"Mr. Dunham," he said, "I have come to thank you for your warning of last evening."
"I hope it was of service to you, sir."
"It was of essential service. Your old acquaintance had planned to rob me of a sum of money and a quantity of government bonds, but being on my guard I was able to frustrate1 his designs."
"How did it happen?" asked Mr. Gunnison, his curiosity excited.
"In the middle of the night, or rather a little after midnight, I heard some one going downstairs softly. I followed unobserved, and caught my guest opening the drawers in my cabinet."
"Where is he now?"
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"I ordered him out of the house. He stood not upon the order of his going, but went at once. Where he is now I cannot inform you, but presume he has placed several miles between himself and Carterville. Fortunately he went empty-handed, and my money and bonds are still in my possession. But for our young friend here I should hardly be able to say that."
"You are indebted to me for bringing him to Carterville, Dr. Thorp," said Mr. Gunnison in a jocular tone. "How much are you going to allow me?"
"You are amply repaid by his services," said the doctor, "judging from the comments I have heard upon his performance. I am under obligations to him, however, which I ought to acknowledge. Mr. Dunham," he continued, taking from his pocket a small gold watch and chain, "I see you have no watch. Please accept this with my best wishes."
It was an Elgin gold watch of neat pattern which he offered to Dean.
"It is not quite new," proceeded the doctor. "I bought it of a young man in need of money, and having paid him its full value I have no scruple2 in giving it away."
"Thank you very much," said Dean, his face showing the satisfaction he felt. "I have felt the need of a watch ever since I began to travel, but never187 dreamed of anything better than a silver one. I shall be very proud of this one."
"And I am very glad to give it to you. In what direction do you propose to journey!"
"Shall you go as far as Colorado?"
"Yes, sir; I think so."
"I have a nephew out there somewhere—Henry Thorp—a young man of twenty-five. He is probably mining, but I don't know his location. Should you run across him, ask him to communicate with me. His aunt and myself will be glad to hear from him."
"I will not forget it, sir," said Dean, though he thought it quite improbable that he and the nephew referred to would ever meet.
Dr. Thorp took his leave, and Dean soon after took leave of the Gunnison family. He was pressed to remain and play another game of baseball, but felt that he could not spare the time.
A week later found Dean only a hundred miles farther on his way. He might have accomplished4 this distance on the cars in a few hours, but he preferred to make a leisurely5 trip, looking out for a chance to earn money on the way. But after a season of prosperity a dull time had come to him. During the week he did not make a single dollar.188 He encountered several fair-sized towns, but did not feel able to give an entire entertainment himself. His stock of money dwindled6, and he began to feel anxious.
Towards nightfall he found himself apparently7 at a distance from any town, and began to feel some solicitude8 as to where he could pass the night. It was a mountain region, and the day seemed to be shorter than on the plains. The air was chilly9, and Dean felt that it would be dangerous to spend the night out of doors.
"There is shelter at any rate if they will take me In," thought Dean. "I will take care not to wander into such a wild region again."
He heard a shuffling12 noise inside, and an old woman, with gray hair, unconfined and hanging loose like a horse's mane, faced him.
"A traveler," answered Dean.
"What do you want?"
"I have lost my way. Can you let me stay here all night?"
"This isn't a tavern," she responded in a surly tone.
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"I suppose not, but I am willing to pay for supper and a lodging14. I don't see any other house near by, or I would not trouble you."
The old woman eyed him with a curious scrutiny15 which made him vaguely16 uncomfortable, so weird17 and uncanny was her look.
"Have you got any money?" she asked at last.
"A little," answered Dean, growing suddenly cautious.
"Well, you can come in," she said after a pause.
Dean entered, and cast a glance about him.
The cabin was certainly a primitive18 one. What furniture it contained seemed home made, put together awkwardly with such material as came to hand. In place of chairs were two boxes such as are used to contain shoes, placed bottom up. There was a small stove, the heat of which seemed grateful to the chilly young traveler.
"It is cold," remarked Dean, by way of opening the conversation.
"Humph!" answered the woman. "Have you come all the way to tell me that?"
"Evidently the old woman isn't sociable," thought Dean.
"Where do you live when you're to home?" asked the woman after a pause.
"In New York State."
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"What did you come out here for?"
"I had my living to make," answered Dean, feeling uncomfortable.
"I haven't found any, and I've lived here goin' on ten years. I suppose you want some supper," she continued ungraciously.
"Yes, I am very hungry. I am sorry to put you to any trouble."
The woman did not answer, but going to a rude pantry took out a plate of meat, and some dry bread. The former she put in the oven, and proceeded to brew19 some tea.
Dean watched her preparations with eager interest. It seemed to him that he had never been so hungry. He had probably walked ten miles over a rough path, and the exercise had tired him as much as twice the distance on the plain. Besides he had his valise with him, and had found it decidedly an incumbrance.
From time to time the old woman paused in her preparations and eyed him searchingly. What it was that attracted her attention Dean could not guess till she suddenly pointed20 to his chain, and asked, "Is there a watch at the end of that?"
"Yes," answered Dean with a sudden feeling of apprehension21.
"Let me look at it."
Reluctantly he drew out the watch, and into the191 woman's eyes crept a covetous22 gleam, as she advanced and took it in her hand.
"It's pretty," she said. "What's it worth?"
"I don't know," answered Dean. "I didn't buy it. It was a present to me."
"It ought to be worth a good sum."
"I value it because it was given me by a friend," said Dean hurriedly.
"We've got nothing to tell time by," said the woman, slowly, still eying the watch with a fixed23 look, "except the sun."
Dean did not reply.
"How do you wind it up?" asked the woman after a pause. "Do you have a key?"
"No; it's a stem-winder."
"What's that?"
"I will show you," and Dean wound the watch as far as it would go.
She released her hold upon the watch, and Dean put it back in his pocket, rather relieved to have recovered possession of it again.
Five minutes later the meal was ready, such as it was.
"Set up," said the woman.
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"What kind of meat is it?" he asked.
"B'ar meat."
"Are there bears in these mountains?"
"Yes; my son killed this one. He's killed many a b'ar, Dan has. He's a master hand with the rifle. There's none that can beat him."
"Isn't it dangerous to tackle a bear?"
As Dean surveyed his hostess, he thought her quite capable of encountering a bear. Her walk and air were masculine, and there seemed nothing feminine about her.
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收听单词发音
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1
frustrate
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| v.使失望；使沮丧；使厌烦 | |
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scruple
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| n./v.顾忌，迟疑 | |
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westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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dwindled
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| v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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7
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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8
solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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chilly
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| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
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descry
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| v.远远看到；发现；责备 | |
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11
knuckles
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| n.（指人）指关节( knuckle的名词复数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝v.（指人）指关节( knuckle的第三人称单数 )；（指动物）膝关节，踝 | |
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12
shuffling
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| adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式 | |
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13
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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14
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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15
scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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16
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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17
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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18
primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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19
brew
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| v.酿造，调制 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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covetous
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| adj.贪婪的，贪心的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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24
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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25
alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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timorous
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| adj.胆怯的，胆小的 | |
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