Chapter XXIX — The Cunard Steamer

 Early one morning a gentleman came into Jones & Porter's bookstore, and selected some books, which he paid for. There were eighteen in all.

 

"Where shall we send them, sir?"

 

"Can you send them to the Cunard steamer at East Boston? I sail for Europe today."

 

"Certainly, sir. When does the steamer start?"

 

"At twelve o'clock. Don't fail to have them there on time, as I shall be greatly disappointed to miss them."

 

When the gentleman had left the store, Ben was summoned.

 

"Ben, do you know the Cunard Wharf¹ in East Boston?" asked the bookkeeper.

 

"I can easily find it."

 

"Here is a package of books to be carried there."

 

"All right, sir," said Ben.

 

"They are for Mr. James Parker. If you don't find him leave them with the steward²."

 

So Ben took the package, and made his way toward the East Boston Ferry.

 

On board the boat he look around him, thinking it possible that he might recognize some one of his fellow passengers. Considerably³ to his surprise he noticed Mr. Archer⁴, superintendent⁵ of the factory at Milltown, whom he had not seen since the latter declined to take him on again at the mill.

 

"I wonder what brings Mr. Archer here?"

 

His surprise, however, was only momentary⁶. There was nothing strange in the superintendent's having business at East Boston. Ben noticed, however, that Mr. Archer wore a traveling-suit, and carried a knapsack.

 

Ben would have liked to inquire if Squire⁷ Archer had seen his aunt lately, if they had been on friendly terms; but he was very doubtful how his advance would be received, and remained where he was.

 

The boat touched the pier⁸ and the passengers disembarked. Ben was two or three rods behind the squire. Our hero inquired the way to the steamer, and had no difficulty about obtaining the necessary information. To his additional surprise Squire Archer crossed the gangway only a little in advance of Ben.

 

"What can be the squire's business here?" thought Ben, in surprise.

 

Ben halted on deck, and looked around for some officer to whom he could entrust⁹ the package. At this moment Squire Archer turned and saw Ben for the first time. He started and changed color, as Ben could see. For an instant he looked irresolute¹⁰. Then he approached Ben, and said roughly: "What brings you here?"

 

"I am here on business," answered Ben.

 

"On business! What business?"

 

"I have a package of books for one of the passengers."

 

"Oh, I see," said the mill superintendent, seeming to be relieved. "You are working in a bookstore."

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"What firm is it?"

 

"Jones & Porter."

 

"Oh, yes, I know. I have often been in their store. How do you like your place?"

 

Squire Archer's tone was quite genial¹¹ and friendly, though there was an uneasy expression on his face.

 

"Very well, sir."

 

"If you ever get out of a place, come to me."

 

"I thought you said my record was not good."

 

"So I did," said the superintendent; "but I was mistaken. I was thinking of another boy at the time."

 

"I am glad to hear it, sir," he answered. "I felt disturbed about it at the time."

 

"Of course. I believe you and Sam had a little difference."

 

"Yes, sir; but I don't think I was to blame."

 

"I don't care to inquire into that. You and Sam will laugh over it when you become a little older."

 

Squire Archer had never seemed so kind and pleasant. Ben began to think he had misjudged him.

 

"I would like to be friends with Sam," he said. "I shall be ready to meet him half-way."

 

"I will tell him so to-night," said the superintendent.

 

"By the way, I suppose you are rather surprised to see me here. You didn't think I was going to Europe?"

 

"No, sir, I didn't think that. I suppose you couldn't be spared at the mill."

 

"Quite true, my boy. I can't be spared for so long. I wish I could. I have long wanted to make a European tour; but I am tied down at home by business. However, that doesn't explain why I am here."

 

"Don't tell me, sir, unless you like. It is none of my business."

 

"To be sure. In fact, there is a little secret about it; but I don't mind telling you."

 

Ben felt more and more surprised. Was this the proud Squire Archer, who carried his head so high?

 

"If there is a secret about it, perhaps you had better not tell me," said Ben.

