章节正文
"Oh, Mr. Vane! will I need as much as this?"
"Perhaps. If you see those rascals you may have a long chase to
capture them. Do not hesitate to spend the money if it appears
necessary to do so."
Long before noon our hero was on the way East on a train
scheduled to stop at Snapwood. He went without his dress-suit
case and carried his money in four different pockets.
The train was almost empty and the riding proved decidedly
lonely. In a seat he found an Omaha paper, but he was in no
humor for reading. When noon came he took his time eating his
dinner, so that the afternoon's ride might not appear so lasting.
About half-past two o'clock the train came to an unexpected halt.
Looking out of the window Joe saw that they were in something of
a cut, close to the edge of a woods.
The delay continued, and presently one passenger after another
alighted, to learn the meaning of the hold-up. Joe did likewise,
and walked through the cut toward the locomotive.
The mystery was easily explained. On one side of the cut the
bank had toppled over the tracks, carrying with it two trees of
good size. A number of train hands were already at work, sawing
the trees into pieces, so that they might be shifted clear of the
tracks.
Joe watched the men laboring for a few minutes and then walked up
the bank, to get a look at the surroundings. Then he heard a
whistle and saw a train approaching from the opposite direction.
It came to a halt a few hundred feet away.
As the delay continued our hero walked along the bank of the cut
and up to the newly-arrived train. The latter was crowded with
passengers, some of whom also got out.
"Did that train stop at Snapwood?" he asked of one of the
passengers.
"It did," was the answer.
"Did you see anybody get on?"
"No, but somebody might have gotten on. I wasn't looking."
"Thank you."
"Looking for a friend?"
"No," said Joe, and moved on.
Without delay our hero ran to the front end of the newly-arrived
train and got aboard. As he walked through he gave every grown
passenger a close look.
At the end of the third car he came upon two suspicious-looking
individuals, who were gazing at a bit of paper in the hands of
one. Joe came closer and saw that the paper was a mining share.
"Caven and Malone, as sure as fate!" he murmured to himself.
"What had I best do next?"
While Joe was trying to make up his mind, Caven chanced to glance
up and his eyes fell upon our hero. He gave a cry of dismay and
thrust the mining share out of sight.
"What's the matter?" asked Malone in a low tone.
"Look there, Pat! That boy!"
"No!"
"But it is!"
"How did he get on this train?"
"I don't know. But it's unpleasant enough for us."
"Do you suppose Vane is around?" asked Malone, nervously.
"He may be."
The two men stared around the car. Only some women and children
were present, the men having gone out to learn the cause of the
delay.
"Perhaps we had better get out," went on Malone.
"All right"
They arose, and, satchel in hand, started to leave the train.
"Stop!" cried Joe, and caught Caven by the arm.
"Let go of me, boy!" ejaculated the rascal, and tried to pull
himself loose.
"I won't let go, Gaff Caven."
"If you don't, it will be the worse for you! I am not to be
trifled with!"
"You must give up that satchel."
"Bah!"
"If you don't, I'm going to have you arrested."
"Who is going to arrest me here?" sneered the man who had robbed
Maurice Vane. "Don't you know we are miles away from any town?"
"I don't care. Give up the satchel, or I'll call the train
hands."
"I'll give up nothing, boy! Stand out of my way!"
Gaff Caven gave Joe a violent shove which sent our hero up
against a seat. Then he turned and ran from the car, with Pat
Malone ahead of him.
"Stop them!" cried Joe, as soon as he could recover. "Stop the
thieves!"
Others took up the cry, but before anything could be done Caven
and Malone were out of the car and on to the tracks. Both stared
around in perplexity for a second.
"Come on, we can't afford to waste time here!" cried Caven, and
ran for the bank of the cut, up which he scrambled hastily, with
his confederate at his side.
Joe saw them make the move and was not slow to follow. Near at
hand was a tall, western young man, with bronzed features and a
general outdoor manner.
"Say!" cried our hero. "Will you help me to catch those two men?
They are thieves and I want them arrested. If you'll help me
catch them I'll pay you well for your trouble."
