CHAPTER XXVI. WAS IT THE CAT?

 Usually Bob Burton slept all night; but to-night, unfortunately for Clip, he awakened¹ about two o'clock in the morning. By an equally perverse² chance, just as he awoke, the concealed³ passenger, now enjoying the freedom of the deck, broke out into a stentorian⁴ sneeze. Bob heard it, and so did Clip, whose uneasiness made him sleep more lightly than usual, and both were startled.

 

"I hope Massa Bob won't hear dat," thought Clip.

 

But Bob did hear it.

 

"What's that?" he asked, half rising in bed.

 

"It's me!" answered Clip, preferring to admit the sneeze rather than have Bob suspect that there was any one else on the boat.

 

"Do you mean to say you sneezed, Clip?" asked Bob, in amazement⁵.[Pg 225]

 

"Yes, Massa Bob."

 

"You must be dreaming. The sneeze came from another part of the boat."

 

"Are you sure?" asked Clip.

 

"Yes. What made you tell me that it was you who sneezed?"

 

"I t'ought I did, Massa Bob."

 

"When did you wake up?"

 

"Just now."

 

"The sneeze must have waked you up."

 

"I dunno," answered Clip, dubiously⁶.

 

"There must be some one on board, unless we both dreamed about the sneeze."

 

"Mebbe it's a cat!" remarked Clip, ingenuously⁷.

 

Bob laughed. "It must be a very remarkable⁸ cat that would sneeze like that," he said.

 

"Jus' so, Massa Bob," assented⁹ Clip, meekly¹⁰, hoping that Bob would drop the subject.

 

"I think, Clip, I shall get up and search for that cat."

 

"Don't you do it, Massa Bob. He—he might bite you."[Pg 226]

 

"I hope I am not such a coward as to be afraid of a cat."

 

Bob rose and lighted a candle which he had with him. Then, followed by Clip, he advanced to the other end of the deck. But the passenger had warning, having heard the conversation which had taken place between Bob and Clip, and had hurriedly retreated to his former hiding-place. It did not occur to Bob to look there, and he returned from his fruitless search more mystified than ever.

 

But, Clip being close beside him, he caught the aroma¹¹ of the single swallow of whisky which Clip had taken, and he immediately began to suspect poor Clip of having indulged in much deeper potations than he was guilty of.

 

"Clip," he said, suddenly, "I smell whisky."

 

"Does you, Massa Bob?" asked Clip, feeling that he was getting into a scrape.

 

"Yes, I do, Clip; and where do you think it comes from?"

 

"Don't know, Massa Bob; 'deed I don't."

 

"It comes from your mouth, Clip. You've been drinking!"[Pg 227]

 

Drops of perspiration¹² stood on Clip's forehead. He could not excuse himself, or explain matters, without betraying his secret. Not thinking of anything to say, he said nothing.

 

"Tell me the truth, Clip; have you been drinking?"

 

"I jes' took a little swaller."

 

"Where did you take it?"

 

"On sho'."

 

"What made you do such a thing? I didn't dream that you were getting intemperate¹³, Clip."

 

"You see, Massa Bob, a gen'leman asked me to bring him a drink of whisky, and I t'ought I'd jest see how it tasted."

 

"Who asked you to bring him some whisky?" asked Bob, who believed this to be a pure fiction on the part of his young companion.

 

"A gen'leman."

 

"What gentleman?"

 

"He didn't tell me his name."

 

"I think you are telling me a lie, Clip."

 

"No I ain't, Massa Bob; it's as true as de Bible."[Pg 228]

 

"I don't think you know much about the Bible, Clip."

 

"It's all true what I told you, Massa Bob. If I find de gen'leman, I'll bring him here to tell you."

 

The witness referred to smiled to himself grimly when he heard this statement.

 

"That little nigger's a brick!" he said to himself. "As to that other boy, I'd like to throw him overboard. He's too fond of meddling¹⁴ with other people's business."

 

It may occur to the reader that this was hardly a fair way of stating the case. As the boat belonged to Bob, and he was the commander, it might safely be assumed that he had a right to inquire into anything that excited his suspicion.

 

"Are you goin' back to bed, Massa Bob?" asked Clip, uneasily.

 

"Wait a minute, Clip; I want to get a drink of water."

 

Again poor Clip was in bad luck. The tin dipper had been used to procure¹⁵ the whisky, and of course it still smelled strongly of that liquor.[Pg 229]

 

"Clip," said Bob, as soon as he had raised it to his lips, "you got some whisky in this cup."

