the red cross girl(红十字姑娘)-第26节
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company of his fellow creatures； David's heart leaped with pleasure。 He
advanced quickly。 And then something in the appearance of the tug；
something mysterious； secretive； threatening； caused him to halt。 No lights
showed from her engine…room； cabin； or pilot…house。 Her decks were
empty。 But； as was evidenced by the black smoke that rose from her
funnel； she was awake and awake to some purpose。 David stood
uncertainly； questioning whether to make his presence known or return to
the loneliness of the shed。 The question was decided for him。 He had not
considered that standing in the moonlight he was a conspicuous figure。
The planks of the wharf creaked and a man came toward him。 As one who
means to attack； or who fears attack； he approached warily。 He wore high
boots； riding breeches； and a sombrero。 He was a little man； but his
movements were alert and active。 To David he seemed unnecessarily
excited。 He thrust himself close against David。
〃Who the devil are you？〃 demanded the man from the tug。 〃How'd you
get here？〃
〃I walked；〃 said David。
〃Walked？〃 the man snorted incredulously。
〃I took the wrong train；〃 explained David pleasantly。 〃They put me off
about a mile below here。 I walked back to this flag station。 I'm going to
wait here for the next train north。〃
The little man laughed mockingly。
〃Oh； no you're not；〃 he said。 〃If you walked here； you can just walk
away again！〃 With a sweep of his arm； he made a vigorous and
peremptory gesture。
〃You walk！〃 he commanded。
〃I'll do just as I please about that；〃 said David。
As though to bring assistance； the little man started hastily toward the
tug。
〃I'll find some one who'll make you walk！〃 he called。 〃You WAIT；
that's all； you WAIT！〃
David decided not to wait。 It was possible the wharf was private
property and he had been trespassing。 In any case； at the flag station the
rights of all men were equal； and if he were in for a fight he judged it best
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to choose his own battle…ground。 He recrossed the tracks and sat down on
his suit case in a dark corner of the shed。 Himself hidden in the shadows
he could see in the moonlight the approach of any other person。
〃They're river pirates；〃 said David to himself； 〃or smugglers。 They're
certainly up to some mischief； or why should they object to the presence
of a perfectly harmless stranger？〃
Partly with cold； partly with nervousness； David shivered。
〃I wish that train would come；〃 he sighed。 And instantly？ as though in
answer to his wish； from only a short distance down the track he heard the
rumble and creak of approaching cars。 In a flash David planned his course
of action。
The thought of spending the night in a swamp infested by alligators
and smugglers had become intolerable。 He must escape； and he must
escape by the train now approaching。 To that end the train must be stopped。
His plan was simple。 The train was moving very； very slowly； and though
he had no lantern to wave； in order to bring it to a halt he need only stand
on the track exposed to the glare of the headlight and wave his arms。
David sprang between the rails and gesticulated wildly。 But in amazement
his arms fell to his sides。 For the train； now only a hundred yards distant
and creeping toward him at a snail's pace； carried no head…light； and
though in the moonlight David was plainly visible； it blew no whistle；
tolled no bell。 Even the passenger coaches in the rear of the sightless
engine were wrapped in darkness。 It was a ghost of a train； a Flying
Dutchman of a train； a nightmare of a train。 It was as unreal as the black
swamp； as the moss on the dead trees； as the ghostly tug…boat tied to the
rotting wharf。
〃Is the place haunted！〃 exclaimed David。
He was answered by the grinding of brakes and by the train coming to
a sharp halt。 And instantly from every side men fell from it to the ground；
and the silence of the night was broken by a confusion of calls and eager
greeting and questions and sharp words of command。
So fascinated was David in the stealthy arrival of the train and in her
mysterious passengers that； until they confronted him； he did not note the
equally stealthy approach of three men。 Of these one was the little man
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from the tug。 With him was a fat； red…faced Irish…American He wore no
coat and his shirt…sleeves were drawn away from his hands by garters of
pink elastic； his derby hat was balanced behind his ears； upon his right
hand flashed an enormous diamond。 He looked as though but at that
moment he had stopped sliding glasses across a Bowery bar。 The third
man carried the outward marks of a sailor。 David believed he was the
tallest man he had ever beheld； but equally remarkable with his height was
his beard and hair； which were of a fierce brick…dust red。 Even in the mild
moonlight it flamed like a torch。
〃What's your business？〃 demanded the man with the flamboyant hair。
〃I came here；〃 began David； 〃to wait for a train〃
The tall man bellowed with indignant rage。
〃Yes；〃 he shouted； 〃this is the sort of place any one would pick out to
wait for a train！〃
In front of David's nose he shook a fist as large as a catcher's glove。
〃Don't you lie to ME！〃 he bullied。 〃Do you know who I am？ Do you know
WHO you're up against？ I'm〃
The barkeeper person interrupted。
〃Never mind who you are；〃 he said。 〃We know that。 Find out who HE
is。〃
David turned appealingly to the barkeeper。
〃Do you suppose I'd come here on purpose？〃 he protested。 〃I'm a
travelling man〃
〃You won't travel any to…night；〃 mocked the red…haired one。 〃You've
seen what you came to see； and all you want now is to get to a Western
Union wire。 Well； you don't do it。 You don't leave here to…night！〃
As though he thought he had been neglected； the little man in riding…
boots pushed forward importantly。
〃Tie him to a tree！〃 he suggested。
〃Better take him on board；〃 said the barkeeper； 〃and send him back by
the pilot。 When we're once at sea； he can't hurt us any。〃
〃What makes you think I want to hurt you？〃 demanded David。 〃Who
do you think I am？〃
〃We know who you are；〃 shouted the fiery…headed one。 〃You're a
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blanketty…blank spy！ You're a government spy or a Spanish spy； and
whichever you are you don't get away to…night！〃
David had not the faintest idea what the man meant； but he knew his
self…respect was being ill…treated； and his self…respect rebelled。
〃You have made a very serious mistake；〃 he said； 〃and whether you
like it or not； I AM leaving here to…night； and YOU can go to the devil！〃
Turning his back David started with great dignity to walk away。 It was
a short walk。 Something hit him below the ear and he found himself
curling up comfortably on the ties。 He had a strong desire to sleep； but was
conscious that a bed on a railroad track； on account of trains wanting to
pass； was unsafe。 This doubt did not long disturb him。 His head rolled
against the steel rail； his limbs relaxed。 From a great distance； and in a
strange sing…song he heard the voice of the barkeeper saying； 〃Nineten
and OUT！〃
When David came to his senses his head was resting on a coil of rope。
In his ears was the steady throb of an engine； and in his eyes the glare of a
lantern。 The lantern was held by a pleasant…faced youth in a golf cap who
was smiling sympathetically。 David rose on his elbow and gazed wildly
about him。 He was in the bow of the ocean…going tug； and he saw that
from where he lay in the bow to her stern her decks were packed with men。
She was steaming swiftly down a broad river。 On either side the gray light
that comes before the dawn
