CHAPTER XXII. A FRIEND IN NEED.

 Bewildered and angry, John Fox looked to see who was his assailant. He found himself confronted by a tall, muscular Indian, whom Ernest also recognized as the man whose child he had saved from a watery¹ grave.

 

"What do you mean by this outrage²?" demanded the outlaw³ angrily.

 

"Why are you hurting him?" said the Indian, pointing to Ernest.

 

"Because I choose to. What have you got to say about it?"

 

"Me stop you," said the Indian calmly.

 

"I have a great mind to shoot you."

 

This was an empty threat, for his weapon had been taken by the Quaker detective.

 

The only answer made by the Indian was to produce a revolver, which he pointed⁴ at the breast of the outlaw.

 

"Two play at that game," he answered.

 

John Fox shrank back, for it takes a man of nerve to face a revolver. He began to remonstrate⁵.

 

"What interest have you in that boy?" he asked.

 

"He save my little boy from drowning," answered the Indian. "Will you go, or shall me shoot?"

 

There was but one answer to make to this question. John Fox turned about, and walked quietly away without a word.

 

Ernest grasped the Indian's hand gratefully.

 

"I can't thank you enough," he said. "You have perhaps saved my life."

 

"You saved my little boy."

 

"Do you know that man?"

 

"No."

 

"It was John Fox, one of the Fox brothers, the famous outlaws⁶."

 

"Humph! I have heard of him. How did he catch you?"

 

Ernest told the story. He also told of the commission he had from the Emmonsville bank.

 

"I am going to ask you a favor," he asked.

 

"What is it?"

 

"I want you to go with me to the bank at Lee's Falls. I have a package of bonds to carry there, and I don't think it safe to go alone. I will see that you are paid for your time and trouble."

 

"I will go."

 

Under the guidance of his Indian friend, Ernest reached Lee's Falls. The bank was closed, but the cashier was still in the bank building, having been detained after hours. Seeing him through the window, Ernest knocked and obtained admission.

 

"The bank is closed, young man," said the bank officer.

 

"I know it, but I have a package of bonds from the bank in Emmonsville. I hope you will take them from me, for I don't want the responsibility of them any longer."

 

"Oh, you are the young messenger. We had advice that you would be here yesterday."

 

"So I should have been, but for my capture by one of the Fox brothers."

 

"And how did you escape?" asked the wondering cashier.

 

"Please take the bonds, and I will tell you. I spent two nights in the outlaws' cave. This afternoon I managed to get away."

 

"But were not the bonds taken from you?"

 

"Yes, but I recovered them."

 

Ernest, without waiting for further questions, told the story as briefly⁷ as possible.

 

"So, after all," he concluded, "I should have been taken again but for my friend here," laying his hand upon the Indian's shoulder.

 

"I told him you would pay him for his trouble in accompanying me."

 

"So I will," said the cashier, and he took a five-dollar bill and tendered it to the Indian.

 

The latter objected to taking it, alleging⁸ that Ernest had saved his boy's life, but the cashier overruled his objections, and he accepted it.

 

They were going out of the bank when the familiar figure of Luke Robbins came up the street. His face was overspread by an expression of anxiety, and he seemed troubled. He had searched everywhere for Ernest, and thus far had failed to find him.

 

When he saw the boy emerging from the bank his face changed at once.

 

"So you are safe, Ernest? I thought I had lost you," he exclaimed. "Did you see anything of the outlaws?"

 

"I should say that I did. I was captured by James Fox, and confined two nights in the underground haunt of the robbers. When I escaped this afternoon I fell into the clutches of the other brother."

 

"What! John Fox?"

 

"Yes."

 

"This cannot be, Ernest. I lodged⁹ him myself in Crampton jail."

 

"All I can tell you is that he is at liberty now. He must have escaped."

 

"Then I am afraid I shan't receive the reward offered for his capture."

 

"You ought to get it. You delivered him over to the authorities. If they could not keep him, that was their lookout¹⁰."

 

"You ought to be right, lad. I hope you are. Who is this man?"

 

"My Indian friend, who proved to be a friend in need. It was he who saved me from John Fox."

 

"I am proud to know you," said Luke, grasping the hand of the red warrior¹¹. "If you have helped Ernest, you are my friend."

 

"He save my little boy; I will always be his friend."

 

"You have saved my boy, my Indian friend, and you will always be my friend," returned Luke.

 

"Well, Luke, what shall we do? I have done my errand and delivered the bonds. I suppose I ought to go back to Emmonsville."

 

"We will go back. I have found you, and have no more to do here."

 

"Shall we walk?"

 

"No, it is too far. There is a stable a little way from here; I will hire a conveyance¹², and our Indian friend will perhaps be willing to drive us over."

 

The Indian expressed his willingness, and the three were soon on their way through the woods. They met with no adventure, nor did they fear any, for it would have required a brave man to attack two such stalwart persons as the Indian and the Quaker detective.

 

Leaving them for the present, we will go back to the cave from which Ernest had made so unceremonious a departure.

 

Frank slept for two hours, but at length opened his eyes, expecting to see Ernest sitting at his bedside.

 

He looked in vain. There was no one in the room. This did not surprise him much, however. He thought Ernest might have gone into the next apartment.

 

"Ernest!" he cried, but his call received no response.

 

The little boy got out of bed and looked about, but his search was vain.

 

So he went into the kitchen, where he found Juba engaged in some domestic work.

 

"Juba," he said, "where is Ernest."

 

"I don't know, chile. Isn't he in the big room?"

 

"No, Juba. I went to sleep, and when I woke up he was gone."

 

"Lor', chile, he round somewhere. You look round, and maybe you find him."

