“Folks say you’ve got a new boarder, Fox,” said Bill Latimer, as he laid down his glass on the counter.
“Yes,” answered Fox, complacently3. “I’m his guardeen.”
“Folks say he got a pile of money for saving the train.”
“He got a pretty stiff sum,” answered Fox cautiously.
“Do you keep his money?”
“Yes.”
“Is he easy to manage?” asked John Blake.
“Well, some folks might find trouble with him,” said Fox, complacently. “The fact is, gentlemen, I don’t mind telling you that he’s been trying to buck4 agin’ his guardeen a’ready. Where do you think I left him?” continued Fox, chuckling5.
“Where?”
“Up in the attic6, locked up in his chamber7. I’m goin’ to feed him on bread and water a while, just to show him what sort of a man John Fox is.”
A grin overspread the face of Eben Bond, who had just looked out of the front window.
“Yes, I did. Do you mean to say I didn’t?”
“I’m willin’ to bet he isn’t there now.”
“You just tell me what you mean, Eben Bond!” said John Fox, provoked.
“I mean that I saw that boy of yours go by the tavern only two minutes since.”
“Where did he go? In what direction?” demanded Fox, eagerly.
“Down toward the river.”
“He’s running away,” Fox said to himself, in dismay. “How in the the world did he get out?”
He ran up the road, gazing anxiously on this side and on that, hoping to come upon the runaway9. One thing was favorable; it was a straight road, with no roads opening out of it at least a mile beyond the tavern. It led by the river at a point half a mile on.
“I’ll catch him yet. He can’t escape me!” Fox reflected.
Harry11 had sobered down to a walk, thinking himself no longer in danger. If Mr. Fox had been wise enough to keep silent till he had come within a few rods he might have caught him easily, but excitement and anger were too much for prudence12, and he called out, angrily: “Just wait till I get hold of you, you young villain13! I’ll give you a lesson.”
Harry turned quickly and saw his enemy close upon him.
That was enough. He set out on what the boys call a dead run, though he hardly knew in what direction to look for refuge. But through the trees at the west side of the road he caught sight of something that put new hope into his heart. It was a boat, floating within three feet of shore. In it sat a boy of about Harry’s own age. It was Willie Foster.
There was no time for ceremony, Harry sprang into the boat, and, seizing an idle oar2, pushed out into the river.
The owner of the boat, who had been thoughtfully gazing into the water, looked up in surprise.
“Well, that’s cool!” he ejaculated.
John Fox, by this time, stood on the river bank shaking his fist, with a discomfited15 expression, at his intended victim.
“Come back here!” he shouted.
“Thank you, I would rather not,” answered Harry, still increasing the distance between himself and his guardian16.
“Is your name Willie Foster?” asked Harry, turning to his companion, who was looking, with a puzzled expression, from one to the other.
“Yes.”
“Then, Willie, if you will help me row over to the other side of the river and set me off there, I’ll give you a dollar.”
“I’ll do it,” said Willie, seizing the other oar, “but you needn’t give me any money.”
To his intense disgust, Fox saw the boat, propelled by the two boys, leaping forward energetically, while he stood helplessly on the bank.
The other bank was half a mile away, and could not be reached except by a bridge a considerable distance away. The two boys said little until the trip was accomplished18.
“I hope you won’t get into any serious trouble with Mr. Fox,” said Harry, as they drew near the bank.
“I don’t care for old Fox, and father doesn’t like him, either.”
As he got out of the boat he pressed a dollar into Willie’s reluctant hand.
“Now, which way had I better go?”
“Good-by, Willie; and thank you.”
Willie didn’t row back immediately. John Fox was lying in wait on the other side, and he didn’t care to meet him.
Harry pushed on till he reached a highway. He felt in doubt as to where it might lead him, but followed it at a venture. He wondered whether John Fox would pursue him, and from time to time looked back to make sure that his guardian was not on his trail. In about three hours he found himself eight miles away. Then, for the first time, he felt that it might be safe to stop and rest. In a village a little way back he had entered a bakeshop and purchased some rolls and a glass of milk, which he ate with a good relish20.
He resumed his walk, but had not gone a quarter of a mile when he heard the noise of wheels, which on coming up with him, came to a halt.
“Shall I give you a lift?” said the driver of the team.
Looking up, he saw that it was a covered wagon21 with four wheels, such as is often to be met in New England towns. The man who held the reins22 was of large frame and portly, with dark hair and whiskers. He might be about forty-five years of age.
