CHAPTER XXX A SWIM FOR LIFE

 The shock came so suddenly that for the moment poor Randy scarcely realized what was happening. He went down and down and swallowed not a little of the river water.

 

When he came up, blowing and spluttering, he could see but little around him. Fortunately, he had gone off to the rear of the steamboat, thus escaping the danger of being struck by a paddle-wheel. All was so dark and the rain was so thick he could not make out the shore line.

 

"I've got to swim for it," he reasoned and struck out bravely.

 

It was no easy matter to keep afloat with so much clothing on. He listened, thinking he might hear the steamboat, but the roaring of the wind and rain drowned out every other sound.

 

Presently came another flash of lightning and then he saw the boat far ahead of him. No one but Peter Polk had witnessed his fall from the deck and nobody appeared to be coming to his assistance.

 

He kept his head well above water and at the next flash of lightning caught a glimpse of one of the river banks. Without further hesitation¹ he struck out in that direction.

 

It was a long and exhausting swim and poor Randy thought he would never reach the shore. The current carried him far down the river, to where there was a small cove², lined with rocks on one side and bushes and trees on the other. He caught at some of the bushes desperately³ and at last pulled himself to a place of temporary safety.

 

For the time being our hero did nothing but try to get back his breath and his strength. In a general way he had an idea that he was some distance below the town of Catskill. What to do next he hardly knew.

 

"The first thing to do is to get out of this storm, I suppose," he told himself. "But that won't do a great deal of good, since I can't get any wetter than I already am."

 

Feeling a little bit rested, he presently got up and walked around the edge of the cove. Then he began to climb the river bank proper. It was hard work, but soon he came out on a river roadway and saw at a distance a hotel and half a dozen fashionable cottages.

 

"This looks familiar," he told himself. "Well, I declare, that place yonder must be the house at which Bob Bangs and his mother are stopping!"

 

Back of the house was a big barn and further to the rear was another building, used as a summerhouse and a place where oars⁴ and other things for small boats might be stored.

 

The summer storm was now letting up a bit. It was still raining, but the thunder and lightning had ceased and the wind had gone down. To get out of the rain and rest, Randy took himself to the summerhouse.

 

He was busy emptying the water from his shoes, when he heard somebody utter an exclamation⁵ and turning saw Bob Bangs standing⁶ near, umbrella in hand. The rich youth was staring at him in astonishment⁷.

 

"Where did you come from?" he demanded, as he entered the summerhouse.

 

"From the river."

 

"You look pretty wet."

 

"I have been in the water quite some time."

 

"Oh! Did you fall overboard from the steamboat?"

 

"I did."

 

"You must be pretty careless," went on Bob, with a sneer⁸.

 

"I certainly didn't fall overboard because I wanted to," answered Randy as lightly as he could.

 

"Say, I understand you are trying to get my father into trouble," pursued the rich boy, throwing himself on a bench.

 

"Who told you that?"

 

"Never mind. You are hand-in-glove with the Bartlett crowd."

 

"Well, why shouldn't I be, Bob Bangs? Jack⁹ is my dearest friend."

 

"Humph! I shouldn't care for him for a friend."

 

"And he wouldn't pick you for a chum," added Jack, quickly.

 

"I consider myself better than Jack Bartlett."

 

To this our hero did not answer.

 

"My dad is going to make it hot for old Bartlett," went on Bob. "He is going to sue him for defamation¹⁰ of character."

 

"When?"

 

"Oh, before a great while. Bartlett had no right to search our house and break open the safe."

 

"He had the law on his side."

 

"No, he didn't. Just you wait till my dad brings suit. It will ruin the Bartletts."

 

"I hope not."

 

"How do you like being a steamboat deckhand?" went on the rich youth, to change the subject.

 

"Very well."

 

"It must be a dirty job," and Bob Bangs tilted¹¹ his nose in the air.

 

"It might be worse."

 

"When I leave school I am going to be a lawyer."

 

"I hope you make a success of it."

 

"I shall—I am going to be one of the greatest lawyers in this country," added the rich boy, boastfully.

 

"Are your folks here?"

 

"My mother is. Dad is at the iron works."

 

"They tell me he isn't doing very well there," said Randy.

 

"He is doing fine. He discharged some of the good-for-nothing hands, that's all. Bartlett used to hire a lot of sticks."

 

"I don't believe it. Mr. Bartlett knows his business."

 

"Humph!"

 

The rain was letting up and Randy prepared to walk to Catskill. As wet as he was, he resolved not to ask any favor at the hands of Bob Banks.

 

"Going, eh?" said the rich youth.

 

"Yes."

 

"Humph!" murmured Bob Bangs, and that was all he said.

 

Despite the steady rain, Randy walked rapidly to the town—doing this that he might not take cold. Once at the town he hurried to the steamboat landing.

 

"Hullo, where did you come from?" exclaimed the dock master, who knew him well.

 

"From a bath," answered Randy with a laugh, and then said he had fallen overboard from the Helen Shalley just before the landing at Catskill was made.

 

"Nobody said anything about it," said the dock master.

 

"I guess they didn't know it," answered our hero.

 

"What are you going to do now?"

 

"Telegraph to Captain Hadley and then stay in town until the boat comes back to-morrow."

 

"Better get dried off first. You can come to my house if you wish. It is not far off."

 

"Thank you, Mr. Ball."

 

Randy's telegram was a short one. It ran as follows:

 

"Fell overboard. Am safe at Catskill. Join boat to-morrow."

 

The telegram sent, our hero went with Mr. Ball to the latter's house. Here he was loaned some dry clothing and Mrs. Ball treated him to a late but satisfying supper. After the meal was over, and as it was now clear, he decided¹² to take a walk around the town before retiring. Had he known of what that walk was to reveal he would have been very much surprised.

1 hesitation   

n.犹豫，踌躇

参考例句：

• After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
• There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。

2 cove   

n.小海湾，小峡谷

参考例句：

• The shore line is wooded,olive-green,a pristine cove.岸边一带林木蓊郁，嫩绿一片，好一个山外的小海湾。
• I saw two children were playing in a cove.我看到两个小孩正在一个小海湾里玩耍。

3 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

4 oars   

n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• He pulled as hard as he could on the oars. 他拼命地划桨。
• The sailors are bending to the oars. 水手们在拼命地划桨。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 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。

6 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

7 astonishment   

n.惊奇，惊异

参考例句：

• They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
• I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。

8 sneer   

v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语

参考例句：

• He said with a sneer.他的话中带有嘲笑之意。
• You may sneer,but a lot of people like this kind of music.你可以嗤之以鼻，但很多人喜欢这种音乐。

9 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

10 defamation   

n.诽谤；中伤

参考例句：

• Character defamation can be either oral or written.人格诽谤既可以是口头的也可以是书面的。
• The company sued for defamation.这个公司因受到诽谤而提起诉讼。

11 tilted   

v. 倾斜的

参考例句：

• Suddenly the boat tilted to one side. 小船突然倾向一侧。
• She tilted her chin at him defiantly. 她向他翘起下巴表示挑衅。

12 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。