 

But Frank was doomed¹³ to disappointment. He sat down ready to cry. He felt very lonely. He had not realized how much he enjoyed Ernest's company.

 

"I don't know where he can have gone, Juba. Do you think he's gone and left me?"

 

"I can't tell, chile. Wait till your papa comes home. He will find him."

 

Frank had to wait an hour and a half before his father's return. All this time he was buoyed¹⁴ up by the hope that Ernest would come back. He was continually watching the portal to see if the runaway¹⁵ would not come, but in vain.

 

James Fox entered the room with grave face and heavy step. He had not heard of his brother's escape, and thought him still an inmate¹⁶ of Crampton jail.

 

He looked about for his young captive.

 

"Where is Ernest, Frank?" he asked.

 

"I don't know, papa. I miss him ever so much," said the little boy tearfully.

 

"But he must be somewhere about. When did you miss him?"

 

"He went away when I was asleep."

 

The outlaw's suspicions were aroused.

 

"I will look for him," he said.

 

But Ernest was in none of the rooms, nor could Juba give any account of him.

 

"Did you walk with him into the interior of the cave, Frank?" he asked.

 

"Yes, papa."

 

"Ha, that explains it. Go with me, and tell me just where you went."

 

The little boy led the way through the vacant apartments till he reached the one through which the light came from above.

 

The rope was still hanging from the projection¹⁷, and this explained Ernest's escape. James Fox went up and examined it.

 

"He must have got out this way," said the outlaw.

 

"Won't he come back, papa?" said Frank, sadly.

 

"Yes," said his father, resolutely¹⁸. "I will bring him back."

1 watery   

adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的

参考例句：

• In his watery eyes there is an expression of distrust.他那含泪的眼睛流露出惊惶失措的神情。
• Her eyes became watery because of the smoke.因为烟熏，她的双眼变得泪汪汪的。

2 outrage   

n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒

参考例句：

• When he heard the news he reacted with a sense of outrage.他得悉此事时义愤填膺。
• We should never forget the outrage committed by the Japanese invaders.我们永远都不应该忘记日本侵略者犯下的暴行。

3 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。

4 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。

5 remonstrate   

v.抗议，规劝

参考例句：

• He remonstrated with the referee.他向裁判抗议。
• I jumped in the car and went to remonstrate.我跳进汽车去提出抗议。

6 outlaws   

歹徒，亡命之徒( outlaw的名词复数 )； 逃犯

参考例句：

• During his year in the forest, Robin met many other outlaws. 在森林里的一年，罗宾遇见其他许多绿林大盗。
• I didn't have to leave the country or fight outlaws. 我不必离开自己的国家，也不必与不法分子斗争。

7 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

8 alleging   

断言，宣称，辩解( allege的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• His reputation was blemished by a newspaper article alleging he'd evaded his taxes. 由于报上一篇文章声称他曾逃税，他的名誉受到损害。
• This our Peeress declined as unnecessary, alleging that her cousin Thornhill's recommendation would be sufficient. 那位贵人不肯，还说不必，只要有她老表唐希尔保荐就够了。

9 lodged   

v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属

参考例句：

• The certificate will have to be lodged at the registry. 证书必须存放在登记处。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Our neighbours lodged a complaint against us with the police. 我们的邻居向警方控告我们。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 lookout   

n.注意，前途，瞭望台

参考例句：

• You can see everything around from the lookout.从了望台上你可以看清周围的一切。
• It's a bad lookout for the company if interest rates don't come down.如果利率降不下来，公司的前景可就不妙了。

11 warrior   

n.勇士，武士，斗士

参考例句：

• The young man is a bold warrior.这个年轻人是个很英勇的武士。
• A true warrior values glory and honor above life.一个真正的勇士珍视荣誉胜过生命。

12 conveyance   

n.(不动产等的)转让，让与；转让证书；传送；运送；表达；（正）运输工具

参考例句：

• Bicycles have become the most popular conveyance for Chinese people.自行车已成为中国人最流行的代步工具。
• Its another,older,usage is a synonym for conveyance.它的另一个更古老的习惯用法是作为财产转让的同义词使用。

13 doomed   

命定的

参考例句：

• The court doomed the accused to a long term of imprisonment. 法庭判处被告长期监禁。
• A country ruled by an iron hand is doomed to suffer. 被铁腕人物统治的国家定会遭受不幸的。

14 buoyed   

v.使浮起( buoy的过去式和过去分词 )；支持；为…设浮标；振奋…的精神

参考例句：

• Buoyed by their win yesterday the team feel confident of further success. 在昨天胜利的鼓舞下，该队有信心再次获胜。
• His encouragement buoyed her up during that difficult period. 他的鼓励使她在那段困难时期恢复了乐观的情绪。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 runaway   

n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的

参考例句：

• The police have not found the runaway to date.警察迄今没抓到逃犯。
• He was praised for bringing up the runaway horse.他勒住了脱缰之马受到了表扬。

16 inmate   

n.被收容者；(房屋等的)居住人；住院人

参考例句：

• I am an inmate of that hospital.我住在那家医院。
• The prisoner is his inmate.那个囚犯和他同住一起。

17 projection   

n.发射，计划，突出部分

参考例句：

• Projection takes place with a minimum of awareness or conscious control.投射在最少的知觉或意识控制下发生。
• The projection of increases in number of house-holds is correct.对户数增加的推算是正确的。

18 resolutely   

adj.坚决地，果断地

参考例句：

• He resolutely adhered to what he had said at the meeting. 他坚持他在会上所说的话。
• He grumbles at his lot instead of resolutely facing his difficulties. 他不是果敢地去面对困难，而是抱怨自己运气不佳。