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首页 » 英文短篇小说 » Frank Merriwell's Diamond Foes » CHAPTER XXIII. THE THIRD DEGREE.
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CHAPTER XXIII. THE THIRD DEGREE.
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 Carson was evidently quite unsuspecting. Possibly he did not see the two figures that waited at the roadside. At all events his car rolled slowly past the smithy, and, as it came opposite to their waiting place, Clancy nudged Billy and leaped forth2.
He believed in doing a thing thoroughly3, when he was doing it. Consequently, as he saw Bully4 twist around in his seat with a start of alarm, Clancy gave him no chance to increase his speed, but put all his energies into a flying leap.
A cry broke from Carson, but he was too late. Clancy rose in the air like a bird and struck full against him, driving him down at once. The two fell in a confused tangle5 under the steering6 wheel, while the car went slowly along the road.
Meantime, Billy Mac jumped to the running board and piled into the tonneau. He leaned over the back of the front seat. Before he could lend assistance, the two figures came erect7, and Clancy shoved Carson bodily over into the tonneau.
“Keep him there, Mac,” he ordered.
“What you going to do?” gasped8 Billy.
“No time to talk,” said Clancy, jumping to the[187] steering wheel. “Throw a robe over that fellow’s head! Sit on him, you chump!”
Carson, indeed, was rising to the occasion. He had landed in the tonneau on his head and shoulders, and was squirming upright, letting out wild yells as he did so. The peace of the Sabbath was being terribly shattered.
Billy Mac saved the day by adopting Clan1’s suggestion. Seizing the heavy blanket that did duty for an auto9 robe, he threw it over Carson’s head, managed to evade10 the waving fists, and plumped himself on top of the big fellow.
Carson was forced to the floor of the car, which had leaped into speed under Clancy’s touch. Billy McQuade being a chunky fellow for his age, made no light weight, and Carson’s bellows11 for help were stifled12.
So quickly had it all occurred, that, while Bully Carson must have recognized his assailants, he had been too startled to propound13 any questions. In fact, he had been hustled14 about so rapidly that when Billy came down on him he had no more breath left with which to shout.
After a moment Clancy stopped the car on a lonely stretch of road, and told Billy to shove their prisoner out. Billy did not stand on ceremony, but opened one of the side doors and sent Carson tumbling out like a bag of flour.
The big fellow landed in the dust, came to his[188] feet, flung off the robe, and emerged, spluttering with rage.
“What’s this mean!” he exclaimed hotly. “I’ll have you dubs15 pinched fer this!”
Clancy grinned.
“No, you won’t, Bully. You’re liable to get pinched yourself for what took place last night. Where’s Chip Merriwell?”
“How do I know?” demanded Carson, working himself up into a rage. “You’d better clear out, and do it quick, or I’ll smash your carrot head in about——”
“No more of that talk,” said Clancy. “You’re a coward, my friend. If you try fighting, you’ll get the worst of it by a good deal. Where’s Chip Merriwell?”
Clancy gave no sign of his inward perturbation. He had conducted this assault absolutely without evidence, and on a momentary16 impulse. If he failed to extract any information, he was apt to find himself up against the law.
“I don’t know anythin’ about him,” said Carson sullenly17.
“Don’t lie,” said Clancy angrily. “You sent him a fake telegram that got him over to Orton this morning. Where is he?”
Carson went white.
“How’d you know that——” he began, then checked himself and tried to bluster19 it off.[189] “You’re crazy, you boobs! I ain’t seen the feller——”
“You make me sick,” said Clancy, with renewed self-confidence. “You gave yourself away right there, Bully. Now come across, or take the consequences.”
Carson glared at him out of his one good optic.
“I’ll show you!” he bellowed20. “You ain’t a-goin’ to get clear with this kind o’ doin’s around here——”
And turning swiftly, he shoved Billy Mac aside and made a break down the road. Clancy grinned inwardly. Carson was not only scared, but he was extremely anxious to get away.
Clancy caught the big fellow within fifty feet. Carson showed fight, but the red-haired chap decided21 to waste no further time. Catching22 the arm of Carson, he twisted it behind the other’s back, and had him at his mercy.
“Take his arm, Billy,” he commanded. “Put him into the machine and keep him quiet. If he yells for help, twist his arm and it’ll break just below the elbow.”
Carson went green.
“Hey, what you fellers tryin’ to do?” he whimpered. “Ouch! I’ll go along—don’t twist that arm, Billy! We allus been friends, ain’t we?”
“Not much,” retorted Billy Mac, with unconcealed contempt. “I always knew you were a[190] coward, Bully, but I thought you’d show a little fight! Get along with you.”
