紅毛酋長的贖金英文原文

nhour.ThenIwentoutandcaughtthatboyandshookhim."Ifyourbehaviordoesn'timprove,"saysI,"I'lltakeyoustraighthome.Now,areyougoingtobegood,ornot?""Iwasonlyfunning,"sayshe."Ididn'tmeantohurtOldHank.Butwhatdidhehitmefor?I'llbehaveifyoudon'tsendmehome."IthoughtitbesttosendalettertooldmanDorsetthatday,demandingtheransomandtellinghowitshouldbepaid.Thelettersaid:"WehaveyourboyhiddeninaplacefarfromSummit.Wedemandfifteenhundreddollarsforhisreturnthemoneytobeleftatmidnighttonightatthesameplaceandinthesameboxasyouranswer.Ifyouagreetotheseterms,sendtheanswerinwritingbyamessengertonightathalfpasteighto'clock.AftercrossingOwlCreek,ontheroadtoPoplarCove,therearethreelargetrees.Atthebottomofthefence,oppositethethirdtree,willbeasmallbox.ThemessengerwillplacetheanswerinthisboxandreturnimmediatelytoSummit.Ifyoufailtoagreetoourdemand,youwillneverseeyourboyagain.Ifyoupaythemoneyasdemanded,hewillbereturnedtoyousafeandwellwithinthreehours."ItooktheletterandwalkedovertoPoplarCove.Ithensataroundthepostofficeandstore.AnoldmantheresayshehearsSummitisallworriedbecauseofEbenezerDorset'sboyhavingbeenlostorstolen.ThatwasallIwantedtoknow.Imailedmyletterandleft.ThepostmastersaidthemailcarrierwouldcomebyinanhourtotakethemailontoSummit.(MUSIC)Athalfpasteight,Iwasupinthethirdtree,waitingforthemessengertoarrive.Exactlyontime,ahalf-grownboyridesuptheroadonabicycle.Hefindstheboxatthefootofthefence.Heputsafoldedpieceofpaperintoitandleaves,turningbacktowardSummit.Isliddownthetree,gotthenoteandwasbackatthecaveinahalfhour.IopenedthenoteandreadittoBill.Thisiswhatitsaid:"Gentlemen:Ireceivedyourletterabouttheransomyouaskforthereturnofmyson.Ithinkyouarealittlehighinyourdemands.Iherebymakeyouacounter-proposal,whichIbeli