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CHAPTER VII A ROW AND A RESCUE.
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 HAT shall we do this afternoon?” asked James, as they rose from the dinner-table.
 
“Suppose we go out rowing?” said Edwin.
 
“I should like that,” said Tom eagerly.
 
“Can you row?” asked James.
 
“I can keep up my side of the boat,” said Tom.
 
“Very well, we’ll go, then,” said James. “Come along, fellows.”
 
Half a mile from the lawyer’s house was a river, narrow but with a swift current. Thither1 the boys directed their steps. Under a tree a round-bottomed boat of fair size was padlocked.
 
“The boat belongs to me,” said James complacently2. “It was a birthday present.”
 
“It looks like a good one. Let us get in,” said Tom.
 
They unlocked the boat and pushed off.
 
“You can steer3,” said James, “and Edwin and I will row.”
 
“Just as you please,” said Tom. “You own the boat.”
 
He would have preferred to row, but was willing to wait till one of the boys got tired and yielded the oars5. He seated himself therefore in the end of the boat and steered6.
 
“I am not used to the river,” said Tom, “and you must tell me if I steer wrong.”
 
They had the current in their favor, and the boat went merrily onward7, easily impelled8 by the two boys, who were evidently pleased with their speed.
 
“It’ll be rather different rowing back,” said Tom.
 
“Oh, we can manage it,” said James, with an air of consequence. “We are used to rowing.”
 
“The current will be against you.”
 
“We can manage,” said James confidently.
 
A little later they were startled by a loud scream. A boy of six had tumbled into the river while playing on the bank, and though it was shallow, was in danger of drowning.
 
Tom was the first to perceive his danger.
 
“Row to the shore, quick!” he shouted. “A boy is drowning.”
 
He turned the rudder, and James and his cousin mechanically obeyed. Tom reached over and grasped the urchin9 by his arm and deposited him in the bottom of the boat.
 
It was a young Irish boy, dirty-faced and in rags, and dripping, of course, from his recent immersion10.
 
James surveyed him with evident disgust.
 
“The dirty brat11 will wet the boat and make it unfit for us to stay in,” he said.
 
“Do you want me to pitch him into the water again?” asked Tom coolly.
 
 
“‘ROW TO THE SHORE, QUICK!’ TOM SHOUTED. ‘A BOY IS DROWNING.’”
 
“No,” said James slowly. “Of course I don’t want him to drown, but I don’t enjoy taking in one of the lower order as a passenger. We’d better put him on shore.”
 
“So I think,” said Edwin. “The little beggar will be better off there.”
 
“I don’t think so,” said Tom. “Do you see how the little chap is shivering? He’ll catch his death of cold if he doesn’t change his wet clothes soon. What is your name, my little boy?”
 
“Jimmy Grady,” said the boy, his teeth chattering12.
 
“He’s got your name, James,” said Tom slyly. “He’s your namesake.”
 
“Don’t associate me with him,” said James loftily.
 
“Of course it’s very impudent13 for him to have the same name,” said Tom smiling. “Perhaps he’ll change it. Where do you live, Jimmy?”
 
“There,” said the boy, pointing to a small, unpainted dwelling14 further up the river, and about twenty rods from the bank.
 
“Turn back,” said Tom, “we’ll carry him home.”
 
“I don’t choose to trouble myself about such a beggar as that,” said James. “We’ll go on, and on our way back we’ll land him.”
 
“And let him die of exposure?” said Tom sternly.
 
“Oh, such beggars are tough,” said James, in a tone quite destitute15 of feeling. “Row away, Edwin.”
 
“I forbid it!” said Tom, with startling emphasis. “Reverse your stroke. We are going back.”
 
At the same time he changed the course of the boat as far as he was able by turning the rudder.
 
James Davenport flushed. He was accustomed to have his own way and he didn’t relish16 dictation.
 
