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！
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
be proud of him。〃
He stopped out of breath。 I was so completely astounded I could say
nothing： the tremendous indictment I had framed to utter as I opened the
door vanished completely。 And as the Most Beautiful Eyes in the
Wurruld turned gratefully to minewell
I still retained enough principle to ask the ladies to withdraw； while I
would take upon myself the duty of examining into the case of my friend；
the Tramp； and giving him such relief as was required。 （I did not know
until afterward； however； that the rascal had already despoiled their scant
purses of three dollars and fifty cents。） When the door was closed upon
them I turned upon him。
〃You infernal rascal！〃
〃Ah； Captain； and would ye be refusin' ME a carrakther and me givin'
YE such a one as Oi did！ God save us！ but if ye'd hav' seen the luk that
the purty one give ye。 Well； before the chills and faver bruk me spirits
entirely； when I was a young man； and makin' me tin dollars a week brick…
makin'； it's meself that wud hav' given〃
〃I consider；〃 I broke in； 〃that a dollar is a fair price for your story； and
as I shall have to take it all back and expose you before the next twenty…
four hours pass； I think you had better hasten to Milwaukee； New York； or
Louisiana。〃
I handed him the dollar。 〃Mind； I don't want to see your face again。〃
〃Ye wun't； captain。〃
And I did not。
But it so chanced that later in the season； when the migratory
inhabitants had flown to their hot…air registers in Boston and Providence； I
breakfasted with one who had lingered。 It was a certain Boston lawyer；
replete with principle； honesty； self… discipline； statistics； aesthetics； and a
perfect consciousness of possessing all these virtues； and a full recognition
of their market values。 I think he tolerated me as a kind of foreigner；
gently but firmly waiving all argument on any topic； frequently distrusting
my facts； generally my deductions； and always my ideas。 In conversation
he always appeared to descend only half way down a long moral and
intellectual staircase； and always delivered his conclusions over the
114
… Page 115…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
balusters。
I had been speaking of my friend； the Tramp。 〃There is but one way
of treating that class of impostors； it is simply to recognize the fact that the
law calls him a 'vagrant；' and makes his trade a misdemeanor。 Any
sentiment on the other side renders you particeps criminis。 I don't know
but an action would lie against you for encouraging tramps。 Now； I have
an efficacious way of dealing with these gentry。〃 He rose and took a
double…barreled fowling…piece from the chimney。 〃When a tramp
appears on my property； I warn him off。 If he persists； I fire on himas I
would on any criminal trespasser。〃
〃Fire on him？〃 I echoed in alarm。
〃YesBUT WITH POWDER ONLY！ Of course HE doesn't know
that。 But he doesn't come back。〃
It struck me for the first time that possibly many other of my friend's
arguments might be only blank cartridges； and used to frighten off other
trespassing intellects。
〃Of course； if the tramp still persisted； I would be justified in using
shot。 Last evening I had a visit from one。 He was coming over the wall。
My shot gun was efficacious； you should have seen him run！〃
It was useless to argue with so positive a mind； and I dropped the
subject。 After breakfast I strolled over the downs； my friend promising to
join me as soon as he arranged some household business。
It was a lovely； peaceful morning； not unlike the day when I first met
my friend； the Tramp。 The hush of a great benediction lay on land and
sea。 A few white sails twinkled afar； but sleepily； one or two large ships
were creeping in lazily； like my friend； the Tramp。 A voice behind me
startled me。
My host had rejoined me。 His face； however； looked a little troubled。
〃I just now learned something of importance；〃 he began。 〃It appears
that with all my precautions that Tramp has visited my kitchen； and the
servants have entertained him。 Yesterday morning； it appears； while I
was absent； he had the audacity to borrow my gun to go duck…shooting。
At the end of two or three hours he returned with two ducks andthe gun。〃
〃That was； at least； honest。〃
115
… Page 116…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
〃Yesbut！ That fool of a girl says that； as he handed back the gun； he
told her it was all right； and that he had loaded it up again to save the
master trouble。〃
I think I showed my concern in my face； for he added； hastily： 〃It was
only duck…shot； a few wouldn't hurt him！〃
Nevertheless； we both walked on in silence for a moment。 〃I thought
the gun kicked a little；〃 he said at last； musingly； 〃but the idea of Hallo！
what's this？〃
He stopped before the hollow where I had first seen my Tramp。 It
was deserted； but on the mosses there were spots of blood and fragments
of an old gown； blood…stained； as if used for bandages。 I looked at it
closely： it was the gown intended for the consumptive wife of my friend；
the Tramp。
But my host was already nervously tracking the bloodstains that on
rock； moss； and boulder were steadily leading toward the sea。 When I
overtook him at last on the shore； he was standing before a flat rock； on
which lay a bundle I recognized； tied up in a handkerchief； and a crooked
grape…vine stick。
〃He may have come here to wash his woundssalt is a styptic；〃 said
my host； who had recovered his correct precision of statement。
I said nothing； but looked toward the sea。 Whatever secret lay hid in
its breast； it kept it fast。 Whatever its calm eyes had seen that summer
night； it gave no reflection now。 It lay there passive； imperturbable； and
reticent。 But my friend； the Tramp； was gone！
116
… Page 117…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
THE MAN FROM S