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首页 » 英文科幻小说 » 汤姆·史威夫特和他的摩托艇 Tom Swift and His Moto » Chapter 11 A Vindictive Tramp
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Chapter 11 A Vindictive Tramp
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Though Tom's father had told him there was no necessity for anygreat speed, the young inventor could not resist the opportunity forpushing his machine to the limit. The road was a level one and ingood condition, so the motor-cycle fairly flew along. The day waspleasant, a warm sun shining overhead, and it was evident that earlysummer was crowding spring rather closely.
"This is glorious!" exclaimed Tom aloud as he spun2 along. "I'm glad Ipersuaded dad to let me take this trip. It was a great idea. Wish NedNewton was along, though. He'd be company for me, but, as Ned wouldsay, there are two good reasons why he can't come. One is he has towork in the bank, and the other is that he has no motor-cycle."
Tom swept past house after house along the road, heading in theopposite direction from that in which lay the town of Shopton andthe city of Mansburg. For several miles Tom's route would liethrough a country district. The first large town he would reachwould be Centreford. He planned to get lunch there, and he hadbrought a few sandwiches with him to eat along the road in case hebecame hungry before he reached the place.
"I hope the package containing the model doesn't jar off," mused3 thelad as he reached behind to make sure that the precious bundle wassafe. "Dad would be in a bad way if that should disappear. And thepapers, too." He put his hand to his inner pocket to feel that theywere secure. Coming to a little down-grade, Tom shut off some of thepower, the new levers he had arranged to control the gasolene andspark working well.
"I think I'll take the old wood road and pass through Pompville,"Tom decided5, after covering another mile or two. He was approachinga division in the highway. "It's a bit sandy," he went on, "and thegoing will be heavy, but it will be a good chance to test mymachine. Besides, I'll save five miles, and, while I don't have tohurry, I may need time on the other end. I'd rather arrive in Albanya little before dusk than after dark. I can deliver the model andpapers and have a good night's sleep before starting back. So theold wood road it will be."
The wood road, as Tom called it, was a seldom used highway, which,originally, was laid out for just what the name indicated, to bringwood from the forest. With the disappearance6 of most of the treesthe road became more used for ordinary traffic between the towns ofPompville and Edgefield. But when the State built a new highwayconnecting these two places the old road fell into disuse, though itwas several miles shorter than the new turnpike.
He turned from the main thoroughfare, and was soon spinning alongthe sandy stretch, which was shaded with trees that in some placesmet overhead, forming a leafy arch. It was cool and pleasant, andTom liked it.
"It isn't as bad as I thought," he remarked. "The sand is prettythick, but this machine of mine appears to be able to crawl throughit."
Indeed, the motor-cycle was doing remarkably7 well, but Tom foundthat he had to turn on full power, for the big rubber wheels wentdeep into the soft soil. Along Tom rode, picking out the firmestplaces in the road. He was so intent on this that he did not paymuch attention to what was immediately ahead of him, knowing that hewas not very likely to meet other vehicles or pedestrians8. He wasconsiderably startled therefore when, as he went around a turn inthe highway where the bushes grew thick, right down to the edge ofthe road, to see a figure emerge from the underbrush and startacross the path. So quickly did the man appear that Tom was almostupon him in an instant, and even though the young inventor shut offthe power and applied9 the brake, the front wheel hit the man andknocked him down.
"What's the matter with you? What are you trying to do--kill me? Whydon't you ring a bell or blow a horn when you're coming?" The man hadsprung up from the soft sand where the wheel from the motor-cycle hadsent him and faced Tom angrily. Then the rider, who had quicklydismounted, saw that his victim was a ragged10 tramp.
"I'm sorry," began Tom. "You came out of the bushes so quickly thatI didn't have a chance to warn you. Did I hurt you much?"
