on the firing line-第1部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！






On　The　Firing　Line

by　Anna　Chapin　Ray　and　Hamilton　Brock　Fuller






CHAPTER　ONE


Six　feet　one　in　his　stockings；　broad…shouldered　and　without　an　ounce　of　extra　flesh；　Harvard　Weldon　suddenly　halted　before　one　of　a　line　of　deck　chairs。

〃I　usually　get　what　I　want；　Miss　Dent；〃　he　observed　suggestively。

〃You　are　more　fortunate　than　most　people。〃　Her　answering　tone　was　dry。

Most　men　would　have　been　baffled　by　her　apparent　indifference。　Not　so　was　Weldon。　Secure　in　the　possession　of　a　good　tailor　and　an　equally　good　digestion；　he　was　willing　to　await　the　leisurely　course　of　events。

〃My　doctor　always　advises　mild　exercise　after　lunch；〃　he　continued。

〃You　are　in　the　care　of　a　physician？〃　she　queried；　with　a　whimsical　glance　up　at　his　brown　face　and　athletic　figure。

〃Not　just　now。　I　was　once；　however。〃　She　raised　her　brows　in　polite　interrogation。　Her　involuntary　thawing　of　a　moment　before　had　given　place　to　absolute　conventionality。　Weldon　smiled　to　himself；　as　he　noted　the　change。　He　had　been　at　sea　for　three　days　now；　and　those　three　days　had　been　chiefly　spent　in　trying　to　penetrate　the　social　shell　of　his　next　neighbor　at　table。　It　was　not　so　much　that　Ethel　Dent　was　undeniably　pretty　as　that　he　had　been　piqued　by　her　frosty　reception　of　his　efforts　to　supplement　the　services　of　a　careless　waiter。

Now；　uninvited；　he　dropped　into　the　empty　chair　next　her　own。

〃If　I　may？〃　he　said　questioningly；　as　he　raised　his　cap。　〃Yes；　I　have　had　a　doctor　twice。　Once　was　measles；　once　a　collar　bone　broken　in　football。　Both　times；　I　was　urged　to　take　a　walk　after　luncheon。　Is　Miss　Arthur？〃

He　hesitated　for　the　right　word。　Still　ignoring　his　obvious　hint；　Ethel　Dent　supplied　the　word；　without　charity　for　her　luckless　chaperon。　〃Horridly　seasick。〃　She　pointed　out　to　the　level　steely…　gray　sea。　〃And　on　this　duck…pond；〃　she　added。

Her　accent　was　expressive。　Weldon　laughed。

〃Perhaps　she　isn't　as　used　to　the　duck…pond　as　you　are。〃

The　girl　brushed　a　lock　of　vivid　gold　hair　from　her　eyes；　then　she　sat　up；　to　add　emphasis　to　her　words。　〃Miss　Arthur　has　been　to　America　and　back　seven　times　and　to　Australia　once；〃　she　said　conclusively。

〃As　globe…trotter；　or　as　commercial　traveller？〃

〃Neither。　　As　professional　chaperon。　When　she　applied　for　me；　she　stated〃　The　girl　caught　her　breath　and　stopped　short。

〃Well？〃　he　asked　encouragingly。　She　shook　her　head。　Again；　for　an　instant；　Weldon　could　see　the　humanity　beneath　the　veneering。　Moreover；　he　liked　what　he　saw。　The　blue　eyes　were　honest　and　steady。　One　mocking　dimple　belied　the　gravity　of　the　firm　lips。

〃What　did　she　state？〃　he　asked　again。

〃It's　not　manners　to　tell　tales　about　one's　companion；〃　she　demurred。

〃Not　if　you　spell　it　with　a　little　c。　With　a　capital；　it　becomes　professional；　and　you　can　say　what　you　choose。　Miss　Arthur　is　a　righteous　lady；　nevertheless；　she　is　a　bit　professional。　And　you　were　saying　that　the　lady　stated〃

〃That　she　never　had　been　seasick　in　her　life。〃

〃Oh。　And　did　she　also　produce　certificates　as　to　her　moral　character？　Or　is　fibbing　merely　bad　form　nowadays？〃

With　swift　inconsequence；　the　girl　shifted　to　the　other　side　of　the　discussion。

〃Of　course；　this　may　be　a　first　attack。〃

〃Of　course；〃　Weldon　assented　gravely。　But　again　she　shifted　her　ground。　〃Only；〃　she　continued；　with　her　eyes　thoughtfully　fixed　on　the　distant；　impersonal　point　where　sea　and　sky　met；　〃only　it　is　a　little　strange　that；　yesterday；　I　heard　her　tell　the　stewardess　she　never　took　beeftea　when　she　was　seasick。〃

