At sight of Chip Merriwell and Billy Mac, the smaller of the two figures uttered a shrill1 appeal. As the bully2 straightened up, the little fellow writhed3 away and danced over to the side of the road.
“Hello, Chub!” cried Billy, pausing. “What’s the trouble? Were you playing?”
“Pl-l-laying nothing!” returned Chub shrilly4, dancing about in his rage, and pointing at his tormentor5. “That big stiff said I rooted too much for the visiting team l-l-l-last Saturday! He caught me and was l-l-lambasting me!”
Chip saw that his friend was fully6 competent to handle the situation, and stood back. There was something comical about the helpless rage of Chub, and about his manner of stumbling speech, that amused Merriwell.
“You’re a fine sort of sport, I don’t think!” exclaimed Billy Mac, addressing the bully. “Just because a fellow doesn’t root for you, you want to punish him—and a little chap like Chub, too!”
The bully glowered7 at Billy Mac in a threatening fashion. He was a hulking big fellow, wearing a sporty necktie of flaming red, and a loud-checked[23] suit. His features were heavy and overbearing, with deep-set black eyes, that gleamed maliciously8, and from one corner of his mouth drooped9 a burned-out cigarette.
“What’s it to you, Billy Mac?” he growled10 menacingly. “You’d better not try to show off around here, just because you been to a military academy fer a few months!”
“There’s no one showing off around here except that necktie of yours,” snapped Billy Mac. “It’s a wonder you couldn’t find a baby to lick, you coward!”
It became evident to Merry that the two knew each other, and that his friend cherished a thorough dislike for the bully.
“Give it to him, Bil-l-ly!” chirruped Chub, who was well out of danger by this time. It seemed impossible for the little chap to pronounce the letter “l” without spilling it out by degrees. “L-l-l-lam him for me!”
“I suppose you think you can run the place, Billy Mac, now that you’ve been away to school, hey? You think you are a real athlete, with them underwear things on, don’t you?”
Seeing that his friend was speechless with rage, Merriwell interfered12.
“It’s quite evident that you’re not fitted to pass on athletes, my friend,” he broke in ironically. “I’ve always found that the fellow who goes[24] around with a coffin13 nail sticking in his face is the one who sticks in the bleachers. He doesn’t get out and toss the ball very much.”
For some reason, this speech seemed to infuriate the bully. He whirled on Merry with a snarl14 of anger.
“Smart guy, ain’t you? I suppose you’re that Merriwell kid that Billy’s been blowin’ about so much?”
“It seems that you have some brain left, in spite of cigarettes,” returned Merry dryly. “You’re supposing a lot of things, my friend. It might strike you to suppose that your absence is better than your company.”
“Oh, is that so?” The big fellow clenched15 his fists, glaring. “Say, fer about two cents I’d take you down a peg16, Slim-shanks!”
Billy Mac turned quickly.
“Look here, Chip, you butt17 out of this!” he demanded. “Chub Newton’s a friend of mine, and this isn’t your quarrel.”
“All right, old man,” said Merriwell, waving his hand. “I’ll gladly turn over our genial18 friend to you. He looks as if a dose of McQuade compound would improve his health a good deal.”
“Yah!” shrieked19 Chub Newton, in wild delight. “That’s the way to talk! L-l-listen to that, Bul-l-ly! You’re goin’ to hear things, al-l-l right!”
Bully favored Chub with a black look.
[25]
“I’ve give you one lesson about closin’ that jaw20 of yours, Chub,” he grated. “You’d better lay mighty21 low, mind my words!”
There was something in the tone and aspect of the fellow that struck a responsive chord in Merriwell’s memory. What the familiarity was, he could not fathom22. However, he was sure that there was a familiarity.
“L-l-light into him, Bil-l-ly!” pleaded Chub, his shrill voice appearing to irritate Bully like the buzzing of a mosquito. The latter shook his fist threateningly.
“You heard what I said!” he roared. “Shut that jaw, or I’ll show you what a real lambastin’ is, you tow-headed little rat!”
“I don’t think you will, Bully,” said McQuade. Merriwell had thrown him a warning look, and he had curbed23 his temper.
“Hey? Why not?” The big fellow turned on Billy, seeming to comprehend for the first time that he was being actually interfered with. “I suppose you’ll stop me, hey?”
“Well, I’ve been thinking it over quite a while,” admitted Billy, with a grin. “Try a fresh cigarette, Bully. It might help you to get ideas faster.”
Chub Newton waved his arms in delight. A few passers-by were pausing to listen to the altercation24, and the little fellow turned to them eagerly.
[26]
“Watch Bul-l-ly catch it!” he sang out shrilly. “He’s going to get a fal-l-len on harder than the Sprucetown batters25 fel-l-l on him l-l-l-last Saturday!”
At this the big fellow’s face went positively26 black with rage. It was clear that he could think of no taunts27 to fling back at his diminutive28 foe29, so he did the next best thing that occurred to him. He took a swift step toward Chub, his fists clenched.
“No you don’t!”
Billy Mac leaped forward and caught his shoulder, twirling him around.
“Look out!” roared Bully furiously. “I’ll mash30 that smart-alec mouth o’ yours, you fool! Go home an’ dress yourself!”
“I’d make a better job of it than you’ve done,” retorted Billy, with contempt.
Among the gathering31 array a quick smile passed, with significant looks at the loud attire32 of the big fellow. This only served to infuriate him the more. It was clear to Chip that Bully was by no means a favorite, though for some reason no voice was lifted against him, save that of Chub Newton.
