登陆注册
5241200000058

第58章 CHAPTER Twenty(3)

There was nothing to be done. I bit my lips with suppressed anger, and signified that I was at his disposal, since I couldn't help it. The impression was very strong in my mind that the Admiral wouldn't hesitate to put me in irons if I showed signs of mutiny.

It was too late to return to Rivermouth that night-a fact which I communicated to the old boy sullenly, inquiring at the same time what he proposed to do about it.

He said we would cruise about for some rations, and then make a night of it.

I didn't condescend to reply, though I hailed the suggestion of something to eat with inward enthusiasm, for I had not taken enough food that day to keep life in a canary.

'We wandered back to the railway station, in the waiting room of which was a kind of restaurant presided over by a severe-looking young lady. Here we had a cup of coffee apiece, several tough doughnuts, and some blocks of venerable spongecake. The young lady who attended on us, whatever her age was then, must have been a mere child when that sponge-cake was made.

The Admiral's acquaintance with Boston hotels was slight; but he knew of a quiet lodging-house near by, much patronized by sea-captains, arid kept by a former friend of his.

In this house, which had seen its best days, we were accommodated with a mouldy chamber containing two cot-beds, two chairs, and a cracked pitcher on a washstand. The mantel-shelf was ornamented with three big pink conch-shells, resembling pieces of petrified liver; and over these hung a cheap lurid print, in which a United States sloop-of-war was giving a British frigate particular fits. It is very strange how our own ships never seem to suffer any in these terrible engagements. It shows what a nation we are.

An oil-lamp on a deal-table cast a dismal glare over the apartment, which was cheerless in the extreme. I thought of our sitting-room at home, with its flowery wall-paper and gay curtains and soft lounges; I saw Major Elkanah Nutter (my grandfather's father) in powdered wig and Federal uniform, looking down benevolently from his gilt frame between the bookcases; I pictured the Captain and Miss Abigail sitting at the cosey round table in the moon-like glow of the astral lamp; and then I fell to wondering how they would receive me when 1 came back. I wondered if the Prodigal Son had any idea that his father was going to kill the fatted calf for him, and how he felt about it, on the whole.

Though I was very low in spirits, I put on a bold front to Sailor Ben, you will understand. To be caught and caged in this manner was a frightful shock to my vanity. He tried to draw me into conversation; but I answered in icy monosyllables. He again suggested we should make a night of it, and hinted broadly that he was game for any amount of riotous dissipation, even to the extent of going to see a play if I wanted to. I declined haughtily.

I was dying to go.

He then threw out a feeler on the subject of dominos and checkers, and observed in a general way that "seven up" was a capital game; but I repulsed him at every point.

I saw that the Admiral was beginning to feel hurt by my systematic coldness.

'We had always been such hearty friends until now. It was too bad of me to fret that tender, honest old heart even for an hour. I really did love the ancient boy, and when, in a disconsolate way, he ordered up a pitcher of beer, I unbent so far as to partake of some in a teacup. He recovered his spirits instantly, and took out his cuddy clay pipe for a smoke.

Between the beer and the soothing fragrance of the navy-plug, I fell into a pleasanter mood myself, and, it being too late now to go to the theatre, I condescended to say-addressing the northwest corner of the ceiling-that "seven up" was a capital game. Upon this hint the Admiral disappeared, and returned shortly with a very dirty pack of cards.

As we played, with varying fortunes, by the flickering flame of the lamp, he sipped his beer and became communicative. He seemed immensely tickled by the fact that I had come to Boston. It leaked out presently that he and the Captain had had a wager on the subject.

The discovery of my plans and who had discovered them were points on which the Admiral refused to throw any light. They had been discovered, however, and the Captain had laughed at the idea of my running away. Sailor Ben, on the contrary, had stoutly contended that I meant to slip cable and be off.

Whereupon the Captain offered to bet him a dollar that I wouldn't go. And it was partly on account of this wager that Sailor Ben refrained from capturing me when he might have done so at the start.

Now, as the fare to and from Boston, with the lodging expenses, would cost him at least five dollars, I didn't see what he gained by winning the wager. The Admiral rubbed his nose violently when this view of the case presented itself.

I asked him why he didn't take me from the train at the first stopping-place and return to Rivermouth by the down train at 4.30. He explained having purchased a ticket for Boston, he considered himself bound to the owners (the stockholders of the road) to fulfil his part of the contract! To use his own words, he had "shipped for the viage."