〃Oh。〃　Weldon's　eyes　joined　hers　on　the　sky…line。　〃I　have　heard　of　similar　cases　before。〃

〃She　offered　to　come　on　deck；〃　Ethel　went　on　quietly。　〃It　was　generous　of　her；　for　she　knew　I　was　left　entirely　alone。　Nevertheless；　I　persuaded　her　that　she　was　better　off　in　her　berth。〃

Leaning　back　in　the　chair　of　the　absent　invalid；　Weldon　watched　his　companion　out　of　the　corners　of　his　eyes　and　rejoiced　at　the　change　in　her。　Even　while　he　rejoiced；　he　marvelled。　A　Canadian　by　birth　and　education；　he　had　rarely　come　in　contact　with　English　girls。　At　first；　he　had　been　totally　at　a　loss　to　account　for　the　haughty　chill　in　the　manner　of　this　one。　Grown　accustomed　to　that；　he　was　still　more　at　a　loss　to　account　for　this　sudden　awakening　into　humanity。　He　had　as　yet　to　learn　that　two　days　of　having　her　only　companion　seasick；　coupled　with　a　sparkling　sun　and　a　crisp　breeze；　can　rouse　even　a　duenna…led　English　girl　to　the　point　of　expressing　her　opinions　pithily　and　with　vigor。

As　the　Dunottar　Castle　had　slid　away　from　Southampton；　three　days　before；　Weldon　had　tramped　briskly　up　and　down　the　crowded　deck；　taking　mental　note　of　his　companions　for　the　next　two　weeks。　Among　the　caped　and　capped　throng　leaning　over　the　rail　and　staring　after　the　receding　shore　with　homesick　eyes；　he　saw　little　to　interest　him。　Neither　did　the　shore　interest　him　in　the　least。　His　own　partings　had　come；　two　weeks　before；　when　the　steam　yacht　had　put　back　from　Sandy　Hook。　Now；　accordingly；　he　went　in　search　of　the　dining…room　steward　to　whom　he　gave　much　gold　and　instruction。　Then　he　betook　himself　to　his　stateroom　where　his　mates　were　already　busy　settling　their　belongings。

The　luncheon　hour　disclosed　the　fact　that　the　dining…room　steward　had　earned　his　money　and　had　digested　his　instruction。　A　short　pause　on　the　threshold　informed　Weldon　that　the　Dunottar　Castle　held　exactly　one　pretty　girl；　the　steward　informed　Weldon　that　the　vacant　chair　beside　her　was　his　own。　Weldon　picked　up　his　napkin　with　a　brief　prayer　of　thanksgiving。　What　if　he　was　going　out　to　Africa　in　search　of　Boers　and　glory？　There　was　no　especial　reason　he　should　not　enjoy　himself　on　the　way。

Weldon　had　gained　a　wide　experience　of　American　girls。　well…bred；　well…chaperoned；　nevertheless　they　offered　possible　points　of　contact　to　the　strangers　with　whom　they　were　thrown。　To　all　seeming；　Ethel　Dent　was　as　accessible　as　the　outer　wall　of　an　ice　palace。　Beside　her　decorous　ignoring　of　his　existence；　Miss　Arthur；　lean　and　spectacled　and　sniffy；　appeared　to　be　of　maternal　kindliness；　albeit　her　only　advances　had　been　a　muffled　request　for　the　salt。　The　next　morning；　Miss　Arthur's　chair　had　been　empty；　and　her　charge；　left　to　herself；　had　been　more　glacially　circumspect　than　ever。　Whatever　skittish　traits　the　pair　might　develop；　Weldon　felt　assured　that　they　would　be　solely　upon　the　side　of　Miss　Ophelia　Arthur。

Now；　however；　he　was　giving　himself　praise　for　his　own　astute　generalship。　It　was　no　slight　matter；　at　the　end　of　the　third　day；　to　find　himself　sitting　next　to　Miss　Dent　in　the　line　of　steamer　chairs　and　even　bending　over　to　pick　up　the　novel　she　had　dropped。　In　his　elation；　Weldon　neglected　to　give　credit　to　Miss　Arthur　whose　digestive　woes　were　the　cause　of　the　whole　situation。　Only　the　riper　Christianity　which　comes　with　declining　years　can　make　one　wholly　loyal　to　a　seasick　comrade。

