the story of a bad boy-第11节
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〃Never say die；〃 muttered Phil Adams； dolefully。
The bridewell was a small low…studded chamber built up against the rear end of the Meat Market； and approached from the Square by a narrow passage…way。 A portion of the rooms partitioned off into eight cells； numbered； each capable of holding two persons。 The cells were full at the time； as we presently discovered by seeing several hideous faces leering out at us through the gratings of the doors。
A smoky oil…lamp in a lantern suspended from the ceiling threw a flickering light over the apartment； which contained no furniture excepting a couple of stout wooden benches。 It was a dismal place by night； and only little less dismal by day； tall houses surrounding 〃the lock…up〃 prevented the faintest ray of sunshine from penetrating the ventilator over the door…long narrow window opening inward and propped up by a piece of lath。
As we seated ourselves in a row on one of the benches； I imagine that our aspect was anything but cheerful。 Adams and Harris looked very anxious； and Harry Blake； whose nose had just stopped bleeding； was mournfully carving his name； by sheer force of habit； on the prison bench。 I don't think I ever saw a more 〃wrecked〃 expression on any human countenance than Pepper Whitcomb's presented。 His look of natural astonishment at finding himself incarcerated in a jail was considerably heightened by his lack of eyebrows。
As for me； it was only by thinking how the late Baron Trenck would have conducted himself under similar circumstances that I was able to restrain my tears。
None of us were inclined to conversation。 A deep silence； broken now and then by a startling snore from the cells； reigned throughout the chamber。 By and by Pepper Whitcomb glanced nervously towards Phil Adams and said； 〃Phil； do you think they will…hang us？〃
〃Hang your grandmother！〃 returned Adams； impatiently。 〃What I'm afraid of is that they'll keep us locked up until the Fourth is over。〃
〃You ain't smart ef they do！〃 cried a voice from one of the cells。 It was a deep bass voice that sent a chill through me。
〃Who are you？〃 said Jack Harris； addressing the cells in general； for the echoing qualities of the room made it difficult to locate the voice。
〃That don't matter；〃 replied the speaker； putting his face close up to the gratings of No。 3； 〃but ef I was a youngster like you； free an' easy outside there； this spot wouldn't hold me long。〃
〃That's so I〃 chimed several of the prison…birds； wagging their heads behind the iron lattices。
〃Hush！〃 whispered Jack Harris； rising from his seat and walking on tip…toe to the door of cell No。 3。 〃What would you do？〃
〃Do？ Why； I'd pile them 'ere benches up agin that 'ere door； an' crawl out of that 'erc winder in no time。 That's my adwice。〃
〃And werry good adwice it is； Jim；〃 said the occupant of No。 5； approvingly。
Jack Harris seemed to be of the same opinion； for he hastily placed the benches one on the top of another under the ventilator； and； climbing up on the highest bench； peeped out into the passage…way。
〃If any gent happens to have a ninepence about him；〃 said the man in cell No。 3； 〃there's a sufferin' family here as could make use of it。 Smallest favors gratefully received； an' no questions axed。〃
This appeal touched a new silver quarter of a dollar in my trousers…pocket； I fished out the coin from a mass of fireworks； and gave it to the prisoner。 He appeared to be so good…natured a fellow that I ventured to ask what he had done to get into jail。
〃Intirely innocent。 I was clapped in here by a rascally nevew as wishes to enjoy my wealth afore I'm dead。'
〃Your name； Sir？' I inquired； with a view of reporting the outrage to my grandfather and having the injured person re instated in society。
〃Git out； you insolent young reptyle！〃 shouted the man； in a passion。
I retreated precipitately； amid a roar of laughter from the other cells。
'Can't you keep still？〃 exclaimed Harris； withdrawing his head from the window。
A portly watchman usually sat on a stool outside the door day and night； but on this particular occasion； his services being required elsewhere； the bridewell had been left to guard itself。
〃All clear；〃 whispered Jack Harris； as he vanished through the aperture and dropped softly on the ground outside。 We all followed him expeditiously…Pepper Whitcomb and myself getting stuck in the window for a moment in our frantic efforts not to be last。
〃Now； boys； everybody for himself ！〃
Chapter Eight
The Adventures of a Fourth
