CHAPTER V. MILES SETS OUT ON HIS JOURNEY.

 "When Miles woke up in the morning he found Tom beside him.

 

"Hallo, Tom!" he said, in some surprise. "This is an early call."

 

"I have been here half the night," said Tom, quietly.

 

"How is that?"

 

"I was afraid you would be robbed."

 

"Did you have any particular reason for fearing it?" asked Miles, quickly.

 

Thereupon Tom described his chance visit of the evening before, and what he saw. As might have been expected, John Miles was indignant.

 

"The miserable¹ sneak²! I'd like to wring³ his neck," he exclaimed. "Did you say he had his hand upon the bag of gold-dust, Tom?"[Pg 49]EY.

 

"Yes; I distinctly saw him attempting to draw it out from under your head."

 

"If the boys knew of this, Crane's fate would be sealed. A thief in a mining camp has a short shrift."

 

"You mean he would be hung?" asked Tom, in surprise.

 

"Yes, he would grace a limb of yonder tree, and I am not sure but it would be the best way to dispose of him."

 

Tom shuddered⁴.

 

"It would be a terrible fate," he said. "I should like to see him punished, but I don't want him hanged."

 

"Then you will have to keep your mouth shut. Once let the boys get hold of what happened, and nothing will save him."

 

"Then I shall keep it to myself."

 

"I will see Crane, and let him understand that I am aware of the attempt he made," said Miles.

 

After breakfast he came upon Crane within a few rods of Missouri Jack's saloon.[Pg 50]

 

"Look here, Bill Crane," said Miles, "I've got something to say to you."

 

"What is it?" returned Crane, sullenly⁵, looking ill at ease.

 

"I understand you favored me with a visit, last night."

 

"Who told you so?"

 

"Tom Nelson."

 

"The young cub⁶ had better mind his own business," growled⁷ Crane, in a menacing tone.

 

"He did me a service in preventing your intended theft."

 

"If he says I meant to rob you, he lies!"

 

"Nevertheless, if he should make public what he saw, the boys would be likely to believe him rather than you," said Miles, significantly.

 

"Is he going to tell?" asked Crane, nervously⁸.

 

"He has told me, but is not likely to speak of it to others, being unwilling⁹ that you should suffer the punishment you deserve."

 

"He is very kind," sneered¹⁰ Bill Crane, but he felt very much relieved.

 

"You probably owe your life to his kindness,"[Pg 51] said Miles, quietly. "He tells me you wish me to do something for you in Frisco."

 

"I've changed my mind," said Crane, abruptly¹¹; "I may go there myself, soon."

 

Miles smiled.

 

"I thought it might be something urgent," he said, "since it led you to come to my tent at midnight."

 

"I thought you would be starting away early this morning."

 

"Well thought of, Bill Crane; but it is only fair to tell you that I don't believe a word you say. I have one thing to say to you before I go, and you had better bear it in mind. If you harm a hair of Tom Nelson's head, and I believe you quite capable of it, I will never rest till I have found you out and punished you for it."

 

"I am not afraid of you, John Miles," retorted Crane, but he looked uncomfortable.

 

"You will have cause to be, if you injure Tom."

 

Miles walked off, leaving behind him a bitter enemy.[Pg 52]

 

"I hate him—him and the boy too!" muttered Bill Crane. "If I dared, I would put my mark on him before he leaves the camp."

 

But Crane did not dare. He knew that he was in a very critical position. His safety depended on the silence of two persons—one of whom would soon be gone. He was not aware that Ferguson also knew of his attempted crime, or the danger would have seemed greater. However much he thirsted for vengeance¹², it would not do to gratify it now. He must bide¹³ his time.

 

Bill Crane was cunning as well as malignant¹⁴. He decided¹⁵ to quiet Tom's suspicions if he could, and ensure his continued silence, by an affectation of friendliness¹⁶. He waited till he saw our hero washing dust beyond earshot of any listeners, and strolled up to him.

 

"How are you getting on, Tom?" he asked, with an appearance of friendliness.

 

Tom looked up quickly. Considering all that had happened, he was somewhat struck by Crane's effrontery¹⁷.

 

"Fairly well," he answered coldly.[Pg 53]

 

"Shan't I relieve you a few minutes?" proposed Crane.

 

"No, thank you."

 

"It's pretty hard work, and don't pay as well as it might. I think California's a humbug¹⁸, for my part."

 

"Have you tried washing for gold?" asked Tom. "I haven't seen you at work."

 

"Not here. I've tried it elsewhere, but it's slow."

 

"Then, why do you stay here?" asked Tom, naturally.

 

Crane shrugged¹⁹ his shoulders.

 

"Because I haven't money to get away," he said. "I'm waiting for something to turn up. If I could only get to Frisco, I would go into some business. I would like to have gone with Miles."

 

"Was that what you were going to propose to him, last night?" asked Tom, dryly.

 

"Yes, I wanted to speak to him on that subject. I had a great mind to ask him to lend me a little money, and take me along with him.[Pg 54] I would have arranged to pay him soon after we reached Frisco."

