hans brinker-第23部分

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Still　the　thing　moves；　slowly；　slowly。

Peter！　　Captain　Peter；　there　is　danger！


Peter　heard　no　call；　but　in　his　dream；　he　slid　a　few　thousand　feet　from　one　iceberg　to　another；　and　the　shock　awoke　him。

Whew！　　How　cold　he　was！　　He　gave　a　hopeless；　desperate　tug　at　the　chrysalis　in　vain。　　Sheet；　blanket；　and　spread　were　firmly　wound　around　Jacob's　inanimate　form。

Clear　moonlight；　he　thought。　　We　shall　have　pleasant　weather　tomorrow。　　Halloo！　　What's　that？

He　saw　the　moving　thing；　or　rather　something　black　crouching　upon　the　floor；　for　it　had　halted　as　Peter　stirred。

He　watched　in　silence。

Soon　it　moved　again；　nearer　and　nearer。　　It　was　a　man　crawling　upon　hands　and　feet！

The　captain's　first　impulse　was　to　call　out；　but　he　took　an　instant　to　consider　matters。

The　creeper　had　a　shining　knife　in　one　hand。　　This　was　ugly；　but　Peter　was　naturally　self…possessed。　　When　the　head　turned；　Peter's　eyes　were　closed　as　if　in　sleep；　but　at　other　times；　nothing　could　be　keener；　sharper　than　the　captain's　gaze。

Closer；　closer　crept　the　robber。　　His　back　was　very　near　Peter　now。　　The　knife　was　laid　softly　upon　the　floor。　　One　careful　arm　reached　forth　stealthily　to　drag　the　clothes　from　the　chair　by　the　captain's　bedthe　robbery　was　commenced。

Now　was　Peter's　time！　　Holding　his　breath；　he　sprang　up　and　leaped　with　all　his　strength　upon　the　robber's　back；　stunning　the　rascal　with　the　force　of　the　blow。　　To　seize　the　knife　was　but　a　second's　work。　　The　robber　began　to　struggle；　but　Peter　sat　like　a　giant　astride　the　prostrate　form。

〃If　you　stir；〃　said　the　brave　boy　in　as　terrible　a　voice　as　he　could　command；　〃stir　but　one　inch；　I　will　plunge　this　knife　into　your　neck。　　Boys！　　Boys！　　Wake　up！〃　he　shouted；　still　pressing　down　the　black　head　and　holding　the　knife　at　pricking　distance。　　〃Give　us　a　hand！　　I've　got　him！〃

The　chrysalis　rolled　over；　but　made　no　other　sign。

〃Up；　boys！〃　cried　Peter；　never　budging。　　〃Ludwig！　　Lambert！　　Donder！　　Are　you　all　dead？〃

Dead？　　Not　they！　　Van　Mounen　and　Ben　were　on　their　feet　in　an　instant。

〃Hey！　　What　now？〃　they　shouted。

〃I've　got　a　robber　here；〃　said　Peter　coolly。　　〃Lie　still；　you　scoundrel；　or　I'll　slice　your　head　off！　　Now；　boys；　cut　out　your　bed　cordplenty　of　timehe's　a　dead　man　if　he　stirs。〃

Peter　felt　that　he　weighed　a　thousand　pounds。　　So　he　did；　with　that　knife　in　his　hand。

The　man　growled　and　swore　but　dared　not　move。

Ludwig　was　up　by　this　time。　　He　had　a　great　jackknife；　the　pride　of　his　heart；　in　his　breeches　pocket。　　It　could　do　good　service　now。　　They　bared　the　bedstead　in　a　moment。　　It　was　laced　backward　and　forward　with　a　rope。

〃I'll　cut　it；〃　cried　Ludwig；　sawing　away　at　the　knot。　　〃Hold　him　tight；　Peter！〃

〃Never　fear！〃　answered　the　captain；　giving　the　robber　a　warning　prick。

The　boys　were　soon　pulling　at　the　rope　like　good　fellows。　　It　was　out　at　lasta　long；　stout　piece。

〃Now；　boys；〃　commanded　the　captain；　〃lift　up　his　rascally　arms！　　Cross　his　hands　over　his　back！　　That's　rightexcuse　me　for　being　in　the　waytie　them　tight！〃

〃Yes；　and　his　feet　too；　the　villain！〃　cried　the　boys　in　great　excitement；　tying　knot　after　knot　with　Herculean　jerks。

The　prisoner　changed　his　tone。

〃Ohoh！〃　he　moaned。　　〃Spare　a　poor　sick　manI　was　but　walking　in　my　sleep。〃

〃Ugh！〃　grunted　Lambert；　still　tugging　away　at　the　rope。　　〃Asleep；　were　you？　　Well；　we'll　wake　you　up。〃

