In the afternoon, however, Frank usually had two or three hours at his own disposal, and this, in accordance with a previous determination, he resolved to devote to keeping up his studies. He did not expect to make the same progress that he would have done if he had been able to continue at school, but it was something to feel that he was not remaining stationary3.
Frank resolved to say nothing to his classmates about his private studies. They would think he was falling far behind, and at some future time he would surprise them.
Still, there were times when he felt the need of a teacher. He would occasionally encounter difficulties which he found himself unable to surmount4 without assistance. At such times he thought of Mr Rathburn's kind offer. But his old teacher lived nearly a mile distant, and he felt averse5 to troubling him, knowing that his duties in school were arduous6.
Occasionally he met some of his schoolmates. As nearly all of them were friendly and well-disposed to him, this gave him pleasure, and brought back sometimes the wish that he was as free as they. But this wish was almost instantly checked by the thought that he had made a sacrifice for his country's sake.
A few days after the incident narrated7 in the last chapter, Frank was out in the woods not far from Chloe's cottage, collecting brushwood, to be afterward8 carried home, when his attention was called to an altercation9, one of the parties in which he readily recognized as little Pomp. To explain how it came about, we shall have to go back a little.
Pomp was returning from Mrs. Frost's, swinging a tin kettle containing provisions for his mother and himself, when all at once he met John Haynes, who was coming from the opposite direction.
Now, John was something of a bully10, and liked to exercise authority over the boys who were small enough to render the attempt a safe one. On the present occasion he felt in a hectoring mood.
Pomp approached, swinging his pail as before, and whistling a plantation12 melody.
“What have you got there, Pomp?” asked John.
“I'se got a pail,” said Pomp independently. “Don't yer know a pail when you see him?”
“I know an impudent13 little nigger when I see him,” retorted John, not overpleased with the answer. “Come here directly, and let me see what you've got in your pail.”
“We'll see about that,” said John. “Now, do you mean to come here or not? I'm going to count three, and I'll give you that time to decide. One—two—three!”
Pomp apparently15 had no intention of complying with John's request. He had halted about three rods from him, and stood swinging his pail, meanwhile watching John warily16.
“I see you want me to come after you,” said John angrily.
He ran toward Pomp, but the little contraband17 dodged18 him adroitly19, and got on the other side of a tree.
Opposition20 only stimulated21 John to new efforts. He had become excited in the pursuit, and had made up his mind to capture Pomp, who dodged in and out among the trees with such quickness and dexterity22 that John was foiled for a considerable time. The ardor23 of his pursuit and its unexpected difficulty excited his anger. He lost sight of the fact that Pomp was under no obligation to comply with his demand. But this is generally the way with tyrants24, who are seldom careful to keep within the bounds of justice and reason.
“Just let me catch you, you little rascal25, and I will give you the worst licking you ever had,” John exclaimed, with passion.
“Wait till you catch me,” returned Pomp, slipping, eel-like, from his grasp.
But Pomp, in dodging26, had now come to an open space, where he was at a disadvantage. John was close upon him, when suddenly he stood stock-still, bending his back so as to obtain a firm footing. The consequence was that his too ardent27 pursuer tumbled over him, and stretched his length upon the ground.
Unfortunately for Pomp, John grasped his leg in falling, and held it by so firm a grip that he was unable to get free. In the moment of his downfall John attained28 his object.
“Now I've got you,” he said, white with passion, “and I'm going to teach you a lesson.”
Clinging to Pomp with one hand, he drew a stout29 string from his pocket with the other, and secured the hands of the little contraband, notwithstanding his efforts to escape.
“Le' me go, you debble,” he said, using a word which had grown familiar to him on the plantation.
There was a cruel light in John's eyes which augured32 little good to poor Pomp. Suddenly, as if a new idea had struck him, he loosened the cord, and taking the boy carried him, in spite of his kicking and screaming, to a small tree, around which he clasped his hands, which he again confined with cords.
