He did not mention to the professor that he had received a letter from the owner of the weapon, as his employer would have insisted upon his giving it up. Professor Robinson was a timid man, and, though he was of stout6 build and possessed7 a fair measure of strength, he had not as much spirit as some boys of ten.
“What are you going to do with the revolver, Walter?” he asked uneasily, as they set out on their way from Fremont to Stilwell.
“I am going to carry it with me, professor.”
“Then you had better withdraw the charges.”
“Why should I?”
“The weapon might go off.”
“I mean that it shall if the owner makes another attack upon us.”
“I think it very probable.”
“I wish we had never met him,” said the unhappy professor.
“So do I; but as we have, we must make the best of it.”
“If you had only given him back the revolver we should have had no more trouble.”
“Pardon me, professor, I think we should have had a great deal of trouble. Once give the fellow his old advantage over us and he would use it.”
“I never had such an experience before,” complained the professor, looking at Walter reproachfully, as if he thought that somehow it was the fault of his young assistant.
Walter smiled.
“Do you know, professor,” he said, “your remark reminds me of a statement in an Irish paper to this effect: 'Several persons have died during the last year who never died before.'”
They were about half-way to the next town when Walter heard the sound of a galloping10 horse behind him.
Looking out of the side of the wagon11, he saw the now familiar figure of the outlaw as he rode up alongside. He looked critically at Walter, and saw that the coveted12 revolver was in our hero's hand, ready for action.
“Why didn't you give the revolver to my messenger this morning, boy?” he demanded, with a frown.
“I didn't think it would be safe,” Walter answered significantly.
“Didn't you know it was my property?”
“I wasn't sure of it.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I didn't know whether you had paid for it.”
“I have told him to,” answered the professor, in an apologetic tone, “but he won't obey me.”
“Then why don't you discharge him? I wouldn't keep a boy in my employ who disobeyed me.”
“I am well satisfied with him, except on this point.”
“I am ready to leave you, professor, if you say the word,” said Walter, and he made a motion as if to jump out of the wagon.
“No, no!” exclaimed the professor, in alarm. “I don't want you to leave me.”
“Then I won't. I think it might be bad for you if I did,” said Walter, with a significant look at the horseman.
“Well, boy,” said the outlaw, harshly, “I can't waste my time here. You sent me a message to come for my revolver myself if I wanted it.”
“Yes.”
“Well, here I am. Now give me the weapon.”
“I think I shall have to decline.”
“Are you going back on your word?” demanded the outlaw.
“Not exactly.”
“Then what do you propose to do?”
“Keep along with us till we reach Stilwell. Then we will go before a magistrate14. You will make your demand for the weapon, and in his presence I will surrender it.”
“Do you take me for a fool?” thundered the robber.
“No, and I want you to understand that I am not a fool, either.”
“I should certainly be acting like a fool if I gave up the revolver, and had it immediately pointed17 at me or my companion, with a demand for our money.”
“But I gave you my word—”
“Of course you did, but I put no confidence in your word.”
While this conversation was going on the poor professor looked on and listened with an expression of helplessness on his broad face. He was essentially18 a man of peace, and was by no means fitted to deal with a highwayman.
“Look here,” said the outlaw, after a pause, and in a milder tone, “I have a special attachment19 for that weapon, or I would drop the whole matter and buy another one. But this was given me by an old pal20, now dead, and I set great store by it. Professor, although the revolver is mine by rights, I will waive21 all that and offer you twenty-five dollars for it. That will pay you for all the trouble I have put you to.”
Professor Robinson, though not a mean man, was fond of money, and this offer tempted22 him. It would be getting twenty-five dollars for nothing, and that was a piece of good luck not likely to present itself every day.
“I accept your offer,” he said gladly.
“But I don't,” put in Walter, calmly. “Allow me to say that the professor has no claim to the weapon. I took it with my own hand, and it has never been in his possession.”
“All right! Then I'll give you twenty-five dollars for it.”
“I decline your offer.”
“I have no doubt you would.”
“Once more, and for the last time, will you give me back that revolver?”
“I have told you when and on what conditions I would surrender it.”
“When?”
“At Stilwell, in the presence of a magistrate.”
“Yes, that is my wish.”
“I've a great mind to snatch the revolver from you.”
“Come on, then!” said Walter, holding it firmly, pointing at the outlaw.
“You've got the drop on me, youngster, but mark my word, I'll have that weapon yet, and I'll punish you for giving me all this trouble.”
“Have you anything more to say?”
“No.”
“Then suppose you ride on. We have been delayed long enough.”
The robber did go, but aimed a volley of imprecations at Walter, of which the latter took no notice.
In the early evening they arrived at Stilwell and secured rooms at the hotel.
Among the guests was a cattleman from Dakota, who had been to Chicago with a herd25 of cattle and was now on his way back. He was loud in his complaints of a highwayman whom he had met two days previous, who had relieved him of a wallet containing five hundred dollars.
“Won't you describe him?” asked Walter, struck by a sudden suspicion.
The cattle dealer26 did so. His description tallied27 with the personal appearance of Walter's enemy.
“Was he on foot?” asked Walter.
“No; he was on a black horse.”
Walter nodded.
“I know him,” he said.
“Has he robbed you?”
“No; I have robbed him.”
“What do you mean?” inquired the cattle dealer, in wonder.
“Do you recognize this?” and Walter exhibited the revolver.
“Yes; it looks like the revolver he pointed at me.”
“Probably it is.”
“But how do you happen to have it?”
“I took it from him.”
“Yes. I will tell you about it.”
And Walter gave an account of the circumstances under which the revolver had come into his possession.
“It is a handsome weapon,” said the cattle dealer, taking it into his hands and examining it. “It must be worth a hundred dollars.”
“I think I shall keep it for my own use,” said Walter, quietly.
“I'll give you seventy-five dollars for it.”
“I would rather not part with it. Indeed, I should not feel justified29 in selling it, considering the way it came into my hands.”
The speaker was right.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
disarm
|
|
| v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
outlaw
|
|
| n.歹徒，亡命之徒；vt.宣布…为不合法 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
undoubtedly
|
|
| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
humiliated
|
|
| 感到羞愧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
nervously
|
|
| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
peevishly
|
|
| adv．暴躁地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
galloping
|
|
| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
wagon
|
|
| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
coveted
|
|
| adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
impudent
|
|
| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
magistrate
|
|
| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
acting
|
|
| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
knave
|
|
| n.流氓；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
essentially
|
|
| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
attachment
|
|
| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
pal
|
|
| n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
waive
|
|
| vt.放弃，不坚持(规定、要求、权力等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
tempted
|
|
| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
wring
|
|
| n.扭绞；v.拧，绞出，扭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
crafty
|
|
| adj.狡猾的，诡诈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
herd
|
|
| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
dealer
|
|
| n.商人，贩子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
tallied
|
|
| v.计算，清点( tally的过去式和过去分词 )；加标签（或标记）于；（使）符合；（使）吻合 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
justified
|
|
| a.正当的，有理的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
surmise
|
|
| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |