第12章

“He’dmakeafirst-raterifhewastaught，“saidDan，unabletowithholdthepraisefromtheboywhomadeitnecessaryforhimtodohisbest。

“He’llbetaughttofenceandboxbyandby，andtillthenIthinkhewilldoverywellwithoutanylessonsinmauling。Goandwashyourfaces；

andremember，Dan，ifyoubreakanymoreoftherulesagain，youwillbesentaway。Thatwasthebargain；doyourpartandwewilldoours。“

Theladswentoff，andafterafewmorewordstothespectators，Mr。

Bhaerfollowedtobindupthewoundsoftheyounggladiators。Emilwenttobedsick，andDanwasanunpleasantspectacleforaweek。

Butthelawlessladhadnothoughtofobeying，andsoontransgressedagain。

OneSaturdayafternoonasapartyoftheboyswentouttoplay，Tommysaid，­；

“Let’sgodowntotheriver，andcutalotofnewfish-poles。“

“TakeTobytodragthemback，andoneofuscanridehimdown，“proposedStuffy，whohatedtowalk。

“Thatmeansyou，Isuppose；well，hurryup，lazy-bones，“saidDan。

Awaytheywent，andhavinggotthepoleswereabouttogohome，whenDemiunluckilysaidtoTommy，whowasonTobywithalongrodinhishand，­；

“Youlooklikethepictureofthemaninthebull-fight，onlyyouhaven’tgotaredcloth，orprettyclotheson。“

“I’dliketoseeone；there’soldButtercupinthebigmeadow，rideather，Tom，andseeherrun，“proposedDan，bentonmischief。

“No，youmustn’t，“beganDemi，whowaslearningtodistrustDan’spropositions。

“Whynot，littlefuss-button？“demandedDan。

“Idon’tthinkUncleFritzwouldlikeit。“

“Didheeversaywemustnothaveabull-fight？“

“No，Idon’tthinkheeverdid，“admittedDemi。

“Thenholdyourtongue。Driveon，Tom，andhere’saredragtoflapattheoldthing。I’llhelpyoutostirherup，“andoverthewallwentDan，fullofthenewgame，andtherestfollowedlikeaflockofsheep；

evenDemi，whosatuponthebars，andwatchedthefunwithinterest。

PoorButtercupwasnotinaverygoodmood，forshehadbeenlatelybereftofhercalf，andmournedforthelittlethingmostdismally。Justnowsheregardedallmankindasherenemies(andIdonotblameher)，sowhenthematadorecameprancingtowardsherwiththeredhandkerchiefflyingattheendofhislonglance，shethrewupherhead，andgaveamostappropriate“Moo!“Tommyrodegallantlyather，andTobyrecognizinganoldfriend，wasquitewillingtoapproach；butwhenthelancecamedownonherbackwithaloudwhack，bothcowanddonkeyweresurprisedanddisgusted。Tobybackwithabrayofremonstrance，andButtercuploweredherhornsangrily。

“Atheragain，Tom；she’sjollycross，andwilldoitcapitally!“calledDan，comingupbehindwithanotherrod，whileJackandNedfollowedhisexample。

Seeingherselfthusbeset，andtreatedwithsuchdisrespect，Buttercuptrottedroundthefield，gettingmoreandmorebewilderedandexcitedeverymoment，forwhicheverwaysheturned，therewasadreadfulboy，yellingandbrandishinganewandverydisagreeablesortofwhip。Itwasgreatfunforthem，butrealmiseryforher，tillshelostpatienceandturnedthetablesinthemostunexpectedmanner。Allatonceshewheeledshortround，andchargedfullatheroldfriendToby，whoseconductcuthertotheheart。PoorslowTobybackedsoprecipitatelythathetrippedoverastone，anddownwenthorse，matadore，andall，inoneignominiousheap，whiledistractedButtercuptookasurprisingleapoverthewall，andgallopedwildlyoutofsightdowntheroad。

“Catchher，stopher，headheroff!run，boys，run!“shoutedDan，tearingafterherathisbestpace，forshewasMr。Bhaer’spetAlderney，andifanythinghappenedtoher，Danfeareditwouldbealloverwithhim。Sucharunningandracingandbawlingandpuffingastherewasbeforeshewascaught!Thefish-poleswereleftbehind；Tobywastrottednearlyoffhislegsinthechase；andeveryboywasred，breathless，andscared。TheyfoundpoorButtercupatlastinaflowergarden，whereshehadtakenrefuge，wornoutwiththelongrun。Borrowingaropeforahalter，Danledherhome，followedbyapartyofverysoberyounggentlemen，forthecowwasinasadstate，havingstrainedhershoulderjumping，sothatshelimped，hereyeslookedwild，andherglossycoatwaswetandmuddy。

