redgauntlet-第14部分

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e　dreary；　as　contrasted　with　the　opposite　shores　of　Cumberland；　crossed　and　intersected　by　ten　thousand　lines　of　trees　growing　in　hedgerows；　shaded　with　groves　and　woods　of　considerable　extent；　animated　by　hamlets　and　villas；　from　which　thin　clouds　of　smoke　already　gave　sign　of　human　life　and　human　industry。

My　conductor　had　extended　his　arm；　and　was　pointing　the　road　to　Shepherd's　Bush；　when　the　step　of　a　horse　was　heard　approaching　us。　　He　looked　sharply　round；　and　having　observed　who　was　approaching；　proceeded　in　his　instructions　to　me；　planting　himself　at　the　same　time　in　the　very　middle　of　the　path；　which；　at　the　place　where　we　halted；　had　a　slough　on　the　one　side　and　a　sandbank　on　the　other。

I　observed　that　the　rider　who　approached　us　slackened　his　horse's　pace　from　a　slow　trot　to　a　walk；　as　if　desirous　to　suffer　us　to　proceed；　or　at　least　to　avoid　passing　us　at　a　spot　where　the　difficulty　of　doing　so　must　have　brought　us　very　close　to　each　other。　　You　know　my　old　failing；　Alan；　and　that　I　am　always　willing　to　attend　to　anything　in　preference　to　the　individual　who　has　for　the　time　possession　of　the　conversation。

Agreeably　to　this　amiable　propensity；　I　was　internally　speculating　concerning　the　cause　of　the　rider　keeping　aloof　from　us；　when　my　companion；　elevating　his　deep　voice　so　suddenly　and　so　sternly　as　at　once　to　recall　my　wandering　thoughts；　exclaimed；　'In　the　name　of　the　devil；　young　man；　do　you　think　that　others　have　no　better　use　for　their　time　than　you　have；　that　you　oblige　me　to　repeat　the　same　thing　to　you　three　times　over？　　Do　you　see；　I　say；　yonder　thing　at　a　mile's　distance；　that　looks　like　a　finger…post；　or　rather　like　a　gallows？　　I　would　it　had　a　dreaming　fool　hanging　upon　it；　as　an　example　to　all　meditative　moon…　calves！Yon　gibbet…looking　pole　will　guide　you　to　the　bridge；　where　you　must　pass　the　large　brook；　then　proceed　straight　forwards；　till　several　roads　divide　at　a　cairn。　　Plague　on　thee；　thou　art　wandering　again！

It　is　indeed　quite　true　that　at　this　moment　the　horseman　approached　us；　and　my　attention　was　again　called　to　him　as　I　made　way　to　let　him　pass。　　His　whole　exterior　at　once　showed　that　he　belonged　to　the　Society　of　Friends；　or；　as　the　world　and　the　world's　law　calls　them；　Quakers。　　A　strong　and　useful　iron…grey　galloway　showed；　by　its　sleek　and　good　condition；　that　the　merciful　man　was　merciful　to　his　beast。　　His　accoutrements　were　in　the　usual　unostentatious　but　clean　and　servicable　order　which　characterizes　these　sectaries。　　His　long　surtout　of　dark…grey　superfine　cloth　descended　down　to　the　middle　of　his　leg；　and　was　buttoned　up　to　his　chin；　to　defend　him　against　the　morning　air。　As　usual；　his　ample　beaver　hung　down　without　button　or　loop；　and　shaded　a　comely　and　placid　countenance；　the　gravity　of　which　appeared　to　contain　some　seasoning　of　humour；　and　had　nothing　in　common　with　the　pinched　puritanical　air　affected　by　devotees　in　general。　　The　brow　was　open　and　free　from　wrinkles；　whether　of　age　or　hypocrisy。　　The　eye　was　clear；　calm；　and　considerate；　yet　appeared　to　be　disturbed　by　apprehension；　not　to　say　fear；　as；　pronouncing　the　usual　salutation　of；　'I　wish　thee　a　good　morrow；　friend；'　he　indicated；　by　turning　his　palfrey　close　to　one　side　of　the　path；　a　wish　to　glide　past　us　with　as　little　trouble　as　possiblejust　as　a　traveller　would　choose　to　pass　a　mastiff　of　whose　peaceable　intentions　he　is　by　no　means　confident。