 

Tom knew that the fellow was lying, and remained silent.

 

"You made a little mistake about my intentions," continued Bill Crane, smoothly²⁰, "but perhaps it was natural under the circumstances."

 

Tom thought it was, but still preserved silence, much to Crane's discomfiture²¹.

 

Bill Crane eyed him sharply, and saw his incredulity, but for that he cared little, if only he could secure his silence.

 

"I think you will see that it isn't fair to me to speak of this matter," he continued.

 

"I had made up my mind not to speak of it," said Tom. "I don't want to get you into trouble."

 

"Good-morning, Mr. Crane," said Lawrence Peabody, who had just come up.

 

"Good-morning, Peabody. I was watching our friend Tom. How are you getting on?"

 

"I haven't done anything yet to-day. It's dirty work. I don't think it's fit for a gentleman;[Pg 55] Tom, there, is used to work, and he don't mind."

 

"Shall we go round to Jack's?"

 

"All right!"

 

And the two walked away together.

 

"I am sorry Peabody doesn't keep better company," Tom said to himself. "Bill Crane won't do him any good."

1 miserable   

adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的

参考例句：

• It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他，这是可耻的。
• Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。

2 sneak   

vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行

参考例句：

• He raised his spear and sneak forward.他提起长矛悄悄地前进。
• I saw him sneak away from us.我看见他悄悄地从我们身边走开。

3 wring   

n.扭绞；v.拧，绞出，扭

参考例句：

• My socks were so wet that I had to wring them.我的袜子很湿，我不得不拧干它们。
• I'll wring your neck if you don't behave!你要是不规矩，我就拧断你的脖子。

4 shuddered   

v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动

参考例句：

• He slammed on the brakes and the car shuddered to a halt. 他猛踩刹车，车颤抖着停住了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I shuddered at the sight of the dead body. 我一看见那尸体就战栗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 sullenly   

不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地

参考例句：

• 'so what?" Tom said sullenly. “那又怎么样呢？”汤姆绷着脸说。
• Emptiness after the paper, I sIt'sullenly in front of the stove. 报看完，想不出能找点什么事做，只好一人坐在火炉旁生气。

6 cub   

n.幼兽，年轻无经验的人

参考例句：

• The lion cub's mother was hunting for what she needs. 这只幼师的母亲正在捕猎。
• The cub licked the milk from its mother's breast. 这头幼兽吸吮着它妈妈的奶水。

7 growled   

v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说

参考例句：

• \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道：“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 nervously   

adv.神情激动地，不安地

参考例句：

• He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇，努力忍着不哭出来。
• He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。

9 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

10 sneered   

讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He sneered at people who liked pop music. 他嘲笑喜欢流行音乐的人。
• It's very discouraging to be sneered at all the time. 成天受嘲讽是很令人泄气的。

11 abruptly   

adv.突然地，出其不意地

参考例句：

• He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
• I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。

12 vengeance   

n.报复，报仇，复仇

参考例句：

• He swore vengeance against the men who murdered his father.他发誓要向那些杀害他父亲的人报仇。
• For years he brooded vengeance.多年来他一直在盘算报仇。

13 bide   

v.忍耐；等候；住

参考例句：

• We'll have to bide our time until the rain stops.我们必须等到雨停。
• Bide here for a while. 请在这儿等一会儿。

14 malignant   

adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的

参考例句：

• Alexander got a malignant slander.亚历山大受到恶意的诽谤。
• He started to his feet with a malignant glance at Winston.他爬了起来，不高兴地看了温斯顿一眼。

15 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

16 friendliness   

n.友谊，亲切，亲密

参考例句：

• Behind the mask of friendliness,I know he really dislikes me.在友善的面具后面，我知道他其实并不喜欢我。
• His manner was a blend of friendliness and respect.他的态度友善且毕恭毕敬。

17 effrontery   

n.厚颜无耻

参考例句：

• This is a despicable fraud . Just imagine that he has the effrontery to say it.这是一个可耻的骗局. 他竟然有脸说这样的话。
• One could only gasp at the sheer effrontery of the man.那人十足的厚颜无耻让人们吃惊得无话可说。

18 humbug   

n.花招，谎话，欺骗

参考例句：

• I know my words can seem to him nothing but utter humbug.我知道，我说的话在他看来不过是彻头彻尾的慌言。
• All their fine words are nothing but humbug.他们的一切花言巧语都是骗人的。

19 shrugged   

vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
• She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

20 smoothly   

adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地

参考例句：

• The workmen are very cooperative,so the work goes on smoothly.工人们十分合作，所以工作进展顺利。
• Just change one or two words and the sentence will read smoothly.这句话只要动一两个字就顺了。

21 discomfiture   

n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑

参考例句：

• I laughed my head off when I heard of his discomfiture. 听到别人说起他的狼狈相，我放声大笑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Without experiencing discomfiture and setbacks,one can never find truth. 不经过失败和挫折，便找不到真理。 来自《简明英汉词典》