同类推荐
  • 弇山堂别集

    弇山堂别集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 准斋杂说

    准斋杂说

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 淡新凤三县简明总括图册

    淡新凤三县简明总括图册

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 纪古滇说集

    纪古滇说集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 昭觉丈雪醉禅师语录

    昭觉丈雪醉禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 大小便门

    大小便门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 魔帝的废柴小王妃

    魔帝的废柴小王妃

    将军府嫡女废柴傻子,身为御赐的太子妃却被太子嫌弃,与左丞相府嫡女一起嘲笑她。21世纪第一女杀手强势归来,虐渣男渣女是她平生最大的爱好,将不服她的人踩在脚底下,是她平生最大的乐趣。她站在悬崖边上,勾唇轻笑,“天下谁敢不服我?”一道声音响起:“本王不服!”她抬眸看去。从此他们的命运便绑在了一起,共同生死。“若是我做了对不起你的事情怎么办?”“我会毫不犹豫地杀了你,然后自刎。”前世的爱恨情仇,今生又该如何应对?
  • 美漫世界恶魔猎人

    美漫世界恶魔猎人

    我是嘉莉,吞星之女,我老爸超级厉害,是宇宙五大主神之一!至于他厉害在哪儿呢?我没有妈妈,我是我爸爸一个人亲自生的,厉害吧!总之,可能老爸自己也接受不了这个事实,我刚出生就被他扔到了地球,我吃的东西很杂,有一天我在墨菲斯托的地狱里大快朵颐,墨菲斯托是个狡诈的老痞子,他很弱,我向来都在这吃的很饱!直到我面前打开了一扇通往人间的传送门,我追着一个恶魔领主回到了地球,却看见一个男人正在和那恶魔领主对峙。我发现,那男人绝对是全宇宙唯一的绝版美食,我想吃了他,又舍不得吃了他,吃掉就没了!于是,我爱上他了,和他睡觉,和他结婚,然后……我就有很多很多**可以吃了!那个男人,就是恶魔猎人。PS:尹卝新书《我为啥不是人》已发布,一本慢热的写实风灵气复苏流小说,希望大家支持一下,万分感谢!
  • 双生花

    双生花

    我常常可以听到花开花落的声音,撕心裂肺。我无法描述那是怎样的一种声音,但我可以告诉你它的样子,是一只透明的有些晃眼的玻璃杯,被狠狠地丢在地上,支离破碎。升腾出一片片玫瑰,红得刺眼,美的妖娆。一个声音歇斯底里的呼唤着,我们爱,否则死……
  • 当时明月在

    当时明月在

    2008新春之际,悲情天后匪我思存一扫悲剧路线,摇身一变恶搞女王,推出首部大团圆结局的小说。至于本书具体内容嘛,自然是边恶搞边言情喽!想要看看后妈如何变身亲妈吗?想要知道匪我如何操刀恶搞言情吗?那你绝对绝对不要错过这本——《当时明月在》哦!
  • 我的男朋友是鬼怪

    我的男朋友是鬼怪

    千年孤独的鬼怪,遇见纯阴之体的丫头。陶陶:抱大腿~看谁还敢吃我~桥伯年:抱大腿,赶紧带我出去~这是一个男女主互相抱大腿的故事~
  • 湘行散记

    湘行散记

    沈从文有许多散文经典,主要介绍湘西的世界,充满了真情和美好。本书精选沈从文的散文代表作,注重乡土抒情氛围,突出优美的文笔,呈现了一个宁静悠然、淳朴自如的“湘西世界”。在他的笔下,自然生命生动形象,自然风光意境优美,充满了诗意,让读者沉醉其中,获得美好的阅读感受。
  • 将军的儿媳

    将军的儿媳

    苏甜甜,一抹异世幽魂莫名穿越时空,附在倍受嘲讽和欺凌的左将军儿媳的身上。她天性淡然,随遇而安,不料一场争斗将她推向命运的深渊……
  • 新知识图书馆:能源新希望(氢能)

    新知识图书馆:能源新希望(氢能)

    本书囊括人类科技多个领域等一系列新知识、新技术的应用情况,为青少年朋友了解推动当今人类社会发展的动力提供了方便,同时也为新知识和新技术的传播作出了贡献。
  • 我有一具身外化身

    我有一具身外化身

    看似平静的修仙界,却暗藏波澜,危机四伏。被选入修仙门派,叶纯阳面临的却不是如仙人般超然脱俗,而是一场生死危机,闯三界,渡魔海,入六道,要修得长生,唯有踏碎星辰,斩尽万仙!一口大勺,一具分身,问苍茫仙域,谁主浮沉?!