Teddy O'Brien did not again enter the field. We left him, at the end of the last chapter, trying to escape from Mike and Jim, who demanded a larger sum than he was willing to pay for their services. He succeeded in escaping with his money, but the next day the two confederates caught him, and Teddy received a black eye as a receipt in full of all demands. So, on the whole, he decided3 that some other business would suit him better, and resumed the blacking-box, which he had abandoned on embarking4 in commercial pursuits.
Mike Donovan and Jim Parker were two notoriously bad boys, preferring to make a living in any other way than by honest industry. As some of these ways were not regarded as honest in the sight of the law, each had more than once been sentenced to a term at Blackwell's Island. They made a proposition to Paul to act as decoy ducks for him in the same way as for Teddy. He liked neither of the boys, and did not care to be associated with them. This refusal Mike and Jim resented, and determined5 to “pay off” Paul if they ever got a chance. Our hero from time to time saw them hovering6 about him, but took very little notice of them.
He knew that he was a match for either, though Mike exceeded him in size, and he felt quite capable of taking care of himself.
One day Mike and Jim, whose kindred tastes led them to keep company, met at the corner of Liberty and William streets. Mike looked unusually dilapidated. He had had a scuffle the day before with another boy, and his clothes, always well ventilated, got torn in several extra places. As it was very uncertain when he would be in a financial condition to provide himself with another suit, the prospect7 was rather alarming. Jim Parker looked a shade more respectable in attire8, but his face and hands were streaked9 with blacking. To this, however, Jim had become so accustomed that he would probably have felt uncomfortable with a clean face.
“How are you off for stamps, Jim?” asked Mike.
“Dead broke,” was the reply.
“So am I. I ain't had no breakfast.”
“Nor I 'cept an apple. Couldn't I eat, though?”
“Suppose we borrow a quarter of Paul Hoffman.”
“He wouldn't lend a feller.”
“Not if he knowed it,” said Mike, significantly.
“What do you mean, Mike?” asked Jim, with some curiosity.
“We'll borrow without leave.”
“How'll we do it?”
“I'll tell you,” said Mike.
He proceeded to unfold his plan, which was briefly10 this. The two were to saunter up to where Paul was standing11; and remain until the group, if there were any around him should be dispersed12. Then one was to pull his hat over his eyes, while the other would snatch the basket containing his prize packages, and run down Liberty street, never stopping until he landed in a certain alley13 known to both boys. The other would run in a different direction, and both would meet as soon as practicable for the division of the spoils. It was yet so early that Paul could not have sold many from his stock. As each contained a prize, varying from one penny to ten, they would probably realize enough to buy a good breakfast, besides the candy contained in the packages. More money might be obtained by selling packages, but there was risk in this. Besides, it would take time, and they decided that a bird in the hand was worth two in the bush.
“That's a good idea,” said Jim, approvingly. “Who'll knock his hat over his head?”
“You can,” said Mike, “and I'll grab the basket.” But to this Jim demurred14, for two reasons: first, he was rather afraid of Paul, whose strength of arm he had tested on a previous occasion; and, again, he was afraid that if Mike got off with the basket he would appropriate the lion's share.
“I'll grab the basket,” he said.
“What for?” said Mike, suspiciously, for he, too, felt some distrust of his confederate.
“You're stronger'n I am, Mike,” said Jim. “Maybe he'd turn on me, and I can't fight him as well as you.”
“That's so,” said Mike, who had rather a high idea of his own prowess, and felt pleased with the compliment. “I'm a match for him.”
“Of course you be,” said Jim, artfully, “and he knows it.”
“Of course he does,” said Mike, boastfully. “I can lick him with one hand.”
Jim had serious doubts of this, but he had his reasons for concurring15 in Mike's estimate of his own powers.
“We'd better start now,” said Jim. “I'm awful hungry.”
“Come along, then.”
They walked up Liberty street, as far as Nassau. On reaching the corner they saw their unconscious victim at his usual place. It was rather a public place for an assault, and both boys would have hesitated had they not been incited16 by a double motive—the desire of gain and a feeling of hostility17.
They sauntered along, and Mike pressed in close by Paul.
“What's that to you?” demanded Mike.
“Quit crowdin' me.”
“I ain't crowdin'. I've got as much right to be here as you.”
“Here's your prize packages!” exclaimed Paul, in a businesslike tone.