Clancy climbed into the driver’s seat, feeling highly satisfied with himself. He had forced a practical admission from Carson that his suspicions were correct, and he grimly made up his mind to force a good deal more from the fellow.
“Where you goin’, Clan?” inquired Billy, with some anxiety.
He had shoved Carson into the tonneau and followed him, still grasping his arm.
“Well,” said Clancy, with a wink23 that Bully did not catch, “I think we’d better take him to that deserted24 house you pointed25 out, as we came into town. Then we can torture him until he confesses.”
“Fine!” grinned Billy. “We’ll do some fancy branding on him, and if that don’t work, we can hang him up by the thumbs and roast his feet, eh?”
Unfortunately, perhaps, he overdid26 the matter. Carson’s evil conscience had turned him into an arrant27 coward, but it had not destroyed his judgment28 by any means. He perceived that the two were trying to frighten him, and he relapsed into a sullen18 silence.
“You’d better tell us where Merry is,” stated Clancy, turning to look into the heavy, surly features. “I’ll warn you, Bully, that we’re not inclined to show you any mercy.”
[191]
“Go to thunder!” growled29 the captive, and followed it with a string of curses. Clancy flushed angrily and threw in the clutch.
“All right, my friend,” he grated. “You’ll get yours!”
Ten minutes later they drew up at the deserted house outside town. Clancy drove around to the side, installed the machine in the half-ruined barn, and reconnoitered the house. A door was swinging on its hinges, but the place in general was in tolerable condition. He returned to the barn and took out his handkerchief.
“Put his wrists together,” he ordered.
“Give him a chance to talk,” pleaded Billy. Clancy nodded.
Carson, however, merely poured out a string of curses and began to plunge30 in a furious attempt to escape. His twisted arm soon made him quiet.
“Take him up to the house,” said Clancy, when he had been bound. “I’ll get some stuff to make a fire with.”
Billy obeyed. He deposited Carson in an empty room, tied his ankles securely, then returned to Clancy with an anxious face.
“See here, Clan, how far are you goin’? You don’t mean to torture him?”
“I should hope not,” said Clancy, with a grin. “I feel like it, but I don’t believe I’d go that far. I’m goin’ to walk back and get the Hornet. We’ll[192] have something to eat, and maybe you can scare him into talking before I get back.”
Clancy’s hope was vain. When he returned with the Hornet and their provisions, he found that Carson had absolutely refused to say a word on the subject. Billy was not a little anxious, but Clancy stood firm.
“Billy, I’m goin’ to make that fellow talk if I have to bust31 every law on earth. Just stop to think—he’s done something to Chip, and knows where he is. He seems to have a notion that we’re throwing a bluff32 into him about torture and——”
“So we are,” interjected Billy. “You know it blamed well.”
“Sure,” admitted Clancy, with a grimace33. “But I’m goin’ to make him think he’s wrong, if I can.”
There ensued a series of bluffs34 at torture on Clancy’s part, but they had not the slightest effect on Carson.
But Bully Carson stood pat. The first shock of alarm over, he resisted all of Clancy’s efforts with a grim silence that could not be broken. He knew that he was helpless, but he also knew that despite Clancy’s talk the red-haired chap would not dare to proceed to extremities35. And as long as he could hold silence, he intended to do so. Merriwell must be kept out of that Franklin game. He knew that his father had gone to[193] Fardale and would doubtless plunge heavily on the result of the game. Since money meant more than anything else to the Carson family, Bully intended making a hard fight of it.
He did so. Clancy and Billy built a roaring fire in the old fireplace when darkness came on. This took the damp from the main room of the farmhouse36, and rendered it habitable. They ate some of their provisions, refusing to give Carson anything to eat or drink. Finally Clancy gave up in disgust.
“All right,” he said grimly to the prisoner. “You’ll stay here a month if you don’t loosen up, old scout37. Billy, we’ll take turns keeping him awake to-night. He must have been on the go most of last night and to-day, and that’ll bring him to terms.”
When morning dawned, Bully Carson was haggard and drawn38, but still refused to open his lips. Clancy was desperate. Thirsty and hungry though their captive was, nothing seemed to have any effect. Yet their only hope of rescuing Chip Merriwell lay in making him talk.
“I’ve had enough of this,” said Clancy, when the morning was half gone. “Billy, we’re up against it. Right or wrong, that fellow’s going to talk.”
“You’re not going to really torture him?” asked the white-lipped Billy.
“I am.”