But　my　friend；　not　meaning；　perhaps；　that　he　should　get　off　so　easily；　put　his　horse　quite　across　the　path；　so　that；　without　plunging　into　the　slough；　or　scrambling　up　the　bank；　the　Quaker　could　not　have　passed　him。　　Neither　of　these　was　an　experiment　without　hazard　greater　than　the　passenger　seemed　willing　to　incur。　　He　halted；　therefore；　as　if　waiting　till　my　companion　should　make　way　for　him；　and；　as　they　sat　fronting　each　other；　I　could　not　help　thinking　that　they　might　have　formed　no　bad　emblem　of　Peace　and　War；　for　although　my　conductor　was　unarmed；　yet　the　whole　of　his　manner；　his　stern　look；　and　his　upright　seat　on　horseback；　were　entirely　those　of　a　soldier　in　undress；　He　accosted　the　Quaker　in　these　words；　'So　ho！　　friend　Joshua；　thou　art　early　to　the　road　this　morning。　　Has　the　spirit　moved　thee　and　thy　righteous　brethren　to　act　with　some　honesty；　and　pull　down　yonder　tide…nets　that　keep　the　fish　from　coming　up　the　river？'

'Surely；　friend；　not　so；'　answered　Joshua；　firmly；　but　good…　humouredly　at　the　same　time；　'thou　canst　not　expect　that　our　own　hands　should　pull　down　what　our　purses　established。　　Thou　killest　the　fish　with　spear；　line；　and　coble…net；　and　we；　with　snares　and　with　nets；　which　work　by　the　ebb　and　the　flow　of　the　tide。　　Each　doth　what　seems　best　in　his　eyes　to　secure　a　share　of　the　blessing　which　Providence　hath　bestowed　on　the　river；　and　that　within　his　own　bounds。　　I　prithee　seek　no　quarrel　against　us；　for　thou　shalt　have　no　wrong　at　our　hand。'

'Be　assured　I　will　take　none　at　the　hand　of　any　man；　whether　his　hat　be　cocked　or　broad…brimmed；'　answered　the　fisherman。　　'I　tell　you　in　fair　terms；　Joshua　Geddes；　that　you　and　your　partners　are　using　unlawful　craft　to　destroy　the　fish　in　the　Solway　by　stake…　nets　and　wears；　and　that　we；　who　fish　fairly；　and　like　men；　as　our　fathers　did；　have　daily　and　yearly　less　sport　and　less　profit。　　Do　not　think　gravity　or　hypocrisy　can　carry　it　off　as　you　have　done。　　The　world　knows　you；　and　we　know　you。　　You　will　destroy　the　salmon　which　makes　the　livelihood　of　fifty　poor　families；　and　then　wipe　your　mouth；　and　go　to　make　a　speech　at　meeting。　　But　do　not　hope　it　will　last　thus。　　I　give　you　fair　warning；　we　will　be　upon　you　one　morning　soon；　when　we　will　not　leave　a　stake　standing　in　the　pools　of　the　Solway；　and　down　the　tide　they　shall　every　one　go；　and　well　if　we　do　not　send　a　lessee　along　with　them。'

'Friend；'　replied　Joshua；　with　a　constrained　smile；　'but　that　I　know　thou　dost　not　mean　as　thou　sayst；　I　would　tell　thee　we　are　under　the　protection　of　this　country's　laws；　nor　do　we　the　less　trust　to　obtain　their　protection；　that　our　principles　permit　us　not；　by　any　act　of　violent　resistance；　to　protect　ourselves。'

'All　villainous　cant　and　cowardice；'　exclaimed　the　fisherman；　'and　assumed　merely　as　a　cloak　to　your　hypocritical　avarice。'

'Nay；　say　not　cowardice；　my　friend；'　answered　the　Quaker；　'since　thou　knowest　there　may　be　as　much　courage　in　enduring　as　in　acting；　and　I　will　be　judged　by　this　youth；　or　by　any　one　else；　whether　there　is　not　more　cowardiceeven　in　the　opinion　of　that　world　whose　thoughts　are　the　breath　in　thy　nostrilsin　the　armed　oppressor　who　doth　injury；　than　in　the　defenceless　and　patient　sufferer　who　endureth　it　with　constancy。'

