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首页 » 儿童英文小说 » Bob Burton or The Young Ranchman of the Missouri » CHAPTER XXVII. THE MYSTERIOUS PASSENGER IS DISCOVERED.
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CHAPTER XXVII. THE MYSTERIOUS PASSENGER IS DISCOVERED.
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 Bob Burton started on his trip down the river quite unaware1 that he carried a passenger; Clip's peculiar2 nervousness attracted his attention, and he wondered at it, but finally was led to attribute it to the whisky, of which he credited Clip with having drunk a considerable amount. We know that he was mistaken in this, but those who practice deception3 are apt to be misjudged, and have no right to complain.
 
One more discovery puzzled Bob. Clip happened to have a hole in the pocket in which he carried the money given him by the mysterious passenger. At first it was not large enough to imperil the safety of the coin; but Clip thrust his hand so often into his pocket, to see if the money was safe, that he had unconsciously enlarged the opening. As a result of this, as he was walking the deck, a[Pg 234] two-dollar-and-a-half gold piece, obtained in change, slipped out, and fell upon the deck. Bob happened to be close at hand, and instantly espied4 the coin.
 
Clip walked on without noticing his loss.
 
Bob stooped and picked up the coin.
 
"A gold piece!" he thought, in amazement5. "Where can Clip possibly have got it?"
 
He had not missed any of his own money. Indeed, he knew that none of it was in gold. Certainly the case looked very mysterious.
 
"Clip," he said.
 
"What, Massa Bob?" returned Clip, innocently.
 
"Is this gold piece yours?"
 
Clip started, and, if he had been white, would have turned pale.
 
"I reckon it is, Massa Bob," he answered, with hesitation6.
 
"Where did it come from?"
 
"From my pocket," he answered.
 
"But how did it come into your pocket, Clip?"
 
"I put it there."[Pg 235]
 
"Look here, Clip," said Bob, sternly. "You are evading7 the question."
 
"What's dat, Massa Bob?"
 
"You are trying to get rid of telling me the truth. Did you steal this money?"
 
"No, I didn't," answered Clip, indignantly. "I nebber steal."
 
"I am glad to hear it. Then, if you didn't steal it, how did you get it?"
 
Clip scratched his kinky hair. He was puzzled.
 
"I done found it," he answered, at length.
 
"Where did you find it?"
 
"In de—de street."
 
"When and where?"
 
"Dis mornin', when I was comin' from breakfast."
 
"If you found it, there would be no objection to your keeping it," he said, "provided you could not find the original owner."
 
"Can't find him now, nohow," said Clip, briskly.
 
"Come here a minute."
 
Clip approached, not understanding Bob's reason for calling him.[Pg 236]
 
Bob suddenly thrust his hand into Clip's pocket, and drew out two silver dollars, and a quarter, the remains8 of the five-dollar gold piece, Clip having spent a quarter.
 
"What's all this?" he asked, in amazement. "Did you find this money, too?"
 
"Yes, Massa Bob," he answered, faintly.
 
"Clip, I am convinced you are lying."
 
"No, I'm not."
 
"Do you mean to tell me you found all these coins on the sidewalk?"
 
"Yes, Massa Bob."
 
"That is not very likely. Clip, I don't want to suspect you of dishonesty, but it looks very much as if you had been stealing."
 
"No, I haven't, Massa Bob," asserted Clip, stoutly9.
 
"Do you still tell me that you found all this money?"
 
Clip began to find himself involved in the intricacies of his lie, and his courage gave out.
 
"No, Massa Bob. Don't you get mad with me, and I'll tell you the trufe."
 
"Tell it, then."[Pg 237]
 
"A gemman gave it to me."
 
"A gentleman gave you this money. What did he give it to you for?"
 
"He—he wanted to go down de ribber," stammered10 Clip.
 
"Wanted to go down the river? Suppose he did," said Bob, not yet understanding; "why should he give you money?"
 
"He wanted me to let him go as a passenger on de boat."
 
"Ha!" said Bob, a sudden light breaking in upon him. "And you agreed to take him?"
 
"Ye-es, Massa Bob."
 
"Where is he now?"
 
It was not Clip that answered this question. There was heard a noise from the corner as of some one moving about, and from his sheltered place of refuge, the mysterious passenger stepped forth11. He coolly took out his silk handkerchief and dusted his coat and vest.
 
