“Now I’ll be able to finish it up in great shape,” he said softly to himself.
He listened, his face wearing a very serious expression, until their cheery voices were stilled by distance, then drawing a voluminous collection of papers from his inside pocket he spread them out carefully on the center table and set to work.
Evidently the problems which confronted him were of a very profound and complex nature. The lines on his forehead deepened; occasionally he uttered a half sigh, as some particularly knotty2 point was encountered; then, losing patience, he rose to his feet and walked toward an armchair near the window.
Picking up a book, the well-worn appearance of which indicated much usage, he opened it[89] at random3 and began to read a description of the deltoid muscle, its origin, insertion and various functions.
“By George, that twenty-second article is a sticker,” he exclaimed, aloud. “I’ll get it through.” He looked at his watch. “Gee, I’ll have to hurry. Isn’t Victor the freshest little dub6? Afraid to take the car out alone, am I? He certainly does make me tired.”
When the obstinate7 twenty-second article was finally conquered the lad breathed a sigh of relief, and a good-natured grin replaced the scowl8 on his face, as he began gathering9 the loose sheets of paper together.
“It’s a dandy piece of work, all right—bet Dave’ll think so, too,” he reflected. “We’re going to make some stir in the Kingswood High this term.”
Tom busied himself for a few moments in replacing his belongings10 in a suit case. This done, he glanced at his watch once more.
[90]Thoughts of the pleasant journey before them and the sensation which his by-laws were certainly bound to create were in his mind to the exclusion12 of all else, but, as time passed by, the former steadily13 gained the ascendency.
“What’s keeping those chaps, I wonder?” Tom, in his impatience14, paced the floor. “They ought to have been here before this.”
The next quarter of an hour was really a distressing15 period to the tall boy. Every step in the corridor, every voice which penetrated16 into the room, made his heart beat with hope. But as each faded away it left him annoyed, even angry.
“Never knew Bob Somers to fail in his word before,” he repeated several times.
Unable to stand the dreary17 task of waiting any longer Tom slapped on his cap, and, in a moment, was down-stairs at the door.
He looked searchingly along the street in both directions. But there were no familiar faces in the ever-passing throng18.
“Hang it all,” he growled19. “If we were in Chicago I might understand it, because there’s a fire every few minutes, or some kind of a[91] rumpus going on. But here!—Why don’t those chaps come back?”
No answer was suggested by the mental query20 which insistently21 propounded22 itself; so, finally, with a last long look and grunt23 of disapproval24, Tom climbed back to Bob Somers’ room. The book on anatomy reappeared, and the student, with an air of deep injury, once more began to read.
Suddenly Tom sat bolt upright. He seemed as startled as though some one had clapped him unexpectedly on the shoulder.
Could it be possible?
He drew a long, deep breath. A dreadful suspicion had entered his head. He tried to cast it off with scorn; but, somehow, the thought would not down. Were the boys testing his courage? Had they actually gone away with Victor on the motor yacht? Did the crowd wish to find out how he stood in relation to the “flopper” class? And yet it wasn’t like honest, straightforward25 Bob Somers to act in such a way.
The precious book of anatomy fell unheeded[92] to the floor, as Tom restlessly paced up and down, while conflicting ideas chased each other swiftly through his brain.
“I don’t—can’t believe it,” he said, aloud. “Of course not! What a silly idiot I am. The crowd’ll be here soon. Mustn’t let ’em think they had me aeroplaning.” He smiled grimly as an idea struck him. “I’ll just sprint26 down to the wharf27 and settle it.”
So Tom, with unseemly haste, again dashed down-stairs, and did almost “sprint” through the streets in the direction of the river. It was quite a long distance, too, but probably few had ever covered it in so short a time.
The moment his eyes rested on the familiar pilings at which Captain Bunderley’s motor yacht was usually moored28 he stopped short and uttered a low whistle. His suspicions were not without foundation, after all.
The “Fearless” had gone.
