The harvest, with its horde10 of vegetables and fruit, had been gathered into the yawning barns and cellars and the earth that had given so patiently of its increase had earned the right to lay fallow until the planting of another spring. Ted's work was done. He had helped deposit the last barrel of ruddy apples, the last golden pumpkins11 within doors, and now he had nothing more to do but to pack up his possessions preparatory to returning to Freeman's Falls, there to rejoin his family and continue his studies.
Once the thought that the drudgery12 of summer was over would have been a delightful13 one. Why, he could remember the exultation14 with which he had burned the last cornstalks at the end of the season when at home in Vermont. The ceremony had been a rite15 of hilarious16 rejoicing. But this year, strange to say, a dull sadness stole over him whenever he looked upon the devastated17 gardens and the reaches of bare brown earth. There was nothing to keep him longer either at Aldercliffe or Pine Lea. His work henceforth lay at school.
It was strange that a little sigh accompanied the thought for had he not always looked forward to this very prospect18? What was the matter now? Was not studying the thing he had longed to be free to do? Why this regret and depression? And why was his own vague sadness reflected in Laurie's eyes and in those of Mr. Hazen? Summer could not last forever; it was childish to ask that it should. They all had known from the beginning that these days of companionship must slip away and come to an end. And yet the end had come so quickly. Why, it had scarcely been midsummer before the twilight19 had deepened and the days mellowed20 into autumn.
Well, they had held many happy, happy hours for Ted, at least. Never had he dreamed of such pleasures. He had enjoyed his work, constant though it had been, and had come to cherish as much pride in the gardens of Aldercliffe and Pine Lea, in the vast crops of hay that bulged21 from the barn lofts22, as if they had been his own. And when working hours were over there was Laurie Fernald and the new and pleasant friendship that existed between them.
As Ted began to drag out from beneath his bunk23 the empty wooden boxes he purposed to pack his books in, his heart sank. Soon the cosy24 house in which he had passed so many perfect hours would be quite denuded25. Frosts would nip the flowers nodding in a final glory of color outside the windows; the telephone would be disconnected; his belongings26 would once more be crowded into the stuffy27 little flat at home; and the door of the camp on the river's edge would be tightly locked on a deserted28 paradise.
Of course, everything had to come to an end some time and often when he had been weeding long, and what seemed interminable rows of seedlings29 and had been making only feeble progress at the task, the thought that termination of his task was an ultimate certainty had been a consolation30 mighty31 and sustaining. Such an uninteresting undertaking32 could not last forever, he told himself over and over again; nothing ever did. And now with ironic33 conformity34 to law, his philosophy had turned on him, demonstrating beyond cavil35 that not only did the things one longed to be free of come to a sure finality but so did those one pined to have linger.
Although night was approaching, too intent had he been on his reveries to notice that the room was in darkness. How still everything was! That was the way the little hut would be after he was gone,—cold, dark, and silent. He wondered as he sat there whether he should ever come back. Would the Fernalds want him next season and again offer him the boathouse for a home? They had said nothing about it but if he thought he was to return another summer it would not be so hard to go now. It was leaving forever that saddened him.
He must have remained immovable there in the twilight for a much longer time than he realized; and perhaps he would have sat there even longer had not a sound startled him into breathless attention. It was the rhythmic36 stroke of a canoe paddle and as it came nearer it was intermingled with the whispers of muffled37 voices. Possibly he might have thought nothing of the happening had there not been a note of tense caution in the words that came to his ear.
Who could be navigating38 the river at this hour of the night? Surely not pleasure-seekers, for it was very cold and an approaching storm had clouded in the sky until it had become a dome39 of velvet40 blackness. Whoever was venturing out upon the river must either know the stream very well or be reckless of his own safety.
Ted did not move but listened intently.
"Let's take a chance and land," he heard a thick voice murmur41. "The boy has evidently either gone to bed or he isn't here. Whichever the case, he can do us no harm and I'm not for risking the river any farther. It's black as midnight. We might get into the current and have trouble."
"What's the sense of running our heads into a noose42 by landing?" objected a second speaker. "We can't talk here—that's nonsense."
"I tell you the boy isn't in the hut," retorted his comrade. "I remember now that I heard he was going back to the Falls to school. Likely he has gone already. In any case we can try the door and examine the windows; if the place is locked, we shall be sure he is not here. And should it prove to be inhabited, we can easy hatch up some excuse for coming. He'll be none the wiser. Even if he should be here," added the man after a pause, "he is probably asleep. After a hard day's work a boy his age sleeps like a log. There'll be no waking him, so don't fret43. Come! Let's steer44 for the float."