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 clan Dq5zi     
n.氏族,部落,宗族,家族,宗派
参考例句:
  • She ranks as my junior in the clan.她的辈分比我小。
  • The Chinese Christians,therefore,practically excommunicate themselves from their own clan.所以,中国的基督徒简直是被逐出了自己的家族了。
2 forth Hzdz2     
adv.向前;向外,往外
参考例句:
  • The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
  • He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
3 thoroughly sgmz0J     
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地
参考例句:
  • The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
  • The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。
4 bully bully     
n.恃强欺弱者,小流氓;vt.威胁,欺侮
参考例句:
  • A bully is always a coward.暴汉常是懦夫。
  • The boy gave the bully a pelt on the back with a pebble.那男孩用石子掷击小流氓的背脊。
5 tangle yIQzn     
n.纠缠;缠结;混乱;v.(使)缠绕;变乱
参考例句:
  • I shouldn't tangle with Peter.He is bigger than me.我不应该与彼特吵架。他的块头比我大。
  • If I were you, I wouldn't tangle with them.我要是你,我就不跟他们争吵。
6 steering 3hRzbi     
n.操舵装置
参考例句:
  • He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration. 他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。
  • Steering according to the wind, he also framed his words more amicably. 他真会看风使舵,口吻也马上变得温和了。
7 erect 4iLzm     
n./v.树立,建立,使竖立;adj.直立的,垂直的
参考例句:
  • She held her head erect and her back straight.她昂着头,把背挺得笔直。
  • Soldiers are trained to stand erect.士兵们训练站得笔直。
8 gasped e6af294d8a7477229d6749fa9e8f5b80     
v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 );喘息;倒抽气;很想要
参考例句:
  • She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
  • People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
9 auto ZOnyW     
n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车
参考例句:
  • Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
  • The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。
10 evade evade     
vt.逃避,回避;避开,躲避
参考例句:
  • He tried to evade the embarrassing question.他企图回避这令人难堪的问题。
  • You are in charge of the job.How could you evade the issue?你是负责人,你怎么能对这个问题不置可否?
11 bellows Ly5zLV     
n.风箱;发出吼叫声,咆哮(尤指因痛苦)( bellow的名词复数 );(愤怒地)说出(某事),大叫v.发出吼叫声,咆哮(尤指因痛苦)( bellow的第三人称单数 );(愤怒地)说出(某事),大叫
参考例句:
  • His job is to blow the bellows for the blacksmith. 他的工作是给铁匠拉风箱。 来自辞典例句
  • You could, I suppose, compare me to a blacksmith's bellows. 我想,你可能把我比作铁匠的风箱。 来自辞典例句
12 stifled 20d6c5b702a525920b7425fe94ea26a5     
(使)窒息, (使)窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 ); 镇压,遏制; 堵
参考例句:
  • The gas stifled them. 煤气使他们窒息。
  • The rebellion was stifled. 叛乱被镇压了。
13 propound 5BsyJ     
v.提出
参考例句:
  • Zoologist Eugene Morton has propounded a general theory of the vocal sounds that animals make.动物学家尤金·莫顿提出了一个有关动物发声的概括性理论。
  • we propound the proposal for building up the financial safety area.我们提出了创建金融安全区的构想。
14 hustled 463e6eb3bbb1480ba4bfbe23c0484460     
催促(hustle的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • He grabbed her arm and hustled her out of the room. 他抓住她的胳膊把她推出房间。
  • The secret service agents hustled the speaker out of the amphitheater. 特务机关的代理人把演讲者驱逐出竞技场。
15 dubs f18576cb41617d8f67cb403367908ae4     
v.给…起绰号( dub的第三人称单数 );把…称为;配音;复制
参考例句:
16 momentary hj3ya     
adj.片刻的,瞬息的;短暂的
参考例句:
  • We are in momentary expectation of the arrival of you.我们无时无刻不在盼望你的到来。
  • I caught a momentary glimpse of them.我瞥了他们一眼。
17 sullenly f65ccb557a7ca62164b31df638a88a71     
不高兴地,绷着脸,忧郁地
参考例句:
  • 'so what?" Tom said sullenly. “那又怎么样呢?”汤姆绷着脸说。
  • Emptiness after the paper, I sIt'sullenly in front of the stove. 报看完,想不出能找点什么事做,只好一人坐在火炉旁生气。
18 sullen kHGzl     
adj.愠怒的,闷闷不乐的,(天气等)阴沉的
参考例句:
  • He looked up at the sullen sky.他抬头看了一眼阴沉的天空。
  • Susan was sullen in the morning because she hadn't slept well.苏珊今天早上郁闷不乐,因为昨晚没睡好。
19 bluster mRDy4     
v.猛刮;怒冲冲的说;n.吓唬,怒号;狂风声
参考例句:
  • We could hear the bluster of the wind and rain.我们能听到狂风暴雨的吹打声。
