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乔的奇遇记 The Adventure of a Little Dog（第2页）

&omethatIwouldgomadifIotgetthatdooropen。EveryfewsedsIstoppedandputmyheaddowntothedoorsilltolisten。Therewasarushingaboutiheroom，andachairfellover，andsomeoobegettingoutofthewindow。

Thismademeworsethanever。IdidnotstoptothinkthatIwasonlyamedium-sizeddog，andthatJenkinswouldprobablykillme，ifhegothishandsonme。IwassofuriousthatIthoughtoingholdofhim。

IoftheImade，therewasasgandarushingtoandfroupstairs。Iranupanddownthehall，andhalf-thestepsandba。IdidnotwantMissLauratoedown，buthowwasItomakeheruhereshewas，iegown，leaherailing，andholdingbaghair，herfaceapictureofsurpriseandalarm。

“Thedoghasgonemad，”screamedMissBessie。“Nurse，pourapitcherofwateronhim。”

Thenursewasmoresensible。Sherandownstairs，hernight-g，andablashehadseizedfromherbed，trailingbehiherearethievesinthehouse，”sheshoutedatthetopofhervoidthedoghasfounditout。”

&gohedining-roomdoor，butthrewope，“Poliahieves，murder！”

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

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

OldJimsooncaughtupwithme，andIgavehimapushwithmyhimknowIwasgladhehade。Werushedswiftlyon，andattheercaughtupwiththemiserablemanwhawayfromus。

Igaveanangrygroingup，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，ashedashedoutmypoorlittlebrainstthehorse’sstall。Butjustthentherewasarunningsound。Twomehestreetandspranguponthewall，justwhereJimanddownandbarkingindistress。

Isawatoheiruniformandthetheirhands，thattheywerepolioinstanttheyhadholdofJenkins。Hegaveuptheatmelikeanuglydog。“Ifithadhateverabeencaught。Why-”aaggeredbadutteredabadword，“itsmeowndog。”

&oyou，”saidohepoli，sternly，“whathaveyoubeenuptoatthistimeofnight，tohaveyaersspanieldogagyhthestreet?”

Jeoswearandwouldhemanything。Therewasahouseinthegarden，andjustatthisminutesomeoneopenedawindowa，“Hallo，there，whatareyoudoing?”

&gathief，sir，”saidohepoli，“leastwiseIthinkthat‘swhathe’sbeenupto。Couldyouthrowusdownabitofrope?We‘venohandcuffshere，andoneofushastogotothelodtheothertoWashi，wherethere’sawomanyellingbluemurder；andhurryup，please，sir。”

&lemanthree，andintwominutesJenkinswristsweretiedtogether，andhewaswalkedthroughthegate，sayingbadwordsasfastashecouldtothepoliwhowasleadinghim。“Gooddogs，”saidtheotherpoliahehestreetandwefollowedhim。

AswehurriedalongWashi，andearourhouse，wesawlightsgleamingthroughthedarkness，andheardpetoandfro。Thenurse‘sshriekinghadalarmedtheneighborhood。TheMorrisboyswerealloutionlyhalfdshiveringwithdtheDrurys’an，withnohaton，andhishairstigupalloverhishead，wasrunningabout>

Theneighborshhtedup，andagoodmanypeoutoftheireningtheirdoors，andgtoeachothertoknowwhatallthis。

&hepoliappearedwithJimahisheels，quiteacrowdgatheredaroundhimtohearhispartofthestory。JimandIdroppedonthegroundpantingashardaswedwithlittlestreamsfrues。Wewerebothprettywellusedup。JimsbackwasbleedinginseveralplathestoJenkinshadthrownathim，andIwasamassofbruises。

&lywewerediscovered，aafusswasmadeoverus。“Bravedogs！Nobledogs！”everybodysaid，andpattedandpraisedus。Wewereveryproudandhappy，andstoodupaails，atleastJimdid，aIcould。Thentheyfoundwhatastatewewerein。Mrs。Morrisdgmeupinherarms，raninthehousewithme，andJackfollowedwitholdJim。

&intotheparloodfrethere，andMissLauraandMissBessieweresittiheyspraheysawus，andrightthereintheparlorwashedourwounds，andmadeusliedownbythefre。

“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，a，sopeoplewouldnotfndoutthathehadbeenrobbingyou。”

“Whywemighthaveallbeeh，”saidMissBessie。“Hetburnthedining-roomwithoutsettiherestofthehouse。”

&ainlynot，”saidJack，“thatshowswhatavillainheis。”