“The boat is mine,” said he, doggedly17. “We won’t turn back!”
 
“Turn back instantly, or I’ll throw you overboard,” said Tom, in a determined18 tone.
 
“I haven’t got to obey you,” said James angrily.
 
Tom sprung from his seat, grasped James by the shoulder, and repeated his command. There was something in our hero’s look when he was fairly aroused that showed that he was not to be trifled with. James thought of his encounter the day before, and he was by no means sure that Tom would not carry out his threat.
 
“Will you do it or not?” demanded Tom.
 
“If you’re so very anxious, I’ll do it,” said James, backing down. “You make more fuss about the little chap than he deserves.”
 
“His life is worth as much to him as ours is to us,” said Tom, resuming his seat. “When I have restored him to his home, I will go up or down, as you choose.”
 
Rather mortified19 at his defeat, and indignant also, James sullenly20 rowed to the shore at the point opposite little Jimmy’s humble21 home. His mother was on the bank, looking anxiously for her lost boy.
 
“It’s me, mother,” said Jimmy, his tear-begrimed face lighting22 up with joy.
 
“We’ve got Jimmy safe, Mrs. Grady,” called out Tom, cheerfully. “He tumbled into the river, and is wet through. You’d better take off his wet clothes, or he’ll get cold.”
 
“The saints be praised!” exclaimed the poor woman, fervently23. “I thought the poor boy was drowned. I’m sure I’m very thankful to you, young gentlemen, for taking so much trouble with a poor woman’s boy. How could you run away so, Jimmy, darlint?”
 
“I didn’t mane to tumble in,” said Jimmy, as Tom helped him over the side into his mother’s arms.
 
“Thank you kindly24, gentlemen,” said Mrs. Grady, repeating her thanks, but only Tom responded.
 
The other two regarded the poor woman scornfully.
 
“Thank Heaven! we’ve got rid of that beggar,” said James. “I don’t mean to let one into my boat again. I shall have to have it washed out.”
 
“Whenever either of you gets tired, I’ll row,” said Tom.
 
“I’m tired,” said Edwin. “It’s hard rowing up stream!”
 
“Against the current. I told you it would be. I’ll take your place.”
 
They changed places, and Tom begun to ply25 his oar4. James soon found out that our hero had not only rowed before, but that he was very strong and dexterous26, and considerably27 more than a match for him, even if he had not been tired. He would have been glad to have been relieved himself, but was too proud to own that he was fatigued28.
 
“Shall we go up or down?” asked Tom.
 
“I don’t appear to have much to say about it,” said James unpleasantly. “You appear to control the boat.”
 
“Come, James, don’t bear malice,” said Tom pleasantly. “I wouldn’t have interfered29, except to save Jimmy a fit of sickness. I knew you didn’t realize the danger of his going a long time with wet clothing. Now I am ready to receive your commands. Up or down?”
 
“We’d better go home,” said Edwin. “It’ll be hard getting there as it is, against the current.”
 
“Home then,” said James, his pride somewhat soothed30 by Tom’s leaving the matter to him.
 
Presently Tom, seeing that his companions lagged in rowing, said:
 
“If you are tired, James, I’ll take both oars for a little while.”
 
“I don’t believe you can.”
 
“Oh, I’m used to it.”
 
“Try it then,” said James, glad of a respite31; “I am not much tired, but I’d like to see how you will make out.”
 
Tom took both oars and used them vigorously. He found his task a difficult one, but he kept up single-handed for a mile, when Edwin came to his assistance.
 
They were all glad to reach the starting-point. Jumping out, James secured the boat.
 
“Now we’ll go home,” he said.
 
“We’ve had a bully32 row,” said Tom, “though it was rather a hard pull back. It’s lucky for Jimmy that we went back.”
 
“It would have served the little beggar right if he’d drowned,” muttered James.
 
“I’m glad he didn’t, though,” said Tom.
 
