the fifth string(µÚÎå¸ùÏß)-µÚ15½Ú
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
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£º¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡®¡®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¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡58¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡59¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Fifth¡¡String¡¡
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¡¡that¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡boats¡¡was¡¡
missing£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡its¡¡painter¡¡had¡¡only¡¡recently¡¡been¡¡cut¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡®¡®Why£»¡¡it's¡¡Willie¡¡Bagner's¡¡boat¡¡they've¡¡got£»''¡¡he¡¡said¡¡to¡¡himself¡¡as¡¡he¡¡
recognized¡¡which¡¡boat¡¡was¡¡missing£»¡¡¡®¡®an'¡¡I'll¡¡bet¡¡my¡¡life¡¡the¡¡scalawags¡¡are¡¡
hidin'¡¡somewhere¡¡up¡¡the¡¡river¡£''¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Hurrying¡¡¡¡¡¡back£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡rowed¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡landing¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡started¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡haste¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡
home£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡plan¡¡of¡¡rescue¡¡fully¡¡¡¡developed¡¡in¡¡his¡¡mind¡£¡¡He¡¡sought¡¡out¡¡
Leander£»¡¡¡¡¡¡Dink¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡Gilbert£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡asked¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡call¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡house¡¡¡¡¡¡without¡¡
delay¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡While¡¡Sandy's¡¡investigation¡¡had¡¡convinced¡¡him¡¡that¡¡Lillian¡¡was¡¡stolen£»¡¡
Colonel¡¡Franklin¡¡had¡¡been¡¡made¡¡to¡¡realize¡¡the¡¡same¡¡terrible¡¡fact¡¡in¡¡another¡¡
and¡¡more¡¡brutal¡¡way¡£¡¡When¡¡he¡¡reached¡¡his¡¡office¡¡on¡¡the¡¡same¡¡afternoon£»¡¡
he¡¡found¡¡on¡¡his¡¡desk¡¡a¡¡letter¡¡that¡¡read¡¡as¡¡follows£º¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡59¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡60¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Fifth¡¡String¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡dere¡¡surif¡¡U¡¡meen¡¡bizness¡¡i¡¡can¡¡put¡¡U¡¡on¡¡to¡¡whar¡¡your¡¡dorter¡¡is¡¡but¡¡
its¡¡goin¡¡to¡¡kost¡¡U¡¡sum¡¡muney¡¡if¡¡U¡¡evr¡¡want¡¡to¡¡see¡¡her¡¡agin¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡theres¡¡a¡¡big¡¡
gang¡¡got¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡hid¡¡¡¡¡¡where¡¡¡¡¡¡U¡¡¡¡woodnt¡¡¡¡¡¡find¡¡¡¡¡¡hur¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡a¡¡100¡¡¡¡¡¡yerze¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡U¡¡¡¡will¡¡
plank¡¡down¡¡10000¡¡dolers¡¡sheze¡¡yourze¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡U¡¡dont¡¡you'll¡¡nevr¡¡see¡¡hur¡¡no¡¡
moar¡¡if¡¡sheze¡¡wurth¡¡thet¡¡much¡¡to¡¡U¡¡U¡¡can¡¡git¡¡her¡¡by¡¡not¡¡blabin¡¡to¡¡nobudy¡¡
that¡¡yer¡¡got¡¡this¡¡leter¡¡an¡¡plankin¡¡down¡¡the¡¡rino¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡taint¡¡no¡¡use¡¡fer¡¡U¡¡to¡¡try¡¡
an¡¡git¡¡the¡¡police¡¡on¡¡our¡¡trax¡¡fer¡¡one¡¡uv¡¡the¡¡gang¡¡is¡¡alwayz¡¡with¡¡the¡¡kid¡¡an¡¡
we¡¡have¡¡sworn¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡her¡¡if¡¡enny¡¡of¡¡us¡¡is¡¡jugged¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡U¡¡meen¡¡bizness¡¡an¡¡
will¡¡leeve¡¡a¡¡noat¡¡under¡¡the¡¡big¡¡stone¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ded¡¡tree¡¡by¡¡oyster¡¡shell¡¡
landin¡¡up¡¡the¡¡river¡¡we¡¡will¡¡git¡¡it¡¡an¡¡rite¡¡U¡¡where¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡us¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡the¡¡
muney¡¡and¡¡git¡¡the¡¡child¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡member¡¡we¡¡dont¡¡stand¡¡fer¡¡no¡¡trechery¡¡an¡¡if¡¡U¡¡
