Chapter 9 A Long Trip

 Fred appeared at the depot¹ the next morning the superintendent² said to him, "I shall have to change your train to-day. You will wait for the nine o'clock train for Suspension Bridge."

 

"When shall I get there?"

 

The superintendent, referring to his schedule of trains, answered, "At 11.44 to-night. The boy who usually goes on this train is sick."

 

"When shall I return?"

 

"Let me see, it is Saturday. If you would like to stay over a day and see Niagara Falls, you can do so, and start on your return Monday morning at 8.35. How do you like the arrangement?"

 

"Very much. I was only thinking how I could get word to my mother. She will feel anxious if I am not back at the usual time."

 

"You might send her a note by a telegraph messenger."

 

At this moment Fred espied³ a boy of his acquaintance in the street outside.

 

"Here, Charlie Schaeffer," he called, "do you want to earn a quarter?"

 

"Yes," answered the boy quickly. "What do you want me to do?"

 

"Take a note to my mother."

 

"It'll cost me almost a quarter for expenses."

 

"I will pay that besides."

 

"All right! Give me the letter."

 

Fred scribbled⁴ these few lines:

 

DEAR MOTHER,

 

I am sent to Suspension Bridge and shall not probably be back till late Monday evening, or perhaps Tuesday morning. Don't worry.

 

FRED.

 

Charlie Schaeffer, a stout⁵ German boy, who was temporarily out of work, was glad of the chance of earning a quarter for himself, and started at once on his errand. Fred, quite elated at the prospect⁶ of seeing Niagara Falls, prepared for his trip. He had to carry a larger supply of stock on account of the length of the journey, and was instructed to lay in a fresh supply at Buffalo⁷ for the home trip.

 

He was about to enter the car at ten minutes of nine when Joshua Bascom appeared on the platform with a well-worn carpet-bag in his hand.

 

"Are you going back, Mr. Bascom?" asked the train boy.

 

"Yes," answered Joshua. "I don't want to go to no more station houses. I shan't rest easy til I'm back in Barton. You hain't seen any policeman lookin' for me, have you?"

 

"No; you haven't done anything wrong, have you?"

 

"Not as I know of, but them cops is very meddlesome⁸. I thought that pickpocket⁹ might have set 'em on my track."

 

"You are safe here. This is New Jersey¹⁰, and a New York policeman can't arrest you here."

 

"That's good," said Joshua with an air of relief. "Where are you going to-day?"

 

"I'm going all the way with you."

 

"You ain't goin' as far as Barton?"

 

"Yes, I am, and farther too. I'm going to Niagara."

 

"You don't say? And you don't have to pay a cent either?"

 

"No, I get paid for going."

 

"I wish I was goin' to Niagara with you. By hokey, wouldn't the folks stare if I was to come home and tell 'em I'd seen the Falls!"

 

"Can't you go?"

 

"No, I've spent all the money I can afford. I must wait till next year."

 

"Did you spend all of your money, Mr. Bascom?"

 

"No," chuckled¹¹ Joshua. "I've only spent the fifteen dollars I got for that ring, and shall carry home the ten dollars."

 

"You are an able financier, Mr. Bascom. You've made your expenses, and can afford to go again. You must tell your father how you got the best of a pickpocket."

 

"So I will. I guess he'll think I'm smarter than he reckoned for."

 

At about half-past four in the afternoon, Fred was called upon to bid his country friend good-by. Looking from the door of the car, he saw Joshua climb into a hay wagon¹² driven by an elderly man whose appearance led him to conclude that he was the "dad" to whom Joshua had frequently referred.

 

The sun sank, the darkness came on, but still the train sped swiftly over its iron pathway. The passengers settled back in their seats, some fell asleep, and the hum of conversation ceased. Fred too gave up his trips through the cars, and stretching himself out on a seat, closed his eyes. Presently the train came to a stop, and the conductor, putting in his head at the door, called out "Niagara Falls."

 

Fred rose hastily, for he had made up his mind to get out at this point. He descended¹³ from the train, and found himself on the platform of the station.

 

He had already selected the hotel, a small one where the rate was very moderate, and as there was no carriage representing it at the train he set out to walk. It was a small, plain-looking inn, of perhaps thirty rooms, named after the proprietor¹⁴:

 

THE LYNCH HOUSE.

 

On the road thither¹⁵ he was overtaken by a stranger, whom he remembered as one of the passengers on the second car. He appeared to be about forty years of age, and though it was a warm summer evening he was muffled¹⁶ up about the neck.

 

"Are you going to stop here over night?" he asked.

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"You are the train boy, are you not?"

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"What hotel shall you put up at?"

 

"One recommended to me by the conductor--the Lynch House."

 

"I think I will stop there too."

 

"You may not like it. It is a small, cheap house."

 

"It doesn't matter. I am well provided with money, but I don't care for style or fashion. I am an invalid¹⁷, and I prefer the quiet of a small hotel. There will be less noise and confusion."

 

"Very well, sir. I think that is the hotel yonder."

 

Such proved to be the case. It was large on the ground, but only three stories in height. Over the portico¹⁸ was a sign, bearing the name. It was by no means fashionable in its appearance, but looked comfortable.

