CHAPTER XXV. CLIP'S SECRET MISSION.

 The man who had addressed Bob eyed him sharply on receiving his negative answer.

 

"It is a pretty serious thing to connive¹ at the escape of a criminal," he said.

 

"That remark does not affect me, sir. I know nothing of any criminal. If I had seen him I would tell you."

 

Bob talked so frankly² and honestly that it seemed impossible to doubt his word. The leader of the pursuing party turned to consult with a friend.

 

"The boy seems straightforward," he said. "What do you think?"

 

"I agree with you. Still, the man was seen to run in this direction."

 

The first questioner was the one most concerned in the capture of the guilty party, for it was his store that had been robbed.[Pg 216]

 

"Have you been here all the time?" he asked, turning once more to Bob.

 

"No, sir; my friend and I have been to the village to get supper."

 

"Did you leave no one on board?"

 

"Yes, sir; a colored boy in my service—a boy named Clip."

 

"Did he mention having seen any suspicious party, or any man who seemed to be running away?"

 

"No, sir."

 

"Where is he? I would like to speak with him."

 

"He has gone to the village to get his supper."

 

If Clip had been present he would no doubt have been questioned, but as he was absent the party of investigation³ did not think it worth while to wait.

 

"That's rather curious, Sam," said Bob, when they were again alone. "We were suspected of screening a criminal."

 

"I wouldn't give much for the fellow's chance of escape. They are evidently determined⁴ to catch him."[Pg 217]

 

These words were all distinctly heard by the man in hiding.

 

"I was lucky to fall in with the little nigger," he reflected. "Them boys would have refused to help me. They would give me up now if they knew I was on board. I must be careful."

 

Clip came back at the end of half an hour. If Bob had taken notice of him, he would have noticed that the boy's pockets bulged⁵ out as if crowded with articles. But he had no especial reason for suspecting Clip of any underhand proceeding⁶, and sat with Sam talking about home matters, leaving his young colored servant to his own devices.

 

Clip was faithful to his trust. He had agreed to take care of his concealed⁷ passenger, and he was determined to do so.

 

As soon as he could do so without observation, he went to the man's hiding-place and poured out the contents of his pockets. There were some buns and small rolls and a few round cakes.

 

"Will they do you, mister?" he asked, in a low voice.[Pg 218]

 

"Yes; but I'm terribly thirsty. Have you got any whisky aboard?"

 

Clip shook his head.

 

"We ain't got no 'toxicating liquors," he answered.

 

"Can you bring me a glass of water?"

 

"I'll try. If you'd let me tell Massa Bob you were on board, I guess he'd give you some milk."

 

"Milk be—hanged! No, I'll make it do with water. Don't you tell this Bob, on any account, that I am here!"

 

"All right, massa!" answered Clip; but he was getting more and more puzzled. "Are you goin' to stay in dat place all night?"

 

"Yes."

 

"You'll find it mighty⁸ uncomfor'ble. If Massa Bob knew you was here—"

 

"He is not to know, do you hear?" said the other, impatiently.

 

"All right, massa! You know best."

 

"Of course I know best."

 

By this time Clip was missed.

 

"Where are you, Clip?" asked Bob.[Pg 219]

 

"I'm jist loafin' around, Massa Bob," said Clip, a little startled.

 

"There's something strange about you to-night, Clip; I don't understand it."

 

"I'm thinkin' of old times down in Arkansaw, Massa Bob."

 

"Would you like to be there now, Clip?"

 

"No, Massa Bob, I'd rather live with you and your mudder. My ol' massa use to give me plenty of lickin's. I don't want to go back, never no more."

 

Clip still continued to be restless and uneasy. He knew he had no authority for taking a passenger on board, and feared that Bob would take away the five dollars if he learned that Clip had accepted so large a sum. To do Clip justice, he had no idea that the man whom he had hidden was an offender⁹ against the laws, and that the police were in search of him. Even if he had known this, however, it is not certain that Clip would have been prejudiced against the offender. In truth, his prejudices were against the agents of the law rather than against those who had offended.

 

Bob and Sam usually retired¹⁰ early; but [Pg 220]to-night, to Clip's discontent, they remained up later than usual, talking about matters at home.

 

"Isn't you ever goin' to bed, Massa Bob?" asked Clip, at last.

 

"What is your hurry, Clip? Are you sleepy?"

 

"Awful sleepy, Massa Bob," answered Clip; "can't hardly keep my eyes open."

 

"Then you can go to bed any time. Sam and I will soon follow."