"But I——"
"Great Heavens, Cronin! We've got to take some chances. You're not getting cold feet so soon, are you?" burst out the other scornfully.
"N—o! Of course not," his companion declared with forced bravado45. "But I don't like taking needless risks. The boy might be awake and hear us."
"What if he does? Haven't I told you I will invent some yarn46 to put him off the scent47? He wouldn't be suspecting mischief48, anyhow. I tell you I'm not going drifting round this river in the dark any longer. Next thing we know we may hit a snag and upset."
"But you insisted on coming."
"I know I did," snapped the sharp voice. "What chance had we to talk in a crowded boarding-house whose very walls had ears? Or on the village streets? I knew the river would have no listeners and you see I was right; it hasn't. But I did expect there would be a trifle more light. It is like ink, isn't it? You can't see your hand before your face."
"I don't believe we could find the float even if we tried for it," piped his friend with malicious49 satisfaction.
"Find it? Of course we can. I've traveled this river too many times to get lost on it. I know every inch of the stream."
"But aren't there boats at the landing?"
"Oh, they've been hauled in for the season long ago. I know that to be a fact."
"Then I guess young Turner must have gone."
"That's what I've been trying to tell you for the last half-hour," asserted the other voice with high-pitched irritation50. "Why waste all this time? Let's land, talk things over, lay our plans, and be getting back to Freeman's Falls. We mustn't be seen returning to the town together too late for it might arouse suspicion."
"You're right there."
"Then go ahead and paddle for the landing. I'll steer. Just have your hand out so we won't bump."
The lapping of the paddles came nearer and nearer. Then there was a crash as the nose of the canoe struck the float.
"I couldn't see. I——"
"I told you the boy wasn't here," one of the men declared aloud. "If he had been he would have had his head out the window by now. We've made noise enough to wake the dead."
"But he may be here for all that," cautioned the other speaker. "Don't talk so loud."
"Nonsense!" his comrade retorted without lowering his tone. "I tell you the boy has gone back home and the hut is as empty as a last year's bird's nest. I'll stake my oath on it. The place is shut and locked tight as a drum. You'll see I'm right presently."
Instantly Ted's brain was alert. The door was locked, that he knew, for when he came in he had bolted it for the night. One window, however, was open and he dared not attempt to close it lest he make some betraying sound; and even were he able to shut it noiselessly he reflected that the procedure would be an unwise one since it would cut him off from hearing the conversation. No, he must keep perfectly54 still and trust that his nocturnal visitors would not make too thorough an investigation55 of the premises56.
To judge from the scuffling of feet outside, both of them had now alighted from the canoe and were approaching the door. Soon he heard a hand fumbling57 with the latch58 and afterward59 came a heavy knock.
Slipping breathlessly from his chair he crouched60 upon the floor, great beads61 of perspiration62 starting out on his forehead.
"The door is locked, as I told you," he heard some one mutter.
"He may be asleep."
"We can soon make sure. Ah, there! Turner! Turner!"
"Does that convince you, Cronin?"
"Y—e—s," owned Cronin reluctantly. "I guess he's gone."
"I'm not afraid."
"Tell that to the marines! You're timid and jumpy as a girl. How are we ever to put this thing over if you don't pull yourself together? I might as well have a baby to help me," sneered66 the gruff voice.
"Don't be so hard on me, Alf," whined67 his comrade. "I ain't done nothin'. Ain't I right here and ready?"
"You're here, all right," snarled68 the first speaker, "but whether you're ready or not is another matter. Now I'm going to give you a last chance to pull out. Do you want to go ahead or don't you? It's no good for us to be laying plans if you are going to be weak-kneed at the end and balk69 at carrying them out. Do you mean to stand by me and see this thing to a finish or don't you?"
"I—sure I do!"
"Cross your heart?"
"Cross my heart!" This time the words echoed with more positiveness.
"Why, Alf, how can you——"
"Because I've got to be sure before I stir another inch."
"But ain't I told you over and over again that I——"
"I don't trust you."
"What makes you so hard on a feller, Alf?" whimpered Cronin. "I haven't been mixed up in as many of these jobs as you have and is it surprising that I'm a mite72 nervous? It's no sign that I'm crawling."
"You're ready to stick it out, then?"
"Sure!"
There was another pause.
