The comfortable camp, built of rough-hewn logs with low sloping roof overhanging broad verandas6, was built upon a bluff7 immediately above and overlooking the home of the most elusive8, the most splendid speckled beauties—the trout that are the most savory9 on the table and the gamest in the water.
This morning, Roy Morton was well content with the world. It was late summer, and something of the languor10 of the season coursed in his blood. He sat on the porch, watching idly the dimpling waters below in a pool. He had an eager eye for the occasional leap of a trout to the surface in search of prey11. He watched appreciatively the glint of rainbow tints12 on the iridescent13 sides as the fish rose and the sunlight showed all its splendor14. While he gazed, at intervals15, Roy worked on his fisherman's tackle. As the trout leaped, he studied that for which they leaped—with an idea of fashioning flies to suit their capricious taste. He finally determined17 just the fly that he should use for a cast at this hour of the day in order to entice18 the appetite of the trout. He had that particular fly upon his leader in readiness for a cast, and had started toward the stream to test his judgment19 in playing on the appetite of a fish, when his attention was distracted by the approach of an ungainly boy, evidently a native.
The boy held in his hand a telegram. Roy dropped his tackle, and held out his hand for the message. Mechanically, he tossed a coin to the lad. Then he ripped open the envelope and read the message.... And he read there Ethel's frantic20 appeal for help.
Roy was equally amazed and alarmed as he read and its meaning penetrated21 his brain. Usually, he was a young man distinguished23 for his coolness, resourcefulness and courage. Now, however, for the time being his brain was dazed; his heart leaped with fear. Through long minutes he stood motionless, staring with unseeing eyes, as if striving in vain to penetrate22 the veil of this terrible mystery that hung between him and the girl he loved. His thoughts were a miserable24 whirl of confusion; his will was powerless to marshal them in order. He did not note the going of the messenger boy, who sauntered casually25 back over the way he had come, whistling in happy unconsciousness as to the suffering of which he had been the harbinger.
Then, presently, Roy's mind cleared; his heart grew brave again; he felt a frantic desire for instant action. He looked about for the messenger boy, and uttered an exclamation26 of anger as he saw that the fellow was gone. He was desirous of sending on that very instant a telegram to the police authorities in New York, asking them to begin an investigation27 at once. He shouted for the boy, but there was no answer, and he realized that the messenger was gone beyond recall.
Roy wheeled, and rushed into the house. He ordered a horse saddled, and within five minutes was galloping28 at breakneck speed for the station. He knew that the next regular train was not due for three hours, but he had decided29 without any hesitation30 that he would order a special. He felt that no haste could equal the necessity now when Ethel was momently being carried further and further away from him, when perhaps her life, her honor, were imperilled by the scoundrels who had her in their keeping.
On his arrival at the station, Roy issued his orders with a crisp air of authority that won instant obedience31 from the man who served as station master and telegraph operator. The telegraph key sounded busily for a few minutes, and the matter was arranged. A special would be ready for him within an hour. This would get him to Albany in time to make connection with the limited express for New York.
That accomplished32, Roy cantered leisurely33 back to the camp. As he rode, his mind was concentrated on plans for his future course. He resolved to keep the matter secret from his elderly mother, who was by no means in good health. Instead, he would merely tell her that a friend of his was in trouble, and that he must go immediately to New York, in order to straighten out the affair. His mother accepted his explanation without any suspicion that he had told her only a half-truth. She merely mourned over this interruption of his visit, and made him promise to return at the earliest possible moment. Roy felt shame over the subterfuge34 with which he had deceived his mother, but he knew that it was necessary for her own sake, while her knowledge of Ethel's plight35 could do no good.
Roy hastily, but methodically, packed his traveling bag, and then, after an affectionate farewell to his mother, stepped into the town wagon36, and was driven to the station.
After reaching the station, Roy occupied the short interval16 of waiting for the special by writing out two messages, which he had put on the wire to New York. The first of these was addressed to the Collector of the Port, asking whether or not clearance37 papers had been taken out for The Isabel. The other telegram was to the most noted38 detective agency in the city, which contained a request that their best operative should meet him at the arrival of his train in the Grand Central Terminal. He directed that the replies, in each instance, should be sent to him at Albany, in care of the limited train with which he would make connection there.
The second message was barely completed and delivered to the telegrapher when the special roared to a standstill by the station platform. Roy sprang quickly up the steps, and almost before he had entered the car the locomotive was again snorting on its way.
