condensed novels(压缩小说)-第20节
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I looked up and beheld Captain Boltrope； endeavoring to calm his stern
features； but the twitching around his mouth betrayed his intense
enjoyment of the scene。 〃Go to the mastheadup with you； sir！〃 he
repeated sternly to Briggs。
〃Very good； sir；〃 said the boy； coolly preparing to mount the shrouds。
〃Good by； Johnny Crapaud。 Humph！〃 he added； in a tone intended for my
ear； 〃a pretty way to treat a hero。 The service is going to the devil！〃
I thought so too。
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CHAPTER VI。
We were ordered to the West Indies。 Although Captain Boltrope's
manner toward me was still severe； and even harsh； I understood that my
name had been favorably mentioned in the despatches。
Reader； were you ever at Jamaica？ If so； you remember the negresses；
the oranges； Port Royal Tomthe yellow fever。 After being two weeks at
the station； I was taken sick of the fever。 In a month I was delirious。
During my paroxysms； I had a wild distempered dream of a stern face
bending anxiously over my pillow； a rough hand smoothing my hair； and a
kind voice saying：
〃Bess his 'ittle heart！ Did he have the naughty fever？〃 This face
seemed again changed to the well…known stern features of Captain
Boltrope。
When I was convalescent； a packet edged in black was put in my hand。
It contained the news of my father's death； and a sealed letter which he had
requested to be given to me on his decease。 I opened it tremblingly。 It read
thus：
〃My dear Boy：I regret to inform you that in all probability you are
not my son。 Your mother； I am grieved to say； was a highly improper
person。 Who your father may be； I really cannot say； but perhaps the
Honorable Henry Boltrope； Captain R。 N。； may be able to inform you。
Circumstances over which I have no control have deferred this important
disclosure。
〃YOUR STRICKEN PARENT。〃
And so Captain Boltrope was my father。 Heavens！ Was it a dream？ I
recalled his stern manner； his observant eye； his ill…concealed uneasiness
when in my presence。 I longed to embrace him。 Staggering to my feet； I
rushed in my scanty apparel to the deck； where Captain Boltrope was just
then engaged in receiving the Governor's wife and daughter。 The ladies
shrieked； the youngest； a beautiful girl； blushed deeply。 Heeding them not；
I sank at his feet； and； embracing them； cried：
〃My father！〃
〃Chuck him overboard！〃 roared Captain Boltrope。
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〃Stay；〃 pleaded the soft voice of Clara Maitland； the Governor's
daughter。
〃Shave his head！ he's a wretched lunatic！〃 continued Captain Boltrope；
while his voice trembled with excitement。
〃No； let me nurse and take care of him；〃 said the lovely girl； blushing
as she spoke。 〃Mamma； can't we take him home？〃
The daughter's pleading was not without effect。 In the mean time I had
fainted。 When I recovered my senses I found myself in Governor
Maitland's mansion。
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CHAPTER VII。
The reader will guess what followed。 I fell deeply in love with Clara
Maitland； to whom I confided the secret of my birth。 The generous girl
asserted that she had detected the superiority of my manner at once。 We
plighted our troth； and resolved to wait upon events。
Briggs called to see me a few days afterward。 He said that the purser
had insulted the whole cockpit； and all the midshipmen had called him out。
But he added thoughtfully： 〃I don't see how we can arrange the duel。 You
see there are six of us to fight him。〃
〃Very easily；〃 I replied。 〃Let your fellows all stand in a row； and take
his fire； that； you see； gives him six chances to one； and he must be a bad
shot if he can't hit one of you； while； on the other hand； you see； he gets a
volley from you six； and one of you'll be certain to fetch him。〃
〃Exactly〃； and away Briggs went； but soon returned to say that the
purser had declined；〃like a dd coward；〃 he added。
But the news of the sudden and serious illness of Captain Boltrope put
off the duel。 I hastened to his bedside； but too late；an hour previous he
had given up the ghost。
I resolved to return to England。 I made known the secret of my birth；
and exhibited my adopted father's letter to Lady Maitland； who at once
suggested my marriage with her daughter； before I returned to claim the
property。 We were married； and took our departure next day。
I made no delay in posting at once； in company with my wife and my
friend Briggs； to my native village。 Judge of my horror and surprise when
my late adopted father came out of his shop to welcome me。
〃Then you are not dead！〃 I gasped。
〃No； my dear boy。〃
〃And this letter？〃
My fatheras I must still call himglanced on the paper； and
pronounced it a forgery。 Briggs roared with laughter。 I turned to him and
demanded an explanation。
〃Why； don't you see； Greeny； it's all a joke；a midshipman's joke！〃
〃But〃 I asked。
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〃Don't be a fool。 You've got a good wife；be satisfied。〃
I turned to Clara； and was satisfied。 Although Mrs。 Maitland never
forgave me； the jolly old Governor laughed heartily over the joke； and so
well used his influence that I soon became； dear reader； Admiral Breezy； K。
C。 B。
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JOHN JENKINS；OR；THE
SMOKER REFORMED。
BY T。 S。 ATHR。
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CHAPTER I。
One cigar a day！〃 said Judge Boompointer。
One cigar a day！〃 repeated John Jenkins； as with trepidation he
dropped his half…consumed cigar under his work…bench。
〃One cigar a day is three cents a day；〃 remarked Judge Boompointer；
gravely； 〃and do you know； sir； what one cigar a day； or three cents a day；
amounts to in the course of four years？〃
John Jenkins； in his boyhood； had attended the village school； and
possessed considerable arithmetical ability。 Taking up a shingle which lay
upon his work…bench； and producing a piece of chalk； with a feeling of
conscious pride he made an exhaustive calculation。
〃Exactly forty…three dollars and eighty cents；〃 he replied； wiping the
perspiration from his heated brow； while his face flushed with honest
enthusiasm。
〃Well； sir； if you saved three cents a day； instead of wasting it； you
would now be the possessor of a new suit of clothes； an illustrated Family
Bible； a pew in the church； a complete set of Patent Office Reports； a
hymn…book； and a paid subscription to Arthur's Home Magazine； which
could be purchased for exactly forty… three dollars and eighty cents； and；〃
added the Judge； with increasing sternness； 〃if you calculate leap…year；
which you seem to have strangely omitted； you have three cents more； sir；
THREE CENTS MORE！ What would that buy you； sir？〃
〃A cigar；〃 suggested John Jenkins； but； coloring again deeply； he hid
his face。
〃No； sir；〃 said the Judge； with a sweet smile of benevolence stealing
over his stern features； 〃properly invested； it would buy you that which
passeth all price。 Dropped into the missionary…box； who can tell what
heathen； now idly and joyously wantoning in nakedness and sin； might be
brought to a sense of his miserable condition； and made； through that three
cents； to feel the torments of the wicked？〃
With these words the Judge retired； leaving John Jenkins buried in
profound thought。 〃Three cents a day；〃 he muttered。 〃In forty years I might
be worth four hundred and thirty…eight dollars and ten cents；and then
