“Be a little more careful, if you don't want to get run over.”
John assumed a look of surprise, and with comic terror ran to the side of the road.
Mr. Mudge checked his horse, and came to a sudden halt.
“I say, youngster, haven't you seen a boy of about your own size walking along, with a bundle in his hand?”
“Tied up in a red cotton handkerchief?” inquired John.
“Yes, I believe so,” said Mr. Mudge, eagerly, “where did you——”
“With a blue cloth cap?”
“Yes, where——”
“Gray jacket and pants?”
“Yes, yes. Where?”
“With a patch on one knee?”
“Yes, the very one. When did you see him?” said Mr. Mudge, getting ready to start his horse.
“Perhaps it isn't the one you mean,” continued John, who took a mischievous5 delight in playing with the evident impatience6 of Mr. Mudge; “the boy that I saw looked thin, as if he hadn't had enough to eat.”
Mr. Mudge winced7 slightly, and looked at John with some suspicion. But John put on so innocent and artless a look that Mr. Mudge at once dismissed the idea that there was any covert8 meaning in what he said. Meanwhile Paul, from his hiding-place in the bushes, had listened with anxiety to the foregoing colloquy9. When John described his appearance so minutely, he was seized with a sudden apprehension10 that the boy meant to betray him. But he dismissed it instantly. In his own singleness of heart he could not believe such duplicity possible. Still, it was not without anxiety that he waited to hear what would be said next.
“Well,” said Mr. Mudge, slowly, “I don't know but he is a little PEAKED. He's been sick lately, and that's took off his flesh.”
“Was he your son?” asked John, in a sympathizing tone; “you must feel quite troubled about him.”
He looked askance at Mr. Mudge, enjoying that gentleman's growing irritation11.
“My son? No. Where——”
“Nephews perhaps?” suggested the imperturbable12 John, leisurely13 continuing the manufacture of a whistle.
“No, I tell you, nothing of the kind. But I can't sit waiting here.”
“Oh, I hope you'll excuse me,” said John, apologetically. “I hope you won't stop on my account. I didn't know you were in a hurry.”
“Well, you know it now,” said Mr. Mudge, crossly. “When and where did you see the boy you have described? I am in pursuit of him.”
“Has he run away?” inquired John in assumed surprise.
“Are you going to answer my question or not?” demanded Mr. Mudge, angrily.
“Oh, I beg your pardon. I shouldn't have asked so many questions, only I thought he was a nice-looking boy, and I felt interested in him.”
“He's a young scamp,” said Mr. Mudge, impetuously, “and it's my belief that you're another. Now answer my question. When and where did you see this boy?”
This time Mr. Mudge's menacing look warned John that he had gone far enough. Accordingly he answered promptly14, “He passed by our farm this morning.”
“How far back is that?”
“About three miles.”
“Did he stop there?”
“Yes, he stopped a while to rest.”
“Have you seen him since?”
“Yes, I saw him about half a mile back.”
“On this road?”
“Yes, but he turned up the road that branches off there.”
“Just what I wanted to find out,” said Mr. Mudge, in a tone of satisfaction, “I'm sure to catch him.”
So saying, he turned about and put his horse to its utmost speed, determined15 to make up for lost time. When he was fairly out of sight, Paul came forth16 from his hiding-place.
“How could you do so!” he asked in a reproachful tone.
“Could I do what?” asked John, turning a laughing face towards Paul. “Didn't I tell old Mudge the exact truth? You know you did turn up that road. To be sure you didn't go two rods before turning back. But he didn't stop to ask about that. If he hadn't been in such a hurry, perhaps I should have told him. Success to him!”
“You can't think how I trembled when you described me so particularly.”
“You didn't think I would betray you?” said John, quickly.
“No, but I was afraid you would venture too far, and get us both into trouble.”
“Trust me for that, Paul; I've got my eyes wide open, and ain't easily caught. But wasn't it fun to see old Mudge fuming18 while I kept him waiting. What would he have said if he had known the bird was so near at hand? He looked foolish enough when I asked him if you were his son.”
John sat down and gave vent17 to his pent-up laughter which he had felt obliged to restrain in the presence of Mr. Mudge. He laughed so heartily19 that Paul, notwithstanding his recent fright and anxiety, could not resist the infection. Together they laughed, till the very air seemed vocal20 with merriment.
John was the first to recover his gravity.
“I am sorry, Paul,” he said, “but I must bid you good-by. They will miss me from the house. I am glad I have got acquainted with you, and I hope I shall see you again some time before very long. Good-by, Paul.”
“Good-by, John.”
