On the station platform had gathered the usual crowd, including those who came to the train from necessity and those drawn6 thither7 by curiosity. There was also a surprisingly large gathering8 of boys of various ages, from six to eighteen.
Frank walked briskly along to the baggage car and noted9 that the baggage belonging to his party was put off there. Then he glanced around, as if in search of some one.
“I wonder where Mr. Gaddis is?” he said. “He was to meet us at the station.”
A big, hulking six-footer, with ham-like hands and a thick neck, stepped forward from the van of a mixed crowd of about twenty tough-looking young fellows who had flocked down the platform behind Merry and his party.
“Are you Frank Merriwell?” asked the huge chap, who was about twenty years old, as he held the butt10 of a half-smoked cheroot in the corner of his capacious mouth.
“Yes, sir,” answered Merry promptly11. “Do you represent Joseph Gaddis?”
“I should say not!” was the retort. “Not by a blame sight.”
“I thought not,” said Frank.
“Oh, ye did? What made ye think not, hey?”
“You are not just the sort of man I expected to meet. Do you know Mr. Gaddis?”
“Do I? Some!”
“Isn’t he here?”
“I reckon not.”
“Where is he?”
“Ask me!”
Although the manner of the big fellow was openly insolent12, Merry did not seem to notice it.
The motley crowd accompanying this man were grinning or scowling13 at Merriwell and his friends, while some of them made half-audible comments of an unflattering sort. They were tall, short, stout14, and thin, but one and all they carried the atmosphere of tough characters.
“It’s rather odd, Bart,” said Frank, speaking to Hodge, who was surveying the crowd with dark disapproval15, “that Gaddis should fail to keep his appointment to meet us here.”
“No it ain’t odd,” contradicted the big chap. “He knowed better than to be here. You made some sort of arrangement with him to play a game of baseball in this town, didn’t ye?”
“Yes.”
“Well, fergit it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Fergit it. You’ll be wastin’ a whole lot of time if you stop here, an’ you’ll put yourselves to a heap of inconvenience. You won’t play no baseball with Gaddis’ team, so you’d better hop16 right back onter the train and continue your ride.”
Merry now surveyed the speaker from his head to his feet.
“I happen to have a contract with Mr. Gaddis,” he said. “How is it that you have so much authority? Who are you?”
“I’m Mat Madison, and I happen to know what I’m talkin’ about. Joe Gaddis has changed his mind about playin’ baseball with you. He ain’t goin’ to play baseball no more this season.”
“Did he send you here to tell me this?” demanded Frank, his eyes beginning to gleam with an ominous17 light.
“No, he didn’t send me; I come myself.”
“Then you haven’t any real authority.”
“Is that so! You bet I have! I’m giving it to you on the level when I say you won’t play no baseball game in Cartersville, and the wisest thing you can do is to step right back onter this train and git out. In short, I’m here to see that you do git back onter the train, and I brought my backers. If you don’t git we’ll have to make ye git.”
By this time Frank’s friends were gathered at his back, ready for anything that might happen. They scented18 trouble, although they could not understand the cause of it.
“I have no idea of leaving Cartersville until I see Mr. Gaddis,” said Merry, with cool determination. “If he fails to keep his agreement with me, I propose to collect one hundred and fifty dollars forfeit19 money.”
“Oh, haw! haw! You do, do ye? Well, when you collect a hundred and fifty from Joe Gaddis you’ll be bald-headed. There ain’t no time for foolin’. The train will pull out pretty soon, so you want to hop right back onto it and go along. If you don’t, I’ll make you hop. Git that?”
“If you bother me I’ll feel it my duty to make you regret your action. Get that?”
“Why, you thunderin’ fool, you don’t mean to fight, do ye? I’ll knock the head off your shoulders!”
“I don’t think you will.”
“Then take this!”
As he snarled20 forth21 the words, Madison struck viciously at Frank’s face with his right fist.
Merry ducked like a flash, at the same time throwing up his left hand and catching22 the fellow’s wrist. With this hold, he gave a strong, sharp pull in the same direction that Madison had started, at the same time jerking the fellow’s arm downward. While doing this, Merry stooped and thrust his right arm between the ruffian’s legs, grasping Madison’s right leg back of the knee. In this manner he brought the bruiser across his back and shoulders in such a way that the fellow had no time to recover and was losing his balance when Frank suddenly straightened up with a heaving surge.
