the woman-haters-第8节

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then　souse　him；　see？〃

〃I　guess　so。　　How　do　you　know　when　he's　done？〃

〃OherI　can't　tell　you。　　You'll　have　to　trust　to　your　instinct；　I
cal'late。　　When　he　looks　done；　he　IS　done；　most　gen'rally　speakin'。〃

〃Dear　me！　how　clear　you　make　it。　　Would　you　mind　hintin'　as　to　how
he　looks　when　he's　done？〃

〃Whywhy；　DONE；　of　course。〃

〃Yes；　of　course。　　How　stupid　of　me！　　He　is　done　when　he　looks　done；
and　when　he　looks　done　he　is　done。　　Any　child　could　follow　those
directions。　　HOW　is　he　donebrown？〃

〃No。　　Brown！　the　idea！　　Red；　of　course。　　He's　green　when　you　put　him
in　the　kittle；　and　when　you　take　him　out；　he's　red。　　That's　one　way
you　can　tell。〃

〃Yes；　that　will　help　some。　　All　right；　I'll　boil　him　till　he's　red；
you　needn't　worry　about　that。〃

〃Oh；　I　sha'n't　worry。　　So　long。　　I'll　be　back　about　six　or　so。　　Put
him　in　when　the　water's　good　and　hot；　and　you'll　come　out　all　right。〃

〃Thank　you。　　I　hope　HE　will；　but　I　have　my　doubts。　　Where　is　he？〃

〃Who？　the　lobster？　　There's　dozens　down　in　the　car　by　the　wharf。
Lift　the　cover　and　fish　one　out　with　the　dip　net。　　Pick　out　the
biggest　one　you　can　find；　'cause　I'm　likely　to　be　hungry　when　I　get
back；　and　your　appetite　ain't　a　hummin'　bird's。　　There！　I've　got　to
go　if　I　want　to　get　anything　done　afore　。　。　。　　Humph！　never　mind。
So　long。〃

He　hurried　away；　as　if　conscious　that　he　had　said　more　than　he
intended。　　At　the　corner　of　the　house　he　turned　to　call：

〃I　say！　　Brown！　be　kind　of　careful　when　you　dip　him　out。　　None　of
'em　are　plugged。〃

〃What？〃

〃I　say　none　of　them　lobsters'　claws　are　plugged。　　I　didn't　have　time
to　plug　the　last　lot　I　got　from　my　pots；　so　you　want　to　handle　'em
careful　like；　else　they'll　nip　you。　　Tote　the　one　you　pick　out　up　to
the　house　in　the　dip…net；　then　you'll　be　all　right。〃

Evidently　considering　this　warning　sufficient　to　prevent　any
possible　trouble；　he　departed。　　John　Brown　seated　himself　in　the
armchair　by　the　door　and　gazed　at　the　sea。　　He　gazed　and　thought
until　he　could　bear　to　think　no　longer；　then　he　rose　and　entered　the
kitchen；　where　he　kindled　a　fire　in　the　range　and　filled　a　kettle
with　water。　　Having　thus　made　ready　the　sacrificial　altar；　he　took
the　long…handled　dip…net　from　its　nail　and　descended　the　bluff　to
the　wharf。

The　lobster　car；　a　good…sized　affair　of　laths　with　a　hinged　cover
closing　the　opening　in　its　upper　surface；　was　floating　under　the
wharf；　to　which　it　was　attached　by　a　rope。　　Brown　knelt　on　the
string…piece　and　peered　down　at　it。　　It　floated　deep　in　the　water；
the　tide　rippling　strongly　through　it；　between　the　laths。　　The　cover
was　fastened　with　a　wooden　button。

The　substitute　assistant；　after　a　deal　of　futile　and　exasperating
poking　with　the　handle　of　the　net；　managed　to　turn　the　button　and
throw　back　the　leather…hinged　cover。　　Through　the　square　opening　the
water　beneath　looked　darkly　green。　　There　was　much　seaweed　in　the
car；　and　occasionally　this　weed　was　stirred　by　living　things　which
moved　sluggishly。

John　Brown　reversed　the　net；　and；　lying　flat　on　the　wharf；　gingerly
thrust　the　business　end　of　the　contrivance　through　the　opening　and
into　the　dark；　weed…streaked　water。　　Then　he　began　feeling　for　his
prey。