The two boys shook hands and parted. One went in one direction, the other in the opposite. Each looked back repeatedly till the other was out of sight. Then came over Paul once more a feeling of sadness and desolation, which the high spirits of his companion had for the time kept off. Occasionally he cast a glance backwards21, to make sure that Mr. Mudge was not following him. But Paul had no cause to fear on that score. The object of his dread22 was already some miles distant in a different direction.
For an hour longer, Paul trudged23 on. He met few persons, the road not being very much frequented. He was now at least twelve miles from his starting-place, and began to feel very sensibly the effects of heat and fatigue24 combined. He threw himself down upon the grass under the overhanging branches of an appletree to rest. After his long walk repose25 seemed delicious, and with a feeling of exquisite26 enjoyment27 he stretched himself out at full length upon the soft turf, and closed his eyes.
Insensibly he fell asleep. How long he slept he could not tell. He was finally roused from his slumber28 by something cold touching29 his cheek. Starting up he rubbed his eyes in bewilderment, and gradually became aware that this something was the nose of a Newfoundland dog, whose keen scent30 had enabled him to discover the whereabouts of the small stock of provisions with which Paul had been supplied by his late companion. Fortunately he awoke in time to save its becoming the prey31 of its canine32 visitor.
At the same time he heard the noise of wheels, and looking up, beheld34 a specimen35 of a class well known throughout New England—a tin pedler. He was seated on a cart liberally stocked with articles of tin ware4. From the rear depended two immense bags, one of which served as a receptacle for white rags, the other for bits of calico and whatever else may fall under the designation of “colored.” His shop, for such it was, was drawn36 at a brisk pace by a stout37 horse, who in this respect presented a contrast to his master, who was long and lank38. The pedler himself was a man of perhaps forty, with a face in which shrewdness and good humor seemed alike indicated. Take him for all in all, you might travel some distance without falling in with a more complete specimen of the Yankee.
“So you came nigh losing your dinner,” he repeated, in a pleasant tone.
“Yes,” said Paul, “I got tired and fell asleep, and I don't know when I should have waked up but for your dog.”
“Yes, Boney's got a keen scent for provisions,” laughed the pedler. “He's a little graspin', like his namesake. You see his real name is Bonaparte; we only call him Boney, for short.”
Meanwhile he had stopped his horse. He was about to start afresh, when a thought struck him.
“Maybe you're goin' my way,” said he, turning to Paul; “if you are, you're welcome to a ride.”
Paul was very glad to accept the invitation. He clambered into the cart, and took a seat behind the pedler, while Boney, who took his recent disappointment very good-naturedly, jogged on contentedly39 behind.
“How far are you goin'?” asked Paul's new acquaintance, as he whipped up his horse.
Paul felt a little embarrassed. If he had been acquainted with the names of any of the villages on the route he might easily have answered. As it was, only one name occurred to him.
“I think,” said he, with some hesitation40, “that I shall go to New York.”
“Well, you've a journey before you. Got any relations there?”
“No.”
“No uncles, aunts, cousins, nor nothing?”
Paul shook his head.
“Then what makes you go? Haven't run away from your father and mother, hey?” asked the pedler, with a knowing look.
“I have no father nor mother,” said Paul, sadly enough.
“Well, you had somebody to take care of you, I calculate. Where did you live?”
“If I tell you, you won't carry me back?” said Paul, anxiously.
“Not a bit of it. I've got too much business on hand for that.”
Relieved by this assurance, Paul told his story, encouraged thereto by frequent questions from his companion, who seemed to take a lively interest in the adventures of his young companion.
“That's a capital trick you played on old Mudge,” he said with a hearty laugh which almost made the tins rattle43. “I don't blame you a bit for running away. I've got a story to tell you about Mrs. Mudge. She's a regular skinflint.”
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1
willow
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| n.柳树 | |
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2
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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4
ware
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| n.(常用复数)商品，货物 | |
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5
mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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7
winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8
covert
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| adj.隐藏的；暗地里的 | |
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9
colloquy
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| n.谈话，自由讨论 | |
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10
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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11
irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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12
imperturbable
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| adj.镇静的 | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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14
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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15
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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16
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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17
vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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18
fuming
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| 愤怒( fume的现在分词 )； 大怒； 发怒； 冒烟 | |
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19
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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20
vocal
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| adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目 | |
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21
backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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22
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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23
trudged
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| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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24
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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26
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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28
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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29
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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30
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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31
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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32
canine
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| adj.犬的，犬科的 | |
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33
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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34
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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lank
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| adj.瘦削的；稀疏的 | |
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39
contentedly
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| adv.心满意足地 | |
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40
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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41
expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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42
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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43
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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