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！
Connecticut the autumn sun shone upon a more peaceful； pastoral；
manufacturing community。 The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening
on the trees； and the white pine hams for Western consumption were
gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the hardy
American artisan。 The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering
from his threshing floor the shoe…pegs； which； when intermixed with a fair
proportion of oats； offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete
civilizations of Europe。 An almost Sabbath…like stillness prevailed。
Doemville was only seven miles from Hartford； and the surrounding
landscape smiled with the conviction of being fully insured。
Few would have thought that this peaceful village was the home of the
three young heroes whose exploits would hereafterbut we anticipate。
Doemville Academy was the principal seat of learning in the county。
Under the grave and gentle administration of the venerable Doctor Context；
it had attained just popularity。 Yet the increasing infirmities of age
obliged the doctor to relinquish much of his trust to his assistants； who； it
is needless to say； abused his confidence。 Before long their brutal
tyranny and deep…laid malevolence became apparent。 Boys were
absolutely forced to study their lessons。 The sickening fact will hardly
83
… Page 84…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
be believed； but during school hours they were obliged to remain in their
seats with the appearance at least of discipline。 It is stated by good
authority that the rolling of croquet balls across the floor during recitation
was objected to； under the fiendish excuse of its interfering with their
studies。 The breaking of windows by base balls； and the beating of small
scholars with bats； were declared against。 At last； bloated and arrogant
with success； the under… teachers threw aside all disguise and revealed
themselves in their true colors。 A cigar was actually taken out of a day
scholar's mouth during prayers！ A flask of whisky was dragged from
another's desk； and then thrown out of the window。 And finally；
Profanity； Hazing； Theft； and Lying were almost discouraged！
Could the youth of America； conscious of their power and a literature
of their own； tamely submit to this tyranny？ Never！ We repeat it firmly。
Never！ We repeat it to parents and guardians。 Never！ But the fiendish
tutors； chuckling in their glee； little knew what was passing through the
cold； haughty intellect of Charles Fanuel Hall Golightly； aged ten； what
curled the lip of Benjamin Franklin Jenkins； aged seven； or what shone in
the bold blue eyes of Bromley Chitterlings； aged six and a half； as they sat
in the corner of the playground at recess。 Their only other companion
and confidant was the negro porter and janitor of the school； known as
〃Pirate Jim。〃
Fitly； indeed； was he named； as the secrets of his early wild career
confessed freely to his noble young friendsplainly showed。 A slaver at
the age of seventeen； the ringleader of a mutiny on the African Coast at the
age of twenty； a privateersman during the last war with England； the
commander of a fire…ship and its sole survivor at twenty…five； with a wild
intermediate career of unmixed piracy； until the Rebellion called him to
civil service again as a blockade…runner； and peace and a desire for rural
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。
84
… Page 85…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
〃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；
85
… Page 86…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
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