"I'll go you, stranger!" answered the western young man, readily.
"You are certain of your game?"
"Yes. That satchel has their plunder in it. They robbed a friend
of mine."
"This suits me then, friend. We'll round 'em up in short order."
By this time Caven and Malone had gained the woods. Looking back
they saw Joe coming behind, accompanied by the westerner.
"He's after us, and he has got somebody to help him," ejaculated
Malone.
"Well, I reckon we can run as fast as they can," answered Gaff
Caven. "Come ahead!"
He led the way along a trail that ran through the woods and came
out on a winding country road. Beyond was another patch of
timber.
"This way, Pat," said he. "We'll have to take to the woods
again. They are too close for comfort."
"Can't we climb a tree, or hide in a hollow?" questioned the
confederate.
"We'll see," said Caven.
They pushed on harder than ever, and passed in among some tall
trees. Then they came to a tree that was bent over.
"Up you go," cried Caven, and gave his confederate a boost into
the tree. Then he hauled himself up.
"Now climb to the top," he went on, and Malone did as requested.
Caven followed suit, and both hid themselves among the thick
branches.
"They won't find us here," said Malone, after ten minutes had
passed.
"Don't make a noise," whispered Caven.
After that they remained silent. From a great distance came a
shouting, and the whistling of locomotives. The trees were being
hauled from the car tracks. A little later they heard more
whistling and then the two trains passed on their way.
"The trains have gone," whispered Malone. "Do you think the boy
got aboard one of them?"
"No, I don't," answered his companion. "He is too determined a
lad to give up so easily. He must be still looking for us."
CHAPTER XXVIII.
FROM OUT OF A TREE.
Caven was right, Joe and his newly-made friend were still in the
woods, doing their best to locate the two rascals.
They had found the trail but lost it in the patch of tall timber,
and were gazing around when they heard the trains leaving the
cut.
"There goes our outfit, friend," said the westerner. "And there
won't be another train along for several hours."
"It's too bad, but it can't be helped," answered our hero. "But
I'll pay you for all time lost, Mr.--"
"Plain Bill Badger is my handle, stranger."
"My name is Joe Bodley."
"What about these two varmin you are after?"
"They were trying to rob a friend of mine of some mining shares,"
answered Joe, and gave a few details.
"Well, I vow!" cried Bill Badger "That mine is close to one my
dad owns. They say it ain't of much account though."
"Mr. Vane thinks it is valuable. He has had a miningexpert go
into the matter with great care."
"Then that's a different thing. Were you bound for the mine?"
"Yes, and so was Mr. Vane. We were on the train together when he
was robbed."
"I see. I was going out to my dad's mine."
"Then perhaps we can journey together--after we get through
here," said Joe.
"I'm willing. I like your looks. Shake." And the pair shook
hands.
Although a westerner, Bill Badger knew no more about following a
trail than did our hero, consequently they proceeded on their
hunt with difficulty.
"Reckon we've missed 'em," said Bill Badger, a while later.
"Don't see hide nor hair of 'em anywhere."
"It's too bad if they got away," answered Joe. "Perhaps--What
was that?"
The cracking of a tree limb had reached their ears, followed by a
cry of alarm. A limb upon which Pat Malone was standing had
broken, causing the fellow to slip to another branch below.
"Hush! don't make so much noise!" said Caven, in alarm.
"Gosh! I thought I was going to tumble, out of the tree to the
ground," gasped Malone, when he could catch his breath.
"They are coming--I can see them," whispered Gaff Caven. "Be as
quiet as a mouse."
In a moment more Joe and Bill Badger stood directly under the
tree.
"I think the noise came from near here," said Joe.
"I agree," answered the westerner.
At that moment our hero looked up and saw a man's arm circling a
tree limb far over his head.
"They are up there!" he shouted.
"Sure?"
"Yes, I just saw one of them."
"Then we've got 'em treed," came with a broad grin from Bill
Badger. "What's the next turn of the game?"
"We have got to make them both prisoners."
