太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > at the back of the north wind >

第31节

at the back of the north wind-第31节

小说: at the back of the north wind 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!






He would not ask any one to help him; fearing his project might meet

with disapproval and opposition。  With great difficulty; but with the

help of a broken chair he brought down from his bedroom; he managed

to put the harness on Diamond。  If the old horse had had the least

objection to the proceeding; of course he could not have done it;

but even when it came to the bridle; he opened his mouth for the bit;

just as if he had been taking the apple which Diamond sometimes gave him。 

He fastened the cheek…strap very carefully; just in the usual hole;

for fear of choking his friend; or else letting the bit get amongst

his teeth。  It was a job to get the saddle on; but with the chair

he managed it。  If old Diamond had had an education in physics

to equal that of the camel; he would have knelt down to let him put

it on his back; but that was more than could be expected of him;

and then Diamond had to creep quite under him to get hold of

the girth。  The collar was almost the worst part of the business;

but there Diamond could help Diamond。  He held his head very low

till his little master had got it over and turned it round;

and then he lifted his head; and shook it on to his shoulders。 

The yoke was rather difficult; but when he had laid the traces

over the horse's neck; the weight was not too much for him。 

He got him right at last; and led him out of the stable。



By this time there were several of the men watching him; but they

would not interfere; they were so anxious to see how he would get

over the various difficulties。  They followed him as far as the

stable…door; and there stood watching him again as he put the horse

between the shafts; got them up one after the other into the loops;

fastened the traces; the belly…band; the breeching; and the reins。



Then he got his whip。  The moment he mounted the box; the men

broke into a hearty cheer of delight at his success。  But they

would not let him go without a general inspection of the harness;

and although they found it right; for not a buckle had to be shifted;

they never allowed him to do it for himself again all the time his

father was ill。



The cheer brought his mother to the window; and there she saw her

little boy setting out alone with the cab in the gray of morning。 

She tugged at the window; but it was stiff; and before she could

open it; Diamond; who was in a great hurry; was out of the mews;

and almost out of the street。  She called 〃Diamond!  Diamond!〃 but there

was no answer except from Jack。



〃Never fear for him; ma'am;〃 said Jack。  〃It 'ud be only a devil

as would hurt him; and there ain't so many o' them as some folk

'ud have you believe。  A boy o' Diamond's size as can 'arness

a 'oss t'other Diamond's size; and put him to; right as a trivet

if he do upset the keb'll fall on his feet; ma'am。〃



〃But he won't upset the cab; will he; Jack?〃



〃Not he; ma'am。 Leastways he won't go for to do it。〃



〃I know as much as that myself。  What do you mean?〃



〃I mean he's a little likely to do it as the oldest man in the stable。 

How's the gov'nor to…day; ma'am?〃



〃A good deal better; thank you;〃 she answered; closing the window

in some fear lest her husband should have been made anxious by

the news of Diamond's expedition。  He knew pretty well; however;

what his boy was capable of; and although not quite easy was less

anxious than his mother。  But as the evening drew on; the anxiety

of both of them increased; and every sound of wheels made his

father raise himself in his bed; and his mother peep out of the window。



Diamond had resolved to go straight to the cab…stand where he was

best known; and never to crawl for fear of getting annoyed by idlers。 

Before he got across Oxford Street; however; he was hailed by a man

who wanted to catch a train; and was in too great a hurry to think

about the driver。  Having carried him to King's Cross in good time;

and got a good fare in return; he set off again in great spirits;

and reached the stand in safety。  He was the first there after all。



As the men arrived they all greeted him kindly; and inquired after

his father。



〃Ain't you afraid of the old 'oss running away with you?〃 asked one。



〃No; he wouldn't run away with me;〃 answered Diamond。  〃He knows

I'm getting the shillings for father。  Or if he did he would only

run home。〃



〃Well; you're a plucky one; for all your girl's looks!〃 said the man;