The loungers about the station watched greedily this unexpected interruption of the day's routine. And, too, there was bitter envy in their hearts directed toward this handsome, young aristocrat39, who could thus summon a train for his private pleasure. They could not guess anything of the black misery40 that marked the mood of the young man whom they deemed so favored of fate.
Roy's impatience41 was such that he could not sit for a minute at a time. Instead, he strode to and fro with the feverish42 intensity43 of a leopard44 padding swiftly backward and forward in its cage. So he moved restlessly, though walking in the car was none too easy. There was need of haste if the special would catch the limited express at Albany. It was evident that the engineer and fireman had no mind to fail in the task set for them. The fireman gave steam a plenty, and the engineer made use of it with seemingly reckless prodigality45. The car swayed and leaped with the excessive speed. On the curves, sometimes, it appeared as if it must be thrown off the track, and Roy was compelled to cling fast to his seat in order to avoid falling. But he felt no distress46 over the rocking, lurching progress. Rather, he found a grim joy in it, since it was haste, and always more haste, for which he longed.... And then, at last, the special thundered into the Albany station and clanged to a standstill. Roy breathed a sigh of relief. The limited express had not yet pulled in.
He had time to make inquiry47 concerning telegrams, and found one awaiting him from the Collector of the Port of New York. This simply stated that no papers had been issued for the clearing of the yacht Isabel. The message added that if the vessel48 had sailed it must have been stolen. Just as he finished the reading of this dispatch, the operator handed him a second telegram—one from the detective agency. It announced that their best operative would meet him in the terminal at the gate on the arrival of the limited express in New York. There was a direction added to the effect that the operative might be recognized by his standing49 apart from the crowd and wearing two white carnations50 in the lapel of his coat.
Arriving at the Grand Central terminal, Roy walked rapidly to the exit gate. His eyes roamed for a moment over the passing throng51 in search of the man with the boutonnière of white carnations, and presently picked him out where he stood a little apart. Roy hurried to him, and made himself known. At once then the two men left the station and crossed over to the Biltmore, where they took seats in the lobby for a conference.
Jack52 Scott, the detective, had won fame for his agency by his masterly work in solving the problems of many skilful53 jewel robberies among the wealthy residents of the metropolis54. He yet lacked some years of thirty, but his reputation was already of the highest among those who knew what his occupation was. For, as a matter of fact, the young man was of old Knickerbocker stock, and the inheritor of wealth. He had a genius for detective work and a love of the calling that compelled him to make it his vocation55. But his employment in this wise was known only to the head of the agency with which he had associated himself, and to a few trusted intimates. The better to guard his secret he adopted the plebeian56 alias57 of Jack Scott for professional purposes instead of his own aristocratic name.
He had first won the admiring attention of the detective agency's chief by an exploit when he was only eighteen years of age. At that time his mother was robbed of a fabulously58 valuable pearl necklace. Extraordinary rewards were offered for its recovery, and detectives big and small hunted high and low for the gems59. They failed utterly60 in their search. But the lad worked out a theory as to the theft, gained evidence to prove it the truth—in short, within a fortnight, he had recovered the pearls, and the thieves were safely lodged61 in jail.
Already at this early age, the boy was profoundly interested in uplift work among criminals. When his mother smilingly turned over to him the reward she had offered for the recovery of her necklace, he devoted62 the whole sum to this charitable work. And ever since he had made a like disposal of the proceeds from his professional services. Now, Roy recognized in the detective assigned to him by the agency, an acquaintance of his own, Arthur Van Dusen. He expressed his astonishment63 at this revelation concerning one whom he had regarded merely as a social butterfly. But explanations were soon made, and Roy could not doubt Van Dusen's ability since it was guaranteed by the agency.
He immediately made known his need of help.
"I'm afraid," he began with a tremor64 of anxiety in his voice, "that you have been assigned to a case which will prove hard to solve. The woman I love—the woman I had expected to marry soon—has been taken from me in a most mysterious way. Somehow she's been kidnapped, and taken to sea a prisoner on her father's yacht."
"Her name?" Van Dusen demanded crisply as the speaker paused.
"It's Ethel Marion," Roy answered huskily. "The daughter of Colonel Stephen Marion, who, at present, is with his regiment65 on the Mexican Border." He drew Ethel's message from his pocket and extended it to the detective.
