penrod-第24部分

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forward　his　head　until　his　nose　touched　the　dog's。　　〃And　you

better　look　out　when　Penrod　Schofield's　around；　or　you'll　get　in

big　trouble！　　YOU　UNDERSTAN'　THAT；　'BO？〃



The　next　day；　and　the　next；　the　increasing　change　in　Penrod

puzzled　and　distressed　his　family；　who　had　no　idea　of　its　source。



How　might　they　guess　that　hero…worship　takes　such　forms？　　They

were　vaguely　conscious　that　a　rather　shabby　boy；　not　of　the

neighbourhood；　came　to　〃play〃　with　Penrod　several　times；　but　they

failed　to　connect　this　circumstance　with　the　peculiar　behaviour

of　the　son　of　the　house；　whose　ideals　（his　father　remarked）

seemed　to　have　suddenly　become　identical　with　those　of　Gyp　the

Blood。



Meanwhile；　for　Penrod　himself；　〃life　had　taken　on　new

meaning；　new　richness。〃　　He　had　become　a　fighting　manin

conversation　at　least。　　〃Do　you　want　to　know　how　I　do　when　they

try　to　slip　up　on　me　from　behind？〃　he　asked　Della。　　And　he

enacted　for　her　unappreciative　eye　a　scene　of　fistic　manoeuvres

wherein　he　held　an　imaginary　antagonist　helpless　in　a　net　of

stratagems。



Frequently；　when　he　was　alone；　he　would　outwit；　and　pummel

this　same　enemy；　and；　after　a　cunning　feint；　land　a　dolorous

stroke　full　upon　a　face　of　air。　　〃There！　　I　guess　you'll　know

better　next　time。　　That's　the　way　we　do　up　at　the　Third！〃



Sometimes；　in　solitary　pantomime；　he　encountered　more　than

one　opponent　at　a　time；　for　numbers　were　apt　to　come　upon　him

treacherously；　especially　at　a　little　after　his　rising　hour；　when

he　might　be　caught　at　a　disadvantageperhaps　standing　on　one　leg

to　encase　the　other　in　his　knickerbockers。　　Like　lightning；　he

would　hurl　the　trapping　garment　from　him；　and；　ducking　and

pivoting；　deal　great　sweeping　blows　among　the　circle　of　sneaking

devils。　　（That　was　how　he　broke　the　clock　in　his　bedroom。）　　And

while　these　battles　were　occupying　his　attention；　it　was　a　waste

of　voice　to　call　him　to　breakfast；　though　if　his　mother；　losing

patience；　came　to　his　room；　she　would　find　him　seated　on　the　bed

pulling　at　a　stocking。　　〃Well；　ain't　I　coming　fast　as　I　CAN？〃



At　the　table　and　about　the　house　generally　he　was　bumptious；

loud　with　fatuous　misinformation；　and　assumed　a　domineering　tone；

which　neither　satire　nor　reproof　seemed　able　to　reduce：　but　it

was　among　his　own　intimates　that　his　new　superiority　was　most

outrageous。　　He　twisted　the　fingers　and　squeezed　the　necks　of　all

the　boys　of　the　neighbourhood；　meeting　their　indignation　with　a

hoarse　and　rasping　laugh　he　had　acquired　after　short　practice　in

the　stable；　where　he　jeered　and　taunted　the　lawn…mower；　the

garden…scythe　and　the　wheelbarrow　quite　out　of　countenance。



Likewise　he　bragged　to　the　other　boys　by　the　hour；　Rupe

Collins　being　the　chief　subject　of　encomiumnext　to　Penrod

himself。　　〃That's　the　way　we　do　up　at　the　Third；〃　became　staple

explanation　of　violence；　for　Penrod；　like　Tartarin；　was　plastic

in　the　hands　of　his　own　imagination；　and　at　times　convinced

himself　that　he　really　was　one　of　those　dark　and　murderous

spirits　exclusively　of　whom　〃the　Third〃　was　composedaccording

to　Rupe　Collins。



Then；　when　Penrod　had　exhausted　himself　repeating　to　nausea

accounts　of　the　prowess　of　himself　and　his　great　friend；　he　would

