CHAPTER XXXV. BOB'S ARRIVAL IN ST. LOUIS.

 Meanwhile Bob and Clip were steaming rapidly down the river. Now that he was pretty sure of recovering his boat and cargo¹, Bob gave himself up to the enjoyment² of the trip, and was fain to confess that he enjoyed it better than working his passage on the ferry-boat. As for Maud, she seemed to feel as much confidence in our hero as if she had known him all her life. She seemed also to appreciate Clip, but in a different way.

 

"You're a funny boy!" she said.

 

"Yah, yah, little missy!" laughed Clip.

 

"Where's your mother?"

 

"Dunno, missy! I expect she dead."

 

"My mamma's dead, too. She's in heaven. Is your mamma there too?"

 

"S'pect so, little missy."[Pg 304]

 

Bob questioned the little girl as to the manner of her abduction. He learned that she had been carried off from the street in which she lived by Brown, who secured her consent by a promise of candy. Then she was put into a carriage, and given something to drink. When she woke up she was on a river steamer, being landed at length at the place where Bob found her.

 

"Did my papa send you for me?" she asked.

 

"No, Maud," answered Bob, "but I heard you had been stolen, and I determined³ to carry you back, if I could."

 

"On what street does your father live?" asked Bob, later.

 

"On Laclede Avenue."

 

"Can you tell me the number?"

 

This also Maud was able to tell. At the first stopping-place, after he had obtained this information, Bob, appreciating the anxiety of Maud's friends, telegraphed her father as follows:

 

I have discovered your little daughter, and am on my way to the city with her. She was[Pg 305] taken to Rocky Creek⁴, and confined there. Our steamer—the Gazelle—will probably arrive at her wharf⁵ to-morrow morning.

 

Robert Burton.

 

When this telegram was received, Mr. Pearson was suffering deep grief and anxiety; but the message comforted him not a little.

 

When the steamer reached the pier⁶, a middle-aged⁷ man of medium size and dark complexion⁸ was waiting on the wharf.

 

"That's my papa!" exclaimed Maud, clapping her hands; and the little girl danced on the deck in her joy.

 

In a moment she was in the arms of her father.

 

"My darling Maud?" he exclaimed, caressing⁹ her fondly. "Thank Heaven I have you back again! Where is Mr. Burton?"

 

"My name is Robert Burton," said Bob, modestly.

 

"What, a boy!" exclaimed Mr. Pearson, in amazement¹⁰. "I supposed the person who telegraphed me was a man."

 

"He's a nice boy," said Maud, putting her hand confidingly¹¹ in Bob's.[Pg 306]

 

"I am sure of it," said Mr. Pearson, cordially, grasping the hand of our hero.

 

"And he's a funny boy," continued Maud, pointing out Clip.

 

"Yah, yah!" laughed Clip, with a broad grin on his shining face.

 

"Clip is a companion of mine," explained Bob, "and we came down the river together."

 

"I am glad to make your acquaintance, Mr. Clip," said Mr. Pearson, smiling, and taking Clip by the hand.

 

"Yah, yah!" laughed the delighted Clip.

 

"Now, boys," said Mr. Pearson, as they passed over the gang-plank and set foot upon the wharf, "I shall take you both home with me. I have not yet had an opportunity of asking questions about how you came to find my dear child, and rescue her from her terrible captivity¹². There stands my carriage. Get in, both of you, and we will go to my home at once."

 

It was a strange sensation to Clip to find himself riding in a hansom carriage, the favored guest of the wealthy proprietor¹³. He[Pg 307] was not sure whether he were awake or dreaming.

 

They drove rapidly for perhaps a couple of miles, and then stopped in front of an elegant mansion¹⁴ in the upper part of Laclede Avenue. The two boys never expected to enter St. Louis in such grand style.

1 cargo   

n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物

参考例句：

• The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.这条船大约有200吨的货物。
• A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship.许多人从船上卸下货物。

2 enjoyment   

n.乐趣；享有；享用

参考例句：

• Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同，我们这次访问更加愉快了。
• After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话，这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。

3 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。

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 wharf   

n.码头，停泊处

参考例句：

• We fetch up at the wharf exactly on time.我们准时到达码头。
• We reached the wharf gasping for breath.我们气喘吁吁地抵达了码头。

6 pier   

n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱

参考例句：

• The pier of the bridge has been so badly damaged that experts worry it is unable to bear weight.这座桥的桥桩破损厉害，专家担心它已不能负重。
• The ship was making towards the pier.船正驶向码头。

7 middle-aged   

adj.中年的

参考例句：

• I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。
• The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。

8 complexion   

n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格

参考例句：

• Red does not suit with her complexion.红色与她的肤色不协调。
• Her resignation puts a different complexion on things.她一辞职局面就全变了。

9 caressing   

爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的

参考例句：

• The spring wind is gentle and caressing. 春风和畅。
• He sat silent still caressing Tartar, who slobbered with exceeding affection. 他不声不响地坐在那里，不断抚摸着鞑靼，它由于获得超常的爱抚而不淌口水。

10 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。

11 confidingly   

adv.信任地

参考例句：

• She watched him confidingly and without any fear, faintly wagging her tail. 木木信任地望着自己最新近的主人，不但没有畏惧，还轻轻地摇着尾巴。 来自互联网

12 captivity   

n.囚禁；被俘；束缚

参考例句：

• A zoo is a place where live animals are kept in captivity for the public to see.动物园是圈养动物以供公众观看的场所。
• He was held in captivity for three years.他被囚禁叁年。

13 proprietor   

n.所有人；业主；经营者

参考例句：

• The proprietor was an old acquaintance of his.业主是他的一位旧相识。
• The proprietor of the corner grocery was a strange thing in my life.拐角杂货店店主是我生活中的一个怪物。

14 mansion   

n.大厦，大楼；宅第

参考例句：

• The old mansion was built in 1850.这座古宅建于1850年。
• The mansion has extensive grounds.这大厦四周的庭园广阔。