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看起來這是個好買賣；不過，你得等我把話說完。故事發生在我們——我和比爾．德里斯科爾——南下途中，經過啊拉巴馬時突然起了這個綁票的念頭。後來，比爾把這說成是“一時糊塗”，但我們當時並沒有意識到。
那地方有個小鎮，地勢平坦得宛如一張大餅，當然了，名字還是叫頂峰鎮。鎮上住的儘是些豐衣足食的農民，你完全可以想像得出這個階層的人生活得多么自在。
我和比爾想合夥在伊利諾斯西部地區買塊黑市地，但我倆總共只有六百來塊錢資金，要實現這一計畫，少不得還需要兩千塊錢。我們在旅館門口的台階上坐下來商量。我們說，鄉村集鎮上的居民特別疼愛孩子；因此，再加上另外一些因素，在這裡綁票比較容易得手，不像那些附近有報紙出版的地方，出了點事就被派去的記者攪得沸沸揚揚。我們知道，頂峰鎮有幾名警察，或許還有幾條懶狗，案發後《農民周報》也可能登出一兩篇文章，然而就憑這么點力量是抓不住我們的。如此看來，是個好買賣。
我們選種鎮上的頭面人物埃比尼澤．多爾斯特的獨生子作為我們的犧牲品。這位父親很有地位，也很吝嗇，經建設築業，是個嚴肅認真的生意人。男孩子十多歲了，臉上有些雀斑，頭髮的顏色像你趕火車時在報攤上買到的雜誌封面。我和比爾都認為，埃比尼澤至少也得給兩千塊錢的贖金，不過你還是等我把話說完吧。
離頂峰鎮大約兩英里路，有座草木茂密的小山。後山上有個岩洞，我們的食品就儲藏在裡面。
一天傍晚，太陽已經落山，我們駕著一輛馬車從老多爾斯特的家門口經過，發現那男孩正在街上，朝對面人家柵欄上的一隻小貓扔石子。
“喂，小傢伙！”比爾招呼說，“想不想吃袋糖果，坐在車上兜兜風？”
那男孩一甩手，一塊磚頭子兒擊中了比爾的眼睛，動作挺利落。
“就這么一下子，你那老子得額外多給五百塊錢。”比爾說著下了車。
小傢伙氣勢洶洶，像頭半大不小的熊揪住我們一陣撕打，但最終還是被扔進車裡，馳離頂峰鎮。我們帶著他到了山洞；我將馬栓進樹林，天黑以後又駕車趕到三英里以外的一個小村子將租來的車馬還掉，然後步行回山。
比爾在臉上受傷的地方塗著膏藥。洞口那塊大石頭後面已經生起火，男孩守在一旁看著一壺煮開的咖啡。我發現他的紅頭髮上插了兩根鳥的尾毛。待我走進時，他舉起手中的樹枝指著我說：“哈哈！該死的白臉皮，你膽敢走進平原魔王紅毛酋長的營地？”
“他現在好了，”比爾說，又捲起褲腳看看腿上的傷痕，“我們扮演印第安人來玩著”。我們要讓這小子一輩子也忘不了在這玩的遊戲。”
真的，那孩子長這么大，大概是頭一回玩得這么開心。他覺得山洞裡住宿很有趣，早已忘記自己是給綁架來的了。他隨即給我起了個名字叫蛇眼偵探，並宣布說，等他的那些印第安勇士打完仗回來，日出時就將我捆在火刑柱上活活燒死。
後來我們吃晚飯；他嘴裡塞滿肉片和肉醬以後便開始發表演說。他的席間談話大致是下面這些內容：
“我很喜歡這樣。我從來沒有在野外住過；不過我曾經有過一隻可愛的野貓。我九歲的生日已經過了。我討厭上學。吉米．塔爾博特的嬸嬸家，母雞下的蛋給老鼠吃掉了十六隻。這個林子裡有沒有真正的印第安人呀？我還想吃點肉醬。樹動了是不是就颳風？我們家有五隻小狗。你的鼻子怎么會這么紅呢，漢克？我爹有很多很多的錢。天上的這些星星也熱嗎？上星期六我兩次把埃德．沃克打敗。我可不喜歡女孩子。沒有繩子你就別想捉癩蛤蟆。公牛會叫嗎？桔子為什麼都是圓的？這個山洞有床好睡覺嗎？啊莫斯.默里長了六隻腳趾頭.鸚鵡會說話,猴子啊魚啊都不會。乘幾等於十二?”
