CHAPTER XXVIII. KIT RESCUED BY A GIRL.

 Kit¹ had succeeded in getting a little sleep during the night, but his position was necessarily constrained² and he was but very slightly refreshed. Moreover he was a prey³ to anxiety, for he did not know what fate awaited him on the succeeding day.

 

At four o'clock in the morning a little light found its way into the cabin through a small window at the rear. The other windows were boarded up.

 

Kit, appreciating the desirability of escaping before a visit should be made him by his captors, tried hard to work himself out of his bonds, but only succeeded in confining himself more closely than before.

 

"What will they do to me?" he asked himself anxiously.

 

He had heard from some of the circus men accounts of the roughness and brutality⁴ of the miners, or at least of a certain class of them, for some were quiet and peaceable men, and he knew that there was no extreme of which they were not capable. Life is sweet, and to a boy of sixteen, in good health and strength, it is especially dear. Suppose he should lose his life in this region? Probably none of his friends would ever learn what had become of him,[Pg 139] and his uncle and cousin would not scruple⁵ to spread rumors⁶ to his discredit⁷.

 

It was certainly tantalizing⁸ that he should be tied hand and foot, utterly⁹ unable to help himself.

 

More and more light crept in at the window, and there was every indication of its being a glorious day. But this prospect¹⁰ brought no pleasure to poor Kit.

 

"Before this time the circus people must have found out my absence," he thought. "Will they take the trouble to look for me?"

 

Kit was on good terms with his comrades, indeed he was popular with them all, as a bright boy is apt to be, and he did not like to think that no effort would be made to find him. Still, as he could not help owning to himself, they had no clew that was likely to lead to success. He had given no one notice where he was going, and his capture was not likely to have been observed by any one.

 

While he was indulging in these sorrowful reflections, his attention was drawn¹¹ to a noise at the window.

 

"They can't have come back so early," he said to himself in surprise.

 

He twisted himself round to catch a glimpse, if possible, of the early visitor, and to his delight, he caught a partial view of Janet's dress. Suppose she should prove a deliverer, he said to himself with beating heart.

 

The visitor, whoever it was, was evidently trying to peer into the cabin. Kit was so placed in a corner as to be almost out of sight in the dark interior. He felt that he must attract attention.

 

"Hallo, there!" he cried in a loud clear voice.

 

"He's there!" thought Janet, "just as father said."[Pg 140]

 

"Let me out!" cried Kit, eagerly. "Draw out the bolt, and open the door!"

 

"Will she do it, or will she be frightened away?" he asked himself, with his heart filled with suspense¹².

 

He did not have long to wait for an answer, and a favorable one. He heard the bolt withdrawn¹³, then the door was opened, and the girl's face appeared. Janet Hayden was small, not especially pretty, and rather old-fashioned in looks, but to poor Kit she seemed like an angel.

 

"Are you the circus boy?" she asked timidly.

 

"Yes; I am tied here. Have you got a knife to cut this rope?"

 

"Yes; I brought one with me."

 

"Then you knew I was here?" Kit asked in surprise.

 

"Yes; it was my father that locked you up here—my father and another man."

 

"Will you cut the rope and let me go, then?"

 

"Yes; that is what I came for."

 

The little maid went up to the captive, bent¹⁴ over, and with considerable sawing, for the knife she had with her was a dull case knife, succeeded in severing¹⁵ the rope, and Kit was able to rise and stand upon his feet. It was a perfect luxury to feel himself once more free and unshackled.

 

"I'm very much obliged to you," he said, gratefully. "You can't imagine how stiff I am."

 

"I should think you would be," said Janet, sympathetically.

 

"When did your father tell you that I was here?"

 

"After he got home last night. It was after he had eaten his supper."

 

"And where is he now?"

 

"At home and asleep."[Pg 141]

 

"Does he get up early?" asked Kit, in some anxiety.

 

"Yes, when he is at work; but the mine is shut down for a few days, so he lies abed longer."

 

"Did he say anything about coming here to-day?"

 

"Yes, he meant to come—he and the other man—and I was afraid he would do you some harm."

 

"He would have done so, I am sure," said Kit, shuddering¹⁶. "I don't see how such a rough father should have so good a daughter."

 

Janet blushed, and seemed pleased with the compliment.

 

"I think I take after my mother," she said.

 

"Is your mother alive?"

 

"No, she died two years ago," answered Janet, sorrowfully. "She was Scotch¹⁷, and that is why I am called by a Scotch name."

 

"What is your name, if you don't mind telling me?"

 

"Janet. I am Janet Hayden."

 

"I shall always remember it, for you have done me a great service."

 

"What is your name?" asked Janet, feeling less timid than at first.

 

"Kit Watson."

 

"That is a funny name—Kit, I mean."

 

"My right name is Christopher, but my friends call me Kit. Can you direct me to the next town—Groveton, where the circus shows to-day."

 

"Yes, if you will come outside, I will point out which way it is."

