Skeeter had received a shock. Four friends, beholding4 him, noted5 that his face was bloodless, his yellow fingers trembled and were beyond his control, his knees shook and buckled6 under him as he walked, and his chin was aquiver.
“Bad luck, niggers,” he whined7 through chattering8 teeth. “A band of robbers has busted9 into Marse Tom Gaitskill’s house, an’ dey is killin’ Dazzle Zenor.”
The four men sitting at the table quivered with excitement mingled10 with fear. With that emotional race, any sort of excitement is expressed by noise, but fear calls for silence. For a brief time the silence was so great that the five could distinctly hear the ticking of Hitch12 Diamond’s big silver watch.
Hitch Diamond, the big prize-fighter, sat in a rickety chair. As he meditated13 upon the possibilities of the case which Skeeter had stated, and his emotions increased, that chair produced an irritating squeak14 with every inhalation and expulsion of Hitch’s breath. All the noise produced in that room was caused by Hitch’s watch and his chair. The rest were like frightened quail15 that squat16 and try to merge17 with the scenery.
It seemed to be a long, long time before anyone ventured to break that oppressive silence. Finally Hitch spoke18 bravely:
“Go up an’ rescue Dazzle, Skeeter. I’ll be glad to stay behime an’ take keer of de saloon.”
Four chairs moved uneasily, emitting a scraping sound. Figger Bush pulled a corncob pipe from his pocket, and his trembling hands caused the stem to drop from the cob and fall under the table. Figger stooped to pick it up, found that it was dark under the table, and straightened up without his pipe-stem. He could get that pipe-stem to-morrow.
Mustard Prophet, the scientific agriculturist of the party, took a big red apple from his pocket and bit deeply into its juicy substance. He was trying to appear disinterested20, but his favorite kind of apple was tasteless to him now.
“Dar ain’t no use fer de rest of us to go,” Mustard muttered thickly, munching21 at his apple, and glancing at Pap Curtain. “Skeeter kin11 handle de case——”
“You got to go wid me, Mustard,” Skeeter interrupted. “Dazzle tole me dat Hopey wus in de house, too—an’ de robbers is killin’ her.”
The part of the apple Mustard held in his fingers slipped away and rolled across the saloon floor; the part he had in his mouth strangled in his quivering throat.
“Dat’s too bad,” he announced in a tone of disinterested sympathy. “But dat serves Hopey right, an’ she deeserves all she gits. Me an’ my nigger wife don’t speak no more. I went dar to-night, an’ axed Hopey to gimme some hot biscuits an’ a few sirup, an’ she wouldn’t do it!”
“I think dis here is yo’ job, Skeeter,” Pap Curtain snarled22, the habitual23 sneer24 upon his face becoming more acute and repulsive25 as he tried to conceal26 his timidity. “Dazzle didn’t want none of us buttin’ in, or she’d axed fer us. Ef you wants to make a hit wid Dazzle, you got to pick up a brave heart an’ go out dar an’ kill dat band of robbers—jes’ like when you wus in de army.”
“But us army soldiers didn’t do no fightin’ all by our lonely selfs,” Skeeter wailed27. “We fi’t an’ bled an’ died in regimints!”
“You oughter hab fotch yo’ army home wid you,” Pap sneered28. “Somepin like dis might happen sudden any time, an’ you knowed you’d need it.”
The telephone rang sharply, and every man jumped with fright.
“Gosh, dat skeart me!” Pap Curtain exclaimed. “Answer de telerphome, Skeeter.”
“Answer de telerphome, Figger,” Skeeter squalled, feeling nervously29 in all his pockets as if he were hunting for the most important thing in the world and could not abandon the search.
“My shoe-string is come ontied,” Figger answered as he bent30 over his foot. “You answer de phome, Mustard!”
“Dar now, it’s too late!” Mustard lamented33. “I’d ’a’ answered, only but I’m total deef in one y-ear.”
The telephone rang again, sharply, insistently34; rang for a good five minutes.
“Answer it, Hitch Diamond!” Skeeter wailed in the midst of the sound.
Hitch pretended not to hear.
“I bet dat is Hopey telerphomin’ me dat she’s dead,” Mustard Prophet muttered in pitiful fright. “I won’t never git no more hot biscuits. Hopey wus shore a good cook an’ a good wife. Us had little spats35, but dar warn’t never no hard feelin’s.”
