Twice he failed and nearly lost his grip on the rope. Then he caught hold of the projection1 from which the rope depended, and by a supreme2 effort he succeeded, helping3 himself by means of the trap-door in emerging from his subterranean4 prison.
Stretching himself he took a deep breath and realized joyfully5 not only that he was free, but that he had recovered the valuable bonds of which he had been placed in charge.
He began to look around him and tried to conjecture6 in what direction he must go to reach Lee’s Falls. He was quite at a loss, as he had been carried into the cave blindfolded7. But help seemed to be at hand. He saw at a little distance, rapidly approaching him, a man of middle 94 height whom he concluded to be a resident of some place in the vicinity.
“Can you tell me in what direction I must go to reach Lee’s Falls?” he asked.
The stranger paused and examined him.
“So you want to go to Lee’s Falls?” he said.
“Yes, sir.”
“Where do you come from?”
“From Emmonsville.”
“Direct?”
“No.”
“I saw you just now coming out of some opening in the earth.”
This alarmed Ernest. He felt that he might be called upon to explain where he had been.
“Who is this man?” he asked himself. “Is he one who is likely to be in the confidence of the outlaws8? If so I have only got out of one scrape to fall into another.”
He studied the face of the man with whom he was speaking and to his dismay noted10 a resemblance to James Fox. He began to suspect that this was his brother.
Whether it was or not Ernest deemed it politic11 to say as little as possible of his experiences and of what he knew about the cave and its occupants.
“Yes,” he answered quietly; “there seems to be a cave underneath12. I found the trap-door open and went down, but I regretted it, for I found it difficult to get out again.”
His new acquaintance eyed him scrutinizingly, as if to see whether he knew more than he was willing to reveal.
“So there is a cave underneath?” he said.
“Yes.”
“Have you any idea what it is used for?”
“I don’t think it is used at all. The room below seems empty.”
“Yesterday,” answered Ernest in some confusion. 95
“How does it happen that you have got no farther on your way to Lee’s Falls?”
“I stopped at the cabin of an Indian,” answered Ernest, making the only explanation he could think of.
The man smiled.
“Young man,” he said, “didn’t you pass last night in this cave?”
Ernest saw that there was no further chance for subterfuge15.
“Yes,” he answered.
“I thought so.”
“You were captured?” the other went on.
“Yes.”
“Have you any suspicion by whom this cave is occupied?”
“I presume by the Fox brothers.”
“Correct. I am one of them.”
“I began to think so.”
“How were you able to escape?”
“I was left with the little boy. He fell asleep and then I began to explore.”
“Where is my brother?”
“He went out quite early, I presume in search of you.”
“Exactly. I suppose my brother heard that I was in trouble?”
“Yes.”
“By the way, the Quaker detective through whom I got into difficulty you doubtless know?”
“I do.”
“I was put into jail at Crampton, but I managed to effect my escape. Are you connected in any way with the Emmonsville bank?”
“Yes.”
“In what way?”
“As bank messenger.”
“Did my brother take anything from you?”
“Yes.”
“Money?”
“No, bonds.” 96
“You are a sensible boy. You answer my questions freely. You are a smart boy, too. It isn’t every lad of your age who would have managed to effect an escape from the cave. Do you remember the entrance?”
“No; I was carried into it blindfolded.”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Still I cannot run any risk. You will have to come with me.”
“Where do you want to carry me?” asked Ernest, much disturbed.
“I will carry you back to the cave.”
“Let me go free. I will promise not to reveal anything that I have discovered.”
“I am sorry, boy, but you were made prisoner by my brother, and I owe it to him to prevent your escape.”
It was intolerable to Ernest to think of having his captivity17 renewed. He determined18 that he would at least make an effort for freedom.
Accordingly he did not hesitate, but started to run, hoping that in this way he might save himself. He had always the reputation among his boy companions as a sprinter19, and resolved to see whether this was a lost art.
“So that’s your game, is it?” exclaimed the outlaw9. “It will go hard with me if I don’t catch you. Stop, or it will be the worse for you!”
But Ernest had no intention of giving up so soon. He only exerted himself the more.
The contest was not so unequal as might have been supposed. Ernest was tall for his age, and the outlaw was rather below the average height. So there was in reality only about an inch difference in their height.
On the other hand, John Fox had, as might be supposed, more strength and endurance. He was not over weight and therefore not scant20 of breath. Ernest got the start and this was an advantage. One ran about as fast as the other, so it settled down into a contest of endurance. 97
The outlaw, however, was irritated at the unexpected difficulty of his undertaking21. He had thought that Ernest would surrender.
“I wish I had my revolver,” he muttered.
Had the outlaw been aware that Ernest had in his possession the packet of bonds which had impelled22 his brother to make him a captive his zeal23 would have been increased. He knew, of course, that the bonds would be taken from him and he could conceive of no chance of the boy’s recovering them.
They flew over the ground, maintaining the same relative distance. But there was an unexpected contingency24 that worked to the disadvantage of Ernest.
Directly in his path was a projecting root which in his haste escaped his notice. He tripped over it, and as a natural consequence he measured his length on the ground.
The outlaw’s face lighted up with exultation25. Now the issue was no longer doubtful.
Before Ernest could recover himself and rise to his feet John Fox was upon him.
“Now I have you,” he said. “You were a fool to run. You might have known that you could not escape.”
“Will you promise to go with me without giving me any more trouble?”
“I will make no promises,” said Ernest.
“Then it will be the worse for you,” said the outlaw vindictively28.
What he proposed to do must remain unknown, for as he spoke29 a hand was thrust into his neckcloth and he was jerked violently to his feet.
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1
projection
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| n.发射，计划，突出部分 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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subterranean
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| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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7
blindfolded
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| v.（尤指用布）挡住（某人）的视线( blindfold的过去式 )；蒙住（某人）的眼睛；使不理解；蒙骗 | |
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8
outlaws
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| 歹徒，亡命之徒( outlaw的名词复数 )； 逃犯 | |
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outlaw
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| n.歹徒，亡命之徒；vt.宣布…为不合法 | |
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10
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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politic
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| adj.有智虑的；精明的；v.从政 | |
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12
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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13
fixedly
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| adv.固定地；不屈地，坚定不移地 | |
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14
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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15
subterfuge
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| n.诡计；藉口 | |
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16
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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17
captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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18
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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19
sprinter
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| n.短跑运动员，短距离全速奔跑者 | |
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scant
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| adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略 | |
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undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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22
impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23
zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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24
contingency
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| n.意外事件，可能性 | |
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exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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27
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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28
vindictively
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| adv.恶毒地；报复地 | |
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29
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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