severe and doubtful. Forbidden to stir even a hand, and almost afraid to breath, lest they should expose the frail fabric to the fury of the stream, the passengers watched the glancing waters in feverish suspense. Twenty times they thought the whirling eddies were sweeping them to destruction, when the masterhand of their pilot would bring the bows of the canoe to stem the rapid. A long, a vigorous, and, as it appeared to the females, a desperate effort, closed the struggle. Just as Alice veiled her eyes in horror, under the impression that they were about to be swept within the vortex at the foot of the cataract, the canoe floated, stationary, at the side of a flat rock, that lay on a level with the water.

"Where are we, and what is next to be done!" demanded Heyward, perceiving that the exertions of the scout had ceased.

"You are at the foot of Glenn's," returned the other, speaking aloud, without fear of consequences within the roar of the cataract; "and the next thing is to make a steady landing, lest the canoe upset, and you should go down again the hard road we have traveled faster than you came up; 'tis a hard rift to stem, when the river is a little swelled; and five is an unnatural number to keep dry, in a hurry-skurry, with a little birchen bark and gum. There, go you all on the rock, and I will bring up the Mohicans with the venison.

同类推荐
  • 佛说善恭敬经

    佛说善恭敬经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 天然居士怀净土诗

    天然居士怀净土诗

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 蜗触蛮三国争地记

    蜗触蛮三国争地记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 嘉树斋稿

    嘉树斋稿

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 远山堂剧品

    远山堂剧品

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 尖塔世界之血色杀戮

    尖塔世界之血色杀戮

    给一些不甘死亡的灵魂一次重生的机会重生在一个充满杀戮意志的世界唯一活下去的办法就是结盟就是杀戮唯有如此
  • 冷剑离殇

    冷剑离殇

    一名痴傻的少年,背后又有着怎样的风景?江湖纷杂,起起落落又会有着怎样的波澜?从小混进天下第一庄的少年,身后又有着什么样的秘密?两名少女的离家之路,将会逐渐发掘出怎样一个惊天的阴谋?在生与死的考验中,背后总有一双冷眼默默注视,风云变幻,一个江湖传说将会逐渐揭开它的神秘面纱.........
  • 谁在原地不曾离开

    谁在原地不曾离开

    失忆又怎样?照样活得有滋有味!好像自从失忆之后,幸运女神一直站在自己这边,有那么关心自己的爷爷奶奶,有可以为自己出头的朋友们,这年头,千金难买一知己!且看萧凡四人组如何在高校掀起旋风潮流······但,当记忆恢复,萧凡究竟该何去何从?是继续陪伴在朋友和爷爷奶奶身边,还是带着朋友和爷爷奶奶的希冀重新回到自己该待的位置?谨以此文献给那些在生活中希望有人真心待自己的朋友们。当自己没有遇到这样的朋友时,一定要耐心等待,本人就是最好的例子!友情和爱情都是金钱换不来的,真心对你的朋友就在前面等着你!努力向前就可以了。加油!有知己的人也要好好的珍惜哦~~~人生难得一知己!
  • 仙灵启

    仙灵启

    仙,本为人,只因入了天道,便为仙。灵,人有灵,则重情重义,剑有灵,则刚毅不折。..................仙灵启之剑指天穹仙灵启之斩仙灭魔
  • EXO的新成员是女生

    EXO的新成员是女生

    她是在一次偶然的机会被sm的星探发掘并出道的,但是却是以女扮男装的身份。不过却误打误撞的进入了exo,当她的秘密被发现了,她将怎样呢?逸轩你是本教主的,本教主从来没有对谁那么好只有对你那么好—吴亦凡逸轩如果我不是你表哥就好了—lay逸轩你说过会一直陪我弹钢琴的—边伯贤逸轩你不高兴的时候就看看我我是你的快乐病毒—朴灿烈逸轩你会和我一起和奶茶的对不对—吴世勋我从来不会让人坐我床我只让你坐—鹿晗………本书绝对原创如有雷同纯属巧合
  • 九龙双神

    九龙双神

    这里没有所谓的凡界、仙界、神界、只要异时空的存在……超出天道的范围【双生肉体】没有天道的庇护又如何天不容我我必逆天,世间要我覆灭,我就要让世间因为我而颤抖背伏九龙元神两具肉体逆天而存……
  • 不一样的公主

    不一样的公主

    不一样的僵尸,不一样的公主,遇见不一样的爱情
  • 温润如玉的你,幼稚无知的我

    温润如玉的你,幼稚无知的我

    医生,一个充满理想主义的世界;小说家,一个充满梦想的世界;演员,一种富含想象力的人生;企业家,一种现实主义的人生;这样的不同,理想与梦想的交织,两颗天上的明星,两种看似相同又不同的人生选择,让他们的命运交织在了一起......
  • 雪神战纪

    雪神战纪

    这是一个神邸的成长故事,过程中没有无敌的外挂,有的只是阴谋与叛变,别离的殇……
  • 翠心劫(经典大颠覆之聊斋志异之小翠)

    翠心劫(经典大颠覆之聊斋志异之小翠)

    [花雨授权]不会吧?慧黠秀美的狐狸精都是为诱惑男人而生的?她才不做这样的坏女人(呃,是狐仙啦),是什么让他在天雷闪电落下时,竟用自己的身体来蔽护她,从此成了植物人?她的天劫已度,他却元灵出窍,噢噢噢……