the woman-haters-第8部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



The　boy　grinned　more　expansively　than　ever。　　〃Whoa！〃　he　shouted；　to
the　horse　he　was　driving。　　The　animal　stopped　in　his　tracks；
evidently　glad　of　the　opportunity。　　Another　howl　burst　from　the
covered　depths　of　the　wagon。

〃I've　got　him；〃　said　the　boy；　with　a　triumphant　nod　and　a　jerk　of
his　thumb　over　his　shoulder。　　〃He's　in　there。〃

〃He？　　Who？　　What？〃

〃Job。　　He's　in　there。　　Hear　him？　　He's　been　goin'　on　like　that　ever
since　he　finished　his　bone；　and　that　was　over　two　mile　back。　　Say；〃
admiringly；　〃he's　some　singer；　ain't　he！　　Hear　that；　will　ye？〃

Another　wail　arose　from　the　wagon。　　Brown　hastened　to　the　rear　of
the　vehicle；　on　the　canvas　side　of　which　were　painted　the　words
〃Henry　G。　Goodspeed；　Groceries；　Dry　and　Fancy　Goods　and　Notions；
Eastboro；〃　and　peered　in　over　the　tailboard。　　The　interior　of　the
wagon　was　well　nigh　filled　by　a　big　box　with　strips　of　board　nailed
across　its　top。　　From　between　these　strips　a　tawny　nose　was
uplifted。　　As　the　helper　stared　wonderingly　at　the　box　and　the　nose；
the　boy　sprang　from　his　seat　and　joined　him。

〃That's　him；〃　declared　the　boy。　　〃Hi；　there；　Job；　tune　up　now！
What's　the　matter　with　ye？〃

His　answer　was　an　unearthly　howl　from　the　box；　accompanied　by　a
mighty　scratching。　　The　boy　laughed　delightedly。

〃Ain't　he　a　wonder？〃　he　demanded。　　〃Ought　to　be　in　church　choir；
hadn't　he。〃

Brown　stepped　on　the　hub　of　a　rear　wheel；　and；　clinging　to　the　post
of　the　wagon　cover；　looked　down　into　the　box。　　The　creature　inside
was　about　the　size　of　a　month　old　calf。

〃It's　ait's　a　dog；〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃A　dog；　isn't　it？〃

〃Sure；　it's　a　dog。　　Or　he'll　be　a　dog　when　he　grows　up。　　Nothin'　but
a　pup　now；　he　ain't。　　where's　Seth？〃

〃Seth？　　Oh；　Mr。　Atkins；　he's　not　here。〃

〃Ain't　he？　　Where's　he　gone？〃

〃I　don't　know。〃

〃Don't　ye？　　When's　he　comin'　back？　　HUSH　UP！〃　　This　last　was　a
command　to　the　prisoner　in　the　box；　who　paid　absolutely　no　attention
to　it。

〃I　don't　know　when　he'll　be　back。　　Do　you　want　to　see　him
personally？　　Won't　I　do？　　I'm　in　charge　here　till　he　returns。〃

〃Be　ye？　　Oh；　you're　the　new　assistant　from　Boston。　　You'll　do。　　All
I　want　to　do　is　unload　himJob；　I　meanand　leave　a　couple　bundles
of　fly　paper　Seth　ordered。　　Here！〃　lowering　the　tailboard　and
climbing　into　the　wagon；　you　catch　aholt　of　t'other　end　of　the　box；
and　I'll　shove　on　this　one。　　Hush　up；　Job！　　Nobody's　goin'　to　eat
ye'less　it's　the　moskeeters。　　Now；　then；　mister；　here　he　comes。〃

He　began　pushing　the　box　toward　the　open　end　of　the　wagon。　　The
dog's　whines　and　screams　and　scratchings　furnished　an　accompaniment
almost　deafening。

〃Wait！　　Stop！　　For　heaven's　sake；　wait！〃　shouted　Brown。　　〃What　are
you　putting　that　brute　off　here　for？　　I　don't　want　him。〃

〃Yes；　you　do。　　Seth　does；　anyhow。　　Henry　G。　made　him　a　present　of
Job　last　time　Seth　was　over　to　the　store。　　Didn't　he　tell　ye？〃

Then　the　substitute　assistant　remembered。　　This　was　the　〃half…grown
pup〃　Atkins　had　said　was　to　be　brought　over　by　the　grocery　boy。
This　was　the　creature　they　were　to　accept　〃on　trial。〃

〃Well；　by　George！〃　he　exclaimed　in　disgust。

〃Didn't　Seth　tell　ye？〃　asked　the　boy　again。

〃Yes。　。　。　。　　Yes；　I　believe　he　did。　　But〃

〃Then　stand　by　while　I　unload　him。　　Here　he　comes　now。　　H'ist　him
down　easy　as　you　can。〃

