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首页 » 英文短篇小说 » Frank Merriwell in Maine » CHAPTER X. THE STOLEN RIFLE.
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CHAPTER X. THE STOLEN RIFLE.
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“Now, by gwacious!” cried Archie; “I’m going to twy this wifle. Let me have a cawd out of that pack.”

Bruce did so, and Cholly hastened to pin the card onto the tree. It happened to be the ace1 of spades.

When the card was fastened to the tree, Archie retired2 a respectable distance and prepared to shoot.

“Right here,” said Frank, “is where he finds out it was not his rifle that caused his bad shooting.”

“And he is liable to want to change back after he finds it out,” grunted3 Browning.

“Well, I shall change with him if he does,” said Frank.

“What? You wouldn’t give up that rifle now you have it?”

“If he wants to do so, I shall change back without a word.”

“Well, you are queer!”

Archie lifted the rifle to his shoulder and aimed long and carefully. The weapon was seen to wobble in a way that was actually painful to witness.

“He couldn’t hit a house!” growled4 Bruce, in disgust.

Then the dude fired, and, accompanied by Cholly, he hastened forward to the tree.

A great shout went up from both city sportsmen.

“I knew it, deah boy!” cried Archie, in great delight. “Didn’t I tell you so?”

[100]

“Is it possible he hit the tree?” muttered Browning, in surprise, as he and Frank went forward to see what had happened.

“Look there, gentlemen!” cried Archie, proudly pointing at the card. “That shows what I can do with a gun that will shoot, don’t yer ’now!”

“By Jawve! it’s wonderful!” exclaimed Cholly, in amazement5.

“Not at all, deah boy—not at all!” declared Archie, stiffening6 up. “I knew what I could do with a good wifle.”

“Of course,” agreed Cholly, doubtingly; “but it is—aw—ah—wemarkable what a differwunce there ith in the two wifles.”

“Well, may I be hanged!” grunted Bruce Browning, as he stared at the card, as if doubting the evidence of his eyes.

“He cut out the spot all right,” laughed Frank.

“I suppose such miracles do happen occasionally,” muttered the big Yale man; “but it seems hard to believe.”

“I’ll have to give my new rifle a trial now,” said Merry, as he took the cards from Bruce and ran them over till he came to the ace of clubs. “We’ll see if I can shoot with it.”

“But I hope, thir,” said Archie, quickly, “that you will not expect me to change back if you find you cawn’t hit anything with it?”

“Oh, no,” smiled Frank; “but I rather fancy it will shoot better than you thought, Mr. Elmer.”

“I gave it a verwy good twial,” said Archie, stiffly.

[101]

“Verwy,” nodded Cholly.

The card was fastened to the tree, and then they retreated till the spot upon it scarcely showed.

There was a hurriedly whispered conversation between the city sportsmen as Frank took his position and prepared to shoot.

Merry secured a quick but careful aim and fired. Then, with Bruce, he walked forward to see the result of the shot.

The result proved entirely7 satisfactory, for Frank had cut out the spot on the card.

“That settles it,” said Frank. “I knew well enough that this rifle must shoot perfectly8 unless it had been damaged since leaving the factory, Mr. Elmer.”

There was no answer, and both Yale men turned to look for the city sportsmen, expecting to find them near at hand. What was their astonishment9 to see Archie and Cholly hastening away toward the village as fast as their legs would carry them.

“Why, they didn’t wait to see the result of the shot!” exclaimed Frank, not a little surprised.

“Huh!” grunted Browning. “It’s plain they thought you wouldn’t hit the card; that’s why they didn’t stay.”

Frank began to laugh again.

“And I’ll wager10 something they were afraid I would want to trade back, for all of what I said.”

“That’s it,” grinned Bruce. “That’s why they are running away.”

“Well, let them go. Perhaps Elmer would not have been so perfectly satisfied with his trade had he remained[102] to see me try this rifle. Of course, I did not want to beat the fellow, for he had a generous fit after my little encounter with Dugan, and he actually offered me the weapon as a gift.”

