He believed it might be unwise to tell the others anything about the plan of campaign. This was not because he had reason to suspect the loyalty3 of a single scout4, but boys will talk as well as girls, and unwittingly a fellow might let something escape him that, through devious5 channels, would be carried to the ears of those who were concerned in the contemplated6 raid on the store.
134
This plan was carried out to the letter. Those whose names were not on the list of lucky ones felt a little aggrieved7, but at the same time they knew it would do no good to enter a complaint. Hugh had promised they were to be given full particulars as soon as possible. He assured them also that it was a move in the interests of the grand project that engaged their labors—cleaning up Oakvale.
Once he found himself left with seven stout8 chums, Hugh proceeded to gather them around him, and explained what was in the air. He had a most attentive9 audience, and it would have been amusing to any one interested in boys to watch the expressions of wonder and growing delight that gradually crept over their faces as they drank in his words.
Say what you will, the seed of adventure has always taken root deep down in the hearts of every healthy boy. The mere10 fact that they were scouts11, and had promised to observe the rules of the organization whose badge they so proudly wore, did not mean that they must stifle12 this feeling, which, if directed along the right channels, does a boy ten times as much good as harm.
135
Dozens of eager questions poured in upon Hugh as soon as he had managed to tell them about the dastardly plot that had been hatched up by those desperate men who realized they were getting near the end of their rope, and that the energy of the scouts was primarily responsible for the whole thing.
Hugh acted with considerable patience and answered as best he might. He realized that under similar conditions he, too, might have felt inclined to ask for further information, because it was a tremendous subject, truth to tell, and difficult to grapple with in the beginning.
“We’ll make our way by a round-about route to a place appointed,” he went on to explain, “and there we’ll find Chief Wallis waiting for us. He will have three of his men along with him, all that can be spared from their night duties. Between us we’ll probably fix it so that a complete cordon13 will be thrown around the jewelry store they’ve picked out for robbery.”
136
How they hung upon his every word! Hugh would know just how to place them in order that they might be able to throw themselves upon the night prowlers after the latter had actually started to break into the store. Hugh had explained that they must not be premature14 in unmasking their batteries, or the thieves might find a loophole by means of which they could escape from the meshes15 of the law.
When Hugh decided that it was time they started to effect a junction16 with the regular police; he warned his followers17 for the last time how to act.
“If it comes to actual fighting,” he said, impressively, “remember, you must leave that to the officers, who are armed to bear the brunt of the attack. We can throw ourselves on any fellow, if the chance offers, and hold him down. But all that will be arranged exactly after we meet the other guards.”
He took them along an unfrequented street and by making several detours18, the little group finally found the threatened store looming20 up close by.
Hugh gave a prearranged signal and received a soft reply.
137
“The Chief is over there in that dense22 shadow,” he whispered to the rest. “We must slip along and join him. First, Tom, here, can go, and drop down when he finds himself in the dark spot. Then Alec will follow, and in regular order Buck23, Ralph, Jack24, Bud and Sam are to imitate him. I’ll fetch up the rear. Make a move, Tom.”
They were all on their mettle25, and besides, had the reputation of being clever scouts, well versed26 in most of the secrets of woodcraft. Consequently the maneuver27 was carried out without a single hitch28. Before many minutes passed Hugh, having arrived on the spot, found his chums crouching29 there close by the Chief.
In low whispers the head of the Oakvale police force now explained their plan of campaign. It was not known whether any hostile eye kept watch over the threatened store or not, but they must always believe that such might be the case, and act accordingly.
That principle was also in line with a scout’s education, and pleased the boys exceedingly. They had been taught never to underestimate an enemy, and that it were far better to waste time in taking precautions than have over-confidence ruin the best-laid plan.
138
One of the police and three of the scouts were to remain outside the building, and their part in the enterprise was easily guessed. If the thieves were like most of their class they would very likely leave one of their number without to keep watch and give a signal should any sudden peril30 loom19 up. It was to secure that sentry31 that the force detailed32 to stay in the open had been marked off.
Hugh with the rest and the Chief meant to enter the store. He had visited it often and ought to be well acquainted with its every detail. Even at that Hugh never left a thing to chance when he could help it. That very afternoon, after he had left Ralph and the others, the boy had made some sort of excuse to drop in at Ainslee’s establishment. With his scout ability he had been able to make a mental map, and had noted33 every particular of the store, so that he believed he could, if necessary, get around in the dark without colliding with showcases or pillars or counters.
Chief Wallis must have found a way to communicate with the proprietor34 of the store, for he certainly had a key that opened the side door, through which numerous shadowy figures now silently slipped.
139
Here again Hugh proved of considerable value, for it was he who really directed the others where to hide so that they might divide their force. The Chief had a pocket electric light along with him, but he hesitated to make use of it, lest some one passing and repassing the front of the store, and looking in, take notice of the strange glow, and communicate the alarm to his fellows.