每過幾分鐘,他一想起自己是個印第安人,就拿起那根樹枝,像握著桿槍一樣悄悄走到洞口搜尋,看看有沒有討厭的白種人的偵探。他還時不時的地發出一聲喊殺聲,老漢克聽到這種聲音就害怕。孩子一來就把比爾給嚇唬住了.
“紅毛酋長,”我對孩子說,你想回家嗎?”
“咦,幹嗎回家呢?” 他說,“家裡一點意思都沒有。我討厭上學；我喜歡野營。你不會把我再送回去吧，蛇眼，是嗎？”
“現在不會，”我說，“我們要在這個洞呆些時候。”
“好啊！”他說，“那就再好不過了。我長這么大從來沒有這么痛快地玩過。”
我們睡覺時大約已是十一點了。我們在地上鋪了幾條又厚又寬的毛毯，讓紅毛酋長睡在我們中間，我們並不擔心他會逃跑，可是一夜沒有睡好覺。外面的樹林裡一有枝葉響動的聲音，他那小腦瓜兒就以為有歹徒偷襲來了，於是一次次跳起身去取他那支長槍，並且在我和比爾的耳邊一個勁的喊“夥計，你聽”，害得我們三個小時未能入睡。最後我迷迷糊糊睡著了，卻夢見自己遭了綁架，被一個凶神惡煞般的紅髮海盜用鐵鏈鎖在一棵樹上。
天剛蒙蒙亮，我被比爾的一陣極其尖利的叫聲驚醒。你怎么也想不到一個男性發音器官里竟會發出這樣的聲音——既不是一陣吼叫，也不是一聲長嚎，簡直就像女人見了鬼或毛毛蟲時發出的那種歇斯底里的、讓人害怕的而又難堪的一聲聲尖叫。一大早，又是在一個山洞裡，突然聽到一個壯漢如此尖聲尖氣沒命似的叫喊，實在是不舒服。
我翻身起床，看看到底出了什麼事。原來是紅毛酋長已經騎在比爾的胸口上，一隻手揪著比爾的頭髮，一隻手我著我們切肉的快刀，正在為如何執行昨晚對比爾的判決而大傷腦筋，不知怎樣才能完成完整地割下他的頭皮。
我一把搶過孩子手中的刀，並強迫他重新躺下。但比爾從此變得喪魂落魄似的，在他的那一側躺下後，因為有這孩子跟我們在一起，就再也沒有敢合眼。我雖然睡了一會兒，在太陽快要出來時卻想起了紅毛酋長的話，日出時就要被綁在火刑柱上燒死。我倒不感到緊張，也不害怕；不過還是坐了起來，點上菸斗，倚在身後的一塊石頭上抽菸。
“你幹嗎起這么早呢，薩姆？”比爾問。
“我么？”我說，“噢，我的肩膀這兒有點痛。我想，坐著會好受些。”
“你在撒謊！”比爾說，你害怕了。你給判了火刑，你害怕他會燒死你。要是他找到火柴的話，他真的會這樣乾的。這還步可怕嗎，薩姆？你想，誰肯出錢把這樣一個小搗蛋鬼贖回家呢？”
“錯不了，”我說，“做父母的就是喜歡這樣淘氣的孩子。喂，你跟酋長起來做早飯吃，我去山頂看看有些什麼動靜。”
我爬上小山頂，將四下里的鄉村掃視了一遍。朝頂峰鎮方向眺望時，我本以為會有身強力壯的村民手執農具四處搜尋綁匪的，但映入眼帘的卻是一幅寧靜的風景畫，唯一的點綴是一人一馬在耕田。不見有人在河塘里打撈；也不見有人急匆匆來回奔走，報告焦急的父母說仍沒有訊息。呈現在眼前的啊拉巴馬整個兒處於朦朧的睡意之中。“或許，”我自言自語說，“他們還沒有發現圈中的小羊已被狼叼走。老天保佑我們這兩頭狼吧！”我說著便下來吃早飯。
我走進山洞卻發現比爾靠這洞壁站在那兒直喘氣，小男孩舉著半個椰子大的石塊威脅著要砸他的腦袋。
“他把一個滾燙的熟土豆放進我的衣領，燙我的脊背。”比爾解釋說，“然後又把踩在腳底下；我氣不過給了他一記耳光。你身上帶槍了嗎，薩姆？”
我奪過孩子手裡的石塊，硬是阻止了一場爭吵。“我會收拾你的，”男孩對比爾說，“打了紅毛酋長的人還沒有一個不受懲罰的。你給我小心點。”
吃完早飯，小傢伙從口袋裡掏出一塊繩子捆著的皮板兒，一邊解繩子一邊往洞外走去。
“他又要搞什麼鬼？”比爾憂心忡忡地說，“他不會逃跑吧，薩姆？”
