CHAPTER XI. UNDER WATCH AND WARD.

 The farm-house was built after the model of many similar houses in New England. It was of two stories, with the front door in the centre and a room on each side. Over the two stories was an unfurnished attic¹.

 

"Have you a secure place to keep our friend here?" asked Luke.

 

The farmer paused before he answered.

 

"I might put him in the attic," he said.

 

But here his wife interfered².

 

"I couldn't sleep if he were in the house," she said.

 

"Why not?" asked Luke. "You see he is securely bound, and will be as helpless as a child. Will you show me the attic?"

 

"Follow me," said the farmer.

 

They went up two flights of stairs, and found themselves in a long room, the whole width of the house. Through the centre rose the chimney. The sloping roof was not plastered. The only furniture consisted of a cot-bedstead and a chair.

 

"Is the attic occupied by any of the family?" asked Luke.

 

"Not generally. When I hire an extra hand at harvest-time he sleeps there."

 

"But at present there is no one occupying it?"

 

"No."

 

"Then I suggest that the bed will prove a good resting-place for our friend below. I have no doubt he has often found himself in lodgings⁴ less comfortable."

 

"But," said Mrs. Mason, nervously⁵, "if he should get free during the night he might murder us all in our beds."

 

"There is little chance of that. When your husband bound him, he did a good job. I wouldn't undertake to get free myself, if I were bound as securely."

 

"That's so!" said the farmer, pleased with the compliment. "He can't get away nohow."

 

Over in the corner there were a couple of horse-blankets, which seemed to offer a comfortable resting-place. Luke Robbins eyed them thoughtfully.

 

"I have an idea," he said. "Let the outlaw⁶ lie there, and one of us can occupy the bed. Then he won't be able to try any of his tricks."

 

"I would rather not sleep there," observed the farmer nervously. "I couldn't sleep in the same room with one of the Fox brothers."

 

"Then if you couldn't sleep there you are just the man we want. You will always be on the watch, and can frustrate⁷ any attempt to escape."

 

"No, no," said Ezekiel Mason, hurriedly. "Kate could not close her eyes if she thought I were alone with John Fox."

 

"No," answered Mrs. Mason, with a shudder⁸, "I won't let Ezekiel sleep in the same room with that bold, bad man."

 

"I wouldn't be afraid myself," said the farmer, trying to keep up his reputation for courage, "but I don't want my wife to be anxious."

 

Luke Robbins smiled, for he understood very well the timidity of his host. "Then," he said, "as I have no wife to be anxious about me, perhaps I had better sleep here."

 

"Yes, that will be much better," rejoined the relieved farmer. "You are a brave man. Mr. Fox won't get the better of you."

 

"Not if I can help it," said Luke. "Will that suit you, Mrs. Mason?"

 

"Why don't you take him on to the jail at once?" asked the woman. "I shall feel worried if he spends the night in this house."

 

"I hear that he has escaped from jail no less than three times. If he should do so to-night he would at once come here, and perhaps bring some of his band with him. He knows there is a good sum of money in the house."

 

"I shall be glad when it is paid out," said the farmer's wife.

 

"Don't worry, Mrs. Mason. I have promised your husband that no harm should come to him and that the money should be secure, and I will keep my word."

 

"So you did," said Ezekiel, brightening up, "and I will pay you what I agreed, if you keep your promise."

 

"Friend Mason," responded Luke, "I am playing for higher stakes than five dollars. All depends on my keeping this outlaw secure. I mean to do it."

 

Having settled matters, they went down stairs again, where they found their prisoner waiting impatiently for their reappearance.

 

"Well," he said, "have you decided⁹ to let me go?"

 

"I am sorry to disappoint you, my friend," answered Luke, "but I don't see my way clear to do so."

 

"I promised you a thousand dollars if you would release me."

 

"Yes, but I haven't any confidence in that promise."

 

"You need not fear. In three days I would bring or send the money to you here."

 

"Couldn't you oblige me with a check on the bank where you keep your money?" asked Luke, smiling.

 

"I keep my money in several banks," returned the outlaw.

 

"Where, for instance?"

 

"I had some in the bank at Lee's Falls, but I drew it out the other day."

 

"So I heard. Have you any money in the Emmonsville bank?"

 

"Yes, but I am not quite ready to take it yet. I can give you an order on the bank, if that will suit."

 

"Thank you; I doubt if the order would be honored."

 

"All this talk amounts to nothing," said Fox, impatiently. "I tell you that if you release me I will bring or send you the money."

 

"And how soon would you want it back again?"

 

"Whenever I saw my way clear to taking it," said the outlaw, boldly.

 

"I like that talk. It looks square. I'll think over your offer, friend Fox, and let you know in the morning what I decide to do."

 

The outlaw frowned. He evidently did not like the prospect¹⁰ of remaining in captivity¹¹ over night.

 

"What are you going to do with me to-night?" he asked.

 

"We have a comfortable place provided," answered Luke. "Mr. Mason, if you will give your assistance, we will show our guest where we propose to put him."

 

"Unbind me, and I will save you the trouble."

 

"No doubt, but there are some objections to that."