 

"Ye'es," admitted Clip.

 

"And you drank it yourself instead of giving it to any gentleman."

 

"No, I didn't, Massa Bob," stoutly¹⁶, and as we know truly, asserted Clip.

 

"I'm ashamed of you, Clip. If you are going to act in this way, I shall have to send you home. You have been acting¹⁷ very queerly this evening. Sam and I both noticed it, but I didn't think you had formed a taste for whisky."

 

"I don't love it, Massa Bob. I hate it. It's awful nasty stuff."

 

"And you didn't drink this dipper full, then?"

 

"No, I didn't."

 

"What did you do with it?"

 

"Throwed it away, Massa Bob. I only took one swaller. I couldn't drink it if you gave me half a dollar; 'deed I couldn't."

 

"I hope this is true, Clip. I shouldn't like to tell my mother that you had become intemperate."[Pg 230]

 

"What's the matter?" was heard from Sam's bed at this juncture¹⁸. "Where are you, Bob?"

 

"Here I am, Sam."

 

"What made you get up?"

 

"I thought I heard a noise on deck; so Clip and I got up."

 

"What was it like?"

 

"A sneeze. Clip thought it might be a cat."

 

Bob and Sam laughed at the ludicrous idea, and Clip joined in, glad that Bob's embarrassing cross-examination was over.

 

"You'd better come to bed, both of you. Very likely you dreamed it."

 

At that moment, and before Bob had put out the candle, there was a most unlooked-for corroboration¹⁹ of Clip's singular theory.

 

An immense tom-cat ran swiftly between Bob's legs, from some place of concealment²⁰. Both he and Clip saw it, and the latter was quick to take advantage of the opportune²¹ appearance of the animal.

 

"Dare's de cat, Massa Bob," he shouted, triumphantly²². "Didn't I tell you it was a cat?"[Pg 231]

 

Bob was temporarily nonplussed²³. Clip seemed to have the best of the argument.

 

"All I can say is, it is a remarkable cat," he said. "I wish it would sneeze again."

 

The rest of the night passed without anything remarkable happening. All three boys slept soundly. Indeed, it was later than usual, probably on account of their sleep being interrupted during the night, that they awoke.

 

According to custom, the boys took turns in going out to breakfast.

 

"Clip, you and Sam can go out together," said Bob. "I will take my turn afterwards."

 

"I ain't in no hurry, Massa Bob," said Clip. "You an' Sam go first, and I'll go afterwards."

 

Bob thought this a little strange, but did not object.

 

When Clip was left alone he went at once to see his charge.

 

"Hope you pass de night good," said Clip, politely.

 

"I'm awfully²⁴ cramped²⁵ up," groaned²⁶ the other. "But you're a trump²⁷, Clip. You stood by me like a Trojan."

 

"Thank you, massa. I'm afraid Massa[Pg 232] Bob'll find you out. How long you goin' to stay?"

 

"Till I get a few miles from this town. Then he may find me and welcome."

 

Clip felt that it would be a great relief to him when there was no further need of concealment.

1 awakened   

v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到

参考例句：

• She awakened to the sound of birds singing. 她醒来听到鸟的叫声。
• The public has been awakened to the full horror of the situation. 公众完全意识到了这一状况的可怕程度。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 perverse   

adj.刚愎的；坚持错误的，行为反常的

参考例句：

• It would be perverse to stop this healthy trend.阻止这种健康发展的趋势是没有道理的。
• She gets a perverse satisfaction from making other people embarrassed.她有一种不正常的心态，以使别人难堪来取乐。

3 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。

4 stentorian   

adj.大声的，响亮的

参考例句：

• Now all joined in solemn stentorian accord.现在，在这庄严的响彻云霄的和声中大家都联合在一起了。
• The stentorian tones of auctioneer,calling out to clear,now announced that the sale to commence.拍卖人用洪亮的声音招呼大家闪开一点，然后宣布拍卖即将开始。

5 amazement   

n.惊奇，惊讶

参考例句：

• All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
• He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。

6 dubiously   

adv.可疑地，怀疑地

参考例句：

• "What does he have to do?" queried Chin dubiously. “他有什么心事？”琴向觉民问道，她的脸上现出疑惑不解的神情。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）
• He walked out fast, leaving the head waiter staring dubiously at the flimsy blue paper. 他很快地走出去，撇下侍者头儿半信半疑地瞪着这张薄薄的蓝纸。 来自辞典例句