“這倒不用擔心，”我說，“他可不像是個喜歡呆在家裡的人。不過我們還是要拿出討錢的辦法來。頂峰鎮並沒有因為他不見了而引起多大的轟動；或許他們還沒有意識到他被綁架了。他家裡的人還以為他是在珍妮嬸嬸家或哪個鄰居家過夜呢。但不管怎么說，今天總該想到要人了。我們今晚一定要給他父親捎個信去，叫他拿出兩千塊錢把人贖回去。”
就在這個時候我們聽到一聲喊殺聲，當年大衛很可能就是這樣一聲喊，甩出石塊將勇士歌利亞擊倒的。紅毛酋長剛才從口袋裡掏出來的皮板兒正是個投石器，此刻正在他的頭頂上揮舞著瞄準目標。
我一躍而起，一聲沉重的響聲過後又聽到比爾一聲呻吟，像是馬給卸下鞍子的一聲長噓。一塊雞蛋大的石子擊中比爾左耳後面，他全身散了骨架似地癱倒在燒著洗碗水的熱鍋上。我把他拖到一邊，往他頭上澆了半個小時的涼水。
比爾終於慢慢坐起身，摸這後腦勺說：“薩姆，你知道我最喜歡的《聖經》人物是誰嗎？”
“別緊張，”我說，“你已經清醒過來了。”
“猶太王希律。”他說，“你不會走開，把我一個人扔在這兒不管吧，薩姆？”
我走到外面，抓住那小子的肩膀一陣猛搖，直到我自己搖不動了才住手。
“你要是還不聽話，”我說，“我馬上送你回家。你說，做個乖孩子呢，還是壞孩子？”
“我不過是鬧著玩的，”他哭喪著臉說，“又不是存心要傷害老漢克。可是他為什麼要打我呀？我一定聽話，蛇眼先生，只要你不趕我走，而且今天就讓我玩黑人偵察兵的遊戲。”
“這個遊戲我不會玩，”我說，“那是你和比爾先生的事情。他今天陪你玩，我有事要出去一下。好吧，你進來和他和好，你傷了人得先認錯，要不你就回家，馬上走。”
我讓他跟比爾握手言和，然後把比爾拉到一旁，告訴他走出山洞三英里有個小村子叫楊樹灣，我想在那裡打聽打聽頂峰鎮對這起綁架有些什麼反應。我還對他說，搞的好當天就給老多爾斯特捎封信去，直截了當提出要多少贖金，並指明交款的時間和地點。
“你知道的，薩姆，”比爾說，“我倆一起玩牌，躲警察，搶火車，抵禦龍捲風——上刀山，下火海，天大的困難我都跟你一起闖過來了。要不是抓了這么個小冒失鬼，我還從來不知道什麼叫擔心受怕哩。他已經弄得我寢食不安了。你不會出去很長時間，讓我一個人陪著他吧，薩姆？”
“我今天下午肯定回來。”我說，“在我回來之前，你一定要好好逗她玩，千萬別把他惹翻了。我們現在就給老多爾斯特寫信吧”。
我和比爾取出紙和筆準備寫信，而此時的紅毛酋長，身上披了毛毯，在洞口來回巡視呢。
比爾眼淚汪汪地求我把贖金從兩千元減至一千五。他說：“我不想褻瀆父母對子女神聖的愛，但是我們是跟人打交道，按照人之常情，誰也不會為這個滿臉雀斑四十磅重的野貓花上兩千塊錢的贖金。我寧可少要五百的好。你可以將這個差額記在我的賬上。”
為了讓比爾安心，我同意了，於是兩人你一句我一句寫成了下面這樣一封信：
尊敬的埃比尼澤．多爾斯特先生：
我們已將你的寶貝兒子藏在一個遠離頂峰鎮的地方。別說你本人，就是最有本領的偵探也休想找到他。唯有答應以下條件才能使他回到你身邊：給我們一千五元大面額的鈔票作為他的贖金；這筆錢可按照下述回信的方法，於今晚午夜放到同一地點的同一盒子裡面。如同意這些條件，派一人於晚八時半送來書面答覆。在通往楊樹灣的大路上，過了貓頭鷹小溪後，路的右邊沿麥田籬笆有三棵相距一百碼左右的大樹，第三棵樹的對面籬笆樁底下放著一個小紙盒。
送信人將回信放入此盒子後須立即返回頂峰鎮。
你要是背信棄義或拒不答應上述條件，你就永遠也別想見到你的寶貝兒子了。
你要是按照要求交款，他將於三小時之內平平安安回到你身邊。這些條件乃最後決定，即使有不同意見，也不再聯繫.