 

The outlaw was lifted from the wagon¹² and carried up stairs to the attic. His ankles as well as his wrists were securely tied, so that he was unable to walk.

 

"Friend Fox," said Luke, politely, "there is a bed, and there is a shake-down," pointing to the blankets on the floor. "You can take your choice. I hope you will like your hotel."

 

"I shall like it better if it provides refreshments," replied Fox. "I am simply famished¹³."

 

"I am sure Mrs. Mason will furnish you with a meal. I will speak to her."

 

The outlaw seated himself on the bed, and the cord about his wrists was loosened so that he might be able to eat. This might have been regarded as dangerous, as affording him an opportunity to escape, but for two reasons.

 

In a chair opposite sat Luke Robbins, with a revolver in his hand, watching his prisoner sharply.

 

"If you make any attempt to escape," he said quietly, "I shall shoot. Now you understand, and will be guided accordingly."

 

In spite of his unpleasant situation, the outlaw could not help admiring the coolness and resolution of his guard.

 

"You would make a capital accession to my band," he remarked.

 

"If that is meant for a compliment," said Luke, dryly, "I thank you."

 

"You had better think it over. Join my band, and I will make it worth your while."

 

He fixed¹⁴ his eyes earnestly upon his captor, to see whether he had made any impression upon him.

 

"When I start on any road," he said, "I like to know where it is coming out."

 

"Well, this road will lead to wealth."

 

"I don't read it that way."

 

"How, then?"

 

"It will more likely lead to a violent death--or the gallows¹⁵."

 

"I have been on that path for ten years, and I am alive, and--"

 

"A prisoner."

 

"Yes, at present; but I can tell you this, my Quaker friend, that the tree has not yet grown that will furnish a gallows for John Fox."

 

"Perhaps so, but I don't feel sure of it."

 

The outlaw's predicament did not appear to interfere³ with his appetite. He ate his dinner with evident relish¹⁶, and left nothing on the plate. When he had completed his meal, Luke called the farmer and requested him to tie his wrists again.

 

"You can do it better than I," he said. "Besides, I shall need to stand guard."

 

I was well that he did so, for John Fox, if there had been the least chance of success, would have overpowered the farmer and effected his escape. But with the eye of Luke Robbins upon him, and the pistol in his hand ready to go off at an instant's notice, there was nothing to do but to submit to being rebound¹⁷.

 

1 attic   

n.顶楼，屋顶室

参考例句：

• Leakiness in the roof caused a damp attic.屋漏使顶楼潮湿。
• What's to be done with all this stuff in the attic?顶楼上的材料怎么处理？

2 interfered   

v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉

参考例句：

• Complete absorption in sports interfered with his studies. 专注于运动妨碍了他的学业。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I am not going to be interfered with. 我不想别人干扰我的事情。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

4 lodgings   

n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍

参考例句：

• When he reached his lodgings the sun had set. 他到达公寓房间时，太阳已下山了。
• I'm on the hunt for lodgings. 我正在寻找住所。

5 nervously   

adv.神情激动地，不安地

参考例句：

• He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇，努力忍着不哭出来。
• He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。

6 outlaw   

n.歹徒，亡命之徒；vt.宣布…为不合法

参考例句：

• The outlaw hid out in the hills for several months.逃犯在山里隐藏了几个月。
• The outlaw has been caught.歹徒已被抓住了。

7 frustrate   

v.使失望；使沮丧；使厌烦

参考例句：

• But this didn't frustrate Einstein.He was content to go as far as he could.但这并没有使爱因斯坦灰心，他对能够更深入地研究而感到满意。
• They made their preparations to frustrate the conspiracy.他们作好准备挫败这个阴谋。

8 shudder   

v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动

参考例句：

• The sight of the coffin sent a shudder through him.看到那副棺材，他浑身一阵战栗。
• We all shudder at the thought of the dreadful dirty place.我们一想到那可怕的肮脏地方就浑身战惊。

9 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。

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 captivity   

n.囚禁；被俘；束缚

参考例句：

• A zoo is a place where live animals are kept in captivity for the public to see.动物园是圈养动物以供公众观看的场所。
• He was held in captivity for three years.他被囚禁叁年。

12 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。

13 famished   

adj.饥饿的

参考例句：

• When's lunch?I'm famished!什么时候吃午饭？我饿得要死了！
• My feet are now killing me and I'm absolutely famished.我的脚现在筋疲力尽，我绝对是极饿了。

14 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

15 gallows   

n.绞刑架，绞台

参考例句：

• The murderer was sent to the gallows for his crimes.谋杀犯由于罪大恶极被处以绞刑。
• Now I was to expiate all my offences at the gallows.现在我将在绞刑架上赎我一切的罪过。

16 relish   

n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味

参考例句：

• I have no relish for pop music.我对流行音乐不感兴趣。
• I relish the challenge of doing jobs that others turn down.我喜欢挑战别人拒绝做的工作。

17 rebound   

v.弹回；n.弹回，跳回

参考例句：

• The vibrations accompanying the rebound are the earth quake.伴随这种回弹的振动就是地震。
• Our evil example will rebound upon ourselves.我们的坏榜样会回到我们自己头上的。