The　man　muttered　fierce　oaths　between　his　teeth；　then　cried　in　a　piteous　voice；　〃Unbind　me；　good　young　masters！　　I　have　five　little　children　at　home。　　By　Saint　Bavon　I　swear　to　give　you　each　a　ten…guilder　piece　if　you　will　but　free　me！〃

〃Ha！　ha！〃　laughed　Peter。

〃Ha！　ha！〃　laughed　the　other　boys。

Then　came　threats；　threats　that　made　Ludwig　fairly　shudder；　though　he　continued　to　bind　and　tie　with　redoubled　energy。

〃Hold　up；　mynheer　housebreaker；〃　said　Van　Mounen　in　a　warning　voice。　　〃That　knife　is　very　near　your　throat。　　If　you　make　the　captain　nervous；　there　is　no　telling　what　may　happen。〃

The　robber　took　the　hint；　and　fell　into　a　sullen　silence。

Just　at　this　moment　the　chrysalis　upon　the　bed　stirred　and　sat　erect。

〃What's　the　matter？〃　he　asked；　without　opening　his　eyes。

〃Matter！〃　echoed　Ludwig；　half　trembling；　half　laughing。　　〃Get　up；　Jacob。　　Here's　work　for　you。　　Come　sit　on　this　fellow's　back　while　we　get　into　our　clothes；　we're　half　perished。〃

〃What　fellow？　　Donder！〃

〃Hurrah　for　Poot！〃　cried　all　the　boys　as　Jacob；　sliding　quickly　to　the　floor；　bedclothes　and　all；　took　in　the　state　of　affairs　at　a　glance　and　sat　heavily　beside　Peter　on　the　robber's　back。

Oh；　didn't　the　fellow　groan　then！

〃No　use　in　holding　him　down　any　longer；　boys；〃　said　Peter；　rising；　but　bending　as　he　did　so　to　draw　a　pistol　from　the　man's　belt。　　〃You　see　I've　been　keeping　a　guard　over　this　pretty　little　weapon　for　the　last　ten　minutes。　　It's　cocked；　and　the　least　wriggle　might　have　set　it　off。　　No　danger　now。　　I　must　dress　myself。　　You　and　I；　Lambert；　will　go　for　the　police。　　I'd　no　idea　it　was　so　cold。〃

〃Where　is　Carl？〃　asked　one　of　the　boys。

They　looked　at　one　another。　　Carl　certainly　was　not　among　them。

〃Oh！〃　cried　Ludwig；　frightened　at　last。　　〃Where　is　he？　　Perhaps　he's　had　a　fight　with　the　robber　and　got　killed。〃

〃Not　a　bit　of　it；〃　said　Peter　quietly　as　he　buttoned　his　stout　jacket。　　〃Look　under　the　beds。〃

They　did　so。　　Carl　was　not　there。

Just　then　they　heard　a　commotion　on　the　stairway。　　Ben　hastened　to　open　the　door。　　The　landlord　almost　tumbled　in；　he　was　armed　with　a　big　blunderbuss。　　Two　or　three　lodgers　followed；　then　the　daughter；　with　an　upraised　frying　pan　in　one　hand　and　a　candle　in　the　other；　and　behind　her；　looking　pale　and　frightened；　the　gallant　Carl！

〃There's　your　man；　mine　host；〃　said　Peter；　nodding　toward　the　prisoner。

Mine　host　raised　his　blunderbuss；　the　girl　screamed；　and　Jacob；　more　nimble　than　usual；　rolled　quickly　from　the　robber's　back。

〃Don't　fire；〃　cried　Peter；　〃he　is　tied；　hand　and　foot。　　Let's　roll　him　over　and　see　what　he　looks　like。〃

Carl　stepped　briskly　forward；　with　a　bluster；　〃Yes。　　We'll　turn　him　over　in　a　way　he　won't　like。　　Lucky　we've　caught　him！〃

〃Ha！　ha！〃　laughed　Ludwig。　　〃Where　were　you；　Master　Carl？〃

〃Where　was　I？〃　retorted　Carl　angrily。　　〃Why；　I　went　to　give　the　alarm；　to　be　sure！〃

All　the　boys　exchanged　glances；　but　they　were　too　happy　and　elated　to　say　anything　ill…natured。　　Carl　certainly　was　bold　enough　now。　　He　took　the　lead　while　three　others　aided　him　in　turning　the　helpless　man。

While　the　robber　lay　faceup；　scowling　and　muttering；　Ludwig　took　the　candlestick　from　the　girl's　hand。