squeel¡¡we¡¡ll¡¡no¡¡it¡¡and¡¡we¡¡ll¡¡take¡¡it¡¡out¡¡on¡¡the¡¡kid¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡mums¡¡the¡¡word¡¡if¡¡yer¡¡
want¡¡ter¡¡see¡¡the¡¡kid¡¡again¡¡c¡¡o¡¡d¡¡and¡¡fare¡¡deelin¡¡is¡¡our¡¡moto¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡word¡¡to¡¡the¡¡
wize¡¡is¡¡sufishent¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡yourze¡¡trooley¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡frend¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Colonel¡¡was¡¡completely¡¡unnerved¡¡by¡¡the¡¡horrible¡¡knowledge¡¡that¡¡
his¡¡little¡¡daughter¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡of¡¡desperate¡¡criminals¡£¡¡Without¡¡delay¡¡
he¡¡wrote¡¡a¡¡note¡¡offering¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡the¡¡money¡¡demanded£»¡¡agreeing¡¡to¡¡deliver¡¡it¡¡
at¡¡any¡¡spot¡¡they¡¡might¡¡name£»¡¡and¡¡vowing¡¡to¡¡share¡¡his¡¡secret¡¡with¡¡no¡¡one¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Sealing¡¡the¡¡missive£»¡¡he¡¡placed¡¡it¡¡carefully¡¡in¡¡his¡¡pocket£»¡¡and¡¡drove¡¡out¡¡
along¡¡the¡¡river¡¡turnpike¡¡to¡¡a¡¡point¡¡about¡¡a¡¡quarter¡¡of¡¡a¡¡mile¡¡from¡¡the¡¡place¡¡
designated¡¡by¡¡the¡¡anonymous¡¡writer¡£¡¡Tying¡¡his¡¡horse¡¡to¡¡a¡¡tree£»¡¡he¡¡walked¡¡
through¡¡the¡¡woods£»¡¡and¡¡hid¡¡the¡¡note¡¡under¡¡the¡¡stone¡¡mentioned¡¡in¡¡the¡¡letter¡£¡¡
It¡¡was¡¡after¡¡nightfall¡¡when¡¡he¡¡reached¡¡home£»¡¡where¡¡he¡¡was¡¡met¡¡with¡¡the¡¡
heartrending¡¡and¡¡oft¡repeated¡¡question£»¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡®¡®Have¡¡you¡¡heard¡¡anything¡¡from¡¡Lily£¿''¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Fearing¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡betray¡¡¡¡¡¡himself£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡even¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡family£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡thus¡¡¡¡¡¡perhaps¡¡
endanger¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡life¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡child£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡compelled¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡answer£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡®¡®No£»¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
thing¡£''¡¡¡¡¡¡With¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡heavy¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡heart£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡passed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡into¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡study¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Supper¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡
announced¡¡shortly¡¡after¡¡¡ward£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡the¡¡family¡¡gathered¡¡about¡¡the¡¡table£»¡¡
the¡¡father¡¡noticed¡¡that¡¡his¡¡son¡¡was¡¡not¡¡present¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡®¡®Where¡¡is¡¡Gilbert£¿''¡¡he¡¡inquired¡¡nervously¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡®¡®Sandy¡¡was¡¡here¡¡and¡¡asked¡¡Gilbert¡¡to¡¡come¡¡over¡¡and¡¡spend¡¡the¡¡night¡¡
with¡¡him£»''¡¡answered¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Franklin¡£¡¡¡®¡®I¡¡hadn't¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡to¡¡refuse¡¡him£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡60¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡61¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Fifth¡¡String¡¡
don't¡¡¡¡¡¡believe¡¡¡¡¡¡any¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡has¡¡¡¡¡¡worked¡¡¡¡¡¡harder¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡find¡¡¡¡¡¡our¡¡¡¡¡¡lost¡¡¡¡¡¡darling¡¡¡¡¡¡than¡¡
Sandy£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡seems¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡only¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡can¡¡¡¡¡¡give¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Gilbert¡¡¡¡¡¡any¡¡