Talking was absolutely forbidden among the scouts. They could only indicate the tremendous interest they were taking in the proceedings35 by numerous sly digs in the ribs36, after the manner of lively boys unduly37 repressed. None of these were given with such vigor38 as to elicit39 a gasp40 or groan41.
How still it seemed after they had been posted in their hiding places. Some of the scouts must have thought they could actually hear the beating of their own hearts, such was the stress under which they labored42.
Luckily Hugh had used discretion43 when making his selections. He had not chosen them merely for brawn44 alone, but for an ability to keep a good grip on their spirits, and bravely face exciting conditions that might well try the nerves of experienced officers.
140
An hour passed. It did not slip by, as most of the waiting scouts would have readily agreed. In fact, that was one of the longest hours they ever knew, and as ten boomed from the church clock, they could hardly believe their ears, for surely, they figured, it must be that a longer time had elapsed.
Hugh allowed them a chance to change their positions when cramped45, but insisted that it be done with due regard to caution. They could not tell when suspicious ears would be listening for any sound to indicate trouble. When the thieves did come they would do so—silently, and without any trumpet46 to announce their mission.
The second hour was worse by far than the first. How their lower limbs did seem to want to “go to sleep,” as the boys termed it when circulation of blood ceased, and a species of numbness47 resulted. Various were the remedies resorted to in order to overcome this unpleasant feeling. When eleven struck some of the crouching figures moved uneasily and came as near groaning48 as they dared.
Still, it could not be long now before something was likely to happen, Hugh whispered to Tom, with orders to pass it along the line, and then become mute again.
141
Hugh himself was wondering whether or not all these preparations were doomed49 to disappointment. What if the grand scheme had fallen through, or the intended robbery been postponed50 because of good and sufficient reasons? He felt that he would be grievously disappointed, for somehow he had come to set much store on being able to strike this telling blow against the worst of the offenders51 of decency52 in Oakvale.
He had an impression that this would mark the final effort to break down the new order of things; that if the robbery of the jewelry establishment, and the subsequent placing of the crime at the door of certain innocent parties, could be balked53 in its perpetration, the last barrier would have yielded, and after that the reform people would have a clean order of things.
It must have been pretty near the midnight hour when a door was heard to close. That little piece of carelessness on the part of the thieves was likely to cost them dear in the end, since it gave ample warning of their coming.
142
One soft hiss54 from Hugh and every scout flattened55 himself as low as he could, so that discovery might not follow in case those who had entered the store produced any sort of light.
They were not experts in this profession, Hugh guessed, for they took certain chances of being discovered while at work. Nevertheless, they depended on the vigilance of their outpost stationed on the street, as well as the reputation acquired by the town night officers for shirking their work when on beat.
When it was seen that the two men had actually commenced operations on the big safe, as though meaning to break into it, and have “the game as well as the name” now that they had gone to all this trouble, the concealed56 boys could hardly keep from leaping up and throwing themselves upon the robbers. Only the mastery which Hugh possessed57 over them prevented such a break; for it had become second nature now with them to wait for orders before making a move.
Apparently58, there was no need of waiting further before showing their hand. Those outside could take warning when they heard a sudden sound of confusion within, and pounce59 upon the “outlook.”
143
The Chief had reserved to himself the giving of the signal, and every one, man and boy alike, knew what his particular part in the surprise attack was to be. If everything went right it would be like the mechanical action of clockwork machinery60. Hugh hoped no cog in the wheel would miss connections, because that might interfere61 with the ultimate success of the whole scheme.
The two men were bending low when there came a sharp exclamation62. They would have started up like a flash, but even then their action was just a trifle too late, for something heavy dropped upon them, and flattened both out upon the floor.
It was really the body of the Chief that had accomplished63 this coup64. Before either one of the astonished rascals65 could squirm out from under his ponderous66 form the scouts became as busy as beavers67. Hugh flashed the little light handed over to him by the Chief, and kept it playing full upon the focussing point where all their interest was centred. Consequently Tom, Sam and the rest of the fellows had no trouble in distributing themselves along the length of the recumbent figures of the disturbed thieves.
144
Hugh felt sure that, as Billy Worth would have said, it “was all over but the shouting,” when he saw how well pinned down the desperate rascals found themselves. He advanced closer so as to be in a position to carry out any wishes of the astute68 police head, such as slipping the waiting handcuffs over the wrists of the prisoners, and rendering69 them harmless, so that they might be stood up and looked over.
Several loud outcries from beyond the door announced that those who had been given the task of trapping the third member of the audacious set had taken a hint just as soon as they heard the first sound within the store. They soon came into the building pushing a man before them, who was lined up with the other pair.
