redgauntlet-第42部分

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'Nay；　Rachel；'　said　the　worthy　man；　'thou　art　to　blame　in　this；　that　to　quiet　thy　apprehensions　on　my　account；　thou　shouldst　thrust　into　dangerif　danger　it　shall　prove　to　bethis　youth；　our　guest；　for　whom；　doubtless；　in　case　of　mishap；　as　many　hearts　will　ache　as　may　be　afflicted　on　our　account。'

'No；　my　good　friend；'　said　I；　taking　Mr。　Geddes's　hand；　'I　am　not　so　happy　as　you　suppose　me。　　Were　my　span　to　be　concluded　this　evening；　few　would　so　much　as　know　that　such　a　being　had　existed　for　twenty　years　on　the　face　of　the　earth；　and　of　these　few；　only　one　would　sincerely　regret　me。　　Do　not；　therefore；　refuse　me　the　privilege　attending　you；　and　of　showing；　by　so　trifling　an　act　of　kindness；　that　if　I　have　few　friends；　I　am　at　least　desirous　to　serve　them。'

'Thou　hast　a　kind　heart；　I　warrant　thee；'　said　Joshua　Geddes；　returning　the　pressure　of　my　hand。　　'Rachel；　the　young　man　shall　go　with　me。　　Why　should　he　not　face　danger；　in　order　to　do　justice　and　preserve　peace？　　There　is　that　within　me；'　he　added；　looking　upwards；　and　with　a　passing　enthusiasm　which　I　had　not　before　observed　and　the　absence　of　which　perhaps　rather　belonged　to　the　sect　than　to　his　own　personal　character'I　say；　I　have　that　within　which　assures　me；　that　though　the　ungodly　may　rage　even　like　the　storm　of　the　ocean；　they　shall　not　have　freedom　to　prevail　against　us。'

Having　spoken　thus；　Mr。　Geddes　appointed　a　pony　to　be　saddled　for　my　use；　and　having　taken　a　basket　with　some　provisions；　and　a　servant　to　carry　back　the　horses　for　which　there　was　no　accommodation　at　the　fishing　station；　we　set　off　about　nine　o'clock　at　night；　and　after　three…quarters　of　an　hour's　riding；　arrived　at　our　place　of　destination。

The　station　consists；　or　then　consisted；　of　huts　for　four　or　five　fishermen；　a　cooperage　and　shed；　and　a　better　sort　of　cottage　at　which　the　superintendent　resided。　　We　gave　our　horses　to　the　servant；　to　be　carried　back　to　Mount　Sharon；　my　companion　expressing　himself　humanely　anxious　for　their　safetyand　knocked　at　the　door　of　the　house。　　At　first　we　only　heard　a　barking　of　dogs；　but　these　animals　became　quiet　on　snuffing　beneath　the　door；　and　acknowledging　the　presence　of　friends。　　A　hoarse　voice　then　demanded；　in　rather　unfriendly　accents；　who　we　were；　and　what　we　wanted　and　it　was　not；　until　Joshua　named　himself；　and　called　upon　his　superintendent　to　open；　that　the　latter　appeared　at　the　door　of　the　hut；　attended　by　three　large　dogs　of　the　Newfoundland　breed。　　He　had　a　flambeau　in　his　hand；　and　two　large　heavy　ship…pistols　stuck　into　his　belt。　　He　was　a　stout　elderly　man；　who　had　been　a　sailor；　as　I　learned；　during　the　earlier　part　of　his　life；　and　was　now　much　confided　in　by　the　Fishing　Company；　whose　concerns　he　directed　under　the　orders　of　Mr。　Geddes。

'Thou　didst　not　expect　me　to…night；　friend　Davies？'　　said　my　friend　to　the　old　man；　who　was　arranging　seats　for　us　by　the　fire。

'No；　Master　Geddes；'　answered　he；　'I　did　not　expect　you；　nor；　to　speak　the　truth；　did　I　wish　for　you　either。'

