The crowd suddenly swayed, and a man in civilian3 clothing—a suit with a loud check pattern—was seen to savagely4 force his way to the ladder leading to the after deck.
A score of hands clutched at him, but he eluded5 them and gained the top. As he paused for a second, bareheaded, disheveled, breathing heavily, a cry came from the frantic6 mob below.
“It’s the Englishman!”
“Yes, the Englishman!” he flung back, fiercely. “I defy you, slaves of a royal master. I have tried to strike a blow for your liberty, hounds, a blow for the world’s liberty, and have failed. I——”
A bullet whistled past his head, but he never flinched7. As the crowd below surged up the ladder eager to tear him limb from limb, he retreated slowly and with magnificent courage to the railing.
As the foremost of his pursuers reached the deck, he sent a curse at them, then turned and sprang over the side into the swiftly moving waters of the Tagus.
“After him! Quick! Five thousand milreis to the man who captures him alive!”
A rush was made for the side, and eager glances were cast down toward the river. A dozen excited sailors and cadets recklessly leaped into the water and began a search, but nothing was seen of the desperate fugitive9.
The Tagus in the immediate10 vicinity of the practice ship was thronged11 with vessels13 of all classes, attracted to the spot by the royal visit, and it was observed at once that the assassin’s chances for escape, if he was an expert swimmer, were good.
There was commotion14 on board the neighboring craft, and many false alarms, but no certain sign of the Englishman’s presence.
When the excited crowd on the Monongahela turned inboard again, they found a group of officers and cadets surrounding Clif, who was calmly standing15 in the center while the surgeon fastened a temporary bandage round a bleeding cut in his right arm.
The king had been hurried to the cabin by his suite and Captain Brookes. A moment later he emerged and joined the group surrounding Clif.
“I want to see the brave American boy who saved my life,” he insisted. “It was he who foiled that assassin and he shall have my heartfelt thanks.”
“But, your majesty16,” implored17 one of his military staff, in Portuguese, “there may be other wretches18 on board. They may make another attempt on you.”
“Then keep every one at a distance,” was the retort. “Act rather than talk. It is strange you and your comrades did not prevent that man from making his attempt. What has been done to capture him?”
“Word was sent ashore19 at once, sire. A launch is even now on the way with instructions to the chief of police and the general in charge of the district. The assassin will be in prison before dark.”
“See that he is!” exclaimed the king, imperiously.
Turning to Clif he extended both his hands and added in excellent English:
“It is nothing, sir,” replied Clif, simply.
“A king’s life nothing?” smiled his majesty. “Ah, that is a democratic principle. It is American. I admire your cleverness and bravery. You will hear from me.”
He turned away, after learning from the surgeon that Clif’s wound was a mere21 scratch, and, surrounded by his suite, left the ship.
As soon as the barge was clear of the Monongahela, Captain Brookes, ever mindful of his duty, gave orders to man yards and fire a second salute23.
The news that a reward of five thousand milreis, about six thousand dollars, had been offered for the fugitive, dead or alive, had spread like wildfire.
In a remarkably26 short space of time the surface of the river in front of the city was literally27 covered with boats, large and small.
As the minutes passed and no sign of the Englishman was discovered, the belief that he had perished became prevalent.
When Clif went forward after an interview with the captain and officers of the Monongahela—an interview that caused his heart to beat with unaccustomed rapidity—he found an ovation28 awaiting him.
He tried to escape, and dodged29 down the forward ladder for that purpose, but a number of new fourth class cadets, headed by the lanky30 Joy, captured him, and he was borne in triumph about the decks.
“Hurray for the Yankee who saved a king,” shrieked31 little Nanny. “Three cheers and—and a whole cageful of tigers.”
The cheers were given and the tigers, too, but in subdued32 tones. It is not considered the proper thing to make much noise on board an American war vessel12.
“Not much,” was Clif’s flat refusal. “I draw the line at that. What’s all this row about, anyway? One would think war had been declared at the very least.”
“Something more important than that, dear boy,” drawled Toggles. “I’ll wager34 anything the news is being cabled about the world this very minute. And the name of Clifford Faraday, new fourth class plebe, function, and rescuer of kings in general, will be in everybody’s mouth before dinner. Clif, your fortune is made. I see you Lord High Muck-a-Muck of Portugal before you are a day older.”
Clif laughed carelessly.
“I am content to remain a cadet in the United States Naval35 Academy,” he replied. “That’s honor enough for me.”
“What did the girl say?” asked Nanny, slyly. “I saw you talking to her after your great act.”
“If you want to know, youngster, she asked me to tea to-night and I accepted the invitation. She also said she would like to have me bring another cadet.”
Clif finally decided37 to take Joy, much to the disappointment of the others. The liberty party was called[Pg 265] away at one o’clock, and, shortly after that hour, the two chums found themselves ashore.
They little suspected as they carelessly walked toward the main plaza38 that they were destined39 to experience some very thrilling adventures before they again saw the old Monongahela.
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1
jumble
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| vt.使混乱，混杂；n.混乱；杂乱的一堆 | |
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Portuguese
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| n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语 | |
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civilian
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| adj.平民的，民用的，民众的 | |
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savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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eluded
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| v.（尤指机敏地）避开( elude的过去式和过去分词 )；逃避；躲避；使达不到 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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flinched
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| v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8
suite
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| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
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fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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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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thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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15
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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16
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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implored
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| 恳求或乞求（某人）( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18
wretches
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| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
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19
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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deplore
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| vt.哀叹，对...深感遗憾 | |
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21
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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barge
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| n.平底载货船，驳船 | |
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23
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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24
prosecuted
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| a.被起诉的 | |
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vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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28
ovation
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| n.欢呼，热烈欢迎，热烈鼓掌 | |
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29
dodged
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| v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避 | |
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30
lanky
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| adj.瘦长的 | |
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shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
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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33
trolley
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| n.手推车，台车；无轨电车；有轨电车 | |
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34
wager
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| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
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35
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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36
hubbub
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| n.嘈杂；骚乱 | |
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37
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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38
plaza
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| n.广场，市场 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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