That　was　not　too　easy；　for　the　end　of　the　box　slid　from　the　tail…
board　to　the　ground　with　a　thump　that　shook　the　breath　from　the
prisoner　within。　　But　the　breath　came　back　again　and　furnished
motive　power　for　more　and　worse　howls　and　whines。　　Joshua　pricked　up
his　ears　and　trotted　to　the　further　end　of　his　halter。

〃There！〃　said　Henry　G。's　boy；　jumping　to　the　ground　beside　the　box；
〃that's　off　my　hands；　thank　the　mercy！　　Here's　your　fly　paper。　　Five
dozen　sheets。　　You　must　have　pretty　nigh　as　many　flies　down　here　as
you　have　moskeeters。　　Well；　so　long。　　I　got　to　be　goin'。〃

〃Wait　a　minute；〃　pleaded　Brown。　　〃What　shall　I　do　with　thiser
blessed　dog？　　Is　he　savage？　　Why　did　you　bring　him　in　a　cratelike
a　piano？〃

〃'Cause　'twas　the　easiest　way。　　You　couldn't　tie　him　up；　not　in　a
cart　no　bigger'n　this。　　Might's　well　tie　up　an　elephant。　　Besides；
he　won't　stay　tied　up　nowheres。　　Busted　more　clotheslines　than　I've
got　fingers　and　toes；　that　pup　has。　　He　needs　a　chain　cable　to　keep
him　to　his　moorin's。　　Don't　ye；　Job；　you　old　earthquake？　　Hey？〃

He　pounded　on　the　box；　and　the　earthquake　obliged　with　a　renewed
series　of　shocks　and　shakings。

The　lightkeeper's　assistant　smiled　in　spite　of　himself。

〃Who　named　him　Job？〃　he　asked。

〃Henry　G。's　cousin　from　Boston。　　He　said　he　seemed　to　be　always
sufferin'　and　fillin'　the　land　with　roarin's；　like　Job　in　the　Bible。
So；　bein'　as　he　hadn't　no　name　except　cuss　words；　that　one　stuck。　　I
cal'late　Henry　G。's　glad　enough　to　get　rid　of　him。　　Ho！　ho！〃

〃Did　Mr。　Atkins　see　histhisdid　he　see　his　present　before　he
accepted　it？〃

〃No。　　That's　the　best　part　of　the　joke。　　Well；〃　clambering　to　his
seat　and　picking　up　the　reins；　〃I've　got　five　mile　of　sand　and
moskeeters　to　navigate；　so　I've　got　to　be　joggin'。　　Oh；　say！　goin'
to　leave　him　in　the　box　there；　be　ye？〃

〃I　guess　so；　for　the　present。〃

〃Well；　I　wouldn't　leave　him　too　long。　　He's　stronger'n　Samson　and
the　Philippines　rolled　together；　and　he's　humped　up　his　back　so　much
on　the　way　acrost　that　he's　started　most　of　the　nails　in　them　slats
over　top　of　him。　　I　tell　ye　what　you　do：　Give　him　a　bone　or　a　chunk
of　tough　meat　to　chaw　on。　　Then　he'll　rest　easy　for　a　spell。
Goodbye。　　I　wish　I　could　stay　and　see　Seth　when　he　looks　at　his
present；　but　I　can't。　　Gid…dap；　January。〃

The　grocery　wagon　rolled　out　of　the　yard。　　The　forsaken　Job　sent　a
roar　of　regret　after　him。　　Also；　he　〃humped　us　his　back；〃　and　the
nails　holding　the　slats　in　place　started　and　gave　alarmingly。　　John
Brown　hastened　to　the　house　in　quest　of　a　bone。


CHAPTER　V

THE　GOING　OF　JOSHUA


He　found　one；　after　a　time；　the　relic　of　a　ham；　with　a　good　deal　of
meat　on　it。　　Atkins；　economical　soul；　would　have　protested　in　horror
against　the　sinful　waste；　but　his　helper　would　cheerfully　have
sacrificed　a　whole　hog　to　quiet　the　wails　from　the　box　in　the　yard。
He　pushed　the　ham　bone　between　the　slats；　and　Job　received　it
greedily。　　The　howls　and　whines　ceased　and　were　succeeded　by
gnawings　and　crunchings。　　Brown　returned　to　the　kitchen　to　inspect
his　neglected　fire。

