CHAPTER XV. A NEW ACQUAINTANCE.

 While Ernest's clothes were drying the Indian woman was bustling¹ about the stove. The boy did not suspect her object till she placed on the table a plate of Indian cakes hot from the oven, and he was invited to partake.

 

It was the first time he had ever been a guest in an Indian family, and he hesitated, but saw that his refusal to partake might hurt the feelings of his new friends. He seated himself at the table and found the cakes really very good.

 

When his clothes were dry he rose to go.

 

"Won't you stay all night?" asked Castro.

 

"Thank you. I cannot spare the time. I must push on."

 

"Where are you going?" asked the Indian.

 

"To Lee's Falls."

 

"I will go with you a short distance."

 

So they set out together.

 

At length John Castro stopped.

 

"That is your way," he said. "I wish you a pleasant journey. I will not forget what you have done for my little son. If ever you are in trouble, send for John Castro."

 

"I thank you."

 

The Indian shook hands with him gravely, and turned back towards his cabin.

 

All this had taken time. Ernest had no watch with him, but he estimated that the adventure had cost him two hours. However, he had saved a boy's life.

 

Again, he had made a friend. The friend was an Indian, but Ernest was wise enough to consider that no friend, however humble², is to be despised.

 

It was clear that he would reach his destination late, and he began to wish that some carriage would overtake him in which he might ask for a ride.

 

But he walked two miles farther without encountering any team. At last, however, he heard the rumble³ of wheels, and turning round to see whether there was room in the vehicle, he saw that it was a buggy driven by a tall, thin man with dark hair, swarthy face, and a long, aquiline⁴ nose.

 

The driver eyed Ernest sharply and brought the buggy to a standstill.

 

"Where are you going, boy?" he asked.

 

"To Lee's Falls."

 

"Where have you come from?"

 

"From Emmonsville."

 

"It is a long walk."

 

"Yes. Do you think you could give me a lift?"

 

"Perhaps so. Jump in."

 

Ernest lost no time in availing himself of the invitation. He was footsore and weary, and it was with a sensation of relief that he seated himself beside the driver.

 

The latter, who had been going at good speed, pulled his horse down to a walk and showed indications of becoming sociable⁵.

 

"Where were you going in Lee's Falls?" he asked.

 

Ernest felt that it would be imprudent to mention that his destination was the bank, so he answered guardedly, "I am going to see the town. I may stop over night."

 

"At the hotel?"

 

"Yes."

 

"It is not much of a place to see," said the driver, watching his companion curiously⁶.

 

"It is larger than Emmonsville, isn't it?"

 

"Yes. How long have you been in Emmonsville?"

 

"Not long."

 

"Where do you live there?"

 

"At Mrs. Larkins'."

 

"Do you go to school?"

 

"No."

 

Ernest began to think that his companion was decidedly inquisitive⁷, and something told him that he would do well to be on his guard. Why should he ask so many questions of a boy with whom he had no acquaintance?

 

Meanwhile the horse was travelling very slowly, and it seemed to Ernest that he would go over the road quite as fast if he had continued to walk. However, it was easier riding, and this was a consideration. He began to think it was his turn to ask questions.

 

"Are you going all the way to Lee's Falls?" he asked.

 

"I may go nearly there."

 

"I am very much obliged to you for giving me a lift. I was quite tired."

 

The driver smiled.

 

"Perhaps I have an object," he said.

 

Ernest looked an inquiry⁸.

 

"The pleasure of your company," explained his companion, with a smile.

 

"Thank you," answered Ernest.

 

"Now I come to look at you, I think I have seen you before," continued the driver.

 

"Where?"

 

"In Emmonsville--at the bank."

 

Ernest became alarmed. There was a significance in his companion's tone which excited his alarm. But he did not dare show his feelings. He remained outwardly calm, though inwardly disturbed.

 

"Very probably," he said; "I have been there."

 

His companion laughed. He was playing with the boy as a cat plays with a captive mouse. Ernest began to consider whether he could not think of some pretext⁹ for getting out of the buggy.

 

Suddenly the buggy stopped.

 

"I will get out here," said Ernest, quickly.

 

"Not quite yet. I have not got through questioning you."

 

"I am in a hurry," said Ernest.

 

"You must wait till your hurry is over. Now tell me truly, are you not bound for the Lee's Falls bank?"

 

Ernest was startled.

 

"You see I know more about you than you suppose. You are the bank messenger."

 

It seemed useless to deny it. The important question now was, was his secret packet in danger?

 

"I have sometimes acted as bank messenger," he said warily¹⁰.

