the fifth string-第14章
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hunt was continued。 Wells were explored;
basements; cellars and out…of…the…way
places were ransacked; lumber yards and
coal yards were gone through most carefully。
In fact; not a foot of the town was
left unsearched; but all to no avail; and
the once happy home of the Franklins
was steeped in sorrow and despair。
The morning after Lillian's disappearance;
Mrs。 Foley inquired of the boys
in the neighborhood if they had seen
anything of her son Tom; who; she
declared; had been gone since the
previous morning。
From Sandy she learned that Tom
had taken dinner at Gilbert's the day
before; but that when the party had
started for the river he had dropped
out; claiming he was too down…hearted
to join in the pleasure。
‘‘That's the way he acted at home;''
said the widow; ‘‘and it seemed to me
it was almost unnacheral for him to
talk against his father; as he did。
However; I'm not bothered about him; for
he comes and goes just as he pleases;
and when he gets good and ready he'll
turn up; like a bad penny。 I've stopped
worryin' about him years an' years ago。''
‘‘If I see Tom;'' volunteered the boy;
‘‘I'll tell him yer want him;''and he
hurried away。
The next morning Sandy left home
earlier than usual; and on his own account
began a search for Lillian。 A new theory
had taken possession of him; and he
started at once for the river。 At the
magazine gate he chatted with the sentry
about the mysterious disappearance; and
passed on。 When he reached the shore
half a mile beyond; he was surprised to
find that the padlock on the door of the
shed had been pried off; and that his
boat was missing。
Opening the door he saw that his
oars and blankets were gone; and he began
to feel that his theory might lead him
to important discoveries。 For fully five
minutes he stood motionless; and gazed
into the river; buried deep in his own
thoughts。 Then he soliloquized: ‘‘I
wonder if Lily's been stolen? S'pose;
while we've been searchin' fer her high
an' low; Foley an' the galoot what
whacked me jest took the little girl an'
carried her off in my boat? That 'ere
story 'bout Dennis Foley buyin' a ticket
for Philadelphy struck me as fishy when
I fust heerd it; an' now I don't believe
it a t'all。 They couldn't git through the
magazine gate 'thout the guards seein'
them; an' whoever took my boat either
came up the shore or down the shore。
'Tain't likely they came from up shore;
'cause they could 'a' found a hundred
boats 'tween here an' the upper bridge。''
Turning around; Sandy started down
the beach toward the cemetery。 He was
studying carefully the ground beyond the
point of high tide; and in a few moments
reached the ravine where; two nights
before; the three abductors had stopped;
upon hearing Colonel Franklin and his
sailing party approach。
‘‘Well; I'll be durned;'' he exclaimed;
for in the sand before his very eyes was
the impress of four pairs of shoes。 Two
were evidently those of men; one small
enough to be that of a boy; and one so tiny
as to convince him it was that of a child。
‘‘This is the way they come;'' he con…
tinued; ‘‘and there wuz three of 'em in
the gang besides the little one; an' I'm
sure er that。''
He followed the footprints until he
reached the old wharf。 Peering through
the rotten timbers; he said:
‘‘That's a rum ol' hole。 I don't
believe Satan hisself would go in there;
but I'm goin'; an' see what I kin see。''
Sandy had no difficulty in entering the
cave; which he found strewn with whisky
bottles; pieces of bread and newly…picked
bones; evidence enough that some one
had been there but a short time before。
Penetrating deeper in his search; he
made a find of the utmost importance。
Lying at one side; and near a bed of
rags; was an envelop addressed to
Dennis Foley; and; on a peg which had
been driven into the wall; was hanging
an old hat; which he had often seen on
Hildey's head。
Elated at the results of his quest; he
began to retrace his steps; and in eager
haste he left the cave。 Picking his way
along the slimy stones under the wharf;
he soon neared the outlet and there was
startled by the most significant of all
his discoveries。 Right before him lay
the identical hoop which he had given
the lost child only Christmas Day; and
which bore the inscription; ‘‘From Sandy
Coggles to Lillian Franklin。''
Every suspicion now was confirmed; and
he was sure he knew the culprits。 Taking
the hoop; he returned to his boat…
house with all possible speed; and leaping
into his skiff; paddled up the river;
his eyes scanning the marsh lines on
either bank of the channel。 Arriving at
the bridge; he learned by inquiry from
the tender stationed there that he had
not seen the Lillian coming up stream
within the past three days。
‘‘But;'' explained the bridge…tender;
‘‘I'm only on from six to six during
daylight; and of course if anything
comes through at night I wouldn't know
about it。 I'm pretty sure; though; there's
been nothing up this way for a month
of Sundays; 'cept Buck Wesley; who
creeped up 'bout two hours ago; following
a gang of ducks that uses right over
there above Mayhew's Meadows。 And
the way Buck's been shooting for the last
hour; he must be having a time and no
mistake。''
‘‘Well; so long;'' called Sandy。 ‘‘I
guess I'll go up the river a little further
and have a look。'' And once more he
took up his paddles。 As he came abreast
of the Meadows he saw Buck Wesley
coming out of the creek in his gunning
skiff。
‘‘Is that you; Sandy?'' shouted the gunner。
‘‘That's me;'' was the boy's answer。
‘‘Come over here; I want to talk to you;''
requested Buck。
When Sandy got alongside the hunter's boat; he asked:
‘‘Well; Buck; what's the trouble?''
‘‘No trouble; Sandy; but when I come
up the river this mornin'I ain't been
up for three weeks; it's been such pore
weather for ducksI seen a bunch of
widgeon go down right over here; an'
as I skims up by the collard patch t'other
side of the bridge; I noticed a boat lyin'
in the mud; and when I gits near to her;
I knows by the cut of her jib that she's
yer Lillian。''
‘‘My Lillian? Wher'd yer say yer seen her?''
asked Sandy excitedly。
‘‘Why; by the collard patch; not fifty
yards from the Causeway。 She looked
like she'd drifted on the marsh。 I calc'lated
when I got through shootin' that
I'd pick her up an' take her down to
yer landin'。 The oars wuz in; an' I
guess she must 'a' strayed from the shore;
through somebody fergettin' to tie her up。''
‘‘I'm much 'bliged; Buck;'' thanked
Sandy; ‘‘but yer needn't bother。 I'll
bring her down; an' the next galoot that
takes her an' lets her git away from him;
is goin' to hear from me。''
Sandy retraced the course he had come;
and after turning on the other side of
the bridge; had no trouble in finding
his boat。 She was lying on a sand…bar;
but he soon succeeded in floating her
and bringing her ashore。
Safely securing the skiff and the boat;
he began another search along the beach;
and almost immediately was rewarded
by finding a knot of blue ribbon; such as
he had often seen Lillian wear in her
hair。 Farther along; he discovered tracks
in the sand。 These he followed; Indian
fashion; up the embankment; lost trace
of them for a moment on the hardened
surface of the carriage way; but speedily
picked them up again in the soft soil
that ran downward on the other side。
Then; it was easy to pursue them along
a pathway that led to a graveled beach
where a dozen or more skiffs had been
drawn up and tied to stakes for the
winter。 From here on; all further traces
were obliterated。
Thoroughly familiar with all the river
craft belonging there; even to the individual
ownership; Sandy noticed at once