"The only clue I have," he continued, "is this letter from her. She managed somehow to toss it near enough to a fisherman's dory so that they picked it up, and forwarded it to my mother's camp in the Adirondacks. I wired the Collector of the Port for information about the yacht's clearance papers. I had a reply from him at Albany on the way down here. He said that the yacht has not been cleared, and that if it's not in port, it has been stolen."
Roy fairly groaned66, and made a gesture of despair.
"That's all I know of the affair," he added drearily67. "I am distracted for fear something dreadful may have happened already. You understand now how badly I require your help. I can think of nothing—do nothing. You are not to think of expense. Just rescue Ethel Marion and run down and jail those guilty of this crime against her." His voice suddenly became pleading. "And you must let me enlist68 as a lieutenant69 to serve under you. Inactivity under such stress would drive me mad, I know. I was stunned70 at first, but now I have my faculties71 again, and I believe that I may be able to be of use in the case under your guidance."
Van Dusen stretched out his hand and clasped that of Roy warmly. Something in the firm contact comforted the distraught lover. It was as if strength and courage flowed into him from the other man.
"Rely upon me," Van Dusen said quietly, but with a note of confidence in his voice that still further served to hearten his hearer. "And I shall certainly make use of you—and at once. First off, I'll ask you to get in touch immediately with Captain Halstead, the master of my yacht. Arrange to have it properly equipped and provisioned, so that we may sail at a moment's notice. Luckily," he added musingly72 to himself, "the new wireless73 outfit74 is already installed on The Hialdo. We'll need it."
Van Dusen stood up abruptly75, and again spoke76 to Roy, almost curtly77.
"After you've attended to the matter of the yacht, report to me at the agency. You should be there well within an hour. If you arrive first, wait for me."
"But you——?" Roy began eagerly.
Van Dusen replied to the unfinished question.
"I'm off now to seek a clue from Miss Marion's maid." His voice grew gentle as he spoke again after a moment's silence. "It's a curious case; curious and—difficult. But, please God, we'll win."
Roy's answer came brokenly.
"Heaven bless you, Van Dusen! And," he added with fierce intensity, "we will win—we must!"
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1
tract
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| n.传单，小册子，大片(土地或森林) | |
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pellucid
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| adj.透明的，简单的 | |
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trout
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| n.鳟鱼；鲑鱼(属) | |
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teeming
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| adj.丰富的v.充满( teem的现在分词 )；到处都是；（指水、雨等）暴降；倾注 | |
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5
lure
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| n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引 | |
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verandas
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| 阳台，走廊( veranda的名词复数 ) | |
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7
bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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elusive
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| adj.难以表达(捉摸)的；令人困惑的；逃避的 | |
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savory
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| adj.风味极佳的，可口的，味香的 | |
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languor
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| n.无精力，倦怠 | |
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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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12
tints
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| 色彩( tint的名词复数 )； 带白的颜色； （淡色）染发剂； 痕迹 | |
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iridescent
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| adj.彩虹色的，闪色的 | |
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splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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16
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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17
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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entice
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| v.诱骗，引诱，怂恿 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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21
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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subterfuge
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| n.诡计；藉口 | |
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plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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37
clearance
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| n.净空；许可(证)；清算；清除，清理 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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aristocrat
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| n.贵族，有贵族气派的人，上层人物 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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41
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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42
feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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leopard
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| n.豹 | |
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prodigality
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| n.浪费，挥霍 | |
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46
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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48
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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50
carnations
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| n.麝香石竹，康乃馨( carnation的名词复数 ) | |
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51
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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52
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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53
skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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54
metropolis
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| n.首府；大城市 | |
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vocation
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| n.职业，行业 | |
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plebeian
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| adj.粗俗的；平民的；n.平民；庶民 | |
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57
alias
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| n.化名；别名；adv.又名 | |
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58
fabulously
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| 难以置信地，惊人地 | |
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gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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61
lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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62
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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tremor
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| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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66
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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drearily
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| 沉寂地，厌倦地，可怕地 | |
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68
enlist
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| vt.谋取(支持等)，赢得；征募；vi.入伍 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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70
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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71
faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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72
musingly
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| adv.沉思地，冥想地 | |
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73
wireless
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| adj.无线的；n.无线电 | |
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outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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75
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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76
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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77
curtly
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| adv.简短地 | |
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