The sun cast a broad column of quivering gold across the river at the foot of our street； just as I reached the doorstep of the Nutter House。 Kitty Collins； with her dress tucked about her so that she looked as if she had on a pair of calico trousers； was washing off the sidewalk。
〃Arrah you bad boy！〃 cried Kitty； leaning on the mop。 handle。 〃The Capen has jist been askin' for you。 He's gone up town； now。 It's a nate thing you done with my clothes…line； and； it's me you may thank for gettin' it out of the way before the Capen come down。〃
The kind creature had hauled in the rope； and my escapade had not been discovered by the family； but I knew very well that the burning of the stage…coach； and the arrest of the boys concerned in the mischief； were sure to reach my grandfathers ears sooner or later。
〃Well； Thomas；〃 said the old gentleman； an hour or so afterwards； beaming upon me benevolently across the breakfast table； 〃you didn't wait to be called this morning。〃
'No； sir；〃 I replied； growing very warm； 〃I took a little run up town to see what was going on。〃
I didn't say anything about the little run I took home again！ 〃They had quite a time on the Square last night；〃 remarked Captain Nutter； looking up from the Rivermouth Bamacle； which was always placed beside his coffee…cup at breakfast。
I felt that my hair was preparing to stand on end。
〃Quite a time；〃 continued my grandfather。 〃Some boys broke into Ezra Wingate's barn and carried off the old stagecoach。 The young rascals！ I do believe they'd burn up the whole town if they had their way。〃
With this he resumed the paper。 After a long silence he exclaimed； 〃Hullo！〃 upon which I nearly fell off the chair。
〃'Miscreants unknown；〃' read my grandfather； following the paragraph with his forefinger； 〃'escaped from the bridewell； leaving no clew to their identity； except the letter H； cut on one of the benches。' 'Five dollars reward offered for the apprehension of the perpetrators。' Sho！ I hope Wingate will catch them。〃
I don't see how I continued to live； for on hearing this the breath went entirely out of my body。 I beat a retreat from the room as soon as I could； and flew to the stable with a misty intention of mounting Gypsy and escaping from the place。 I was pondering what steps to take； when Jack Harris and Charley Marden entered the yard。
〃I say；〃 said Harris； as blithe as a lark； 〃has old Wingate been here？〃
〃Been here？〃 I cried； 〃I should hope not！〃
〃The whole thing's out； you know；〃 said Harris； pulling Gypsy's forelock over her eyes and blowing playfully into her nostrils。
〃You don't mean it！〃 I gasped。
〃Yes； I do； and we are to pay Wingate three dollars apiece。 He'll make rather a good spec out of it。〃
〃But how did he discover that we were the…the miscreants？〃 I asked； quoting mechanically from the Rivermouth Bamacle。
〃Why； he saw us take the old ark； confound him！ He's been trying to sell it any time these ten years。 Now he has sold it to us。 When he found that we had slipped out of the Meat Market； he went right off and wrote the advertisement offering five dollars reward； though he knew well enough who had taken the coach； for he came round to my father's house before the paper was printed to talk the matter over。 Wasn't the governor mad； though！ But it's all settled； I tell you。 We're to pay Wingate fifteen dollars for the old go…cart； which he wanted to sell the other day for seventy…five cents； and couldn't。 It's a downright swindle。 But the funny part of it is to come。〃
O； there's a funny part to it； is there？〃 I remarked bitterly。
〃Yes。 The moment Bill Conway saw the advertisement； he knew it was Harry Blake who cut that letter H on the bench； so off he rushes up to Wingate…kind of him； wasn't it？…and claims the reward。 'Too late； young man；' says old Wingate； 'the culprits has been discovered。' You see Sly…boots hadn't any intention of paying that five dollars。〃
Jack Harris's statement lifted a weight from my bosom。 The article in the Rivermouth Barnacle bad placed the affair before me in a new light。 I had thoughtlessly committed a grave offence。 Though the property in question was valueless； we were clearly wrong in destroying it。 At the same time Mr。 Wingate had tacitly sanctioned the act by not preventing it when he might easily have done so。 He had allowed his property to be destroyed in order that be might realize a large profit。
Without waiting to hear more； I went straight to Captain Nutter； and； laying my remaining three dollars on his knee； confessed my share in the previous night's transaction。
The Captain heard me through in profound silence； pocketed the bank…notes； and walked off without speaking a