"Well, youse might have. 'Tain't your fault dat youse didn't," andthe tramp began to brush the dirt from his ragged coat. Tom wasinstantly struck by a curious fact. The tramp in his second remarksused language more in keeping with his character, whereas, in hisfirst surprise and anger, he had talked much as any other personwould. "Youse fellers ain't got no right t' ride dem machines likelightnin' along de roads," the ragged chap went on, and he stillclung to the use of words and expressions current among hisfraternity. Tom wondered at it, and then, ascribing the use of thebetter language to the fright caused by being hit by the machine,the lad thought no more about it at the time. There was occasion,however, when he attached more meaning to it.
"I'm very sorry," went on Tom. "I'm sure I didn't mean to. You see,I was going quite slowly, and--"
"You call dat slow, when youse hit me an' knocked me down?" demandedthe tramp. "I'd oughter have youse arrested, dat's what, an' I wouldif dere was a cop handy."
"I wasn't going at all fast," said Tom, a little nettled11 that hisconciliatory words should be so rudely received. "If I had beengoing full speed I'd have knocked you fifty feet."
"It's a good thing. Cracky, den1 I'm glad dat youse wasn't goin' likedat," and the tramp seemed somewhat confused. This time Tom lookedat him more closely, for the change in his language had been veryplain. The fellow seemed uneasy, and turned his face away. As he didso Tom caught a glimpse of what he was sure was a false beard. Itwas altogether too well-kept a beard to be a natural one for such adirty tramp as this one appeared to be.
"That fellow's disguised!" Tom thought. "He's playing a part. Iwonder if I'd better take chances and spring it on him that I'm onto his game?"
Then the ragged man spoke12 again:
"I s'pose it was part my fault, cully. I didn't know dat any guy wascomin' along on one of dem buzz-machines, or I'd been more careful.I don't s'pose youse meant to upset me?" and he looked at Tom moreboldly. This time his words seemed so natural, and his beard, nowthat Tom took a second look at it, so much a part of himself, thatthe young inventor wondered if he could have been mistaken in hisfirst surmise13.
"Perhaps he was once a gentleman, and has turned tramp because ofhard luck," thought Tom. "That would account for him using goodlanguage at times. Guess I'd better keep still." Then to the tramphe said: "I'm sure I didn't mean to hit you. I admit I wasn'tlooking where I was going, but I never expected to meet any one onthis road. I certainly didn't expect to see a--"
He paused in some confusion. He was about to use the term "tramp,"and he hesitated, not knowing how it would be received by hisvictim.
"Oh, dat's all right, cully. Call me a tramp--I know dat's whatyouse was goin' t' say. I'm used t' it. I've been a hobo so manyyears now dat I don't mind. De time was when I was a decent chap,though. But I'm a tramp now. Say, youse couldn't lend me a quarter,could youse?"
He approached closer to Tom, and looked quickly up and down theroad. The highway was deserted14, nor was there any likelihood thatany one would come along. Tom was somewhat apprehensive15, for thetramp was a burly specimen16. The young inventor, however, was not somuch alarmed at the prospect17 of a personal encounter, as that hefeared he might be robbed, not only of his money, but the valuablepapers and model he carried. Even if the tramp was content withtaking his money, it would mean that Tom would have to go back homefor more, and so postpone18 his trip.
So it was with no little alarm that he watched the ragged man comingnearer to him. Then a bright idea came into Tom's head. He quicklyshifted his position so that he brought the heavy motor-cyclebetween the man and himself. He resolved, if the tramp showed adisposition to attack him, to push the machine over on him, and thiswould give Tom a chance to attack the thief to better advantage.However, the "hobo" showed no evidence of wanting to resort tohighwayman methods. He paused a short distance from the machine, andsaid admiringly:
"Dat's a pretty shebang youse has."
"Yes, it's very fair," admitted Tom, who was not yet breathingeasily.
"Kin4 youse go far on it?"
"Two hundred miles a day, easily."
"Fer cats' sake! An' I can't make dat ridin' on de blind baggage;but dat's 'cause I gits put off so much. But say, is youse goin' tolet me have dat quarter? I need it, honest I do. I ain't had nuttin't' eat in two days."