 

"Oh, I am quite willing to tell you; but you must not say anything about it till after the steamer has sailed. The fact is, a man, who owes the mill a large sum of money, it is suspected has taken passage on board this steamer, with the intention of going to Europe and evading¹² the payment of his debt. I can't tell you his name, as that might interfere¹³ with my plans. I am here to intercept¹⁴ him, and prevent his departure."

 

"I hope you will succeed, Squire Archer," said Ben.

 

"Thank you, Ben. You see, therefore, that it is essential for me to keep my presence here secret till the steamer sails. I will go down-stairs now and watch."

 

Ben delivered his parcel, left the steamer, and did not mention that he had met any one whom he knew. He felt bound to respect Squire Archer's secret.

 

In the afternoon he was walking up Washington Street with the bookkeeper, when the latter bought the Evening Transcript¹⁵. He glanced at the first page and then turned to Ben.

 

"Do you know Archer living in Milltown?"

 

"Certainly; he is the superintendent of the mill there."

 

"Well, here is a paragraph about him. It seems he has left the town, with fifty thousand dollars belonging to the corporation. His flight has made a great sensation. The police are on his track, and it is thought that he will be arrested and brought back."

 

"I saw Squire Archer this morning, on the Cunard steamer. He told me not to mention having seen him till after the steamer had started."

 

"Is it possible?" exclaimed young Porter.

 

"Yes; he said he was looking out for a man who owed money to the mill, whom he suspected of taking secret passage for Europe."

 

1 wharf   

n.码头，停泊处

参考例句：

• We fetch up at the wharf exactly on time.我们准时到达码头。
• We reached the wharf gasping for breath.我们气喘吁吁地抵达了码头。

2 steward   

n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员

参考例句：

• He's the steward of the club.他是这家俱乐部的管理员。
• He went around the world as a ship's steward.他当客船服务员，到过世界各地。

3 considerably   

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。

4 archer   

n.射手，弓箭手

参考例句：

• The archer strung his bow and aimed an arrow at the target.弓箭手拉紧弓弦将箭瞄准靶子。
• The archer's shot was a perfect bull's-eye.射手的那一箭正中靶心。

5 superintendent   

n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长

参考例句：

• He was soon promoted to the post of superintendent of Foreign Trade.他很快就被擢升为对外贸易总监。
• He decided to call the superintendent of the building.他决定给楼房管理员打电话。

6 momentary   

adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的

参考例句：

• We are in momentary expectation of the arrival of you.我们无时无刻不在盼望你的到来。
• I caught a momentary glimpse of them.我瞥了他们一眼。

7 squire   

n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅

参考例句：

• I told him the squire was the most liberal of men.我告诉他乡绅是世界上最宽宏大量的人。
• The squire was hard at work at Bristol.乡绅在布里斯托尔热衷于他的工作。

8 pier   

n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱

参考例句：

• The pier of the bridge has been so badly damaged that experts worry it is unable to bear weight.这座桥的桥桩破损厉害，专家担心它已不能负重。
• The ship was making towards the pier.船正驶向码头。

9 entrust   

v.信赖，信托，交托

参考例句：

• I couldn't entrust my children to strangers.我不能把孩子交给陌生人照看。
• They can be entrusted to solve major national problems.可以委托他们解决重大国家问题。

10 irresolute   

adj.无决断的，优柔寡断的，踌躇不定的

参考例句：

• Irresolute persons make poor victors.优柔寡断的人不会成为胜利者。
• His opponents were too irresolute to call his bluff.他的对手太优柔寡断,不敢接受挑战。

11 genial   

adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的

参考例句：

• Orlando is a genial man.奥兰多是一位和蔼可亲的人。
• He was a warm-hearted friend and genial host.他是个热心的朋友，也是友善待客的主人。

12 evading   

逃避( evade的现在分词 )； 避开； 回避； 想不出

参考例句：

• Segmentation of a project is one means of evading NEPA. 把某一工程进行分割，是回避《国家环境政策法》的一种手段。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
• Too many companies, she says, are evading the issue. 她说太多公司都在回避这个问题。

13 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

14 intercept   

vt.拦截，截住，截击

参考例句：

• His letter was intercepted by the Secret Service.他的信被特工处截获了。
• Gunmen intercepted him on his way to the airport.持枪歹徒在他去机场的路上截击了他。

15 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。