"All right. Have you got a shooting iron?"
"No, but I can get a club."
"Then do it, and I'll use this, if it's necessary," and the young
westerner pulled a pistol from his hip pocket.
"I wish we had some ropes, with which to tie them," continued
Joe.
"Here's a good big handkerchief."
"That's an idea. My handkerchief is also good and strong."
"You do the pow-wowing and I'll do the shooting, if it's
necessary," said Bill Badger.
Joe looked up into the tree again but could see nobody.
"Caven!" he called out. "I know you are up there and I want you
to come down."
To this remark and request there was no reply.
"If you don't come down we may begin to fire at you," went on our
hero.
"Perhaps. If you see those rascals you may have a long chase to
capture them. Do not hesitate to spend the money if it appears
necessary to do so."
Long before noon our hero was on the way East on a train
scheduled to stop at Snapwood. He went without his dress-suit
case and carried his money in four different pockets.
The train was almost empty and the riding proved decidedly
lonely. In a seat he found an Omaha paper, but he was in no
humor for reading. When noon came he took his time eating his
dinner, so that the afternoon's ride might not appear so lasting.
About half-past two o'clock the train came to an unexpected halt.
Looking out of the window Joe saw that they were in something of
a cut, close to the edge of a woods.
The delay continued, and presently one passenger after another
alighted, to learn the meaning of the hold-up. Joe did likewise,
and walked through the cut toward the locomotive.
The mystery was easily explained. On one side of the cut the
bank had toppled over the tracks, carrying with it two trees of
good size. A number of train hands were already at work, sawing
the trees into pieces, so that they might be shifted clear of the
tracks.
Joe watched the men laboring for a few minutes and then walked up
the bank, to get a look at the surroundings. Then he heard a
whistle and saw a train approaching from the opposite direction.
It came to a halt a few hundred feet away.
As the delay continued our hero walked along the bank of the cut
and up to the newly-arrived train. The latter was crowded with
passengers, some of whom also got out.
"Did that train stop at Snapwood?" he asked of one of the
passengers.
"It did," was the answer.
"Did you see anybody get on?"
"No, but somebody might have gotten on. I wasn't looking."
"Thank you."
"Looking for a friend?"
"No," said Joe, and moved on.
Without delay our hero ran to the front end of the newly-arrived
train and got aboard. As he walked through he gave every grown
passenger a close look.
At the end of the third car he came upon two suspicious-looking
individuals, who were gazing at a bit of paper in the hands of
one. Joe came closer and saw that the paper was a mining share.
"Caven and Malone, as sure as fate!" he murmured to himself.
"What had I best do next?"
While Joe was trying to make up his mind, Caven chanced to glance
up and his eyes fell upon our hero. He gave a cry of dismay and
thrust the mining share out of sight.
"What's the matter?" asked Malone in a low tone.
"Look there, Pat! That boy!"
"No!"
"But it is!"
"How did he get on this train?"
"I don't know. But it's unpleasant enough for us."
"Do you suppose Vane is around?" asked Malone, nervously.
"He may be."
The two men stared around the car. Only some women and children
were present, the men having gone out to learn the cause of the
delay.
"Perhaps we had better get out," went on Malone.
"All right"
They arose, and, satchel in hand, started to leave the train.
"Stop!" cried Joe, and caught Caven by the arm.
"Let go of me, boy!" ejaculated the rascal, and tried to pull
himself loose.
"I won't let go, Gaff Caven."
"If you don't, it will be the worse for you! I am not to be
trifled with!"
"You must give up that satchel."
"Bah!"
"If you don't, I'm going to have you arrested."
"Who is going to arrest me here?" sneered the man who had robbed
Maurice Vane. "Don't you know we are miles away from any town?"
"I don't care. Give up the satchel, or I'll call the train
hands."
"I'll give up nothing, boy! Stand out of my way!"
Gaff Caven gave Joe a violent shove which sent our hero up
against a seat. Then he turned and ran from the car, with Pat
Malone ahead of him.
"Stop them!" cried Joe, as soon as he could recover. "Stop the
thieves!"
