the story of a bad boy(顽童故事)-第15部分
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neglected to say that my movements were accompanied by dismal groans
from different parts of the grotto。
Finally； I was led up a steep plank to what appeared to me an
incalculable height。 Here I stood breathless while the bylaws were read
aloud。 A more extraordinary code of laws never came from the brain of
man。 The penalties attached to the abject being who should reveal any of
the secrets of the society were enough to make the blood run cold。 A
second pistol…shot was heard； the something I stood on sunk with a crash
beneath my feet and I fell two miles； as nearly as I could compute it。 At
the same instant the handkerchief was whisked from my eyes； and I found
myself standing in an empty hogshead surrounded by twelve masked
figures fantastically dressed。 One of the conspirators was really appalling
with a tin sauce…pan on his head； and a tiger…skin sleigh…robe thrown over
his shoulders。 I scarcely need say that there were no vestiges to be seen of
the fearful gulfs over which I had passed so cautiously。 My ascent had
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been to the top of the hogshead； and my descent to the bottom thereof。
Holding one another by the hand； and chanting a low dirge； the Mystic
Twelve revolved about me。 This concluded the ceremony。 With a merry
shout the boys threw off their masks； and I was declared a regularly
installed member of the R。 M。 C。
I afterwards had a good deal of sport out of the club； for these
initiations； as you may imagine； were sometimes very comical spectacles；
especially when the aspirant for centipedal honors happened to be of a
timid disposition。 If he showed the slightest terror； he was certain to be
tricked unmercifully。 One of our subsequent devices…a humble invention
of my own…was to request the blindfolded candidate to put out his tongue；
whereupon the First Centipede would say； in a low tone； as if not intended
for the ear of the victim； 〃Diabolus； fetch me the red…hot iron！〃 The
expedition with which that tongue would disappear was simply ridiculous。
Our meetings were held in various barns； at no stated periods； but as
circumstances suggested。 Any member had a right to call a meeting。 Each
boy who failed to report himself was fined one cent。 Whenever a member
had reasons for thinking that another member would be unable to attend；
he called a meeting。 For instance； immediately on learning the death of
Harry Blake's great…grandfather； I issued a call。 By these simple and
ingenious measures we kept our treasury in a flourishing condition；
sometimes having on hand as much as a dollar and a quarter。
I have said that the society had no special object。 It is true； there was a
tacit understanding among us that the Centipedes were to stand by one
another on all occasions； though I don't remember that they did； but
further than this we had no purpose； unless it was to accomplish as a body
the same amount of mischief which we were sure to do as individuals。 To
mystify the staid and slow…going Rivermouthians was our frequent
pleasure。 Several of our pranks won us such a reputation among the
townsfolk； that we were credited with having a large finger in whatever
went amiss in the place。
One morning； about a week after my admission into the secret order；
the quiet citizens awoke to find that the signboards of all the principal
streets had changed places during the night。 People who went trustfully to
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sleep in Currant Square opened their eyes in Honeysuckle Terrace。 Jones's
Avenue at the north end had suddenly become Walnut Street； and Peanut
Street was nowhere to be found。 Confusion reigned。 The town authorities
took the matter in hand without delay； and six of the Temple Grammar
School boys were summoned to appear before justice Clapbam。
Having tearfully disclaimed to my grandfather all knowledge of the
transaction； I disappeared from the family circle； and was not apprehended
until late in the afternoon； when the Captain dragged me ignominiously
from the haymow and conducted me； more dead than alive； to the office of
justice Clapham。 Here I encountered five other pallid culprits； who had
been fished out of divers coal…bins； garrets； and chicken…coops； to answer
the demands of the outraged laws。 （Charley Marden had hidden himself in
a pile of gravel behind his father's house； and looked like a recently
exhumed mummy。）
There was not the least evidence against us； and； indeed； we were
wholly innocent of the offence。 The trick； as was afterwards proved； had
been played by a party of soldiers stationed at the fort in the harbor。 We
were indebted for our arrest to Master Conway； who had slyly dropped a
hint； within the hearing of Selectman Mudge； to the effect that 〃young
Bailey and his five cronies could tell something about 20them signs。〃
When he was called upon to make good his assertion； he was considerably
more terrified than the Centipedes； though they were ready to sink into
their shoes。
At our next meeting it was unanimously resolved that Conway's
animosity should not be quietly submitted to。 He had sought to inform
against us in the stagecoach business； he had volunteered to carry
Pettingil's 〃little bill〃 for twenty…four icecreams to Charley Marden's
father； and now he had caused us to be arraigned before justice Clapham
on a charge equally groundless and painful。 After much noisy discussion； a
plan of retaliation was agreed upon。
There was a certain slim； mild apothecary in the town； by the name of
Meeks。 It was generally given out that Mr。 Meeks had a vague desire to
get married； but； being a shy and timorous youth； lacked the moral
courage to do so。 It was also well known that the Widow Conway had not
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buried her heart with the late lamented。 As to her shyness； that was not so
clear。 Indeed； her attentions to Mr。 Meeks； whose mother she might have
been； were of a nature not to be misunderstood； and were not
misunderstood by anyone but Mr。 Meeks himself。
The widow carried on a dress…making establishment at her residence
on the comer opposite Meeks's drug…store； and kept a wary eye on all the
young ladies from Miss Dorothy Gibbs's Female Institute who patronized
the shop for soda…water； aciddrops； and slate…pencils。 In the afternoon the
widow was usually seen seated； smartly dressed； at her window upstairs；
casting destructive glances across the street…the artificial roses in her cap
and her whole languishing manner saying as plainly as a label on a
prescription； 〃To be Taken Immediately！〃 But Mr。 Meeks didn't take。
The lady's fondness； and the gentleman's blindness； were topics ably
handled at every sewing…circle in the town。 It was through these two
luckless individuals that we proposed to strike a blow at the common
enemy。 To kill less than three birds with one stone did not suit our
sanguinary purpose。 We disliked the widow not so much for her
sentimentality as for being the mother of Bill Conway； we disliked Mr。
Meeks； not because he was insipid； like his own syrups； but because the
widow loved him。 Bill Conway we hated for himself。
Late one dark Saturday night in September we carried our plan into
effect。 On the following morning； as the orderly citizens wended their way
to church past the widow's abode； their sober faces relaxed at beholding
over her front door the well known gilt Mortar and Pestle which usually
stood on the top of a pole on the opposite corner； while the passers on that
side of the street were equally amused and scandalized at seeing a placard
bearing the following announcement tacked to the druggist's window…
shutters：
Wanted； a Sempstress！
The naughty cleverness of the joke （which I should be sorry to defend）
was recognized at once。 It spread like wildfire over the town； and； though
the mortar and the placard were speedily removed； our triumph was
complete。 The whole community was on the broad grin； and our
participation in the affair seemingly unsuspected。
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It was those wicked soldiers at the fort！
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