But where should he go?
Should he return to the Hotel du Glacier4 and place himself again in the clutches of his treacherous5 guardian6? He felt that to be out of the question. Besides, he rightly conjectured7 that Sharpley had already left the hotel. No, he must detach himself wholly from his enemy. He must rely upon himself. He must get home the best way he could, and then expose the conspirators8, for he was convinced that Mr. Craven was involved in it. But a serious difficulty presented itself. He [243] was about four thousand miles from home, and to return, as well as to stay where he was, required money. This led him to an examination of his finances. He never carried much money with him. Sharpley being treasurer9. Opening his pocket-book, he found he had sixty francs only, or about twelve dollars in gold. Now, as my readers will readily judge, twelve dollars is hardly adequate for a return journey from Switzerland to America.
Had Frank been dismayed at this situation it would hardly have created surprise, but, on the contrary, he felt in very good spirits.
"I don't believe I shall starve," he said to himself. "If I can only get to Paris, I will seek out Mr. Tarbox, and I am sure he will lend me money enough to get home."
But had he enough to get to Paris? Barely enough to travel third class; but then he must remember the good people who had found and taken care of him. For this alone, twelve dollars was inadequate10. But he could take their names, and promise to send them more from America.
His difficulty would have been far less great had he known that at [244] that very moment Mr. Tarbox had just arrived at the Hotel du Glacier in search of him, prepared to help him to the best of his ability. But of this he knew nothing.
So, on the morning of the fifth day, Frank announced to his humble11 friends that he must leave them.
"But are you strong enough, monsieur?" asked the peasant's wife.
"Oh, yes, madame; thanks to your kind care, I am quite recovered."
"And monsieur will go to his friends?"
"I have no friends in Europe."
"What! so young and alone?"
"I did not come alone. I came in charge of a man whom I thought friendly, but it was he who threw me over the cliff and nearly killed me."
"Surely, monsieur is mistaken!" exclaimed the woman, astonished.
"No," answered Frank. "He is my enemy. It is a long story; but at home I am rich, and I think he is employed by my step-father to kill me."
[245]
In answer to questions, Frank gave a general account of the circumstances to the worthy12 people, and closed by saying: "When I have returned to America, I shall send you suitable compensation for your kindness. Now, I can only give you enough to pay what you have expended13 for me."
He drew from his pocket two Napoleons (two-thirds of his available means), and insisted upon their acceptance. They at first refused to take the money, but finally accepted it.
Had they known that Frank would be left with but twenty francs himself, they would have taken nothing, but Americans abroad are popularly supposed to be even richer than they are, and it never occurred to them to suspect our hero's present poverty.
They stood in the doorway14, watching him as he started off with a firm step, and a heart almost as light as his purse, and heartily15 joined in the wish, "Bon voyage, monsieur."
Frank waved his hat, smiling, and set out on his way.
[246]
Had our hero been well provided with money, nothing could have been more agreeable than a pedestrian journey amid the beautiful scenery of the Alps. Even as it was, Frank felt the exhilarating influences of the fresh morning air and the grand scenery, visible on all sides, for he was hemmed16 in by mountains.
His proposed terminus being Paris, he kept a general northwesterly course, making inquiries17 when at all at a loss as to the road.
At midday he found himself in a little village. By this time he was hungry. He did not go to a hotel. He felt that his slender store of money would not justify18 it. He stopped, instead, at a cottage, and for a few cents obtained a pint19 of milk and a small loaf. This fare was plain enough, but appetite is the best sauce, and his hunger made it taste delicious.
He rested for three hours, then, when the sun's rays were less powerful, he resumed his journey.
At seven o'clock in the evening he had accomplished20 about twenty-five [247] miles, and was foot-sore and weary. He selected another cottage, and made application for supper and a bed.
"Monsieur will do better to go to the hotel," said the peasant. "We are poor people, and our accommodations are too humble for a gentleman like monsieur."
