CHAPTER XXXII IMPRISONED

 Gerald lost no time in writing a letter to Thomas Nixon, to let him know of his arrival in Ransom¹ and his adventures up to date. He finished by advising Mr. Nixon not to sell his share in the mine for less than forty thousand dollars.

 

"Indeed," he added, "I think I can find you a purchaser at that price."

 

He did not make himself known to Nelson Hawk², but remained at the hotel waiting for further developments.

 

He did not observe that one of the miners who hung about the hotel surveyed him curiously³, nor had he any idea that he was recognized. But this miner—Jack Manton—remembered to have seen him at Campville, and knew his connection with old Tom Nixon, whose interest in the mine was well known. Desiring to ingratiate himself with the superintendent⁴, he joined him in the street as he was leaving the mine, and said, touching⁵ his hat:

 

"Mr. Hawk, may I have a few words with you?"

 

"Go on," said Hawk, impatiently, "but my time is valuable."

 

"It will be worth your while to hear me. Have you seen a boy about the hotel?"

 

"Yes; what of it?"

 

"Do you know who he is?"

 

"No. Is he a person of any importance?"

 

"I should say so. He is secretary and companion—whatever you may choose to call it—to old Tom Nixon."

 

Nelson Hawk uttered an exclamation⁶ of dismay.

 

"Are you sure of that?" he asked hurriedly.

 

"Certainly I am."

 

"How do you know?"

 

"I saw him at Campville three weeks ago and I know he lives with old Tom."

 

Straightway it flashed upon the superintendent's mind that he had discussed the condition of the mine with Matthew Grote in hearing of this boy. He must, he felt convinced, have spoken of its large output, having no idea that this youth was an agent of his partner. If this were the case all his plans were upset. Gerald would of course communicate what he had heard to the old man.

 

What was to be done?

 

He must question Gerald and find out how much he knew, and whether he had written to Mr. Nixon.

 

So when he next saw Gerald in the hotel he sat down beside him.

 

"Where do you come from, young man? Haven't I seen you in Campville?"

 

"I don't know. Have you been there recently?"

 

"No, but one of my men has. Do you know old Tom Nixon?"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"Did he send you here?"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

Nelson Hawk breathed hard. All his fears were realized.

 

"Have you any communication for me? I wrote recently to Mr. Nixon, offering him a large sum for his interest in the mine. Do you think he will accept?"

 

"I know he will not."

 

"Why?"

 

"Because it is worth much more than you offered."

 

"Shall you advise him to refuse my offer?"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"That is frank. I suppose you heard me say to Mr. Grote that the output had increased?"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"And naturally you concluded that it is worth more than I offered. But there is another side to the question—expenses have increased, too. It is harder to work. Would you like to visit the mine and see for yourself?"

 

"Yes, sir," said Gerald, promptly⁷.

 

Hawk's eyes lighted up with satisfaction.

 

"Very well," he said; "we will go at once."

 

They proceeded to the mine, half a mile away, and Hawk signaled for the elevator. It was a large cask, operated by a windlass.

 

"Get in," he said.

 

They did so, and began slowly to descend⁸. The mine was about three hundred feet deep. Touching bottom, they left the tub, and Hawk began to show Gerald about, talking in a desultory⁹ way. At length they reached a side cavern¹⁰, and Hawk led the way in. Then his manner changed.

 

"Boy," he said, "are you authorized¹¹ to sell Mr. Nixon's interest in the mine?"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"I will give twenty thousand dollars."

 

"I can't take it."

 

"Be careful! You may come to harm if you don't?"

 

"What do you mean?" demanded Gerald, startled.

 

"I mean that I will keep you confined in this room until you agree to the bargain!"

 

Gerald turned pale. He saw that he was in a trap.

 

"I can't betray Mr. Nixon's interests."

 

Hawk opened the door and went out, thrusting Gerald back.

 

"I will come here to-morrow morning," he said. "By that time you may have come to your senses."

 

"Let me out!" exclaimed Gerald, vehemently¹².

 

"So I will, if you agree to my terms."

 

In a moment the door was locked, and Gerald found himself immured¹³ in a cavern three hundred feet below the surface of the earth.

 

 

HE SAW THAT HE WAS IN A TRAP

1 ransom   

n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救

参考例句：

• We'd better arrange the ransom right away.我们最好马上把索取赎金的事安排好。
• The kidnappers exacted a ransom of 10000 from the family.绑架者向这家人家勒索10000英镑的赎金。

2 hawk   

n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员

参考例句：

• The hawk swooped down on the rabbit and killed it.鹰猛地朝兔子扑下来,并把它杀死。
• The hawk snatched the chicken and flew away.老鹰叼了小鸡就飞走了。

3 curiously   

adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地

参考例句：

• He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
• He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。

4 superintendent   

n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长

参考例句：

• He was soon promoted to the post of superintendent of Foreign Trade.他很快就被擢升为对外贸易总监。
• He decided to call the superintendent of the building.他决定给楼房管理员打电话。

5 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

6 exclamation   

n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词

参考例句：

• He could not restrain an exclamation of approval.他禁不住喝一声采。
• The author used three exclamation marks at the end of the last sentence to wake up the readers.作者在文章的最后一句连用了三个惊叹号，以引起读者的注意。

7 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。

8 descend   

vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降

参考例句：

• I hope the grace of God would descend on me.我期望上帝的恩惠。
• We're not going to descend to such methods.我们不会沦落到使用这种手段。

9 desultory   

adj.散漫的，无方法的

参考例句：

• Do not let the discussion fragment into a desultory conversation with no clear direction.不要让讨论变得支离破碎，成为没有明确方向的漫谈。
• The constables made a desultory attempt to keep them away from the barn.警察漫不经心地拦着不让他们靠近谷仓。

10 cavern   

n.洞穴，大山洞

参考例句：

• The cavern walls echoed his cries.大山洞的四壁回响着他的喊声。
• It suddenly began to shower,and we took refuge in the cavern.天突然下起雨来，我们在一个山洞里避雨。

11 authorized   

a.委任的，许可的

参考例句：

• An administrative order is valid if authorized by a statute.如果一个行政命令得到一个法规的认可那么这个命令就是有效的。

12 vehemently   

adv. 热烈地

参考例句：

• He argued with his wife so vehemently that he talked himself hoarse. 他和妻子争论得很激烈，以致讲话的声音都嘶哑了。
• Both women vehemently deny the charges against them. 两名妇女都激烈地否认了对她们的指控。

13 immured   

v.禁闭，监禁( immure的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She was like a prisoner so long immured that freedom dazes him. 她象一个长年累月被关闭的囚犯，自由使她迷乱茫然。 来自辞典例句
• He immured himself in a small room to work undisturbed. 他自己关在小屋里埋头工作，以免受到骚扰。 来自辞典例句