the story of a bad boy-第32节

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　place　in　my　life；　so　that；　if　the　Rawlings　went　down　in　a　gale；　my　friends　might　have　the　limited　satisfaction　of　knowing　what　had　become　of　me。

Pepper　shook　his　head　discouragingly；　and　sought　in　every　way　to　dissuade　me　from　the　step。　He　drew　a　disenchanting　picture　of　the　existence　of　a　cabin…boy；　whose　constant　duty　（according　to　Pepper）　was　to　have　dishes　broken　over　his　head　whenever　the　captain　or　the　mate　chanced　to　be　out　of　humor；　which　was　mostly　all　the　time。　But　nothing　Pepper　said　could　turn　me　a　hair's…breadth　from　my　purpose。

I　had　little　time　to　spare；　for　the　advertisement　stated　explicitly　that　applications　were　to　be　made　in　person　within　four　days。　I　trembled　to　think　of　the　bare　possibility　of　some　other　boy　snapping　up　that　desirable　situation。

It　was　on　Monday　that　I　stumbled　upon　the　advertisement。　On　Tuesday　my　preparations　were　completed。　My　baggage…consisting　of　four　shirts；　half　a　dozen　collars；　a　piece　of　shoemaker's　wax；　（Heaven　knows　what　for！）　and　seven　stockings；　wrapped　in　a　silk　handkerchief…lay　hidden　under　a　loose　plank　of　the　stable　floor。　This　was　my　point　of　departure。

My　plan　was　to　take　the　last　train　for　Boston；　in　order　to　prevent　the　possibility　of　immediate　pursuit；　if　any　should　be　attempted。　The　train　left　at　4　P。M。

I　ate　no　breakfast　and　little　dinner　that　day。　I　avoided　the　Captain's　eye；　and　wouldn't　have　looked　Miss　Abigail　or　Kitty　in　the　face　for　the　wealth　of　the　Indies。

When　it　was　time　to　start　for　the　station　I　retired　quietly　to　the　stable　and　uncovered　my　bundle。　I　lingered　a　moment　to　kiss　the　white　star　on　Gypsy's　forehead；　and　was　nearly　unmanned　when　the　little　animal　returned　the　caress　by　lapping　my　cheek。　Twice　I　went　back　and　patted　her。

On　reaching　the　station　I　purchased　my　ticket　with　a　bravado　air　that　ought　to　have　aroused　the　suspicion　of　the　ticket…master；　and　hurried　to　the　car；　where　I　sat　fidgeting　until　the　train　shot　out　into　the　broad　daylight。

Then　I　drew　a　long　breath　and　looked　about　me。　The　first　object　that　saluted　my　sight　was　Sailor　Ben；　four　or　five　seats　behind　me；　reading　the　Rivermouth　Barnacle！

Reading　was　not　an　easy　art　to　Sailor　Ben；　he　grappled　with　the　sense　of　a　paragraph　as　if　it　were　a　polar…bear；　and　generally　got　the　worst　of　it。　On　the　present　occasion　he　was　having　a　hard　struggle；　judging　by　the　way　he　worked　his　mouth　and　rolled　his　eyes。　He　had　evidently　not　seen　me。　But　what　was　he　doing　on　the　Boston　train？

Without　lingering　to　solve　the　question；　I　stole　gently　from　my　seat　and　passed　into　the　forward　car。

This　was　very　awkward；　having　the　Admiral　on　board。　I　couldn't　understand　it　at　all。　Could　it　be　possible　that　the　old　boy　had　got　tired　of　land　and　was　running　away　to　sea　himself？　That　was　too　absurd。　I　glanced　nervously　towards　the　car　door　now　and　then；　half　expecting　to　see　him　come　after　me。

We　had　passed　one　or　two　way…stations；　and　I　had　quieted　down　a　good　deal；　when　I　began　to　feel　as　if　somebody　was　looking　steadily　at　the　back　of　my　head。　I　turned　round　involuntarily；　and　there　was　Sailor　Ben　again；　at　the　farther　end　of　the　car；　wrestling　with　the　Rivermouth　Barnacle　as　before。