“Under the circumstances, you may be well satisfied with what you did, for you gave him a rifle he coveted11 and fifty dollars in money in exchange for what he had offered you as a present.”

“Still, he is such a tenderfoot that it almost seems like taking an advantage.”

Frank took a silver half-dollar from his pocket and flung it far into the air; as it turned, glittering in the sunshine, he fired at it, hit it, sent it flying far out into the stream.

“That is quite enough,” he decided12. “Now I know this rifle will shoot just as well as the other one. John Caribou13 will be well pleased with it.”

“It will be a fine present for the Indian.”

“But not more than he deserves.”

“No.”

“I read the fellow’s character aright when I first saw him. I have seen all sorts of Indians, and I will say that, as a rule, a redskin can’t be trusted. The Indians of the West are treacherous14, and still, occasionally, one is found who has all the high ideas of honor and justice entertained by the simple aborigines of early days. When such a one is found, you may trust him with your life. I studied Caribou, and I saw he had a good head, a kind face, and eyes that looked squarely and frankly15 into my own. Then, despite Diamond’s prejudice against the[103] fellow, I trusted him. I do not believe I could send him anything that would be valued more by him than this handsome rifle.”

“You are right in that, Merry. It is because you remember your friends and show them that you appreciate their friendship that you have so many of them all over the country.”

“I have observed,” said Frank, slowly, “that human beings are prone16 to forget friendly acts of others. They may feel grateful for a short time, but human nature is fickle17, and without meaning to be ungrateful, a man often fails, when he has the opportunity, to return good for good, much less good for evil. But come, let’s go back to the hotel. It’s getting late, and I don’t know what time we have supper. I’m rather anxious about Hans, too.”

“Oh, the Dutchman is all right. He’ll come round to-morrow. All the matter with him is that he tried to eat everything on the table at the hotel in Greenville.”

“He said he was trying to keep up with you,” smiled Merry.

As they entered the village they came upon Enos Dugan, who seemed to be waiting for them. Frank watched the man narrowly, not knowing what treachery he might attempt.

Dugan’s eyes lighted with an evil look as he saw the handsome rifle Merriwell was carrying; his face flushed, and he stepped toward the lads.

“So ye got it?” he growled, glaring at Frank. “All right! But I don’t fergit that you struck me.”

[104]

That was all he said, and then he wheeled squarely about and walked away with a swinging stride.

“I’m glad we’re going to get out of this town to-morrow, if Hans gets able,” said Bruce. “I believe that man would kill you, Frank, if we remained here.”

“He might do so in a fit of passion,” nodded Merry; “but I hardly think he would do such a thing in cold blood.”

“I don’t know. He has a bad face.”

On reaching the hotel, they went directly to the room occupied by Hans. The doctor, although he had visited the Dutch boy once before that day, was present.

He was a young man, lately settled in Brownville, and he was letting slip no opportunity to get as many dollars as possible out of strangers whom he never expected to see after they left the place.

“You will be all right to-morrow, Mr. Dunnerwust,” he was saying. “My medicine is bringing you round.”

“Vale,” grunted Hans, “I peen dot much a hurry in to got vell, toctor, dot I vould took your medicines if I knewed it vould kill me.”

At this the doctor laughed heartily18, and Frank, coming in, paid him for his call. The doctor was something of a sportsman, and he expressed great admiration19 for the rifle, which Merry stood in a corner of the room.

“I think it is the handsomest weapon I ever saw,” he said.

“Yaw,” said Hans, “id peen der handsomest vepons I nefer sawed, und I never sawed dot. Shust holdt it ub so id can seen me, Vrankie.”

[105]

So Merriwell held the rifle up for the Dutch boy’s inspection20, telling him how he came to get it and what he intended to do with it.

