It seemed to the watcher that there was an unusually large number of visitors in the house that evening. There was a great deal of drinking and carousing1 going on, and many of the men gathered there, he was sure, belonged to the lowest grades of society.
A half-dozen foreign nations were represented, and one had but to listen to the talk for a short while to learn that among them were many whom one might well fear to meet on a lonely road at night.
Tom might have felt some dread2 but for the fact that, rather strangely, these men showed little disposition3 to engage in any brawl4, and no one seemed to notice him.
Late in the evening a couple of policemen came in and waited a while around the stove. They only spoke5 to the bartender, who treated them with the greatest consideration; but they scrutinized6 the lad with a curious look, which caused him to wonder whether they held any suspicion of wrong-doing on his part. They said nothing to him, however, and shortly after went out.
Tom's great alarm for Jim drove nearly every other thought from his mind. Late as it was, he would have started out to search for him, could he have formed the least idea of the course to take; but, besides being a stranger in the city, he knew that a single man or a hundred might spend weeks in hunting for one in the metropolis7, without the least probability of finding him.
It was near midnight when he concluded to make his way to the room, hoping that Jim would show up before morning.
The sounds of revelry below, mingled8 with shouts and the stamping of feet, together with the feverish9 condition of the lad, kept him awake another hour; but at last he fell into a light, uneasy sleep, haunted by all sorts of grotesque10, awful visions.
Suddenly he awoke; in the dim light of his little room Tom saw the figure of a man standing11 by the bed.
"Who are you? What do you want?" whispered the terrified lad, struggling to rise to a sitting position.
"Mebbe ye doesn't know me, but I'm Patsey McConough, and it was mesilf that saw ye shtrike out so boldly last night and save the gal12 that had fallen overboard, and St. Patrick himself couldn't have done it any better than did yersilf."
"What do you mean by coming into my room this way?" asked Tom, whose fear greatly subsided13 under the words of the Irishman.
"I come up-stairs to wake ye, for I'm afeard ye are going to have trouble onless ye look mighty14 sharp."
"What do you mean?"
Patsey carefully closed and bolted the door behind him, and sat down on the edge of the bed, speaking in a low, guarded voice.
"There's a big crowd down-stairs, and Tim's grog is getting to their heads, and they're riddy for any sort of a job. There are a couple of Italian cut-throats, and though I can't understand much of their lingo16, yet I cotched enough of the same to make me sartin they mean to rob ye."
"But would they dare try it in the house here?"
"Whisht now, there isn't anything they wouldn't thry, if they thought there was a chance of making a ha'pence at it. They've murdered men afore to-night, and they would just as lief slip up here and cut your wizen as they would ate a piece of macaroni. Whisht now, and I'll give ye the partic'lars and inshtruct ye what to do. It wouldn't be safe for ye to git up and go out, for they'll folly17 ye and garrote ye afore ye could raich a safe place. I would stay here and watch with ye, but that I've overstayed me time alriddy, and I'll catch thunder whin I git back home, 'cause I can't make the boss belave the raison why I staid. Here's a pistol," added the Irishman, shoving a five-shooter into the hand of the astonished lad, "and ivery barrel is loaded, and it niver misses fire, as the victims can tell ye as have been hit by the same. Do ye take this, bolt yer door, and if anybody comes poking18 in the room after I'm gone, just bore a hole through him, and then ax him if he ain't ashamed of himself to steal into a private apartment in that shtyle. Take me word for it, he won't come agin."
"I should think not," said Tom, who was dressing19 himself. "But I don't like the idea of shooting a man."
"Nor do I, but it's loikely to be a chice between shooting him or him shooting ye, and ye are at liberty to decide."
And with a few parting words of caution the Irishman took his departure, first pausing long enough to advise Tom to change his quarters if he was spared until the morrow, and suggesting that the wisest thing he could do was to get out of New York as speedily as he knew how.
As may well be imagined, Tom Gordon was not likely to fall asleep again that night, so, having fully15 dressed himself, he sat down on the edge of the bed to wait and watch.
A small transom over his door admitted enough light to discern objects with sufficient distinctness in the room, and he carefully shoved the bolt in place, feeling he was prepared for any emergency.
Even with such an exciting subject to occupy his thoughts, he could not fail to wonder and fear for his missing friend. He prayed Heaven to watch over the boy's footsteps and to prevent his wandering into any danger, while the feeling that the poor fellow was already beyond all human help weighed down the heart of Tom like a mountain of lead.
This suspense20 did not continue long when the watchful21 lad heard some one ascending22 the stairs--an action which might mean nothing or a great deal.
The room occupied by the boy was along a narrow hall, perhaps fifty feet in length, the apartment being half that distance from the head of the stairs.
It seemed to Tom that there was an attempt to smother23 the sound made by the feet, which plainly belonged to two people, though the effort was far from being a success.
"They may be going to their own room, after all"--
The heart of the lad gave a great bound, for at that instant the footsteps paused directly in front of his own door, and he could hear the men muttering to each other in low tones.
"They're looking for me," was the conclusion of the boy, who grasped his pistol more rigidly24, and rose to the standing posture25.
"If they want me, all they've got to do is to take me."
What was the amazement26 of the youth to see at this moment, while his eyes were fixed27 upon the door, the iron bolt slowly move back, without, so far as he could see, the least human agency.
This was a house, indeed, in which such characters were given every facility they could wish to ply28 their unholy vocation29.
Immediately after the fastening went back, the latch30 was lifted, and the door swung noiselessly inward.