"Really," he said, "I can't say much for your accommodations for passengers. Have you got such a thing as a clothes-brush on board this craft?"[Pg 238]
 
Bob stared at him in amazement, and could not find a word to say for the space of a minute.
 
"Who are you, sir?" he asked, at length.
 
"Who am I? Well, you may call me John Smith, for want of a better name."
 
"When did you come on board?"
 
"At the last landing. I made a bargain with that dark-complexioned young man"—with a grin at Clip—"who for the sum of five dollars agreed to convey me to St. Louis. It wasn't a very high price, if I had decent accommodations."
 
"Why didn't you tell me this, Clip?" demanded Bob.
 
"I—de gemman didn't want me to," stammered Clip.
 
"Quite right," corroborated12 the stranger. "I told Clip he needn't mention our little arrangement, as he thought you might object to it. I don't blame him for telling you at last, for you forced him to do so. I suppose you are the captain."
 
"I am all the captain there is," answered Bob.[Pg 239]
 
"I am delighted to make your acquaintance, really. I assure you I am glad to get out of that dusty hole, and presume you will now allow me the freedom of the deck."
 
The stranger was so cool and self-possessed—cheeky, perhaps it might be called—that Bob eyed him in wonder.
 
"Why did you select my boat in preference to a regular passenger steamer?" he asked.
 
"A little whim13 of mine!" answered the other, airily. "The truth is, I am a newspaper reporter, and I thought such a trip as I am making would furnish the materials for a taking article. I mean to call it 'In the Steerage; or, a Boat Ride on the Missouri.' Good idea, isn't it?"
 
"Why, yes, it might be," said Bob, dryly; "but I think the owner of the boat ought to have been consulted."
 
"Accept my apologies, Captain Bob," said the passenger, with a smile. "If there was a saloon near, I would invite you to take a drink with me, but—"
 
"Never mind. I don't drink. Here, Clip!"
 
"Well, Massa Bob."[Pg 240]
 
"You did wrong to take this man's money, and you must return it."
 
At these last words Clip's countenance15 fell.
 
Bob counted the money and handed it to the stranger.
 
"There are twenty-five cents missing," he said. "I will make that up from my own pocket."
 
"Let the boy keep the money. I don't want it back."
 
"I cannot allow him to keep it."
 
Clip's face, which had brightened at the stranger's words, fell again.
 
"What is your objection?" asked the passenger.
 
"I may as well be frank with you. I understand your reason for embarking16 on my boat in preference to waiting for a river steamer. You were in a hurry to leave the town."
 
"That's what I said."
 
"Shall I mention the reason?"
 
"If you like."
 
"Because you had been implicated17 in [Pg 241]robbing a store—perhaps several. This is stolen money."
 
"I deny it. I may have been suspected. In fact, I don't mind admitting that I was, and that I thought it my best policy to get away. The good people were likely to give me a great deal of trouble. Thanks to you—"
 
"Not to me."
 
"To Clip, then, I managed to elude18 their vigilance. It makes me laugh to think of their disappointment."
 
Bob did not appear to look upon it as a joke, however.
 
"Of course I shall not allow you to remain on the boat," he said.
 
"I'll give you twenty-five—thirty dollars," said the stranger, earnestly.
 
"I decline. It would be making me your accomplice19. I would be receiving stolen money."
 
"What do you propose, then?"
 
"I will steer14 the boat as near the shore as I can, and request you to land."
 
The stranger shrugged20 his shoulders.
 
"Very well," he said. "We must be eight[Pg 242] or ten miles away from my accusers. I think I can manage for myself now."
 
In ten minutes the stranger stepped jauntily21 ashore22, and, lifting his hat, bade Bob a cheerful good-bye.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 unaware Pl6w0     
a.不知道的,未意识到的
参考例句:
  • They were unaware that war was near. 他们不知道战争即将爆发。
  • I was unaware of the man's presence. 我没有察觉到那人在场。
2 peculiar cinyo     
adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的
参考例句:
  • He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
  • He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。
3 deception vnWzO     
n.欺骗,欺诈;骗局,诡计
参考例句:
  • He admitted conspiring to obtain property by deception.他承认曾与人合谋骗取财产。
  • He was jailed for two years for fraud and deception.他因为诈骗和欺诈入狱服刑两年。
4 espied 980e3f8497fb7a6bd10007d67965f9f7     
v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • One day a youth espied her as he was hunting.She saw him and recognized him as her own son, mow grown a young man. 一日,她被一个正在行猎的小伙子看见了,她认出来这个猎手原来是自己的儿子,现在已长成为一个翩翩的少年。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • In a little while he espied the two giants. 一会儿就看见了那两个巨人。 来自辞典例句
5 amazement 7zlzBK     
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 hesitation tdsz5     
n.犹豫,踌躇
参考例句:
  • After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天,他终于直说了。
  • There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。
7 evading 6af7bd759f5505efaee3e9c7803918e5     
逃避( evade的现在分词 ); 避开; 回避; 想不出
参考例句:
  • Segmentation of a project is one means of evading NEPA. 把某一工程进行分割,是回避《国家环境政策法》的一种手段。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
  • Too many companies, she says, are evading the issue. 她说太多公司都在回避这个问题。
8 remains 1kMzTy     
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹
参考例句:
  • He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
  • The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
9 stoutly Xhpz3l     
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。
10 stammered 76088bc9384c91d5745fd550a9d81721     
v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He stammered most when he was nervous. 他一紧张往往口吃。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • Barsad leaned back in his chair, and stammered, \"What do you mean?\" 巴萨往椅背上一靠,结结巴巴地说,“你是什么意思?” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
11 forth Hzdz2     
adv.向前;向外,往外
参考例句:
  • The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
  • He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
12 corroborated ab27fc1c50e7a59aad0d93cd9f135917     
v.证实,支持(某种说法、信仰、理论等)( corroborate的过去式 )
参考例句:
  • The evidence was corroborated by two independent witnesses. 此证据由两名独立证人提供。
  • Experiments have corroborated her predictions. 实验证实了她的预言。 来自《简明英汉词典》
13 whim 2gywE     
n.一时的兴致,突然的念头;奇想,幻想
参考例句:
  • I bought the encyclopedia on a whim.我凭一时的兴致买了这本百科全书。
  • He had a sudden whim to go sailing today.今天他突然想要去航海。
14 steer 5u5w3     
vt.驾驶,为…操舵;引导;vi.驾驶
参考例句:
  • If you push the car, I'll steer it.如果你来推车,我就来驾车。
  • It's no use trying to steer the boy into a course of action that suits you.想说服这孩子按你的方式行事是徒劳的。
15 countenance iztxc     
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同
参考例句:
  • At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。
  • I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地,仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。
16 embarking 7f8892f8b0a1076133045fdfbf3b8512     
乘船( embark的现在分词 ); 装载; 从事
参考例句:
  • He's embarking on a new career as a writer. 他即将开始新的职业生涯——当一名作家。
  • The campaign on which were embarking was backed up by such intricate and detailed maintenance arrangemets. 我们实施的战争,须要如此复杂及详细的维护准备。
17 implicated 8443a53107b44913ed0a3f12cadfa423     
adj.密切关联的;牵涉其中的
参考例句:
  • These groups are very strongly implicated in the violence. 这些组织与这起暴力事件有着极大的关联。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Having the stolen goods in his possession implicated him in the robbery. 因藏有赃物使他涉有偷盗的嫌疑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
18 elude hjuzc     
v.躲避,困惑
参考例句:
  • If you chase it,it will elude you.如果你追逐着它, 它会躲避你。
  • I had dared and baffled his fury.I must elude his sorrow.我曾经面对过他的愤怒,并且把它挫败了;现在我必须躲避他的悲哀。
19 accomplice XJsyq     
n.从犯,帮凶,同谋
参考例句:
  • She was her husband's accomplice in murdering a rich old man.她是她丈夫谋杀一个老富翁的帮凶。
  • He is suspected as an accomplice of the murder.他涉嫌为这次凶杀案的同谋。
20 shrugged 497904474a48f991a3d1961b0476ebce     
vt.耸肩(shrug的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀,什么也没说。
  • She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩,装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
21 jauntily 4f7f379e218142f11ead0affa6ec234d     
adv.心满意足地;洋洋得意地;高兴地;活泼地
参考例句:
  • His straw hat stuck jauntily on the side of his head. 他那顶草帽时髦地斜扣在头上。 来自辞典例句
  • He returned frowning, his face obstinate but whistling jauntily. 他回来时皱眉蹙额,板着脸,嘴上却快活地吹着口哨。 来自辞典例句
22 ashore tNQyT     
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。


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