CHAPTER XXV A PERILOUS RIDE

 Gerald paid little attention to the caution that had been given him. He looked upon it as given more in jest than in earnest. But had he known that the conversation had been listened to by a stranger whose outward appearance suggested the tramp or desperado he would have felt a degree of apprehension¹. This man had been staying in the village for a couple of days; he had been one of the loungers at the store, and had listened to all the gossip that was in circulation. Among other things he had heard about the attempt at robbery in which Thomas Nixon came near being a victim, and had listened with interest to speculations² about the money kept on hand by the old man.

 

When he heard the conversation between Gerald and the storekeeper he understood that the boy was about to carry a large sum in gold coins to the bank in Fairfield. Now, Saul Gridley was in a penniless condition. He was very much in want of money, and by no means scrupulous³ as to the method of filling his depleted⁴ pocketbook. He had served time in more than one prison, and had no character to lose. It is not strange, therefore, that he considered the present opportunity a good one for placing his finances in a satisfactory condition. Issuing bonds—a method recently made popular—was impracticable. He speedily formed his plans, and set out at a quick pace en route for Fairfield.

 

Gerald was detained for half an hour, partly from the necessity of going back to the Nixon home to obtain the gold. There, too, he found something to do for the old man. He lifted the tin box into the wagon⁵ and started away.

 

When he had gone two miles on the road he began to think over the caution which had been given him by Joe Loche. The road, he saw, was a lonely one. It was uneven⁶, and not across the level prairie, for Montana, as its name indicates, is a hilly State.

 

"It would be quite possible for me to be robbed if I should meet a highwayman," he reflected. "I am only a boy, and, hampered⁷ as I am by the care of a team, I should be unable to make resistance. What shall I do to insure safety?"

 

Gerald began to doubt the expedience⁸ of carrying the gold in the tin box, as in the recent attempt at robbery it had become generally known that Mr. Nixon used the box as a receptacle for his treasure. Anyone seeing it in the wagon would at once conjecture⁹ its contents. However, this matter could be set right with little trouble.

 

Montana, unlike most Western States, is rocky, and there were plenty of rocks and small stones near at hand. This gave Gerald an idea. He halted his horse, and began to stuff the gold coins into his pockets. Then he got out of the team and collected an equal bulk of small stones. These he put into the tin box, and then locked it with a key, with which Mr. Nixon had supplied him. The stones rattled¹⁰ as the team made its way over the rough road.

 

"I don't suppose it was necessary," said Gerald to himself. "Still, it is well to be on the safe side."

 

He drove a mile further. In the three miles he had met but one team, for the road was an unfrequented one, as Montana was only sparsely¹¹ settled, and the towns were far apart. Gerald began to think he should not meet any one during the whole distance. This would, of course be satisfactory, and would spare him all anxiety. If he met any one after his errand was completed, and the money safely stored in the Fairfield, bank, it would not matter.

 

It was fortunate that Gerald made the transfer, for in less than half a mile he was stopped by the man who had overheard the conversation between him and Joe Loche.

 

"Can't you give a poor fellow a lift, youngster?" asked the tramp.

 

Gerald hesitated. He noted¹² the appearance of the man, and felt that it might not be safe to refuse outright¹³.

 

"Where do you want to go?"

 

"A mile or two," answered the tramp, with a leer.

 

Gerald considered whether it would be safe to lash¹⁴ the horse and attempt to get away from his troublesome acquaintance, but it did not seem to be practicable. Yet to take him as a passenger, with so valuable a treasure on board, was certainly hazardous¹⁵. If he had been sure that the tramp was not armed, he might have attempted flight; but of this he could not be sure.

 

"I will give you a lift for a mile or so," he said.

 

With a smile the tramp clambered in and took a seat beside him. He stretched out his legs with a look of satisfaction.

 

"And where might you be going, youngster?" he asked Gerald.

 

"I am going to Fairfield."

 

"On business?"

 

"Well, there is a small matter of business I have to attend to."