7 ingenuously   

adv.率直地，正直地

参考例句：

• Voldemort stared at him ingenuously. The man MUST have lost his marbles. 魔王愕然向对方望过去。这家伙绝对疯了。 来自互联网

8 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

9 assented   

同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The judge assented to allow the prisoner to speak. 法官同意允许犯人申辩。
• "No," assented Tom, "they don't kill the women -- they're too noble. “对，”汤姆表示赞同地说，“他们不杀女人——真伟大！

10 meekly   

adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地

参考例句：

• He stood aside meekly when the new policy was proposed. 当有人提出新政策时，他唯唯诺诺地站 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He meekly accepted the rebuke. 他顺从地接受了批评。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 aroma   

n.香气，芬芳，芳香

参考例句：

• The whole house was filled with the aroma of coffee.满屋子都是咖啡的香味。
• The air was heavy with the aroma of the paddy fields.稻花飘香。

12 perspiration   

n.汗水；出汗

参考例句：

• It is so hot that my clothes are wet with perspiration.天太热了，我的衣服被汗水湿透了。
• The perspiration was running down my back.汗从我背上淌下来。

13 intemperate   

adj.无节制的，放纵的

参考例句：

• Many people felt threatened by Arther's forceful,sometimes intemperate style.很多人都觉得阿瑟的强硬的、有时过激的作风咄咄逼人。
• The style was hurried,the tone intemperate.匆促的笔调，放纵的语气。

14 meddling   

v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He denounced all "meddling" attempts to promote a negotiation. 他斥责了一切“干预”促成谈判的企图。 来自辞典例句
• They liked this field because it was never visited by meddling strangers. 她们喜欢这块田野，因为好事的陌生人从来不到那里去。 来自辞典例句

15 procure   

vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条

参考例句：

• Can you procure some specimens for me?你能替我弄到一些标本吗？
• I'll try my best to procure you that original French novel.我将尽全力给你搞到那本原版法国小说。

16 stoutly   

adv.牢固地，粗壮的

参考例句：

• He stoutly denied his guilt.他断然否认自己有罪。
• Burgess was taxed with this and stoutly denied it.伯杰斯为此受到了责难，但是他自己坚决否认有这回事。

17 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

18 juncture   

n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头

参考例句：

• The project is situated at the juncture of the new and old urban districts.该项目位于新老城区交界处。
• It is very difficult at this juncture to predict the company's future.此时很难预料公司的前景。

19 corroboration   

n.进一步的证实，进一步的证据

参考例句：

• Without corroboration from forensic tests,it will be difficult to prove that the suspect is guilty. 没有法医化验的确证就很难证明嫌疑犯有罪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Definitely more independent corroboration is necessary. 有必要更明确地进一步证实。 来自辞典例句

20 concealment   

n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒

参考例句：

• the concealment of crime 对罪行的隐瞒
• Stay in concealment until the danger has passed. 把自己藏起来，待危险过去后再出来。

21 opportune   

adj.合适的，适当的

参考例句：

• Her arrival was very opportune.她来得非常及时。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

22 triumphantly   

ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地

参考例句：

• The lion was roaring triumphantly. 狮子正在发出胜利的吼叫。
• Robert was looking at me triumphantly. 罗伯特正得意扬扬地看着我。

23 nonplussed   

adj.不知所措的，陷于窘境的v.使迷惑( nonplus的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The speaker was completely nonplussed by the question. 演讲者被这个问题完全难倒了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I was completely nonplussed by his sudden appearance. 他突然出现使我大吃一惊。 来自《简明英汉词典》

24 awfully   

adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地

参考例句：

• Agriculture was awfully neglected in the past.过去农业遭到严重忽视。
• I've been feeling awfully bad about it.对这我一直感到很难受。

25 cramped   

a.狭窄的

参考例句：

• The house was terribly small and cramped, but the agent described it as a bijou residence. 房子十分狭小拥挤，但经纪人却把它说成是小巧别致的住宅。
• working in cramped conditions 在拥挤的环境里工作

26 groaned   

v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦

参考例句：

• He groaned in anguish. 他痛苦地呻吟。
• The cart groaned under the weight of the piano. 大车在钢琴的重压下嘎吱作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》

27 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。