Yes, the “Fearless” had gone! There could be no doubt about it. Tom Clifton felt a strange variety of emotions assail29 him. He eagerly scanned the river, half expecting to see the yacht somewhere on its surface. But his search was in vain.
[93]“Well, well! Victor must have actually managed to pull off that trick,” he growled.
Smarting with indignation, the lad covered the space between him and the end of the wharf in record time.
“Hey,” began Tom, “were you here this morning when that motor yacht left?”
The stout man, with a whimsical light in his eye, was gazing hard into the boy’s face.
“Yer hat is a great distance up from the ground, me lad,” he remarked, casually31. “Kin ye see acrost to the lake from there?”
“Oh, cut it out. I’m no lighthouse!” snapped Tom, forgetting politeness in his ruffled32 state of mind. “Were you——”
The stout man stopped him.
“I were, for sure,” he answered, emphatically.
“See any boys on board?”
“I did—sure ag’in.”
“Been gone long?”
“Yes, a right smart spell. Runned off without yer, did they, mate? Some people is mean enough for anythin’.”
[94]Tom was too angry and disturbed to make any reply to this observation.
“My, but wouldn’t I like to punch that little Victor,” he thought. “I didn’t think it of Bob Somers; or Dave, either. Looks as though the whole bunch is trying to have a big joke at my expense. Hey?”
The little man was speaking again.
“Ye oughter be real glad ye weren’t took along, mate,” he remarked, pleasantly. “Ye look kinder peart now; but a right smart spell o’ tossin’ about out there ’ud take that out o’ you. I always says, give me seasoned water every time.”
“Sure, mate; some as has plenty o’ salt in it. I’ve sailed on both kinds, an’ I know.”
“Then I suppose the lake makes you feel a bit peppery at times, eh?” grunted34 Tom, as he strode rapidly away.
“Well, of all things!” he exclaimed, hotly, when out of hearing distance. “Isn’t this the limit! A dandy trip bungled35 at the very start; and all on account of that little spoiled kid. By George, they certainly have put it up to me to take our car to Milwaukee all[95] alone. Think I’ll ‘flop,’ eh, as Victor calls it? Well, I rather guess not!”
Tom looked very savage36 indeed; his fists were tightly clenched37, and he glared about him in a way that might have attracted attention had any observers been near.
The cool gusts38 of wind which continually swept against the lad, together with the busy scenes along the wharves39, finally began to calm his belligerent40 spirit. The first effect of the unpleasant situation wearing off left him with a dogged feeling of determination to show his mettle41.
Presently Tom sat down on an old box, from which position he had a good view of the river. But another period of waiting brought no result, and he rose to his feet more disgusted than ever.
His mind had been busily engaged. He did not intend to let any one, even his best friends, play jokes on him.
“If the bunch doesn’t turn up mighty42 fast,” he reflected, “I’ll have a little fun in that car all by my lonesome. No doubt now—it’s Milwaukee for mine.”
The boys didn’t turn up. Whereupon Tom,[96] deciding that he had, with Sherlock Holmes intelligence, made the proper deductions43, went back to the hotel. There he gathered together the few articles of luggage which the crowd carried with them and paid their bill.
At the garage the proprietor45 was mildly surprised to see only the very tall lad returning to take charge of the motor car, but, concluding that it was none of his affair, he made no comments.
The machine seemed to have increased marvelously in size since Tom had last seen it. In the midst of other vehicles it loomed46 up in a positively47 gigantic fashion. How easily he could picture in his mind Dave Brandon lolling in comfort on the rear seat. What a strange, dismal48 silence hovered49 over the big car now! A peculiar50 sense of loneliness stole over him. He stood, irresolute51. Then, in an instant, and with a shrug52 of his shoulders, he climbed up to the chauffeur53’s seat.
“Yes, suh, I done filled the tank with gasoline,” explained a smiling colored lad, in[97] answer to his query. “Dar ain’t nuthin’ to be did. Whar’s ye goin’, suh, if I might ask?”
