CHAPTER VII. WOLVERTON'S ADVENTURE WITH CLIP.

 Bob and his mother deliberated as to whether they should charge Mr. Wolverton openly with the theft of the receipt. On the whole, they decided¹ to wait a while, and be guided by circumstances. If he took any measures to collect the money a second time, there would be sufficient reason to take the aggressive.

 

Bob had another reason for delay. He intended to acquaint Sam Wolverton with the matter, and request him to keep on the lookout² for the receipt. Should he find it, he knew that Sam would gladly restore it to the rightful owner. He cautioned Clip not to say anything about what he saw on the day of his father's death, as it would put Wolverton on his guard, and lead him to destroy the receipt if still in his possession.[Pg 61]

 

I must now relate a little incident in which Clip and Aaron Wolverton were the actors.

 

The creek⁴ on which Burton's Ranch⁵ was located was a quarter of a mile distant from the house. It was about a quarter of a mile wide. Over on the other side of the creek was the town of Martin, which was quite as large as Carver. In some respects it was a more enterprising place than Carver, and the stores were better stocked. For this reason there was considerable travel across the creek; but as there was no bridge, the passage must be made by boat.

 

Bob owned a good boat, which he and Clip used considerably⁶. Both were good rowers, and during Mr. Burton's life they spent considerable time in rowing for pleasure. Now Bob's time was so occupied that the boat was employed only when there was an errand in the opposite village.

 

"Clip," said Bob, one morning, "I want you to go down to Martin."

 

"Yes, Massa Bob," said Clip, with alacrity⁷, for he much preferred such a jaunt⁸ to working in the fields.[Pg 62]

 

The errand was to obtain a hammer and a supply of nails at the variety store in Martin. Clip was rather given to blunder, but still there was no reason why he should not execute the errand satisfactorily.

 

Clip went down to the creek, and unfastened the boat. He jumped in, and began to paddle away, when he heard a voice calling him.

 

"Here, you Clip!"

 

Looking round, Clip recognized in the man hailing him Aaron Wolverton.

 

Mr. Wolverton did not own any boat himself, and when he had occasion to go across the river he generally managed to secure a free passage with some one who was going over. If absolutely necessary, he would pay a nickel; but he begrudged¹⁰ even this small sum, so mean was he.

 

Clip stopped paddling, and answered the call.

 

"Hi, Massa Wolverton; what's the matter?"

 

"Come back here."

 

"What fo'?"

 

"I want you to take me over to Martin."[Pg 63]

 

Now Clip was naturally obliging, but he disliked Wolverton as much as one of his easy good nature could do. So he felt disposed to tantalize¹¹ him.

 

"Can't do it, Massa Wolverton. I'm in a terrible hurry."

 

"It won't take you a minute to come back."

 

"Massa Bob will scold."

 

"You needn't mind that, boy. Come back, I say!"

 

"I dassn't."

 

"Don't be a fool, you little nigger. I'll pay you."

 

"What'll you give?" asked Clip, cautiously.

 

"I'll give you—a cent."

 

"Couldn't do it, nohow. What good's a cent to me?"

 

"A cent's a good deal of money. You can buy a stick of candy."

 

"'Tain't enough, Massa Wolverton. I ain't goin' to resk gettin' licked for a cent."

 

Cunning Clip knew that there was no danger of this, but he thought it would serve as an argument.[Pg 64]

 

"I'll give you two cents," said Wolverton, impatiently.

 

"Couldn't do it," said Clip. "Ef it was five, now, I might 'sider it."

 

Finally Wolverton was obliged to accede¹² to Clip's terms, and the colored boy pushed the boat to shore, and took in his passenger.

 

"Can you row good, Clip?" asked Wolverton, nervously¹³, for he was very much afraid of the water, and he had never had Clip for a boatman before.

 

"You jes' bet I can, Massa Wolverton. I can row mos' as good as Massa Bob."

 

"Well, show it then; I am in a hurry to get over the creek."

 

Clip rowed to the middle of the creek, and then stopped paddling.

 

"I reckon you'd better pay me the money now, Massa Wolverton," he said.

 

"Why, you young rascal¹⁴, are you afraid to trust me?"

 

"I dunno 'bout³ dat; but I wants my money."

 

"You haven't earned it yet. What are you afraid of?"[Pg 65]

 

"You might forget to pay me, Massa Wolverton."