“That is very generous of you,” said the physician. “Caribou is a good guide. I was up in the woods last fall, and he was one of the guides for our party. He went out with me one day, and got me two fine deer that I should not have seen at all. Both times he gave me the chance to shoot, and I was fortunate enough to get my game. He can do some good work with that old large bore rifle of his, but he will be delighted to get a new one like this.”

The doctor told some stories of his adventures in the woods, and soon the supper bell rang.

“I’ll leave the rifle here in the room with you, Hans,” said Frank, as he went out, following the others.

“All righdt, Vrankie; id vill vatch me, so I vill peen safe. Don’d let me vorry apout dot.”

But when Frank Merriwell returned from supper he found Hans fast asleep, and the rifle——

Was gone!

Frank looked all round the room for it, thinking it possible Hans had arisen and looked at the weapon while they were down to supper, leaving it in some other place when he had finished inspecting it.

It was not to be found.

“What’s the matter, Merry?” grunted Browning, who had lazily followed Frank to the room, Diamond and Hodge having gone out for a stroll.

“Matter!” cried Frank. “Matter enough! My new rifle has vanished. It is gone!”

[106]

“Gone?” echoed Bruce, in a dazed way. “How can that be?”

“Some person must have taken it!”

Then Frank shook Hans, awakening21 him.

“Have you touched my rifle since I left it in that corner?” he asked, as the Dutch lad stared up at him stupidly.

“Vot?” mumbled22 Hans. “Haf der rifle touched me? Vale, I guess nod! Der ped haf peen righd here in me all der dime23, so der rifle couldn’t touch me uf I tried. Vot vos der madder?”

“It is gone! Somebody has taken it away!”

“How could it haf daken somepody avay?” exclaimed the Dutch boy, sitting upright. “I has peen here vatching myselluf dot rifle mit all der dime!”

“Little watching you have done!” exclaimed Bruce. “You were fast asleep. Some person slipped in here and took the rifle while you were sleeping.”

“You don’d pelief me!” gasped24 Hans. “I don’d see how dot rifle could took anypody right from der room oudt dot vay.”

Merriwell lost no time in hastening down to the office and telling the landlord what had happened. Browning thought it barely possible that Archie Elmer might have repented25 of his trade and sought to recover his rifle, but this turned out untrue. And a thorough search of the hotel failed to bring about the discovery of the rifle.

“It has been stolen, Merriwell,” said Browning, grimly, “and you must suspect who took it.”

[107]

“I do!” came grimly from Merriwell’s lips. “We will search for Enos Dugan.”

Nowhere in Brownville could Dugan be found. Rifle and man had vanished together.

“But I will have that rifle back, even though I have to chase him into Canada!” vowed26 Merriwell.


