"Come quick—ile!" he gasped10, and lumbered11 off. I followed.
When I reached the well Peter Waydean was lying prone12 on his face with his head hanging over the hole. At the sound of my voice he humped himself slowly and stood up, looking at me with an expression of utter misery13.
Joe grabbed my arm and pointed14 to the well. "Ile," he repeated, in a hoarse15 croak—"smell."
I lay down and smelled; the reeking16 odor of kerosene17 oil arose upwards18 and I staggered to my feet, stunned19 by a sudden vision of great wealth.
Peter was the first to speak. "The farm's worth half a million," he said despairingly, "and I've sold it to that shark for fifty-one hundred."
[Pg 226]
"What shark?" I forced myself to ask.
"That land shark in the city," he said, turning away with a sudden stiffening20 of his frame. "But I'll not be robbed," he shouted, raising his clenched21 hand above his head in a fierce gesture—"he hasn't got the deed yet."
I watched him hurry over the adjoining field, a strange pitying impulse possessing me to run after him and tell him to take back the farm; then Joe attracted my attention.
"Jest as I struck that streak22 of clay," he said, pointing downwards23, "I seen it get soppy like, but I thought it was water, for I took the smell to be from the ile on my hair, settled into contracted quarters like; then it began to bubble up faster, an' I scooped24 up a handful to taste, an' the next thing I knowed I was up here hollerin' for all I was worth. Old Peter, he come runnin' over the pasture field, an' I lit out for the house to call you."
In the well I could see a slight bubbling as the oil ran in, and the bottom was now covered with several inches of the fluid,[Pg 227] which looked remarkably25 clear and of such fine quality that I didn't wonder Joe had mistaken it for water. I told him to stop work and cover the hole with boards, warning him not to tell anyone of the discovery. I don't know why I gave him the latter direction, but I had an instinct that it was the correct thing to do and was an evidence of presence of mind on my part. Then I went back to the house to break the news to Marion.
In my inmost heart I knew that the wealth was rightfully Peter's, though I was legally entitled to reap the benefit of the discovery, but something of the passionate27 greed that I had seen expressed in his distorted face stirred my soul, and I went upstairs to tell Marion, feeling, I imagine, like a fugitive28 bank cashier. But when I looked into her clear eyes I knew there was but one right course, and that was to release Peter from his agreement. Somehow I felt as if I had just escaped from prison when that was settled; never again do I wish to be burdened with even the thought of unworked-for riches.
[Pg 228]
I felt sorry for Peter when I hurried over to his house to tell him he could take back his farm without going to law. I regret to say that he did not receive me with open arms or fully26 appreciate my generosity29; indeed, when I told him that we had employed the land agents to negotiate with him he declared that he never would have signed the agreement if he had known, but he became more amiable30 when he understood that Marion and I had been bidding against each other.
Now when I act nobly, I like the matter to be distinctly understood; therefore Peter's attitude was disappointing. There wasn't the slightest doubt but that he should have been so affected31 by my action as to thank me in a voice broken with emotion, begging me at the same time to accept the office of President of the Waydean Oil Company, and fifty per cent. of the capital stock. I did not try to make him see it in the proper light, for that would have been undignified as well as useless, and I was pressed for time, so I bade him a courteous32 but frigid33 good-morning. I knew better[Pg 229] than to seek consolation34 from Marion by letting her know that I had expected gratitude35, for such a course would have led to the scornful assertion that I had done nothing for which gratitude should be expected. So when she asked if he wasn't awfully36 grateful I answered in the negative, elevating my eyebrows37 in surprise. Marion at once asserted that Peter was a grasping hard-hearted man, and tried to show me how nobly I had behaved; a point of view that I protested against, with the result that I was praised to an extent that she has never since excelled.
It was about ten o'clock when I took the train for the city, and for the first time I had leisure to think over the astounding38 discovery of oil. The short time which had elapsed since I had been awakened by Joe Wrigley had been so full of action that I had difficulty in persuading myself that I hadn't been dreaming, and the farther I got from Waydean, the more incredible appeared the evidence of my senses that I had seen and smelled oil bubbling up at the bottom of my fifteen-foot well.