This　time　the　fire　was　not　out；　but　it　burned　slowly。　　The　water　in
the　wash　boiler　was　only　lukewarm。　　The　big　lobster　in　the　net
balanced　on　the　chair　clashed　his　claws　wickedly　as　the　substitute
assistant　approached。　　The　door　had　been　left　open；　and　the　room
hummed　with　flies。　　Brown　shut　the　door　and；　while　waiting　for　the
water　to　heat；　separated　a　dozen　sheets　of　the　sticky　fly　paper　and
placed　them　in　conspicuous　places。　　He　wondered　as　he　did　so　what
some　of　his　former　acquaintances　would　say　if　they　could　see　him。
HeHEa　cook；　and　a　roustabout；　a　dishwasher　and　a　scrubber　of
brass　at　Eastboro　Twin…Lights！　　How　long　must　he　stay　there？　　For
months　at　least。　　He　should　be　thankful　that　he　was　there；　thankful
that　there　was　such　a　place；　where　no　one　came　and　where　he　could
remain　until　he　was　forgotten。　　He　was　thankful；　of　course　he　was。
But　what　a　life　to　live！

He　wondered　what　Atkins　thought　of　him；　how　much　the　lightkeeper
guessed　concerning　his　identity　and　his　story。　　He　could　not　guess
within　miles　of　the　truth；　but　he　must　indulge　in　some　curious
speculations。　　Then　he　fell　to　wondering　about　Seth　himself。　　What
was　it　that　the　light…keeper　was　hiding　from　the　world？　　Odd　that
two　people；　each　possessing　a　secret；　should　come　together　at　that
lonely　spot。　　Where　was　it　that　Seth　went　almost　every　afternoon？
Had　these　daily　absences　any　connection　with　the　great　mystery？

He　distributed　the　sheets　of　fly　paper　about　the　room；　in　places
where　he　judged　them　likely　to　do　the　most　good；　and　had　the
satisfaction　of　seeing　a　number　of　the　tormenting　insects　caught
immediately。　　Then　he　tested　the　water　in　the　boiler。　　It　was
warmer；　even　hot；　but　not　boiling。

He　had　almost　forgotten　the　dog；　but　now　was　reminded　by　the　animal
itself；　who；　having　apparently　swallowed　the　bone　whole；　began　once
more　to　howl　lugubriously。　　Brown　decided　to　let　him　howl　for　the
present；　and；　going　into　the　living…room；　picked　up　an　old　magazine
and　began　listlessly　to　read。

The　howls　from　the　yard　continued；　swelled　to　a　crescendo　of　shrieks
and　then　suddenly　ceased。　　A　moment　later　there　was　a　thump　and　a
mighty　scratching　at　the　kitchen　door。　　The　substitute　assistant
dropped　the　magazine　and　sprang　from　his　chair。

〃Good　Lord！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃I　believe〃

He　did　not　finish　the　sentence。　　There　was　no　need。　　If　he　had　any
doubts　as　to　the　cause　of　the　racket　at　the　door　they　were　dispelled
by　a　howl　like　a　fog　whistle。　　〃Job〃　had　escaped　from　durance　vile
and　was　seeking　companionship。

Brown　muttered　an　exclamation　of　impatience　and；　opening　the　door　a
very　little　way；　peeped　through　the　crack。　　The　puphe　looked　like
a　scrawny　young　lionhailed　his　appearance　with　a　series　of　wild
yelps。　　His　mouth　opened　like　a　Mammoth　Cave　in　miniature；　and　a
foot　of　red　tongue　flapped　like　a　danger　signal。

〃Get　out；　you　brute！〃　ordered　Brown。

Job　did　not　get　out。　　Instead　he　yelped　again　and　capered　with　the
grace　of　a　cow。　　His　feet　and　legs　seemed　to　have　grown　out　of
proportion　to　the　rest　of　him；　they　were　enormous。　　Down　the　length
of　his　yellow　back　were　three　raw　furrows　which　the　nails　of　the　box
cover　had　scraped　as　he　climbed　from　under　them。

〃Nice　dog！〃　coaxed　the　lightkeeper's　helper。　　〃Nice　doggie！　　Good
old　boy！〃

The　good　old　boy　pranced　joyfully　and　made　a　charge　at　the　door。
Brown　slammed　it　shut　just　in　time。

〃Clear　out！〃　he　yelled；　from　behind　it。　　〃Go　away！　　Go　and　lie
down！〃

The　answer　was　a　mighty　howl　of　disappointment　and　an　assault　on　the
door　which　threatened　to　shatter　the　panels。　　Job's　paws　were　armed
with　claws　proportionate　to　their　size。

This　would　never　do。　　The　paint　on　that　door　had　been　furnished　by
the　government；　and　Atkins　was　very　careful　of　it。　　Brown；　within；
pounded　a　protest　and　again　commanded　the　dog　to　go　and　li