rudder grange-第11部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


all　that；　and　this　poor　man　has　written　to　his　son；　but　has　never
had　any　answer。　　So　now　he　is　going　to　walk　to　Cincinnati　to　see
him。　　He　knows　he　will　not　be　turned　away　if　he　can　once　meet　his
son；　face　to　face。　　He　was　very　tired　when　he　stopped　here；and　he
has　ever　and　ever　so　far　to　walk　yet；　you　know；and　so　after　I　had
given　him　something　to　eat；　I　let　him　lie　down　in　the　outer
kitchen；　on　that　roll　of　rag…carpet　that　is　there。　　I　spread　it　out
for　him。　　It　is　a　hard　bed　for　one　who　has　known　comfort；　but　he
seems　to　sleep　soundly。〃

〃Let　me　see　him；〃　said　I；　and　I　walked　back　to　the　outer　kitchen。

There　lay　the　unsuccessful　broker　fast　asleep。　　His　face；　which　was
turned　toward　me　as　I　entered；　showed　that　it　had　been　many　days
since　he　had　been　shaved；　and　his　hair　had　apparently　been　uncombed
for　about　the　same　length　of　time。　　His　clothes　were　very　old；　and
a　good　deal　torn；　and　he　wore　one　boot　and　one　shoe。

〃Whew！〃　said　I。　　〃Have　you　been　giving　him　whisky？〃

〃No；〃　whispered　Euphemia；　〃of　course　not。　　I　noticed　that　smell；
and　he　said　he　had　been　cleaning　his　clothes　with　alcohol。〃

〃They　needed　it；　I'm　sure；〃　I　remarked　as　I　turned　away。　　〃And
now；〃　said　I；　〃where's　the　girl？〃

〃This　is　her　afternoon　out。　　What　is　the　matter？　　You　look
frightened。〃

〃Oh；　I'm　not　frightened；　but　I　find　I　must　go　down　to　the　station
again。　　Just　run　up　and　put　on　your　bonnet。　　It　will　be　a　nice
little　walk　for　you。〃

I　had　been　rapidly　revolving　the　matter　in　my　mind。　　What　was　I　to
do　with　this　wretch　who　was　now　asleep　in　my　outer　kitchen？　　If　I
woke　him　up　and　drove　him　off；and　I　might　have　difficulty　in
doing　it；there　was　every　reason　to　believe　that　he　would　not　go
far；　but　return　at　night　and　commit　some　revengeful　act。　　I　never
saw　a　more　sinister…looking　fellow。　　And　he　was　certainly　drunk。
He　must　not　be　allowed　to　wander　about　our　neighborhood。　　I　would
go　for　the　constable　and　have　him　arrested。

So　I　locked　the　door　from　the　kitchen　into　the　house　and　then　the
outside　door　of　the　kitchen；　and　when　my　wife　came　down　we　hurried
off。　　On　the　way　I　told　her　what　I　intended　to　do；　and　what　I
thought　of　our　guest。　　She　answered　scarcely　a　word；　and　I　hoped
that　she　was　frightened。　　I　think　she　was。

The　constable；　who　was　also　coroner　of　our　township；　had　gone　to　a
creek；　three　miles　away；　to　hold　an　inquest；　and　there　was　nobody
to　arrest　the　man。　　The　nearest　police…station　was　at　Hackingford；
six　miles　away；　on　the　railroad。　　I　held　a　consultation　with　the
station…master；　and　the　gentleman　who　kept　the　grocery…store
opposite。

They　could　think　of　nothing　to　be　done　except　to　shoot　the　man；　and
to　that　I　objected。

〃However；〃　said　I；　〃he　can't　stay　there；〃　and　a　happy　thought　just
then　striking　me；　I　called　to　the　boy　who　drove　the　village
express…wagon；　and　engaged　him　for　a　job。　　The　wagon　was　standing
at　the　station；　and　to　save　time；　I　got　in　and　rode　to　my　house。
Euphemia　went　over　to　call　on　the　groceryman's　wife　until　I
returned。

I　had　determined　that　the　man　should　be　taken　away；　although；　until
I　was　riding　home；　I　had　not　made　up　my　mind　where　to　have　him
taken。　　But　on　the　road　I　settled　this　matter。