 

"And you are acting¹¹ in that capacity now. What are you taking to the Lee's Falls bank?"

 

Ernest turned pale. His worst fears were confirmed.

 

"Why do you ask?" he said.

 

"Because I want to know."

 

"What business can it be of yours?" demanded Ernest, boldly.

 

"Don't be impudent¹², boy! Hand me the package of money."

 

"I have no package of money."

 

"Then you have bonds."

 

Ernest remained silent.

 

"I see that I have hit it. Now hand over the bonds, if you value your life."

 

He spoke¹³ sternly, and looked so fierce that the boy messenger became more and more alarmed. He saw that he must give up the package, but determined¹⁴ to hold out in his resistance as long as possible.

 

"The package is not mine, and I have no right to surrender it," he said.

 

"I'll take the responsibility, boy. You can't be blamed, for you can't help your self."

 

As he spoke, he passed his hand over Ernest's vest, which he saw projected more than was usual, and discovered the hiding-place of the important package.

 

Instantly he had torn open the vest and drawn¹⁵ out the envelope.

 

"I thought I should find it," he said in a tone of triumph.

 

Ernest felt very much dejected. It was a mortification¹⁶ to lose the first large sum with which he had been intrusted.

 

"Will you tell me who you are?" he asked abruptly¹⁷.

 

"First, let me know who you think I am."

 

As the driver spoke he eyed Ernest sharply. "Is your name Fox?" asked the young messenger.

 

His companion laughed.

 

"I know Mr. Fox," he answered.

 

"You are either Fox or a member of his band."

 

"You seem to be a sharp boy; I won't tell you whether you are right or not."

 

"I suppose I may go now."

 

"Where do you want to go?"

 

Ernest hesitated. This was a question which he could not at once answer. To go on to Lee's Falls without the packet would do little good. Yet the bank officers there ought to know that the bonds intended for them had been stolen. Besides, he was too far from Emmonsville to return that night.

 

"I will go to Lee's Falls," he said.

 

"Not at present; I have other views for you." As he spoke the robber turned his horse to the right. Wholly ignorant as to where he was to be carried, Ernest sank back in his seat and resigned himself as well as he could to the situation.

1 bustling   

adj.喧闹的

参考例句：

• The market was bustling with life. 市场上生机勃勃。
• This district is getting more and more prosperous and bustling. 这一带越来越繁华了。

2 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

3 rumble   

n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说

参考例句：

• I hear the rumble of thunder in the distance.我听到远处雷声隆隆。
• We could tell from the rumble of the thunder that rain was coming.我们根据雷的轰隆声可断定，天要下雨了。

4 aquiline   

adj.钩状的，鹰的

参考例句：

• He had a thin aquiline nose and deep-set brown eyes.他长着窄长的鹰钩鼻和深陷的褐色眼睛。
• The man has a strong and aquiline nose.该名男子有强大和鹰鼻子。

5 sociable   

adj.好交际的，友好的，合群的

参考例句：

• Roger is a very sociable person.罗杰是个非常好交际的人。
• Some children have more sociable personalities than others.有些孩子比其他孩子更善于交际。

6 curiously   

adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地

参考例句：

• He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
• He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。

7 inquisitive   

adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的

参考例句：

• Children are usually inquisitive.小孩通常很好问。
• A pat answer is not going to satisfy an inquisitive audience.陈腔烂调的答案不能满足好奇的听众。

8 inquiry   

n.打听，询问，调查，查问

参考例句：

• Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
• The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

9 pretext   

n.借口，托词

参考例句：

• He used his headache as a pretext for not going to school.他借口头疼而不去上学。
• He didn't attend that meeting under the pretext of sickness.他以生病为借口，没参加那个会议。

10 warily   

adv.留心地

参考例句：

• He looked warily around him,pretending to look after Carrie.他小心地看了一下四周，假装是在照顾嘉莉。
• They were heading warily to a point in the enemy line.他们正小心翼翼地向着敌人封锁线的某一处前进。

11 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

12 impudent   

adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的

参考例句：

• She's tolerant toward those impudent colleagues.她对那些无礼的同事采取容忍的态度。
• The teacher threatened to kick the impudent pupil out of the room.老师威胁着要把这无礼的小学生撵出教室。

13 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

14 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

15 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。

16 mortification   

n.耻辱，屈辱

参考例句：

• To my mortification, my manuscript was rejected. 使我感到失面子的是：我的稿件被退了回来。
• The chairman tried to disguise his mortification. 主席试图掩饰自己的窘迫。

17 abruptly   

adv.突然地，出其不意地

参考例句：

• He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
• I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。