 

Fred and the stranger entered. A sleepy-looking clerk sat behind the desk. He opened his eyes, and surveyed the late comers.

 

"Can you give me a room?" asked Fred.

 

"I would like one too," said the other.

 

"We've only got one room left," said the clerk. "That's a back room on the second story. Are you gentlemen in company?"

 

"No," answered Fred. "We are strangers to each other."

 

"Then I can't give but one of you a room. If you don't mind rooming together, you can both be accommodated."

 

"Are there two beds in a room?" asked the stranger.

 

"Yes."

 

"Then I don't object to occupying it with this young man. He is a stranger to me, but I watched him on board the train, and I am sure he is all right."

 

"Thank you, sir," said Fred.

 

"Well," said the clerk, "what does the boy say?"

 

Fred looked curiously¹⁹ at his companion. He was so muffled up that he could only see a pair of black eyes, a long sallow nose, and cheeks covered with dark whiskers. The train boy did not fancy his looks much, but could think of no good reason for declining him as a room companion. He felt that the gentleman had paid him a compliment in offering to room with him, particularly when, as he stated, he had a considerable amount of money about him. He paused a moment only, before he said, "Perhaps we may as well room together, then."

 

"All right! I will go up with you, as the hall boy has gone to bed. I hardly expected any guests by this late train."

 

The clerk took the stranger's valise--Fred had only a small paper parcel in his hand, containing a clean shirt and a collar which he had bought in Jersey City before taking passage on the train. Up one flight of stairs the clerk preceded them and paused in front of No. 21, the back room referred to. He unlocked the door, and entering, lighted the gas.

 

It was a room about twelve feet wide by twenty in depth. At each end was a single bedstead.

 

"I think you will be comfortable," said the clerk. "Is there anything you want before retiring?"

 

"No," answered both.

1 depot   

n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站

参考例句：

• The depot is only a few blocks from here.公共汽车站离这儿只有几个街区。
• They leased the building as a depot.他们租用这栋大楼作仓库。

2 superintendent   

n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长

参考例句：

• He was soon promoted to the post of superintendent of Foreign Trade.他很快就被擢升为对外贸易总监。
• He decided to call the superintendent of the building.他决定给楼房管理员打电话。

3 espied   

v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• One day a youth espied her as he was hunting.She saw him and recognized him as her own son, mow grown a young man. 一日，她被一个正在行猎的小伙子看见了，她认出来这个猎手原来是自己的儿子，现在已长成为一个翩翩的少年。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• In a little while he espied the two giants. 一会儿就看见了那两个巨人。 来自辞典例句

4 scribbled   

v.潦草的书写( scribble的过去式和过去分词 )；乱画；草草地写；匆匆记下

参考例句：

• She scribbled his phone number on a scrap of paper. 她把他的电话号码匆匆写在一张小纸片上。
• He scribbled a note to his sister before leaving. 临行前，他给妹妹草草写了一封短信。

6 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

7 buffalo   

n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛

参考例句：

• Asian buffalo isn't as wild as that of America's. 亚洲水牛比美洲水牛温顺些。
• The boots are made of buffalo hide. 这双靴子是由水牛皮制成的。

8 meddlesome   

adj.爱管闲事的

参考例句：

• By this means the meddlesome woman cast in a bone between the wife and the husband.这爱管闲事的女人就用这种手段挑起他们夫妻这间的不和。
• Get rid of that meddlesome fool!让那个爱管闲事的家伙走开！

9 pickpocket   

n.扒手；v.扒窃

参考例句：

• The pickpocket pinched her purse and ran away.扒手偷了她的皮夹子跑了。
• He had his purse stolen by a pickpocket.他的钱包被掏了。

10 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

11 chuckled   

轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She chuckled at the memory. 想起这件事她就暗自发笑。
• She chuckled softly to herself as she remembered his astonished look. 想起他那惊讶的表情，她就轻轻地暗自发笑。

12 wagon   

n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车

参考例句：

• We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。
• The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。

13 descended   

a.为...后裔的，出身于...的

参考例句：

• A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。
• The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。

14 proprietor   

n.所有人；业主；经营者

参考例句：

• The proprietor was an old acquaintance of his.业主是他的一位旧相识。
• The proprietor of the corner grocery was a strange thing in my life.拐角杂货店店主是我生活中的一个怪物。

15 thither   

adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的

参考例句：

• He wandered hither and thither looking for a playmate.他逛来逛去找玩伴。
• He tramped hither and thither.他到处流浪。

16 muffled   

adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己）

参考例句：

• muffled voices from the next room 从隔壁房间里传来的沉闷声音
• There was a muffled explosion somewhere on their right. 在他们的右面什么地方有一声沉闷的爆炸声。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 invalid   

n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的

参考例句：

• He will visit an invalid.他将要去看望一个病人。
• A passport that is out of date is invalid.护照过期是无效的。

18 portico   

n.柱廊，门廊

参考例句：

• A large portico provides a suitably impressive entrance to the chapel.小教堂入口处宽敞的柱廊相当壮观。
• The gateway and its portico had openings all around.门洞两旁与廊子的周围都有窗棂。

19 curiously   

adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地

参考例句：

• He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
• He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。