“Come on, fellers,” Skeeter interrupted. “Less go up on de hill an’ see whut’s happened.”
“I ain’t gwine in dat house!” Pap Curtain exclaimed. “I don’t like to see blood spilt aroun’ all over Marse Tom’s nice carpets.”
“I hope dey don’t spile de floor too much,” Hitch grumbled36 as he rose to his feet. “Marse Tom always makes me scrub up de messes because Hopey’s too dang fat to lean over.”
“I’ll let Pap guard de front of de house an’ hide behime de big pecan-tree,” Skeeter announced, glad enough to get company. “Hitch kin guard de kitchen by hidin’ behime de meat-house. Figger an’ Mustard kin guard each side of de house by layin’ on de groun’ outside de lawn-fence.”
While Skeeter was issuing these orders, Little Bit had entered the saloon, and stood listening. When Skeeter ended, he spoke:
“I’s gwine guard de Hen-Scratch by hidin’ behime de bar counter,” he giggled37, without an idea what all the excitement was about.
“Whar you been at, you little debbil?” Skeeter Butts snapped, whirling about to face the Hen-Scratch’s factotum38. “You stay an’ keep dis saloon—an’ ef de telerphome rings, you answer it.”
Skeeter ran to a little safe in the corner of the saloon and brought forth39 four guns, which he distributed to their rightful owners; then he took his own automatic from behind the bar, and the five negroes started in a swift run for Gaitskill’s home.
By the time they had climbed to the top of the hill on which the fine colonial home was located, they entered the yard, breathless and panting. From that high point they could look out over the village, glowing in the darkness like a great firefly, with its countless40 lights on the crooked41 streets and its glowing windows. But their attention was concentrated upon the house before them. The drawing-room glowed with brilliant light.
Four of the men quickly went to the places assigned them and dropped down in hiding. Skeeter sneaked42 from shrub44 to shrub, lay down and crawled around rose-bushes, ran from the shelter of one tree across the exposed and open places to the grateful shelter of another tree, until he came close to one of the lighted windows. Reaching up, he straddled the limb over his head and looked fearfully into the drawing-room.
He saw Hopey and Dazzle seated very comfortably. They seemed to be very much amused at something, for they laughed constantly.
“Dis here is some kind of joke,” Skeeter muttered to himself as he dropped from the limb. “I’ll sneak43 in de kitchen an’ come through de house an’ supprise ’em.”
Slipping to the rear, he emitted a low whistle and located Hitch Diamond by the meat-house, which gave him the courage to open the door of the dark kitchen and enter.
There was not a negro in this rescue-party who was not thoroughly45 familiar with the Gaitskill home. In the years past they had served in that house in every capacity, and knew every room and closet, and the contents of each. There were a dozen other homes in Tickfall with which they were equally familiar, for the good house servant is a privileged character in the house, and his presence in the home is coveted46 by every housekeeper47.
So it was no trouble for Skeeter to find his way in the dark to the lighted drawing-room.
A bellow48 of fright from Hopey and a squeal49 of terror from Dazzle greeted him as he stepped from behind a door with a pistol in his hand.
“Whut you got to say now, Hopey?” Dazzle exclaimed, when she recovered from her fright. “I tole you Skeeter wus a brave nigger——”
“Open dis door, Skeeter! Hurry!”
Skeeter sprang to the door and threw it open. Little Bit, panting, dripping with perspiration51, and almost exhausted52, was pushed into the room by Pap Curtain, who had to support him to prevent his falling to the floor. In the blaze of light which came through the open door, Figger and Mustard and Hitch got the courage to come out from their hiding-places and listen.
“Bad luck, Skeeter!” Little Bit panted. “I ain’t know whut kind of nigger bizziness dis is, but you-alls is got yo’selfs in a jam.”
“How you know?” Skeeter quavered.
“Whut did it say?” Skeeter asked desperately54.
“It say—it say—de gal55 at de telerphome orfice say she listened in when Dazzle phomed to you, an’ dat she has called all de white folks in Tickfall up an’ tole ’em dat Marse Tom’s house wus being robbed!”
Thereupon Hopey Prophet walked to the electric-light switch and turned out every light. There are those who love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil.
“Listen!” Pap exclaimed tragically56. “I kin hear dem white folks comin’ now!”
