It was about nine o'clock when he went to bed. Two hours passed, and still there were no signs of the apprehended4 invasion.
But, five minutes later, a heavy step was heard upon the staircase, which creaked beneath the weight of the man ascending5. Jack tried to come up softly, but it creaked nevertheless.
Walter's heart beat quick, as he heard the steps[Pg 287] approaching nearer and nearer. It was certainly a trying moment, that might have tested the courage of one older than our hero. Presently the door opened softly, and Jack advanced stealthily into the chamber6, carrying a candle which, however, was unlighted. He reckoned upon finding Walter undressed, and his clothes hanging over the chair; but the faint light that entered through the window showed him that his intended victim had not removed his clothing. Of course this made the task of taking his pocket-book much more difficult.
"Confusion!" he muttered. "The boy hasn't undressed."
Walter had closed his eyes, thinking it best to appear to be asleep; but he heard this exclamation7, and it satisfied him of Jack's dishonest intentions.
The robber paused a moment, and then, stooping over, inserted his hand into Walter's pocket. He drew out the pocket-book, Walter making no sign of being aware of what was going on.
"I've got it," muttered Jack, with satisfaction, and stealthily retraced8 his steps to the door. He[Pg 288] went out, carefully closing it after him, and again the steps creaked beneath his weight.
"I'm afraid he'll come back when he finds how little there is in it," thought Walter. "If so, I must trust to my plan."
Meg looked up with interest when her husband re-entered the room. She had been listening with nervous interest, fearing that there might be violence done. She had been relieved to hear no noise, and to see her husband returning quietly.
"Have you got the pocket-book?" she asked.
"Yes, Meg," he said, displaying it. "He went to bed with his clothes on, but I pulled it out of his pocket, as he lay asleep, and he will be none the wiser."
"How much is there in it?"
"I'm going to see. I haven't opened it yet."
He opened the pocket-book, and uttered a cry of disappointment.
"That's all," he said, displaying the five-dollar bill. "He must have had more."
"He did have more. When he paid me the dollar for stoppin' here, he took it from a roll of bills."
[Pg 289]
"Perhaps he had another pocket-book. But that's the one he took out when he paid me."
"I must go up again, Meg. He had seventy dollars, and I'm goin' to have the rest. Five dollars won't pay me for the trouble of stealin' it."
"Don't hurt the boy, Jack."
"I will, if he don't fork over the money," said her husband, fiercely.
There was no longer any thought of concealment10. It was necessary to wake Walter to find out where he had put the money. So Jack went upstairs boldly, not trying to soften11 the noise of his steps now, angry to think that he had been put to this extra trouble. Walter heard him coming, and guessed what brought him back. I will not deny that he felt nervous, but he determined12 to act manfully, whatever might be the result. He breathed a short prayer to God for help, for he knew that in times of peril13 he is the only sufficient help.
The door was thrown open, and Jack strode in, bearing in his hand a candle, this time lighted. He[Pg 290] advanced to the bed, and, bending over, shook Walter vigorously.
"What's the matter?" asked our hero, this time opening his eyes, and assuming a look of surprise. "Is it time to get up?"
"It's time for you to get up."
"It isn't morning, is it?"
"No; but I've got something to say to you."
"Well," said Walter, sitting up in the bed, "I'm ready."
"Where've you put that money you had last night?"
"No matter why I want to know," said Jack, impatiently. "Tell me, if you know what's best for yourself."
Walter put his hand in his pocket.
"It was in my pocket-book," he said; "but it's gone."
"Here is your pocket-book," said Jack, producing it.
[Pg 291]
"Did you take it out of my pocket? What made you take it?"
"Yes, it is," said Jack, with an oath.
"Do you mean to steal my money?"
"Yes, I do; and the sooner you hand it over the better."
"You have got my pocket-book already."
"Then you had better give it back to me. Five dollars isn't worth taking."
"You're a cool one, and no mistake," said Jack, surveying our hero with greater respect than he had before manifested. "Do you know that I could wring18 your neck?"
"Yes, I suppose you could," said Walter, quietly. "You are a great deal stronger than I am."
"Aint you afraid of me?"
"I don't think I am. Why should I be?"
[Pg 292]
"What's to hinder my killin' you? We're alone in the woods, far from help."
"You aint a coward, boy; I'll say that for you. Some boys of your age would be scared to death if they was in your place."
"I don't think I am a coward," said Walter, quietly. "Are you going to give me back that pocket-book?"
"Not if I know it; but I'll tell you what you're goin' to do."
"What's that?"
"Hunt up the rest of that money, and pretty quick too."
"What makes you think I have got any more money?"
"Didn't you tell me you sold twenty books, at three dollars and a half? That makes seventy dollars, accordin' to my reckonin'."
"You're right there; but I have sent to Cleveland for some more books, and had to send the money with the order."
[Pg 293]
This staggered the robber at first, till he remembered what his wife had told him.
"That don't go down," he said roughly. "The old woman saw a big roll of bills when you paid her for your lodgin'. You haven't had any chance of payin' them away."
Walter recalled the covetous20 glance of the woman when he displayed the bills, and he regretted too late his imprudence in revealing the amount of money he had with him. He saw that it was of no use to attempt to deceive Jack any longer. It might prove dangerous, and could do no good.
"I have some more money," he said; "but I hope you will let me keep it."
"What made you take it out of your pocket-book?"
"Because I thought I should have a visit from you."
"What made you think so?" demanded Jack, rather surprised.
"I can't tell, but I expected a visit, so I took out most of my money and hid it."
[Pg 294]
"Then you'd better find it again. I can't wait here all night. Is it in your other pocket?"
"No."
"Is that all you can say? Get up, and find me that money, or it'll be the worse for you."
"Then give me the pocket-book and five dollars. I can't get along if you take all my money."
Jack reflected that he could easily take away the pocket-book again, and decided21 to comply with our hero's request as an inducement for him to find the other money.
"Here it is," he said. "Now get me the rest."
"I hid some money in that closet," said Walter. "I thought you would think of looking there."
No sooner was the closet pointed22 out than Jack eagerly strode towards it and threw open the door. He entered it, and began to peer about him, holding the candle in his hand.
"Where did you put it?" he inquired, turning to question Walter.
But he had scarcely spoken when our hero closed the door hastily, and, before Jack could recover from his surprise, had bolted it on the outside. To add to[Pg 295] the discomfiture23 of the imprisoned24 robber, the wind produced by the violent slamming of the door blew out the candle, and he found himself a captive, in utter darkness.
"Let me out, or I'll murder you!" he roared, kicking the barrier that separated him from his late victim, now his captor.
Walter saw that there was no time to lose. The door, though strong, would probably soon give way before the strength of his prisoner. When the liberation took place, he must be gone. He held the handle of his carpet-bag between his teeth, and, getting out of the window, hung down. The distance was not great, and he alighted upon the ground without injury. Without delay he plunged25 into the woods, not caring in what direction he went, as long as it carried him away from his dishonest landlord.
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1
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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2
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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3
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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4
apprehended
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| 逮捕，拘押( apprehend的过去式和过去分词 )； 理解 | |
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5
ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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6
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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7
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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8
retraced
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| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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9
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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10
concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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11
soften
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| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 | |
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12
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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13
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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14
fixedly
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| adv.固定地；不屈地，坚定不移地 | |
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15
impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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16
impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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17
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18
wring
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| n.扭绞；v.拧，绞出，扭 | |
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19
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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20
covetous
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| adj.贪婪的，贪心的 | |
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21
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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22
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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23
discomfiture
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| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
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24
imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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25
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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