As it did so, a head, covered only with a mass of shock hair, which hung down like pieces of tarred rope, and with the lower part of the face veiled by a black, stringy beard, was thrust far enough within to show the shoulders. Directly behind appeared another face, placed on a shorter body, but none the less repellant in expression, and the two were forcing their way into the room, when they paused.
They seemed to conclude that it would be best to consider the matter further before rushing in there.
Instead of seeing a boy sound asleep in bed, waiting for them to rob him of all his earthly possessions, they found themselves confronted by a wide-awake lad, with his revolver pointed31 straight at their villainous heads.
"Why don't you come in?" asked Tom, never lowering his weapon.
"Put him down!" said the foremost of the villains32, in broken English, hoping to frighten the lad.
"I don't feel like doing it just now," was the reply, while the arm remained as fixed as a bar of iron.
Tom did not intend to shoot unless they advanced upon him; but, not being accustomed to the weapon, he was unaware33 that a very slight pressure was enough to discharge it. Unconsciously he exerted that slight pressure, and, while the miscreants34 were glaring in the door, the pistol was fired.
What was more, the bullet struck one of the Italians, who, with a howl of pain, wheeled about and hurried down-stairs, followed by his terror-stricken companion.
Tom was half-frightened out of his wits, and made up his mind that the best thing he could do was to get out of the place without any further delay.
The only way to escape was to go down the stairs, the same as his assailants had done.
It was not a pleasant duty; but, remembering what the Irishman had told him, and filled with an uncontrollable aversion against staying any longer, he hurried out, pausing only long enough to catch up his small bundle of clothing.
In the smoky, hot room down-stairs, the scene was nearly the same as when he left it a couple of hours before to go to bed. The two Italians were invisible, and the little affray up-stairs seemed to have attracted no attention at all. The bartender was too much occupied to notice the lad, who made his way outside into the clear, frosty air, where he inhaled35 a few deep draughts36 to give him new life and courage.
He knew not which way to turn, but he was confident he could find some safe lodging37-place without going far, and he moved along the street, where there were plenty of pedestrians38 abroad, even though the hour was so late.
He was quite near the river, and determined39 not to be caught in such a trap again. He walked slowly, scrutinizing40 as well as he could the exterior41 of each building in sight, where the wayfarer42 and traveler was invited to step within and secure food and lodging.
In this manner he passed several houses, and was on the point of turning into one which seemed to have an inviting43 look, when his attention was arrested by a lad who was running toward him from the rear.
He was panting and laboring44 along as though about exhausted45.
As he reached the wondering Tom, who stopped and turned aside to let him pass, the stranger paused and said,--
"Say, sonny, just hold that watch, will you, till I come back?"
And before the boy fairly understood the question, the other shoved a gold watch and chain into his hands, then darted46 into an alleyway and disappeared.
He had scarcely done so when two swift footed policemen came dashing along, as if in pursuit.
"Here he is!" exclaimed one, catching47 hold of Tom's arm, and dealing48 him a stunning49 blow on the head with his locust50.
"That's the little imp," added the other, the two guardians51 of the law pouncing52 upon the lad as if he were a Hercules, who meant to turn upon and rend53 them.
"I haven't done anything," remonstrated54 Tom, feeling that some fearful mistake had been made.
"Shut up, you little thief!" yelled the policeman, whacking55 him on the head again with his club. "Ah, here is the watch on him! We've been looking for you, my boy, for a month, and we've got you at last."
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收听单词发音
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1
carousing
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| v.痛饮，闹饮欢宴( carouse的现在分词 ) | |
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2
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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3
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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brawl
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| n.大声争吵，喧嚷；v.吵架，对骂 | |
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5
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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6
scrutinized
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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7
metropolis
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| n.首府；大城市 | |
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mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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10
grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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11
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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gal
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| n.姑娘，少女 | |
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subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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14
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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15
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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lingo
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| n.语言不知所云，外国话，隐语 | |
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17
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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18
poking
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| n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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19
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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20
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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23
smother
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| vt./vi.使窒息；抑制；闷死；n.浓烟；窒息 | |
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rigidly
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| adv.刻板地，僵化地 | |
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posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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26
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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28
ply
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| v.(搬运工等)等候顾客，弯曲 | |
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vocation
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| n.职业，行业 | |
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30
latch
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| n.门闩，窗闩；弹簧锁 | |
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31
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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32
villains
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| n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼 | |
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33
unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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34
miscreants
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| n.恶棍，歹徒( miscreant的名词复数 ) | |
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35
inhaled
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| v.吸入( inhale的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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36
draughts
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| n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
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37
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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38
pedestrians
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| n.步行者( pedestrian的名词复数 ) | |
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39
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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40
scrutinizing
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的现在分词 ) | |
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41
exterior
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| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
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42
wayfarer
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| n.旅人 | |
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43
inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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44
laboring
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| n.劳动，操劳v.努力争取(for)( labor的现在分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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45
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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46
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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47
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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48
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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49
stunning
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| adj.极好的；使人晕倒的 | |
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50
locust
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| n.蝗虫；洋槐，刺槐 | |
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51
guardians
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| 监护人( guardian的名词复数 )； 保护者，维护者 | |
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52
pouncing
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| v.突然袭击( pounce的现在分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
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53
rend
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| vt.把…撕开，割裂；把…揪下来，强行夺取 | |
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54
remonstrated
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 )；告诫 | |
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55
whacking
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| adj.（用于强调）巨大的v.重击，使劲打( whack的现在分词 ) | |
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