To the amazement23 of Madison’s friends, the fellow was sent flying through the air clear of the platform, striking the ground on his head and shoulders.
Merry calmly turned to look after the baggage, not giving his late assailant as much as a glance after the latter struck the ground.
Madison was somewhat stunned24. He sat up, holding his hands to his head and looking bewildered. A number of his friends sprang from the platform and gathered around him.
The young toughs were astounded25 by the manner in which Merry had met Madison’s assault. If before that they had contemplated26 an attack on Frank and his party, the sudden disposal of their leader caused them to falter27 and change their plan.
Hans Dunnerwurst chuckled28 as he looked after Madison.
“Maype you vill holdt that for a vile29,” he observed.
“There is something wrong about this business here in Cartersville, fellows,” said Frank; “but we’ll find out what it is. If Gaddis squeals30 on his contract with me, I’m going to see if he cannot be compelled to pay the forfeit.”
“That’s business,” nodded Hodge. “I’ll wager31 he sent these thugs to frighten us away, so he wouldn’t be compelled to pay the money. If we didn’t stop, he could get out of it.”
“Whereupon we’ll linger,” murmured Jack32 Ready.
“Somebody’s gug-gug-going to fuf-fuf-find out we mean bub-bub-business!” stuttered Gamp.
“I opine one chap has found it out already,” observed Buck33 Badger34 dryly.
“It must have been a shock to him,” said Dade Morgan, a gleam of satisfaction in his dark eyes.
“Glad he tackled Frank,” yawned Browning, with a wearied air. “I don’t feel like exerting myself after that infernally uncomfortable car ride.”
“The gentleman experienced a taste of jutsuju—I mean jujutsu,” laughed Harry35 Rattleton.
“Sorry Merry had to soil his hands on the big loafer,” said Dick Starbright, taking off his hat and tossing back his mane of golden hair.
“It was a clever piece of business,” admitted Jim Stretcher; “but two years ago, at a fair in Tipton, Missouri, I saw a little piece of business that——”
“Don’t tell it—don’t dare to tell it!” exclaimed Badger. “I’m from Kansas, and I’m sick of hearing these powerful extravagant36 tales about Missouri. If you mention Missouri in my hearing for the next three days you’ll be in danger of sudden destruction. That’s whatever!”
“You’re jealous, and I don’t blame you,” said Jim. “If I lived in Kansas I’d never acknowledge it. It was the last place created, and made out of mighty37 poor material. Everybody in Kansas worth knowing has moved out.”
“Which is a genuine Irish bull,” said Morgan.
“All aboard,” called the conductor.
A few moments later the train pulled out.
In the meantime, Mat Madison had recovered and regained38 his feet. The result of his attack on Merriwell had astonished him no less than it did his followers39. Even after recovering from the shock he could not understand just what had happened to him, although he realized that, in some manner, he had been sent spinning through the air. It had dazed him. After regaining40 his feet he asked one of the young toughs what had happened.
“Why,” was the answer, “he just grabbed you and throwed you, that’s all.”
“Oh, he throwed me, did he?” growled41 Madison, a vicious look on his face. “Well, I ruther think I’ll throw him next time. He’ll git all that’s coming now!”
“That’s right, Mad!” encouraged his followers. “You didn’t hit him because he dodged42. Go for him again. Grab him this time before he can grab you.”
“Just watch me,” advised the thug, as he sprang to the platform.
Without warning, Madison came quickly up behind Merry, throwing his arms round Frank, in this manner pinning the arms of the latter to his sides.
“Now I’ve got ye, burn your hide!” snarled the ruffian. “You worked a slick trick on me t’other time, but you can’t do it aga——”
He did not finish; Frank gave him no further time for speech.
Down Merry dropped to one knee, causing the man’s arms to slip up about his neck. Before Madison could get a strangle hold, even as he dropped to his knee, Frank caught the ruffian’s right hand and twisted it outward, bringing the palm upward. With his other hand Frank secured a hold on Madison’s wrist, and then he jerked downward, bending far forward.