“Thank you, sir, said Harry.
“Where are you bound, if you don’t mind my being inquisitive23?”
“I don’t know,” answered Harry, doubtfully. “I’m seeking my fortune, as they say.”
“Well you ought to find it,” returned the other, after a deliberate survey of his young companion. “You’re well-built, and look healthy and strong. Have you got any money?”
“A little. My father died lately and left me three hundred dollars. He recommended to me as guardian a man named John Fox, living eight miles back. Well, I have tried Mr. Fox, and I prefer to be my own guardian.”
“I’ve heard of John Fox. He’s fox by name and fox by nature. So you and he didn’t hitch24 horses. When did you leave him?”
“This morning. I don’t know but I may say that I am running away from him, as I left without his knowledge or permission, but as he is not yet my legal guardian, I don’t consider that he has any right to interfere25 with me.”
“You haven’t told me your name yet.”
“My name is Harry Vane.”
“I am the Magician of Madagascar. You may have heard of me.”
“I don’t think I have,” said Harry, puzzled.
“I have been before the public many years,” he said. “I give magical entertainments, and, in the course of the last twenty years, have traveled all over the continent.”
“You see,” explained Harry, apologetically, “I have always lived in a small country town, where there were few amusements, and so I know very little of such things. I never saw a magical entertainment in my life.”
“Didn’t you, indeed? Then you shall see me perform to-night. I am to give a magical soiree in Conway, the town we are coming to.”
“I should like it very much, Mr. ——” and Harry paused in doubt.
“I am called Professor Hemenway—Hiram Hemenway,” said the magician.
“Why shouldn’t I? I have a chance to travel. The people appreciate my efforts and reward me generously.”
By a fortunate accident Harry happened to turn in his seat and look through a small window in the back part of the wagon. What he saw startled him. In a buggy, ten rods back, he recognized his late guardian and Joel. They were making good speed, and were doubtless in pursuit of him.
Harry quickly imparted his discovery to his companion.
“Don’t let them capture me!” he said.
“I should like to see him do it,” responded the professor. “Get into the back part of the wagon, and crouch27 down.”
Harry did as directed.
Then the professor slackened his speed, and allowed the pursuers to overtake him.
“I say, stranger,” said Fox, as he drew up alongside. “A boy ran away from me this morning. Perhaps you have seen him?”
“I saw a boy about a mile back,” said the magician, reflectively, “a stout28, good-looking lad, dark-brown hair, and a pleasant expression; didn’t look at all like you. I chatted with him a while. He said he was leaving a man who claimed to be his guardian, but wasn’t.”
“Is he in your wagon?” put in Joel, sharply.
“If he were you’d see him, wouldn’t you?”
“In behind you?”
“Yes, are you kidnapping him?” demanded Fox, fiercely.
“There is a boy in the back part of my wagon,” said the magician, coolly. “If you ain’t afraid of smallpox30, you may see him. Which shall it be, you or the boy?”
A pallid31 hue32 overspread the face of John Fox, which was increased by an agonizing33 moan, which appeared to proceed from behind the magician.
“Turn the horse, Joel,” was all he said.
He whipped up his horse without a word, and did not pull up for half a mile.
“You can come out now, Harry,” said the professor, with a queer smile. “I am a ventriloquist, and that moan did the business.”
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1
tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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3
complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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4
buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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chuckling
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 ) | |
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6
attic
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| n.顶楼，屋顶室 | |
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7
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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8
waggishly
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| adv.waggish（滑稽的，诙谐的）的变形 | |
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9
runaway
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| n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的 | |
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10
fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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11
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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12
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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13
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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14
plying
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的现在分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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15
discomfited
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| v.使为难( discomfit的过去式和过去分词)；使狼狈；使挫折；挫败 | |
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16
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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17
bawled
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的过去式和过去分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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18
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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19
footpath
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| n.小路，人行道 | |
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relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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21
wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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22
reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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23
inquisitive
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| adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的 | |
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24
hitch
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| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
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25
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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26
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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27
crouch
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| v.蹲伏，蜷缩，低头弯腰；n.蹲伏 | |
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29
liar
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| n.说谎的人 | |
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30
smallpox
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| n.天花 | |
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31
pallid
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| adj.苍白的，呆板的 | |
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32
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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33
agonizing
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| adj.痛苦难忍的；使人苦恼的v.使极度痛苦；折磨(agonize的ing形式) | |
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