in search of the castaways-第32章

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　On　a　sign　from　the　Indian　Glenarvan　took　his　place；　while　Thalcave　went　back　into　the　inclosure　and　gathered　up　all　the　dried　grass　and　ALFAFARES；　and；　indeed；　all　the　combustibles　he　could　rake　together；　and　made　a　pile　of　them　at　the　entrance。　Into　this　he　flung　one　of　the　still…glowing　embers；　and　soon　the　bright　flames　shot　up　into　the　dark　night。　Glenarvan　could　now　get　a　good　glimpse　of　his　antagonists；　and　saw　that　it　was　impossible　to　exaggerate　their　numbers　or　their　fury。　　The　barrier　of　fire　just　raised　by　Thalcave　had　redoubled　their　anger；　though　it　had　cut　off　their　approach。　Several　of　them；　however；　urged　on　by　the　hindmost　ranks；　pushed　forward　into　the　very　flames；　and　burned　their　paws　for　their　pains。　From　time　to　time　another　shot　had　to　be　fired；　notwithstanding　the　fire；　to　keep　off　the　howling　pack；　and　in　the　course　of　an　hour　fifteen　dead　animals　lay　stretched　on　the　prairie。　The　situation　of　the　besieged　was；　relatively　speaking；　less　dangerous　now。　　As　long　as　the　powder　lasted　and　the　barrier　of　fire　burned　on；　there　was　no　fear　of　being　overmastered。　But　what　was　to　be　done　afterward；　when　both　means　of　defense　failed　at　once？　Glenarvan's　heart　swelled　as　he　looked　at　Robert。　　He　forgot　himself　in　thinking　of　this　poor　child；　as　he　saw　him　showing　a　courage　so　far　above　his　years。　　Robert　was　pale；　but　he　kept　his　gun　steady；　and　stood　with　firm　foot　ready　to　meet　the　attacks　of　the　infuriated　wolves。　However；　after　Glenarvan　had　calmly　surveyed　the　actual　state　of　affairs；　he　determined　to　bring　things　to　a　crisis。　〃In　an　hour's　time；〃　he　said；　〃we　shall　neither　have　powder　nor　fire。　It　will　never　do　to　wait　till　then　before　we　settle　what　to　do。〃　Accordingly；　he　went　up　to　Thalcave；　and　tried　to　talk　to　him　by　the　help　of　the　few　Spanish　words　his　memory　could　muster；　though　their　conversation　was　often　interrupted　by　one　or　the　other　having　to　fire　a　shot。　It　was　no　easy　task　for　the　two　men　to　understand　each　other；　but；　most　fortunately；　Glenarvan　knew　a　great　deal　of　the　peculiarities　of　the　red　wolf；　otherwise　he　could　never　have　interpreted　the　Indian's　words　and　gestures。　As　it　was；　fully　a　quarter　of　an　hour　elapsed　before　he　could　get　any　answer　from　Thalcave　to　tell　Robert　in　reply　to　his　inquiry。　〃What　does　he　say？〃　〃He　says　that　at　any　price　we　must　hold　out　till　daybreak。　The　AGUARA　only　prowls　about　at　night；　and　goes　back　to　his　lair　with　the　first　streak　of　dawn。　　It　is　a　cowardly　beast；　that　loves　the　darkness　and　dreads　the　lightan　owl　on　four　feet。〃　〃Very　well；　let　us　defend　ourselves；　then；　till　morning。〃　〃Yes；　my　boy；　and　with　knife…thrusts；　when　gun　and　shots　fail。〃　Already　Thalcave　had　set　the　example；　for　whenever　a　wolf　came　too　near　the　burning　pile；　the　long　arm　of　the　Patagonian　dashed　through　the　flames　and　came　out　again　reddened　with　blood。　But　very　soon　this　means　of　defense　would　be　at　an　end。　About　two　o'clock；　Thalcave　flung　his　last　armful　of　combustibles　into　the　fire；　and　barely　enough　powder　remained　to　load　a　gun　five　times。　Glenarvan　threw　a　sorrowful　glance　round　him。　　He　thought　of　the　lad　standing　there；　and　of　his　companions　and　those　left　behind；　whom　he　loved　so　dearly。　Robert　was　silent。　　Perhaps　the　danger　seemed　less　imminent　to　his　imagination。　　But　Glenarvan　thought　for　him；　and　pictured　to　himself　the　horrible　fate　that　seemed　to　await　him　inevitably。　Quite　overcome　by　his　emotion；　he　took　the　child　in　his　arms；　and　straining　him　convulsively　to　his　heart；　pressed　his　lips　on　his　forehead；　while　tears　he　could　not　restrain　streamed　down　his　cheeks。　