Mat Madison’s feet left the ground, his heels flew through the air and he went turning over Merry’s head, landing flat on his back in front of the undisturbed young man.
The town toughs, who had fancied their leader had the stranger foul43, were even more astonished than by Madison’s first failure.
Merriwell rose to his feet, stood with his hands on his hips44 and regarded his fallen assailant with a pitying smile.
Frank’s friends—the most of them—seemed amused over the affair, and either smiled broadly or laughed outright45. Hodge and Morgan were the only ones who betrayed no mirth.
“Jee-roo-sa-lum!” cried one of the tough youngsters. “Did you see that, fellers?”
“How did he do it?” gasped46 another.
“Why, he throws Mad just as e-e-easy!”
“He’s a slippery chap!”
“Slippery! He’s quicker’n lightnin’!”
“Strong as a bull!”
“Full of slick tricks!”
The astonishment47 of Madison’s friends was somewhat ludicrous. They had expected the bully48 to handle the clean, quiet young man with perfect ease, especially when he seemed to obtain such a great advantage by seizing Merry from the rear.
Madison’s arm had been given a severe wrench49, but the fellow rose quickly, not yet subdued50 or satisfied.
“I ain’t done with ye,” he snarled; “I ain’t done yet!”
“That’s unfortunate—for you,” declared Frank, wholly undisturbed.
“I’ll kill ye yet!”
“You frighten me.”
But the tone of voice in which Merriwell spoke51 the words told he was not frightened in the least.
Madison was breathing heavily, his huge breast heaving, as he rose and confronted Frank. With his hands hanging at his sides, the young man who had twice taken a fall out of the bully seemed utterly52 off his guard and unable to defend himself quickly.
The thug stepped in, suddenly shooting out his left fist toward Merry’s solar plexus, hoping to get in a knockout blow.
Merriwell sidestepped in a manner that caused the bruiser to miss entirely53. With his right hand Frank caught the fellow’s left wrist, giving the middle of his arm a sharp rap with the side of his left hand, thus causing it to bend. Instantly twisting the man’s arm outward and bending it backward, Frank placed his left hand against Madison’s elbow and pushed toward the thug’s right side. In the meantime, Merry had placed his right foot squarely behind Madison’s left. Madison found himself utterly unable to resist, and, almost before he realized that he was helpless, he was hurled54 over backward with great violence.
“Maype dot blatform vill lay sdill on you a vile,” observed Dunnerwurst, as Madison fell with a terrible thud.
“Three times and out,” murmured Jack Ready.
“It ain’t no use!” exclaimed one of Madison’s backers. “Mat can’t do this chap on ther level. He’s up against a better man.”
Madison thought so, too. He was beginning to realize that he had encountered his master, although the thought filled him with rage he could not express. For some time he had been the bully of Cartersville, universally feared by the younger set of hoodlums, and in that period he had not encountered any one who could give him anything like an argument in a fight. He had expected to handle Merriwell with ease, and the ease with which he was defeated made the whole affair seem like an unreal and unpleasant dream. Furthermore, he knew that never after this would he be regarded with the same degree of respect and awe55 by the young ruffians of the town. Having seen him handled in such a simple manner by a calm, smiling stranger, they would never again look on him as invincible56.
The encounter had been witnessed by others besides those immediately interested. Madison was well known and feared in Cartersville, and the loafers about the station, as well as those who had business there, saw him defeated for the first time in his career of terrorism. Although some of them rejoiced over it, yet nearly all were still too much awed57 by his record to express themselves.
The treatment he had received at the hands of Merriwell had wrenched58 and bruised59 the ruffian, whose arms and shoulders felt as if they had been twisted nearly out of their joints60. The fellow got up slowly after the third fall.
Some fancied he would attempt to get at Merriwell again, but he had been checked and cowed most effectively. He stood beyond Frank’s reach and glared, his face showing his fury, while his huge hands twitched61 convulsively.
The language that flowed from the lips of the ruffian was of a character to make any hearer shudder62 in case he possessed63 any degree of decency64.
