rudder grange-第6部分

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〃Yell　af　ter　yell　res　oun　ded　as　he　wil　dly　spr　rang〃

〃I　can't　stand　that；　and　I　won't；〃　said　I。　　〃Why　don't　she　go　into
the　kitchen？the　dining…room's　no　place　for　her。〃

〃She　must　not　sit　there；〃　said　Euphemia。　　〃There's　a　window…pane
out。　　Can't　you　cover　up　your　head？〃

〃I　shall　not　be　able　to　breathe　if　I　do；　but　I　suppose　that's　no
matter；〃　I　replied。

The　reading　continued。

〃Ha；　ha！　　Lord　Mar　mont　thun　der　ed　thou　too　shalt　suf　fer　all　that
this　poor〃

I　sprang　out　of　bed。

Euphemia　thought　I　was　going　for　my　pistol；　and　she　gave　one　bound
and　stuck　her　head　out　of　the　door。

〃Pomona；　fly！〃　she　cried。

〃Yes；　sma'am；〃　said　Pomona；　and　she　got　up　and　flewnot　very　fast；
I　imagine。　　Where　she　flew　to　I　don't　know；　but　she　took　the　lamp
with　her；　and　I　could　hear　distant　syllables　of　agony　and　blood；
until　the　boarder　came　home　and　Pomona　went　to　bed。

I　think　that　this　made　an　impression　upon　Euphemia；　for；　although
she　did　not　speak　to　me　upon　the　subject　（or　any　other）　that　night；
the　next　time　I　heard　Pomona　reading；　the　words　ran　somewhat　thus：

〃The　as　ton　ish　ing　che　ap　ness　of　land　is　ac　count　ed　for　by　the
want　of　home　mar　kets；　of　good　ro　ads　and　che　ap　me　ans　of　trans
por　ta　ti　on　in　ma　ny　sec　ti　ons　of　the　State。〃



CHAPTER　IV。

TREATING　OF　A　NOVEL　STYLE　OF　BURGLAR。


I　have　spoken　of　my　pistol。　　During　the　early　part　of　our　residence
at　Rudder　Grange　I　never　thought　of　such　a　thing　as　owning　a
pistol。

But　it　was　different　now。　　I　kept　a　Colt's　revolver　loaded　in　the
bureau　drawer　in　our　bedroom。

The　cause　of　this　change　was　burglars。　　Not　that　any　of　these
unpleasant　persons　had　visited　us；　but　we　much　feared　they　would。
Several　houses　in　the　vicinity　had　been　entered　during　the　past
month；　and　we　could　never　tell　when　our　turn　would　come。

To　be　sure；　our　boarder　suggested　that　if　we　were　to　anchor　out　a
little　further　at　night；　no　burglar　would　risk　catching　his　death
of　cold　by　swimming　out　to　us；　but　Euphemia　having　replied　that　it
would　be　rather　difficult　to　move　a　canal…boat　every　night　without
paddle…wheels；　or　sails；　or　mules；　especially　if　it　were　aground；
this　plan　was　considered　to　be　effectually　disposed　of。

So　we　made　up　our　minds　that　we　must　fasten　up　everything　very
securely；　and　I　bought　a　pistol　and　two　burglar…alarms。　　One　of
these　I　affixed　to　the　most　exposed　window；　and　the　other　to　the
door　which　opened　on　the　deck。　　These　alarms　were　very　simple
affairs；　but　they　were　good　enough。　　When　they　were　properly
attached　to　a　window　or　door；　and　it　was　opened；　a　little　gong
sounded　like　a　violently　deranged　clock；　striking　all　the　hours　of
the　day　at　once。

The　window　did　not　trouble　us　much；　but　it　was　rather　irksome　to
have　to　make　the　attachment　to　the　door　every　night　and　to　take　it
off　every　morning。　　However；　as　Euphemia　said；　it　was　better　to
take　a　little　trouble　than　to　have　the　house　full　of　burglars；
which　was　true　enough。

We　made　all　the　necessary　arrangements　in　case　burglars　should　make
an　inroad　upon　us。　　At　the　first　sound　of　the　alarm；　Euphemia　and
the　girl　were　to　lie　flat　on　the　floor　or　get　under　their　beds。
Then　the　boarder　and　I　were　to　stand　up；　back　to　back；　each　with
pistol　in　hand；　and　fire　away；　revolving　on　a　common　centre　the
while。　　In　this　way；　by　aiming　horizontally　at　about　four　feet　from
the　floor；　we　could　rake　the　premises；　and　run　no　risk　of　shooting
each　other　or　the　women　of　the　family。