兩個亡命徒啟
我在信封上寫下多爾斯特的地址，將信揣進口袋。正要動身，男孩走到我面前說；
“喂，蛇眼，你說了你走了以後我可以扮演黑人偵察兵玩的。”
“玩吧，完全可以。”我說，“比爾先生陪著你玩。怎么玩法呢？”
“我當黑人偵察兵”，紅毛酋長說，“我騎馬報信，通知寨子裡的居民印第安人來犯的訊息。我老是裝扮印第安人，已經厭煩了。我想當黑人偵察兵。”
“行，”我說，“反正你傷不了一根毫毛。我還指望比爾先生會幫助你打退那些兇猛的野蠻人呢。”
“要我做什麼呢？”比爾不放心，眼睛盯著那孩子看。
“你來做馬，”黑人偵察兵說，“給我趴下來在地上爬。沒有馬騎我怎么能趕到寨子呢？”
“你可別讓他掃興，”我對比爾說，“我們計畫還沒有開始實行呢。活動一下手腳吧。”
比爾只得趴下，眼睛裡流露出像兔子掉入陷阱時的神情。“到寨子有多少路，小傢伙？”他怯聲怯氣地問道。
“九十英里，”黑人偵察兵說，“你豁出性命也得準時趕到那裡。現在就出發！”
黑人偵察兵猛地跳到比爾背上，兩隻腳後跟還在比爾腰上蹬了一下。
“看在老天爺面上，”比爾說，“你早點回來，”薩姆，越早越好。早知道如此，我們不該把贖金定在一千元以上。喂，我說，你別踢我好不好？你要再踢，我就起來揍你。”
我趕到楊樹灣，在那家兼賣雜貨的郵局裡坐下，見有進來買東西的當地老鄉就湊過去聊上幾句。有個鬍子拉碴的傢伙說，老埃比尼澤．多爾斯特的兒子也不知是走失了還是被人拐走了，頂峰鎮亂成了一鍋粥。行了，我就想打聽到這個訊息。我買了些菸絲，又故意問問豇豆的價錢，走出郵局時趁人沒注意將信投進了郵筒。聽驛長說，要不了一個鐘頭，過路的郵車就會將這批郵件帶往頂峰鎮。
我回到山洞時比爾和那個男孩卻不見了。我在附近的地方一陣尋找，還大膽喊了兩聲也不見答應。我只好點起菸斗，坐在長滿青草的土堆上等待事態的發展。
大約過去了半個鐘頭，樹叢里傳xxxx的響聲，比爾從裡面鑽了出來，拖著搖晃的身軀走上山洞前的那一小塊空地。小男孩像個偵探輕手輕腳尾隨其後，咧著嘴在笑。比爾站定後，脫下帽子，掏出一塊紅手帕擦汗。那孩子止住腳步，離他大約八英尺遠。
“薩姆，”比爾說，“我想你也許會說我對不起朋友，但我實在是迫不得已啊。大丈夫能屈能伸，我已經逆來順受慣了，但人總有個受不了的時候。那小子已被我打發回家了。全完了。古有殉道者，”比爾接著說，“他們乾一行愛一行，寧死不肯改弦易轍。可是他們當中沒有一個受過我這樣非人的折磨。我忍氣吞聲為的是信守我們共同商定的協定，但忍耐畢竟是有限度的。”
“出了什麼事，比爾？”我問。
我馱這他跑了九十英里趕到那個寨子，沒叫他走一步。後來，居民得救了，給了我一點燕麥，畢竟地上的泥沙代替不了飼料。回來的路上，我又給他胡攪蠻纏了一個小時，反覆向他解釋為什麼洞是空的，為什麼一條路可以兩頭走，為什麼草會發青。我敢說，薩姆，是人就經不起這么折磨。我揪住他的衣領硬是把他拽下了山。一路上我的兩條小腿被踢得青一塊紫一塊；大拇指被咬了兩三口，整個一隻手都得找醫生治。
“不過他到底還是走了，”比爾接著說，“回家去了。我指著那條去頂峰鎮的路，一腳把他送出去八英尺遠。我很抱歉丟掉了一筆贖金，但如果不把他送走，比爾．德里斯特爾科就要被送進瘋人院了。”
比爾說得直喘氣，不過他那張紅撲撲的臉看上去卻格外平靜，說到最後才露出點滿足的神情。
“比爾，”我說，“你家裡沒人有心臟病，對吧？”
