CHAPTER XXXIII — THE JOURNEY BEGINS

 “Wake up, there.”

The little boy stirred in his sleep, and finally opened his eyes. By the faint light that entered through the window, he saw Abner bending over him.

“What is it?” he asked, drowsily¹.

“The kitchen clock's just struck three,” whispered Abner. “You haven't forgotten that we are going to run away, have you?”

“I'll get right up,” said Herbert, rubbing his eyes.

In two minutes the boys were dressed and ready for a start. It had taken a great deal longer for Herbert to dress at home, but he had become less particular as to his toilet now.

The boys took their shoes in their hands, and stole out in their stocking feet. As they passed the door of the room in which Mr. and Mrs. Barton slept, they heard the deep breathing of both, and knew that they were not likely to be heard.

Outside the door they put on their shoes, and were now ready to start.

“Wait a minute, bub,” said Abner.

He re-entered the house, and presently came out holding half a loaf in his hand.

“That'll do for our breakfast,” he said. “We won't eat it now. We'll wait till five o'clock. Then we'll be hungry.”

By five o'clock they were as many miles on their way. They had reached the middle of the next town.

“Do you feel tired, bub?” asked Abner.

“A little. I feel hungry. Don't you think we can eat the bread now?”

“Yes, we'd better. I feel kind o' gone myself.”

They sat down under a tree, and Abner divided the bread fairly.

“You ought to have more than I,” protested Herbert. “You're bigger than I, and need more.”

“Never mind that! You'll need it to keep up your strength.”

Abner was not naturally unselfish, but he was manly² enough to feel that he ought to be generous and kind to a boy so much smaller, and he felt repaid for his self-denial by noticing the evident relish³ with which Herbert ate his allowance of bread, even to the smallest crumb⁴.

They found a spring, which yielded them a cool, refreshing⁵ draught⁶, and soon were on their way once more. They had proceeded perhaps two miles further, when the rumbling⁷ of wheels was heard behind them, and a farm wagon⁸ soon came up alongside. The driver was a man of about thirty—sunburned and roughly clad.

“Whoa, there,” he said.

The horse stopped.

“Where are you two goin'?” he asked.

“We're travelin',” answered Abner, noncommittally.

“Where's your home?”

“Some ways back.”

“Where are you goin'?”

“I'm after work,” answered Abner.

“Well, you'd orter be a good hand at it. You look strong. Is that little feller your brother?”

“No; he's my cousin.”

Herbert looked up in surprise at this avowal⁹ of relationship, but he thought it best not to say anything that would conflict with Abner's statement.

“Is he after work, too?” asked the driver, with a smile.

“No; he's goin' to his father.”

“Where does he live?”

“Further on.”

“Have you walked fur?”

“Pretty fur.”

“Ef you want to ride, I'll give you a lift for a few miles.”

“Thank you,” said Abner, prompt to accept the offer. “I'll help you in, bub.”

The two boys took their seats beside the driver, Herbert being in the middle. The little boy was really tired, and he found it very pleasant to ride, instead of walking. He had walked seven miles already, and that was more than he had ever before walked at one time.

They rode about three miles, when the driver pulled up in front of a comfortable-looking house.

“This is where I stop,” he said. “My aunt lives here, and my sister has been paying her a visit. I've come to take her home.”

The front door was opened, and his aunt and sister came out.

“You're just in time for breakfast, John,” said his aunt. “Come in and sit down to the table. Bring in the boys, too.”

“Come in, boys,” said the young man. “I guess you can eat something, can't you?”

“We've had—-” Herbert began, but Abner checked him.

“Come along, bub,” he said. “What's a bit of bread? I ain't half full.”

1 drowsily   

adv.睡地，懒洋洋地，昏昏欲睡地

参考例句：

• She turned drowsily on her side, a slow creeping blackness enveloping her mind. 她半睡半醒地翻了个身，一片缓缓蠕动的黑暗渐渐将她的心包围起来。 来自飘（部分）
• I felt asleep drowsily before I knew it. 不知过了多久，我曚扙地睡着了。 来自互联网

2 manly   

adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地

参考例句：

• The boy walked with a confident manly stride.这男孩以自信的男人步伐行走。
• He set himself manly tasks and expected others to follow his example.他给自己定下了男子汉的任务，并希望别人效之。

3 relish   

n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味

参考例句：

• I have no relish for pop music.我对流行音乐不感兴趣。
• I relish the challenge of doing jobs that others turn down.我喜欢挑战别人拒绝做的工作。

4 crumb   

n.饼屑，面包屑，小量

参考例句：

• It was the only crumb of comfort he could salvage from the ordeal.这是他从这场磨难里能找到的唯一的少许安慰。
• Ruth nearly choked on the last crumb of her pastry.鲁斯几乎被糕点的最后一块碎屑所噎住。

5 refreshing   

adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的

参考例句：

• I find it'so refreshing to work with young people in this department.我发现和这一部门的青年一起工作令人精神振奋。
• The water was cold and wonderfully refreshing.水很涼，特别解乏提神。

6 draught   

n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计

参考例句：

• He emptied his glass at one draught.他将杯中物一饮而尽。
• It's a pity the room has no north window and you don't get a draught.可惜这房间没北窗，没有过堂风。

7 rumbling   

n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词

参考例句：

• The earthquake began with a deep [low] rumbling sound. 地震开始时发出低沉的隆隆声。
• The crane made rumbling sound. 吊车发出隆隆的响声。

8 wagon   

n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车

参考例句：

• We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。
• The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。

9 avowal   

n.公开宣称，坦白承认

参考例句：

• The press carried his avowal throughout the country.全国的报纸登载了他承认的消息。
• This was not a mere empty vaunt,but a deliberate avowal of his real sentiments.这倒不是一个空洞的吹牛，而是他真实感情的供状。