I　began　to　grow　very　uncomfortable　indeed。　Was　it　by　design　or　chance　that　he　thus　dogged　my　steps？　If　he　was　aware　of　my　presence；　why　didn't　he　speak　to　me　at　once？　'Why　did　he　steal　round；　making　no　sign；　like　a　particularly　unpleasant　phantom？　Maybe　it　wasn't　Sailor　Ben。　I　peeped　at　him　slyly。　There　was　no　mistaking　that　tanned；　genial　phiz　of　his。　Very　odd　he　didn't　see　me！

Literature；　even　in　the　mild　form　of　a　country　newspaper；　always　had　the　effect　of　poppies　on　the　Admiral。　'When　I　stole　another　glance　in　his　direction　his　hat　was　tilted　over　his　right　eye　in　the　most　dissolute　style；　and　the　Rivermouth　Barnacle　lay　in　a　confused　heap　beside　him。　He　had　succumbed。　He　was　fast　asleep。　If　he　would　only　keep　asleep　until　we　reached　our　destination！

By　and　by　I　discovered　that　the　rear　car　had　been　detached　from　the　train　at　the　last　stopping…place。　This　accounted　satisfactorily　for　Sailor　Ben's　singular　movements；　and　considerably　calmed　my　fears。　Nevertheless；　I　did　not　like　the　aspect　of　things。

The　Admiral　continued　to　snooze　like　a　good　fellow；　and　was　snoring　melodiously　as　we　glided　at　a　slackened　pace　over　a　bridge　and　into　Boston。

I　grasped　my　pilgrim's　bundle；　and；　hurrying　out　of　the　car；　dashed　up　the　first　street　that　presented　itself。

It　was　a　narrow；　noisy；　zigzag　street；　crowded　with　trucks　and　obstructed　with　bales　and　boxes　of　merchandise。　I　didn't　pause　to　breathe　until　I　had　placed　a　respectable　distance　between　me　and　the　railway　station。　By　this　time　it　was　nearly　twilight。

I　had　got　into　the　region　of　dwelling…houses；　and　was　about　to　seat　myself　on　a　doorstep　to　rest；　when；　lo！　there　was　the　Admiral　trundling　along　on　the　opposite　sidewalk；　under　a　full　spread　of　canvas；　as　he　would　have　expressed　it。

I　was　off　again　in　an　instant　at　a　rapid　pace；　but　in　spite　of　all　I　could　do　he　held　his　own　without　any　perceptible　exertion。　He　had　a　very　ugly　gait　to　get　away　from；　the　Admiral。　I　didn't　dare　to　run；　for　fear　of　being　mistaken　for　a　thief；　a　suspicion　which　my　bundle　would　naturally　lend　color　to。

I　pushed　ahead；　however；　at　a　brisk　trot；　and　must　have　got　over　one　or　two　miles…my　pursuer　neither　gaining　nor　losing　ground…when　I　concluded　to　surrender　at　discretion。　I　saw　that　Sailor　Ben　was　determined　to　have　me；　and；　knowing　my　man；　I　knew　that　escape　was　highly　improbable。

So　I　turned　round　and　waited　for　him　to　catch　up　with　me；　which　he　did　in　a　few　seconds；　looking　rather　sheepish　at　first。

〃Sailor　Ben；〃　said　I；　severely；　〃do　I　understand　that　you　are　dogging　my　steps？〃

〃'Well；　little　mess…mate；〃　replied　the　Admiral；　rubbing　his　nose；　which　he　always　did　when　he　was　disconcerted；　〃I　am　kind　o'　followin'　in　your　wake。〃