 

"Where do you live?"

 

"I am living at present in Campville."

 

"This is Joe Loche's team, isn't it?"

 

"Yes."

 

"You don't live with him, do you?"

 

"No."

 

"With whom, then?"

 

"With an old man near the store."

 

"Old man Nixon?"

 

"Yes," answered Gerald, reluctantly.

 

"Humph! that's the man that came near getting robbed yesterday?"

 

"Yes," answered Gerald, uneasily.

 

"Lemme see. He kept a lot of gold pieces in the house."

 

"You seem to know all about it."

 

"Yes; I heard. He kept them in a tin box—very much like that," and the tramp indicated the box in the wagon.

 

"Well, suppose he did?" said Gerald, eyeing his companion closely.

 

The tramp laughed.

 

"Only that you've got the box in this here wagon, and the gold, too."

 

"Now for it!" thought Gerald. "The crisis is near at hand!"

 

"You might be mistaken," he answered, trying not to show the excitement he felt.

 

"And then again I mightn't. You're taking the gold to the bank in Fairfield."

 

"Who told you so?"

 

"Ah, the cat's out of the bag!" said the tramp, triumphantly¹⁶.

 

"Well," said Gerald, with apparent frankness, "as you seem to know I may as well own up that you are right. I am glad to have you with me, as some one might try to rob me, and I can rely on your assistance."

 

The tramp laughed long and loud.

 

"Oh, yes," he replied, "you can depend on me. I won't let anyone else have the money."

 

"Thank you! I feel safe now."

 

The tramp laughed again. To him it seemed like a delicious joke.

 

He did not seem to be in a hurry to possess himself of the booty, as he felt sure he could have it at any time. It was a good joke that Gerald seemed quite unsuspicious of his intentions.

 

"How much gold might there be in the box?" he asked.

 

"Not far from a thousand dollars," said Gerald, frankly¹⁷.

 

The tramp smacked¹⁸ his lips. He had never before bagged so much booty. It really seemed like a big stroke of luck.

 

"A thousand dollars!" he repeated. "That's a big sum!"

 

"Yes, it is a large sum, as you say."

 

"Suppose you and I divide it. That'll be five hundred apiece."

 

"I see you are joking," said Gerald. "It isn't ours. It belongs to Mr. Nixon."

 

"He's an old man. He don't need it. Besides, he has plenty more."

 

"Has he really?" asked Gerald, innocently.

 

"To be sure! Everybody knows that the old man is a miser¹⁹. Why, I've no doubt he is worth ten thousand dollars."

 

"Nor have I any doubt," said Gerald to himself. "But, of course, that is none of our business."

 

"Look here, youngster; you seem to be as simple as they make 'em."

 

"Why?" asked Gerald, in affected²⁰ surprise.

 

"You can't see that I am a bad man, and have made up my mind to have that gold."

 

"You don't really mean it? You are trying to frighten me."

 

"No more nonsense! Stop the horse, and I'll relieve you of the box."

 

"But what will Mr. Nixon say?"

 

"Tell him it was taken from you."

 

"Oh, this is terrible! Won't you take ten dollars and let me go?"

 

"No; I must have the whole. Stop the horse, I say!"

 

With an appearance of great reluctance²¹ Gerald obeyed directions and halted the horse.

 

The tramp descended²² from the wagon.

 

"Now hand me the box," he said.

 

Gerald allowed him to take out the box. Then he whipped up the horse, leaving the tramp, as he supposed, master of the situation.

 

He laughed as he saw Gerald driving off.

 

"The boy is pretty well scared," he said to himself.