[Pg 230]
The first thing I did when I got to the Observer office was to consult the encyclop?dia in regard to oil-wells. I do not think I ever received so much mental enlightenment from that useful compendium39 in such a short space of time, as during the few minutes I spent over the article on petroleum40. William Wedder was not mentioned, but when I closed the book with a bang I knew that the ingenious old rogue41 had not only carried out his threat of making Peter the laughing-stock of the county, but had included me also. For a short time I was beside myself with rage, then an idea leaped into my mind that suggested delightful42 possibilities, and I hurried down to the front office to find out if William had called that morning.
I have been repeatedly questioned about how I spent the time between lunch and three o'clock, but I have two good reasons for evading43 a direct answer; one is, that I do not care to say, the other, that I cannot, like some people, tell a lie without provocation44. Young Evans, at the Inquiry45 and Subscription46 wicket, knew that I told him[Pg 231] as I went out at noon that if a smooth-shaven countrified-looking old man asked for Uncle Benny he was to be shown up to my room to await my return. Old Jamieson, the elevator man, knew that I entered by the side door about three o'clock, and that I was quite astonished to hear that a visible Uncle Benny had appeared and disappeared during my absence, and that he had been followed into my room by a smooth-shaven rural-looking old codger; that after an interval47 of loud conversation that could be heard above the rumbling48 of the presses in the basement, the latter emerged hastily, clattered49 down the stairs with something in one hand that looked like a human scalp, closely pursued by Uncle Benny, who was excitedly pulling his stovepipe hat down over his ears as he ran, and stopping as he descended51 the stairs to replace the huge prunella shoes that kept dropping off.
But it was Meldrum, the cartoonist, whose room was opposite mine, who told me most about this strange occurrence. "I thought there was a fire at first," he said, in[Pg 232] relating the affair. "I got into the hall and saw the most remarkable52 looking old party sitting at your desk. Hairy as a gorilla—couldn't see a feature except his nose—smoked goggles—white hair to his shoulders—white beard down to his belt—long-skirted frock coat—pants turned up at the bottom, showing his spindle-shanks half way——"
"Spindle-shanks!"
"Yes—regular pipe-stems—and prunella shoes, by Jove!—the kind he wore in the ark—voice like a polar bear, and deaf as a door-post. Other chap got completely winded trying to make him hear."
"What was he like?"
"Small, smooth-shaven, pink cheeks, blue eyes. Looked like Shem—voice away up in G."
"Could you hear what they said?"
Meldrum laughed derisively53. "Hear?" he repeated. "Hear! Great Scott! If the presses hadn't been running some idiot on the street would have pulled the fire-alarm, sure. When I saw them first Noah had his hand up to his ear and Shem was[Pg 233] yelling into it: 'Will—yum Wed1—der!'
"'I see,' growls55 Noah, 'William was your grandson, and he got married. Go ahead.'
"'No, no—' shouts Shem, 'that's my name. WILL......YUM WED......DER!'
"'You'll have to raise your voice,' says Noah, 'I'm a little hard of hearing.'
"Then Shem goes at it again, a fifth higher, and Noah catches on and asks him a lot of questions. Where he came from, what family, how he happened to leave home. Shem shouts that he isn't a hired man by birth, and that he left his family because his wife and daughter caught the whole-wheat-and-nut-food fever and tried to feed him on hygienic principles, so after building up his strength on unwholesome food for the summer, he's going back to his family to see if they've come to their senses."
"Do you mean to say, Meldrum, that you stood out in the hall and eavesdropped56?"