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 ace IzHzsp     
n.A牌;发球得分;佼佼者;adj.杰出的
参考例句:
  • A good negotiator always has more than one ace in the hole.谈判高手总有数张王牌在手。
  • He is an ace mechanic.He can repair any cars.他是一流的机械师,什么车都会修。
2 retired Njhzyv     
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的
参考例句:
  • The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
  • Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。
3 grunted f18a3a8ced1d857427f2252db2abbeaf     
(猪等)作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 ); (指人)发出类似的哼声; 咕哝着说
参考例句:
  • She just grunted, not deigning to look up from the page. 她只咕哝了一声,继续看书,不屑抬起头来看一眼。
  • She grunted some incomprehensible reply. 她咕噜着回答了些令人费解的话。
4 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》
5 amazement 7zlzBK     
n.惊奇,惊讶
参考例句:
  • All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
  • He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。
6 stiffening d80da5d6e73e55bbb6a322bd893ffbc4     
n. (使衣服等)变硬的材料, 硬化 动词stiffen的现在分词形式
参考例句:
  • Her mouth stiffening, she could not elaborate. 她嘴巴僵直,无法细说下去。
  • No genius, not a bad guy, but the attacks are hurting and stiffening him. 不是天才,人也不坏,但是四面八方的攻击伤了他的感情,使他横下了心。
7 entirely entirely     
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
  • His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。
8 perfectly 8Mzxb     
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
  • Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。
9 astonishment VvjzR     
n.惊奇,惊异
参考例句:
  • They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
  • I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。
10 wager IH2yT     
n.赌注;vt.押注,打赌
参考例句:
  • They laid a wager on the result of the race.他们以竞赛的结果打赌。
  • I made a wager that our team would win.我打赌我们的队会赢。
11 coveted 3debb66491eb049112465dc3389cfdca     
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
参考例句:
  • He had long coveted the chance to work with a famous musician. 他一直渴望有机会与著名音乐家一起工作。
  • Ther other boys coveted his new bat. 其他的男孩都想得到他的新球棒。 来自《简明英汉词典》
12 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。
13 caribou 8cpyD     
n.北美驯鹿
参考例句:
  • Afar off he heard the squawking of caribou calves.他听到远处有一群小驯鹿尖叫的声音。
  • The Eskimos played soccer on ice and used balls filled with caribou hair and grass.爱斯基摩人在冰上踢球,他们用的是驯鹿的毛发和草填充成的球。
14 treacherous eg7y5     
adj.不可靠的,有暗藏的危险的;adj.背叛的,背信弃义的
参考例句:
  • The surface water made the road treacherous for drivers.路面的积水对驾车者构成危险。
  • The frozen snow was treacherous to walk on.在冻雪上行走有潜在危险。
15 frankly fsXzcf     
adv.坦白地,直率地;坦率地说
参考例句:
  • To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说,我一点也不赞成这个主意。
  • Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说,我不反对改革。
16 prone 50bzu     
adj.(to)易于…的,很可能…的;俯卧的
参考例句:
  • Some people are prone to jump to hasty conclusions.有些人往往作出轻率的结论。
  • He is prone to lose his temper when people disagree with him.人家一不同意他的意见,他就发脾气。
17 fickle Lg9zn     
adj.(爱情或友谊上)易变的,不坚定的
参考例句:
  • Fluctuating prices usually base on a fickle public's demand.物价的波动往往是由于群众需求的不稳定而引起的。
  • The weather is so fickle in summer.夏日的天气如此多变。
18 heartily Ld3xp     
adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很
参考例句:
  • He ate heartily and went out to look for his horse.他痛快地吃了一顿,就出去找他的马。
  • The host seized my hand and shook it heartily.主人抓住我的手,热情地和我握手。
19 admiration afpyA     
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕
参考例句:
  • He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
  • We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。
20 inspection y6TxG     
n.检查,审查,检阅
参考例句:
  • On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查,发现肉变质了。
  • The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵们列队接受军官的日常检阅。
21 awakening 9ytzdV     
n.觉醒,醒悟 adj.觉醒中的;唤醒的
参考例句:
  • the awakening of interest in the environment 对环境产生的兴趣
  • People are gradually awakening to their rights. 人们正逐渐意识到自己的权利。
22 mumbled 3855fd60b1f055fa928ebec8bcf3f539     
含糊地说某事,叽咕,咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He mumbled something to me which I did not quite catch. 他对我叽咕了几句话,可我没太听清楚。
  • George mumbled incoherently to himself. 乔治语无伦次地喃喃自语。
23 dime SuQxv     
n.(指美国、加拿大的钱币)一角
参考例句:
  • A dime is a tenth of a dollar.一角银币是十分之一美元。
  • The liberty torch is on the back of the dime.自由火炬在一角硬币的反面。
24 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》
25 repented c24481167c6695923be1511247ed3c08     
对(自己的所为)感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He repented his thoughtlessness. 他后悔自己的轻率。
  • Darren repented having shot the bird. 达伦后悔射杀了那只鸟。
26 vowed 6996270667378281d2f9ee561353c089     
起誓,发誓(vow的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
  • I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。


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