Wally mounted his bicycle and rode homeward. As he went a great purpose gradually swelled4 his heart and put force into his pedal strokes. He left the bicycle at the usual place, but avoided the front door as too perilous5 and crept in through the kitchen and up the backstairs to his room. There he pulled on a dark jersey6, slipped into his pocket the flash lamp which Uncle Joe had given him at Christmas, and crept out by the kitchen door again to his faithful wheel.
Ten minutes later Wally sat in his canoe, paddling vigorously up the river. Dusk had faded into darkness, but the stars gave appreciable7 light, and the river was familiar to him. He knew every turn and shallow in the stream, every clump8 of bushes on the banks, every group of trees, every leaning stump9. He passed the wide mouth of Little River, lying silent at the[Pg 226] foot of the new Playing Field, and entered the straight stretch beside the Park, where the tall, overhanging trees on either side and the sluggish10, murky11 water beneath formed a gloomy tunnel through which the wind blew, chill and dispiriting. But Wally was not one to be frightened by the bugaboo of darkness; the mysterious depths had no terrors for him. His work kept him warm, despite the wind, while the strip of stars above his head cheered with their friendly presence. He could see, too, on the water, not clearly but well enough to make his course; and his thoughts, set eagerly on his destination, were unaffected by the perils12 of the way.
So the little craft pushed its nose steadily13 upward against wind and current, while the gurgle of water from the paddle was hardly audible above the sighing of the wind through the naked branches.
And now he was abreast14 of the entrance to the cove15, a broad inlet stretching deep into the woods, and crossed midway by a causeway and bridge. Over the bridge led the forest road along which[Pg 227] the kidnappers had taken their victim. It came out close to the river again beyond the next point, and Wally, fearful that hostile eyes might peer at him from the darkness, put into practice the trick of silent paddling he had learned the summer before,—dipping the blade vertically16 into the water and lifting it cautiously at the end of the stroke. Another bend would bring him in sight of his goal!
The sound of voices and of laughter reached his ears and set his heart beating hard. Some one was thrashing about in the undergrowth, sticks were being broken; as he advanced the glint of fire flashed occasionally past the tree trunks. They were there! As he rounded the last point, the scene was partially17 revealed. He worked his way still farther along the bank to a tree which sagged18 over the river, affording a protecting shadow. From here he had a satisfactory view.
They had built a fire near the bank. Some one—it looked like Barclay—was piling fuel on. Around were standing19 or moving a dozen fellows, while against a big oak in the background, stand[Pg 228]ing as if his hands were tied behind him, was Poole. The flames, flaring20 up through a fresh armful of brush, threw a bright light on the faces of those beyond, behind whose moving figures Poole's form was alternately eclipsed and revealed. The whole scene reminded Wally of an incident in one of his favorite Indian tales, in which young braves dance around their camp-fire and jeer21 at their captive bound to a tree.
When Wally played Indians with his boy friends he always chose the part of the white man taken captive rather than of the Indian captors. He chose the same part now. Over behind Poole's tree was a clump of spruces in which he and another boy had once hidden for an hour, while the Indians vainly searched the woods all about them. A big rock was there, with side sloping outward in an overhang and a group of young spruces growing close against the edge. If Poole could escape like the white captive in the story, what an elegant hiding-place lay ready at hand! Wally slipped his moorings and let his canoe drift back around the point. Then he made fast the painter to a root, and went cautiously ashore22.
[Pg 229]
Poole had obeyed the false summons to the telephone office without a suspicion. Even when the elderly stranger in the hack23 had beckoned24 to him, he had hesitated only from reluctance25 to waste time already pledged to other uses, not from any fear of treachery. When, therefore, he felt himself precipitated26 into the carriage, he was for the moment too much surprised by the sudden attack to reason about the situation. Instinctively27 he turned to strike back at the fellows who were amusing themselves in this cheap way by shoving him into a carriage. As he fell, he brought down the old man's beard, and the old man's very muscular arms folded about him, while Milliken and Barclay came diving in upon them both. Then when it was too late the true explanation flashed upon him.
They held him securely pinioned28, with Milliken's big hand covering his mouth, and all three urging continuously their great regret at being compelled to use such rough measures, the folly29 of any attempt to escape or make outcry, and the wisdom of submitting calmly to the inevitable30, during the rapid but somewhat roundabout drive[Pg 230] to the Gilman barn. Once out of hearing of the street they stopped the hack, got out with their burden, and took the remainder of the way on foot, the exulting31 company surrounding the captive in a mock bodyguard32 and paying sarcastic33 homage34. Puzzle his brains as he would, Poole could see no chance of escape. His only hope was that his classmates would not wait long for his appearance.
Among the pines, while some prepared material for the fire, others argued with the prisoner. If he would give his word not to escape, they would leave him unbound. But Poole was not to be persuaded. He was there by force, and force alone should keep him. He would make no promises; they must take full responsibility for their action. So they tied his hands behind him and fastened him to the oak tree by a stout35 rope. After this they danced about the fire, and made sarcastic comments on the course which the dinner was probably taking, and facetiously36 invited him to partake of certain dishes which were presumably being served. Soon, however, chilled by Poole's silence and show of dignity, the kid[Pg 231]nappers abandoned this form of baiting also, and devoted37 themselves to keeping up the fire, to smoking and lively chatter38.
tree
He felt the bonds that held him to the tree loosen. Page 231.
A half-hour may have passed when Poole heard a low, softly repeated hiss39 behind the tree, which evidently was not made by the wind. He turned his head slightly and hissed40 in return. Then a low, boyish voice which Poole did not recognize whispered: "I'm going to cut the rope; sneak41 round the tree and come with me. Don't say anything."
Poole's heart leaped with joy at this sudden offer of aid, unknown though the source; but he tried hard to make no movement and show no change of expression. He felt the bonds that held him to the tree loosen. He did not start, because Barclay's eyes were resting on him from across the fire, and he wanted the advantage of the second or two which he should gain by slipping away when the attention was elsewhere. Presently Duncan Peck offered an impersonation of Reddy McGuffy speaking from the floor in a debate at the Laurel Leaf. This drew all eyes, and was accompanied by such running fire of[Pg 232] laughter and comment that no one noticed the slight rustle42 made by their prisoner as he detached himself from the tree and crept around it.
A small boy rose before him and led the way straight through the shadow of the tree into the deeper darkness of the woods. Poole followed blindly, hampered43 by his tied hands, fearing to run lest he fall and flounder, expecting at every step to hear behind the shout and plunge44 of swift pursuers.
"We're almost there!" whispered the guide. "Hurry!"
Where there was Poole had no idea, but he found out a dozen steps farther on, for just as a frightful45 yell rose from the camp, his guide suddenly whispered, "Wait a second!" and disappeared, apparently46 swallowed by the earth.
But before Poole could move, a momentary47 flash of the pocket light behind a rock showed him a hole toward which he threw himself and wriggled48 in.
"Turn over and I'll cut the rope," the boy breathed in his ear. Poole obeyed. "Gee49, here they come!" whispered the unknown with a giggle50 of joyful51 excitement.
[Pg 233]
The pursuers had at first flocked to the oak, hoping to find their victim close at hand. Then for a moment they stood dazed.
"Perhaps he's up the tree," suggested Robins52.
"Why, his hands are tied, you fool," retorted Milliken. "He can't climb and he can't run; he's lying somewhere on the ground. Spread out and find him!"
So they spread out, yelling, scolding, groping, stumbling. The fugitives53 heard them brushing by. One fellow tripped over the edge of their sheltering rock and picked himself up, muttering imprecations. Wally strove to suppress a giggle, but Poole nerved himself for a dash in case he was discovered. His hands were free now and he felt ready to take any chance.
"Let's sneak for the cove bridge," whispered Poole. "We can get by them in the woods."
"Not on your life! They've got two guys watching down there. Wait a little longer. I've got a canoe here on the river."
"Come back! Come back!" shouted in unison54 a trio of wiser heads who perceived that their search in the darkness was both useless and dan[Pg 234]gerous. The rest came scrambling55 back, each demanding eagerly as he came: "Have you got him?" "Where is he?" "Who found him?"
"Nobody's found him," said Milliken, "but we don't want to lose the rest of you. Let him stay in the woods all night if he wants to. As long as he don't get to the dinner, what do we care? What we've got to do is to watch the bridge and the road from here to High Street, and see that he doesn't sneak round us and get out."
"Why, he couldn't do it if he tried all night," said Brown. "It's a mile round the cove, through the worst kind of woods and swamp, and high-water too. He never could do it."
"That's what I say," replied Milliken. "If we guard the cove bridge and the two bridges in town we've got him anyway."
The squad56 took the one lantern they had brought with them and marched off to guard duty, making their first halt at the cove bridge. The fire had died down; silence reigned57 under the pines. Wally crept out to reconnoitre, and returned with the news that the coast was clear. He[Pg 235] thought with some uneasiness of the anxiety his absence might be producing at home. He devoutly58 hoped they wouldn't worry; perhaps they supposed he was at the library. At any rate, he was eager to get away. Poole, of course, was no less eager.
They reached the canoe without mishap59. Each took a paddle and, with the spring current to help them, pushed rapidly down. As they slid past the entrance to the cove they looked across and chuckled60 to see the gleam of the lantern at the cove bridge.
"Let 'em stay there all night," said Poole. "I shan't trouble 'em."
A few minutes later Wally swung the bow in toward his landing and together they carried the canoe up, turned it over, and left it for the night. Wally took his bicycle and started for home, divided in his mind between delight at the adventure and fear of the parental61 reception which he was to face. Poole ran beside him until they reached the Squamscott, and, when they parted, showered upon his head such expressions of gratitude62 as no little townie had ever received from a[Pg 236] baseball captain since ever baseball captains existed.
Wally's account of his adventures was the only excuse he had to offer for his absence to his reproachful parents. He had been over the whole narrative63 once, and was explaining more in detail about his hiding-place beside the rock, when a committee from the dining seniors appeared and craved64 the pleasure of Master Wally's company at the banquet. Mamma, of course, demurred65, but Mr. Sedgwick opined that he might as well make a night of it, and the seniors bore him away in triumph. They planted him beside the recovered president, fed him royally on ice cream and cake, mentioned him in their speeches, and sent him home with a cheer at ten o'clock.
On the morrow Wally had no great appetite for breakfast, and he found his legs somewhat heavy as he trotted66 down to school—but he had great things to tell the boys!
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1
kidnappers
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| n.拐子，绑匪( kidnapper的名词复数 ) | |
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antagonistic
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| adj.敌对的 | |
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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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jersey
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| n.运动衫 | |
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appreciable
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| adj.明显的，可见的，可估量的，可觉察的 | |
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clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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sluggish
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| adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的 | |
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murky
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| adj.黑暗的，朦胧的；adv.阴暗地，混浊地；n.阴暗；昏暗 | |
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perils
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| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
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13
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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abreast
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| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
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cove
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| n.小海湾，小峡谷 | |
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vertically
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| adv.垂直地 | |
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partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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sagged
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| 下垂的 | |
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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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flaring
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| a.火焰摇曳的，过份艳丽的 | |
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jeer
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| vi.嘲弄，揶揄；vt.奚落；n.嘲笑，讥评 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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hack
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| n.劈，砍，出租马车；v.劈，砍，干咳 | |
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24
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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precipitated
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| v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的过去式和过去分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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pinioned
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| v.抓住[捆住]（双臂）( pinion的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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exulting
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| vi. 欢欣鼓舞，狂喜 | |
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32
bodyguard
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| n.护卫，保镖 | |
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sarcastic
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| adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的 | |
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homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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facetiously
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| adv.爱开玩笑地；滑稽地，爱开玩笑地 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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chatter
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| vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战 | |
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hiss
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| v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满 | |
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hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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41
sneak
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| vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行 | |
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42
rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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43
hampered
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| 妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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48
wriggled
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等） | |
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49
gee
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| n.马；int.向右！前进！，惊讶时所发声音；v.向右转 | |
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50
giggle
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| n.痴笑，咯咯地笑；v.咯咯地笑着说 | |
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51
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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52
robins
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| n.知更鸟，鸫( robin的名词复数 )；（签名者不分先后，以避免受责的）圆形签名抗议书（或请愿书） | |
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fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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unison
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| n.步调一致，行动一致 | |
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scrambling
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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56
squad
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| n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组 | |
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reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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devoutly
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| adv.虔诚地，虔敬地，衷心地 | |
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mishap
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| n.不幸的事，不幸；灾祸 | |
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chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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parental
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| adj.父母的；父的；母的 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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craved
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| 渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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demurred
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| v.表示异议，反对( demur的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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