To　be　sure；　there　were　some　slight　objections　to　this　plan。　　The
boarder's　room　was　at　some　distance　from　ours；　and　he　would
probably　not　hear　the　alarm；　and　the　burglars　might　not　be　willing
to　wait　while　I　went　forward　and　roused　him　up；　and　brought　him　to
our　part　of　the　house。　　But　this　was　a　minor　difficulty。　　I　had　no
doubt　but　that；　if　it　should　be　necessary；　I　could　manage　to　get
our　boarder　into　position　in　plenty　of　time。

It　was　not　very　long　before　there　was　an　opportunity　of　testing　the
plan。

About　twelve　o'clock　one　night　one　of　the　alarms　（that　on　the
kitchen　window）　went　off　with　a　whirr　and　a　wild　succession　of
clangs。　　For　a　moment　I　thought　the　morning　train　had　arrived；　and
then　I　woke　up。　　Euphemia　was　already　under　the　bed。

I　hurried　on　a　few　clothes；　and　then　I　tried　to　find　the　bureau　in
the　dark。　　This　was　not　easy；　as　I　lost　my　bearings　entirely。　　But
I　found　it　at　last；　got　the　top　drawer　open　and　took　out　my　pistol。
Then　I　slipped　out　of　the　room；　hurried　up　the　stairs；　opened　the
door　（setting　off　the　alarm　there；　by　the　way）；　and　ran　along　the
deck　（there　was　a　cold　night　wind）；　and　hastily　descended　the　steep
steps　that　led　into　the　boarder's　room。　　The　door　that　was　at　the
bottom　of　the　steps　was　not　fastened；　and；　as　I　opened　it；　a　little
stray　moonlight　illumed　the　room。　　I　hastily　stepped　to　the　bed　and
shook　the　boarder　by　the　shoulder。　　He　kept　HIS　pistol　under　his
pillow。

In　an　instant　he　was　on　his　feet；　his　hand　grasped　my　throat；　and
the　cold　muzzle　of　his　Derringer　pistol　was　at　my　forehead。　　It　was
an　awfully　big　muzzle；　like　the　mouth　of　a　bottle。

I　don't　know　when　I　lived　so　long　as　during　the　first　minute　that
he　held　me　thus。

〃Rascal！〃　he　said。　　〃Do　as　much　as　breathe；　and　I'll　pull　the
trigger。〃

I　didn't　breathe。

I　had　an　accident　insurance　on　my　life。　　Would　it　hold　good　in　a
case　like　this？　　Or　would　Euphemia　have　to　go　back　to　her　father？

He　pushed　me　back　into　the　little　patch　of　moonlight。

〃Oh！　is　it　you？〃　he　said；　relaxing　his　grasp。　　〃What　do　you　want？
A　mustard　plaster？〃

He　had　a　package　of　patent　plasters　in　his　room。　　You　took　one　and
dipped　it　in　hot　water；　and　it　was　all　ready。

〃No；〃　said　I；　gasping　a　little。　　〃Burglars。〃

〃Oh！〃　he　said；　and　he　put　down　his　pistol　and　put　on　his　clothes。

〃Come　along；〃　he　said；　and　away　we　went　over　the　deck。

When　we　reached　the　stairs　all　was　dark　and　quiet　below。

It　was　a　matter　of　hesitancy　as　to　going　down。

I　started　to　go　down　first；　but　the　boarder　held　me　back。

〃Let　me　go　down；〃　he　said。

〃No；〃　said　I；　〃my　wife　is　there。〃

〃That's　the　very　reason　you　should　not　go；〃　he　said。　　〃She　is　safe
enough　yet；　and　they　would　fire　only　at　a　man。　　It　would　be　a　bad
job　for　her　if　you　were　killed。　　I'll　go　down。〃

So　he　went　down；　slowly　and　cautiously；　his　pistol　in　one　hand；　and
his　life　in　the　other；　as　it　were。

When　he　reached　the　bottom　of　the　steps　I　changed　my　mind。　　I　could
not　remain　above　while　the　burglar　and　Euphemia　were　below；　so　I
followed。

The　boarder　was　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　dining…room；　into
which　the　stairs　led。　　I　could　not　see　him；　but　I　put　my　hand
against　him　as　I　was　feeling　my　way　across　the　floor。

I　whispered　to　him：

〃Shall　we　put　our　backs　together　and　revolve　and　fire？〃

〃No；〃　he　whispered　back；　〃not　now；　he　may　be　on　a　shelf　by　this
time；　or　under　a　table。　　Let's　look　him　up。〃

