登陆注册
15518200000020

第20章

John lounged along, appearing to be very busily engaged in making a whistle from a slip of willow which he had a short time before cut from the tree. He purposely kept in the middle of the road, apparently quite unaware of the approach of the vehicle, until he was aroused by the sound of a voice behind him.

"Be a little more careful, if you don't want to get run over."

John assumed a look of surprise, and with comic terror ran to the side of the road.

Mr. Mudge checked his horse, and came to a sudden halt.

"I say, youngster, haven't you seen a boy of about your own size walking along, with a bundle in his hand?"

"Tied up in a red cotton handkerchief?" inquired John.

"Yes, I believe so," said Mr. Mudge, eagerly, "where did you----"

"With a blue cloth cap?"

"Yes, where----"

"Gray jacket and pants?"

"Yes, yes. Where?"

"With a patch on one knee?"

"Yes, the very one. When did you see him?" said Mr. Mudge, getting ready to start his horse.

"Perhaps it isn't the one you mean," continued John, who took a mischievous delight in playing with the evident impatience of Mr. Mudge; "the boy that I saw looked thin, as if he hadn't had enough to eat."

Mr. Mudge winced slightly, and looked at John with some suspicion. But John put on so innocent and artless a look that Mr. Mudge at once dismissed the idea that there was any covert meaning in what he said. Meanwhile Paul, from his hiding-place in the bushes, had listened with anxiety to the foregoing colloquy.

When John described his appearance so minutely, he was seized with a sudden apprehension that the boy meant to betray him. But he dismissed it instantly. In his own singleness of heart he could not believe such duplicity possible. Still, it was not without anxiety that he waited to hear what would be said next.

"Well," said Mr. Mudge, slowly, "I don't know but he is a little PEAKED. He's been sick lately, and that's took off his flesh."

"Was he your son?" asked John, in a sympathizing tone; "you must feel quite troubled about him."

He looked askance at Mr. Mudge, enjoying that gentleman's growing irritation.

"My son? No. Where----"

"Nephews perhaps?" suggested the imperturbable John, leisurely continuing the manufacture of a whistle.

"No, I tell you, nothing of the kind. But I can't sit waiting here."

"Oh, I hope you'll excuse me," said John, apologetically. "I hope you won't stop on my account. I didn't know you were in a hurry."

"Well, you know it now," said Mr. Mudge, crossly. "When and where did you see the boy you have described? I am in pursuit of him."

"Has he run away?" inquired John in assumed surprise.

"Are you going to answer my question or not?" demanded Mr. Mudge, angrily.

"Oh, I beg your pardon. I shouldn't have asked so many questions, only I thought he was a nice-looking boy, and I felt interested in him."

"He's a young scamp," said Mr. Mudge, impetuously, "and it's my belief that you're another. Now answer my question. When and where did you see this boy?"

This time Mr. Mudge's menacing look warned John that he had gone far enough.

Accordingly he answered promptly, "He passed by our farm this morning."

"How far back is that?"

"About three miles."

"Did he stop there?"

"Yes, he stopped a while to rest."

"Have you seen him since?"

"Yes, I saw him about half a mile back."

"On this road?"

"Yes, but he turned up the road that branches off there."

"Just what I wanted to find out," said Mr. Mudge, in a tone of satisfaction, "I'm sure to catch him."

So saying, he turned about and put his horse to its utmost speed, determined to make up for lost time. When he was fairly out of sight, Paul came forth from his hiding-place.

"How could you do so!" he asked in a reproachful tone.

"Could I do what?" asked John, turning a laughing face towards Paul. "Didn't I tell old Mudge the exact truth? You know you did turn up that road. To be sure you didn't go two rods before turning back. But he didn't stop to ask about that. If he hadn't been in such a hurry, perhaps I should have told him. Success to him!"

"You can't think how I trembled when you described me so particularly."

"You didn't think I would betray you?" said John, quickly.

"No, but I was afraid you would venture too far, and get us both into trouble."

"Trust me for that, Paul; I've got my eyes wide open, and ain't easily caught. But wasn't it fun to see old Mudge fuming while I kept him waiting. What would he have said if he had known the bird was so near at hand?

He looked foolish enough when I asked him if you were his son."

John sat down and gave vent to his pent-up laughter which he had felt obliged to restrain in the presence of Mr. Mudge. He laughed so heartily that Paul, notwithstanding his recent fright and anxiety, could not resist the infection.