consolation¡£''¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡®¡®I¡¡think¡¡it's¡¡better¡¡that¡¡the¡¡boys¡¡stop¡¡searching£»''¡¡said¡¡the¡¡father¡£¡¡¡®¡®They¡¡
might¡¡get¡¡themselves¡¡into¡¡trouble£»¡¡it's¡¡too¡¡dangerous¡£''¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡®¡®I¡¡don't¡¡believe¡¡you¡¡could¡¡stop¡¡those¡¡boys¡¡from¡¡hunting¡¡for¡¡Lillian£»¡¡if¡¡
they¡¡had¡¡to¡¡go¡¡into¡¡the¡¡very¡¡jaws¡¡of¡¡death£»''¡¡interposed¡¡the¡¡grandmother¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡®¡®Oh£»¡¡well£»''¡¡spoke¡¡the¡¡father£»¡¡¡®¡®they¡¡must¡¡not¡¡wear¡¡themselves¡¡out£»¡¡and¡¡
to¡¡¡morrow£»¡¡I¡¡will¡¡tell¡¡Gilbert¡¡and¡¡Sandy¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡investigation¡¡to¡¡the¡¡
police¡£''¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡®¡®They'll¡¡never¡¡do¡¡it£»''¡¡objected¡¡the¡¡grandmother£»¡¡¡®¡®they¡¡love¡¡Lillian¡¡too¡¡
much¡£¡¡You¡¡mark¡¡my¡¡words¡£''¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡this¡¡very¡¡moment£»¡¡Sandy£»¡¡Leander£»¡¡Gilbert¡¡and¡¡Dink¡¡were¡¡together£»¡¡
in¡¡¡¡¡¡Sandy's¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡¡¡garret¡¡¡¡¡¡room¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Sandy¡¡¡¡closed¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡door¡¡¡¡¡¡carefully£»¡¡¡¡¡¡locked¡¡¡¡¡¡it£»¡¡
and¡¡called¡¡his¡¡companions¡¡about¡¡him¡¡in¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡room¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡®¡®Boys£»''¡¡he¡¡whispered£»¡¡¡®¡®afore¡¡I¡¡sez¡¡anythin'£»¡¡I¡¡wants¡¡yer¡¡to¡¡gimme¡¡yer¡¡
word£»¡¡honor¡¡bright£»¡¡an'¡¡cross¡¡yer¡¡heart¡¡three¡¡times£»¡¡that¡¡yer¡¡won't¡¡spout¡¡a¡¡
syllable¡¡of¡¡what¡¡I¡¡tells¡¡yer¡¡to¡¡a¡¡soul¡£''¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡All¡¡were¡¡agreed£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡began£º¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡®¡®Now£»¡¡it's¡¡this¡¡'ere¡¡way¡£¡¡My¡¡boat¡¡wuz¡¡stolen¡¡an'¡¡left£»¡¡right¡¡below¡¡the¡¡
upper¡¡bridge£»¡¡an'¡¡I¡¡foun'¡¡footprints¡¡an'¡¡this¡¡'ere¡¡piece¡¡of¡¡ribbon£»¡¡which¡¡Gil¡¡
knows¡¡b'longed¡¡to¡¡his¡¡sister£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡wore¡¡it¡¡round¡¡her¡¡hair¡£¡¡Willie¡¡Bagner's¡¡
skiff's¡¡¡¡¡¡bin¡¡¡¡¡¡stolen£»¡¡¡¡¡¡an'¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡believe¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡party¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡took¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡hez¡¡¡¡¡¡got¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡¡¡Lily£»¡¡
because¡¡I¡¡foun'¡¡the¡¡hoop¡¡I¡¡give¡¡her£»¡¡an'¡¡this¡¡envellup¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡place£»¡¡an'¡¡
it¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡me¡¡the¡¡galoot¡¡whose¡¡name's¡¡on¡¡it¡¡is¡¡hid¡¡somewhere¡¡up¡¡the¡¡river£»¡¡
an'¡¡I'm¡¡goin'¡¡after¡¡him¡¡if¡¡I¡¡has¡¡to¡¡go¡¡alone¡£''¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡®¡®But¡¡you¡¡won't¡¡go¡¡alone£»¡¡while¡¡I'm¡¡alive£»''¡¡insisted¡¡Leander£»¡¡intensely¡¡
excited¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡®¡®An'¡¡I'm¡¡goin'£»¡¡too£»¡¡even¡¡if¡¡I¡¡never¡¡come¡¡back£»''¡¡added¡¡Dink£»¡¡taking¡¡it¡¡
for¡¡granted¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡needed¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡®¡®And¡¡you¡¡must¡¡take¡¡me£»''¡¡said¡¡Gilbert¡¡imploringly¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡four¡¡boys¡¡¡¡¡¡grasped¡¡one¡¡another's¡¡hands£»¡¡and¡¡Sandy¡¡¡¡declared¡¡in¡¡¡¡a¡¡
solemn¡¡tone£º¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡®¡®We'll¡¡stick¡¡together¡¡to¡¡the¡¡bitter¡¡end¡£''¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡61¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡62¡
¡¡