“沒有，”，“沒人有這種病。除了瘧疾，那就是意外事故。你問這個幹嗎？”
“那你不妨轉過身”我說，“看看後面是誰。”
比爾轉過身看到了小男孩。他大驚失色，一屁股坐在地上，呆呆地抓弄起手邊的青草和小樹枝。我擔心這樣下去他腦神經會出毛病，考慮了一小時以後，對他說我已經有了立即收場的辦法，又說，要是老多爾斯特答應我們的條件，我們取了贖金連夜就離開。比爾這才緩過神來，勉強給孩子個笑臉，並答應身體稍好後就跟他玩俄國人打日本人的遊戲。
我有個安全的取款辦法，不會落入任何圈套，應該介紹給以綁票為營生的兄弟們。我選中的那棵樹——先在下面放回信，後在下面放贖金的那棵大樹——離路邊的籬笆很近，四周又有一大片空地。只要派幾名警察在一旁守侯，來取信的人在穿過空地甚至是在路上就會被發現了。但這樣反而不會出事，先生！我八點鐘時已經躺在樹上，像只樹蛙似的坐等送信人的到來。果然很準時，一個半大的男孩騎著腳踏車從大路上來了。他在那籬笆樁子底下找著了盒子，迅速塞進了一張摺疊好的信紙，隨即踩著腳踏車回頂峰鎮去了。我繼續等了一個小時，確信沒有危險了，悄悄下樹取了信，沿著籬笆溜進樹林，半個小時後回到山洞。我打開信，湊到燈前念給比爾聽。信是鋼筆寫的，字很難認。主要內容如下：
致兩位亡命徒
敬啟者：你們的來信今天收悉。關於出錢贖回兒子一事，我認為你們的要求高了些，特提出反建議，諒能樂意接受。你們親自將小孩約翰尼送回並付給我二百五十元現款，我就同意從你們手中接過孩子。不過你們還是趁夜晚來較好，因為鄰居們都相信孩子是自己走失的，他們若發現被這樣送回，會對來人採取何種行動，我可擔當不起。
埃比尼澤．多爾斯特謹啟
“ 簡直是英國彭贊斯的海盜！”我說，“真他媽的蠻橫無理——”
但我看了比爾一眼後，到了嘴邊的話沒有罵出口。他那苦苦央求的眼神太可憐了，我還從未在哪個人的臉上，無論是不能言語的啞巴或是會講話的野獸，見到過這樣的神情。
“薩姆”他說“二百五十塊錢究竟算什麼呢？這錢我們有。多留這小子一晚的話，我就會被送進瘋人院了。”多爾斯特先生只向我們要了這個價，我看他不但是個十足的紳士，而且是個慷慨仗義的人。你不想放過這個機會，對吧？”
“實話告訴你吧，比爾，”，“這個小兔崽子也已經叫我有點心煩了。我們把他送回去，賠了錢就趕緊脫身。”
我們當晚便送他回家。我們對他說，他父親已經買了支銀色的來復槍，還特地買了印第安人的衣服，又說我們第二天要去捕熊，才終於把他騙上路。
我們敲響埃比尼澤家的大門時，正好是夜裡十二點。按原先的構想此刻本應由我從樹下的紙盒子裡取出一千五百元贖金，而現在卻是比爾數出了二百五十元交到多爾斯特的手裡。
小孩發覺我們要丟下他時，“哇”地一聲哭了，哭聲猶如狂風在呼號。他緊緊抱住比爾的腿，像只螞蟥似地叮住不放。他父親如同揭膏藥一般慢慢把他拉了過去。
“你能拽住他多久？”比爾問。
“我現在的力氣也不如以前了，”老多爾斯特說“但我可以答應你們十分鐘。”
“足夠了。”比爾說，“有十分鐘時間，我就能穿過中部、南部和西部各州，朝著加拿大邊境飛奔了。”
雖然天是那么黑，比爾又是那么胖，而我又可稱得上是個飛毛腿，但是等我追上比爾時，他已經跑出頂峰鎮足足有一英里半遠的路程了。
英文原文
Written by O. Henry
Now, the VOASpecial Englishprogram, AMERICAN STORIES.