同类推荐
  • 郑史编年辑录

    郑史编年辑录

    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。
  • 对床夜语

    对床夜语

    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。
  • 大乘掌珍论

    大乘掌珍论

    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。
  • 美芹十论

    美芹十论

    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。
  • 海琼问道集

    海琼问道集

    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。
热门推荐
  • 萨满文化

    萨满文化

    《中国文化知识读本:萨满文化》共分为七部分,主要内容包括:萨满文化的起源与传播、萨满教的神灵崇拜、萨满的宇宙观与灵魂观、成为萨满的途径、萨满的祭祀、萨满传统文化等。
  • Exo之行星之恋

    Exo之行星之恋

    有点虐,希望大家不要介意,但结局是好的。喜欢看虐的,这里来
  • 倾城妖媚:帝王的受(完结)

    倾城妖媚:帝王的受(完结)

    他是男人却也是一代少见的妖男,美得让人想“动手”,在逃脱的路中他幸得一帅男救,但怎么也没有想到他竟然刚从虎口出再进龙口,一步步进入他给自己设下的情网......
  • 365计:高冷娇妻太难追

    365计:高冷娇妻太难追

    “如果我要为你写封情书我一定用一生去写,那也请你倾尽一生去读,好吗?”
  • 火澜

    火澜

    当一个现代杀手之王穿越到这个世界。是隐匿,还是崛起。一场血雨腥风的传奇被她改写。一条无上的强者之路被她踏破。修斗气,炼元丹,收兽宠,化神器,大闹皇宫,炸毁学院,打死院长,秒杀狗男女,震惊大陆。无止尽的契约能力,上古神兽,千年魔兽,纷纷前来抱大腿,惊傻世人。她说:在我眼里没有好坏之分,只有强弱之分,只要你能打败我,这世间所有都是你的,打不败我,就从这世间永远消失。她狂,她傲,她的目标只有一个,就是凌驾这世间一切之上。三国皇帝,魔界妖王,冥界之主,仙界至尊。到底谁才是陪着她走到最后的那个?他说:上天入地,我会陪着你,你活着,有我,你死,也一定有我。本文一对一,男强女强,强强联手,不喜勿入。
  • 三生川水

    三生川水

    三生川水不只是在冥府。每一个人,心尖儿上都有一滴露水,引导灵魂渡劫三生。
  • 妖狐的魅惑

    妖狐的魅惑

    狐狸也许是所有东方妖怪中最为华贵的族群。。他们是有时冷酷漠然。。有时妩媚动人。。或男或女性别不一。。却皆有着不俗的传奇故事。。
  • 热血那几年

    热血那几年

    我叫张震天,来到大泽,从来没想到我的人生就从这里发生了转折,不过很幸运遇到了你们。
  • 末世:妄想者

    末世:妄想者

    末世,被称为第一战斗力——妄想者007,在一次大型的绞杀领主级丧尸的任务中陨落。“妄想者007已经完全损坏,没有修复可能。”“没用了就扔掉吧,把所有力量投入研究妄想者010……”“不……不要……不要抛弃我……”我还不想死!再次醒来,竟然已是另一个世界了,不知是幸运还是倒霉,竟然碰上了这个世界的末世,再次经历末世的洗礼,只是自己的立场已经不同,前一次是作为工具武器,而这一次,作为一个真正的人类。感受人类的恐惧、快乐、悲伤,体验人类的团结、友谊、背叛……最后力量的暴露,她又该何去何从,继续作为一个工具?或是继续做一个人类?
  • 刑警吸血鬼

    刑警吸血鬼

    沈梦,原本只是一名片警,谁成想因为一个案子,圆了自己多年来的梦想成为了一名真正的刑警。而他,宋清,一个以刑警队长示人的吸血鬼,在看到她的第一眼就知道她的与众不同,她的血不一般,为此他利用职权把她调到了自己的队里。沈梦害怕他,因为他太过冷冽,很少露出笑脸,不过他长得确实很难让人不心动,轩昂伟岸,器宇不凡,她好像中了他的毒,不能自拔。而他看似冰冷,却只有对她才展现出自己的柔情温暖。面对悲痛欲绝的受害人的家属,她很难受想着对他们好好安慰一下。而他说:对他们最大的安慰就是尽快抓到凶手。小刑警遇到吸血鬼,看他们两人查案谈情两不误。