CHAPTER XXIII. A SUSPICIOUS CHARACTER.

 Fifteen minutes after Sam and Clip had left him Bob's attention was drawn¹ to a man of somewhat flashy appearance, who, while leaning against a tree on the bank, seemed to be eying him and the boat with attention. He wore a Prince Albert coat which was no longer fit to appear in good society, a damaged hat, and a loud neck-tie. His eyes were roving from one point to another, as if he felt a great deal of interest in Bob or the boat. Our hero was not favorably impressed with this man's appearance.

 

"I wonder what he sees that interests him so much?" he thought.

 

"I say, young man, is this here boat yours?" he asked.

 

"Yes," answered Bob, coldly.

 

"What have you got on board?"

 

Bob felt under no obligation to answer, but[Pg 199] reflecting that there was no good excuse for refusing, he said, briefly²: "Wheat."

 

"Humph! How much have you got?"

 

This clearly was none of the questioner's business, and Bob replied by another question:

 

"Do you want to buy?"

 

"I don't know," said the stranger. "What do you ask?"

 

"I can't say till I get to St. Louis."

 

"How much do you calc'late to get?"

 

"Two dollars and a quarter," answered Bob, naming a price beyond his expectations.

 

"Ain't that a high figger?"

 

"Perhaps so."

 

"Come, young feller, you don't seem social. Can't you invite me aboard?"

 

"I don't think you would be paid for coming," said Bob, more and more unfavorably impressed.

 

"Oh, I don't mind. My time ain't valuable. I guess I'll come."

 

The stranger stepped across the gang-plank³, which Bob had laid from the boat to the shore,[Pg 200] and entered without an invitation. Bob was tempted⁴ to order him off, but the intruder appeared much stronger than himself; and while he was alone it seemed politic⁵ to submit to the disagreeable necessity of entertaining his unwelcome visitor.

 

The latter walked from end to end of the boat, examining for himself without asking permission, or appearing to feel the need of any. He opened the bins⁶ and counted them, while Bob looked on uneasily.

 

"I say, young feller, you've got a smart lot of wheat here."

 

"Yes," said Bob, briefly.

 

"Got a thousand bushels, I reckon?"

 

"Perhaps so."

 

"And you expect to get two dollars and a quarter a bushel?"

 

"Perhaps I shall have to take less."

 

"At any rate, you must have two thousand dollars' worth on board."

 

"You can judge for yourself."

 

"I say, that's a pile of money—for a boy."

 

"The wheat doesn't belong to me."

 

"Who owns it, then."[Pg 201]

 

"My mother."

 

"What's your mother's name?"

 

"I have answered all the questions I am going to," said Bob, indignantly.

 

"Don't get riled, youngster. It ain't no secret, is it?"

 

"I don't care about answering all the questions a stranger chooses to put to me."

 

"I say, young chap, you're gettin' on your high horse."

 

"What is your object in putting all these questions?"

 

"What is my object?"

 

"That is what I asked."

 

"The fact is, youngster, I've got a ranch⁷ round here myself, and I've got about five hundred bushels of wheat I want to market. Naturally I'm interested. See?"

 

Bob did not believe a word of this.

 

"Where is your ranch?" he asked.

 

"About two miles back of the town," answered the stranger, glibly⁸. That lie was an easy one. "I'm thinkin' some of runnin' down to the city to see if I can't sell my wheat in a lump to some merchant. Mebbe I could[Pg 202] strike a bargain with you to carry me down."

 

Bob had even more objection to the new passenger than to the old lady, and he answered stiffly:

 

"I have no accommodations for passengers."

 

"Oh, I can bunk⁹ anywhere—can lie on deck, on one of the bins. I'm used to roughin' it."

 

"You'd better take passage by the next steamer. This is a freight boat."

 

"There ain't anybody but you aboard, is there?"

 

"Yes; I have two companions."

 

The stranger seemed surprised and incredulous.

 

"Where are they?" he asked.

 

"Gone into the village."

 

The visitor seemed thoughtful. He supposed the two companions were full-grown men, and this would not tally¹⁰ with his plans. This illusion, however, was soon dissipated, for Sam and Clip at this point crossed the gang-plank and came aboard.[Pg 203]

 

"Are them your two companions?" asked the stranger, appearing relieved.

 

"Yes."

 

Sam and Clip eyed him curiously¹¹, expecting Bob to explain who he was, but our hero was only anxious to get rid of him.

 

"Then you can't accommodate me?" asked the man.

 

"No, sir; but if you'll give me your name and address, I can perhaps sell your crop for you, and leave you to deliver it."

 

"Never mind, young feller! I reckon I'll go to the city myself next week."

 

"Just as you like, sir."

 

He re-crossed the plank, and when he reached the shore took up his post again beside the tree, and resumed his scrutiny¹² of the boat.

 

"What does that man want?" asked Sam.

 

"I don't know. He asked me to give him passage to St. Louis."

 

"You might make money by carrying passengers," suggested Sam.

 

"I wouldn't carry a man like him at any price," said Bob. "I haven't any faith in[Pg 204] his honesty or respectability, though he tells me that he owns a ranch two miles back of the town. He came on the boat to spy out what he could steal, in my opinion."

 

"How many days do you think we shall need for the trip, Bob?" asked Sam.