 

This was not altogether satisfactory, for Clip meant to get up as soon as Bob and Sam were asleep and visit his passenger, who had expressed a wish to have him do so. However, there was nothing to be said, and Clip withdrew to his bunk¹¹ and lay down; but, as may readily be guessed, his mind was too active for sleep.

 

There was some one else who was anxious to have Bob and Sam retire. This was the hidden passenger, who found his quarters contracted and uncomfortable.

 

"What's the matter with those confounded boys?" he growled¹² to himself. "They seem[Pg 221] determined to sit up on purpose to vex¹³ me. When they are once asleep I can get up and stretch my limbs."

 

In about twenty minutes the boys, judging from their deep and regular breathing, had fallen asleep.

 

Clip, who had been waiting anxiously, raised himself on his elbow and eyed them closely.

 

Feeling that it was now safe for him to do so, he slipped out of bed cautiously and began to feel his way toward the hiding-place of his new acquaintance.

 

"They're asleep," he whispered. "Now, what you want, massa?"

 

"It's high time they were," growled the man. "I thought they were going to sit up all night."

 

"So did I," returned Clip.

 

"Are you sure there is no whisky on board?"

 

"No, massa."

 

"I suppose you could get some for me on shore. There's a saloon only three minutes' walk from this place."[Pg 222]

 

Clip was reluctant to go on shore on such an errand; but finally the offer of fifty cents for himself induced him to do so. He took a tin cup which Bob had brought with him from home, and started on his errand.

 

At the saloon he was asked, "Do you want this for yourself? We don't sell to boys."

 

"No, massa; it's for a sick man."

 

"Where's the sick man?"

 

"On board a boat."

 

Upon this representation the whisky was obtained, and Clip started on his return. His curiosity led him to take a swallow of the whisky he was carrying, but it did not commend itself to Clip's palate.

 

"It's nasty stuff!" he said with a grimace¹⁴; "I don't see what fo' people drink it."

 

He carried the drink safely to the passenger, who drank it and smacked¹⁵ his lips over it. "It goes to the right spot," he said.

 

"Do those boys sleep sound?" he asked.

 

"Yes, massa."[Pg 223]

 

"Then I'll get out of this beastly hole and take a turn on deck."

 

"Be keerful, massa!" said Clip anxiously.

 

"Oh, yes; I won't make any noise."

 

Clip crept back to bed and succeeded in resuming his place without disturbing or arousing Bob or Sam.

 

1 connive   

v.纵容；密谋

参考例句：

• They connive children excessively which will bring a negative effect on theirs character.他们过分纵容孩子，这对孩子的性格有不良影响。
• Senior politicians connived to ensure that he was not released.几位资深政治家串通起来确保他不会获释。

2 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

3 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

4 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

5 bulged   

凸出( bulge的过去式和过去分词 )； 充满； 塞满（某物）

参考例句：

• His pockets bulged with apples and candy. 他的口袋鼓鼓地装满了苹果和糖。
• The oranges bulged his pocket. 桔子使得他的衣袋胀得鼓鼓的。

6 proceeding   

n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报

参考例句：

• This train is now proceeding from Paris to London.这次列车从巴黎开往伦敦。
• The work is proceeding briskly.工作很有生气地进展着。

7 concealed   

a.隐藏的，隐蔽的

参考例句：

• The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。
• I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。

8 mighty   

adj.强有力的；巨大的

参考例句：

• A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
• The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。

9 offender   

n.冒犯者，违反者，犯罪者

参考例句：

• They all sued out a pardon for an offender.他们请求法院赦免一名罪犯。
• The authorities often know that sex offenders will attack again when they are released.当局一般都知道性犯罪者在获释后往往会再次犯案。

10 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

11 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。

12 growled   

v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说

参考例句：

• \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道：“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 vex   

vt.使烦恼，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Everything about her vexed him.有关她的一切都令他困惑。
• It vexed me to think of others gossiping behind my back.一想到别人在背后说我闲话，我就很恼火。

14 grimace   

v.做鬼脸，面部歪扭

参考例句：

• The boy stole a look at his father with grimace.那男孩扮着鬼脸偷看了他父亲一眼。
• Thomas made a grimace after he had tasted the wine.托马斯尝了那葡萄酒后做了个鬼脸。

15 smacked   

拍，打，掴( smack的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He smacked his lips but did not utter a word. 他吧嗒两下嘴，一声也不言语。
• She smacked a child's bottom. 她打孩子的屁股。