drift from two shores(漂流)-第23部分
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repose led him to seek the janitorship of the Doemville Academy； where
no questions were asked and references not exchanged： he was； indeed； a
fit mentor for our daring youth。 Although a man whose days had
exceeded the usual space allotted to humanity； the various episodes of his
career footing his age up to nearly one hundred and fifty… nine years； he
scarcely looked it； and was still hale and vigorous。
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〃Yes；〃 continued Pirate Jim； critically； 〃I don't think he was any bigger
nor you； Master Chitterlings； if as big； when he stood on the fork'stle of
my ship； and shot the captain o' that East Injymen dead。 We used to call
him little Weevils； he was so young…like。 But； bless your hearts； boys！ he
wa'n't anything to little Sammy Barlow； ez once crep' up inter the captain's
stateroom on a Rooshin frigate； stabbed him to the heart with a jack…knife；
then put on the captain's uniform and his cocked hat； took command of the
ship and fout her hisself。〃
〃Wasn't the captain's clothes big for him？〃 asked B。 Franklin Jenkins；
anxiously。
The janitor eyed young Jenkins with pained dignity。
〃Didn't I say the Rooshin captain was a small； a very small man？
Rooshins is small； likewise Greeks。〃
A noble enthusiasm beamed in the faces of the youthful heroes。
〃Was Barlow as large as me？〃 asked C。 F。 Hall Golightly； lifting his
curls from his Jove…like brow。
〃Yes； but then he hed hed； so to speak； experiences。 It was allowed
that he had pizened his schoolmaster afore he went to sea。 But it's dry
talking； boys。〃
Golightly drew a flask from his jacket and handed it to the janitor。 It
was his father's best brandy。 The heart of the honest old seaman was
touched。
〃Bless ye； my own pirate boy！〃 he said； in a voice suffocating with
emotion。
〃I've got some tobacco；〃 said the youthful Jenkins； 〃but it's fine… cut； I
use only that now。〃
〃I kin buy some plug at the corner grocery；〃 said Pirate Jim； 〃only I
left my port…money at home。〃
〃Take this watch；〃 said young Golightly； 〃it is my father's。 Since he
became a tyrant and usurper； and forced me to join a corsair's band； I've
began by dividing the property。〃
〃This is idle trifling；〃 said young Chitterlings； mildly。 〃Every
moment is precious。 Is this an hour to give to wine and wassail？ Ha； we
want actionaction！ We must strike the blow for freedom to…nightaye；
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this very night。 The scow is already anchored in the mill…dam； freighted
with provisions for a three months' voyage。 I have a black flag in my
pocket。 Why； then； this cowardly delay？〃
The two elder youths turned with a slight feeling of awe and shame to
gaze on the glowing cheeks； and high； haughty crest of their youngest
comradethe bright； the beautiful Bromley Chitterlings。 Alas！ that very
moment of forgetfulness and mutual admiration was fraught with danger。
A thin； dyspeptic； half…starved tutor approached。
〃It is time to resume your studies； young gentlemen；〃 he said； with
fiendish politeness。
They were his last words on earth。
〃Down； tyrant！〃 screamed Chitterlings。
〃Sic himI mean； Sic semper tyrannis！〃 said the classical Golightly。
A heavy blow on the head from a base…ball bat； and the rapid
projection of a base ball against his empty stomach； brought the tutor a
limp and lifeless mass to the ground。 Golightly shuddered。 Let not my
young readers blame him too rashly。 It was his first homicide。
〃Search his pockets；〃 said the practical Jenkins。
They did so； and found nothing but a Harvard Triennial Catalogue。
〃Let us fly；〃 said Jenkins。
〃Forward to the boats！〃 cried the enthusiastic Chitterlings。
But C。 F。 Hall Golightly stood gazing thoughtfully at the prostrate
tutor。
〃This；〃 he said calmly； 〃is the result of a too free government and the
common school system。 What the country needs is reform。 I cannot go
with you； boys。〃
〃Traitor！〃 screamed the others。
C。 F。 H。 Golightly smiled sadly。