 

Kit emerged from the cabin, nothing loath¹⁸, and Janet pointed¹⁹ in a westerly direction.

 

"You go over the hill," she said, "and you will come to a road. You will know it, for near the stile there is a red house."[Pg 142]

 

"Thank you. How far is it to the next town?"

 

"Eight miles, I believe."

 

"That would be a long walk. Do you think I could get any one to take me over in a wagon²⁰?"

 

"I think the man who lives in the red house, Mr. Stover, would take you over, if you pay him."

 

"I shall be glad to pay him, and——" Kit paused, for he felt rather delicate about offering any money to Janet, though he knew she had rendered him most valuable service. "Will you let me offer you a little present?"

 

He took a five dollar bill from his pocket, and offered it to Janet.

 

"What is that?" she asked.

 

"It is a five dollar bill."

 

"You must be rich," she said, for this seemed to her a great deal of money.

 

"Oh, no! but will you take it?"

 

"No," answered Janet, shrinking back, "I didn't come here for money."

 

"I am sure you didn't, but I should like to give you something."

 

"No, I would rather not. Besides, if father knew I had money, he would suspect something, and beat me."

 

"Like the brute²¹ that he is," thought Kit.

 

"But I must go at once, for he may wake up and miss me. Good-by!"

 

"Good-by!" said Kit.

 

He had no time to say more, for the child was already hurrying down the hill.

1 kit   

n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物

参考例句：

• The kit consisted of about twenty cosmetic items.整套工具包括大约20种化妆用品。
• The captain wants to inspect your kit.船长想检查你的行装。

2 constrained   

adj.束缚的,节制的

参考例句：

• The evidence was so compelling that he felt constrained to accept it. 证据是那样的令人折服，他觉得不得不接受。
• I feel constrained to write and ask for your forgiveness. 我不得不写信请你原谅。

3 prey   

n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨

参考例句：

• Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
• The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。

4 brutality   

n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮

参考例句：

• The brutality of the crime has appalled the public. 罪行之残暴使公众大为震惊。
• a general who was infamous for his brutality 因残忍而恶名昭彰的将军

5 scruple   

n./v.顾忌，迟疑

参考例句：

• It'seemed to her now that she could marry him without the remnant of a scruple.她觉得现在她可以跟他成婚而不需要有任何顾忌。
• He makes no scruple to tell a lie.他说起谎来无所顾忌。

6 rumors   

n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 discredit   

vt.使不可置信；n.丧失信义；不信，怀疑

参考例句：

• Their behaviour has bought discredit on English football.他们的行为败坏了英国足球运动的声誉。
• They no longer try to discredit the technology itself.他们不再试图怀疑这种技术本身。

8 tantalizing   

adj.逗人的；惹弄人的；撩人的；煽情的v.逗弄，引诱，折磨( tantalize的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• This was my first tantalizing glimpse of the islands. 这是我第一眼看见的这些岛屿的动人美景。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We have only vague and tantalizing glimpses of his power. 我们只能隐隐约约地领略他的威力，的确有一种可望不可及的感觉。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史

9 utterly   

adv.完全地，绝对地

参考例句：

• Utterly devoted to the people,he gave his life in saving his patients.他忠于人民，把毕生精力用于挽救患者的生命。
• I was utterly ravished by the way she smiled.她的微笑使我完全陶醉了。

10 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

11 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

12 suspense   

n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑

参考例句：

• The suspense was unbearable.这样提心吊胆的状况实在叫人受不了。
• The director used ingenious devices to keep the audience in suspense.导演用巧妙手法引起观众的悬念。

13 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。

14 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

15 severing   

v.切断，断绝( sever的现在分词 )；断，裂

参考例句：

• The death of a second parent is like severing an umbilical cord to our past. 父母当中第二个人去世，就象斩断了把我们同过去联在一起的纽带。 来自辞典例句
• The severing theory and severing method for brittle block are studied. 研究裂纹技术应用于分离脆性块体的分离理论和分离方法。 来自互联网

16 shuddering   

v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动

参考例句：

• 'I am afraid of it,'she answered, shuddering. “我害怕，”她发着抖，说。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
• She drew a deep shuddering breath. 她不由得打了个寒噤，深深吸了口气。 来自飘（部分）

17 scotch   

n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的

参考例句：

• Facts will eventually scotch these rumours.这种谣言在事实面前将不攻自破。
• Italy was full of fine views and virtually empty of Scotch whiskey.意大利多的是美景，真正缺的是苏格兰威士忌。

18 loath   

adj.不愿意的；勉强的

参考例句：

• The little girl was loath to leave her mother.那小女孩不愿离开她的母亲。
• They react on this one problem very slow and very loath.他们在这一问题上反应很慢，很不情愿。

19 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

20 wagon   

n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车

参考例句：

• We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。
• The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。

21 brute   

n.野兽，兽性

参考例句：

• The aggressor troops are not many degrees removed from the brute.侵略军简直象一群野兽。
• That dog is a dangerous brute.It bites people.那条狗是危险的畜牲，它咬人。