the story of a bad boy(顽童故事)-第15节
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Harris laughed； but neither I nor Binny Wallace saw Charley's wicked
joke。
We were now joined by Pepper Whitcomb； Fred Langdon； and several
other desperate characters； on their way to the Square； which was always a
busy place when public festivities were going on。 Feeling that I was still in
disgrace with the Captain； I thought it politic to ask his consent before
accompanying the boys。
He gave it with some hesitation； advising me to be careful not to get in
front of the firearms。 Once he put his fingers mechanically into his vest…
pocket and half drew forth some dollar bills； then slowly thrust them back
again as his sense of justice overcame his genial disposition。 I guess it cut
the old gentleman to the heart to be obliged to keep me out of my pocket…
money。 I know it did me。 However； as I was passing through the hall； Miss
Abigail； with a very severe cast of countenance； slipped a brand…new
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quarter into my hand。 We had silver currency in those days； thank Heaven！
Great were the bustle and confusion on the Square。 By the way； I don't
know why they called this large open space a square； unless because it was
an oval…an oval formed by the confluence of half a dozen streets； now
thronged by crowds of smartly dressed towns…people and country folks；
for Rivermouth on the Fourth was the centre of attraction to the
inhabitants of the neighboring villages。
On one side of the Square were twenty or thirty booths arranged in a
semi…circle； gay with little flags and seductive with lemonade； ginger…beer；
and seedcakes。 Here and there were tables at which could be purchased the
smaller sort of fireworks； such as pin…wheels； serpents； double…headers；
and punk warranted not to go out。 Many of the adjacent houses made a
pretty display of bunting； and across each of the streets opening on the
Square was an arch of spruce and evergreen； blossoming all over with
patriotic mottoes and paper roses。
It was a noisy； merry； bewildering scene as we came upon the ground。
The incessant rattle of small arms； the booming of the twelve…pounder
firing on the Mill Dam； and the silvery clangor of the church…bells ringing
simultaneously…not to mention an ambitious brass…band that was blowing
itself to pieces on a balcony…were enough to drive one distracted。 We
amused ourselves for an hour or two； darting in and out among the crowd
and setting off our crackers。 At one o'clock the Hon。 Hezekiah Elkins
mounted a platform in the middle of the Square and delivered an oration；
to which his 〃feller…citizens〃 didn't pay much attention； having all they
could do to dodge the squibs that were set loose upon them by
mischievous boys stationed on the surrounding housetops。
Our little party which had picked up recruits here and there； not being
swayed by eloquence； withdrew to a booth on the outskirts of the crowd；
where we regaled ourselves with root beer at two cents a glass。 I recollect
being much struck by the placard surmounting this tent：
ROOT BEER
SOLD HERE
It seemed to me the perfection of pith and poetry。 What could be
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more terse？ Not a word to spare； and yet everything fully expressed。
Rhyme and rhythm faultless。 It was a delightful poet who made those
verses。 As for the beer itself…that； I think； must have been made from the
root of all evil！ A single glass of it insured an uninterrupted pain for
twenty…four hours。
The influence of my liberality working on Charley Marden…for it was I
who paid for the beer…he presently invited us all to take an ice…cream with
him at Pettingil's saloon。 Pettingil was the Delmonico of Rivermouth。 He
furnished ices and confectionery for aristocratic balls and parties； and
didn't disdain to officiate as leader of the orchestra at the same； for
Pettingil played on the violin； as Pepper Whitcomb described it； 〃like Old
Scratch。〃
Pettingil's confectionery store was on the corner of Willow and High
Streets。 The saloon； separated from the shop by a flight of three steps
leading to a door hung with faded red drapery； had about it an air of
mystery and seclusion quite delightful。 Four windows； also draped； faced
the side…street； affording an unobstructed view of Marm Hatch's back yard；
where a number of inexplicable garments on a clothes…line were always to
be seen careering in the wind。
There was a lull just then in the ice…cream business； it being dinner…
time； and we found the saloon unoccupied。 When we had seated ourselves
around the largest marble…topped table； Charley Marden in a manly voice
ordered twelve sixpenny icecreams； 〃strawberry and verneller mixed。〃
It was a magnificent sight； those twelve chilly glasses entering the
room on a waiter； the red and white custard rising from each glass like a
church…steeple； and the spoon…handle shooting up from the apex like a
spire。 I doubt if a person of the nicest palate could have distinguished；
with his eyes shut； which was the vanilla and which the strawberry； but if I
could at this moment obtain a cream tasting as that did； I would give five
dollars for a very small quantity。
We fell to with a will； and so evenly balanced were our capabilities
that we finished our creams together； the spoons clinking in the glasses
like one spoon。
〃Let's have some more！〃 cried Charley Marden； with the air of Aladdin
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ordering up a fresh hogshead of pearls and rubies。 〃Tom Bailey； tell
Pettingil to send in another round。〃
Could I credit my ears？ I looked at him to see if he were in earnest。 He
meant it。 In a moment more I was leaning over the counter giving
directions for a second supply。 Thinking it would make no difference to
such a gorgeous young sybarite as Marden； I took the liberty of ordering
ninepenny creams this time。
On returning to the saloon； what was my horror at finding it empty！
There were the twelve cloudy glasses； standing in a circle on the sticky
marble slab； and not a boy to be seen。 A pair of hands letting go their hold
on the window…sill outside explained matters。 I had been made a victim。
I couldn't stay and face Pettingil； whose peppery temper was well
known among the boys。 I hadn't a cent in the world to appease him。 What
should I do？ I heard the clink of approaching glasses…the ninepenny
creams。 I rushed to the nearest window。 It was only five feet to the ground。
I threw myself out as if I had been an old hat。
Landing on my feet； I fled breathlessly down High Street； through
Willow； and was turning into Brierwood Place when the sound of several
voices； calling to me in distress； stopped my progress。
〃Look out； you fool！ The mine！ The mine！〃 yelled the warning voices。
Several men and boys were standing at the head of the street； making
insane gestures to me to avoid something。 But I saw no mine； only in the
middle of the road in front of me was a common flour…barrel； which； as I
gazed at it； suddenly rose into the air with a terrific explosion。 I felt myself
thrown violently off my feet。 I remember nothing else； excepting that； as I
went up； I caught a momentary glimpse of Ezra Wingate leering through is
shop window like an avenging spirit。
The mine that had wrought me woe was not properly a mine at all； but
merely a few ounces of powder placed under an empty keg or barrel and
fired with a slow…match。 Boys who didn't happen to have pistols or cannon
generally burnt their powder in this fashion。
For an account of what followed I am indebted to hearsay； for I was
insensible when the people picked me up and carried me home on a
shutter borrowed from the proprietor of Pettingil's saloon。 I was supposed