〃I　must　have　a　good　look　at　the　beauty；〃　he　said；　drawing　closer；　but　the　words　were　no　sooner　spoken　than　he　turned　pale　and　started　so　violently　that　he　almost　dropped　the　candle。

〃The　voetspoelen！〃　he　cried！　　〃Why；　boys；　it's　the　man　who　sat　by　the　fire！〃

〃Of　course　it　is；〃　answered　Peter。　　〃We　counted　out　money　before　him　like　simpletons。　　But　what　have　we　to　do　with　voetspoelen；　brother　Ludwig？　　A　month　in　jail　is　punishment　enough。〃

The　landlord's　daughter　had　left　the　room。　　She　now　ran　in；　holding　up　a　pair　of　huge　wooden　shoes。　　〃See；　father；〃　she　cried；　〃here　are　his　great　ugly　boats。　　It's　the　man　that　we　put　in　the　next　room　after　the　young　masters　went　to　bed。　　Ah！　　It　was　wrong　to　send　the　poor　young　gentlemen　up　here　so　far　out　of　sight　and　sound。〃

〃The　scoundrel！〃　hissed　the　landlord。　　〃He　has　disgraced　my　house。　　I　go　for　the　police　at　once！〃

In　less　than　fifteen　minutes　two　drowsy…looking　officers　were　in　the　room。　　After　telling　Mynheer　Kleef　that　he　must　appear　early　in　the　morning　with　the　boys　and　make　his　complaint　before　a　magistrate；　they　marched　off　with　their　prisoner。

One　would　think　the　captain　and　his　band　could　have　slept　no　more　that　night；　but　the　mooring　has　not　yet　been　found　that　can　prevent　youth　and　an　easy　conscience　from　drifting　down　the　river　of　dreams。　　The　boys　were　much　too　fatigued　to　let　so　slight　a　thing　as　capturing　a　robber　bind　them　to　wakefulness。　　They　were　soon　in　bed　again；　floating　away　to　strange　scenes　made　of　familiar　things。　　Ludwig　and　Carl　had　spread　their　bedding　upon　the　floor。　　One　had　already　forgotten　the　voetspoelen；　the　raceeverything；　but　Carl　was　wide…awake。　　He　heard　the　carillons　ringing　out　their　solemn　nightly　music　and　the　watchman's　noisy　clapper　putting　in　discord　at　the　quarter　hours；　he　saw　the　moonshine　glide　away　from　the　window　and　the　red　morning　light　come　pouring　in；　and　all　the　while　he　kept　thinking；　Pooh！　what　a　goose　I　have　made　of　myself！

Carl　Schummel；　alone；　with　none　to　look　or　to　listen；　was　not　quite　so　grand　a　fellow　as　Carl　Schummel　strutting　about　in　his　boots。




Before　the　Court



You　may　believe　that　the　landlord's　daughter　bestirred　herself　to　prepare　a　good　meal　for　the　boys　next　morning。　　Mynheer　had　a　Chinese　gong　that　could　make　more　noise　than　a　dozen　breakfast　bells。　　Its　hideous　reveille；　clanging　through　the　house；　generally　startled　the　drowsiest　lodgers　into　activity；　but　the　maiden　would　not　allow　it　to　be　sounded　this　morning。

〃Let　the　brave　young　gentlemen　sleep；〃　she　said　to　the　greasy　kitchen　boy。　　〃They　shall　be　warmly　fed　when　they　awaken。〃

It　was　ten　o'clock　when　Captain　Peter　and　his　band　came　straggling　down　one　by　one。

〃A　pretty　hour；〃　said　mine　host；　gruffly。　　〃It　is　high　time　we　were　before　the　court。　　Fine　business；　this；　for　a　respectable　inn。　　You　will　testify　truly；　young　masters；　that　you　found　most　excellent　fare　and　lodging　at　the　Red　Lion？〃

〃Of　course　we　will；〃　answered　Carl　saucily；　〃and　pleasant　company；　too；　though　they　visit　at　rather　unseasonable　hours。〃

A　stare　and　a　〃humph！〃　was　all　the　answer　mynheer　made　to　this；　but　the　daughter　was　more　communicative。　　Shaking　her　earrings　at　Carl；　she　said　sharply；　〃Not　so　very　pleasant；　either；　master　traveler；　if　you　could　judge　by　the　way　YOU　ran　away　from　it！〃

〃Impertinent　creature！〃　hissed　Carl　under　his　breath　as　he　began　busily　to　examine　his　skate　straps。　　Meantime　the　kitchen　boy；　listening　outside　at　the　crack　of　the　door；　doubled　himself　with　silent　laughter。

After　breakfast　the　boys　went　to　the　police　court；　accompanied　by　Huygens　Kleef　and　his　daughter。　　Mynheer's　t