The man's tone was whining19. Surely he seemed like a genuine tramp,and Tom felt a little sorry for him. Besides, he felt that he owedhim something for the unceremonious manner in which he had knockedthe fellow down. Tom reached his hand in his pocket for some change,taking care to keep the machine between himself and the tramp.
"Are youse goin' far on dat rig-a-ma-jig?" went on the man as helooked carefully over the motor-cycle.
"To Albany," answered Tom, and the moment the words were out of hismouth he wished he could recall them. All his suspicions regardingthe tramp came back to him. But the ragged chap appeared to attachno significance to them.
"Albany? Dat's in Jersey20, ain't it?" he asked.
"No, it's in New York," replied Tom, and then, to change thesubject, he pulled out a half-dollar and handed it to the man. As hedid so Tom noticed that the tramp had tattooed21 on the little fingerof his left hand a blue ring.
"Dat's de stuff! Youse is a reg'lar millionaire, youse is!"exclaimed the tramp, and his manner seemed in earnest. "I'llremember youse, I will. What's your name, anyhow, cully?"
"Tom Swift," replied our hero, and again he wished he had not told.This time he was sure the tramp started and glanced at him quickly,but perhaps it was only his imagination.
"Tom Swift," repeated the man musingly22, and his tones were differentfrom the whining ones in which he had asked for money. Then, as ifrecollecting the part he was playing, he added: "I s'pose dey callsyouse dat because youse rides so quick on dat machine. But I'mcertainly obliged to youse--Tom Swift, an' I hopes youse gits t'Albany, in Jersey, in good time."
He turned away, and Tom was beginning to breathe more easily whenthe ragged man, with a quick gesture, reached out and grabbed holdof the motor-cycle. He gave it such a pull that it was nearly tornfrom Tom's grasp. The lad was so startled at the sudden exhibitionof vindictiveness23 an the part of the tramp that he did not know whatto do. Then, before he could recover himself, the tramp darted24 intothe bushes.
"I guess Happy Harry25--dat's me--has spoiled your ride t' Albany!"the tramp cried. "Maybe next time youse won't run down poor fellerson de road," and with that, the ragged man, shaking his fist at Tom,was lost to sight in the underbrush.
"Well, if that isn't a queer end up," mused Tom. "He must be crazy.I hope I don't meet you again, Happy Harry, or whatever your nameis. Guess I'll get out of this neighborhood."


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1 den 5w9xk     
n.兽穴;秘密地方;安静的小房间,私室
参考例句:
  • There is a big fox den on the back hill.后山有一个很大的狐狸窝。
  • The only way to catch tiger cubs is to go into tiger's den.不入虎穴焉得虎子。
2 spun kvjwT     
v.纺,杜撰,急转身
参考例句:
  • His grandmother spun him a yarn at the fire.他奶奶在火炉边给他讲故事。
  • Her skilful fingers spun the wool out to a fine thread.她那灵巧的手指把羊毛纺成了细毛线。
3 mused 0affe9d5c3a243690cca6d4248d41a85     
v.沉思,冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 );沉思自语说(某事)
参考例句:
  • \"I wonder if I shall ever see them again, \"he mused. “我不知道是否还可以再见到他们,”他沉思自问。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • \"Where are we going from here?\" mused one of Rutherford's guests. 卢瑟福的一位客人忍不住说道:‘我们这是在干什么?” 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史
4 kin 22Zxv     
n.家族,亲属,血缘关系;adj.亲属关系的,同类的
参考例句:
  • He comes of good kin.他出身好。
  • She has gone to live with her husband's kin.她住到丈夫的亲戚家里去了。
5 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
6 disappearance ouEx5     
n.消失,消散,失踪
参考例句:
  • He was hard put to it to explain her disappearance.他难以说明她为什么不见了。
  • Her disappearance gave rise to the wildest rumours.她失踪一事引起了各种流言蜚语。
7 remarkably EkPzTW     
ad.不同寻常地,相当地
参考例句:
  • I thought she was remarkably restrained in the circumstances. 我认为她在那种情况下非常克制。
  • He made a remarkably swift recovery. 他康复得相当快。
8 pedestrians c0776045ca3ae35c6910db3f53d111db     
n.步行者( pedestrian的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Several pedestrians had come to grief on the icy pavement. 几个行人在结冰的人行道上滑倒了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Pedestrians keep to the sidewalk [footpath]! 行人走便道。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
9 applied Tz2zXA     
adj.应用的;v.应用,适用
参考例句:
  • She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
  • This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。
10 ragged KC0y8     
adj.衣衫褴褛的,粗糙的,刺耳的
参考例句:
  • A ragged shout went up from the small crowd.这一小群人发出了刺耳的喊叫。
  • Ragged clothing infers poverty.破衣烂衫意味着贫穷。
11 nettled 1329a37399dc803e7821d52c8a298307     
v.拿荨麻打,拿荨麻刺(nettle的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • My remarks clearly nettled her. 我的话显然惹恼了她。
  • He had been growing nettled before, but now he pulled himself together. 他刚才有些来火,但现在又恢复了常态。 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
12 spoke XryyC     
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
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
13 surmise jHiz8     
v./n.猜想,推测
参考例句:
  • It turned out that my surmise was correct.结果表明我的推测没有错。
  • I surmise that he will take the job.我推测他会接受这份工作。
14 deserted GukzoL     
adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的
参考例句:
  • The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
  • The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。
15 apprehensive WNkyw     
adj.担心的,恐惧的,善于领会的
参考例句:
  • She was deeply apprehensive about her future.她对未来感到非常担心。
  • He was rather apprehensive of failure.他相当害怕失败。
16 specimen Xvtwm     
n.样本,标本
参考例句:
  • You'll need tweezers to hold up the specimen.你要用镊子来夹这标本。
  • This specimen is richly variegated in colour.这件标本上有很多颜色。
17 prospect P01zn     
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。
18 postpone rP0xq     
v.延期,推迟
参考例句:
  • I shall postpone making a decision till I learn full particulars.在未获悉详情之前我得从缓作出决定。
  • She decided to postpone the converastion for that evening.她决定当天晚上把谈话搁一搁。
19 whining whining     
n. 抱怨,牢骚 v. 哭诉,发牢骚
参考例句:
  • That's the way with you whining, puny, pitiful players. 你们这种又爱哭、又软弱、又可怜的赌棍就是这样。
  • The dog sat outside the door whining (to be let in). 那条狗坐在门外狺狺叫着(要进来)。
20 jersey Lp5zzo     
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。
21 tattooed a00df80bebe7b2aaa7fba8fd4562deaf     
v.刺青,文身( tattoo的过去式和过去分词 );连续有节奏地敲击;作连续有节奏的敲击
参考例句:
  • He had tattooed his wife's name on his upper arm. 他把妻子的名字刺在上臂上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The sailor had a heart tattooed on his arm. 那水兵在手臂上刺上一颗心。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
22 musingly ddec53b7ea68b079ee6cb62ac6c95bf9     
adv.沉思地,冥想地
参考例句:
23 vindictiveness fcbb1086f8d6752bfc3dfabfe77d7f8e     
恶毒;怀恨在心
参考例句:
  • I was distressed to find so much vindictiveness in so charming a creature. 当我发现这样一个温柔可爱的女性报复心居然这么重时,我感到很丧气。 来自辞典例句
  • Contradictory attriButes of unjust justice and loving vindictiveness. 不公正的正义和报复的相矛盾的特点。 来自互联网
24 darted d83f9716cd75da6af48046d29f4dd248     
v.投掷,投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 );向前冲,飞奔
参考例句:
  • The lizard darted out its tongue at the insect. 蜥蜴伸出舌头去吃小昆虫。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了,瞪了我一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
25 harry heBxS     
vt.掠夺,蹂躏,使苦恼
参考例句:
  • Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天,人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
  • Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。


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