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Following their glances, Dick saw in the street what is commonly known in small towns as the "hoss wagon" -a vehicle built for the purpose of removing dead horses. "There goes Fred Ripley's bargain!" chuckled one of the boys. At that moment Fred Ripley himself turned the corner into Main Street. "And there's Rip himself," laughed another boy. "Hey, Rip! How's horse flesh?"
For a moment there was only amazement in the air. Then a faint, bewildered smile appeared in Monty's face, and reflected itself in the girl's. "Who is your Uncle James?" she asked. "I've never heard of him." "You must go to Grant & Ripley's at once, of course." "Have you forgotten, Peggy," he replied, with a hint of vexation in his voice, "that we are to read 'Oliver Optic' this afternoon?"
"Now, a pin and a watch were missed while Ripley was not attending school." "I know it, sir," Dick nodded. "As to those two articles I cannot offer even the ghost of an explanation." "I don't like to accuse you of taking Ripley's scarf-pin, nor do I like to suspect him of putting up such a contemptible trick," explained Dr. Thornton, thoughtfully.
The blow, though it had stung, had served to make him only the more cool. He was watching, cat-like, for Ripley's style of attack. That style was a good one, from the "scientific" view-point, if Ripley could maintain it without excitement and all the while keep his wind. But would he? The freshman, though not much of a lover of fighting, had made some study of the art.
For a few moments Fred lay utterly quiet, save for the trembling that he could not control. During those same moments Towser made himself more comfortable by shifting himself so that he lay with his paws across Fred's left shoulder-blade. His teeth remained firmly fastened in Ripley's shirt.
Oh, I guess a good many fellows will believe Ripley's yarn!" "I'm afraid you don't, Dave;" "Oh, yes; I'm easy," grinned Darrin. "Can you see two young ladies, Richard?" asked Mrs. Prescott, looking into the room. "Certainly, mother, if I get a chance. My vision is not impaired in the least," laughed Dick. Mrs. Prescott stood aside to admit Laura and Belle, then followed them into the room.
The next day I rode as far as Dwight's Tavern in Western, and in the morning, it being rainy, Mr. Backus did not set out to ride till late, and, the stage coming to the door, Mr. B. thought it a good opportunity to send me to Hartford, which he did, and I arrived at Hartford that night and lodged at Ripley's inn opposite the State House.
From 7 to 8 A.M. a rain-storm came on, and there was a lull in the cannonading. About 8 A.M. the officers' quarters were ignited by one of Ripley's incendiary shells, or by shot heated in the furnaces at Fort Moultrie. The fire was put out; but at 10 A.M. a mortar shell passed through the roof, and lodged in the flooring of the second story, where it burst, and started the flames afresh.
However, the pursuit was pushed forward to the very edge of the enemy's country; Kay's troopers patrolled the north bank of the river and watched every road and ford; east and west Ripley's and Haynes's brigades formed impassable curtains. Somewhere in this vast corral lay hidden a desperate, starving man; and it was only a question of time before the hunted creature broke cover for the water.
There was also a piano, over which hung an oil painting, and in the opposite room was a large array of Mr. Ripley's books. It was "the library," and many of the works were in German. In particular, there was a set of fourteen volumes, "Specimens of Foreign Literature," edited by Mr. Ripley, that attracted my attention.
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