Others took up the cry, but before anything could be done Caven
and Malone were out of the car and on to the tracks. Both stared
around in perplexity for a second.
"Come on, we can't afford to waste time here!" cried Caven, and
ran for the bank of the cut, up which he scrambled hastily, with
his confederate at his side.
Joe saw them make the move and was not slow to follow. Near at
hand was a tall, western young man, with bronzed features and a
general outdoor manner.
"Say!" cried our hero. "Will you help me to catch those two men?
They are thieves and I want them arrested. If you'll help me
catch them I'll pay you well for your trouble."
"I'll go you, stranger!" answered the western young man, readily.
"You are certain of your game?"
"Yes. That satchel has their plunder in it. They robbed a friend
of mine."
"This suits me then, friend. We'll round 'em up in short order."
By this time Caven and Malone had gained the woods. Looking back
they saw Joe coming behind, accompanied by the westerner.
"He's after us, and he has got somebody to help him," ejaculated
Malone.
"Well, I reckon we can run as fast as they can," answered Gaff
Caven. "Come ahead!"
He led the way along a trail that ran through the woods and came
out on a winding country road. Beyond was another patch of
timber.
"This way, Pat," said he. "We'll have to take to the woods
again. They are too close for comfort."
"Can't we climb a tree, or hide in a hollow?" questioned the
confederate.
"We'll see," said Caven.
They pushed on harder than ever, and passed in among some tall
trees. Then they came to a tree that was bent over.
"Up you go," cried Caven, and gave his confederate a boost into
the tree. Then he hauled himself up.
"Now climb to the top," he went on, and Malone did as requested.
Caven followed suit, and both hid themselves among the thick
branches.
"They won't find us here," said Malone, after ten minutes had
passed.
"Don't make a noise," whispered Caven.
After that they remained silent. From a great distance came a
shouting, and the whistling of locomotives. The trees were being
hauled from the car tracks. A little later they heard more
whistling and then the two trains passed on their way.
"The trains have gone," whispered Malone. "Do you think the boy
got aboard one of them?"
"No, I don't," answered his companion. "He is too determined a
lad to give up so easily. He must be still looking for us."
CHAPTER XXVIII.
FROM OUT OF A TREE.
Caven was right, Joe and his newly-made friend were still in the
woods, doing their best to locate the two rascals.
They had found the trail but lost it in the patch of tall timber,
and were gazing around when they heard the trains leaving the
cut.
"There goes our outfit, friend," said the westerner. "And there
won't be another train along for several hours."
"It's too bad, but it can't be helped," answered our hero. "But
I'll pay you for all time lost, Mr.--"
"Plain Bill Badger is my handle, stranger."
"My name is Joe Bodley."
"What about these two varmin you are after?"
"They were trying to rob a friend of mine of some mining shares,"
answered Joe, and gave a few details.
"Well, I vow!" cried Bill Badger "That mine is close to one my
dad owns. They say it ain't of much account though."
"Mr. Vane thinks it is valuable. He has had a miningexpert go
into the matter with great care."
"Then that's a different thing. Were you bound for the mine?"
"Yes, and so was Mr. Vane. We were on the train together when he
was robbed."
"I see. I was going out to my dad's mine."
"Then perhaps we can journey together--after we get through
here," said Joe.
"I'm willing. I like your looks. Shake." And the pair shook
hands.
Although a westerner, Bill Badger knew no more about following a
trail than did our hero, consequently they proceeded on their
hunt with difficulty.
"Reckon we've missed 'em," said Bill Badger, a while later.
"Don't see hide nor hair of 'em anywhere."
"It's too bad if they got away," answered Joe. "Perhaps--What
was that?"
The cracking of a tree limb had reached their ears, followed by a
cry of alarm. A limb upon which Pat Malone was standing had
broken, causing the fellow to slip to another branch below.
"Hush! don't make so much noise!" said Caven, in alarm.
"Gosh! I thought I was going to tumble, out of the tree to the
ground," gasped Malone, when he could catch his breath.