〃You know me not。 I shall not become a piratebut a Congressman！〃
Jenkins and Chitterlings turned pale。
〃I have already organized two caucuses in a base ball club； and bribed
the delegates of another。 Nay； turn not away。 Let us be friends；
pursuing through various ways one common end。 Farewell！〃 They shook
hands。
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〃But where is Pirate Jim？〃 asked Jenkins。
〃He left us but for a moment to raise money on the watch to purchase
armament for the scow。 Farewell！〃
And so the gallant； youthful spirits parted； bright with the sunrise of
hope。
That night a conflagration raged in Doemville。 The Doemville
Academy； mysteriously fired； first fell a victim to the devouring element。
The candy shop and cigar store； both holding heavy liabilities against the
academy； quickly followed。 By the lurid gleams of the flames； a long；
low； sloop…rigged scow； with every mast gone except one； slowly worked
her way out of the mill…dam towards the Sound。 The next day three boys
were missingC。 F。 Hall Golightly； B。 F。 Jenkins； and Bromley
Chitterlings。 Had they perished in the flames who shall say？ Enough
that never more under these names did they again appear in the homes of
their ancestors。
Happy； indeed； would it have been for Doemville had the mystery
ended here。 But a darker interest and scandal rested upon the peaceful
village。 During that awful night the boarding…school of Madam
Brimborion was visited stealthily； and two of the fairest heiresses of
Connecticutdaughters of the president of a savings bank； and insurance
directorwere the next morning found to have eloped。 With them also
disappeared the entire contents of the Savings Bank。 and on the
following day the Flamingo Fire Insurance Company failed。
CHAPTER II
Let my young readers now sail with me to warmer and more
hospitable climes。 Off the coast of Patagonia a long； low； black schooner
proudly rides the seas； that breaks softly upon the vine…clad shores of that
luxuriant land。 Who is this that； wrapped in Persian rugs； and dressed in
the most expensive manner； calmly reclines on the quarter…deck of the
schooner； toying lightly ever and anon with the luscious fruits of the
vicinity； held in baskets of solid gold by Nubian slaves？ or at intervals；
with daring grace； guides an ebony velocipede over the polished black
walnut decks； and in and out the intricacies of the rigging。 Who is it？
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well may be asked。 What name is it that blanches with terror the cheeks
of the Patagonian navy？ Who but the Pirate Prodigythe relentless Boy
Scourer of Patagonian seas？ Voyagers slowly drifting by the Silurian
beach； coasters along the Devonian shore； still shudder at the name of
Bromley Chitterlingsthe Boy Avenger； late of Hartford； Connecticut。
It has been often asked by the idly curious； Why Avenger； and of what？
Let us not seek to disclose the awful secret hidden under that youthful
jacket。 Enough that there may have been that of bitterness in his past life
that he 〃Whose soul would sicken o'er the heaving wave；〃 or 〃whose
soul would heave above the sickening wave；〃 did not understand。 Only
one knew him； perhaps too wella queen of the Amazons； taken prisoner
off Terra del Fuego a week previous。 She loved the Boy Avenger。 But
in vain； his youthful heart seemed obdurate。
〃Hear me；〃 at last he said； when she had for the seventh time wildly
proffered her hand and her kingdom in marriage； 〃and know once and
forever why I must decline your flattering proposal： I love another。〃
With a wild； despairing cry； she leaped into the sea； but was instantly
rescued by the Pirate Prodigy。 Yet； even in that supreme moment； such
was his coolness that on his way to the surface he captured a mermaid； and；
placing her in charge of his steward； with directions to give her a
stateroom； with hot and cold water； calmly resumed his place by the
Amazon's side。 When the cabin door closed on his faithful servant；
bringing champagne and ices to the interesting stranger； Chitterlings
resumed his narrative with a choking voice：