 

"It may take us a week; but it depends on the current, and whether we meet with any obstructions¹³. Are you in a hurry to get back to your uncle?"

 

"No," said Sam, his face wearing a troubled look. "The fact is, Bob, I don't mean to go back at all."

 

"You mean dat, Massa Sam?" asked Clip, his eyes expanding in his excitement.

 

"Yes, I mean it. If I go back I shall have to return to my uncle, and you know what kind of a reception I shall get. He will treat me worse than ever."

 

"I am sure, Sam, my mother will be willing to let you live with us."

 

"I should like nothing better, but my uncle would come and take me away."

 

"Would he have the right?"

 

"I think he would. He has always[Pg 205] told me that my poor father left me to his charge."

 

"Do you think he left any property?"

 

"Yes; I feel sure he did; for on his deathbed he called me to him, and said: 'I leave you something, Sam; I wish it were more; but, at any rate, you are not a pauper¹⁴.'"

 

"Did you ever mention this to your uncle, Sam?"

 

"Yes."

 

"What did he say?"

 

"It seemed to make him very angry. He said that my father was delirious¹⁵ or he would never have said such absurd things. But I know he was in his right mind. He was never more calm and sensible than when he told me about the property."

 

"I am afraid Sam, your uncle has swindled you out of your inheritance."

 

"I think so, too, but I can't prove anything, and it won't do to say anything, for it makes him furious."

 

"What does your aunt say?"

 

"Oh, she sides with Uncle Aaron; she always does that."[Pg 206]

 

"Then I can't say I advise you to return to Carver, although Clip and I are sure to miss you."

 

"'Deed I shall, Massa Sam," said Clip.

 

"I think I can pick up a living somehow in St. Louis. I would rather black boots than go back to Uncle Aaron."

 

"I am sure you can. Perhaps some gentleman will feel an interest in you, and take you into his service."

 

"I want to tell you, Bob, that Uncle Aaron hates you, and will try to injure you. You will need to be careful."

 

"That's no news, Sam. He has shown his dislike for me in many ways; but I am not afraid of him," the boy added, proudly.

 

At nine o'clock the boys went to bed. They were all tired, and all slept well. It was not till seven o'clock that Bob awoke. His two companions were asleep. He roused them, and they prepared for the second day's trip.

1 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

2 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

3 plank   

n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目

参考例句：

• The plank was set against the wall.木板靠着墙壁。
• They intend to win the next election on the plank of developing trade.他们想以发展贸易的纲领来赢得下次选举。

4 tempted   

v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词）

参考例句：

• I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚，但还是没开口。
• I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。

5 politic   

adj.有智虑的；精明的；v.从政

参考例句：

• He was too politic to quarrel with so important a personage.他很聪明，不会与这么重要的人争吵。
• The politic man tried not to offend people.那个精明的人尽量不得罪人。

6 bins   

n.大储藏箱( bin的名词复数 )；宽口箱（如面包箱，垃圾箱等）v.扔掉，丢弃( bin的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Garbage from all sources was deposited in bins on trolleys. 来自各方的垃圾是装在手推车上的垃圾箱里的。 来自辞典例句
• Would you be pleased at the prospect of its being on sale in dump bins? 对于它将被陈列在倾销箱中抛售这件事，你能欣然接受吗？ 来自辞典例句

7 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。

8 glibly   

adv.流利地，流畅地；满口

参考例句：

• He glibly professed his ignorance of the affair. 他口口声声表白不知道这件事。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• He put ashes on his head, apologized profusely, but then went glibly about his business. 他表示忏悔，满口道歉，但接着又故态复萌了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

9 bunk   

n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位；废话

参考例句：

• He left his bunk and went up on deck again.他离开自己的铺位再次走到甲板上。
• Most economists think his theories are sheer bunk.大多数经济学家认为他的理论纯属胡说。

10 tally   

n.计数器，记分，一致，测量；vt.计算，记录，使一致；vi.计算，记分，一致

参考例句：

• Don't forget to keep a careful tally of what you spend.别忘了仔细记下你的开支账目。
• The facts mentioned in the report tally to every detail.报告中所提到的事实都丝毫不差。

11 curiously   

adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地

参考例句：

• He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
• He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。

12 scrutiny   

n.详细检查，仔细观察

参考例句：

• His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好，但是经不起仔细检查。
• Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。

13 obstructions   

n.障碍物( obstruction的名词复数 )；阻碍物；阻碍；阻挠

参考例句：

• The absence of obstructions is of course an idealization. 没有障碍物的情况当然是一种理想化的情况。 来自辞典例句
• These obstructions could take some weeks to clear from these canals. 这些障碍物可能要花几周时间才能从运河中清除掉。 来自辞典例句

14 pauper   

n.贫民，被救济者，穷人

参考例句：

• You lived like a pauper when you had plenty of money.你有大把钱的时候，也活得像个乞丐。
• If you work conscientiously you'll only die a pauper.你按部就班地干，做到老也是穷死。

15 delirious   

adj.不省人事的，神智昏迷的

参考例句：

• He was delirious,murmuring about that matter.他精神恍惚，低声叨念着那件事。
• She knew that he had become delirious,and tried to pacify him.她知道他已经神志昏迷起来了，极力想使他镇静下来。