CHAPTER XXXVI. HUGH BETRAYS HIS PRINCIPAL.

 "Follow me!" said Hugh Trimble to Gilbert.

 

"Where are you going to lead me?"

 

"Never you mind. Come along."

 

Gilbert saw that resistance would be useless, and he obeyed. His companion plunged¹ into the woods, looking back occasionally to see that he was following. He kept on for about half a mile as near as Gilbert could judge, when they came to a small clearing, in the midst of which was a dilapidated log hut. It was no longer occupied, but had been deserted² by the former occupant, who had gone across the Mississippi to regions yet unexplored years before.

 

"Go in there," said Hugh.

 

Gilbert entered.

 

He saw nothing but bare walls, all furniture having been removed when it was deserted.

 

Our hero looked around him curiously³, and then at his conductor inquiringly. He was not long in doubt as to his intention.

 

Hugh drew a strong cord from his pocket, and drew near him.

 

"What are you going to do?" asked Gilbert.

 

"Tie your hands and feet," was the reply.

 

Gilbert shrank back.

 

"Don't do that," he said.

 

"I ain't goin' to have you run away," growled⁴ Hugh.

 

"I won't run away. I shall be released this afternoon at any rate, and I can stand captivity⁵ till then."

 

"How do you know you will get free this afternoon?"

 

"You promised to let me go when my uncle brought the money."

 

"Your uncle?" repeated Hugh, exhibiting surprise, fixing his eyes keenly upon our hero.

 

"Yes, he is my uncle, but he does not acknowledge me yet."

 

"Humph!" said Hugh, thoughtfully to himself. "Suppose he does own you, what then?"

 

"It is a secret."

 

"You'd better tell me. I have a reason for asking."

 

"I have a claim to the property which my uncle possesses."

 

"That's it. I understand it now."

 

"What do you understand?"

 

"Suppose you was to die, what then?"

 

"There would be nobody to disturb my uncle in the possession of his property."

 

"He wouldn't cry much if you was to die."

 

"What do you mean?" asked Gilbert, unpleasantly impressed by the man's tone.

 

"He wants you dead—that's the long and short of it."

 

"I can't believe it," said Gilbert, shuddering⁶. "You can have no cause to say this. He can't be so wicked."

 

"Look here, young one," said Hugh, "I'll tell you a secret. You take me for a robber, don't you?"

 

"Yes."

 

"In course you do. Now I'm going to surprise you. My stopping your mouth to-day was all a put-up job."

 

"You don't mean that my uncle engaged you to do it?"

 

"Yes, I do."

 

"What was his object?"

 

"He don't mean to come back for you. He wants me to kill you."

 

"You don't mean that?" said Gilbert, horror-struck.

 

"Yes, I do. He's goin' to give me a thousand dollars."

 

"And you agreed to do it?"

 

"Yes, I agreed to do it."

 

"Would you stain your hands with murder for a thousand dollars?" asked Gilbert, solemnly.

 

"What can I do? I'm a poor man. Fortune has gone agin me all my life. There ain't no other way I can get money. If I was well off I wouldn't do it."

 

"Good Heaven! To think my uncle should be capable of such wickedness."

 

"It's just as bad for him, ain't it? He hires me to kill you for the sake of money. What's the odds⁷?"

 

"He is worse than you. He knows that I would not strip him of everything, even if I succeed."

 

"What's your chances, young one? Have you got a good case?"

 

"If I hadn't, he wouldn't conspire⁸ for my death."

 

"That's so. Now, young chap, shall I kill you or not?"

 

"Of course I don't want to be killed, but you are too strong for me. I am in your power."

 

"Swear, if I spare your life, will you see that I don't lose by it?"

 

Gilbert caught his meaning and snatched at the chance of safety.

 

"If you let me go, you shall have the same amount my uncle promised you, and will have no stain of murder on your hands."

 

"Have you got the money?"

 

"Nearly all. The rest I can raise. But I will do better than that, on one condition."

 

"What's that?"

 

"If you will let me call you as a witness, to prove that my uncle engaged you to kill me, I shall be sure to recover my property, and the day I come into possession I will pay you over two thousand dollars."

 

Hugh's eyes sparkled, but he answered cautiously:

 

"Won't there be no risk? Can't they shut me up?"

 

"No; you can say that you entered into the plan in order to entrap⁹ my uncle."

 

"Will you swear to do that?"

 

"I will."

 

"Then it's a bargain. Now, what shall we do first?"

 

"I want you to go with me to St. Louis, but my uncle must not know that I have escaped. How can we manage that?"

 

"We can go up north afterward¹⁰ and take the boat from there. When we pass this place on the river, we'll stay down below."

 

"That is a good plan. When we get to St. Louis I will see a lawyer at once, and put the matter in his hands."

 

"I don't like to come before the court," said Hugh, reluctantly, "but I will if you say so."

 

"I don't think it will be necessary. When my uncle learns that his conspiracy¹¹ is likely to be made known, he will be glad to compromise without a contest."

 

"You know best. If you'll come round with me to my hut, I'll tell the old woman what's up, and then we'll strike for the river. You won't go back on me?"

 

"No—that isn't my way; besides, your testimony¹² is too valuable for me. I'll stand by you if you'll stand by me. Give me your hand."

 

"I'll trust you, young one," he said.

 

Before the sun set they were passengers on a river steamer, bound for St. Louis.

1 plunged   

v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降

参考例句：

• The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。
• She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳，从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。

2 deserted   

adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的

参考例句：

• The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
• The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

3 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。

4 growled   

v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说

参考例句：

• \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道：“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 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。

6 shuddering   

v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动

参考例句：

• 'I am afraid of it,'she answered, shuddering. “我害怕，”她发着抖，说。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
• She drew a deep shuddering breath. 她不由得打了个寒噤，深深吸了口气。 来自飘（部分）

7 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？

8 conspire   

v.密谋，（事件等）巧合，共同导致

参考例句：

• They'd conspired to overthrow the government.他们曾经密谋推翻政府。
• History and geography have conspired to bring Greece to a moment of decision.历史和地理因素共同将希腊推至作出抉择的紧要关头。

9 entrap   

v.以网或陷阱捕捉，使陷入圈套

参考例句：

• The police have been given extra powers to entrap drug traffickers.警方已经被进一步授权诱捕毒贩。
• He overturned the conviction,saying the defendant was entrapped.他声称被告是被诱骗的，从而推翻了有罪的判决。

10 afterward   

adv.后来；以后

参考例句：

• Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。
• Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。

11 conspiracy   

n.阴谋，密谋，共谋

参考例句：

• The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。
• He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。

12 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。