It was the first time he had ever been a guest in an Indian family, and he hesitated, but saw that his refusal to partake might hurt the feelings of his new friends. He seated himself at the table, and found the cakes really very good.
When his clothes were dry he rose to go.
“Won’t you stay all night?” asked Castro.
“Thank you. I cannot spare the time. I must push on.”
“Where are you going?” asked the Indian.
“To Lee’s Falls.”
“I will go with you a short distance.”
So they set out together.
At length John Castro stopped.
“That is your way,” he said. “I wish you a pleasant journey. I will not forget what you have done for my little son. If ever you are in trouble send for John Castro.”
“I thank you.”
The Indian shook hands with him gravely and turned back toward his cabin.
All this had taken time. Ernest had no watch with him, but he estimated that the adventure had cost him two hours. However, he had saved a boy’s life.
Again he had made a friend. The friend was an Indian, 68 but Ernest was wise enough to consider that no friend, however humble2, is to be despised.
It was clear that he would reach his destination late, and he began to wish that some carriage would overtake him in which he might ask for a ride.
But he walked two miles farther without encountering any team. At last, however, he heard the rumble3 of wheels, and turning round to see whether there was room in the vehicle, he saw that it was a buggy driven by a tall, thin man with dark hair, swarthy face and a long, aquiline4 nose.
The driver eyed Ernest sharply and brought the buggy to a standstill.
“Where are you going, boy?” he asked.
“To Lee’s Falls.”
“Where have you come from?”
“From Emmonsville.”
“It is a long walk.”
“Yes. Do you think you could give me a lift?”
“Perhaps so. Jump in.”
Ernest lost no time in availing himself of the invitation.
“Where were you going in Lee’s Falls?” he asked.
Ernest felt that it would be imprudent to mention that his destination was the bank, so he answered guardedly, “I am going to see the town. I may stop overnight.”
“At the hotel?”
“Yes.”
“It is larger than Emmonsville, isn’t it?”
“Yes. How long have you been in Emmonsville?”
“Not long.”
“Where do you live there?”
“At Mrs. Larkins’.”
“Do you go to school?”
“No.”
Meanwhile the horse was traveling very slowly, and it seemed to Ernest that he would go over the road quite as 69 fast if he had continued to walk. He began to think it was his turn to ask questions.
“Are you going all the way to Lee’s Falls?” he asked.
“I may go nearly there.”
“I am very much obliged to you for giving me a lift. I was quite tired.”
The driver smiled.
“Perhaps I have an object,” he said.
“The pleasure of your company,” explained his companion with a smile.
“Thank you,” answered Ernest.
“Now I come to look at you, I think I have seen you before,” continued the driver.
“Where?”
“In Emmonsville—at the bank.”
Ernest became alarmed. There was a significance in his companion’s tone which excited his alarm. But he did not dare show his feelings. He remained outwardly calm, though inwardly disturbed.
“Very probably,” he said; “I have been there.”
His companion laughed. He was playing with the boy as a cat plays with a captive mouse. Ernest began to consider whether he could not think of some pretext7 for getting out of the buggy.
Suddenly the buggy stopped.
“I will get out here,” said Ernest quickly.
“Not quite yet. I have not got through questioning you.”
“I am in a hurry,” said Ernest.
“You must wait till your hurry is over. Now tell me truly, are you not bound for the Lee’s Falls bank?”
Ernest was startled.
“You see, I know more about you than you suppose. You are the bank messenger.”
It seemed useless to deny it. The question now was, was his secret packet in danger?
Ernest turned pale. His worst fears were confirmed.
“Why do you ask?” he said.
“Because I want to know.”
“What business can it be of yours?” demanded Ernest boldly.
“I have no package of money.”
“Then you have bonds.”
Ernest remained silent.
“I see that I have hit it. Now hand over the bonds, if you value your life.”
He spoke11 sternly and looked so fierce that the boy messenger became more and more alarmed. He saw that he must give up the package, but determined12 to hold out in his resistance as long as possible.
“The package is not mine, and I have no right to surrender it,” he said.
“I’ll take the responsibility, boy. You can’t be blamed, for you can’t help yourself.”
As he spoke he passed his hand over Ernest’s vest, which he saw projected more than was usual, and discovered the hiding place of the important package.
“I thought I should find it,” he said in a tone of triumph.
Ernest felt very much dejected. It was a mortification14 to lose the first large sum with which he had been intrusted.
“First let me know who you think I am.”
As the driver spoke he eyed Ernest sharply.
“Is your name Fox?” asked the young messenger.
His companion laughed.
“I know Mr. Fox,” he answered.
“You are either Fox or a member of his band.” 71
“You seem to be a sharp boy; I won’t tell you whether you are right or not.”
“I suppose I may go now?”
“Where do you want to go?”
Ernest hesitated. This was a question which he could not at once answer. To go on to Lee’s Falls without the packet would do little good. Yet the bank officers there ought to know that the bonds intended for them had been stolen.
“I will go to Lee’s Falls,” he said.
“Not at present; I have other views for you.” As he spoke the robber turned his horse to the right. Wholly ignorant as to where he was to be carried, Ernest sank back in his seat and resigned himself as well as he could to the situation.
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1
bustling
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| adj.喧闹的 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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rumble
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| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
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aquiline
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| adj.钩状的，鹰的 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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7
pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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warily
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| adv.留心地 | |
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9
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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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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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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14
mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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