"Well, let me just tell you this, Jim Cronin. If you swear to stand by me and don't do it, your miserable73 life won't be worth a farthing—understand? I'll wring74 your neck, wring it good and thorough. I'm not afraid to do it and I will. You know that, don't you?"
"Yes."
The terror-stricken monosyllable made it perfectly apparent that Cronin did know.
"Then suppose we get down to hard tacks," asserted his companion, the note of fierceness suddenly dying out of his tone. "Come and sit down and we'll plan the thing from start to finish. We may as well be comfortable while we talk. There's no extra charge for sitting."
"Jove!" he heard Cronin cry. "The ground is some way down, ain't it?"
"And it's none to soft at that," came grimly from his comrade, as a second person slumped76 upon the planks77 outside.
Somebody drew a long breath and while the men were making themselves more comfortable on the float Ted waited expectantly in the darkness.
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1
tint
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| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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creeks
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| n.小湾( creek的名词复数 )；小港；小河；小溪 | |
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tangles
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| （使）缠结， （使）乱作一团( tangle的第三人称单数 ) | |
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6
chilly
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| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
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shack
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| adj.简陋的小屋，窝棚 | |
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ted
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| vt.翻晒，撒，撒开 | |
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9
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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10
horde
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| n.群众，一大群 | |
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pumpkins
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| n.南瓜( pumpkin的名词复数 )；南瓜的果肉，南瓜囊 | |
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12
drudgery
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| n.苦工，重活，单调乏味的工作 | |
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13
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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15
rite
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| n.典礼，惯例，习俗 | |
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16
hilarious
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| adj.充满笑声的，欢闹的；[反]depressed | |
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17
devastated
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| v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的 | |
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18
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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19
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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20
mellowed
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| （使）成熟( mellow的过去式和过去分词 )； 使色彩更加柔和，使酒更加醇香 | |
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21
bulged
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| 凸出( bulge的过去式和过去分词 )； 充满； 塞满（某物） | |
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22
lofts
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| 阁楼( loft的名词复数 )； （由工厂等改建的）套房； 上层楼面； 房间的越层 | |
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23
bunk
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| n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位；废话 | |
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24
cosy
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| adj.温暖而舒适的，安逸的 | |
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25
denuded
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| adj.[医]变光的，裸露的v.使赤裸( denude的过去式和过去分词 )；剥光覆盖物 | |
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26
belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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27
stuffy
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| adj.不透气的，闷热的 | |
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28
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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29
seedlings
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| n.刚出芽的幼苗( seedling的名词复数 ) | |
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30
consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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31
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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32
undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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33
ironic
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| adj.讽刺的，有讽刺意味的，出乎意料的 | |
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34
conformity
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| n.一致，遵从，顺从 | |
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35
cavil
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| v.挑毛病，吹毛求疵 | |
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36
rhythmic
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| adj.有节奏的，有韵律的 | |
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37
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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38
navigating
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| v.给（船舶、飞机等）引航，导航( navigate的现在分词 )；（从海上、空中等）横越；横渡；飞跃 | |
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39
dome
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| n.圆屋顶，拱顶 | |
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40
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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41
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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42
noose
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| n.绳套，绞索（刑）；v.用套索捉；使落入圈套；处以绞刑 | |
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43
fret
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| v.(使)烦恼；(使)焦急；(使)腐蚀，(使)磨损 | |
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44
steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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45
bravado
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| n.虚张声势，故作勇敢，逞能 | |
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46
yarn
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| n.纱，纱线，纺线；奇闻漫谈，旅行轶事 | |
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47
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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48
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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49
malicious
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| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
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50
irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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51
fend
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| v.照料（自己），（自己）谋生，挡开，避开 | |
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52
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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53
derisive
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| adj.嘲弄的 | |
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54
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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55
investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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56
premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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57
fumbling
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| n. 摸索,漏接 v. 摸索,摸弄,笨拙的处理 | |
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58
latch
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| n.门闩，窗闩；弹簧锁 | |
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59
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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60
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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62
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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63
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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64
brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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65
backbone
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| n.脊骨，脊柱，骨干；刚毅，骨气 | |
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66
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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67
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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68
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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69
balk
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| n.大方木料；v.妨碍；不愿前进或从事某事 | |
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70
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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71
pal
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| n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友 | |
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72
mite
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| n.极小的东西；小铜币 | |
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73
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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74
wring
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| n.扭绞；v.拧，绞出，扭 | |
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75
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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76
slumped
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| 大幅度下降，暴跌( slump的过去式和过去分词 )； 沉重或突然地落下[倒下] | |
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77
planks
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| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
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