〃Under　orders？〃

〃Under　orders。〃

〃Under　the　Captain's　orders？〃

〃Sure…ly。〃

〃In　other　words；　my　grandfather　has　sent　you　to　fetch　me　back　to　Rivermouth？〃

〃That's　about　it；〃　said　the　Admiral；　with　a　burst　of　frankness。

〃And　I　must　go　with　you　whether　I　want　to　or　not？〃

〃The　Capen's　very　identical　words！〃

There　was　nothing　to　be　done。　I　bit　my　lips　with　suppressed　anger；　and　signified　that　I　was　at　his　disposal；　since　I　couldn't　help　it。　The　impression　was　very　strong　in　my　mind　that　the　Admiral　wouldn't　hesitate　to　put　me　in　irons　if　I　showed　signs　of　mutiny。

It　was　too　late　to　return　to　Rivermouth　that　night…a　fact　which　I　communicated　to　the　old　boy　sullenly；　inquiring　at　the　same　time　what　he　proposed　to　do　about　it。

He　said　we　would　cruise　about　for　some　rations；　and　then　make　a　night　of　it。　I　didn't　condescend　to　reply；　though　I　hailed　the　suggestion　of　something　to　eat　with　inward　enthusiasm；　for　I　had　not　taken　enough　food　that　day　to　keep　life　in　a　canary。

'We　wandered　back　to　the　railway　station；　in　the　waiting　room　of　which　was　a　kind　of　restaurant　presided　over　by　a　severe…looking　young　lady。　Here　we　had　a　cup　of　coffee　apiece；　several　tough　doughnuts；　and　some　blocks　of　venerable　spongecake。　The　young　lady　who　attended　on　us；　whatever　her　age　was　then；　must　have　been　a　mere　child　when　that　sponge…cake　was　made。

The　Admiral's　acquaintance　with　Boston　hotels　was　slight；　but　he　knew　of　a　quiet　lodging…house　near　by；　much　patronized　by　sea…captains；　arid　kept　by　a　former　friend　of　his。

In　this　house；　which　had　seen　its　best　days；　we　were　accommodated　with　a　mouldy　chamber　containing　two　cot…beds；　two　chairs；　and　a　cracked　pitcher　on　a　washstand。　The　mantel…shelf　was　ornamented　with　three　big　pink　conch…shells；　resembling　pieces　of　petrified　liver；　and　over　these　hung　a　cheap　lurid　print；　in　which　a　United　States　sloop…of…war　was　giving　a　British　frigate　particular　fits。　It　is　very　strange　how　our　own　ships　never　seem　to　suffer　any　in　these　terrible　engagements。　It　shows　what　a　nation　we　are。

An　oil…lamp　on　a　deal…table　cast　a　dismal　glare　over　the　apartment；　which　was　cheerless　in　the　extreme。　I　thought　of　our　sitting…room　at　home；　with　its　flowery　wall…paper　and　gay　curtains　and　soft　lounges；　I　saw　Major　Elkanah　Nutter　（my　grandfather's　father）　in　powdered　wig　and　Federal　uniform；　looking　down　benevolently　from　his　gilt　frame　between　the　bookcases；　I　pictured　the　Captain　and　Miss　Abigail　sitting　at　the　cosey　round　table　in　the　moon…like　glow　of　the　astral　lamp；　and　then　I　fell　to　wondering　how　they　would　receive　me　when　1　came　back。　I　wondered　if　the　Prodigal　Son　had　any　idea　that　his　father　was　going　to　kill　the　fatted　calf　for　him；　and　how　he　felt　about　it；　on　the　whole。

Though　I　was　very　low　in　spirits；　I　put　on　a　bold　front　to　Sailor　Ben；　you　will　understand。　To　be　caught　and　caged　in　this　manner　was　a　frightful　shock　to　my　vanity。　He　tried　to　draw　me　into　conversation；　but　I　answered　in　icy　monosyllables。　He　again　suggested　we　should　make　a　night　of　it；　and　hinted　broadly　that　he　was　game　for　any　amount　of　riotous　dissipation；　even　to　the　extent　of　going　to　see　a　play　if　I　wanted　to。　I　declined　haughtily。　I　was　dying　to　go。

He　then　threw　out　a　feeler　on　the　subject　of　dominos　and　checkers；　and　observed　in　a　general　way　that　〃seven　up〃　was　a　capital　game；　but