Robert　looked　up　into　his　face　with　a　smile；　and　said；　〃I　am　not　frightened。〃　〃No；　my　child；　no！　and　you　are　right。　　In　two　hours　daybreak　will　come；　and　we　shall　be　saved。　　Bravo；　Thalcave！　my　brave　Patagonian！　　Bravo！〃　he　added　as　the　Indian　that　moment　leveled　two　enormous　beasts　who　endeavored　to　leap　across　the　barrier　of　flames。　But　the　fire　was　fast　dying　out；　and　the　DENOUEMENT　of　the　terrible　drama　was　approaching。　　The　flames　got　lower　and　lower。　Once　more　the　shadows　of　night　fell　on　the　prairie；　and　the　glaring　eyes　of　the　wolves　glowed　like　phosphorescent　balls　in　the　darkness。　A　few　minutes　longer；　and　the　whole　pack　would　be　in　the　inclosure。　Thalcave　loaded　his　carbine　for　the　last　time；　killed　one　more　enormous　monster；　and　then　folded　his　arms。　　His　head　sank　on　his　chest；　and　he　appeared　buried　in　deep　thought。　Was　he　planning　some　daring；　impossible；　mad　attempt　to　repulse　the　infuriated　horde？　　Glenarvan　did　not　venture　to　ask。　At　this　very　moment　the　wolves　began　to　change　their　tactics。　The　deafening　howls　suddenly　ceased：　　they　seemed　to　be　going　away。　Gloomy　silence　spread　over　the　prairie；　and　made　Robert　exclaim：　〃They're　gone！〃　But　Thalcave；　guessing　his　meaning；　shook　his　head。　He　knew　they　would　never　relinquish　their　sure　prey　till　daybreak　made　them　hasten　back　to　their　dens。　Still；　their　plan　of　attack　had　evidently　been　altered。　They　no　longer　attempted　to　force　the　entrance；　but　their　new　maneuvers　only　heightened　the　danger。　They　had　gone　round　the　RAMADA；　as　by　common　consent；　and　were　trying　to　get　in　on　the　opposite　side。　The　next　minute　they　heard　their　claws　attacking　the　moldering　wood；　and　already　formidable　paws　and　hungry；　savage　jaws　had　found　their　way　through　the　palings。　　The　terrified　horses　broke　loose　from　their　halters　and　ran　about　the　inclosure；　mad　with　fear。　Glenarvan　put　his　arms　round　the　young　lad；　and　resolved　to　defend　him　as　long　as　his　life　held　out。　　Possibly　he　might　have　made　a　useless　attempt　at　flight　when　his　eye　fell　on　Thalcave。　The　Indian　had　been　stalking　about　the　RAMADA　like　a　stag；　when　he　suddenly　stopped　short；　and　going　up　to　his　horse；　who　was　trembling　with　impatience；　began　to　saddle　him　with　the　most　scrupulous　care；　without　forgetting　a　single　strap　or　buckle。　He　seemed　no　longer　to　disturb　himself　in　the　least　about　the　wolves　outside；　though　their　yells　had　redoubled　in　intensity。　A　dark　suspicion　crossed　Glenarvan's　mind　as　he　watched　him。　〃He　is　going　to　desert　us；〃　he　exclaimed　at　last；　as　he　saw　him　seize　the　reins；　as　if　preparing　to　mount。　〃He！　never！〃　replied　Robert。　　Instead　of　deserting　them；　the　truth　was　that　the　Indian　was　going　to　try　and　save　his　friends　by　sacrificing　himself。　Thaouka　was　ready；　and　stood　champing　his　bit。　　He　reared　up；　and　his　splendid　eyes　flashed　fire；　he　understood　his　master。　But　just　as　the　Patagonian　caught　hold　of　the　horse's　mane；　Glenarvan　seized　his　arm　with　a　convulsive　grip；　and　said；　pointing　to　the　open　prairie。　〃You　are　going　away？〃　V。　IV　Verne　〃Yes；〃　replied　the　Indian；　understanding　his　gesture。　Then　he　said　a　few　words　in　Spanish；　which　meant：　〃_Thaouka；　good　horse；　quick；　will　draw　all　the　wolves　away　after　him_。〃　〃Oh；　Thalcave；〃　exclaimed　Glenarvan。　〃Quick；　quick！〃　replied　the　Indian；　while　Glenarvan　said；　in　a　broken；　agitated　voice　to　Robert：　〃Robert；　my　child；　do　you　hear　him？　　He　wants　to　sacrifice　himself　for　us。　　He　wants　to　rush　away　over　the　Pampas；　and　turn　off　the　wolves　from　us　by　attracting　them　to　himself。〃　〃Friend　Thalcave；〃　returned　Robert；　throwing　himself　at　the　feet　of　the　Patagonian；　〃friend　Thalcave；　don't　leave　us！〃　〃No；〃　said　Glenarvan；　〃he　s