"They are coming--I can see them," whispered Gaff Caven. "Be as
quiet as a mouse."
In a moment more Joe and Bill Badger stood directly under the
tree.
"I think the noise came from near here," said Joe.
"I agree," answered the westerner.
At that moment our hero looked up and saw a man's arm circling a
tree limb far over his head.
"They are up there!" he shouted.
"Sure?"
"Yes, I just saw one of them."
"Then we've got 'em treed," came with a broad grin from Bill
Badger. "What's the next turn of the game?"
"We have got to make them both prisoners."
"All right. Have you got a shooting iron?"
"No, but I can get a club."
"Then do it, and I'll use this, if it's necessary," and the young
westerner pulled a pistol from his hip pocket.
"I wish we had some ropes, with which to tie them," continued
Joe.
"Here's a good big handkerchief."
"That's an idea. My handkerchief is also good and strong."
"You do the pow-wowing and I'll do the shooting, if it's
necessary," said Bill Badger.
Joe looked up into the tree again but could see nobody.
"Caven!" he called out. "I know you are up there and I want you
to come down."
To this remark and request there was no reply.
"If you don't come down we may begin to fire at you," went on our
hero.
- hesitate [´heziteit]
vi.犹豫，踌躇 (初中英语单词) - reading [´ri:diŋ] n.(阅)读；朗读；读物 (初中英语单词)
- presently [´prezəntli] ad.不久；目前 (初中英语单词)
- mystery [´mistəri] n.神秘；秘密；故弄玄虚 (初中英语单词)
- aboard [ə´bɔ:d] ad.&prep.在...上 (初中英语单词)
- dismay [dis´mei] n.惊慌 vt.使惊慌 (初中英语单词)
- arrest [ə´rest] vt.逮捕 n.逮捕；停止 (初中英语单词)
- violent [´vaiələnt] a.强暴的；猛烈的 (初中英语单词)
- hastily [´heistili] ad.急速地；草率地 (初中英语单词)
- western [´westən] a.西的；西方的 (初中英语单词)
- reckon [´rekən] v.计算；认为；估计 (初中英语单词)
- companion [kəm´pæniən] n.同伴；同事；伴侣 (初中英语单词)
- account [ə´kaunt] vi.说明 vt.认为 n.帐目 (初中英语单词)
- valuable [´væljuəbəl, -jubəl] a.有价值的，贵重的 (初中英语单词)
- expert [´ekspə:t] n.&a.专家；内行 (初中英语单词)
- willing [´wiliŋ] a.情愿的，乐意的 (初中英语单词)
- standing [´stændiŋ] n.持续 a.直立的 (初中英语单词)
- pistol [´pistl] n.手枪 vt.用手枪射击 (初中英语单词)
- handkerchief [´hæŋkətʃif] n.手帕，手绢 (初中英语单词)
- unexpected [ʌniks´pektid] a.突然的；意外的 (高中英语单词)
- crowded [´kraudid] a.充(拥)满了的 (高中英语单词)
- mining [´mainiŋ] n.采矿；矿业 (高中英语单词)
- unpleasant [ʌn´plezənt] a.不愉快的；不合意的 (高中英语单词)
- rascal [´rɑ:skəl] n.流氓 (高中英语单词)
- confederate [kən´fedəreit] a.同盟的 n.同盟者 (高中英语单词)
- plunder [´plʌndə] v.&n.掠夺；盗窃 (高中英语单词)
- outfit [´aut,fit] n.装备 vt.供给；装备 (高中英语单词)
- badger [´bædʒə] n.獾；獾皮(毛) (高中英语单词)
- consequently [´kɔnsikwəntli] ad.因此，所以 (高中英语单词)
- gotten [´gɔtn] get的过去分词 (英语四级单词)
- trying [´traiiŋ] a.难堪的；费劲的 (英语四级单词)
- perplexity [pə´pleksiti] n.困惑；为难；纷乱 (英语四级单词)
- thieves [θi:vz] thief的复数 (英语四级单词)
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章节正文
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