He　could　feel　it。　　Apparently　the　car　was　alive　with　lobsters。　　As
he　moved　the　net　through　the　water　there　was　always　one　just　before
it　or　behind　it；　but　at　least　ten　minutes　elapsed　before　he　managed
to　get　one　in　it。　　At　length；　when　his　arms　were　weary　and　his
patience　almost　exhausted；　the　submerged　net　became　heavy；　and　the
handle　shook　in　his　grasp。　　He　shortened　his　hold　and　began　to　pull
in　hand　over　hand。　　He　had　a　lobster；　a　big　lobster。

He　could　see　a　pair　of　claws　opening　and　shutting　wickedly。　　He
raised　the　creature　through　the　opening；　balanced　the　net　on　its
edge；　rose　on　one　knee；　tried　to　stand　erect；　stumbled；　lost　his
hold　on　the　handle　and　shot　the　lobster　neatly　out　of　the　meshes；
over　the　edge　of　the　car；　and　into　the　free　waters　of　the　channel。
Then　he　expressed　his　feelings　aloud　and　with　emphasis。

Five　minutes　later　he　got　another；　but　it　was　too　small　to　be　of
use。　　In　twenty　minutes　he　netted　three　more；　two　of　which　got　away。
The　third；　however；　he　dragged　pantingly　to　the　wharf　and　sat　beside
it；　gloating。　　It　was　his　for　keeps；　and　it　was　a　big　one；　the
great…grandaddy　of　lobsters。　　Its　claws　clashed　and　snapped　at　the
twine　of　the　net　like　a　pair　of　giant　nut　crackers。

Carrying　it　as　far　from　his　body　as　its　weight　at　the　end　of　the
handle　would　permit；　he　bore　it　in　triumph　to　the　kitchen。　　To　boil
a　lobster　alive　had　seemed　a　mean　trick；　and　cruel；　when　Seth　Atkins
first　ordered　him　to　do　it。　　Now　he　didn't　mind；　it　would　serve　the
thing　right　for　being　so　hard　to　catch。　　Entering　the　kitchen；　he
balanced　the　net　across　a　chair　and　stepped　to　the　range　to　see　if
the　water　was　boiling。　　It　was　not；　and　for　a　very　good　reasonthe
fire　had　gone　out。　　Again　Mr。　Brown　expressed　his　feelings。

The　fire；　newly　kindled；　had　burned　to　the　last　ash。　　If　he　had　been
there　to　add　more　coal　in　season；　it　would　have　survived；　but　he　had
been　otherwise　engaged。　　There　was　nothing　to　be　done　except　rake
out　the　ashes　and　begin　anew。　　This　he　did。　　When　he　removed　the
kettle　he　decided　at　once　that　it　was　much　too　small　for　the　purpose
required　of　it。　　To　boil　a　lobster　of　that　size　in　a　kettle　of　that
size　would　necessitate　boiling　one　end　at　a　time；　and　that；　both　for
the　victim　and　himself；　would　be　troublesome　and　agonizing。　　He
hunted　about　for　a　larger　kettle　and；　finding　none；　seized　in
desperation　upon　the　wash　boiler；　filled　it；　and　lifted　it　to　the
top　of　the　stove　above　the　flickering　new　fire。

The　fire　burned　slowly；　and　he　sat　down　to　rest　and　wait。　　As　he
sank　into　the　chairnot　that　across　which　the　netted　lobster　was
balanced；　but　anotherhe　became　aware　of　curious　sounds　from
without。　　Distant　sounds　they　were；　far　off　and　faint；　but　growing
steadily　louder；　wails　and　long…drawn　howls；　mournful　and
despairing。

〃A…a…oo…ow！　　Aa…ow…ooo！〃

〃What　in　the　world？〃　muttered　Brown；　and　ran　out　of　the　kitchen　and
around　the　corner　of　the　house。

There　was　nothing　in　sight；　nothing　strange　or　unusual；　that　is。
Joshua；　Seth's　old　horse；　picketted　to　a　post　in　the　back　yard　and
grazing；　or　trying　to　graze；　on　the　stubby　beach　grass；　was　the　only
living　exhibit。　　But　the　sounds　continued　and　grew　louder。