“Go for him, ol-l-ld scout33!” Chub shrieked. “You can l-l-lick him easy! He’s got a yel-l-ler streak34!”
“And you’ve got a yelling streak,” observed Merry, with a laugh.
[27]
Glaring from his deep-set eyes, Bully stepped toward McQuade.
“I guess you need a lesson,” he growled. “You’re gettin’ too all-fired smart around this town, for a pauper35.”
Billy went white.
“I’d sooner be a pauper than the son of a crook36,” he snapped. “And I’d sooner be the son of a crook, than a crook myself, Bully!”
“Call me a crook, will you!”
With a quick lunge forward, he aimed a vicious blow at Billy Mac. The backstop did not appreciate the compliment, however.
Catching38 the blow on his arm, he took a quick step in, and there was a dull smack39. Bully went staggering back.
“Yah!” chirruped Chub, in great glee. “I tol-l-ld you! L-l-lam him again!”
The big fellow hesitated, with a surprised expression on his face. Evidently concluding that an accident had happened, he rushed at Billy with a shout.
“Here’s where you get yours, smart alec!”
Billy Mac did not seem at all disturbed over the prospect40. He waited the rush quietly, and, as the big fellow drove in another blow, Billy caught[28] the arm. He turned, jerked the other’s wrist over his shoulder, and Bully flew over him into the dust. This brought a shout of applause from the spectators.
It was a simple jujutsu trick. Billy Mac had not learned it very adroitly41, but he had learned it well enough to spill his adversary42 head over heels. Bully was unhurt, and was up instantly, brushing at his gay attire.
“Got some luck, ain’t you!” he sneered furiously.
“Better not try my luck again,” said Billy Mac, with a laugh.
Chub Newton let out a shrill yell.
“L-l-look at the l-l-loud guy now! Yah! Why don’t you cl-l-laim you stubbed your toe, Bul-l-ly Carson?”
Merriwell started. Could it be possible that this fellow was the son of Colonel Carson, of whom Billy Mac had spoken—the baseball player? Yes, he placed the chap now. The features and voice were not unlike those of Colonel Carson.
However, he had no time to conjecture43 further. Bully went at Billy Mac with a second rush, this time exercising more caution. McQuade had to depend entirely44 on his quickness, and proved that it was quite dependable.
He slipped aside, raising a cloud of dust as he[29] did so, and tried to trip his opponent. Bully staggered and lost his balance, and, as his arm flew out wide, Billy Mac stepped in and his fist went out.
Again there came a sharp crack as the blow landed. The big fellow, struck fairly on the angle of the jaw below the ear, shivered, and then went reeling across the street. He pulled up at the fence, clinging to it desperately45.
“Yah! He’s scared out!” cried Chub.
So, indeed, it seemed. The blow had not been hard enough to knock him out, yet he made no offer to return to the fight. Instead, he raised his fist and shook it menacingly.
“You’ll suffer for this!” he exclaimed. “You wait till I see dad!”
“Yah!” shrilled46 Chub Newton, dancing wildly. “Go put a muffl-l-ler on your new cl-l-lothes, Bully Carson!”
Bully moved off, evidently sick of the encounter. Since it was plainly over, the spectators drifted away, and Chub Newton thanked his rescuer. Billy Mac introduced him to Frank Merriwell, junior, but seemed to have little delight in his victory.
“Now I am in for it, and no mistake!” he exclaimed, looking after the big fellow.
“Why?”
“Didn’t you notice the resemblance?”
[30]
“Well, yes. And I heard Chub call him Bully Carson——”
“Yes, that’s his usual nickname. He is Colonel Carson’s son, Chip. And I guess you can see that I’ve done a pretty bad morning’s work for the McQuade family.”
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收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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2
bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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writhed
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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4
shrilly
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| 尖声的； 光亮的，耀眼的 | |
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tormentor
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| n. 使苦痛之人, 使苦恼之物, 侧幕 =tormenter | |
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6
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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7
glowered
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| v.怒视( glower的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8
maliciously
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| adv.有敌意地 | |
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9
drooped
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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10
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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11
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12
interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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13
coffin
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| n.棺材，灵柩 | |
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14
snarl
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| v.吼叫，怒骂，纠缠，混乱；n.混乱，缠结，咆哮 | |
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15
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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16
peg
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| n.木栓，木钉；vt.用木钉钉，用短桩固定 | |
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17
butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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18
genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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19
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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20
jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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21
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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fathom
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| v.领悟，彻底了解 | |
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23
curbed
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| v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24
altercation
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| n.争吵，争论 | |
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25
batters
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| n.面糊（煎料）( batter的名词复数 )；面糊（用于做糕饼）；（ 棒球） 正在击球的球员；击球员v.连续猛击( batter的第三人称单数 ) | |
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26
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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27
taunts
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| 嘲弄的言语，嘲笑，奚落( taunt的名词复数 ) | |
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28
diminutive
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| adj.小巧可爱的，小的 | |
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29
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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30
mash
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| n.麦芽浆，糊状物，土豆泥；v.把…捣成糊状，挑逗，调情 | |
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31
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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32
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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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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34
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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35
pauper
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| n.贫民，被救济者，穷人 | |
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36
crook
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| v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处) | |
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37
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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38
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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39
smack
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| vt.拍，打，掴；咂嘴；vi.含有…意味；n.拍 | |
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40
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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41
adroitly
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| adv.熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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42
adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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43
conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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44
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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45
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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46
shrilled
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| （声音）尖锐的，刺耳的，高频率的( shrill的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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