紅毛酋長的贖金英文原文

WrittenbyO.HenryNow,theVOASpecialEnglishprogram,AMERICANSTORIES.(MUSIC)Wepresenttheshortstory"TheRansomofRedChief"byO.Henry.HereisShepO'Nealwiththestory.(MUSIC)STORYTELLER:Itlookedlikeagoodthing.ButwaittillItellyou.Weweredownsouth,inAlabama–BillDriscollandmyself–whenthiskidnappingideastruckus.Therewasatowndownthere,asflatasapancake,andcalledSummit.BillandIhadaboutsixhundreddollars.WeneededjusttwothousanddollarsmoreforanillegallanddealinIllinois.Wechoseforourvictim--theonlychildofaninfluentialcitizennamedEbenezerDorset.Hewasaboyoften,withredhair.BillandIthoughtthatEbenezerwouldpayaransomoftwothousanddollarstogethisboyback.ButwaittillItellyou.AbouttwomilesfromSummitwasalittlemountain,coveredwithcedartrees.Therewasanopeningonthebackofthemountain.Westoredoursuppliesinthatcave.Onenight,wedroveahorseandcarriagepastoldDorset'shouse.Theboywasinthestreet,throwingrocksatacatontheoppositefence."Heylittleboy!"saysBill,"wouldyouliketohaveabagofcandyandaniceride?"TheboyhitsBilldirectlyintheeyewithapieceofrock.Thatboyputupafightlikeawildanimal.But,atlast,wegothimdowninthebottomofthecarriageanddroveaway.Wetookhimuptothecave.Theboyhadtwolargebirdfeathersstuckinhishair.Hepointsastickatmeandsays:"Ha!Paleface,doyoudaretoenterthecampofRedChief,theterroroftheplains?""He'sallrightnow,"saysBill,rollinguphispantsandexaminingwoundsonhislegs."We'replayingIndian.I'mOldHank,thetrapper,RedChief'scaptive.I'mgoingtobescalpedatdaybreak.ByGeronimo!Thatkidcankickhard.""RedChief,"saysItotheboy,"wouldyouliketogohome?""Aw,whatfor?"sayshe."Idon'thaveanyfunathome.Ihatetogotoschool.Iliketocampout.Youwon'ttakemebackhomeagain,willyou?""Notrightaway,"saysI."We'llstayhereinthecaveawhile.""Allright!"sayshe."That