“Boys, I have something to say to you that affects our common interests. The captain has left us for a visit to the city, and he has explained his reasons for going. He will try to negotiate the bonds taken from one of our late prisoners. Very likely he has told us the truth. He will doubtless get what he can for them, but will he come back?”
At this significant question the robbers started, and their faces looked dark and threatening.
“What makes you think he won’t, lieutenant?” asked one.
“Human nature,” replied Alonzo. “If he gets a good round sum, say ten or twenty thousand dollars, he will be tempted8 to keep it all himself, and leave us to our fate. Who shall say there is no danger? What should hinder his taking the next steamer for New York?”
Alonzo saw by the fierce looks of his adherents9 that his suggestion had produced its effect. He continued:
“I noticed, just before the captain’s departure, that he acted strangely; he took walks by himself, and evidently had some plan in view. I noticed also that he had a confidential10 talk with the boy, Tom. What does all this mean?”
“But the bonds didn’t belong to the boy.”
“No, but there were other matters in which he might wish to obtain information from the boy. Again, this boy was on his way to the mines. After his talk with the captain, he changed his plans and returned to the city. Shall I tell you what I think?”
“Yes, yes.”
“I think, then, that the boy and he were old acquaintances, that he brought the captain a message from outside, and that this and the bonds decided11 him to abandon us.”
“Let us pursue him! Let us kill him!” exclaimed the exasperated12 robbers.
“Hold! not so fast. Let him be followed, but by one only. Remember, he may be innocent. He may mean to deal fairly and squarely with us. If so, let him still remain our honored chief. But if he means to play us false”—here the speaker’s face grew stern—“let him die the death of a traitor13.”
“How shall we find out?” asked one.
“Appoint me to follow and watch him. I will go in disguise. I will see for myself what he does. I will dog his steps, and if it be true that he would desert us, I will be your avenger14. Shall it be so?”
“Yes, yes, let Alonzo go!” was the unanimous shout.
“Be it so. Boys, I go as your messenger. I go into danger, but I go to serve your interests. Whoever may be found wanting, you shall never find me a traitor.”
He finished his harangue6, and an hour later he was on his way to San Francisco, which he reached nearly as soon as the captain.
He met his superior in command for the first time on the occasion mentioned in the last chapter. He penetrated15 his disguise at once, assisted thereto by his companion’s presence. As we know, the captain was not so fortunate, and in the bowed and decrepit16 beggar who implored17 alms, he failed to recognize his subordinate—the man whom he had the greatest cause to fear—nor did he observe that the beggar followed him. Had he done so, his suspicions would hardly have been aroused.
After the captain left Tom, he made his way to the office of the steamship18 company. Alonzo’s keen eyes lighted up when he saw his destination. Now his suspicions were verified.
“It is as I thought,” he said to himself. “The captain has betrayed us. Arrived in New York, he may make his peace with the authorities and renounce19 his old comrades, and bring us to capture and death. He shall never do it! He shall never live to do it!”
As we know, he did the captain wrong in this suspicion. Though he fully20 intended to forsake21 the band and hoped never to meet any member of it again, it never once occurred to him to denounce them. There is honor among thieves—so the proverb has it—and he would have shrunk from such a betrayal.
The captain went back to his place of temporary sojourn22. Now that his object was so far accomplished23, and ticket secured for New York, he deemed it discreet24 to keep himself as much out of the way as possible till the time came for going on board the steamer.
Every evening Tom came to see him. He handed our hero his ticket, and the evening before sailing he handed Tom the belt containing the papers and securities, much to our hero’s amazement25. The captain read his wonder in his eyes.
“You are surprised that I give you them so soon,” he said.
“Yes,” said Tom. “Of course I am glad to have them in charge, but I did not suppose you would trust me with them.”
“I will tell you why,” said the robber-chief. “I have a presentiment2 of evil. I feel that some one of my old comrades is on my track. Should evil befall me, I do not want the bonds to fall into their hands. I prefer, if they cannot benefit me, that they should go to you.”
“Thank you,” said Tom, “but I heartily26 hope that you are mistaken—that you will leave this city in safety, and far away have a chance to redeem27 your past life.”
“I think you are sincere,” said the captain, taking his hand. “I trust you more than any other living being. For that reason, whatever comes to me, I wish that you may prosper28.”
The day of sailing came. Tom and the captain went on board the steamer. As they stood by the railing and looked over the side, Tom said in a low voice:
“Where are your presentiments now? Nothing has happened.”
The captain shook his head.
“It is not too late yet,” he said.
He had scarcely finished the sentence than a report was heard. The captain pressed his hand convulsively to his breast and dropped upon the deck. He never uttered another word. When he was taken up he was dead.
Tom looked about him in horror, expecting to see the assassin. But there was no one who looked likely to commit the deed. No one thought of suspecting a decrepit and infirm old beggar, who tottered29 slowly away from the wharf30 with head bowed down.
But Alonzo’s triumph was premature32. He had been seen in the act of firing the pistol. He was arrested, and identified as a member of the famous band that had been the scourge33 of the interior. He was tried, convicted and executed within the space of one month. So the captain was revenged, and the band, now without a head, was speedily disbanded.
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1
presentiments
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| n.（对不祥事物的）预感( presentiment的名词复数 ) | |
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presentiment
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| n.预感，预觉 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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allayed
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| v.减轻，缓和( allay的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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convened
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| 召开( convene的过去式 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合 | |
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harangue
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| n.慷慨冗长的训话，言辞激烈的讲话 | |
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harangued
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| v.高谈阔论( harangue的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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adherents
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| n.支持者，拥护者( adherent的名词复数 )；党羽；徒子徒孙 | |
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confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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exasperated
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| adj.恼怒的 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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avenger
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| n. 复仇者 | |
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penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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decrepit
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| adj.衰老的，破旧的 | |
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implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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steamship
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| n.汽船，轮船 | |
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renounce
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| v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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forsake
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| vt.遗弃，抛弃；舍弃，放弃 | |
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sojourn
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| v./n.旅居，寄居；逗留 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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redeem
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| v.买回，赎回，挽回，恢复，履行（诺言等） | |
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prosper
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| v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣 | |
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29
tottered
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| v.走得或动得不稳( totter的过去式和过去分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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30
wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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31
avenged
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| v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 )；为…报复 | |
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32
premature
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| adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的 | |
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33
scourge
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| n.灾难，祸害；v.蹂躏 | |
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