Pomp watched his preparations with terror. Too well he knew what they meant. More than once he had seen those of his own color whipped on the plantation. Unconsciously, he glided35 into the language which he would have used there.
“Don't whip me, Massa John,” he whimpered in terror. “For the lub of Heaven, lef me be. I ain't done noffin' to you.”
“You'd better have thought of that before,” said John, his eyes blazing anew with vengeful light. “If I whip you, you little black rascal, it's only because you richly deserve it.”
“I'll nebber do so again,” pleaded Pomp, rolling his eyes in terror. Though what it was he promised not to do the poor little fellow would have found it hard to tell.
By the time he had completed his preparations, and whirled his stick in the air preparatory to bringing it down with full force on Pomp's back, rapid steps were heard, and a voice asked, “What are you doing there, John Haynes?”
John looked round, and saw standing30 near him Frank Frost, whose attention had been excited by what he had heard of Pomp's cries.
“Save me, save me, Mass' Frank,” pleaded poor little Pomp.
“What has he tied you up there for, Pomp?”
“It's none of your business, Frank Frost,” said John passionately38.
“I think it's some of my business,” said Frank coolly, “when I find you playing the part of a Southern overseer. You are not in Richmond, John Haynes, and you'll get into trouble if you undertake to act as if you were.”
“If you say much more, I'll flog you too!” screamed John, beside himself with excitement and rage.
Frank had not a particle of cowardice39 in his composition. He was not fond of fighting, but he felt that circumstances made it necessary for him to do so now. He did not easily lose his temper, and this at present gave him the advantage over John.
“You are too excited to know what you are talking about,” he said coolly. “Pomp, why has he tied you up?”
Pomp explained that John had tried to get his pail from him. He closed by imploring40 “Mass' Frank” to prevent John from whipping him.
“He shall not whip you, Pomp,” said Frank quietly. As he spoke41 he stepped to the tree and faced John intrepidly42.
John, in a moment of less passion, would not have ventured to attack a boy so near his own size. Like all bullies43, he was essentially44 a coward, but now his rage got the better of his prudence45.
Frank was about half a head shorter than John, and was more than a year younger, but he was stout and compactly built; besides, he was cool and collected, and this is always an advantage.
Before John realized what had happened, his stick had flown from his hand, and he was forcibly pushed back, so that he narrowly escaped falling to the ground.
“Gib it to him, Mass' Frank!” shouted little Pomp. “Gib it to him!”
“I'll kill you, Frank Frost,” he exclaimed, this time rushing at him without a stick.
Frank had been in the habit of wrestling for sport with the boys of his own size. In this way he had acquired a certain amount of dexterity in “tripping up.” John, on the contrary, was unpractised. His quick temper was so easily roused that other boys had declined engaging in friendly contests with him, knowing that in most cases they would degenerate49 into a fight.
John rushed forward, and attempted to throw Frank by the strength of his arms alone. Frank eluded50 his grasp, and, getting one of his legs around John's, with a quick movement tripped him up. He fell heavily upon his back.
“This is all foolish, John,” said Frank, bending over his fallen foe51. “What are you fighting for? The privilege of savagely52 whipping a poor little fellow less than half your age?”
“I care more about whipping you, a cursed sight!” said John, taking advantage of Frank's withdrawing his pressure to spring to his feet. “You first, and him afterward!”
Again he threw himself upon Frank; but again coolness and practice prevailed against blind fury and untaught strength, and again he lay prostrate53.
By this time Pomp had freed himself from the string that fettered54 his wrists, and danced in glee round John Haynes, in whose discomfiture55 he felt great delight.
“You'd better pick up your pail and run home,” said Frank. He was generously desirous of saving John from further humiliation56. “Will you go away quietly if I will let you up, John?” he asked.
“I am sorry,” said Frank, “for in that case I must continue to hold you down.”
“What is the trouble, boys?” came from an unexpected quarter.