On　reaching　the　house；　we　drove　into　the　yard　as　close　to　the
kitchen　as　we　could　go。　　Then　I　unlocked　the　door；　and　the　boywho
was　a　big；　strapping　fellowentered　with　me。　　We　found　the　ex…
broker　still　wrapped　in　the　soundest　slumber。　　Leaving　the　boy　to
watch　him；　I　went　upstairs　and　got　a　baggage…tag　which　I　directed
to　the　chief　of　police　at　the　police　station　in　Hackingford。　　I
returned　to　the　kitchen　and　fastened　this　tag；　conspicuously；　on
the　lappel　of　the　sleeper's　coat。　　Then；　with　a　clothes…line；　I
tied　him　up　carefully；　hand　and　foot。　　To　all　this　he　offered　not
the　slightest　opposition。　　When　he　was　suitably　packed；　with　due
regard　to　the　probable　tenderness　of　wrist　and　ankle　in　one　brought
up　in　luxury；　the　boy　and　I　carried　him　to　the　wagon。

He　was　a　heavy　load；　and　we　may　have　bumped　him　a　little；　but　his
sleep　was　not　disturbed。　　Then　we　drove　him　to　the　express　office。
This　was　at　the　railroad　station；　and　the　station…master　was　also
express　agent。　　At　first　he　was　not　inclined　to　receive　my　parcel；
but　when　I　assured　him　that　all　sorts　of　live　things　were　sent　by
express；　and　that　I　could　see　no　reason　for　making　an　exception　in
this　case；　he　added　my　arguments　to　his　own　disposition；　as　a
house…holder；　to　see　the　goods　forwarded　to　their　destination；　and
so　gave　me　a　receipt；　and　pasted　a　label　on　the　ex…broker's
shoulder。　　I　set　no　value　on　the　package；　which　I　prepaid。

〃Now　then；〃　said　the　station…master；　〃he'll　go　all　right；　if　the
express　agent　on　the　train　will　take　him。〃

This　matter　was　soon　settled；　for；　in　a　few　minutes；　the　train
stopped　at　the　station。　　My　package　was　wheeled　to　the　express　car；
and　two　porters；　who　entered　heartily　into　the　spirit　of　the　thing；
hoisted　it　into　the　car。　　The　train…agent；　who　just　then　noticed
the　character　of　the　goods；　began　to　declare　that　he　would　not　have
the　fellow　in　his　car；　but　my　friend　the　station…master　shouted　out
that　everything　was　all　right；the　man　was　properly　packed；
invoiced　and　paid　for；　and　the　train；　which　was　behind　time；　moved
away　before　the　irate　agent　could　take　measures　to　get　rid　of　his
unwelcome　freight。

〃Now；〃　said　I；　〃there'll　be　a　drunken　man　at　the　police…station　in
Hackingford　in　about　half…an…hour。　　His　offense　will　be　as　evident
there　as　here；　and　they　can　do　what　they　please　with　him。　　I　shall
telegraph；　to　explain　the　matter　and　prepare　them　for　his　arrival。〃

When　I　had　done　this　Euphemia　and　I　went　home。　　The　tramp　had　cost
me　some　money；　but　I　was　well　satisfied　with　my　evening's　work；　and
felt　that　the　township　owed　me；　at　least；　a　vote　of　thanks。

But　I　firmly　made　up　my　mind　that　Euphemia　should　never　again　be
left　unprotected。　　I　would　not　even　trust　to　a　servant　who　would
agree　to　have　no　afternoons　out。　　I　would　get　a　dog。

The　next　day　I　advertised　for　a　fierce　watchdog；　and　in　the　course
of　a　week　I　got　one。　　Before　I　procured　him　I　examined　into　the
merits；　and　price；　of　about　one　hundred　dogs。　　My　dog　was　named
Pete；　but　I　determined　to　make　a　change　in　that　respect。　　He　was　a
very　tall；　bony；　powerful　beast；　of　a　dull　black　color；　and　with　a
lower　jaw　that　would　crack　the　hind…leg　of　an　ox；　so　I　was
informed。　　He　was　of　a　varied　breed；　and　the　good　Irishman　of　whom
I　bought　him　said　he　had　fine　blood　in　him；　and　attempted　to　refer
him　back　to　the　different　classes　of　dogs　from　which　he　had　been
derived。　　But　after　I　had　had　him　awhile；　I　made　an　analysis　based
on　his　appearance　and　character；　and　concluded　that　he　was　mainly
blood…hound；　shaded　with　wolf…dog　and　mastiff；　and　picked　out　with
touches　of　bull…dog。

