Charlie was overwhelmed with astonishment2 and indignation, and the thought that he was considered guilty made him feel very uncomfortable.
The captain, the mate, and Antonio could hardly conceal4 the satisfaction which this discovery[210] afforded them. Each had motives5 of his own, the captain being, of course, glad to recover an article which he valued, but of the three perhaps there was none that felt a more malicious6 satisfaction than the one who had devised the plot. He glanced exultantly7 at Charlie and Bill Sturdy, who he knew would be equally affected8 by his favorite's misfortune.
Bill Sturdy returned his glance composedly. Antonio was disappointed to find that he neither looked disturbed nor frightened. Bill waited calmly the course of events.
Captain Brace9 exclaimed in his harsh voice, "It seems we have a thief on board. We'll soon teach him the way all such rascals11 will be treated on board this ship. Boy, take off your jacket."
"Captain Brace," said Charlie, with glowing cheeks, and in a tone that might have convinced any one not prejudiced against him, "just hear what I am going to say. I didn't steal your ring, indeed I didn't. I would scorn to do such a thing. Ever since I could speak my mother has taught me how mean a[211] thing it is to take what belongs to another. I own that appearances are against me."
Here Randall stepped forward with an evil smile upon his face.
"Captain Brace, as I am the uncle of this boy, perhaps you will allow me to tell you how much dependence12 can be placed upon his word. He is an artful young rascal10. I am sorry to say it, since he is related to me, but the fact is, he was on the point of being arrested for theft just before we sailed, when I, to protect him from imprisonment13, and snatch him from the custody14 of the law, took him to sea with me. I have said this against my will, because, although I know you, Captain Brace, would not be imposed upon by his story, I thought there might be others that would."
The sailors looked at each other, not knowing what to think, while the captain exclaimed, sternly, "So this is not the first of your tricks, my fine fellow. You shall have justice done you on the sea, if not on the land. Strip, I tell you."
Charlie was so thunderstruck by Randall's[212] bold falsehood that he actually had nothing to say. He mechanically began to take off his jacket.
At this moment the clarion15 voice of Bill Sturdy was heard, as, hitching16 up his trousers a bit, he left the mast against which he had been leaning, and advanced into the midst of the assembled sailors.
"Captain Brace," he said, in a tone firm but respectful, "if you'll allow me, I'll tell you what I know of this affair."
"So you know something about it, do you?"
"I thought so," said Randall, in a low voice, for he had disliked Bill from the first.
"I do," was the composed reply, "but I have no reason to be ashamed of what I do know."
"I think," said the mate, "we already know all that we require, since we have discovered the thief."
He was apprehensive17, from Bill's tone, that what he had to say might put a different face on the matter, and perhaps clear Charlie.
Captain Brace, however, did not choose to be guided by the implied advice of his first[213] officer. He had a curiosity to learn what Sturdy had to communicate.
"Say on; what do you know of this affair?"
"Very well, sir. About an hour ago you came up from the cabin and began to pace the deck."
The captain assented18.
"As you passed I observed one of the crew take a hasty glance at your finger. I looked also, and saw that you were not wearing your ring as usual."
"Well?"
"The sailor that I mentioned just now."
"Who was he?"
"I would rather not mention his name just at present, unless you insist upon it."
The captain did not insist, and Sturdy proceeded.
"I thought I would just keep my eyes open, and see what followed. Pretty soon the sailor I spoke19 of looked about him to see if he was unnoticed, and crept slyly down below. A little later he came up and went to work again."
"Was that all?"
[214]
"It was not," answered Sturdy. "He kept at work about ten minutes longer, and then stole towards the forecastle with the same secrecy20 as before. I should have followed him down, but I thought he would notice me. My mind misgave21 me that he was in some mischief22. I determined23 I would remember what happened, and if anything turned up, I should know how it came about."
"And what do you make of all this?" said Randall, sneering24. "To my mind it is a foolish story, and, even if true, amounts to nothing."
"I'll tell you what I think, and am about sure of, Mr. Randall," said Bill, without betraying a particle of excitement, but continuing to speak with the same calm composure as before, "I believe that man in the first place stole the captain's ring, and then went and put it into the lad's chest, in order that it might be found there, and the guilt3 fixed25 on him."
This assertion made a sensation among the crew, and there was a general feeling that Charlie was innocent.
[215]
"Who is this man of whom you have been speaking?" said the captain.
"I don't need to name him," said Bill. "I don't need even to look at him. If you will look around you, Captain Brace, you can tell by his looks who the man is that has hatched this wicked plot against an innocent boy."
Instantly the eyes of all, as if by some common impulse, were fixed upon the form of Antonio, who, confused, thunderstruck by the minute detail of his movements, which he had supposed unnoticed by any one, now stood with his face alternately flushing and paling, looking the very picture of confession26 and detected guilt.
Unable to bear the glances fixed upon him, he exclaimed, in a voice hoarse27 with passion, "It is false. I never did it."
"No one has accused you that I know of," said Bill Sturdy, coolly. "Leastways, nobody that I know of, excepting yourself, and your face is enough to do that. However, I don't mind saying that you are the man I mean. If Captain Brace will take the trouble to remember, you are the first one that[216] thought of searching for the ring, and told him falsely that you had seen it in the hands of that lad there. Then again, when the chest had been searched, and the ring couldn't be found, you came forward and offered to look for it yourself, and finally you did find it. That's all I've got to say, only, if you are not the real thief I am a liar28, and so is that face of yours."
Carried away by his rage, Antonio, forgetting the prudence29 which his past experience might have taught him, threw himself suddenly upon Bill Sturdy, and nearly succeeded in laying him prostrate30 upon the deck.
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收听单词发音
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1
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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2
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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3
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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5
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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6
malicious
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| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
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7
exultantly
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| adv.狂欢地，欢欣鼓舞地 | |
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8
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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9
brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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10
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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rascals
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| 流氓( rascal的名词复数 )； 无赖； （开玩笑说法）淘气的人（尤指小孩）； 恶作剧的人 | |
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12
dependence
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| n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属 | |
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13
imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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14
custody
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| n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留 | |
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15
clarion
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| n.尖音小号声；尖音小号 | |
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16
hitching
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| 搭乘； （免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的现在分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上 | |
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17
apprehensive
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| adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的 | |
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18
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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19
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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20
secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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21
misgave
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| v.使（某人的情绪、精神等）疑虑，担忧，害怕( misgive的过去式 ) | |
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22
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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23
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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24
sneering
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| 嘲笑的，轻蔑的 | |
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25
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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26
confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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27
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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28
liar
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| n.说谎的人 | |
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29
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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30
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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