turn　to　two　other　subjects　for　vainglory。　　These　were　his　father

and　Duke。



Mothers　must　accept　the　fact　that　between　babyhood　and

manhood　their　sons　do　not　boast　of　them。　　The　boy；　with　boys；　is

a　Choctaw；　and　either　the　influence　or　the　protection　of　women　is

shameful。　　〃Your　mother　won't　let　you；〃　is　an　insult。　　But；　〃My

father　won't　let　me；〃　is　a　dignified　explanation　and　cannot　be

hooted。　　A　boy　is　ruined　among　his　fellows　if　he　talks　much　of

his　mother　or　sisters；　and　he　must　recognize　it　as　his　duty　to

offer　at　least　the　appearance　of　persecution　to　all　things　ranked

as　female；　such　as　cats　and　every　species　of　fowl。　　But　he　must

champion　his　father　and　his　dog；　and；　ever；　ready　to　pit

either　against　any　challenger；　must　picture　both　as　ravening　for

battle　and　absolutely　unconquerable。



Penrod；　of　course；　had　always　talked　by　the　code；　but；　under

the　new　stimulus；　Duke　was　represented　virtually　as　a　cross

between　Bob；　Son　of　Battle；　and　a　South　American　vampire；　and

this　in　spite　of　the　fact　that　Duke　himself　often　sat　close　by；　a

living　lie；　with　the　hope　of　peace　in　his　heart。　　As　for　Penrod's

father；　that　gladiator　was　painted　as　of　sentiments　and

dimensions　suitable　to　a　super…demon　composed　of　equal　parts　of

Goliath；　Jack　Johnson　and　the　Emperor　Nero。



Even　Penrod's　walk　was　affected；　he　adopted　a　gait　which　was

a　kind　of　taunting　swagger；　and；　when　he　passed　other　children　on

the　street；　he　practised　the　habit　of　feinting　a　blow；　then；　as

the　victim　dodged；　he　rasped　the　triumphant　horse　laugh　which　he

gradually　mastered　to　horrible　perfection。　　He　did　this　to

Marjorie　Jonesay！　this　was　their　next　meeting；　and　such　is

Eros；　young！　　What　was　even　worse；　in　Marjorie's　opinion；　he　went

on　his　way　without　explanation；　and　left　her　standing　on　the

corner　talking　about　it；　long　after　he　was　out　of　hearing。



Within　five　days　from　his　first　encounter　with　Rupe　Collins；

Penrod　had　become　unbearable。　　He　even　almost　alienated　Sam

Williams；　who　for　a　time　submitted　to　finger　twisting　and　neck

squeezing　and　the　new　style　of　conversation；　but　finally

declared　that　Penrod　made　him　〃sick。〃　　He　made　the　statement　with

fervour；　one　sultry　afternoon；　in　Mr。　Schofield's　stable；　in　the

presence　of　Herman　and　Verman。



〃You　better　look　out；　'bo；〃　said　Penrod；　threateningly。　

〃I'll　show　you　a　little　how　we　do　up　at　the　Third。〃



〃Up　at　the　Third！〃　Sam　repeated　with　scorn。　　〃You　haven't

ever　been　up　there。〃



〃I　haven't？〃　cried　Penrod。　　〃I　HAVEN'T？〃



〃No；　you　haven't！〃



〃Looky　here！〃　　Penrod；　darkly　argumentative；　prepared　to

perform　the　eye…to…eye　business。　　〃When　haven't　I　been　up　there？〃



〃You　haven't　NEVER　been　up　there！〃　　In　spite　of　Penrod's

closely　approaching　nose　Sam　maintained　his　ground；　and　appealed

for　confirmation。　　〃Has　he；　Herman？〃



〃I　don'　reckon　so；〃　said　Herman；　laughing。



〃WHAT！〃　　Penrod　transferred　his　nose　to　the　immediate

vicinity　of　Herman's　nose。　　〃You　don't　reckon　so；　'bo；　don't　you？

You　better　look　out　how　you　reckon　around　here！　　YOU

UNDERSTAN'　THAT；　'BO？〃



Herman　bore　the　eye…to…eye　very　well；　indeed；　it　seemed　to

please　him；　for　he　continued　to　laugh　while　Verman　chuckled

delightedly。　　The　brothers　had　been　in　the　country　picking

berries　for　a　week；　and　it　happened　that　this　was　their