Frank smiled. He saw that they judged of his means by his clothing, which was of fine texture21 and fashionable cut, for he had purchased a traveling suit in London.
"I have been robbed of nearly all my money," he explained (this was true, for it was in Sharpley's possession), "and I cannot afford to go to the hotel. If you will let me stay here, I will gladly accept what accommodations you have to offer."
"Oh, in that case, monsieur," said the peasant's wife, cheerfully, "you are quite welcome. Come right in."
Frank entered. He soon had set before him a supper of bread, milk and honey, to which he did ample justice. Then he asked permission to bathe his feet, which were sore. At nine o'clock he went to bed, and, as [248] might have been expected, enjoyed a sound sleep, which refreshed him not a little.
I have described this one day as a specimen22 of the manner in which Frank traveled. The charges were so small that he made his money go a long way. But the stock was so small that it steadily23 became less with formidable rapidity, and our young hero found himself with poverty staring him in the face. He had traveled over a hundred miles, nearly a hundred and fifty, when, on counting his money, he found that he had but forty cents (or two francs) left. This was a serious state of things.
"What shall I do?" thought Frank, as he sat down by the wayside to reflect on his situation. "To-morrow I shall be penniless, and I must be six or seven hundred miles from Paris, more or less. One thing is certain, I can't travel for nothing. What shall I do?"
Frank reflected that if he were in America he would seek for a job at sawing wood, or any other kind of unskilled labor24 for which he was [249] competent. He could hire himself out for a month, till he could obtain money enough to prosecute25 his journey. But it was evident that there was very little chance of this resource here. The peasants at whose cottages he stopped were poor in money; they had none to spare, and they did their own work. Besides, it was not likely that his services would be worth much to them. There was one thing he might do. He might remain over a few days somewhere, and write meanwhile to Jonathan Tarbox, in Paris, asking him to send him fifty francs or so. But, somehow, Frank did not like to do this. As we know, it would have done no good, as Mr. Tarbox was now in Switzerland seeking him. He felt that he would like to make his way to Paris unaided if possible. But how to do it was a difficult problem.
He was plunged26 in deep reflection on this point when his attention was called to a boy of seven, who came running past crying and sobbing27.
"Qu' avez vous?" asked Frank; or, "What is the matter with you?"
[250]
"Oh, I can't understand French," said the boy.
"What is the matter?" asked our hero, in English.
"I am lost," was the reply. "I don't know where papa or sister is."
"Don't cry. I will help you to find them. But, first, tell me what is your name, and how you happened to get lost."
"My name is Herbert Grosvenor," answered the little fellow.
He went on to say that his father was a London merchant, who was traveling with himself and his sister Beatrice. He had walked out in charge of a servant, but the latter had stopped at an inn and became drunk. Then he became so violent that Herbert was afraid and ran away. But he was too young to know the road, and had lost his way.
"Oh, yes, you will," said Frank, encouragingly. "I will take you to him. Do you remember where he is stopping?"
[251]
The boy was luckily able to answer correctly that his father was stopping at the Hotel de la Couronne, in a large town, which Frank knew to be only two miles distant.
"Come, Herbert," he said, cheerfully, "I will carry you back to your father. Take my hand, and we will set out at once, if you are not tired."
"Oh, no, I am not tired. I can walk," said the little boy, brightening up, and putting his hand with confidence in that of his young protector.
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收听单词发音
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1
bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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3
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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glacier
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| n.冰川，冰河 | |
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5
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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6
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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conjectured
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| 推测，猜测，猜想( conjecture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8
conspirators
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| n.共谋者，阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 ) | |
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treasurer
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| n.司库，财务主管 | |
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10
inadequate
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| adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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12
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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13
expended
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| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
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14
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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hemmed
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| 缝…的褶边( hem的过去式和过去分词 )； 包围 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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18
justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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pint
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| n.品脱 | |
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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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texture
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| n.(织物)质地；(材料)构造；结构；肌理 | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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prosecute
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| vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官 | |
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26
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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27
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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28
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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