〃and I wish ye luck。〃



〃Thank you; sir;〃 said Diamond。  〃I'll do what I can。  I came

to the old place; you see; because I knew you would let me have

my turn here。〃



In the course of the day one man did try to cut him out; but he

was a stranger; and the shout the rest of them raised let him see

it would not do; and made him so far ashamed besides; that he went

away crawling。



Once; in a block; a policeman came up to him; and asked him for

his number。  Diamond showed him his father's badge; saying with a smile:



〃Father's ill at home; and so I came out with the cab。  There's no

fear of me。  I can drive。  Besides; the old horse could go alone。〃



〃Just as well; I daresay。  You're a pair of 'em。  But you are

a rum 'un for a cabbyain't you now?〃 said the policeman。 

〃I don't know as I ought to let you go。〃



〃I ain't done nothing;〃 said Diamond。  〃It's not my fault I'm

no bigger。  I'm big enough for my age。〃



〃That's where it is;〃 said the man。  〃You ain't fit。〃



〃How do you know that?〃 asked Diamond; with his usual smile;

and turning his head like a little bird。



〃Why; how are you to get out of this ruck now; when it begins

to move?〃



〃Just you get up on the box;〃 said Diamond; 〃and I'll show you。 

There; that van's a…moving now。  Jump up。〃



The policeman did as Diamond told him; and was soon satisfied

that the little fellow could drive。



〃Well;〃 he said; as he got down again; 〃I don't know as I should

be right to interfere。  Good luck to you; my little man!〃



〃Thank you; sir;〃 said Diamond; and drove away。



In a few minutes a gentleman hailed him。



〃Are you the driver of this cab?〃 he asked。



〃Yes; sir〃 said Diamond; showing his badge; of which; he was proud。



〃You're the youngest cabman I ever saw。  How am I to know you won't

break all my bones?〃



〃I would rather break all my own;〃 said Diamond。  〃But if you're afraid;

never mind me; I shall soon get another fare。〃



〃I'll risk it;〃 said the gentleman; and; opening the door himself;

he jumped in。



He was going a good distance; and soon found that Diamond got him

over the ground well。  Now when Diamond had only to go straight ahead;

and had not to mind so much what he was about; his thoughts always

turned to the riddle Mr。 Raymond had set him; and this gentleman

looked so clever that he fancied he must be able to read it for him。 

He had given up all hope of finding it out for himself; and he could

not plague his father about it when he was ill。  He had thought

of the answer himself; but fancied it could not be the right one;

for to see how it all fitted required some knowledge of physiology。 

So; when he reached the end of his journey; he got down very quickly;

and with his head just looking in at the window; said; as the gentleman

gathered his gloves and newspapers:



〃Please; sir; can you tell me the meaning of a riddle?〃



〃You must tell me the riddle first;〃 answered the gentleman; amused。



Diamond repeated the riddle。



〃Oh! that's easy enough;〃 he returned。  〃It's a tree。〃



〃Well; it ain't got no mouth; sure enough; but how then does it

eat all day long?〃



〃It sucks in its food through the tiniest holes in its leaves;〃

he answered。  〃Its breath is its food。  And it can't do it except

in the daylight。〃



〃Thank you; sir; thank you;〃 returned Diamond。  〃I'm sorry I

couldn't find it out myself; Mr。 Raymond would have been better

pleased with me。〃



〃But you needn't tell him any one told you。〃



Diamond gave him a stare which came from the very back of the

north wind; where that kind of thing is unknown。



〃That would be cheating;〃 he said at last。



〃Ain't you a cabby; then?〃



〃Cabbies don't cheat。〃



〃Don't they?  I am of a different opinion。〃



〃I'm sure my father don't。〃



〃What's your fare; young innocent?〃



〃Well; I think the distance is a good deal over three miles

that's two shillings。  Only father says sixpence a mile is too little;

though we can't ask for more。〃



〃You're a deep one。  But I think you're wrong。  It's over four miles

not much; but it is。〃



〃Then that's half…a…crown;〃 said Diamond。



〃Well; here's three shillings。  Will that do?〃



〃Thank you kindly; sir。  I'll tell my father how good you were to me

first to tell me my riddle; then to put me right about the distance;

and then to give me sixpence over。  It'll help father to get well again;

it will。〃



〃I hope it may; my man。  I shouldn't won

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的