It was Mr. Maynard, who, chancing to pass along the road, had been attracted by the noise of the struggle.
Frank explained in a few words.
“Let him up, Frank,” said the old man. “I'll see that he does no further harm.”
John rose to his feet, and looked scowlingly from one to the other, as if undecided whether he had not better attack both.
“You've disgraced yourself, John Haynes,” said the old farmer scornfully. “So you would turn negro-whipper, would you? Your talents are misapplied here at the North. Brutality58 isn't respectable here, my lad. You'd better find your way within the rebel lines, and then perhaps you can gratify your propensity59 for whipping the helpless.”
“Some day I'll be revenged on you for this,” said John, turning wrathfully upon Frank. “Perhaps you think I don't mean it, but the day will come when you'll remember what I say.”
“I wish you no harm, John,” said Frank composedly, “but I sha'n't stand by and see you beat a boy like Pomp.”
“No,” said the farmer sternly; “and if ever I hear of your doing it, I'll horsewhip you till you beg for mercy. Now go home, and carry your disgrace with you.”
“I'll come up with him yet,” he muttered to himself, as he walked quietly toward home. “If he doesn't rue31 this day, my name isn't John Haynes.”
John did not see fit to make known the circumstances of his quarrel with Frank, feeling, justly, that neither his design nor the result would reflect any credit upon himself. But his wrath was none the less deep because he brooded over it in secret. He would have renewed his attempt upon Pomp, but there was something in Mr. Maynard's eye which assured him that his threat would be carried out. Frank, solicitous63 for the little fellow's safety, kept vigilant64 watch over him for some days, but no violence was attempted. He hoped John had forgotten his threats.
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1
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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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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stationary
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| adj.固定的，静止不动的 | |
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surmount
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| vt.克服；置于…顶上 | |
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averse
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| adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的 | |
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arduous
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| adj.艰苦的，费力的，陡峭的 | |
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7
narrated
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| v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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altercation
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| n.争吵，争论 | |
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bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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espied
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| v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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warily
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| adv.留心地 | |
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contraband
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| n.违禁品，走私品 | |
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dodged
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| v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避 | |
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adroitly
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| adv.熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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stimulated
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| a.刺激的 | |
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dexterity
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| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
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ardor
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| n.热情，狂热 | |
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tyrants
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| 专制统治者( tyrant的名词复数 )； 暴君似的人； （古希腊的）僭主； 严酷的事物 | |
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rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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dodging
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| n.避开，闪过，音调改变v.闪躲( dodge的现在分词 )；回避 | |
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ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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rue
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| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
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augured
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| v.预示，预兆，预言( augur的过去式和过去分词 )；成为预兆；占卜 | |
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divested
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| v.剥夺( divest的过去式和过去分词 )；脱去（衣服）；2。从…取去…；1。（给某人）脱衣服 | |
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twigs
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| 细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
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35
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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soften
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| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 | |
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nether
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| adj.下部的，下面的；n.阴间；下层社会 | |
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passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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41
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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42
intrepidly
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| adv.无畏地，勇猛地 | |
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bullies
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| n.欺凌弱小者, 开球 vt.恐吓, 威胁, 欺负 | |
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essentially
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| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
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45
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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46
hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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exasperation
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| n.愤慨 | |
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48
foaming
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| adj.布满泡沫的；发泡 | |
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degenerate
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| v.退步，堕落；adj.退步的，堕落的；n.堕落者 | |
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50
eluded
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| v.（尤指机敏地）避开( elude的过去式和过去分词 )；逃避；躲避；使达不到 | |
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51
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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52
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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53
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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54
fettered
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| v.给…上脚镣，束缚( fetter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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55
discomfiture
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| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
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humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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57
writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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58
brutality
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| n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮 | |
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59
propensity
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| n.倾向；习性 | |
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60
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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61
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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62
smothered
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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solicitous
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| adj.热切的，挂念的 | |
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vigilant
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| adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的 | |
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