“Small loss if he had,” muttered the lawyer’s son.
 
“Perhaps some might say so of us,” said Tom.
 
“I hope you don’t compare me with that low boy,” said James scornfully.
 
“I dare say his mother wouldn’t exchange one Jimmy for another,” remarked Tom jokingly.
 
“She’s welcome to the brat,” said James loftily. “I have nothing in common with such people.”

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1 thither cgRz1o     
adv.向那里;adj.在那边的,对岸的
参考例句:
  • He wandered hither and thither looking for a playmate.他逛来逛去找玩伴。
  • He tramped hither and thither.他到处流浪。
2 complacently complacently     
adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地
参考例句:
  • He complacently lived out his life as a village school teacher. 他满足于一个乡村教师的生活。
  • "That was just something for evening wear," returned his wife complacently. “那套衣服是晚装,"他妻子心安理得地说道。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
3 steer 5u5w3     
vt.驾驶,为…操舵;引导;vi.驾驶
参考例句:
  • If you push the car, I'll steer it.如果你来推车,我就来驾车。
  • It's no use trying to steer the boy into a course of action that suits you.想说服这孩子按你的方式行事是徒劳的。
4 oar EH0xQ     
n.桨,橹,划手;v.划行
参考例句:
  • The sailors oar slowly across the river.水手们慢慢地划过河去。
  • The blade of the oar was bitten off by a shark.浆叶被一条鲨鱼咬掉了。
5 oars c589a112a1b341db7277ea65b5ec7bf7     
n.桨,橹( oar的名词复数 );划手v.划(行)( oar的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • He pulled as hard as he could on the oars. 他拼命地划桨。
  • The sailors are bending to the oars. 水手们在拼命地划桨。 来自《简明英汉词典》
6 steered dee52ce2903883456c9b7a7f258660e5     
v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 );操纵;控制;引导
参考例句:
  • He steered the boat into the harbour. 他把船开进港。
  • The freighter steered out of Santiago Bay that evening. 那天晚上货轮驶出了圣地亚哥湾。 来自《简明英汉词典》
7 onward 2ImxI     
adj.向前的,前进的;adv.向前,前进,在先
参考例句:
  • The Yellow River surges onward like ten thousand horses galloping.黄河以万马奔腾之势滚滚向前。
  • He followed in the steps of forerunners and marched onward.他跟随着先辈的足迹前进。
8 impelled 8b9a928e37b947d87712c1a46c607ee7     
v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He felt impelled to investigate further. 他觉得有必要作进一步调查。
  • I feel impelled to express grave doubts about the project. 我觉得不得不对这项计划深表怀疑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
9 urchin 0j8wS     
n.顽童;海胆
参考例句:
  • You should sheer off the urchin.你应该躲避这顽童。
  • He is a most wicked urchin.他是个非常调皮的顽童。
10 immersion baIxf     
n.沉浸;专心
参考例句:
  • The dirt on the bottom of the bath didn't encourage total immersion.浴缸底有污垢,不宜全身浸泡于其中。
  • The wood had become swollen from prolonged immersion.因长时间浸泡,木头发胀了。
11 brat asPzx     
n.孩子;顽童
参考例句:
  • He's a spoilt brat.他是一个被宠坏了的调皮孩子。
  • The brat sicked his dog on the passer-by.那个顽童纵狗去咬过路人。
12 chattering chattering     
n. (机器振动发出的)咔嗒声,(鸟等)鸣,啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的,啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式
参考例句:
  • The teacher told the children to stop chattering in class. 老师叫孩子们在课堂上不要叽叽喳喳讲话。
  • I was so cold that my teeth were chattering. 我冷得牙齿直打战。
13 impudent X4Eyf     
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。
14 dwelling auzzQk     
n.住宅,住所,寓所
参考例句:
  • Those two men are dwelling with us.那两个人跟我们住在一起。
  • He occupies a three-story dwelling place on the Park Street.他在派克街上有一幢3层楼的寓所。
15 destitute 4vOxu     
