章节正文
which take on their banana inspectors there on their way
to the coast. They leave Sunday newspapers, ice, quinine,
bacon, watermelons and vaccine matter at the island and
that is about all the touch Ratona gets with the world.
The Pajaro paused at the mouth of the harbour, roll
ing heavily in the swell that sent the whitecaps racing
beyond the smooth water inside. Already two dories
from the village -- one conveying fruit inspectors, the
other going for what it could get -- were halfway out to
the steamer.
The inspectors' dory was taken on board with them,
and the Pajaro steamed away for the mainland for its
load of fruit.
The other boat returned to Ratona bearing a contri-
bution from the Pajaro's store of ice, the usual roll of
newspapers and one passenger -- Taylor Plunkett, sheriff
of Chatham County, Kentucky.
Bridger, the United States consul at Ratona, was clean-
ing his rifle in the official shanty under a bread-fruit tree
twenty yards from the water of the harbour. The consul
occupied a place somewhat near the tail of his political
party's procession. The music of the band wagon
sounded very faintly to him in the distance. The plums
of office went to others. Bridger's share of the spoils --
the consulship at Ratona -- was little more than a prune
-- a dried prune from the boarding-house department
of the public crib. But $900 yearly was opulence in
Ratona. Besides, Bridger had contracted a passion for
shooting alligators in the lagoons near his consulate, and
was not unhappy.
He looked up from a careful inspection of his rifle lock
a broad man filling his doorway. A broad,
noiseless, slow-moving man, sunburned almost to the
Vandyke. A man of forty-five, neatly clothed in
homespun, with scanty light hair, a close-clipped brown-
and-gray beard and pale-blue eyes expressing mildness
implicity.
"You are Mr. Bridger, the consul," said the broad
man. "They directed me here. Can you tell me what
those big bunches of things like gourds are in those trees
that look like feather dusters along the edge of the water?"
"Take that chair," said the consul, reoiling his clean-
ing rag. "No, the other one -- that bamboo thing won't
hold you. Why, they're cocoanuts -- green cocoanuts.
The shell of 'em is always a light green before they're
ripe."
"Much obliged," said the other man, sitting down
carefully. "I didn't quite like to tell the folks at home
they were olives unless I was sure about it. My name
is Plunkett. I'm sheriff of Chatham County, Kentucky.
I've got extradition papers in my pocket authorizing the
arrest of a man on this island. They've been signed by
the President of this country, and they're in correct shape.
The man's name is Wade Williams. He's in the cocoa-
nut raising business. What he's wanted for is the murder
of his wife two years ago. Where can I find him?"
The consul squinted an eye and looked through his
rifle barrel.
"There's nobody on the island who calls himself 'Wil-
liams,'" he remarked.
"Didn't suppose there was," said Plunkett mildly.
"He'll do by any other name."
"Besides myself," said Bridger, "there are only
two Americans on Ratona -- Bob Reeves and Henry
Morgan."
"The man I want sells cocoanuts," suggested Plunkett.
"You see that cocoanut walk extending up to the
point?" said the consul, waving his hand toward the open
door. "That belongs to Bob Reeves. Henry Morgan
owns half the trees to loo'ard on the island."
"One, month ago," said the sheriff, "Wade Williams
wrote a confidential letter to a man in Chatham county,
telling him where he was and how he was getting along.
The letter was lost; and the person that found it gave it
away. They sent me after him, and I've got the papers.
I reckon he's one of your cocoanut men for certain."
"You've got his picture, of course," said Bridger.
"It might be Reeves or Morgan, but I'd hate to think it.
They're both as fine fellows as you'd meet in an all-day
auto ride."
"No," doubtfully answered Plunkett; "there wasn't
any picture of Williams to be had. And I never saw him
myself. I've been sheriff only a year. But I've got a
pretty accuratedescription of him. About 5 feet 11;
dark-hair and eyes; nose inclined to be Roman; heavy
about the shoulders; strong, white teeth, with none miss-
ing; laughs a good deal, talkative; drinks considerably
but never to intoxication; looks you square in the eye
when talking; age thirty-five. Which one of your men
does that description fit?"
The consul grinned broadly.
"I'll tell you what you do," he said, laying down his
rifle and slipping on his dingy black alpaca coat. "You
come along, Mr. Plunkett, -- and I'll take you up to see
the boys. If you can tell which one of 'em your descrip-
tion fits better than it does the other you have the advan-
tage of me."