He　gave　himself　yet　more　praise；　next　morning　at　sunrise；　when　he　found　himself　pacing　the　deck　at　Ethel　Dent's　side。　As　a　rule；　he　and　his　mates　rose　betimes　and；　clad　in　slippers　and　pajamas；　raced　up　and　down　the　decks　to　keep　their　muscles　in　hard　order；　before　descending　for　the　tubbing　which　is　the　matin　duty　of　every　self…　respecting　British　subject。　This　morning；　instead　of　the　deserted　decks　and　the　pajama…clad　athletes；　the　passengers　were　out　early　to　catch　the　first　glimpse　of　Madeira；　and　Weldon；　starchy　and　glowing　with　much　cold　water；　was　on　deck　to　catch　the　first　glimpse　of　Ethel。

Miss　Arthur　was　still　invisible；　and　the　girl　was　discreetly　late　about　appearing。　The　deck　was　full；　when　at　last　she　came　in　sight；　and　it　seemed；　to　her　first　glance；　that　she　was　the　only　unattended　person　abroad；　that　morning。　Her　chin　rose　a　little　aggressively　as　she　moved　forward。　Then　her　eyes　lighted。　Cap　in　hand；　Weldon　stood　in　her　direct　path。

〃Good　morning；〃　he　said。　〃We've　just　passed　the　lighthouse　and　are　nearly　opposite　Canical。　If　you　come　over　here；　you　can　see　it。〃

His　tone　was　matter…of…course；　yet　masterful。　At　the　very　beginning　of　her　fourth　solitary　day；　Ethel　admitted　to　herself　that　it　was　good　to　have　some　one　take　possession　of　her　in　this　summary　fashion。

〃Is　Miss　Arthur　still　unhappy？〃　he　asked；　as　he　swung　into　step　at　her　side。

〃Yes。　She　has　taken　to　her　hymnal；　this　morning；　in　search　of　consolation。　I　tried　to　coax　her　to　get　up　and　go　ashore；　but　she　said　there　was　no　use　in　experiencing　the　same　woe　twice。〃

〃I　am　afraid　I　do　not　quite　catch　the　lady's　line　of　argument；〃　Weldon　remarked　doubtfully。

The　girl　laughed。　Then　she　decorously　checked　her　laugh　and　endeavored　to　turn　sympathetic　once　more。

〃She　means　to　make　one　prolonged　illness。　Else　she　will　only　recover　in　order　to　fall　ill　again。〃　〃Oh。〃　Weldon's　tone　was　still　blank。　〃And　shall　you　go　ashore？〃

She　shook　her　head。

〃I　am　sorry。　You　would　find　any　amount　to　see。〃

〃I　am　sorry；　too；〃　she　said　frankly。　〃Still；　I　don't　see　how　I　can；　without　Miss　Arthur。〃

His　hands　in　his　pockets；　Weldon　took　a　dozen　steps　in　doubtful　silence。

〃I'll　tell　you　what　we　can　do；　Miss　Dent：　Harry　Carew；　one　of　the　fellows　going　out　with　me；　had　a　note　of　introduction　to　Colonel　Scott　and　his　wife。　He　is　the　pompous　old　Englishman　across　the　table。　I'll　get　Carew　to　introduce　us；　and　perhaps　they　will　let　us　go　ashore　with　them。〃

〃But　are　they　going？〃　she　asked　irresolutely。

〃Surely。　We　have　three　hours　here。　I　know　Carew's　mother　well；　she　and　Mrs。　Scott　were　schoolmates　at　Madame　Prather's　in　London。〃

She　looked　up　with　sudden　interest。

〃Madame　Prather's？　That　is　where　I　have　been；　for　the　past　five　years。〃

〃Then　we　are　all　right；〃　Weldon　said　coolly。　〃The　arrangement　is　made。　Carew　is　the　only　missing　link。　Excuse　me；　and　I　will　go　in　search　of　him。〃

It　was　high　noon　when　the　Dunottar　Castle　finally　weighed　anchor　at　Funchal　and　started　on　her　long；　unbroken　voyage　to　the　southward。　Side　by　side　in　the　stern；　Weldon　and　Ethel　looked　back　at　the　blue　harbor　dotted　with　the　myriad　little　boats；　at　the　quaint　town　backed　with　its　amphitheatre　of　sunlit　hills　and；　poised　on　the　summit；　the　church　where　Nossa　Senhora　do　Monte　keeps　watch　and　ward　over　the　town　beneath。　Ethel