“To Milwaukee,” answered Tom.
“Sho, dat am sartingly a fine trip. Yes, suh, de way am clear.”
Tom Clifton’s hand trembled a little as he laid it on the steering54 wheel. Without the presence of the others to strengthen his courage the task of driving the car through the city streets assumed more formidable proportions than he liked. But, giving the button on the dash a push, he muttered, determinedly55:
“I’ll play the game right to the end.”
In another instant the echoes of the engine’s rapid pulsation56 thundered through the garage. A cloud of gasoline vapor57 swirled58 aloft, to lose itself among the rafters. The clutch was thrown on.
“So-long, Benjamin!”
The big touring car slid easily past the doorway60; a series of warning blasts from the horn sounded, and Tom was on the street.
Once outside, with the machine responding to his slightest touch, he soon began to feel a[98] little easier in mind. Yet how empty the car seemed! How he missed the cheery voices and merry laughter of his companions! Why had they allowed themselves to be so influenced by Victor—why?
And then the thought that he had acted too impulsively61 flashed through Tom’s mind.
“Suppose I should find ’em at the hotel? They’d have a jolly good laugh at my expense, after all,” he reflected.
But, on this point, he need not have disturbed himself. Neither Victor nor any of the others was at the hotel when the car stopped before the entrance.
“Those chaps even had the confounded cheek to leave their traps for me to look after,” grumbled62 Tom, as the boy in bright brass63 buttons assisted him in stowing away the luggage. “Well, all right. The first inning of the game’s been played. Here’s the beginning of the second.”
Once more the touring car was in motion. With all the responsibility resting on his shoulders, the lad experienced new and novel sensations—and most of them were not altogether pleasant. He sadly missed Bob Somers’[99] words of caution and advice. Approaching the public square, with numerous vehicles and pedestrians64 on all sides, he became decidedly nervous.
Just as the car rolled toward the principal crossing, around the corner of which Tom decided65 to turn, a tall man who had been reading a newspaper by the curb66 suddenly stepped out into the street.
With a cry, Tom reached over and sounded the horn sharply. He took his foot off the clutch and threw on the break. It was an instant of intense satisfaction to him—and, perhaps, some surprise, when the touring car abruptly67 stopped.
And, meanwhile, a flying leap had taken the man to safety.
At the moment of landing, fully a yard from the starting point, his temper took effect all at once.
“Hey there, what’s the matter? Ain’t you got no eyes?” he demanded, in amazingly gruff tones.
“Well, that’s a good one!” cried Tom, though his voice was somewhat shaky. “How—how—about yourself?”
“Better wait until I do.”
The angry citizen paused, took a good look at the tall chauffeur, then:
“Why, you ain’t nothin’ but a kid!” he exclaimed.
Tom’s face flushed.
“I’m old enough to know what I’m doing,” he answered, witheringly.
“You are, hey? There ought to be a law passed against letting fellers what ain’t cut their eye teeth yet drive regular whaleback ships like that through the streets. What are you doing in there, anyway, boy?”
“If you throw any more words in this direction you may find out.”
A small crowd had already gathered, and seemed to be thoroughly70 enjoying the situation.
Tom, making a strong effort to appear cool[101] and dignified72, leaned forward. His eye caught the tall man’s.
“I’d like to say this,” he roared: “if the city intended the middle of the street to be used as a place for reading newspapers they’d have put a few benches and chairs along it.”
“Ha, ha! You’ve got ’im goin’,” piped a very youthful citizen.
“Goin’! He’s the one that will be goin’!” roared the man whose life had been saved. “Where’s there a cop? Where’s that officer I saw on the corner a few moments ago?”
“If he hadn’t gone, too,” cried Tom, looking around, “he’d pinch you for disorderly conduct and blocking the highway. Get out of the road. This machine is going to buzz like a sawmill.”
An elderly lady, who disliked everybody that rode in an automobile74, declared to a companion that Tom was the most brazen-looking young scamp she had ever seen; and, the fact is, he did not at that moment appear very angelic.