Bridger conducted the sheriff out and along the hard
beach close to which the tiny houses of the village were
distributed. Immediately back of the town rose sudden,
small, thicklywooded hills. Up one of these, by means
of steps cut in the hard clay, the consul led Plunkett.
the very verge of an eminence was perched, a two-
room woodencottage with a thatched roof. A Carib
woman was washing clothes outside. The consul
ushered the sheriff to the door of the room that over-
looked the harbour.
Two men were in the room, about to sit down, in their
shirt sleeves, to a table spread for dinner. They bore
little resemblance one to the other in detail; but the
general description given by Plunkett could have been
justly applied to either. In height, colour of hair, shape
of nose, build and manners each of them tallied with it.
They were fair types of jovial, ready-witted, broad-
gauged Americans who had gravitated together for com-
panionship in an alien land.
"Hello, Bridger" they called in unison at sight Of
the consul. "Come and have dinner with us!" And
then they noticed Plunkett at his heels, and came forward
with hospitable curiosity.
"Gentlemen," said the consul, his voice taking on
unaccustomed formality, "this is Mr. Plunkett. Mr.
Plunkett -- Mr. Reeves and Mr. Morgan."
The cocoanut barons greeted the newcomer joyously.
Reeves seemed about an inch taller than Morgan, but
his laugh was not quite as loud. Morgan's eyes were-
deep brown; Reeves's were black. Reeves was the host
and busied himself with fetching other chairs and calling
to the Carib woman for supplemental table ware. It
was explained that Morgan lived in a bamboo shack to.
loo'ard, but that every day the two friends dined
together. Plunkett stood still during the preparations,
looking about mildly with his pale-blue eyes. Bridger
looked apologetic and uneasy.
At length two other covers were laid and the company-
was assigned to places. Reeves and Morgan stood side
by side across the table from the visitors. Reeves nodded
genially as a signal for all to seat themselves. And then
suddenly Plunkett raised his hand with a gesture of
authority. He was looking straight between Reeves
and Morgan.
"Wade Williams," he said quietly, "you are under
arrest for murder."
Reeves and Morgan instantly exchanged a quick,
bright glance, the quality of which was interrogation,
with a seasoning of surprise. Then, simultaneously
they turned to the speaker with a puzzled and frank depre-
cation in their gaze.
"Can't say that we understand you, Mr. Plunkett,"
said Morgan, cheerfully. "Did you say 'Williams'?"
"What's the joke, Bridgy?" asked Reeves, turning,
to the consul with a smile.
Before Bridger could answer Plunkett spoke again.
"I'll explain," he said, quietly. "One of you don't
need any explanation, but this is for the other one. One
of you is Wade Williams of Chatham County, Kentucky.
You murdered your wife on May 5, two years ago, after
ill-treating and abusing her continually for five years. I
have the proper papers in my pocket for taking you back
with me, and you are going. We will return on the
fruit steamer that comes back by this island to-morrow
to leave its inspectors. I acknowledge, gentlemen, that
I'm not quite sure which one of you is Williams. But
Wade Williams goes back to Chatham County to-morrow.
I want you to understand that."
A great sound of merry laughter from Morgan and
Reeves went out over the still harbour. Two or three
fishermen in the fleet of sloops anchored there looked up
at the house of the diablos Americanos on the hill and
wondered.
"My dear Mr. Plunkett," cried Morgan, conquering
his mirth, "the dinner is getting, cold. Let us sit down
and eat. I am anxious to get my spoon into that shark-
fin soup. Business afterward."
"Sit down, gentlemen, if you please," added Reeves,
pleasantly. "I am sure Mr. Plunkett will not object.
Perhaps a little time may be of advantage to him in identi-
fying -- the gentlemen he wishes to arrest."
"No objections, I'm sure," said Plunkett, dropping
into his chair heavily. "I'm hungry myself. I didn't
want to accept the hospitality of you folks without giving
you notice; that's all."
Reeves set bottles and glasses on the table.
"There's cognac," he said, "and anisada, and Scotch
'smoke,' and rye. Take your choice."
Bridger chose rye, Reeves poured three fingers of
Scotch for himself, Morgan took the same. The sheriff,
against much protestation, filled his glass from the water
bottle.
"Here's to the appetite," said Reeves, raising his glass,
"of Mr. Williams!" Morgan's laugh and his drink
encountering sent him into a choking splutter. All began
to pay attention to the dinner, which was well cooked and
palatable.
"Williams!" called Plunkett, suddenly and sharply.
All looked up wonderingly. Reeves found the sheriff's
mild eye resting upon him. He flushed a little.
"See here," he said, with some asperity, "my name's
Reeves,and I don't want you too -- " But the comedy
of the thing came to his rescue, and he ended with a laugh.
"I suppose, Mr. Plunkett," said Morgan, carefully
to the coast. They leave Sunday newspapers, ice, quinine,
bacon, watermelons and vaccine matter at the island and
that is about all the touch Ratona gets with the world.
The Pajaro paused at the mouth of the harbour, roll
ing heavily in the swell that sent the whitecaps racing
beyond the smooth water inside. Already two dories
from the village -- one conveying fruit inspectors, the
other going for what it could get -- were halfway out to
the steamer.
The inspectors' dory was taken on board with them,
and the Pajaro steamed away for the mainland for its
load of fruit.
The other boat returned to Ratona bearing a contri-
bution from the Pajaro's store of ice, the usual roll of
newspapers and one passenger -- Taylor Plunkett, sheriff
of Chatham County, Kentucky.
Bridger, the United States consul at Ratona, was clean-
ing his rifle in the official shanty under a bread-fruit tree
twenty yards from the water of the harbour. The consul
occupied a place somewhat near the tail of his political
party's procession. The music of the band wagon
sounded very faintly to him in the distance. The plums
of office went to others. Bridger's share of the spoils --
the consulship at Ratona -- was little more than a prune
-- a dried prune from the boarding-house department
of the public crib. But $900 yearly was opulence in
Ratona. Besides, Bridger had contracted a passion for
shooting alligators in the lagoons near his consulate, and
was not unhappy.
He looked up from a careful inspection of his rifle lock
a broad man filling his doorway. A broad,
noiseless, slow-moving man, sunburned almost to the
Vandyke. A man of forty-five, neatly clothed in
homespun, with scanty light hair, a close-clipped brown-
and-gray beard and pale-blue eyes expressing mildness
implicity.
"You are Mr. Bridger, the consul," said the broad
man. "They directed me here. Can you tell me what
those big bunches of things like gourds are in those trees
that look like feather dusters along the edge of the water?"
"Take that chair," said the consul, reoiling his clean-
ing rag. "No, the other one -- that bamboo thing won't
hold you. Why, they're cocoanuts -- green cocoanuts.
The shell of 'em is always a light green before they're
ripe."
"Much obliged," said the other man, sitting down
carefully. "I didn't quite like to tell the folks at home
they were olives unless I was sure about it. My name
is Plunkett. I'm sheriff of Chatham County, Kentucky.
I've got extradition papers in my pocket authorizing the
arrest of a man on this island. They've been signed by
the President of this country, and they're in correct shape.
The man's name is Wade Williams. He's in the cocoa-
nut raising business. What he's wanted for is the murder
of his wife two years ago. Where can I find him?"
The consul squinted an eye and looked through his
rifle barrel.
"There's nobody on the island who calls himself 'Wil-
liams,'" he remarked.
"Didn't suppose there was," said Plunkett mildly.
"He'll do by any other name."
"Besides myself," said Bridger, "there are only
two Americans on Ratona -- Bob Reeves and Henry
Morgan."
"The man I want sells cocoanuts," suggested Plunkett.
"You see that cocoanut walk extending up to the
point?" said the consul, waving his hand toward the open
door. "That belongs to Bob Reeves. Henry Morgan
owns half the trees to loo'ard on the island."
"One, month ago," said the sheriff, "Wade Williams
wrote a confidential letter to a man in Chatham county,
telling him where he was and how he was getting along.
The letter was lost; and the person that found it gave it
away. They sent me after him, and I've got the papers.
I reckon he's one of your cocoanut men for certain."
"You've got his picture, of course," said Bridger.
"It might be Reeves or Morgan, but I'd hate to think it.
They're both as fine fellows as you'd meet in an all-day
auto ride."
"No," doubtfully answered Plunkett; "there wasn't
any picture of Williams to be had. And I never saw him
myself. I've been sheriff only a year. But I've got a
pretty accuratedescription of him. About 5 feet 11;
dark-hair and eyes; nose inclined to be Roman; heavy
about the shoulders; strong, white teeth, with none miss-
ing; laughs a good deal, talkative; drinks considerably
but never to intoxication; looks you square in the eye
when talking; age thirty-five. Which one of your men
does that description fit?"
The consul grinned broadly.
