drift from two shores(漂流)-第20章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
resolute onset against the door； at the same time raising our angry voices
to a yell。 Suddenly there was a quick response； the hurried withdrawing
of a bolt； and the door opened。
〃The occupant was a short； thick…set man； with a pale； careworn face；
79
… Page 80…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
whose prevailing expression was one of gentle good humor and patient
suffering。 When we entered； he asked us hastily why we had not 'sung
out' before。
〃'But we KNOCKED！' I said； impatiently； 'and almost drove your door
in。'
〃'That's nothing；' he said； patiently。 'I'm used to THAT。'
〃I looked again at the man's patient； fateful face； and then around the
cabin。 In an instant the whole situation flashed before me。 'Are we not
near Cave City？' I asked。
〃'Yes；' he replied； 'it's just below。 You must have passed it in the
storm。'
〃'I see。' I again looked around the cabin。 'Isn't this what they call
the haunted house？'
〃He looked at me curiously。 'It is；' he said； simply。
〃You can imagine my delight！ Here was an opportunity to test the
whole story； to work down to the bed rock； and see how it would pan out！
We were too many and too well armed to fear tricks or dangers from
outsiders。 Ifas one theory had been heldthe disturbance was kept up
by a band of concealed marauders or road agents； whose purpose was to
preserve their haunts from intrusion； we were quite able to pay them back
in kind for any assault。 I need not say that the boys were delighted with
this prospect when the fact was revealed to them。 The only one doubtful
or apathetic spirit there was our host； who quietly resumed his seat and his
book； with his old expression of patient martyrdom。 It would have been
easy for me to have drawn him out； but I felt that I did not want to
corroborate anybody else's experience； only to record my own。 And I
thought it better to keep the boys from any predisposing terrors。
〃We ate our supper； and then sat； patiently and expectant； around the
fire。 An hour slipped away； but no disturbance； another hour passed as
monotonously。 Our host read his book； only the dash of hail against the
roof broke the silence。 But〃
The Doctor stopped。 Since the last interruption； I noticed he had
changed the easy slangy style of his story to a more perfect； artistic； and
even studied manner。 He dropped now suddenly into his old colloquial
80
… Page 81…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
speech； and quietly said： 〃If you don't quit stumbling over those riatas；
Juan； I'll hobble YOU。 Come here； there； lie down； will you？〃
We all turned fiercely on the cause of this second dangerous
interruption； but a sight of the poor fellow's pale and frightened face
withheld our vindictive tongues。 And the Doctor； happily； of his own
accord； went on：
〃But I had forgotten that it was no easy matter to keep these high…
spirited boys； bent on a row； in decent subjection； and after the third hour
passed without a supernatural exhibition； I observed； from certain winks
and whispers； that they were determined to get up indications of their own。
In a few moments violent rappings were heard from all parts of the cabin；
large stones （adroitly thrown up the chimney） fell with a heavy thud on the
roof。 Strange groans and ominous yells seemed to come from the outside
（where the interstices between the logs were wide enough）。 Yet； through
all this uproar； our host sat still and patient； with no sign of indignation or
reproach upon his good…humored but haggard features。 Before long it
became evident that this exhibition was exclusively for HIS benefit。
Under the thin disguise of asking him to assist them in discovering the
disturbers OUTSIDE the cabin； those inside took advantage of his absence
to turn the cabin topsy…turvy。
〃'You see what the spirits have done； old man；' said the arch leader of
this mischief。 'They've upset that there flour barrel while we wasn't
looking； and then kicked over the water jug and spilled all the water！'
〃The patient man lifted his head and looked at the flour…strewn walls。
Then he glanced down at the floor； but drew back with a slight tremor。
〃'It ain't water！' he said； quietly。
〃'What is it； then？'
〃'It's BLOOD！ Look！' 〃The nearest man gave a sudden start and
sank back white as a sheet。
〃For there； gentlemen； on the floor； just before the door； where the old
man had seen the dog hesitate and lift his feet； there！ there！gentlemen
upon my honor； slowly widened and broadened a dark red pool of human