The　man　brought　him　home　for　me；　and　chained　him　up　in　an　unused
wood…shed；　for　I　had　no　doghouse　as　yet。

〃Now　thin；〃　said　he；　〃all　you've　got　to　do　is　to　keep　'im　chained
up　there　for　three　or　four　days　till　he　gets　used　to　ye。　　An'　I'll
tell　ye　the　best　way　to　make　a　dog　like　ye。　　Jist　give　him　a　good
lickin'。　　Then　he'll　know　yer　his　master；　and　he'll　like　ye　iver
aftherward。　　There's　plenty　of　people　that　don't　know　that。　　And；
by　the　way；　sir；　that　chain's　none　too　strong　for　'im。　　I　got　it
when　he　wasn't　mor'n　half　grown。　　Ye'd　bether　git　him　a　new　one。〃

When　the　man　had　gone；　I　stood　and　looked　at　the　dog；　and　could　not
help　hoping　that　he　would　learn　to　like　me　without　the　intervention
of　a　thrashing。　　Such　harsh　methods　were　not　always　necessary；　I
felt　sure。

After　our　evening　meala　combination　of　dinner　and　supper；　of
which　Euphemia　used　to　say　that　she　did　not　know　whether　to　call　it
dinper　or　supnerwe　went　out　together　to　look　at　our　new　guardian。

Euphemia　was　charmed　with　him。

〃How　massive！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃What　splendid　limbs！　　And　look　at
that　immense　head！　　I　know　I　shall　never　be　afraid　now。　　I　feel
that　that　is　a　dog　I　can　rely　upon。　　Make　him　stand　up；　please；　so
I　can　see　how　tall　he　is。〃

〃I　think　it　would　be　better　not　to　disturb　him；〃　I　answered；　〃he
may　be　tired。　　He　will　get　up　of　his　own　accord　very　soon。　　And
indeed　I　hope　that　he　will　not　get　up　until　I　go　to　the　store　and
get　him　a　new　chain。〃

As　I　said　this　I　made　a　step　forward　to　look　at　his　chain；　and　at
that　instant　a　low　growl；　like　the　first　rumblings　of　an
earthquake；　ran　through　the　dog。

I　stepped　back　again　and　walked　over　to　the　village　for　the　chain。
The　dog…chains　shown　me　at　the　store　all　seemed　too　short　and　too
weak；　and　I　concluded　to　buy　two　chains　such　as　used　for　hitching
horses　and　to　join　them　so　as　to　make　a　long　as　well　as　a　strong
one　of　them。　　I　wanted　him　to　be　able　to　come　out　of　the　wood…shed
when　it　should　be　necessary　to　show　himself。

On　my　way　home　with　my　purchase　the　thought　suddenly　struck　me；　How
will　you　put　that　chain　on　your　dog？　　The　memory　of　the　rumbling
growl　was　still　vivid。

I　never　put　the　chain　on　him。　　As　I　approached　him　with　it　in　my
hand；　he　rose　to　his　feet；　his　eyes　sparkled；　his　black　lips　drew
back　from　his　mighty　teeth；　he　gave　one　savage　bark　and　sprang　at
me。

His　chain　held　and　I　went　into　the　house。　　That　night　he　broke
loose　and　went　home　to　his　master；　who　lived　fully　ten　miles　away。

When　I　found　in　the　morning　that　he　was　gone　I　was　in　doubt　whether
it　would　be　better　to　go　and　look　for　him　or　not。　　But　I　concluded
to　keep　up　a　brave　heart；　and　found　him；　as　I　expected；　at　the
place　where　I　had　bought　him。　　The　Irishman　took　him　to　my　house
again　and　I　had　to　pay　for　the　man's　loss　of　time　as　well　as　for
his　fare　on　the　railroad。　　But　the　dog's　old　master　chained　him　up
with　the　new　chain　and　I　felt　repaid　for　my　outlay。

Every　morning　and　night　I　fed　that　dog；　and　I　spoke　as　kindly　and
gently　to　him　as　I　knew　how。　　But　he　seemed　to　cherish　a　distaste
for　me；　and　always　greeted　me　with　a　growl。　　He　was　an　awful　dog。

About　a　week　after　the　arrival　of　this　animal；　I　was　astonished　and
frightened　on　nearing　the　house　to　hear　a　scream　from　my　wife。　　I
rushed　into　the　yard　and　was　greeted　with　a　succession　of　screams
from　two　voices；　that　seemed　to　come　f