  • He was inclined to bluster at first,but he soon dropped.起初他老爱吵闹一阵,可是不久就不做声了。
20 bellowed fa9ba2065b18298fa17a6311db3246fc     
v.发出吼叫声,咆哮(尤指因痛苦)( bellow的过去式和过去分词 );(愤怒地)说出(某事),大叫
参考例句:
  • They bellowed at her to stop. 他们吼叫着让她停下。
  • He bellowed with pain when the tooth was pulled out. 当牙齿被拔掉时,他痛得大叫。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
21 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
22 catching cwVztY     
adj.易传染的,有魅力的,迷人的,接住
参考例句:
  • There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
  • Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。
23 wink 4MGz3     
n.眨眼,使眼色,瞬间;v.眨眼,使眼色,闪烁
参考例句:
  • He tipped me the wink not to buy at that price.他眨眼暗示我按那个价格就不要买。
  • The satellite disappeared in a wink.瞬息之间,那颗卫星就消失了。
24 deserted GukzoL     
adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的
参考例句:
  • The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
  • The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。
25 pointed Il8zB4     
adj.尖的,直截了当的
参考例句:
  • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
  • She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
26 overdid 13d94caed9267780ee7ce0b54a5fcae4     
v.做得过分( overdo的过去式 );太夸张;把…煮得太久;(工作等)过度
参考例句:
  • We overdid the meat and it didn't taste good. 我们把肉煮得太久,结果味道不好了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He overdid and became extremely tired. 他用力过猛,感到筋疲力尽。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
27 arrant HNJyA     
adj.极端的;最大的
参考例句:
  • He is an arrant fool.他是个大傻瓜。
  • That's arrant nonsense.那完全是一派胡言。
28 judgment e3xxC     
n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见
参考例句:
  • The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
  • He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。
29 growled 65a0c9cac661e85023a63631d6dab8a3     
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
参考例句:
  • \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道:“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》
30 plunge 228zO     
v.跳入,(使)投入,(使)陷入;猛冲
参考例句:
  • Test pool's water temperature before you plunge in.在你跳入之前你应该测试水温。
  • That would plunge them in the broil of the two countries.那将会使他们陷入这两国的争斗之中。
31 bust WszzB     
vt.打破;vi.爆裂;n.半身像;胸部
参考例句:
  • I dropped my camera on the pavement and bust it. 我把照相机掉在人行道上摔坏了。
  • She has worked up a lump of clay into a bust.她把一块黏土精心制作成一个半身像。
32 bluff ftZzB     
v.虚张声势,用假象骗人;n.虚张声势,欺骗
参考例句:
  • His threats are merely bluff.他的威胁仅仅是虚张声势。
  • John is a deep card.No one can bluff him easily.约翰是个机灵鬼。谁也不容易欺骗他。
33 grimace XQVza     
v.做鬼脸,面部歪扭
参考例句:
  • The boy stole a look at his father with grimace.那男孩扮着鬼脸偷看了他父亲一眼。
  • Thomas made a grimace after he had tasted the wine.托马斯尝了那葡萄酒后做了个鬼脸。
34 bluffs b61bfde7c25e2c4facccab11221128fc     
恐吓( bluff的名词复数 ); 悬崖; 峭壁
参考例句:
  • Two steep limestone bluffs rise up each side of the narrow inlet. 两座陡峭的石灰石断崖耸立在狭窄的入口两侧。
  • He bluffs his way in, pretending initially to be a dishwasher and then later a chef. 他虚张声势的方式,假装最初是一个洗碗机,然后厨师。
35 extremities AtOzAr     
n.端点( extremity的名词复数 );尽头;手和足;极窘迫的境地
参考例句:
  • She was most noticeable, I thought, in respect of her extremities. 我觉得她那副穷极可怜的样子实在太惹人注目。 来自辞典例句
  • Winters may be quite cool at the northwestern extremities. 西北边区的冬天也可能会相当凉。 来自辞典例句
36 farmhouse kt1zIk     
n.农场住宅(尤指主要住房)
参考例句:
  • We fell for the farmhouse as soon as we saw it.我们对那所农舍一见倾心。
  • We put up for the night at a farmhouse.我们在一间农舍投宿了一夜。
37 scout oDGzi     
n.童子军,侦察员;v.侦察,搜索
参考例句:
  • He was mistaken for an enemy scout and badly wounded.他被误认为是敌人的侦察兵,受了重伤。
  • The scout made a stealthy approach to the enemy position.侦察兵偷偷地靠近敌军阵地。
38 drawn MuXzIi     
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的
参考例句:
  • All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
  • Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。


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