奇书网

第5章 乔的奇遇记（第4页）

Thenursewasmoresensible。Sherandownstairs，hernight-g，andablashehadseizedfromherbed，trailingbehi;Therearethievesinthehouse，"sheshoutedatthetopofhervoice，"andthedoghasfounditout。"

&gohedining-roomdoor，butthrewope，"Polian？Help，help，thieves，murder？"

Suchasgasthatoldwomanmade？ShewasworsethanIwas。Idashedbyher，hthehalldoor，andawaydowe，whereIheards。IgaveafewloudyelpstocallJim，aeasthemanbeforemehaddone。

Therewassomethihatnight。IthinkitmusthavebeenthesmellofJenkiasifIcouldtearhimtopieces。Ihavesowice。Iwashuntinghim，ashehadhuntedmeandmymother，agavemepleasure。

OldJimsooncaughtupwithme，andIgavehimapushwithmyhimknowIwasgladhehade。Werushedswiftlyon，andattheercaughtupwiththemiserablemanwhawayfromus。

Igaveanangrygroedup，bitathisleg。Heturnedaround，andthoughitwasnight，therewaslightenoughformetoseetheuglyfaaster。

HeseemedsoangrytothinkthatJimaosnapathim。Hecaughtupahandfulofstones，andwithsomebadwordsthrewthematus。Justthen，awayinfrontofus，wasaqueerwhistle，aherobehindus。Jerahroat，aorundow，awayfromthedireofthetwowhistles。

Iwasafraidthathewasgoiaway，andthoughIotholdhim，Ikeptspringinguponhim，arippedhimup。Oh，howfurioushewas？Hekickedmeagainstthesideofawall，ahreehardblowswithastickthathecaughtup，ahrowime。

IwouldhoughIcouldscarcelyseehimforthebloodthatwasrunningovermyeyes。OldJimgotsoangrywheouchedme，thatheranupbehindandnippedhisturnonhim。

SoonJeoahighwall，wherehestopped，andwithahurriedlookbehioclimboverit。Thewallwastoohighformetojump。Hewasgoingtoescape。WhatshallIdo？IbarkedasloudlyasIeohensprangupandheldhimbythelegashewasgettingover。

Ihadsuchagrip，thatIwehewallwithhim，aJimoherside。Jenkinsfelloheearth。Theup，andwithalookofdeadlyhatredonhisfae。Ifhelphadhinkhewouldhavedashedainstthewall，ashedashedoutmypoorlittlebrothers'againstthehorse'sstall。Butjustthentherewasarunningsound。Twomehestreetandspranguponthewall，justwhereJimanddownandbarkingindistress。

Isawatoheiruniformandthetheirhands，thattheywerepolioinstanttheyhadholdofJenkins。Hegaveuptheatmelikeanuglydog。"Ifithadn'tbeenforthatcur，I'd。Why—"aaggeredbadutteredabadword，"it'smeowndog。"

"Moreshametoyou，"saidohepoli，sternly，"whathaveyoubeenuptoatthistimeofnight，tohaveyaer'sspanieldogagyhthestreet？"

Jeoswearandwouldhemanything。Therewasahouseinthegarden，andjustatthisminutesomeoneopenedawindowa，"Hallo，there，whatareyoudoing？"

"We'regathief，sir，"saidohepoli，"leastwiseIthinkthat'swhathe'sbeenupto。Couldyouthrowusdownabitofrope？We'venohandcuffshere，andoneofushastogotothelodtheothertoWashi，wherethere'sawomanyellingbluemurder。Andhurryup，please，sir。"

&lemanthree，andintwominutesJenkins'wristsweretiedtogether，andhewaswalkedthroughthegate，sayingbadwordsasfastashecouldtothepoliwhowasleadinghim。"Gooddogs，"saidtheotherpoliahehestreetandwefollowedhim。

AswehurriedalongWashi，andearourhouse，wesawlightsgleamingthroughthedarkness，andheardpetoandfro。Thenurse&#hadalarmedtheneighborhood。TheMorrisboyswerealloutionlyhalfdshiveringwithdtheDrurys'an，withnohaton，andhishairstigupalloverhishead，wasrunningabout

Theneighbors'hhtedup，andagoodmanypeoutoftheireningtheirdoors，andgtoeachothertoknowwhatallthis。

&hepoliappearedwithJimahisheels，quiteacrowdgatheredaroundhimtohearhispartofthestory。JimandIdroppedonthegroundpantingashardaswedwithlittlestreamsfrues。Wewerebothprettywellusedup。Jim'sbackwasbleedinginseveralplathestoJenkinshadthrownathim，andIwasamassofbruises。

&lywewerediscovered，aafusswasmadeoverus。&qus？Nobledogs？"everybodysaid，andpattedandpraisedus。Wewereveryproudandhappy，andstoodupaails，atleastJimdid，aIcould。Thentheyfoundwhatastatewewerein。Mrs。Morrisdgmeupinherarms，raninthehousewithme，andJackfollowedwitholdJim。

&intotheparloodfirethere，andMissLauraandMissBessieweresittiheyspraheysawus，andrightthereintheparlorwashedourwounds，andmadeusliedownbythefire。

"Yousavedoursilver，braveJoe，"saidMissBessie，"justwaittillmypapaandmammae，aheywillsay。Well，Jack，whatisthelatest？"astheMorrisboyscametroopingintotheroom。

"Thepolihasbeeioningyournurse，andexaminingthedining-room，andhasgoothestationtomakehisreport，anddoyouknowwhathehasfoundout？"saidJack，excitedly。

"No，what？"askedMissBessie。

"Whythatvillainwasgoingtoburnyourhouse。"

MissBessiegavealittleshriek。"Why，whatdoyoumean？"

"Well，"saidJack，"theythinkbywhattheydiscovered，thatheplaopackhisbagwithsilver，andcarryitoff；butjustbeforehedidsohewouldpouroilaroundtheroom，aoit，sopeoplewouldnotfindoutthathehadbeenrobbingyou。"

"Whywemighthaveallbeeh，"saidMissBessie。"He'tburnthedining-roomwithoutsettiherestofthehouse。"

"lynot，"saidJack，"thatshowswhatavillai;

"Dotheyknowthisfor，Jack？"askedMissLaura。

"Well，theysupposeso；theyfoulesofoilalongwiththebaghehadforthesilver。"

"Howhorrible？MydarlingoldJoe，perhapsyousavedourlives，"ayMissBessiekissedmyugly，swollenhead。Iothingbutlickherlittlehand，butalwaysafterthatIthoughtagreatdealofher。

&daytheDruryse，ahingwasfoundoutaboutJenkins。Hewasmadetofessallthis。Thenforhiswiesshewassenttoprisonfortenyears，andIhopehewillgettobeabettermanthere，aerheesout。