〃Aa…ow…ooo！　　Ow…oo…ow…ooo！〃

Over　the　rise　of　a　dune；　a　hundred　yards　off；　where　the　road　to
Eastboro　village　dipped　towards　a　swampy　hollow；　appeared　a　horse's
head　and　the　top　of　a　covered　wagon。　　A　moment　later　the　driver
became　visible；　a　freckled　faced　boy　grinning　like　a　pumpkin
lantern。　　The　horse　trotted　through　the　sand　up　to　the　lights。
Joshua　whinnied　as　if　he　enjoyed　the　prospect　of　company。　　From　the
back　of　the　wagon；　somewhere　beneath　the　shade　of　the　cover；　arose　a
heartrending　wail；　reeking　of　sorrow　and　agony。

〃Aa…ow…OOO！　　Ooo…aa…OW！〃

〃For　heaven's　sake；〃　exclaimed　the　lightkeeper's　helper；　running　to
meet　the　vehicle；　〃what　is　the　matter？〃

The　boy　grinned　more　expansively　than　ever。　　〃Whoa！〃　he　shouted；　to
the　horse　he　was　driving。　　The　animal　stopped　in　his　tracks；
evidently　glad　of　the　opportunity。　　Another　howl　burst　from　the
covered　depths　of　the　wagon。

〃I've　got　him；〃　said　the　boy；　with　a　triumphant　nod　and　a　jerk　of
his　thumb　over　his　shoulder。　　〃He's　in　there。〃

〃He？　　Who？　　What？〃

〃Job。　　He's　in　there。　　Hear　him？　　He's　been　goin'　on　like　that　ever
since　he　finished　his　bone；　and　that　was　over　two　mile　back。　　Say；〃
admiringly；　〃he's　some　singer；　ain't　he！　　Hear　that；　will　ye？〃

Another　wail　arose　from　the　wagon。　　Brown　hastened　to　the　rear　of
the　vehicle；　on　the　canvas　side　of　which　were　painted　the　words
〃Henry　G。　Goodspeed；　Groceries；　Dry　and　Fancy　Goods　and　Notions；
Eastboro；〃　and　peered　in　over　the　tailboard。　　The　interior　of　the
wagon　was　well　nigh　filled　by　a　big　box　with　strips　of　board　nailed
across　its　top。　　From　between　these　strips　a　tawny　nose　was
uplifted。　　As　the　helper　stared　wonderingly　at　the　box　and　the　nose；
the　boy　sprang　from　his　seat　and　joined　him。

〃That's　him；〃　declared　the　boy。　　〃Hi；　there；　Job；　tune　up　now！
What's　the　matter　with　ye？〃

His　answer　was　an　unearthly　howl　from　the　box；　accompanied　by　a
mighty　scratching。　　The　boy　laughed　delightedly。

〃Ain't　he　a　wonder？〃　he　demanded。　　〃Ought　to　be　in　church　choir；
hadn't　he。〃

Brown　stepped　on　the　hub　of　a　rear　wheel；　and；　clinging　to　the　post
of　the　wagon　cover；　looked　down　into　the　box。　　The　creature　inside
was　about　the　size　of　a　month　old　calf。

〃It's　ait's　a　dog；〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃A　dog；　isn't　it？〃

〃Sure；　it's　a　dog。　　Or　he'll　be　a　dog　when　he　grows　up。　　Nothin'　but
a　pup　now；　he　ain't。　　where's　Seth？〃

〃Seth？　　Oh；　Mr。　Atkins；　he's　not　here。〃

〃Ain't　he？　　Where's　he　gone？〃

〃I　don't　know。〃

〃Don't　ye？　　When's　he　comin'　back？　　HUSH　UP！〃　　This　last　was　a
command　to　the　prisoner　in　the　box；　who　paid　absolutely　no　attention
to　it。

〃I　don't　know　when　he'll　be　back。　　Do　you　want　to　see　him
personally？　　Won't　I　do？　　I'm　in　charge　here　till　he　returns。〃

〃Be　ye？　　Oh；　you're　the　new　assistant　from　Boston