 

"No, I sha'n't. Push on."

 

"I'm goin' to sleep," said Clip, lying back in a lazy attitude.

 

"You young rascal! I've a good mind to fetch you a slap on the side of the head."

 

"Better not, Massa Wolverton," drawled Clip. "Might upset the boat."

 

"Give me the oars¹⁵," said Wolverton, impatiently.

 

He took them; but he had never rowed in his life, and he almost immediately turned the boat around.

 

"Hi, yah!" laughed Clip, delighted. "Where was you raised, Massa Wolverton, not to understand rowin' no better dan dat?"

 

"Take the oars, you black scoundrel, and row me across, or I'll pitch you out of the boat!"

 

"Ef you do, what'll 'come of you, Massa Wolverton?" said Clip, not at all alarmed.

 

This was indeed an important consideration for a man so timid on the water as the real estate agent.[Pg 66]

 

"You put me out of all patience," said Wolverton, furiously. "Are you going to row or are you not?"

 

"I want my money," said Clip.

 

Wolverton was compelled to hand over a nickel, but registered a vow¹⁶ that if ever he caught Clip on land, he would make him pay for his impudence¹⁷.

 

Clip took the oars, and made very good progress till he was about fifty feet from the other side of the creek. Then he began to make the boat rock, stopping his rowing.

 

"What are you about?" shouted Wolverton, turning pale.

 

"It's good fun, ain't it, Massa Wolverton?" said Clip; laughing insolently¹⁸.

 

"Stop, you little rascal! You'll upset the boat."

 

"Golly! ain't dis fun?" said Clip, continuing his rocking.

 

"I'll choke you, if you don't stop," screamed Wolverton.

 

He rose to catch hold of Clip. The boy jumped up, and ducked his head. The result of the combined motion was that the boat,[Pg 67] which was flat-bottomed, capsized, and the two were thrown into the water.

 

There was no danger, for the water at this point was only four feet deep; and Clip could swim, while Aaron Wolverton was too tall to be drowned in that depth of water.

 

Wolverton was almost scared out of his wits. He cut such a ludicrous figure as he floundered in the water, that Clip screamed with delight. The black boy swam to the boat, and, managing to right her, got in again; but Wolverton waded¹⁹ to the shore, almost beside himself with rage.

 

"Is you wet, Massa Wolverton?" asked Clip, innocently, showing his white teeth.

 

"Come ashore²⁰, and I'll lick you!" shouted Wolverton, who had by this time landed, his clothes dripping wet.

 

"I reckon I'm too busy," answered Clip, with a grin. "I'm sorry you's wet, Massa Wolverton. Hi yah!"

 

"I'll wring²¹ your neck, you young tike!" said Wolverton, savagely²².

 

"Dat old man's a hog," mused²³ Clip. "Ain't much like my poor old gran'ther. He was[Pg 68] always kin⁹' an' good. I mind him sittin' in front of de ole cabin door down in Arkansaw. I 'spec' de old chap's done dead afore this," concluded Clip, with a sigh.

 

Clip kept at a safe distance from shore, and the agent was compelled to defer²⁴ his vengeance²⁵, and go to the house of an acquaintance to borrow some dry clothes.

 

When he returned, it is needless to say that it was not in Clip's boat.

 

He opened his desk, to enter a business transaction in his account-book, when he made a startling discovery.

 

The receipt had disappeared!

1 decided   

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。

2 lookout   

n.注意，前途，瞭望台

参考例句：

• You can see everything around from the lookout.从了望台上你可以看清周围的一切。
• It's a bad lookout for the company if interest rates don't come down.如果利率降不下来，公司的前景可就不妙了。

3 bout   

n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛

参考例句：

• I was suffering with a bout of nerves.我感到一阵紧张。
• That bout of pneumonia enfeebled her.那次肺炎的发作使她虚弱了。

4 creek   

n.小溪，小河，小湾

参考例句：

• He sprang through the creek.他跳过小河。
• People sunbathe in the nude on the rocks above the creek.人们在露出小溪的岩石上裸体晒日光浴。

5 ranch   

n.大牧场，大农场

参考例句：

• He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
• The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。

6 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

7 alacrity   

n.敏捷，轻快，乐意

参考例句：

• Although the man was very old,he still moved with alacrity.他虽然很老，动作仍很敏捷。
• He accepted my invitation with alacrity.他欣然接受我的邀请。