[Pg 234]
"Eavesdropped! Old Wedder's voice sailed into my room as plainly as if he had the jim-jams. Come now, Carton, you know more about this thing than you pretend. He brought your name in several times, and if I'm not mistaken, he had some good joke on you about your farm. Every little while I'd hear Noah growl54, 'That isn't funny.' At last I heard Shem fairly yell, 'That ain't funny, ain't it?'—then there was a shout from Noah and a mighty57 clatter50. By the time I got out from behind my desk and into the hall again, all I could see was the top of Noah's stovepipe vanishing down the stairway. Jamieson is certain Shem had his wig58. Come now, Carton, make a clean breast of it and tell me who these old parties were. I always thought you wrote the Uncle Benny papers, but perhaps I was mistaken."
"Meldrum," I said confidentially59, "I'll tell you the honest truth, but I want you to keep it quiet. William Wedder was my hired man, and he was determined60 to see a real Uncle Benny, so to oblige him, I togged myself out for the part at the [Pg 235]theatrical costumer's around the corner. I didn't expect—ha, ha, ha!—to take you in, though."
I made this explanation with calm sincerity61, with child-like frankness, and I'm sure I don't know what prompted me to cast these pearls of truth before a fellow-journalist, but I did. What was the result? Meldrum sniffed62 at the gems63 suspiciously, then chuckled64, assuring me as he jocularly slapped my back that he was delighted to know the facts of the case and that he would respect my confidence.
This is how the rumor65 originated that the real Uncle Benny was an aged66 and talented relative of mine, whom I kept in seclusion67 to restrain his bibulous68 propensities69. It was perhaps as well that I was not aware of this at the time, or I certainly would have been discouraged from the practice of telling the undiluted truth.
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1
wed
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| v.娶，嫁，与…结婚 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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shovel
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| n.铁锨，铲子，一铲之量；v.铲，铲出 | |
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4
drowsily
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| adv.睡地，懒洋洋地，昏昏欲睡地 | |
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exulting
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| vi. 欢欣鼓舞，狂喜 | |
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discomfiture
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| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
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7
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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8
clumping
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| v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的现在分词 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声 | |
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9
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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10
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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11
lumbered
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| 砍伐（lumber的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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12
prone
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| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
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13
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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14
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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15
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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16
reeking
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| v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的现在分词 )；散发臭气；发出难闻的气味 (of sth)；明显带有（令人不快或生疑的跡象） | |
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17
kerosene
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| n.(kerosine)煤油，火油 | |
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18
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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19
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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20
stiffening
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| n. (使衣服等)变硬的材料, 硬化 动词stiffen的现在分词形式 | |
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21
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22
streak
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| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
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23
downwards
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| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
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24
scooped
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| v.抢先报道( scoop的过去式和过去分词 )；（敏捷地）抱起；抢先获得；用铲[勺]等挖（洞等） | |
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25
remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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26
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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27
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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28
fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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29
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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30
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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32
courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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33
frigid
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| adj.寒冷的，凛冽的；冷淡的；拘禁的 | |
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34
consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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35
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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36
awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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37
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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38
astounding
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| adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词) | |
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39
compendium
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| n.简要，概略 | |
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40
petroleum
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| n.原油，石油 | |
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41
rogue
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| n.流氓；v.游手好闲 | |
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42
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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43
evading
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| 逃避( evade的现在分词 )； 避开； 回避； 想不出 | |
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44
provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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45
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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46
subscription
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| n.预订，预订费，亲笔签名，调配法，下标（处方） | |
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47
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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48
rumbling
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| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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49
clattered
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| 发出咔哒声（clatter的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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50
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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51
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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52
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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53
derisively
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| adv. 嘲笑地，嘲弄地 | |
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54
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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55
growls
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的第三人称单数 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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56
eavesdropped
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| 偷听（别人的谈话）( eavesdrop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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57
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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58
wig
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| n.假发 | |
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59
confidentially
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| ad.秘密地，悄悄地 | |
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60
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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61
sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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62
sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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63
gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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64
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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65
rumor
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| n.谣言，谣传，传说 | |
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66
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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67
seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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68
bibulous
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| adj.高度吸收的，酗酒的 | |
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69
propensities
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| n.倾向，习性( propensity的名词复数 ) | |
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