'I　will　change　no　more　words　with　you　on　the　subject；'　said　the　fisherman；　who；　as　if　something　moved　at　the　last　argument　which　Mr。　Geddes　had　used；　now　made　room　for　him　to　pass　forward　on　his　journey。　　'Do　not　forget；　however；'　he　added；　'that　you　have　had　fair　warning；　nor　suppose　that　we　will　accept　of　fair　words　in　apology　for　foul　play。　　These　nets　of　yours　are　unlawfulthey　spoil　our　fishingswe　will　have　them　down　at　all　risks　and　hazards。　　I　am　a　man　of　my　word；　friend　Joshua。'

'I　trust　thou　art；'　said　the　Quaker；　'but　thou　art　the　rather　bound　to　be　cautious　in　rashly　affirming　what　thou　wilt　never　execute。　　For　I　tell　thee；　friend；　that　though　there　is　as　great　a　difference　between　thee　and　one　of　our　people　as　there　is　between　a　lion　and　a　sheep；　yet　I　know　and　believe　thou　hast　so　much　of　the　lion　in　thee；　that　thou　wouldst　scarce　employ　thy　strength　and　thy　rage　upon　that　which　professeth　no　means　of　resistance。　　Report　says　so　much　good　of　thee；　at　least；　if　it　says　little　more。'

'Time　will　try；'　answered　the　fisherman；　'and　hark　thee；　Joshua；　before　we　part　I　will　put　thee　in　the　way　of　doing　one　good　deed；　which；　credit　me；　is　better　than　twenty　moral　speeches。　　Here　is　a　stranger　youth；　whom　Heaven　has　so　scantily　gifted　with　brains；　that　he　will　bewilder　himself　in　the　Sands；　as　he　did　last　night；　unless　thou　wilt　kindly　show　him　the　way　to　Shepherd's　Bush；　for　I　have　been　in　vain　endeavouring　to　make　him　comprehend　the　road　thither。　　Hast　thou　so　much　charity　under　thy　simplicity；　Quaker；　as　to　do　this　good　turn？'

'Nay；　it　is　thou；　friend；'　answered　Joshua；　'that　dost　lack　charity；　to　suppose　any　one　unwilling　to　do　so　simple　a　kindness。'

'Thou　art　rightI　should　have　remembered　it　can　cost　thee　nothing。　　Young　gentlemen；　this　pious　pattern　of　primitive　simplicity　will　teach　thee　the　right　way　to　the　Shepherd's　Bush　aye；　and　will　himself　shear　thee　like　a　sheep；　if　you　come　to　buying　and　selling　with　him。'

He　then　abruptly　asked　me；　how　long　I　intended　to　remain　at　Shepherd's　Bush。

I　replied；　I　was　at　present　uncertainas　long　probably；　as　I　could　amuse　myself　in　the　neighbourhood。

'You　are　fond　of　sport？'　　he　added；　in　the　same　tone　of　brief　inquiry。

I　answered　in　the　affirmative；　but　added；　I　was　totally　inexperienced。

'Perhaps　if　you　reside　here　for　some　days；'　he　said；　'we　may　meet　again；　and　I　may　have　the　chance　of　giving　you　a　lesson。'

Ere　I　could　express　either　thanks　or　assent；　he　turned　short　round　with　a　wave　of　his　hand　by　way　of　adieu；　and　rode　back　to　the　verge　of　the　dell　from　which　we　had　emerged　together；　and　as　he　remained　standing　upon　the　banks；　I　could　long　hear　his　voice　while　he　shouted　down　to　those　within　its　recesses。

Meanwhile　the　Quaker　and　I　proceeded　on　our　journey　for　some　time　in　silence；　he　restraining　his　sober…minded　steed　to　a　pace　which　might　have　suited　a　much　less　active　walker　than　myself；　and　looking　on　me　from　time　to　time　with　an　expression　of　curiosity；　mingled　with　benignity。　　For　my　part；　I　cared　not　to　speak　first。　It　happened　I　had　never　before　been　in　company　with　one　of　this　particular　sect；　and；　afraid　that　in　addressing　him　I　might　unwittingly　infringe　upon　some　of　their　prejudices　or　peculiarities；　I　patiently　remained　silent。　　At　length　he　asked　me；　whether　I　had　been　long　in　the　service　of　the　laird；　as　men　called　him。

I　repeated　the　words　'in　his　service？'　　with　such　an　accent　of　surprise；　as　induced　him　to　say；　'Nay；　but；　friend；　I　mean　no　offence；　perhaps　I　should　have　said　in　his　societyan　inmate；　I　mean；　in　his　house？'

'I　am　totally　unk