8 jaunt   

v.短程旅游；n.游览

参考例句：

• They are off for a day's jaunt to the beach.他们出去到海边玩一天。
• They jaunt about quite a lot,especially during the summer.他们常常到处闲逛，夏天更是如此。

9 kin   

n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的

参考例句：

• He comes of good kin.他出身好。
• She has gone to live with her husband's kin.她住到丈夫的亲戚家里去了。

10 begrudged   

嫉妒( begrudge的过去式和过去分词 )； 勉强做； 不乐意地付出； 吝惜

参考例句：

• She begrudged her friend the award. 她嫉妒她的朋友获奖。
• Joey, you talk as if I begrudged it to you. 乔艾，你这话竟象是我小气，舍不得给你似的。

11 tantalize   

vt.使干着急，逗弄

参考例句：

• The boy would come into the room and tantalize the dog with his feed.那个男孩会到房间里拿狗食逗弄狗。
• He tried to tantalize me by revealing that the Soviet Union was prepared to discuss a package deal.他想要逗弄我，于是就露出口风说，苏联愿意讨论一揽子交易。

12 accede   

v.应允，同意

参考例句：

• They are ready to accede to our request for further information.我们要是还需要资料，他们乐于随时提供。
• In a word,he will not accede to your proposal in the meeting.总而言之，他不会在会中赞成你的提议。

13 nervously   

adv.神情激动地，不安地

参考例句：

• He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇，努力忍着不哭出来。
• He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。

14 rascal   

n.流氓；不诚实的人

参考例句：

• If he had done otherwise,I should have thought him a rascal.如果他不这样做，我就认为他是个恶棍。
• The rascal was frightened into holding his tongue.这坏蛋吓得不敢往下说了。

15 oars   

n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• He pulled as hard as he could on the oars. 他拼命地划桨。
• The sailors are bending to the oars. 水手们在拼命地划桨。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 vow   

n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓

参考例句：

• My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
• I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。

17 impudence   

n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼

参考例句：

• His impudence provoked her into slapping his face.他的粗暴让她气愤地给了他一耳光。
• What knocks me is his impudence.他的厚颜无耻使我感到吃惊。

18 insolently   

adv.自豪地，自傲地

参考例句：

• No does not respect, speak insolently,satire, etc for TT management team member. 不得发表对TT管理层人员不尊重、出言不逊、讽刺等等的帖子。 来自互联网
• He had replied insolently to his superiors. 他傲慢地回答了他上司的问题。 来自互联网

19 waded   

（从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She tucked up her skirt and waded into the river. 她撩起裙子蹚水走进河里。
• He waded into the water to push the boat out. 他蹚进水里把船推出来。

20 ashore   

adv.在(向)岸上，上岸

参考例句：

• The children got ashore before the tide came in.涨潮前，孩子们就上岸了。
• He laid hold of the rope and pulled the boat ashore.他抓住绳子拉船靠岸。

21 wring   

n.扭绞；v.拧，绞出，扭

参考例句：

• My socks were so wet that I had to wring them.我的袜子很湿，我不得不拧干它们。
• I'll wring your neck if you don't behave!你要是不规矩，我就拧断你的脖子。

22 savagely   

adv. 野蛮地，残酷地

参考例句：

• The roses had been pruned back savagely. 玫瑰被狠狠地修剪了一番。
• He snarled savagely at her. 他向她狂吼起来。

23 mused   

v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事）

参考例句：

• \"I wonder if I shall ever see them again, \"he mused. “我不知道是否还可以再见到他们，”他沉思自问。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• \"Where are we going from here?\" mused one of Rutherford's guests. 卢瑟福的一位客人忍不住说道：‘我们这是在干什么？” 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史

24 defer   

vt.推迟，拖延；vi.(to)遵从，听从，服从

参考例句：

• We wish to defer our decision until next week.我们希望推迟到下星期再作出决定。
• We will defer to whatever the committee decides.我们遵从委员会作出的任何决定。

25 vengeance   

n.报复，报仇，复仇

参考例句：

• He swore vengeance against the men who murdered his father.他发誓要向那些杀害他父亲的人报仇。
• For years he brooded vengeance.多年来他一直在盘算报仇。