“Maybe I'll buy one if you'll give me credit till to-morrow,” said Mike.
“Your credit isn't good with me,” said Paul. “You must pay cash down.”
“Then you won't trust me?” said Mike, pressing a little closer.
“No, I won't,” said Paul, decidedly.
“Then, take that, you spalpeen!” said Mike, suddenly pulling Paul's hat over his eyes.
At the same time Jim, to whom he had tipped a wink19, snatched the basket, which Paul held loosely in his hand, and disappeared round the corner.
The attack was so sudden and unexpected that Paul was at first bewildered. But he quickly recovered his presence of mind, and saw into the trick. He raised his hat, and darted20 in pursuit of Mike, not knowing in what direction his basket had gone.
“That's a mean trick!” he exclaimed, indignantly. “Give me back my basket, you thief!”
“I ain't got no basket,” said Mike, facing round.
“Then you know where it is.”
“I don't know nothin' of your basket.”
“You pulled my hat over my eyes on purpose to steal my basket.”
“No, I didn't. You insulted me, that's why I did it.”
“I ain't nothin' to do with your basket.”
“Take that, then, for pulling my hat over my eyes,” and Paul, suiting the action to the word, dealt Mike a staggering blow in the face.
“I'll murder you!” shouted Mike, furiously, dashing at Paul with a blow which might have leveled him, if he had not fended22 it off.
Paul was not quarrelsome, but he knew how to fight, and he was prepared now to fight in earnest, indignant as he was at the robbery which entailed23 upon him a loss he could ill sustain.
“I'll give you all you want,” he said, resolutely24, eyeing Mike warily26, and watching a chance to give him another blow.
The contest was brief, being terminated by the sudden and unwelcome arrival of a policeman.
“What's this?” he asked authoritatively27, surveying the combatants; Paul, with his flushed face, and Mike, whose nose was bleeding freely from a successful blow of his adversary28.
“He pitched into me for nothin',” said Mike, glaring at Paul, and rubbing his bloody29 nose on the sleeve of his ragged30 coat.
“That isn't true,” said Paul, excitedly. “He came up while I was selling prize packages of candy in front of the post office, and pulled my hat over my eyes, while another boy grabbed my basket.”
“You lie!” said Mike. “I don't know nothin' of your basket.”
“Why did you pull his hat over his eyes?” asked the policeman.
“Because he insulted me.”
“How did he insult you?”
“He wouldn't trust me till to-morrow.”
“I don't blame him much for that,” said the policeman, who was aware of Mike's shady reputation, having on a former occasion been under the necessity of arresting him. Even without such acquaintance, Mike's general appearance would hardly have recommended him to Officer Jones.
“I'll let you go this time,” he said, “but if I catch you fighting again on my beat I'll march you off to the station-house.”
Mike was glad to escape, though he would almost have been willing to be arrested if Paul could have been arrested also.
The officer walked away, and Mike started down the street.
Paul followed him.
That didn't suit Mike's ideas, as he was anxious to meet Jim and divide the spoils with him.
“What are you follerin' me for?” he demanded, angrily.
“I have my reasons,” said Paul.
“Then you'd better stay where you are. Your company ain't wanted.”
“I know that,” said Paul, “but I'm going to follow you till I find my basket.”
“What do I know of your basket?”
“That's what I want to find out.”
Mike saw, by Paul's resolute25 tone, that he meant what he said. Desirous of shaking him of, he started on a run.
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1
varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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monopolize
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| v.垄断，独占，专营 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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embarking
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| 乘船( embark的现在分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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7
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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9
streaked
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| adj.有条斑纹的，不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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10
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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11
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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12
dispersed
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| adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的 | |
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alley
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| n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路 | |
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14
demurred
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| v.表示异议，反对( demur的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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concurring
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| 同时发生的，并发的 | |
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incited
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| 刺激，激励，煽动( incite的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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17
hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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18
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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19
wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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incensed
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| 盛怒的 | |
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fended
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| v.独立生活，照料自己( fend的过去式和过去分词 )；挡开，避开 | |
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23
entailed
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| 使…成为必要( entail的过去式和过去分词 )； 需要； 限定继承； 使必需 | |
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24
resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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warily
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| adv.留心地 | |
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authoritatively
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| 命令式地，有权威地，可信地 | |
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28
adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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29
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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