Luck and Pluck 46

Luck and Pluck 46

It was about half-past three that John awoke. He did not know what

time it was, but conjectured that it might be near four. Though he

still felt sleepy, he deemed it advisable to lose no more time, but

escape while Mr. Huxter was asleep. He accordingly dressed himself as

carefully as he could, in the imperfect light, and went on tiptoe to

the door. He tried to open it, but without success. Thinking that the

door might stick, he made another attempt. This time he understood the

state of things.

 

"I have been bolted in," he said to himself. "Can Mr. Huxter have

suspected my plan?"

 

Whether this was or was not the case John was unable to determine.

 

He sat down on the bed, and reflected what he had better do. Should he

give up the attempt, and go to bed again? No; he was resolved not to

relinquish his plan while there was any chance of carrying it out.

 

He went to the window and looked out. If it had been on the second

floor the difficulty would have been less, but it was an attic window,

and over twenty feet from the ground. There was no ell part beneath;

but the distance to the ground was unbroken.

 

A sudden thought struck John. He turned up the bed, and found that it

rested upon an interlacing cord. Why could he not detach this cord,

and, fastening it to some fixed object in the chamber, descend with

safety to the ground? The plan no sooner occurred to John than he

determined to carry it into execution.

 

The rope proved to be quite long enough for his purpose. He fastened

one end securely, and dropped the other over the sill. Looking down,

he saw that it nearly reached the ground. He had no fear of trusting

himself to it. He had always been good at climbing ropes, and was very

strong in the arms.

 

"After all," he thought, "this is better than to have gone downstairs.

I might have stumbled over something in the dark, and Mr. Huxter would

have been roused by the noise."

 

He got out of the window, and swung out. He let himself down as

noiselessly as possible. In less than a minute he stood upon the

ground, under the gray morning sky.

 

He looked up to Mr. Huxter's window, but everything was still.

Evidently no one had heard him.

 

"So far, so good," thought John. "Now I must travel as many miles as

possible between now and six o'clock. That will give me a good start if

I am pursued."

 

John hoped he would meet no one who would recognize him. But in this

he was disappointed. He had walked six miles, when he heard his name

called from behind. Startled, he looked back hastily, and to his relief

discovered that the call came from David Wallace, who had taken him up

on his first journey to Milbank.

 

"Where are you going, John?" asked David. "Don't you want to ride?"

 

"Thank you," said John.

 

He jumped on board the wagon, and took a seat beside David.

 

"You are travelling early, David," he said.

 

"Just what I was going to say to you," said David, laughing. "Are you

walking for your health?"

 

"Not exactly," said John. "I've a great mind to tell you. You won't

tell?"

 

"Honor bright!"

 

"Then, I've left Mr. Huxter without bidding him good-by."

 

"Good!" said David. "I don't blame you a bit. Tell me how it happened."

 

David was highly amused at Mr. Huxter's adventure with the tub.

 

"I must tell that to George Sprague," he exclaimed. "It's a good joke."

 

"I'm afraid Mr. Huxter wouldn't agree with you there."

 

"He never does agree with anybody. Now tell me how you managed to walk

off."

 

John narrated how he found himself locked in, and how he resorted to

the expedient of the bed-cord.

 

"You're a trump, John!" said David, slapping him on the shoulder. "I

didn't think you had so much spunk."

 

"What did you think of me?" asked John, smiling.

 

"You see you're such a quiet fellow, you don't look as if you were up

to such things. But what will you do if Mr. Huxter pursues you?"

 

"I can tell better when the time comes," said John.

 

"You wouldn't go back with him?"

 

"Not if I could help myself. I don't feel that he has any right to

control me. He isn't my guardian, and he is the last man, I know, that

my father would be willing to trust me with."

 

"I wish I could see how he looks when he finds you are gone. If you'd

like to send him your love I could go round by the house on my way

back."

 

"I don't think I shall need to trouble you, David," said John.

 

"Whereabouts are you going?"

 

"I have an aunt living about fifty miles away. I shall go there for the

present."

 

"Well, I'm sorry you're going to leave Jackson. I mean I'm sorry I

shan't see you any more. Can't you write to me now and then?"

 

"I would but for one thing," said John.

 

"What's that?"

 

"I am afraid the letters would be noticed by the postmaster, and put

Mr. Huxter on the track. I don't want to have any more to do with him."

 

"There's something in that. I didn't think of it. At any rate I hope

we'll meet again some time."

 

"So do I, David. You have been very kind to me, and I shall not forget

it. I don't know what lies before me, but I shall keep up good courage,

hoping that things will come out right in the end."

 

"That's the best way. But I am afraid I must bid you good-by here. I

turn up that side road. I suppose you are going straight ahead."

 

"Yes."

 

"I wish I could carry you further."

 

"It's been quite a help what I have already ridden."

 

"Whoa, Dan!" said David, and the horse stopped.

 

"Good-by, David," said John, as he jumped out of the wagon.

 

"Good-by, John. Then you haven't any message to send back to Mr.

Huxter?"

 

"Not to him," said John; "but," he added, after a moment's thought, "if

you happen to see Mrs. Huxter, just let her know that you saw me, and

that I am grateful for all she tried to do for me."

 

"You're sure she won't tell her husband?"

 

"No; she acted like a good friend. I would like to have said good-by;

but it wouldn't do."

 

"All right, I'll remember what you say. Good-by, old fellow."

 

"Good-by, David."

 

John estimated that he was now nearly ten miles from his

starting-place. The sun was already shining brightly, and it promised

to be a fine day. Our hero began to feel hungry. The fresh morning air

had given him an appetite.

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER XXIV.

 

JOHN IS PURSUED.

 

 

Mr. Huxter felt better after a night's rest. In fact, his injuries had

not been as serious as he wished Mrs. Huxter to suppose. The truth is,

he was a coward, and even a small sickness terrified him. But with the

morning, finding himself very little inconvenienced by his mishap of

the day previous, his courage returned, and with it his determination

to wreak condign vengeance on John.

 

"How do you feel, Mr. Huxter?" asked his wife.

 

"I feel like whipping that young scamp, Oakley," said her husband.

 

"He has done nothing that deserves punishment, I am sure."

 

"Of course, scalding me is a very slight affair, in _your_ opinion; but

I happen to think differently," he said, with a sneer.

 

He drew on his pantaloons as he spoke, and seizing a leather strap,

left the room.

 

"Oh, dear," sighed Mrs. Huxter, "I do wish Mr. Huxter wouldn't be so

violent. I don't see what can have turned him so against that poor boy.

I am sure he's very polite and gentlemanly."

 

She wanted to say more, in the hope of dissuading her husband from

his harsh resolution, but she dared not. She went to the foot of the

attic stairs to listen, fearing that she would hear the sounds of an

altercation. She saw Mr. Huxter draw the bolt and enter the chamber,

but she was quite unprepared to see him burst forth furiously a minute

later, exclaiming in a rage: