the fifth string-第13章
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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