Snorting indignantly, and still somewhat unnerved, Tom threw in the clutch.
[102]He had expected to spend some time scouting75 around in the center of the city. But this experience caused him to decide that the more quiet streets would do just as well.
“That chap was certainly a grouch,” he murmured, still highly indignant. “But I guess my remark about the benches squelched76 him.”
A number of blocks were passed, each instant bringing him nearer to the wharf where the “Fearless” had been moored.
“Bet, by this time, the yacht is back,” he murmured, hopefully. “I’ll never let on how the boys had me going, both in and out of the car.”
The river soon swept into view. Tom, peering eagerly ahead, felt his spirits sink again. A number of boats dotted the gray, gloomy-looking surface, but the motor yacht “Fearless” was not among the number.
“Well, well! I might have known I was right.”
The car came to a full stop. Tom sat for many minutes absorbed in deep reflection. Then a grim smile played across his features.
“I’ll show ’em how well I can play the[103] game,” he cried once more to the empty air. His hand gripped the horn bulb. A resounding77 blast instantly followed. “There goes the signal for the third inning. I’ll make a home run to Milwaukee, and bob up smiling.”
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1
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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knotty
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| adj.有结的，多节的，多瘤的，棘手的 | |
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random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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treatise
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| n.专著；(专题)论文 | |
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anatomy
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| n.解剖学，解剖；功能，结构，组织 | |
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dub
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| vt.（以某种称号）授予，给...起绰号，复制 | |
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obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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scowl
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| vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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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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exclusion
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| n.拒绝，排除，排斥，远足，远途旅行 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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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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query
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| n.疑问，问号，质问；vt.询问，表示怀疑 | |
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insistently
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| ad.坚持地 | |
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propounded
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| v.提出（问题、计划等）供考虑[讨论]，提议( propound的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23
grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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straightforward
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| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
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sprint
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| n.短距离赛跑；vi. 奋力而跑，冲刺；vt.全速跑过 | |
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27
wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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moored
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| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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assail
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| v.猛烈攻击，抨击，痛斥 | |
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casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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32
ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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35
bungled
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| v.搞糟，完不成( bungle的过去式和过去分词 )；笨手笨脚地做；失败；完不成 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
gusts
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| 一阵强风( gust的名词复数 )； （怒、笑等的）爆发； （感情的）迸发； 发作 | |
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39
wharves
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| n.码头，停泊处( wharf的名词复数 ) | |
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belligerent
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| adj.好战的，挑起战争的；n.交战国，交战者 | |
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mettle
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| n.勇气，精神 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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deductions
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| 扣除( deduction的名词复数 )； 结论； 扣除的量； 推演 | |
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44
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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46
loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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51
irresolute
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| adj.无决断的，优柔寡断的，踌躇不定的 | |
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52
shrug
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| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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53
chauffeur
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| n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机；v.为…开车 | |
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54
steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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55
determinedly
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| adv.决意地；坚决地，坚定地 | |
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56
pulsation
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| n.脉搏，悸动，脉动；搏动性 | |
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57
vapor
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| n.蒸汽，雾气 | |
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58
swirled
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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impulsively
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| adv.冲动地 | |
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grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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64
pedestrians
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| n.步行者( pedestrian的名词复数 ) | |
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65
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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curb
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| n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制 | |
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67
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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68
flip
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| vt.快速翻动；轻抛；轻拍；n.轻抛；adj.轻浮的 | |
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69
license
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| n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许 | |
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70
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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71
screeched
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| v.发出尖叫声( screech的过去式和过去分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
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72
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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73
chuckles
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的名词复数 ) | |
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74
automobile
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| n.汽车，机动车 | |
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75
scouting
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| 守候活动，童子军的活动 | |
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76
squelched
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| v.发吧唧声，发扑哧声( squelch的过去式和过去分词 )；制止；压制；遏制 | |
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77
resounding
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| adj. 响亮的 | |
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