"I'll tell you what you do," he said, laying down his
rifle and slipping on his dingy black alpaca coat. "You
come along, Mr. Plunkett, -- and I'll take you up to see
the boys. If you can tell which one of 'em your descrip-
tion fits better than it does the other you have the advan-
tage of me."
Bridger conducted the sheriff out and along the hard
beach close to which the tiny houses of the village were
distributed. Immediately back of the town rose sudden,
small, thicklywooded hills. Up one of these, by means
of steps cut in the hard clay, the consul led Plunkett.
the very verge of an eminence was perched, a two-
room woodencottage with a thatched roof. A Carib
woman was washing clothes outside. The consul
ushered the sheriff to the door of the room that over-
looked the harbour.
Two men were in the room, about to sit down, in their
shirt sleeves, to a table spread for dinner. They bore
little resemblance one to the other in detail; but the
general description given by Plunkett could have been
justly applied to either. In height, colour of hair, shape
of nose, build and manners each of them tallied with it.
They were fair types of jovial, ready-witted, broad-
gauged Americans who had gravitated together for com-
panionship in an alien land.
"Hello, Bridger" they called in unison at sight Of
the consul. "Come and have dinner with us!" And
then they noticed Plunkett at his heels, and came forward
with hospitable curiosity.
"Gentlemen," said the consul, his voice taking on
unaccustomed formality, "this is Mr. Plunkett. Mr.
Plunkett -- Mr. Reeves and Mr. Morgan."
The cocoanut barons greeted the newcomer joyously.
Reeves seemed about an inch taller than Morgan, but
his laugh was not quite as loud. Morgan's eyes were-
deep brown; Reeves's were black. Reeves was the host
and busied himself with fetching other chairs and calling
to the Carib woman for supplemental table ware. It
was explained that Morgan lived in a bamboo shack to.
loo'ard, but that every day the two friends dined
together. Plunkett stood still during the preparations,
looking about mildly with his pale-blue eyes. Bridger
looked apologetic and uneasy.
At length two other covers were laid and the company-
was assigned to places. Reeves and Morgan stood side
by side across the table from the visitors. Reeves nodded
genially as a signal for all to seat themselves. And then
suddenly Plunkett raised his hand with a gesture of
authority. He was looking straight between Reeves
and Morgan.
"Wade Williams," he said quietly, "you are under
arrest for murder."
Reeves and Morgan instantly exchanged a quick,
bright glance, the quality of which was interrogation,
with a seasoning of surprise. Then, simultaneously
they turned to the speaker with a puzzled and frank depre-
cation in their gaze.
"Can't say that we understand you, Mr. Plunkett,"
said Morgan, cheerfully. "Did you say 'Williams'?"
"What's the joke, Bridgy?" asked Reeves, turning,
to the consul with a smile.
Before Bridger could answer Plunkett spoke again.
"I'll explain," he said, quietly. "One of you don't
need any explanation, but this is for the other one. One
of you is Wade Williams of Chatham County, Kentucky.
You murdered your wife on May 5, two years ago, after
ill-treating and abusing her continually for five years. I
have the proper papers in my pocket for taking you back
with me, and you are going. We will return on the
fruit steamer that comes back by this island to-morrow
to leave its inspectors. I acknowledge, gentlemen, that
I'm not quite sure which one of you is Williams. But
Wade Williams goes back to Chatham County to-morrow.
I want you to understand that."
A great sound of merry laughter from Morgan and
Reeves went out over the still harbour. Two or three
fishermen in the fleet of sloops anchored there looked up
at the house of the diablos Americanos on the hill and
wondered.
"My dear Mr. Plunkett," cried Morgan, conquering
his mirth, "the dinner is getting, cold. Let us sit down
and eat. I am anxious to get my spoon into that shark-
fin soup. Business afterward."
"Sit down, gentlemen, if you please," added Reeves,
pleasantly. "I am sure Mr. Plunkett will not object.
Perhaps a little time may be of advantage to him in identi-
fying -- the gentlemen he wishes to arrest."
"No objections, I'm sure," said Plunkett, dropping
into his chair heavily. "I'm hungry myself. I didn't
want to accept the hospitality of you folks without giving
you notice; that's all."
Reeves set bottles and glasses on the table.
"There's cognac," he said, "and anisada, and Scotch
'smoke,' and rye. Take your choice."
Bridger chose rye, Reeves poured three fingers of
Scotch for himself, Morgan took the same. The sheriff,
against much protestation, filled his glass from the water
bottle.