“That will do!” interrupted Merry sharply, the pleasant expression leaving his face. “Not another word of it! Close up instantly!”
“What if I don’t?” demanded Madison.
“Then what you have received from me is a mere65 taste beside what you’ll get,” promised Frank.
Madison turned to his followers.
“What’s the matter with you?” he snarled. “What made you stand round and see him do stunts66 with me? Why didn’t you light on him, you muckers?”
“We were waiting and pining for them to make some such movement, gentle sir,” observed Jack Ready.
“Yah!” cried Dunnerwurst. “Id vould haf peen very bleasing for us to seen id did.”
“You told us you’d do ther whole thing when we came down to the station, Mad,” reminded one of the gang.
“We was waitin’ for ye to do it,” said another grimly.
“Of vaiting you haf become tiredness,” observed Hans. “You don’d blame me vor dot.”
Madison started to pour forth vile language again, but Merry took a single step in his direction and he stopped, lifting his hands to defend himself.
“I don’t care to touch you again,” said Frank; “but if I hear two more words of that character from your lips I’ll take another fall out of you.”
“You’re mighty brave now!” muttered the tough; “but I ain’t done with ye. No man ever flung Mat Madison round like a bag of rags and didn’t regret it. You’d been better off if you’d took my advice and left on that train. Now you can’t leave before to-morrer, and I’m going to square up with you before you git away.”
“I don’t fancy your threats, any more than your vile language. I’ll take neither from you. We came to this town to play baseball, and we propose to do so—or know the reason why.”
“You won’t play no baseball here, and don’t you think ye will. That’s all settled. There won’t be no more baseball in this town as long as Joe Gaddis tries to run things.”
“What’s the matter with Gaddis?”
“You’ll find out—mebbe. There ain’t no baseball team here now.”
“No ball team?”
“No.”
“I don’t believe that.”
“It don’t make no difference whether you believe it or not. You go ahead and investigate. Mebbe you’ll have a good time stopping in Cartersville, but I don’t think it.”
“Oh, they’ll have fun!” sneered67 one of the crowd.
“Carey Cameron will see about that.”
“Shut up, Bilker!” snapped Madison. “You ain’t to call no names.”
“Who is Carey Cameron?” asked Merry promptly.
But no one would answer the question.
Madison turned away, after giving Merriwell another glaring look of hatred68, and the young ruffians flocked after him.
“Well,” said Merry, “that incident is closed for the present. Now we’ll find a hotel and secure accommodations.”
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收听单词发音
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1
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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slovenly
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| adj.懒散的，不整齐的，邋遢的 | |
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doorways
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| n.门口，门道( doorway的名词复数 ) | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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hop
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| n.单脚跳，跳跃；vi.单脚跳，跳跃；着手做某事；vt.跳跃，跃过 | |
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ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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scented
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| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
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forfeit
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| vt.丧失；n.罚金，罚款，没收物 | |
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snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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falter
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| vi.(嗓音)颤抖，结巴地说；犹豫；蹒跚 | |
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28
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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squeals
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| n.长而尖锐的叫声( squeal的名词复数 )v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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wager
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| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
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32
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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badger
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| v.一再烦扰，一再要求，纠缠 | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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regaining
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| 复得( regain的现在分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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dodged
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| v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避 | |
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foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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hips
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| abbr.high impact polystyrene 高冲击强度聚苯乙烯，耐冲性聚苯乙烯n.臀部( hip的名词复数 )；[建筑学]屋脊；臀围（尺寸）；臀部…的 | |
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outright
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| adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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wrench
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| v.猛拧；挣脱；使扭伤；n.扳手；痛苦，难受 | |
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50
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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51
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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52
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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54
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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55
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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56
invincible
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| adj.不可征服的，难以制服的 | |
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57
awed
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| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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59
bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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60
joints
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| 接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语） | |
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61
twitched
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| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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63
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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decency
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| n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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66
stunts
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| n.惊人的表演( stunt的名词复数 )；（广告中）引人注目的花招；愚蠢行为；危险举动v.阻碍…发育[生长]，抑制，妨碍( stunt的第三人称单数 ) | |
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67
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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