the red cross girl(红十字姑娘)-第46节
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action； Jimmie preferred action。 But； he did not climb the hill nearest the
car； he climbed the hill that overlooked that hill。
Flat on the ground； hidden in the golden…rod he lay motionless。 Before
him； for fifteen miles stretched hills and tiny valleys。 Six miles away to his
right rose the stone steeple； and the red roofs of Greenwich。 Directly
before him were no signs of habitation； only green forests； green fields；
gray stone walls； and； where a road ran up…hill； a splash of white； that
quivered in the heat。 The storm of the night before had washed the air。
Each leaf stood by itself。 Nothing stirred； and in the glare of the August
sun every detail of the landscape was as distinct as those in a colored
photograph； and as still。
In his excitement the scout was trembling。
〃If he moves；〃 he sighed happily； 〃I've got him！〃
Opposite； across a little valley was the hill at the base of which he had
found the car。 The slope toward him was bare； but the top was crowned
with a thick wood； and along its crest； as though establishing an ancient
boundary； ran a stone wall； moss…covered and wrapped in poison…ivy。 In
places； the branches of the trees； reaching out to the sun； overhung the
wall and hid it in black shadows。 Jimmie divided the hill into sectors。 He
began at the right； and slowly followed the wall。 With his eyes he took it
apart； stone by stone。 Had a chipmunk raised his head； Jimmie would have
seen him。 So； when from the stone wall； like the reflection of the sun upon
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a window…pane； something flashed； Jimmie knew he had found his spy。 A
pair of binoculars had betrayed him。 Jimmie now saw him clearly。 He sat
on the ground at the top of the hill opposite； in the deep shadow of an oak；
his back against the stone wall。 With the binoculars to his eyes he had
leaned too far forward； and upon the glass the sun had flashed a warning。
Jimmie appreciated that his attack must be made from the rear。
Backward； like a crab he wriggled free of the golden…rod； and hidden by
the contour of the hill； raced down it and into the woods on the hill
opposite。 When he came to within twenty feet of the oak beneath which he
had seen the stranger； he stood erect； and as though avoiding a live wire；
stepped on tip…toe to the wall。 The stranger still sat against it。 The
binoculars hung from a cord around his neck。 Across his knees was spread
a map。 He was marking it with a pencil； and as he worked； he hummed a
tune。
Jimmie knelt； and resting the gun on the top of the wall； covered him。
〃Throw up your hands！〃 he commanded。
The stranger did not start。 Except that he raised his eyes he gave no
sign that he had heard。 His eyes stared across the little sun…filled valley。
They were half closed as though in study； as though perplexed by some
deep and intricate problem。 They appeared to see beyond the sun…filled
valley some place of greater moment； some place far distant。
Then the eyes smiled； and slowly； as though his neck were stiff； but
still smiling； the stranger turned his head。 When he saw the boy； his smile
was swept away in waves of surprise； amazement； and disbelief。 These
were followed instantly by an expression of the most acute alarm。 〃Don't
point that thing at me！〃 shouted the stranger。 〃Is it loaded？〃 With his cheek
pressed to the stock and his eye squinted down the length of the brown
barrel； Jimmie nodded。 The stranger flung up his open palms。 They
accented his expression of amazed incredulity。 He seemed to be
exclaiming； 〃Can such things be？〃
〃Get up！〃 commanded Jimmie。
With alacrity the stranger rose。
〃Walk over there；〃 ordered the scout。 〃Walk backward。 Stop！ Take off
those field…glasses and throw them to me。〃 Without removing his eyes
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from the gun the stranger lifted the binoculars from his neck and tossed
them to the stone wall。 〃See here！〃 he pleaded； 〃if you'll only point that
damned blunderbuss the other way； you can have the glasses； and my
watch； and clothes； and all my money； only don't〃
Jimmie flushed crimson。 〃You can't bribe me；〃 he growled。 At least； he
tried to growl； but because his voice was changing； or because he was
excited the growl ended in a high squeak。 With mortification； Jimmie
flushed a deeper crimson。 But the stranger was not amused。 At Jimmie's
words he seemed rather the more amazed。
〃I'm not trying to bribe you；〃 he protested。 〃If you don't want anything；
why are you holding me up？〃
〃I'm not；〃 returned Jimmie； 〃I'm arresting you！〃
The stranger laughed with relief。 Again his eyes smiled。 〃Oh；〃 he cried；
〃I see！ Have I been trespassing？〃
With a glance Jimmie measured the distance between himself and the
stranger。 Reassured； he lifted one leg after the other over the wall。 〃If you
try to rush me；〃 he warned； 〃I'll shoot you full of buckshot。〃
The stranger took a hasty step BACKWARD。 〃Don't worry about
that；〃 he exclaimed。 〃I'll not rush you。 Why am I arrested？〃
Hugging the shotgun with his left arm； Jimmie stopped and lifted the
binoculars。 He gave them a swift glance； slung them over his shoulder； and
again clutched his weapon。 His expression was now stern and menacing。
〃The name on them〃 he accused； 〃is 'Weiss； Berlin。' Is that your
name？〃 The stranger smiled； but corrected himself； and replied gravely；
〃That's the name of the firm that makes them。〃
Jimmie exclaimed in triumph。 〃Hah！〃 he cried； 〃made in Germany！〃
The stranger shook his head。
〃I don't understand；〃 he said。 〃Where WOULD a Weiss glass be
made？〃 With polite insistence he repeated； 〃Would you mind telling me
why I am arrested； and who you might happen to be？〃
Jimmie did not answer。 Again he stooped and picked up the map； and
as he did so； for the first time the face of the stranger showed that he was
annoyed。 Jimmie was not at home with maps。 They told him nothing。 But
the penciled notes on this one made easy reading。 At his first glance he
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saw； 〃Correct range； 1；800 yards〃； 〃this stream not fordable〃； 〃slope of hill
15 degrees inaccessible for artillery。〃 〃Wire entanglements here〃； 〃forage
for five squadrons。〃
Jimmie's eyes flashed。 He shoved the map inside his shirt； and with the
gun motioned toward the base of the hill。 〃Keep forty feet ahead of me；〃
he commanded； 〃and walk to your car。〃 The stranger did not seem to hear
him。 He spoke with irritation。
〃I suppose；〃 he said； 〃I'll have to explain to you about that map。〃
〃Not to me； you won't；〃 declared his captor。 〃You're going to drive
straight to Judge Van Vorst's； and explain to HIM！〃
The stranger tossed his arms even higher。 〃Thank God！〃 he exclaimed
gratefully。
With his prisoner Jimmie encountered no further trouble。 He made a
willing captive。 And if in covering the five miles to Judge Van Vorst's he
exceeded the speed limit； the fact that from the rear seat Jimmie held the
shotgun against the base of his skull was an extenuating circumstance。
They arrived in the nick of time。 In his own car young Van Vorst and a
bag of golf clubs were just drawing away from the house。 Seeing the car
climbing the steep driveway that for a half…mile led from his lodge to his
front door； and seeing Jimmie standing in the tonneau brandishing a gun；
the Judge hastily descended。 The sight of the spy hunter filled him with
misgiving； but the sight of him gave Jimmie sweet relief。 Arresting
German spies for a small boy is no easy task。 For Jimmie the strain was
great。 And now that he knew he had successfully delivered him into the
hands of the law； Jimmie's heart rose with happiness。 The added presence
of a butler of magnificent bearing and of an athletic looking chauffeur
increased his sense of security。 Their presence seemed to afford a feeling
of security to the prisoner also。 As he broug