“You’llcatchitthistime，Dan，“saidTommy，asheledthewheezingdonkeybesidethemaltreatedcow。

“Sowillyou，foryouhelped。“

“Wealldid，butDemi，“addedJack。

“Heputitintoourheads，“saidNed。

“Itoldyounottodoit，“criedDemi，whowasmostbroken-heartedatpoorButtercup’sstate。

“OldBhaerwillsendmeoff，Iguess。Don’tcareifhedoes，“mutteredDan，lookingworriedinspiteofhiswords。

“We’llaskhimnotto，allofus，“saidDemi，andtheothersassentedwiththeexceptionofStuffy，whocherishedthehopethatallthepunishmentmightfallononeguiltyhead。Danonlysaid，“Don’tbotheraboutme；“

butheneverforgotit，eventhoughheledtheladsastrayagain，assoonasthetemptationcame。

WhenMr。Bhaersawtheanimal，andheardthestory，hesaidverylittle，evidentlyfearingthatheshouldsaytoomuchinthefirstmomentsofimpatience。

Buttercupwasmadecomfortableinherstall，andtheboyssenttotheirroomstillsupper-time。Thisbriefrespitegavethemtimetothinkthematterover，towonderwhatthepenaltywouldbe，andtotrytoimaginewhereDanwouldbesent。Hewhistledbrisklyinhisroom，sothatnooneshouldthinkhecaredabit；butwhilehewaitedtoknowhisfate，thelongingtostaygrewstrongerandstronger，themoreherecalledthecomfortandkindnesshehadknownhere，thehardshipandneglecthehadfeltelsewhere。

Heknewtheytriedtohelphim，andatthebottomofhishearthewasgrateful，buthisroughlifehadmadehimhardandcareless，suspiciousandwilful。

Hehatedrestraintofanysort，andfoughtagainstitlikeanuntamedcreature，evenwhileheknewitwaskindlymeant，anddimlyfeltthathewouldbethebetterforit。Hemadeuphismindtobeturnedadriftagain，toknockaboutthecityashehaddonenearlyallhislife；aprospectthatmadehimknithisblackbrows，andlookaboutthecosylittleroomwithawistfulexpressionthatwouldhavetouchedamuchharderheartthanMr。Bhaer’sifhehadseenit。Itvanishedinstantly，however，whenthegoodmancamein，andsaidinhisaccustomedgraveway，­；

“Ihaveheardallaboutit，Dan，andthoughyouhavebrokentherulesagain，Iamgoingtogiveyouonemoretrial，topleaseMotherBhaer。“

Danflusheduptohisforeheadatthisunexpectedreprieve，butheonlysaidinhisgruffway，­；

“Ididn’tknowtherewasanyruleaboutbull-fighting。“

“AsIneverexpectedtohaveanyatPlumfield，Ineverdidmakesucharule，“answeredMr。Bhaer，smilinginspiteofhimselfattheboy’sexcuse。

Thenheaddedgravely，“Butoneofthefirstandmostimportantofourfewlawsisthelawofkindnesstoeverydumbcreatureontheplace。I

wanteverybodyandeverythingtobehappyhere，toloveandtrust，andserveus，aswetrytoloveandtrustandservethemfaithfullyandwillingly。

Ihaveoftensaidthatyouwerekindertotheanimalsthananyoftheotherboys，andMrs。Bhaerlikedthattraitinyouverymuch，becauseshethoughtitshowedagoodheart。Butyouhavedisappointedusinthat，andwearesorry，forwehopedtomakeyouquiteoneofus。Shallwetryagain？“

Dan’seyeshadbeenonthefloor，andhishandsnervouslypickingatthebitofwoodhehadbeenwhittlingasMr。Bhaercamein，butwhenheheardthekindvoiceaskthatquestion，helookedupquickly，andsaidinamorerespectfultonethanhehadeverusedbefore，­；

“Yes，please。“

“Verywell，then，wewillsaynomore，onlyyouwillstayathomefromthewalkto-morrow，astheotherboyswillandallofyoumustwaitonpoorButtercuptillsheiswellagain。“

“Iwill。“

“Now，godowntosupper，anddoyourbest，myboy，moreforyourownsakethanforours。“ThenMr。Bhaershookhandswithhim，andDanwentdownmoretamedbykindnessthanhewouldhavebeenbythegoodwhippingwhichAsiahadstronglyrecommended。

Dandidtryforadayortwo，butnotbeingusedtoit，hesoontiredandrelapsedintohisoldwilfulways。Mr。Bhaerwascalledfromhomeonbusinessoneday，andtheboyshadnolessons。Theylikedthis，andplayedhardtillbedtime，whenmostofthemturnedinandsleptlikedormice。

