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第13章

the fifth string-第13章

小说: the fifth string 字数: 每页4000字

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Tom kept pace with her。



‘‘Gil will be surprised; sure enough;

when he sees me coming; won't he?''



‘‘Yes; he'll be s'prised; you bet!'' said

the boy; taking a firmer hold of her hand。



The night was fast approaching and

Foley was leading the child through

unfrequented alleys and streets。



‘‘But maybe Gil won't come back

this way; and it's getting awful dark。''



‘‘Oh; he'll come back this way; all right。''



They were now on the shore of the

river; dark and desolate in its winter

dress。 The restless splash of the water

sent icy sprays over the child; and;

clinging still closer to her treacherous

companion; she stopped him for a second

and begged him to return。



‘‘Don't be afear'd; nuthin's goin' ter

happen to yer;'' he said; jerking her

savagely; and almost breaking into a run

at the same time。



‘‘Oh; Tom; please let's go back;''

supplicated the child。



They were now at the old wharf。 He

gave a low whistle; and; without waiting

for an answer; pulled the helpless child

through the entrance。 Then; groping his

way over the slimy stones and through

the oozing mud; he dragged the affrighted

little one after him; to the mouth of the

cave; and called:



‘‘Dad; I'm here。''



‘‘Come right in;'' answered a voice。



‘‘I've got her; an' I got her easy as

dirt;'' said the son; pushing the terrified

child into the cave; and then roughly

into the arms of his father。



‘‘Don't yell; yer brat!'' said the older;

clasping his hand over mouth; and drawing

her brutally toward him。 ‘‘Shut

up; or I'll kill yer。''



Foley now called Hildey; who was;

asleep in the corner; and said; ‘‘Cul;

we've got to git out er this place jest as

quick as possible。 It's too near the

city; an' if we're tracked here we'll stand

no more chance than a snowball on

Beelzebub's gridiron。''



‘‘What's yer lay; Dennis?'' questioned Hildey。



‘‘Move up the river;'' was the reply。

‘‘I knows jest the place where we wouldn't

be found in a thousand years。''



‘‘When d'yer want to start?'' asked Tom。



In ten minutes the abductors; with

the stolen child; were slowly winding

their way along the deserted beach。



It was now very dark。 No stars

were shining; and it had become bitterly

cold。 Suddenly voices were heard; and

the abductors stopped to listen。 They

were in a ravine near the magazine

landing; not more than fifty feet from the

spot where the Lillian was launched。

Foley; Tom; and Hildey crouched low;

and drew the little girl closer。



The steady dip of oars was heard up

stream; and the voices grew plainer。

Out of the mingled sounds was heard;



‘‘I agrees with Sandy; he's the dirtiest

coward as ever went unhung。''



Lillian started; for she recognized the

voice of the Jedge; who with Colonel Franklin;

Sandy; Dink; Leander and Gilbert;

were returning from a sail up the river



Foley became frightened; and bending

over; hissed into the child's ear:



‘‘Remember what I tol' yer: if yer

utter a sound; I'll kill yer。''



The sailing party meantime had reached

the landing and stepped ashore。 Sandy

and the other three boys lowered the sail;

rolled and carried it into the boat…house。

The whole party then; marching three

abreast; with steady step; went up the

graveled walk of the old magazine road;

singing in unison:

   ‘‘HepHep

   Shoot that ni**er if he don't keep step。

   HepHep

   Shoot that ni**er if he don't keep step。''



While its cadence was continued by

Colonel Franklin and the Jedge; the four

boys; in marching rhythm; sang out

cheerily into the crisp cold night:





‘‘When other lips and other hearts;

  Their tales of love shall tell;

In accents whose excess imparts

  The power they feel so well。

There may; perhaps; in such a scene;

  Some recollection be;

Of days that have as happy been;

  And you'll remember me。''





The three scoundrels listened; as the

voices rose and fell on the air。 The

child; with the fear of death before her;

and in the clutches of her horrible captor;

gave one convulsive sob and sank swooning

at his feet。



Foley picked her up and; walking

quickly; placed her in the very boat her

father and friends had left but a moment

before。 He wrapped her in a ragged

coat; loosened the hasp of the door on the

boat…house; and took out the oars。



Quickly the captors pushed the craft

into deep water; and with muffled stroke

moved through the inky waves; a somber

specter sneaking along the banks of the

sleeping marches。



When they neared the upper bridge;

Foley ran the boat ashore and abandoned

it。 Picking up the exhausted and benumbed

child; he led his two companions

along the causeway and over the road

leading to the bridge。



The wind came out of the north;

howling through the leafless boughs of

the mighty monarchs of the forest。 The

last flickering light of the town was left

far behind; and darkness; like a great

shroud; enveloped river; valley and woods。



In due time Colonel Franklin and his

party reached home; hungry after their fine

sail on the river; and all in high spirits。



‘‘Jedge; you and the boys sit right

down; and we'll have supper in a jiffy。''



The guests thoroughly enjoyed the

evening meal。 The repast was about

concluded when Edith; who had just

returned from the parsonage; came in;

and called cheerily:



‘‘Hurry up; Lily; it's time to go to the

festival。 They're going to light up thet

tree at half…past eight; and it's nearly

that now。''



‘‘Why; chil'; Lily ain't here。 She's

wif yo' folks;'' exclaimed Delia。



‘‘With us? She hasn't been with us

at all;'' responded Edith。



‘‘It's likely she's at one of the

neighbors;'' ventured the Colonel。



‘‘I'll fin' her; Muster Franklin; an'

I'se gwine to scol' her good an' hard fo'

worryin' her ol' mammy。 At this she

put a shawl over her head and shoulderst

and started in search of the absent one



‘‘Suppose I go too;'' suggested Gilbert; rising。



‘‘I don't think that's necessary;''

interposed the Colonel。



‘‘It'll only take me a minute;'' assured

the son; as he began to put on his overcoat。



‘‘Go if you like then;'' consented the Colonel。



‘‘An' if yer don't mind; Miss Deed;''

volunteered Sandy; ‘‘I'll go up to church

with yer; an' then come back an' fetch

Lily and Gil。''



‘‘That's a good idea;'' answered Edith;

‘‘bring her right over to the church; and

I'll be waiting for you there。''



‘‘I guess I'll go up to my house an'

look。 Mebbe Lily is playin' with Zorah;

an' if she is; I'll come right back an' tell

yer;'' put in Dink。



Edith; Delia and the three boys

departed; leaving the Colonel and the

Jedge alone; smoking their pipes and

discussing the sensational events of the week;

in which Dennis Foley was the central

figure。



The conversation was stopped by the

appearance of Delia and Gilbert; who

declared that not one of the neighbors

had seen Lillian that afternoon。



‘‘It seems almost incredible that she

could be lost;'' said the father; ‘‘she must

be somewhere about here。 Perhaps she

went to the church; and fell asleep in

one of the pews。''



The searching party set out once more;

this time accompanied by the Colonel

himself; and by the Jedge。 At the church

they heard from Sandy and Dink that

no trace of the child had been found;

so the father requested the minister to

inquire of the congregation if the missing

one had been seen anywhere。 There was no

response from those present; and the family

and friends began to show grave concern。



Another effort at finding her was

immediately made。 The police sergeant was

notified; and he sent out a general alarm。



All night long; and all the next day the

hunt was continued。 Wells were explored;

basements; cellars and out…of…the…way

place

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