the story of a bad boy(顽童故事)-第39节
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that year； and which； indeed； had made its appearance in a mild form at
several points along the Mississippi River； had broken out with much
violence at New Orleans。
The report that first reached us through the newspapers was meagre
and contradictory； many people discredited it； but a letter from my mother
left us no room for doubt。 The sickness was in the city。 The hospitals were
filling up； and hundreds of the citizens were flying from the stricken place
by every steamboat。 The unsettled state of my father's affairs made it
imperative for him to remain at his post； his desertion at that moment
would have been at the sacrifice of all he had saved from the general
wreck。
As he would be detained in New Orleans at least three months； my
mother declined to come North without him。
After this we awaited with feverish impatience the weekly news that
came to us from the South。 The next letter advised us that my parents were
well； and that the sickness； so far； had not penetrated to the faubourg； or
district； where they lived。 The following week brought less cheering
tidings。 My father's business； in consequence of the flight of the other
partners； would keep him in the city beyond the period he had mentioned。
The family had moved to Pass Christian； a favorite watering…place on
Lake Pontchartrain； near New Orleans； where he was able to spend part of
each week。 So the return North was postponed indefinitely。
It was now that the old longing to see my parents came back to me
with irresistible force。 I knew my grandfather would not listen to the idea
of my going to New Orleans at such a dangerous time； since he had
opposed the journey so strongly when the same objection did not exist。
But I determined to go nevertheless。
I think I have mentioned the fact that all the male members of our
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family； on my father's side…as far back as the Middle Ages…have exhibited
in early youth a decided talent for running away。 It was an hereditary
talent。 It ran in the blood to run away。 I do not pretend to explain the
peculiarity。 I simply admit it。
It was not my fate to change the prescribed order of things。 I； too； was
to run away； thereby proving； if any proof were needed； that I was the
grandson of my grandfather。 I do not hold myself responsible for the step
any more than I do for the shape of my nose； which is said to be a
facsimile of Captain Nutter's。
I have frequently noticed how circumstances conspire to help a man；
or a boy； when he has thoroughly resolved on doing a thing。 That very
week the Rivermouth Barnacle printed an advertisement that seemed to
have been written on purpose for me。 It read as follows：
WANTED。 A Few Able…bodied Seamen and a Cabin…Boy； for the ship
Rawlings； now loading for New Orleans at Johnson's Wharf； Boston。
Apply in person； within four days； at the office of Messrs。… & Co。； or on
board the Ship。
How I was to get to New Orleans with only 4。62 was a question that
had been bothering me。 This advertisement made it as clear as day。 I
would go as cabin…boy。
I had taken Pepper into my confidence again； I had told him the story
of my love for Miss Glentworth； with all its harrowing details； and now
conceived it judicious to confide in him the change about to take 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
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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
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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。