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We present the short story "Theransomof Red Chief" by O. Henry. Here is Shep O'Neal with the story.
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STORYTELLER:
It looked like a good thing. But wait till I tell you. We were down south, in Alabama – Bill Driscoll and myself – when this kidnapping ideastruckus. There was a town down there, as flat as a pancake, and called Summit. Bill and I had about six hundred dollars. We needed just two thousand dollars more for an illegal land deal in Illinois.
Wechosefor our victim -- the only child of an influential citizen named Ebenezer Dorset. He was a boy of ten, with red hair. Bill and I thought that Ebenezer would pay a ransom of two thousand dollars to get his boy back. But wait till I tell you.
About two miles from Summit was a little mountain, covered with cedar trees. There was an opening on the back of the mountain. We stored our supplies in that cave.
One night, we drove a horse and carriage past old Dorset's house. The boy was in the street, throwing rocks at a cat on the opposite fence.
"Hey little boy!" says Bill, "would you like to have a bag of candy and a nice ride?"
The boy hits Bill directly in the eye with a piece of rock.
That boy put up a fight like a wild animal. But, at last, we got him down in the bottom of the carriage and drove away.
We took him up to the cave. The boy had two large bird feathers stuck in his hair. He points a stick at me and says:
"Ha!paleface, do you dare to enter the camp of Red Chief, the terror of the plains?"
"He's all right now," says Bill, rolling up his pants and examining wounds on his legs. "We're playing Indian. I'm Old Hank, thetrapper, Red Chief's captive. I'm going to be scalped at daybreak. ByGeronimo! That kid can kick hard."
"Red Chief," says I to the boy, "would you like to go home?"
"Aw, what for?" says he. "I don't have any fun at home. I hate to go to school. I like to camp out. You won't take me back home again, will you?"
"Not right away," says I. "We'll stay here in the cave a while."
"All right!" says he. "That'll be fine. I never had such fun in all my life."
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We went to bed about eleven o'clock. Just at daybreak, I was awakened by a series of terrible screams from Bill. Red Chief was sitting on Bill's chest, with one hand holding his hair. In the other, he had a sharp knife. He was attempting to cut off the top of Bill's head, based on what he haddeclaredthe night before.
I got the knife away from the boy. But, after that event, Bill's spirit was broken. He lay down, but he never closed an eye again in sleep as long as that boy was with us.
"Do you think anybody will pay out money to get a little imp like that back home?" Bill asked.
"Sure," I said. "A boy like that is just the kind that parents love. Now, you and the Chief get up and make something to eat, while I go up on the top of this mountain and look around."
I climbed to the top of the mountain. Over toward Summit, I expected to see the men of the village searching the countryside. But all was peaceful.
"Perhaps," says I to myself, "it has not yet been discovered that the wolves have taken the lamb from the fold." I went back down the mountain.
When I got to the cave, I found Bill backed up against the side of it. He was breathing hard, with the boy threatening to strike him with a rock.
"He put a red-hot potato down my back," explained Bill, "and then crushed it with his foot. I hit his ears. Have you got a gun with you, Sam?"
