“You could have knocked me over with a feather,” declared Poke—the four Sunnywood boys were on their way back to the cottage at noon—“and I never thought Nancy Hanks had it in him! Here’s the way it was. Most of the class were in their seats and Mort Nichols—he’s monitor, you know—was calling the roll. When he got to the G’s he skipped Bull’s name because he could see that Bull wasn’t there. Mort’s rather a chum of Bull’s, you know. But Nancy was on to him. ‘You’ve left out a name, Nichols,’ says he. ‘Go back, please.’ So Mort gets sort of red and calls, ‘Gary.’ And Bull, who had just come loafing in at the door says, ‘Dead on the field of battle,’ and the fellows began to laugh. It really was funny, wasn’t it, Gil?”
“Rather.”
[173]
“Pshaw! You laughed, too. I saw you. Well, Nancy never turned a hair—”
“The funny thing,” interrupted Gil, “was the way Mr. Hanks was looking. He was sort of white and frightened and he had his mouth set in a straight line like—like this.” And Gil illustrated2. “I never saw him look that way before.”
“And he had a funny little sparkle in his eyes,” said Poke. “Did you notice that, Gil?”
“Well, get on with your story,” said Jim. “Then what happened?”
“Then,” replied Gil, “Mr. Hanks said, ‘Are we to understand by that cryptic4 remark, Gary, that you desire to be marked as present?’ And Bull was so flabbergasted that all he could do was stammer5, ‘Y-yes, sir.’ ‘Mark Gary present,’ said Mr. Hanks. So Mort went on with the roll and we began the recitation, all the fellows looking at each other and wondering what had happened to Mr. Hanks. Marshall was reciting when there was a crash at the back of the room. It seems that[174] Bull had reached out with his foot and poked6 over a pile of books on Punk Gibbs’ desk. Mr. Hanks held up a hand and Marshall stopped. ‘Whose books are those?’ he asked. ‘Mine, sir,’ replied Punk very, very meekly7. ‘Pick them up, please.’ So Punk picked them up and put them back and the room was very quiet. Every one was grinning, but no one made a sound. Marshall started off again when—bang! went the pile of books once more. Mr. Hanks lifted his hand. ‘Whose books are those?’ he asked again. ‘Mine,’ said Punk, looking sort of scared. ‘Pick them up, please.’ ‘I didn’t knock them off,’ grumbled9 Punk. ‘Who did?’ asked Mr. Hanks. But Punk wouldn’t tell. Then Mr. Hanks said, ‘The student who pushed those books onto the floor will kindly10 pick them up.’ No one moved for a minute. ‘We will wait,’ said Mr. Hanks, and sat down again in his chair. Finally Punk grumbled something and started to pick them up, when Mr. Hanks said: ‘Let them alone, Gibbs!’ And Punk sat up as though he was shot. Another minute or so passed. Some one began to snigger nervously11 at the back of the room. ‘Who’s that laughing?’ asked Mr. Hanks. After that there wasn’t a sound.[175] Finally Mr. Hanks looked at the clock. ‘I’ve given you plenty of time,’ he said, ‘but you may have thirty seconds more in which to replace those books,’ and he looked straight at Bull. Bull grinned, but didn’t move.”
“Just the same,” broke in Poke, “he was getting pretty nervous.”
“We all were,” said Gil. “Finally Mr. Hanks said, ‘Time’s up, Gary. You’re delaying the recitation.’ ‘I didn’t knock them off,’ said Bull in his ugliest tones. ‘You didn’t?’ asked Mr. Hanks very quietly. ‘Think well, Gary, before you answer.’ Bull looked around and grinned. ‘No, I didn’t,’ said he. And then Mr. Hanks, our quiet little Nancy Hanks, exploded a bombshell. ‘Report to Mr. Gordon, Gary,’ said he sternly. Bull sat and looked at him with his mouth wide open, too surprised to speak, and the rest of us just gasped12. Finally Bull said, ‘What for, sir?’ in that bullying13 way of his, and Mr. Hanks came back at him like a flash. ‘For disturbance14 in class and lying!’ he said!”
“And that,” murmured Poke, “was the way the battle was fit.”
“Gee!” said Jim. “Gary must have been surprised.”
[176]
“Did he go right away?” asked Jeffrey.
“Like a lamb,” answered Gil. “And then, ‘Please continue, Marshall,’ said Mr. Hanks. And there wasn’t a better-behaved class in school than we were!”
“Just what we told him would happen,” declared Poke. “He ought to be mighty grateful to us for giving him the tip.”
“What I want to know is,” remarked Jeffrey as they passed through the cottage gate, “what the team’s going to do without Gary at right guard.”
“I wonder myself,” mused17 Gil as they took their places on the porch. “Probably they’ll bring Parker over from the second. But it’s going to weaken the team like anything.”
“Search me. Maybe he will let him back in time for the big game. That’s not much more than a month away now.”
“I hope he will,” said Jeffrey. “We certainly need him in the line.”
“But think of Nancy rearing up and being[177] saucy18 like that!” marveled Poke. “I could hardly believe my own little eyes, fellows!”
“It’s a case of the worm will turn,” observed Jeffrey.
“And here comes the worm,” whispered Jim.
Mr. Hanks came along the road with a bundle of blue books under his arm. He had discarded his straw hat for a faded black Fedora that was perhaps two sizes too large for him and that settled down over his forehead in a desperate and rakish manner. To-day it seemed to the boys on the porch that the instructor19 held his head more erect20 and stepped out more briskly. When he came up the steps they were all on their feet and unconsciously there was a new respect in the way in which they stood at attention and took off their caps. Mr. Hanks bowed his jerky bow and passed them silently. When he was heard mounting the stairs Jim observed thoughtfully:
“‘Nancy’ doesn’t seem to fit him so well to-day, fellows.”
Naturally enough Mr. Hanks’ astounding21 change from the meek8 and lowly victim to the high-handed martinet22 was a nine days’ wonder. During that nine days three other members[178] of his classes were punished in various ways and from that time on recitations in Latin and history were conducted with a decorum that soon became the envy of other instructors23. Mr. Hanks never spoke24 to Gil or Poke, Jim or Jeffrey about the matter, nor did he ever show them any special consideration in class, but in some way they all understood that he was grateful, and with their new respect for him was a stronger liking25.
In the meanwhile football affairs were at sixes and sevens for the better part of a week, for Gary’s probation26 prohibited him from taking part in athletics27 and when he left the team the team lost one of its strongest units. Parker was tried, but found wanting. Springer, left guard on the second, was brought across to the first but fared badly in the first game played. Finally Cosgrove, right tackle on the first, was moved to Gary’s vacant place, and Curtis, of the second, was promoted to right tackle on the first. Whereupon, presto28!—Mr. James Hazard found himself with disconcerted suddenness playing left tackle on the second team! And the season was half over and already the Hawthorne game loomed29 large and impending30 on the horizon.
[179]
To say that Jim was pleased is putting it but mildly. To say that he was secretly alarmed is no more than the truth. It is one thing to serve as a substitute and be put in for five or ten minutes when the game is safe and quite another to be a first string man. On defense31 Jim found himself opposed to Tearney, right end on the first, and that was not so bad, but on the attack he had Cosgrove in front of him and Cosgrove was an old and experienced player with a most irritating trick of coaxing32 Jim off-side, for which, for the first week or so, Jim was forever being censured33 by coach and captain and quarter-back. Of course playing on the second team is not as momentous34 an affair as being on the ’varsity, but it’s the next biggest thing, and if any one thinks that a second team doesn’t take itself very seriously they should have watched proceedings35 at Crofton that fall. The second, captained by Page, the tiny quarter-back, went into every tussle36 as though the fair honor of Crofton was in their keeping. The second regretted the loss of Curtis, but speedily made Jim welcome to their ranks. He soon got close to several fellows well worth knowing and within a fortnight was “Jim” to every member of the team.
[180]
At Sunnywood, true to their promise, Gil and Poke assisted in the household duties every morning and evening. Mrs. Hazard had instead of one majordomo three cheerfully willing assistants. Chilly37 weather had come and the furnace had begun its duty, and in the morning the three boys descended38 to the cellar and put it in shape, raking out ashes and sifting39 them, shoveling coal, picking over cinders40 and splitting kindling41 for the kitchen. Jeffrey, although barred from taking an active part in the chores, made himself useful whenever possible. In the evening a somewhat similar program was carried out, and at ten o’clock Poke, who had evolved certain theories for the scientific management of furnaces, went down and fixed42 the fire for the night. In this way Jim had plenty of time to pursue the gentle art of football.
[181]
Gil and Poke assisted in the household duties.
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1
poke
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| n.刺，戳，袋；vt.拨开，刺，戳；vi.戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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2
illustrated
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| adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词 | |
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3
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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4
cryptic
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| adj.秘密的，神秘的，含义模糊的 | |
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5
stammer
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| n.结巴，口吃；v.结结巴巴地说 | |
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6
poked
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| v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交 | |
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7
meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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8
meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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9
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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10
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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12
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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13
bullying
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| v.恐吓，威逼( bully的现在分词 )；豪；跋扈 | |
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14
disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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15
pro
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| n.赞成，赞成的意见，赞成者 | |
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16
engraved
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| v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的过去式和过去分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
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17
mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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18
saucy
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| adj.无礼的；俊俏的；活泼的 | |
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instructor
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| n.指导者，教员，教练 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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21
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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22
martinet
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| n.要求严格服从纪律的人 | |
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23
instructors
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| 指导者，教师( instructor的名词复数 ) | |
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24
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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25
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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26
probation
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| n.缓刑(期)，(以观后效的)察看；试用(期) | |
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27
athletics
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| n.运动，体育，田径运动 | |
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28
presto
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| adv.急速地；n.急板乐段；adj.急板的 | |
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29
loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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31
defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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32
coaxing
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的现在分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱；“锻炼”效应 | |
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33
censured
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| v.指责，非难，谴责( censure的过去式 ) | |
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34
momentous
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| adj.重要的，重大的 | |
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35
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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36
tussle
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| n.&v.扭打，搏斗，争辩 | |
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37
chilly
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| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
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38
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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39
sifting
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| n.筛，过滤v.筛( sift的现在分词 )；筛滤；细查；详审 | |
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40
cinders
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| n.煤渣( cinder的名词复数 )；炭渣；煤渣路；煤渣跑道 | |
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41
kindling
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| n. 点火, 可燃物 动词kindle的现在分词形式 | |
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42
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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