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On reaching the base of the bluff they halted, and held a short council among themselves.
他們來到山腳下，停了下來，簡短地商議了一會兒。
"The wells are to the right, my brothers," said one, a hard-lipped, clean- shaven man with grizzly hair.
一個嘴唇繃得緊緊的、胡子刮得光光的、頭發斑白的人說："往右邊走有井，弟兄。"
"To the right of the Sierra Blanco–so we shall reach the Rio Grande," said another.
另一個說："向布蘭卡山的右側前進，咱們就可以到達瑞奧·葛蘭德。"
"Fear not for water," cried a third. "He who could draw it from the rocks will not now abandon His own chosen people."
第三個人大聲喊道："不要擔心沒有水。能夠從巖石中引水出來的真神，是不會舍其他的選民的。"
"Amen! amen!" responded the whole party.
"阿門!阿門!幾個人同聲回答道。
They were about to resume their journey when one of the youngest and keenest-eyed uttered an exclamation and pointed up at the rugged crag above them.
他們正要重新上路的時候，忽然一個年輕的眼光最銳利的小伙子指著他們頭上那片嵯峨的峭壁驚叫了起來。
From its summit there fluttered a little wisp of pink, showing up hard and bright against the gray rocks behind.
原來山頂上有件很小的粉紅色的東西在飄蕩著，在灰色的巖石襯托下，顯得非常鮮明突出。
At the sight there was a general reining up of horses and unslinging of guns, while fresh horsemen came galloping up to reinforce the vanguard.
這個東西一被發現，騎手們便一起勒住馬韁，取槍在手。同時，更多的騎手從后面疾馳上來增援。
The word "Redskins" was on every lip. "There can't be any number of Injuns here," said the elderly man who appeared to be in command.
只聽見異口同聲一起喊叫："有了紅人了。""這里不可能有紅人，"一位年長的看來是領袖的人物說，
"We have passed the Pawnees, and there are no other tribes until we cross the great mountains."
"咱們已經越過波尼紅人住區了，越過前面大山以前不會再有其他的部落了。"
"Shall I go forward and see, Brother Stangerson?" asked one of the band.
其中一個說道："我上去察看一下好嗎，斯坦節遜兄弟？"
"And I," "And I," cried a dozen voices.
"我也去，我也去。"十多個人同聲喊道。
"Leave your horses below and we will await you here," the elder answered.
那位長者回答說："把馬留在下邊，我們就在這里接應你們。"
In a moment the young fellows had dismounted, fastened their horses, and were ascending the precipitous slope which led up to the object which had excited their curiosity.
立刻，年輕人翻身下馬，把馬拴好，沿著峻峭的山坡，向著那個引其他們好奇心的目標攀登上去。
They advanced rapidly and noiselessly, with the confidence and dexterity of practised scouts.
他們迅速無聲地悄悄前進，顯出久經鍛煉的斥候的那種沉著和矯捷的動作。
The watchers from the plain below could see them flit from rock to rock until their figures stood out against the sky-line.
山下的人們只見他們在山石間行走如飛，一直來到了山巔。
The young man who had first given the alarm was leading them.
那個最先發現情況的少年走在前面。
Suddenly his followers saw him throw up his hands, as though overcome with astonishment, and on joining him they were affected in the same way by the sight which met their eyes.
跟隨在他后面的人忽然看見他兩手一舉，似乎顯出大吃一驚的樣子。大家上前一看，眼前這番情景也都使他們愣住了。
On the little plateau which crowned the barren hill there stood a single giant boulder, and against this boulder there lay a tall man, long-bearded and hard-featured, but of an excessive thinness.
在這荒山頂上的一小塊平地上，有一塊單獨的大石頭。圓石旁，躺著一個高大的男子，但見他須發長長，相貌嚴峻，形容枯槁。
His placid face and regular breathing showed that he was fast asleep.
從他那安詳的面容和均勻的呼吸可以看出，他睡得很熟。
Beside him lay a child, with her round white arms encircling his brown sinewy neck, and her golden-haired head resting upon the breast of his velveteen tunic.
他的身旁睡著一個小女孩，小女孩的又圓又白的小手臂，摟著大人的又黑又瘦的脖子，她那披著金發的小腦袋，倚在這個穿著棉絨上身的男人的胸上，
Her rosy lips were parted, showing the regular line of snow-white teeth within, and a playful smile played over her infantile features.
紅紅的小嘴微微張開著，露著兩排整齊雪白的牙齒，滿含稚氣的臉上帶著頑皮的微笑；
Her plump little white legs, terminating in white socks and neat shoes with shining buckles, offered a strange contrast to the long shrivelled members of her companion.
又白又胖的小腿上，穿著白色短襪，干凈的鞋子，鞋子上的扣子閃閃發光，這些和她伙伴的長大而干瘦的手足形成奇異的對比。