"Here's to the appetite," said Reeves, raising his glass,
"of Mr. Williams!" Morgan's laugh and his drink
encountering sent him into a choking splutter. All began
to pay attention to the dinner, which was well cooked and
palatable.
"Williams!" called Plunkett, suddenly and sharply.
All looked up wonderingly. Reeves found the sheriff's
mild eye resting upon him. He flushed a little.
"See here," he said, with some asperity, "my name's
Reeves,and I don't want you too -- " But the comedy
of the thing came to his rescue, and he ended with a laugh.
"I suppose, Mr. Plunkett," said Morgan, carefully
- banana [bə´nɑ:nə]
n.香蕉 (初中英语单词) - procession [prə´seʃən] n.队伍 v.列队行进 (初中英语单词)
- passion [´pæʃən] n.激情；激怒；恋爱 (初中英语单词)
- doorway [´dɔ:wei] n.门口 (初中英语单词)
- feather [´feðə] n.羽毛 (初中英语单词)
- sheriff [´ʃerif] n.郡长；行政长官 (初中英语单词)
- reckon [´rekən] v.计算；认为；估计 (初中英语单词)
- accurate [´ækjurət] a.准确的；精密的 (初中英语单词)
- description [di´skripʃən] n.描写 (初中英语单词)
- wooden [´wudn] a.木制的；呆板的 (初中英语单词)
- cottage [´kɔtidʒ] n.村舍；小屋；小别墅 (初中英语单词)
- height [hait] n.高度；顶点；卓越 (初中英语单词)
- gesture [´dʒestʃə] n.手势 v.打手势 (初中英语单词)
- instantly [´instəntli] ad.立即，立刻 (初中英语单词)
- speaker [´spi:kə] n.演讲人；代言人 (初中英语单词)
- explanation [,eksplə´neiʃən] n.解释；说明；辩解 (初中英语单词)
- steamer [´sti:mə] n.汽船；轮船；蒸笼 (初中英语单词)
- acknowledge [ək´nɔlidʒ] vt.(公开)承认；感谢 (初中英语单词)
- laughter [´lɑ:ftə] n.笑，笑声 (初中英语单词)
- anxious [´æŋkʃəs] a.担忧的；渴望的 (初中英语单词)
- advantage [əd´vɑ:ntidʒ] n.优势；利益 (初中英语单词)
- rescue [´reskju:] vt.&n.救援；挽救 (初中英语单词)
- bearing [´beəriŋ] n.举止；忍耐；关系 (高中英语单词)
- consul [´kɔnsəl] n.领事；执政官 (高中英语单词)
- faintly [´feintli] ad.微弱地，软弱无力的 (高中英语单词)
- inspection [in´spekʃən] n.检查；视察；参观 (高中英语单词)
- scanty [´skænti] a.贫乏的；节省的 (高中英语单词)
- bamboo [,bæm´bu:] n.竹 (高中英语单词)
- thickly [´θikli] ad.厚厚地；密密地 (高中英语单词)
- resemblance [ri´zembləns] n.类似；肖像；外表 (高中英语单词)
- newcomer [´nju:,kʌmə] n.新来的人；移民 (高中英语单词)
- cheerfully [´tʃiəfuli] ad.高兴地，愉快地 (高中英语单词)
- continually [kən´tinjuəli] ad.不断地，频繁地 (高中英语单词)
- hospitality [,hɔspi´tæliti] n.好客，殷勤 (高中英语单词)
- mainland [´meinlənd] n.大陆；本土 (英语四级单词)
- yearly [´jiəli] a.每年的；一年间的 (英语四级单词)
- confidential [,kɔnfi´denʃəl] a.极受信任的；心腹的 (英语四级单词)
- wooded [´wudid] a.多树林的 (英语四级单词)
- hospitable [´hɔspitəbəl] a.好客的；招待周到的 (英语四级单词)
- formality [fɔ:´mæliti] n.形式；礼仪；拘谨 (英语四级单词)
- mildly [´maildli] ad.温和地；适度地 (英语四级单词)
- contracted [kən´træktid] a.收缩了的；缩略的 (英语六级单词)
- doubtfully [´dautfuli] ad.怀疑地，可疑地 (英语六级单词)
- eminence [´eminəns] n.杰出；重要人物；高处 (英语六级单词)
- applied [ə´plaid] a.实用的，应用的 (英语六级单词)
- unison [´ju:nisən] n.协调，一致；齐唱 (英语六级单词)
- taking [´teikiŋ] a.迷人的 n.捕获物 (英语六级单词)
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章节正文
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