I took the rock away from the boy and ended the argument.
"I'll fix you," says the boy to Bill. "No man ever yet struck the Red Chief but what he got paid for it. You better be careful!"
After eating, the boy takes a leather object with strings tied around it from his clothes and goes outside the cave unwinding it. Then we heard a kind of shout. It was Red Chief holding aslingin one hand. He moved it faster and faster around his head.
Just then I heard a heavy sound and a deep breath from Bill. A rock the size of an egg had hit him just behind his left ear. Bill fell in the fire across the frying pan of hot water for washing the dishes. I pulled him out and poured cold water on his head for half an hour.
Then I went out and caught that boy andshookhim.
"If your behavior doesn't improve," says I, "I'll take you straight home. Now, are you going to be good, or not?"
"I was only funning," says he. "I didn't mean to hurt Old Hank. But what did heHit Mefor? I'll behave if you don't send me home."
I thought it best to send a letter to old man Dorset that day, demanding the ransom and telling how it should be paid. The letter said:
"We have your boy hidden in a place far from Summit. We demand fifteen hundred dollars for his return; the money to be left at midnight tonight at the same place and in the same box as your answer.
If you agree to these terms, send the answer in writing by a messenger tonight atHalf past Eighto'clock. After crossing Owl Creek, on the road topoplarCove, there are three large trees. At the bottom of the fence, opposite the third tree, will be a small box. The messenger will place the answer in this box and return immediately to Summit. If you fail to agree to our demand, you will never see your boy again. If you pay the money as demanded, he will be returned to you safe and well within three hours."
I took the letter and walked over to Poplar Cove. I then sat around the post office and store. An old man there says he hears Summit is all worried because of Ebenezer Dorset's boy having been lost or stolen. That was all I wanted to know. I mailed my letter and left. Thepostmastersaid the mail carrier would come by in an hour to take the mail on to Summit.
(MUSIC)
At half past eight, I was up in the third tree, waiting for the messenger to arrive. Exactly on time, a half-grown boy rides up the road on a bicycle. He finds the box at the foot of the fence. He puts a folded piece of paper into it and leaves, turning back toward Summit.
I slid down the tree, got the note and was back at the cave in a half hour. I opened the note and read it to Bill. This is what it said:
"Gentlemen: I received your letter about the ransom you ask for the return of my son. I think you are a little high in your demands. Iherebymake you a counter-proposal, which I believe you will accept. You bring Johnny home and pay me two hundred and fifty dollars, and I agree to take him off your hands. You had better come at night because the neighbors believe he is lost. And, I could not be responsible for what they would do to anybody they saw bringing him back. Very respectfully, Ebenezer Dorset."
"Great pirates of Penzance!" says I, "of all the nerve..." But I looked at Bill and stopped. He had the most appealing look in his eyes I ever saw on the face of a dumb or talking animal.
"Sam," says he, "what's two hundred and fifty dollars, after all? We've got the money. One more night of this boy will drive me crazy. I think Mister Dorset is making us a good offer. You aren't going to let the chance go, are you?"
"Tell you the truth, Bill," says I, "this little lamb has got on my nerves, too. We'll take him home, pay the ransom and make our get-away."
We took him home that night. We got him to go by telling him that his father had bought him a gun and we were going to hunt bears the next day.
It was twelve o'clock when we knocked on Ebenezer's front door. Bill counted out two hundred and fifty dollars into Dorset's hand.
When the boy learned we were planning to leave him at home, he started to cry loudly and held himself as tight as he could to Bill's leg. His father pulled him away slowly.
"How long can you hold him?" asks Bill.
"I'm not as strong as I used to be," says old Dorset, "but I think I canPromise Youten minutes."
"Enough," says Bill. "In ten minutes, I shall cross the Central, Southern and Middle Western states, and be running for the Canadian border."
And, as dark as it was, and as fat as Bill was, and as good a runner as I am, he was a good mile and a half out of Summit before I could catch up with him.
(MUSIC)
ANNOUNCER:
You have heard the American Story "The Ransom of Red Chief" by O. Henry. Your storyteller was Shep O'Neal. This story was adapted into Special English by Shelley Gollust. It was produced by Lawan Davis. Listen again next week for another American Story in VOA Special English. I'm Faith Lapidus.
