guy mannering-第79部分

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and　disappeared　from　his　sight；　leaving　only　two　persons　to　take　care　of　the　boat。

The　dash　of　these　men's　oars　at　first；　and　latterly　the　suppressed　sounds　of　their　voices；　had　excited　the　wrath　of　the　wakeful　sentinel　in　the　courtyard；　who　now　exalted　his　deep　voice　into　such　a　horrid　and　continuous　din；　that　it　awakened　his　brute　master；　as　savage　a　ban…dog　as　himself。　His　cry　from　a　window；　of　〃How　now；　Tearum；　what's　the　matter；　sir？down；　d…n　ye；　down！〃　produced　no　abatement　of　Tearum's　vociferation；　which　in　part　prevented　his　master　from　bearing　the　sounds　of　alarm　which　his　ferocious　vigilance　was　in　the　act　of　challenging。　But　the　mate　of　the　two…legged　Cerberus　was　gifted　with　sharper　ears　than　her　husband。　She　also　was　now　at　the　window；　〃B…t　ye；　gae　down　and　let　loose　the　dog；〃　she　said；　〃they're　sporting　the　door　of　the　Custom…house；　and　the　auld　sap　at　Hazlewood　House　has　ordered　off　the　guard。　But　ye　hae　nae　mair　heart；　than　a　cat。〃　And　down　the　Amazon　sallied　to　perform　the　task　herself；　while　her　helpmate；　more　jealous　of　insurrection　within　doors；　than　of　storm　from　without；　went　from　cell　to　cell　to　see　that　the　inhabitants　of　each　were　carefully　secured。

These　latter　sounds；　with　which　we　have　made　the　reader　acquainted；　had　their　origin　in　front　of　the　house；　and　were　consequently　imperfectly　heard　by　Bertram；　whose　apartment；　as　we　have　already　noticed；　looked　from　the　back　part　of　the　building　upon　the　sea。　He　heard；　however；　a　stir　and　tumult　in　the　house；　which　did　not　seem　to　accord　with　the　stern　seclusion　of　a　prison　at　the　hour　of　midnight；　and；　connecting　them　with　the　arrival　of　an　armed　boat　at　that　dead　hour；　could　not　but　suppose　that　something　extraordinary　was　about　to　take　place。　In　this　belief　he　shook　Dinmont　by　the　shoulder〃Eh！Ay！Oh！Ailie；　woman；　it's　no　time　to　get　up　yet；〃　growled　the　sleeping　man　of　the　mountains。　More　roughly　shaken；　however；　he　gathered　himself　up；　shook　his　ears；　and　asked；　〃In　the　name　of　Providence；　what's　the　matter？〃

〃That　I　can't　tell　you；〃　replied　Bertram；　〃but　either　the　place　is　on　fire；　or　some　extraordinary　thing　is　about　to　happen。　Are　you　not　sensible　of　a　smell　of　fire？　Do　you　not　hear　what　a　noise　there　is　of　clashing　doors　within　the　house；　and　of　hoarse　voices；　murmurs；　and　distant　shouts　on　the　outside？　Upon　my　word；　I　believe　something　very　extraordinary　has　taken　placeGet　up；　for　the　love　of　Heaven；　and　let　us　be　on　our　guard。〃

Dinmont　rose　at　the　idea　of　danger；　as　intrepid　and　undismayed　as　any　of　his　ancestors　when　the　beaconlight　was　kindled。　〃Odd；　Captain；　this　is　a　queer　place！　they　winna　let　ye　out　in　the　day；　and　they　winna　let　ye　sleep　in　the　night。　Deil；　but　it　wad　break　my　heart　in　a　fortnight。　But；　Lordsake；　what　a　racket　they're　making　now！　Odd；　I　wish　we　had　some　light。　Wasp…Wasp；　whisht；　hinnywhisht；　my　bonnie　man；　and　let's　hear　what　they're　doing。Deil's　in　ye；　will　ye　whisht？〃

They　sought　in　vain　among　the　embers　the　means　of　lighting　their　candle；　and　the　noise　without　still　continued。　Dinmont　in　his　turn　had　recourse　to　the　window；　〃Lordsake；　Captain！　come　here。Odd；　they　hae　broken　the　Custom…house！〃

Bertram　hastened　to　the　window；　and　plainly　saw　a　miscellaneous　crowd　of　smugglers；　and　blackguards　of　different　descriptions；　some　carrying　lighted　torches；　others　bearing　packages　and　barrels　down　the　lane　to　the　boat　that　was　lying　at　the　quay；　to　which　two　or　three　other　fisher…boats　were　now　brought　round。　They　were　loading　each　of　these　in　their　turn；　and　one　or　two　had　already　put　off　to　seaward。　〃This　speaks　for　itself；〃　said　Bertram；　〃but　I　fear　something　worse　has　happened。　Do　you　perceive　a　strong　smell　of　smoke；　or　is　it　my　fancy？〃

〃Fancy？〃　answered　Dinmont；　〃there's　a　reek　like　a　killogie。　＇*A　lime…kiln。＇　　Odd；　if　they　burn　the　Custom…house；　it　will　catch　here；　and　we'll　lunt　＇*Burn＇　like　a　tar…barrel　a'　thegither。Eh！　it　wad　be　fearsome　to　be　burnt　alive　for　naething；　like　as　if　ane　had　been　a　warlock！　＇*witch＇Mac…Guffog；　hear　ye！〃roaring　at　the　top　of　his　voice；　〃an　ye　wad　ever　hae　a　haill　bane　in　your　skin；　let's　out；　man！　let's　out！〃

The　fire　began　now　to　rise　high；　and　thick　clouds　of　smoke　rolled　past　the　window；　at　which　Bertram　and　Dinmont　were　stationed。　Sometimes；　as　the　wind　pleased；　the　dim　shroud　of　vapour　hid　everything　from　their　sight；　sometimes　a　red　glare　illuminated　both　land　and　sea；　and　shone　full　on　the　stern　and　fierce　figures；　who；　wild　with　ferocious　activity；　were　engaged　in　loading　the　boats。　The　fire　was　at　length　triumphant；　and　spouted　in　jets　of　flame　out　at　each　window　of　the　burning　building；　while　huge　flakes　of　flaming　materials　came　driving　on　the　wind　against　the　adjoining　prison；　and　rolling　a　dark　canopy　of　smoke　over　all　the　neighbourhood。　The　shouts　of　a　furious　mob　resounded　far　and　wide；　for　the　smugglers；　in　their　triumph；　were　joined　by　all　the　rabble　of　the　little　town　and　。　neighbourhood；　now　aroused；　and　in　complete　agitation；　notwithstanding　the　lateness　of　the　hour；　some　from　interest　in　the　free　trade；　and　most　from　the　general　love　of　mischief　and　tumult；　natural　to　a　vulgar　populace。

Bertram　began　to　be　seriously　anxious　for　their　fate。　There　was　no　stir　in　the　house；　it　seemed　as　if　the　jailor　had　deserted　his　charge；　and　left　the　prison　with　its　wretched　inhabitants　to　the　mercy　of　the　conflagration　which　was　spreading　towards　them。　In　the　meantime　a　new　and　fierce　attack　was　heard　upon　the　outer　gate　of　the　Correction…house；　which；　battered　with　sledge…hammers　and　crows；　was　soon　forced。　The　keeper；　as　great　a　coward　as　a　bully；　with　his　more　ferocious　wife；　had　fled；　their　servants　readily　surrendered　the　keys。　The　liberated　prisoners；　celebrating　their　deliverance　with　the　wildest　yells　of　joy；　mingled　among　the　mob　which　had　given　them　freedom。

In　the　midst　of　the　confusion　that　ensued；　three　or　four　of　the　principal　smugglers　hurried　to　the　apartment　of　Bertram　with　lighted　torches；　and　armed　with　cutlasses　and　pistols。　〃Der　deyvil；〃　said　the　leader；　〃here's　our　mark！〃　and　two　of　them　seized　on　Bertram；　but　one　whispered　in　his　ear；　〃Make　no　resistance　till　you　are　in　the　street。〃　The　same　individual　found　an　instant　to　say　to　Dinmont〃Follow　our　friend；　an　help　when　you　see　the　time　come。〃

In　the　hurry　of　the　moment；　Dinmont　obeyed　and　followed　close。　The　two　smugglers　dragged　Bertram　along　the　passage；　downstairs；　through　the　courtyard；　now　illuminated　by　the　glare　of　fire；　and　into　the　narrow　street　to　which　the　gate　opened；　where；　in　the　confusion；　the　gang　were　necessarily　in　some　degree　separated　from　each　other。　A　rapid　noise；　as　of　a　body　of　horse　advancing；　seemed　to　add　to　the　disturbance。　〃Hagel　and　wetter；　what　is　that？〃　said　the　leader；　〃keep　together；　kinder；　look　to　the　prisoner。〃but　in　spite　of　his　charge；　the　two　who　held　Bertram　were　the　last　of　the　party。

The　sounds　and　signs　of　violence　were　heard　in　front。　The　press　became　curiously　agitated；　while　some　endeavoured　to　defend　themselves；　others　to　escape；　shots　were　fired；　and　the　glittering　broadswords　of　the　dragoons　began　to　appear；　flashing　above　the　beads　of　the　rioters。　〃Now；〃　said　the　warning　whisper　of　the　man　who　held　Bertram's　left　arm；　the　same　who　had　spoken　before；　〃shake　off　that　fellow；　and　follow　me。〃

Bertram；　exerting　his　strength　suddenly　and　effectually；　easily　burst　from　the　grasp　of　the　man　who　held　his　collar　on　the　right　side。　The　fellow　attempted　to　draw　a　pistol；　but　was　prostrated　by　a　blow　of　Dinmont's　fist；　which　an　ox　could　hardly　have　received　without　the　same　humiliation。　〃Follow　me　quick；〃　said　the　friendly　partisan；　and　dived　through　a　very　narrow　and　dirty　lane　which　led　from　the　main　street。

No　pursuit　took　place。　The　attention　of　the　smugglers　had　been　otherwise　and　very　disagreeably　engaged　by　the　sudden　appearance　of　Mac…Morlan　and　the　party　of　horse。　The　loud　manly　voice　of　the　provincial　magistrate　was　heard　proclaiming　the　Riot　Act；　and　charging　〃all　those　unlawfully　assembled　to　disperse　at　their　own　proper　peril。〃　This　interruption　would　indeed　have　happened　in　time　sufficient　to　have　prevented　the　attempt；　had　not　the　magistrate　received　upon　the　road　some　false　information；　which　led　him　to　think　that　the　smugglers　were　to　land　at　the　Bay　of　Ellangowan。　Nearly　two　hours　were　lost　in　consequence　of　this　false　intelligence；　which　it　may　be　no　lack　of　charity　to　suppose　that　Glossin；　so　deeply　interested　in　the　issue　of　that　night's　daring　attempt；　had　contrived　to　throw　in　Mac…Morlan's　way；　availing　himself　of　the　knowledge　that　the　soldiers　had　left　Hazlewood　House；　which　would　soon　reach　an　ear　so　anxious　as　his。

In　the　meantime；　Bertram　followed　his　guide；　and　was　in　his　turn　followed　by　Dinmont。　The　shouts　of　the　mob；　the　trampling　of　the　horses；　the　dropping　pistol…shots；　sunk　more　and　more　faintly　upon　their　ears；　when　at　the　end　of　the　dark　lane　they　found　a　post…chaise　with　four　horses。　〃Are　you　here；　in　God's　name？〃　said　the　guide　to　the　postilion　who　drove　the　leaders。

〃Ay；　troth　am　I；〃　answered　Jack　Jabos；　〃and　I　wish　I　were　any　gate　else。〃

〃Open　the　carriage；　thenYou；　gentlemen；　get　into　itin　a　short　time　you'll　be　in　a　place　of　safetyand　（to　Bertram）　remember　your　promise　to　the　gipsy　wife！〃

Bertram；　resolving　to　be　passive　in　the　hands　of　a　person　who　had　just　rendered　him　such　a　distinguished　piece　of　service；　got　into　the　chaise　as　directed。　Dinmont　followed；　Wasp；　who　had　kept　close　by　them；　sprung　in　at　the　same　time；　and　the　carriage　drove　off　very　fast。　〃Have　a　care　a'　me；〃　said　Dinmont；　〃but　this　is　the　queerest　thing　yet！Odd；　I　trust　they'll　no　coup　＇*Upset。＇　usand　then　what's　to　come　o'　Dumple？I　would　rather　be　on　his　back　than　in　the　Deuke's　coach；　God　bless　him。〃

Bertram　observed；　that　they　could　not　go　at　that　rapid　rate　to　any　great　distance　without　changing　horses；　and　that　they　might　insist　upon　remaining　till　daylight　at　the　first　inn　they　stopped　at；　or　at　least　upon　being　made　acquainted　with　the　purpose　and　termination　of　their　journey；　and　Mr。　Dinmont　might　there　give　directions　about　his　faithful　horse；　which　would　probably　be　safe　at　the　stables　where　he　had　left　him。〃Aweel；　aweel；　e'en　sae　be　it　for　Dandie。　Odd；　if　we　were　ance　out　o'　this　trindling　kist　＇*Rolling　chest。＇　o