first　experience　of　the　new　manifestation　of　Penrod。



〃HAVEN'T　I　been　up　at　the　Third？〃　the　sinister　Penrod

demanded。



〃I　don'　reckon　so。　　How　come　you　ast　ME？〃



〃Didn't　you　just　hear　me　SAY　I　been　up　there？〃



〃Well；〃　said　Herman　mischievously；　〃hearin'　ain't　believin'！〃



Penrod　clutched　him　by　the　back　of　the　neck；　but　Herman；

laughing　loudly；　ducked　and　released　himself　at　once；　retreating

to　the　wall。



〃You　take　that　back！〃　Penrod　shouted；　striking　out　wildly。



〃Don'　git　mad；〃　begged　the　small　darky；　while　a　number　of

blows　falling　upon　his　warding　arms　failed　to　abate　his

amusement；　and　a　sound　one　upon　the　cheek　only　made　him　laugh　the

more　unrestrainedly。　　He　behaved　exactly　as　if　Penrod　were

tickling　him；　and　his　brother；　Verman；　rolled　with　joy　in　a

wheelbarrow。　　Penrod　pummelled　till　he　was　tired；　and　produced　no

greater　effect。



〃There！〃　he　panted；　desisting　finally。　　〃NOW　I　reckon　you

know　whether　I　been　up　there　or　not！〃



Herman　rubbed　his　smitten　cheek。　　〃Pow！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃Pow…

ee！　You　cert'ny　did　lan'　me　good　one　NAT　time！　　Oo…ee！　she

HURT！〃



〃You'll　get　hurt　worse'n　that；〃　Penrod　assured　him；　〃if　you

stay　around　here　much。　　Rupe　Collins　is　comin'　this　afternoon；　he

said。　　We're　goin'　to　make　some　policemen's　billies　out　of

the　rake　handle。〃



〃You　go'　spoil　new　rake　you'　pa　bought？〃



〃What　do　WE　care？　　I　and　Rupe　got　to　have　billies；

haven't　we？〃



〃How　you　make　'em？〃



〃Melt　lead　and　pour　in　a　hole　we're　goin'　to　make　in　the　end

of　'em。　　Then　we're　goin'　to　carry　'em　in　our　pockets；　and　if

anybody　says　anything　to　usOH；　oh！　look　out！　　They　won't

get　a　crack　on　the　headOH；　no！〃



〃When's　Rupe　Collins　coming？〃　Sam　Williams　inquired　rather

uneasily。　　He　had　heard　a　great　deal　too　much　of　this　personage；

but　as　yet　the　pleasure　of　actual　acquaintance　had　been　denied

him。



〃He's　liable　to　be　here　any　time；〃　answered　Penrod。　　〃You

better　look　out。　　You'll　be　lucky　if　you　get　home　alive；　if　you

stay　till　HE　comes。〃



〃I　ain't　afraid　of　him；〃　Sam　returned；　conventionally。



〃You　are；　too！〃　　（There　was　some　truth　in　the　retort。）　

〃There　ain't　any　boy　in　this　part　of　town　but　me　that　wouldn't　be

afraid　of　him。　　You'd　be　afraid　to　talk　to　him。　　You　wouldn't　get

a　word　out　of　your　mouth　before　old　Rupie'd　have　you　where　you'd

wished　you　never　come　around　HIM；　lettin'　on　like　you　was　so

much！　　YOU　wouldn't　run　home　yellin'　‘Mom…muh'　or　nothin'！　

OH；　no！〃



〃Who　Rupe　Collins？〃　asked　Herman。



〃‘Who　Rupe　Collins？'〃　Penrod　mocked；　and　used　his　rasping

laugh；　but；　instead　of　showing　fright；　Herman　appeared　to　think

he　was　meant　to　laugh；　too；　and　so　he　did；　echoed　by　Verman。　

〃You　just　hang　around　here　a　little　while　longer；〃　Penrod　added；

grimly；　〃and　you'll　find　out　who　Rupe　Collins　is；　and　I　pity

YOU　when　you　do！〃



〃What　he　go'　do？〃



〃You'll　see；　that's　all！　　You　just　wait　and〃



At　this　moment　a　brown　hound　ran　into　the　stable　through　the

alley　door；　wagged　a　greeting　to　Penrod；　and　fraternized　with

Duke。　　The　fat…faced　boy　appeared　upon　the　threshold　and　gazed

coldly　about　the　little　company　in　the　carriage…house；　whereupon

the　coloured　brethren；　ceasing　from　merriment；　were　instantly

impassive；　and　Sam　Williams　moved　a　little　nearer　the　door

leading　into　the　yard。



Ob