Indeed, it was not difficult to hear the sound of running feet. A moment later could be heard the galloping57 feet of horses. Then automobile58 lights began to whip the darkness as they turned the corners at high speed and roared like speeding beasts as they came up the long hill. Then, in the darkness, a great light fell on Skeeter.
“Us niggers oughtn’t to be here when de white folks come,” he wailed. “Ef dey ketch us in here, dey’ll put us in jail. Ef dey see us leavin’, dey’ll shoot us!”
Then a low sigh of disappointment escaped from every throat. The front lawn was all aquiver with the dark shadows of moving men!
“Shut up!” Pap Curtain snarled. “Whar kin we hide?”
“Git up on de roof!” Skeeter Butts suggested. “Dar’s a ladder in de attic62, an’ we kin climb through a trap-door to de roof.”
Eight negroes went shuffling63 up the steps toward the top of the house just as the clatter of feet sounded upon the porch, and the front door was pushed open.
Four perspiring64 negroes boosted Hopey up the ladder, and pushed her capacious form through the narrow square opening to the roof. Then they cautiously lowered the door and gratefully seated themselves upon it.
Alas66! He did not know that the door he was sitting on had a catch-lock on the inside, and that he and his friends were on that roof to stay until rescued!
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收听单词发音
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1
butts
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| 笑柄( butt的名词复数 )； （武器或工具的）粗大的一端； 屁股； 烟蒂 | |
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contraction
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| n.缩略词，缩写式，害病 | |
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relaxation
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| n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐 | |
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beholding
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| v.看，注视( behold的现在分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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buckled
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| a. 有带扣的 | |
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whined
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| v.哀号( whine的过去式和过去分词 )；哀诉，诉怨 | |
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8
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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9
busted
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| adj. 破产了的，失败了的，被降级的，被逮捕的，被抓到的 动词bust的过去式和过去分词 | |
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10
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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12
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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13
meditated
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| 深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑 | |
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14
squeak
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| n.吱吱声，逃脱；v.（发出）吱吱叫，侥幸通过；（俚）告密 | |
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quail
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| n.鹌鹑；vi.畏惧，颤抖 | |
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squat
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| v.蹲坐，蹲下；n.蹲下；adj.矮胖的，粗矮的 | |
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17
merge
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| v.(使)结合，(使)合并，(使)合为一体 | |
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18
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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19
quacked
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| v.（鸭子）发出嘎嘎声( quack的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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20
disinterested
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| adj.不关心的，不感兴趣的 | |
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21
munching
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| v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的现在分词 ) | |
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22
snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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23
habitual
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| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
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24
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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repulsive
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| adj.排斥的，使人反感的 | |
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26
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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27
wailed
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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28
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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29
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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30
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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31
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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32
tinkle
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| vi.叮当作响；n.叮当声 | |
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33
lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34
insistently
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| ad.坚持地 | |
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35
spats
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| n.口角( spat的名词复数 )；小争吵；鞋罩；鞋套v.spit的过去式和过去分词( spat的第三人称单数 )；口角；小争吵；鞋罩 | |
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36
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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37
giggled
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
factotum
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| n.杂役；听差 | |
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39
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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40
countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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41
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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42
sneaked
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| v.潜行( sneak的过去式和过去分词 )；偷偷溜走；（儿童向成人）打小报告；告状 | |
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43
sneak
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| vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行 | |
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44
shrub
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| n.灌木，灌木丛 | |
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45
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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46
coveted
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| adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图 | |
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47
housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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48
bellow
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| v.吼叫，怒吼；大声发出，大声喝道 | |
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49
squeal
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| v.发出长而尖的声音；n.长而尖的声音 | |
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50
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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51
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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52
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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53
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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54
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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55
gal
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| n.姑娘，少女 | |
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56
tragically
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| adv. 悲剧地，悲惨地 | |
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57
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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58
automobile
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| n.汽车，机动车 | |
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59
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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60
bug
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| n.虫子；故障；窃听器；vt.纠缠；装窃听器 | |
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61
jug
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| n.(有柄，小口，可盛水等的)大壶，罐，盂 | |
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attic
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| n.顶楼，屋顶室 | |
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63
shuffling
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| adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式 | |
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64
perspiring
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| v.出汗，流汗( perspire的现在分词 ) | |
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65
exulted
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| 狂喜，欢跃( exult的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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66
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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