adj.缺乏的;穷困的
参考例句:
  • They were destitute of necessaries of life.他们缺少生活必需品。
  • They are destitute of common sense.他们缺乏常识。
16 relish wBkzs     
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 doggedly 6upzAY     
adv.顽强地,固执地
参考例句:
  • He was still doggedly pursuing his studies.他仍然顽强地进行着自己的研究。
  • He trudged doggedly on until he reached the flat.他顽强地、步履艰难地走着,一直走回了公寓。
18 determined duszmP     
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。
19 mortified 0270b705ee76206d7730e7559f53ea31     
v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 );伤害(人的感情);克制;抑制(肉体、情感等)
参考例句:
  • She was mortified to realize he had heard every word she said. 她意识到自己的每句话都被他听到了,直羞得无地自容。
  • The knowledge of future evils mortified the present felicities. 对未来苦难的了解压抑了目前的喜悦。 来自《简明英汉词典》
20 sullenly f65ccb557a7ca62164b31df638a88a71     
不高兴地,绷着脸,忧郁地
参考例句:
  • 'so what?" Tom said sullenly. “那又怎么样呢?”汤姆绷着脸说。
  • Emptiness after the paper, I sIt'sullenly in front of the stove. 报看完,想不出能找点什么事做,只好一人坐在火炉旁生气。
21 humble ddjzU     
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。
22 lighting CpszPL     
n.照明,光线的明暗,舞台灯光
参考例句:
  • The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
  • The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。
23 fervently 8tmzPw     
adv.热烈地,热情地,强烈地
参考例句:
  • "Oh, I am glad!'she said fervently. “哦,我真高兴!”她热烈地说道。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • O my dear, my dear, will you bless me as fervently to-morrow?' 啊,我亲爱的,亲爱的,你明天也愿这样热烈地为我祝福么?” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
24 kindly tpUzhQ     
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地
参考例句:
  • Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
  • A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。
25 ply DOqxa     
v.(搬运工等)等候顾客,弯曲
参考例句:
  • Taxis licensed to ply for hire at the railway station.许可计程车在火车站候客。
  • Ferryboats ply across the English Channel.渡船定期往返于英吉利海峡。
26 dexterous Ulpzs     
adj.灵敏的;灵巧的
参考例句:
  • As people grow older they generally become less dexterous.随着年龄的增长,人通常会变得不再那么手巧。
  • The manager was dexterous in handling his staff.那位经理善于运用他属下的职员。
27 considerably 0YWyQ     
adv.极大地;相当大地;在很大程度上
参考例句:
  • The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
  • The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。
28 fatigued fatigued     
adj. 疲乏的
参考例句:
  • The exercises fatigued her. 操练使她感到很疲乏。
  • The President smiled, with fatigued tolerance for a minor person's naivety. 总统笑了笑,疲惫地表现出对一个下级人员的天真想法的宽容。
29 interfered 71b7e795becf1adbddfab2cd6c5f0cff     
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》
30 soothed 509169542d21da19b0b0bd232848b963     
v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 );抚慰;使舒服;减轻痛苦
参考例句:
  • The music soothed her for a while. 音乐让她稍微安静了一会儿。
  • The soft modulation of her voice soothed the infant. 她柔和的声调使婴儿安静了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
31 respite BWaxa     
n.休息,中止,暂缓
参考例句:
  • She was interrogated without respite for twenty-four hours.她被不间断地审问了二十四小时。
  • Devaluation would only give the economy a brief respite.贬值只能让经济得到暂时的缓解。
32 bully bully     
n.恃强欺弱者,小流氓;vt.威胁,欺侮
参考例句:
  • A bully is always a coward.暴汉常是懦夫。
  • The boy gave the bully a pelt on the back with a pebble.那男孩用石子掷击小流氓的背脊。


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