Dan，however，hadaplaninhishead，andwhenheandNatwerealone，heunfoldedit。

“Lookhere!“hesaid，takingfromunderhisbedabottle，acigar，andapackofcards，“I’mgoingtohavesomefun，anddoasIusedtowiththefellowsintown。Here’ssomebeer，Igotifoftheoldmanatthestation，andthiscigar；youcanpayfor’emorTommywill，he’sgotheapsofmoneyandIhaven’tacent。I’mgoingtoaskhimin；no，yougo，theywon’tmindyou。“

“Thefolkswon’tlikeit，“beganNat。

“Theywon’tknow。DaddyBhaerisaway，andMrs。Bhaer’sbusywithTed；

he’sgotcrouporsomething，andshecan’tleavehim。Weshan’tsituplateormakeanynoise，sowhere’stheharm？“

“Asiawillknowifweburnthelamplong，shealwaysdoes。“

“No，shewon’t，I’vegotadarklanternonpurpose；itdon’tgivemuchlight，andwecanshutitquickifwehearanyonecoming，“saidDan。

ThisideastruckNatasafineone，andlentanairofromancetothething。HestartedofftotellTommy，butputhisheadinagaintosay，­；

“YouwantDemi，too，don’tyou？“

“No，Idon’t；theDeaconwillrollupeyesandpreachifyoutellhim。

Hewillbeasleep，sojusttipthewinktoTomandcutbackagain。“

Natobeyed，andreturnedinaminutewithTommyhalfdressed，rathertousledabouttheheadandverysleepy，butquitereadyforfunasusual。

“Now，keepquiet，andI’llshowyouhowtoplayafirst-rategamecalled’Poker，’“saidDan，asthethreerevellersgatheredroundthetable，onwhichweresetforththebottle，thecigar，andthecards。“Firstwe’llallhaveadrink，thenwe’lltakeagoatthe’weed，’andthenwe’llplay。

That’sthewaymendo，andit’sjollyfun。“

Thebeercirculatedinamug，andallthreesmackedtheirlipsoverit，thoughNatandTommydidnotlikethebitterstuff。Thecigarwasworsestill，buttheydarednotsayso，andeachpuffedawaytillhewasdizzyorchoked，whenhepassedthe“weed“ontohisneighbor。Danlikedit，foritseemedlikeoldtimeswhenhenowandthenhadachancetoimitatethelowmenwhosurroundedhim。Hedrank，andsmoked，andswaggeredasmuchlikethemashecould，and，gettingintothespiritofthepartheassumed，hesoonbegantoswearunderhisbreathforfearsomeoneshouldhearhim。“Youmustn’t；it’swickedtosay’Damn!’“criedTommy，whohadfollowedhisleadersofar。

“Oh，hang!don’tyoupreach，butplayaway；it’spartofthefuntoswear。“

“I’drathersay’thunder­；turtles，’“saidTommy，whohadcomposedthisinterestingexclamationandwasveryproudofit。

“AndI’llsay’TheDevil；’thatsoundswell，“addedNat，muchimpressedbyDan’smanlyways。

Danscoffedattheir“nonsense，“andsworestoutlyashetriedtoteachthemthenewgame。

ButTommywasverysleepy，andNat’sheadbegantoachewiththebeerandthesmoke，soneitherofthemwasveryquicktolearn，andthegamedragged。Theroomwasnearlydark，forthelanternburnedbadly；theycouldnotlaughloudnormoveaboutmuch，forSilassleptnextdoorintheshed-chamber，andaltogetherthepartywasdull。InthemiddleofadealDanstoppedsuddenly，andcalledout，“Who’sthat？“inastartledtone，andatthesamemomentdrewtheslideoverthelight。Avoiceinthedarknesssaidtremulously，“Ican’tfindTommy，“andthentherewasthequickpatterofbarefeetrunningawaydowntheentrythatledfromthewingtothemainhouse。

“It’sDemi!he’sgonetocallsomeone；cutintobed，Tom，anddon’ttell!“criedDan，whiskingallsignsofthereveloutofsight，andbeginningtotearoffhisclothes，whileNatdidthesame。

Tommyflewtohisroomanddivedintobed，wherehelay，laughingtillsomethingburnedhishand，whenhediscoveredthathewasstillclutchingthestumpofthefestivecigar，whichhehappenedtobesmokingwhentherevelbrokeup。

Itwasnearlyout，andhewasabouttoextinguishitcarefullywhenNursey’svoicewasheard，andfearingitwouldbetrayhimifhehiditinthebed，hethrewitunderneath，afterafinalpinchwhichhethoughtfinishedit。

NurseycameinwithDemi，wholookedmuchamazedtoseetheredfaceofTommyreposingpeacefullyuponhispillow。

“Hewasn’ttherejustnow，becauseIwokeupandcouldnotfindhimanywhere，“saidDemi，pouncingonhim。