blood！ Stop him！ Quick！ Stop him； I say！〃
There was a blinding flash that lit up the dark woods； and a sharp
81
… Page 82…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
report！ When we reached the Doctor's side he was holding the smoking
pistol； just discharged； in one hand； while with the other he was pointing
to the rapidly disappearing figure of Juan； our Mexican vaquero！
〃Missed him！ by G…d！〃 said the Doctor。 〃But did you hear him？
Did you see his livid face as he rose up at the name of blood？ Did you
see his guilty conscience in his face。 Eh？ Why don't you speak？ What
are you staring at？〃
〃Was it the murdered man's ghost； Doctor？〃 we all panted in one quick
breath。
〃Ghost be dd！ No！ But in that Mexican vaquerothat cursed Juan
Ramirez！I saw and shot at his murderer！〃
82
… Page 83…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
THE HOODLUM BAND OR THE
BOY CHIEF； THE INFANT
POLITICIAN； AND THE PIRATE
PRODIGY
BY JACK WHACKAWAY
Author of 〃The Boy Slaver；〃 〃The Immature Incendiary；〃 〃The
Precocious Pugilist；〃 etc。； etc。
CHAPTER I
It was a quiet New England village。 Nowhere in the valley of the
Connecticut the autumn sun shone upon a more peaceful； pastoral；
manufacturing community。 The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening
on the trees； and the white pine hams for Western consumption were
gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the hardy
American artisan。 The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering
from his threshing floor the shoe…pegs； which； when intermixed with a fair
proportion of oats； offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete
civilizations of Europe。 An almost Sabbath…like stillness prevailed。
Doemville was only seven miles from Hartford； and the surrounding
landscape smiled with the conviction of being fully insured。
Few would have thought that this peaceful village was the home of the
three young heroes whose exploits would hereafterbut we anticipate。
Doemville Academy was the principal seat of learning in the county。
Under the grave and gentle administration of the venerable Doctor Context；
it had attained just popularity。 Yet the increasing infirmities of age
obliged the doctor to relinquish much of his trust to his assistants； who； it
is needless to say； abused his confidence。 Before long their brutal
tyranny and deep…laid malevolence became apparent。 Boys were
absolutely forced to study their lessons。 The sickening fact will hardly
83
… Page 84…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
be believed； but during school hours they were obliged to remain in their
seats with the appearance at least of discipline。 It is stated by good
authority that the rolling of croquet balls across the floor during recitation
was objected to； under the fiendish excuse of its interfering with their
studies。 The breaking of windows by base balls； and the beating of small
scholars with bats； were declared against。 At last； bloated and arrogant
with success； the under… teachers threw aside all disguise and revealed
themselves in their true colors。 A cigar was actually taken out of a day
scholar's mouth during prayers！ A flask of whisky was dragged from
another's desk； and then thrown out of the window。 And finally；
Profanity； Hazing； Theft； and Lying were almost discouraged！
Could the youth of America； conscious of their power and a literature
of their own； tamely submit to this tyranny？ Never！ We repeat it firmly。
Never！ We repeat it to parents and guardians。 Never！ But the fiendish
tutors； chuckling in their glee； little knew what was passing through the
cold； haughty intellect of Charles Fanuel Hall Golightly； aged ten； what
curled the lip of Benjamin Franklin Jenkins； aged seven； or what shone in
the bold blue eyes of Bromley Chitterlings； aged six and a half； as they sat
in the corner of the playground at recess。 Their only other companion
and confidant was the negro porter and janitor of the school； known as
〃Pirate Jim。〃
Fitly； indeed； was he named； as the secrets of his early wild career
confessed freely to his noble young friendsplainly showed。 A slaver at
the age of seventeen； the ringleader of a mutiny on the African Coast at the
age of twenty； a privateersman during the last war with England； the
commander of a fire…ship and its sole survivor at twenty…five； with a wild
intermediate career of unmixed piracy； until the Rebellion called him to
civil service again as a blockade…runner； and peace and a desire for rural
repose led him to seek the janitorship of the Doemville Academy； where
