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第14章

the fifth string-第14章

小说: the fifth string 字数: 每页4000字

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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

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