I　confess　that　I　was　not　very　anxious　to　look　him　up；　but　I
followed　the　boarder；　as　he　slowly　made　his　way　toward　the　kitchen
door。　　As　we　opened　the　door　we　instinctively　stopped。

The　window　was　open；　and　by　the　light　of　the　moon　that　shone　in；　we
saw　the　rascal　standing　on　a　chair；　leaning　out　of　the　window；
evidently　just　ready　to　escape。　　Fortunately；　we　were　unheard。

〃Let's　pull　him　in；〃　whispered　the　boarder。

〃No；〃　I　whispered　in　reply。　　〃We　don't　want　him　in。　　Let's　hoist
him　out。〃

〃All　right；〃　returned　the　boarder。

We　laid　our　pistols　on　the　floor；　and　softly　approached　the　window。
Being　barefooted；　out　steps　were　noiseless。

〃Hoist　when　I　count　three；〃　breathed　the　boarder　into　my　ear。

We　reached　the　chair。　　Each　of　us　took　hold　of　two　of　its　legs。

〃Onetwothree！〃　said　the　boarder；　and　together　we　gave　a
tremendous　lift　and　shot　the　wretch　out　of　the　window。

The　tide　was　high；　and　there　was　a　good　deal　of　water　around　the
boat。　　We　heard　a　rousing　splash　outside。

Now　there　was　no　need　of　silence。

〃Shall　we　run　on　deck　and　shoot　him　as　he　swims？〃　I　cried。

〃No；〃　said　the　boarder；　〃we'll　get　the　boat…hook；　and　jab　him　if　he
tries　to　climb　up。〃

We　rushed　on　deck。　　I　seized　the　boat…hook　and　looked　over　the
side。　　But　I　saw　no　one。

〃He's　gone　to　the　bottom！〃　I　exclaimed。

〃He　didn't　go　very　far　then；〃　said　the　boarder；　〃for　it's　not　more
than　two　feet　deep　there。〃

Just　then　our　attention　was　attracted　by　a　voice　from　the　shore。

〃Will　you　please　let　down　the　gang…plank？〃　　We　looked　ashore；　and
there　stood　Pomona；　dripping　from　every　pore。

We　spoke　no　words；　but　lowered　the　gangplank。

She　came　aboard。

〃Good　night！〃　said　the　boarder；　and　he　went　to　bed。

〃Pomona！〃　said　I；　〃what　have　you　been　doing？〃

〃I　was　a　lookin'　at　the　moon；　sir；　when　pop！　the　chair　bounced；　and
out　I　went。〃

〃You　shouldn't　do　that；〃　I　said；　sternly。

〃Some　day　you'll　be　drowned。　　Take　off　your　wet　things　and　go　to
bed。〃

〃Yes；　sma'amsir；　I　mean；〃　said　she；　as　she　went　down…stairs。

When　I　reached　my　room　I　lighted　the　lamp；　and　found　Euphemia　still
under　the　bed。

〃Is　it　all　right？〃　she　asked。

〃Yes；〃　I　answered。　　〃There　was　no　burglar。　　Pomona　fell　out　of　the
window。〃

〃Did　you　get　her　a　plaster？〃　asked　Euphemia；　drowsily。

〃No；　she　did　not　need　one。　　She's　all　right　now。　　Were　you　worried
about　me；　dear？〃

〃No；　I　trusted　in　you　entirely；　and　I　think　I　dozed　a　little　under
the　bed。〃

In　one　minute　she　was　asleep。

The　boarder　and　I　did　not　make　this　matter　a　subject　of
conversation　afterward；　but　Euphemia　gave　the　girl　a　lecture　on　her
careless　ways；　and　made　her　take　several　Dover's　powders　the　next
day。

An　important　fact　in　domestic　economy　was　discovered　about　this
time　by　Euphemia　and　myself。　　Perhaps　we　were　not　the　first　to
discover　it；　but　we　certainly　did　find　it　out；and　this　fact　was；
that　housekeeping　costs　money。　　At　the　end　of　every　week　we　counted
up　our　expendituresit　was　no　trouble　at　all　to　count　up　our
receiptsand　every　week　the　result　was　more　unsatisfactory。

〃If　we　could　only　get　rid　of　the　disagreeable　balance　that　has　to
be　taken　along　all　the　time；　and　which　gets　bigger　and　bigger　like
a　snow…ball；　I　think　we　would　find　the　accounts　more　satisfactory；〃
said　Euphemia。

This　was　o