| Otherwise, they might be interdicted by the elders; who, as a general thing, are averse to such filibustering expeditions-deeming them not only imprudent, but often injurious to the interests of the community. Only when successful are they applauded. | В противном случае, их остановили бы старейшины, которые, как правило, против таких разбойничьих набегов, потому что считают их не только неразумными, но и опасными для всего племени, хотя и готовы их одобрить в случае благополучного исхода. |
| On the present occasion several young Comanches had taken out their war-diploma, by carrying back with them the scalps of a number of white women and boys. The horses and horned cattle were also collected; but these, being less convenient of transport than the light scalp-locks, had been recaptured. The red-skinned filibusters, overtaken by a detachment of Mounted Rifles, among the hills of the San Saba, were compelled to abandon their four-footed booty, and only saved their own skins by a forced retreat into the fastnesses of the "Llano Estacado." | На этот раз молодых команчей перехватил эскадрон конных стрелков среди холмов Сан-Саба. Они были вынуждены бросить угнанный скот, но сами спаслись, ускакав в ущелья Льяно-Эстакадо. |
| To follow them beyond the borders of this sterile tract would have required a commissariat less hastily established than that with which the troops had sallied forth; and, although the relatives of the scalped settlers clamoured loudly for retaliation, it could only be promised them after due time and preparation. | Преследовать индейцев на этом бесплодном плоскогорье представлялось рискованным, так как трудно было наладить снабжение войск, и, хотя родные погибших требовали немедленной мести, им отвечали, что к карательной эспедиции надо хорошенько подготовиться. |
| On discovering that the Comanches had retreated beyond their neutral ground, the soldiers of Uncle Sam had no choice but to return to their ordinary duties-each detachment to its own fort-to await further commands from the head-quarters of the "department." | Поскольку команчи отступили за пределы нейтральной полосы, войскам оставалось только вернуться в свои лагеря и ждать дальнейших распоряжений командования. |
| The troops belonging to Port Inge-entrusted with the guardianship of the country as far as the Rio Nueces-were surprised on getting back to their cantonment to discover that they had been riding in the wrong direction for an encounter with the Indians! | Войска форта Индж, охранявшие пограничную полосу вплоть до реки Нуэсес, вернувшись в лагерь, с удивлением узнали, что могли бы встретиться с индейцами, никуда не уезжая. |
Some of them were half mad with disappointment: for there were several-young Hancock among the number-who had not yet run their swords through a red-skin, though keenly desirous of doing so! No doubt there is inhumanity in the idea. But it must be remembered, that these ruthless savages have given to the white man peculiar provocation, by a thousand repetitions of three diabolical crimes-rape, rapine, and murder. To talk of their being the aborigines of the country-the real, but dispossessed, owners of the soil-is simple nonsense. This sophism, of the most spurious kind, has too long held dominion over the minds of men. The whole human race has an inherent right to the whole surface of the earth: and if any infinitesimal fraction of the former by chance finds itself idly roaming over an extended portion of the latter, their exclusive claim to it is almost too absurd for argument-even with the narrowest-minded disciple of an aborigines society. Admit it-give the hunter his half-dozen square miles-for he will require that much to maintain him-leave him in undisputed possession to all eternity-and millions of fertile acres must remain untilled, to accommodate this whimsical theory of national right. Nay, I will go further, and risk reproach, by asserting:-that not only the savage, so called, but civilised people should be unreservedly dispossessed-whenever they show themselves incapable of turning to a good account the resources which Nature has placed within their limits. The exploitation of Earth's treasures is a question not confined to nations. It concerns the whole family of mankind. In all this there is not one iota of agrarian doctrine-not a thought of it. He who makes these remarks is the last man to lend countenance to communism. It is true that, at the time spoken of, there were ruffians in Texas who held the life of a red-skin at no higher value than an English gamekeeper does that of a stoat, or any other vermin, that trespasses on his preserves. No doubt these ruffians are there still: for ten years cannot have effected much change in the morality of the Texan frontier. But, alas! we must now be a little cautious about calling names. Our own story of Jamaica-by heaven! the blackest that has blotted the pages of history-has whitewashed these border filibusteros to the seeming purity of snow! If things are to be judged by comparison, not so fiendish, then, need appear the fact, that the young officers of Fort Inge were some little chagrined at not having an opportunity to slay a score or so of red-skins. On learning that, during their absence, Indians had been seen on the other side, they were inspired by a new hope. They might yet find the opportunity of fleshing their swords, transported without stain-without sharpening, too-from the military school of West Point.
Молодые офицеры, жаждущие подвигов -- в том числе Генкок,-- которые не находили себе места от досады, услышав, что за Леоной видели краснокожих, воспрянули духом.
| It was a fresh disappointment to them, when a party came in on the same day-civilians who had gone in pursuit of the savages seen on the Alamo-and reported: that no Indians had been there! | Но их постигло еще одно разочарование: в этот же день вернулся собранный из штатских отряд, преследовавший замеченных вблизи Аламо команчей, и сообщил, что никаких индейцев там и не бывало. |
| They came provided with proofs of their statement, which otherwise would have been received with incredulity-considering what had occurred. The proofs consisted in a collection of miscellaneous articles-an odd lot, as an auctioneer would describe it-wigs of horse-hair, cocks' feathers stained blue, green, or scarlet, breech-clouts of buckskin, mocassins of the same material, and several packages of paint, all which they had found concealed in the cavity of a cottonwood tree! | Их заявление подтверждалось вещественными доказательствами -- париками из конского волоса, петушиными перьями, выкрашенными в зеленый и красный цвет, штанами из оленьей шкуры, мокасинами и несколькими пакетиками красок. Все это было найдено в дупле старого тополя. |
| There could be no new campaign against Indians; and the aspiring spirits of Fort Inge were, for the time, forced to content themselves with such incidents as the situation afforded. |