"How do you do?" said James Cromwell, holding out his hand rather stiffly to the boy.
"I am well, thank you," said Robert, looking with curiosity, and it must be confessed, disappointment, at the young man who was to be his companion.
He had hoped that he would be a congenial person, with whom he might be on terms of pleasant familiarity; but when he looked at the small, ferreting eyes and mean features of James Cromwell, his first impressions were unfavorable. Every man's face is to a certain extent indicative of his disposition3 and prevailing4 traits; and Robert, who was quicker than most boys in reading character, concluded without delay, that the companion with[Pg 91] which his guardian had provided him would not be to his taste. Still, he possessed5 a great deal of natural courtesy and politeness, and he determined6 to conceal7 this feeling as well as he might, and treat Mr. Cromwell with as much respect and politeness as if he had liked him better. Though he would have liked to travel with a different person, still, the natural scenery which he would behold8 would be none the less attractive, and would afford him some compensation for the absence of a congenial companion.
James Cromwell was on his side not without sharpness of insight. As he met the boy's gaze with the glance of his small ferret-like eyes, he perceived the look of disappointment, however carefully it was veiled, and with the spite of a small, mean mind, it inspired him with instant dislike for Robert. Instead of determining to win his confidence and regard by kindness, he resolved as soon as he fairly had him in his power, to annoy him by petty tyranny, and so wreak9 vengeance10 upon him for the feelings which he could not help. But the time for this had not yet come. He knew that policy dictated11 a courteous12 and polite treatment for the present. Accordingly he said in a soft voice:
[Pg 92]
"I hope I shall be able to make Mr. Raymond's time pass pleasantly."
"Thank you," said Robert, politely.
"Oh, I have no doubt you will get on well together," said Mr. Morton. "Robert, I shall expect you to follow the directions of Mr. Cromwell, as I have confidence that he will act with good judgment13."
Robert bowed.
"I have obtained tickets for you by the middle train," proceeded the merchant. "Here they are, Mr. Cromwell."
"Thank you, sir," said Cromwell, taking them and putting them in his pocket.
"You will remain at Niagara two or three days if you like," continued Paul Morton. "I have no doubt you will enjoy yourself. What do you say, Robert?"
"So shall I," said Cromwell. "I have never visited the Falls."
"Well," said the merchant, drawing on his gloves, "I am sorry, but I shall be obliged to leave you. I have considerable business awaiting me at my counting-room. I have ordered a carriage at[Pg 93] eleven to convey you with your trunks to the railroad depot15. Good-bye, Robert, good-bye, Mr. Cromwell. A pleasant journey to you."
"Good-bye, sir," said both.
"Oh, by the way, Mr. Cromwell," said the merchant, turning as he reached the door, and looking significantly at Cromwell, "if you meet with any mishap16, telegraph me at once."
Again a greenish pallor overspread the face of James Cromwell, for he understood the allusion17, and his cowardly nature recoiled18 with fear, not with abhorrence19.
"Yes, sir," he said, "I will remember."
"Once more, good-bye, then," and Paul Morton closed the door behind him.
"I hope I shall never see that boy alive again," he said to himself. "Once get him out of the way and the money is mine. A hundred and twenty thousand dollars will be a great windfall to me. To be sure, there will be ten thousand to pay to Cromwell, but it will leave over a hundred thousand. Egad! it would be a capital arrangement if they both would tumble over the Falls together. It would be the best joke of the season."
And Paul Morton laughed to himself, a low,[Pg 94] wicked laugh, at the prospect20 of the two from whom he had just parted being hurled21 together into a death so frightful22, and all that he might gain money. As if human life were to be weighed against perishing dross23! Yet every day life is bartered24 for it; not always criminally, but sacrificed by overwork, or undue25 risk, so insatiable is the hunger for gold, and so desperate are the efforts by which men seek to obtain it.
In due time they reached the station, and entering one of the long cars, selected their seats. They did not sit down together, but took seats directly in front of each other, giving a window to each.
"I suppose I ought to say something to him," thought Robert, "but I don't know what to say."
Indeed, there seemed to be no common ground on which they could meet. With some persons the boy would have been engaged in animated26 conversation long before this, but he seemed to have nothing to say to James Cromwell.
"Do you like traveling, Mr. Cromwell?" he asked, at length.
"Pretty well," said Cromwell.
"I think we shall have a pleasant journey."
"Yes; I expect so."