145
Three more disgusted-looking fellows had likely never before been paraded in front of the scouts. Just as Hugh and Ralph had suspected, they turned out to be Gaffney, the former owner of the poolroom and gymnasium that had been abolished by orders of council; Slimmons, once the athletic70 trainer in the public schools before he took so heavily to drink that he had to be let go; and that third man, a stranger whom Hugh believed must be secretly interested in seeing Oakvale’s reform movement slump71, perhaps because he had some connection with the interests of those who had been defying the law.
Caught in the act, it was likely to go hard with the three. Gaffney did tell his mates not to open their mouths, but to leave it to him to get them clear. Hugh believed they were leaning on a broken reed if they entertained any hope that political influence was going to keep the outraged72 law from taking its course. That day had gone for Oakvale, and the degrading elements which such men as Gaffney represented, would have to emigrate to other quarters if they hoped to be able to continue to ply21 their evil vocations73.
146
The trio of prisoners were marched through the now deserted74 streets to the lockup, where Chief Wallis would see to it that there was no chance for a getaway. The seven scouts, who accompanied Hugh and the little group of officers surrounding the prisoners, would never be able to forget the exciting experiences of that night. It would have to go down upon the annals of scout achievements, and serve to add one more glorious event to the string of exploits carried to a successful conclusion by the boys of the Oakvale Troop.
Before Hugh dismissed his followers he took occasion to thank them warmly for having acquitted75 themselves so splendidly. Tom Sherwood, in particular, squeezed his hand with peculiar76 emphasis at parting, as he said in a happy tone:
“This has been a white letter night for me, Hugh, and one I’ll never, never forget. You know why, Hugh, and the first thing to-morrow morning I’m going to buy those Belgian hares back if they are still in the market. So good night, and thank you a thousand times, Hugh. It’s bound to be a happy birthday for me, I tell you.”
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1
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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2
jewelry
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| n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝 | |
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3
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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devious
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| adj.不坦率的，狡猾的；迂回的，曲折的 | |
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contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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aggrieved
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| adj.愤愤不平的，受委屈的；悲痛的；（在合法权利方面）受侵害的v.令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式)；令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式和过去分词) | |
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attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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10
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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scouts
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| 侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员 | |
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12
stifle
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| vt.使窒息；闷死；扼杀；抑止，阻止 | |
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cordon
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| n.警戒线，哨兵线 | |
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14
premature
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| adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的 | |
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15
meshes
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| 网孔( mesh的名词复数 )； 网状物； 陷阱； 困境 | |
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junction
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| n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站 | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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detours
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| 绕行的路( detour的名词复数 )； 绕道，兜圈子 | |
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loom
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| n.织布机，织机；v.隐现，(危险、忧虑等)迫近 | |
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looming
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| n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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ply
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| v.(搬运工等)等候顾客，弯曲 | |
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dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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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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25
mettle
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| n.勇气，精神 | |
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versed
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| adj. 精通，熟练 | |
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maneuver
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| n.策略[pl.]演习；v.(巧妙)控制；用策略 | |
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28
hitch
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| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
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29
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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sentry
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| n.哨兵，警卫 | |
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detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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unduly
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| adv.过度地，不适当地 | |
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38
vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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elicit
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| v.引出,抽出,引起 | |
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gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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labored
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| adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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43
discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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brawn
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| n.体力 | |
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cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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trumpet
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| n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘 | |
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47
numbness
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| n.无感觉，麻木，惊呆 | |
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groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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49
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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50
postponed
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| vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发） | |
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51
offenders
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| n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 )；犯规者；罪犯；妨害…的人（或事物） | |
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52
decency
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| n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重 | |
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53
balked
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| v.畏缩不前，犹豫( balk的过去式和过去分词 )；（指马）不肯跑 | |
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54
hiss
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| v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满 | |
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55
flattened
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| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
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56
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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57
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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58
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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59
pounce
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| n.猛扑；v.猛扑，突然袭击，欣然同意 | |
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machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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61
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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62
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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63
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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coup
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| n.政变；突然而成功的行动 | |
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rascals
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| 流氓( rascal的名词复数 )； 无赖； （开玩笑说法）淘气的人（尤指小孩）； 恶作剧的人 | |
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ponderous
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| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
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beavers
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| 海狸( beaver的名词复数 )； 海狸皮毛； 棕灰色； 拼命工作的人 | |
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68
astute
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| adj.机敏的，精明的 | |
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69
rendering
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| n.表现，描写 | |
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athletic
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| adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的 | |
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71
slump
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| n.暴跌，意气消沉，（土地）下沉；vi.猛然掉落，坍塌，大幅度下跌 | |
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72
outraged
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| a.震惊的，义愤填膺的 | |
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73
vocations
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| n.（认为特别适合自己的）职业( vocation的名词复数 )；使命；神召；（认为某种工作或生活方式特别适合自己的）信心 | |
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74
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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acquitted
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| 宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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