1 apprehension   

n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑

参考例句：

• There were still areas of doubt and her apprehension grew.有些地方仍然存疑，于是她越来越担心。
• She is a girl of weak apprehension.她是一个理解力很差的女孩。

2 speculations   

n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 )；思考；投机活动；推断

参考例句：

• Your speculations were all quite close to the truth. 你的揣测都很接近于事实。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• This possibility gives rise to interesting speculations. 这种可能性引起了有趣的推测。 来自《用法词典》

3 scrupulous   

adj.审慎的，小心翼翼的，完全的，纯粹的

参考例句：

• She is scrupulous to a degree.她非常谨慎。
• Poets are not so scrupulous as you are.诗人并不像你那样顾虑多。

4 depleted   

adj. 枯竭的, 废弃的 动词deplete的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• Food supplies were severely depleted. 食物供应已严重不足。
• Both teams were severely depleted by injuries. 两个队都因队员受伤而实力大减。

5 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。

6 uneven   

adj.不平坦的，不规则的，不均匀的

参考例句：

• The sidewalk is very uneven—be careful where you walk.这人行道凹凸不平—走路时请小心。
• The country was noted for its uneven distribution of land resources.这个国家以土地资源分布不均匀出名。

7 hampered   

妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The search was hampered by appalling weather conditions. 恶劣的天气妨碍了搜寻工作。
• So thought every harassed, hampered, respectable boy in St. Petersburg. 圣彼德堡镇的那些受折磨、受拘束的体面孩子们个个都是这么想的。

8 expedience   

n.方便，私利，权宜

参考例句：

• This system has universality, expedience to use, and expansibility in practice. 该系统在使用中具有广泛性、高效性、使用方便性和可扩展性。 来自互联网
• Moral convictions must out-weigh expedience and buck passing. 道德的信念必须重于权宜之计和逃避责任。 来自互联网

9 conjecture   

n./v.推测，猜测

参考例句：

• She felt it no use to conjecture his motives.她觉得猜想他的动机是没有用的。
• This conjecture is not supported by any real evidence.这种推测未被任何确切的证据所证实。

10 rattled   

慌乱的，恼火的

参考例句：

• The truck jolted and rattled over the rough ground. 卡车嘎吱嘎吱地在凹凸不平的地面上颠簸而行。
• Every time a bus went past, the windows rattled. 每逢公共汽车经过这里，窗户都格格作响。

11 sparsely   

adv.稀疏地；稀少地；不足地；贫乏地

参考例句：

• Relative to the size, the city is sparsely populated. 与其面积相比，这个城市的人口是稀少的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The ground was sparsely covered with grass. 地面上稀疏地覆盖草丛。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

13 outright   

adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的

参考例句：

• If you have a complaint you should tell me outright.如果你有不满意的事，你应该直率地对我说。
• You should persuade her to marry you outright.你应该彻底劝服她嫁给你。

14 lash   

v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛

参考例句：

• He received a lash of her hand on his cheek.他突然被她打了一记耳光。
• With a lash of its tail the tiger leaped at her.老虎把尾巴一甩朝她扑过来。

15 hazardous   

adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的

参考例句：

• These conditions are very hazardous for shipping.这些情况对航海非常不利。
• Everybody said that it was a hazardous investment.大家都说那是一次危险的投资。

16 triumphantly   

ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地

参考例句：

• The lion was roaring triumphantly. 狮子正在发出胜利的吼叫。
• Robert was looking at me triumphantly. 罗伯特正得意扬扬地看着我。

17 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

18 smacked   

拍，打，掴( smack的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He smacked his lips but did not utter a word. 他吧嗒两下嘴，一声也不言语。
• She smacked a child's bottom. 她打孩子的屁股。

19 miser   

n.守财奴，吝啬鬼 (adj.miserly)

参考例句：

• The miser doesn't like to part with his money.守财奴舍不得花他的钱。
• The demon of greed ruined the miser's happiness.贪得无厌的恶习毁掉了那个守财奴的幸福。

20 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

21 reluctance   

n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿

参考例句：

• The police released Andrew with reluctance.警方勉强把安德鲁放走了。
• He showed the greatest reluctance to make a reply.他表示很不愿意答复。

22 descended   

a.为...后裔的，出身于...的

参考例句：

• A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。
• The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。