[Pg 95]
"Do you know when we shall reach Niagara, Mr. Cromwell?"
"I think Mr. Morton said it would take us about twenty-four hours."
"Then we shall get there about this time to-morrow."
"Yes; we shall be all night on the cars."
"I am sorry for that, for we shall lose the scenery on the way—I mean, that we pass through during the night."
Here the conversation dropped. James Cromwell bought a paper from a boy who came through the cars, and began to read. Robert, with all the eager interest of his age, employed himself in looking out of the window, watching the fields and houses among which they were wending their rapid way.
It will be unnecessary to chronicle the incidents of the journey, for there were none worth mentioning. In due time they reached Niagara, and secured rooms at the principal hotel on the American side.
It was afternoon, and they only went round a little before supper. They decided27 to defer28 the principal part of their sightseeing until the next day.
[Pg 96]
The next day was pleasant. Together the two walked about, enjoying views of the cataract29 from various points.
At length Cromwell said, "How would you like to go to Goat Island? I am told the view is fine from there."
Had he known the sinister31 purpose with which this proposition was made, he would have recoiled from it as from a deadly serpent, but the boy was wholly unconscious of the peril32 that menaced him, nor did he observe the nervous agitation33 that affected34 James Cromwell, whose timidity made him shrink with fear at the risk he was about to incur35.
"Then we will go," said the young man.
They soon found themselves on the island, and advancing, reached an exposed point from which they could look down upon the foaming36 waters beneath. Cromwell man?uvered so as to have the boy on the side toward the water.
"What a grand sight!" exclaimed Robert, surveying the great fall with boyish enthusiasm.
He had scarcely uttered these words when he felt a violent push at the side, and felt himself[Pg 97] impelled37 toward the brink38 of the precipice39. He would infallibly have fallen if he had not seized with the desperate clutch of self-preservation the arm of James Cromwell. As it was, he hung balancing over the brink, and nearly carried the clerk with him. Cromwell saw that it must be either both or neither, and he drew Robert back to a place of safety.
"Good Heavens! Mr. Cromwell," exclaimed the boy, his face pale with horror, "what does this mean? Did you mean to push me over?"
"What a question!" returned Cromwell, himself pale. "Thank Heaven! I have saved you!"
"But you pushed me!" said the boy, suspiciously. "If I hadn't clung to you, I should have fallen!" and he shuddered40 at the thought.
"Yes; it is true. I will explain. I am troubled with fits occasionally which make me rigid41 and convulsed. Whenever I feel one coming on I grasp convulsively at whatever is nearest me. I felt one coming on a moment ago, and that led me to seize you. But I believe my terror, for I came near going over the precipice with you, has saved me from the threatened attack."
"Do you often have these fits?" asked Robert.
"I have not had one for three months, but[Pg 98] lately I have been apprehending42 one, for I have not felt as well as usual. Indeed, I have a violent headache now. I think I will go to the hotel and lie down, if you can amuse yourself for awhile."
"Yes, you had better do so. I can get along quite well."
Robert easily credited the plausible43 explanation which had been given, for he could not believe that Cromwell would deliberately44 seek his life. He did not know the powerful motive45 which prompted him.
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1
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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2
ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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3
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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4
prevailing
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| adj.盛行的；占优势的；主要的 | |
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5
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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6
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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7
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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8
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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9
wreak
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| v.发泄；报复 | |
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10
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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11
dictated
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| v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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12
courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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13
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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14
animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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15
depot
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| n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站 | |
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16
mishap
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| n.不幸的事，不幸；灾祸 | |
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17
allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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18
recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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19
abhorrence
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| n.憎恶；可憎恶的事 | |
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20
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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21
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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22
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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23
dross
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| n.渣滓；无用之物 | |
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24
bartered
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| v.作物物交换，以货换货( barter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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25
undue
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| adj.过分的；不适当的；未到期的 | |
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26
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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27
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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28
defer
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| vt.推迟，拖延；vi.(to)遵从，听从，服从 | |
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29
cataract
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| n.大瀑布，奔流，洪水，白内障 | |
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30
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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31
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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32
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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33
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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34
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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35
incur
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| vt.招致，蒙受，遭遇 | |
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36
foaming
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| adj.布满泡沫的；发泡 | |
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37
impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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39
precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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40
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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41
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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42
apprehending
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| 逮捕，拘押( apprehend的现在分词 )； 理解 | |
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43
plausible
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| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
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44
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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45
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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