'These　are　plain　terms：　　John　Davies；'　answered　Mr。Geddes。

'Aye；　aye；　sir；　I　know　your　worship　loves　no　holiday　speeches。'

'Thou　dost　guess；　I　suppose；　what　brings　us　here　so　late；　John　Davies？'　　said　Mr。　Geddes。

'I　do　suppose；　sir；'　answered　the　superintendent；　'that　it　was　because　those　dd　smuggling　wreckers　on　the　coast　are　showing　their　lights　to　gather　their　forces；　as　they　did　the　night　before　they　broke　down　the　dam…dyke　and　weirs　up　the　country；　but　if　that　same　be　the　case；　I　wish　once　more　you　had　stayed　away；　for　your　worship　carries　no　fighting　tackle　aboard；　I　think；　and　there　will　be　work　for　such　ere　morning；　your　worship。'

'Worship　is　due　to　Heaven　only；　John　Davies；'　said　Geddes；　'I　have　often　desired　thee　to　desist　from　using　that　phrase　to　me。'

'I　won't；　then；'　said　John；　'no　offence　meant：　　But　how　the　devil　can　a　man　stand　picking　his　words；　when　he　is　just　going　to　come　to　blows？'

'I　hope　not；　John　Davies；'　said　Joshua　Geddes。　　'Call　in　the　rest　of　the　men；　that　I　may　give　them　their　instructions。'

'I　may　cry　till　doomsday　Master　Geddes；　ere　a　soul　answersthe　cowardly　lubbers　have　all　made　sailthe　cooper；　and　all　the　rest　of　them；　so　soon　as　they　heard　the　enemy　were　at　sea。　　They　have　all　taken　to　the　long…boat；　and　left　the　ship　among　the　breakers；　except　little　Phil　and　myselfthey　have；　by！'

'Swear　not　at　all；　John　Daviesthou　art　an　honest　man；　and　I　believe；　without　an　oath；　that　thy　comrades　love　their　own　bones　better　than　my　goods　and　chattels。　　And　so　thou　hast　no　assistance　but　little　Phil　against　a　hundred　men　or　two？'

'Why；　there　are　the　dogs；　your　honour　knows；　Neptune　and　Thetis　and　the　puppy　may　do　something；　and　then　though　your　worshipI　beg　pardonthough　your　honour　be　no　great　fighter；　this　young　gentleman　may　bear　a　hand。'

'Aye；　and　I　see　you　are　provided　with　arms；'　said　Mr。　Geddes；　'let　me　see　them。'

'Aye；　aye；　sir；　here　be　a　pair　of　buffers　will　bite　as　well　as　barkthese　will　make　sure　of　two　rogues　at　least。　　It　would　be　a　shame　to　strike　without　firing　a　shot。　　Take　care；　your　honour；　they　are　double…shotted。'

'Aye；　John　Davies；　I　will　take　care　of　them；　throwing　the　pistols　into　a　tub　of　water　beside　him；　'and　I　wish　I　could　render　the　whole　generation　of　them　useless　at　the　same　moment。'

A　deep　shade　of　displeasure　passed　over　John　Davies's　weatherbeaten　countenance。　　'Belike　your　honour　is　going　to　take　the　command　yourself；　then？'　　he　said；　after　a　pause。　　'Why；　I　can　be　of　little　use　now；　and　since　your　worship；　or　your　honour；　or　whatever　you　are；　means　to　strike　quietly；　I　believe　you　will　do　it　better　without　me　than　with　me；　for　I　am　like　enough　to　make　mischief；　I　admit；　but　I'll　never　leave　my　post　without　orders。'

'Then　you　have　mine；　John　Davies；　to　go　to　Mount　Sharon　directly；　and　take　the　boy　Phil　with　you。　　Where　is　he？'

'He　is　on　the　outlook　for　these　scums　of　the　earth；'　answered　Davies；　'but　it　is　to　no　purpose　to　know　when　they　come；　if　we　are　not　to　stand　to　our　weapons。'

'We　will　use　none　but　those　of　sense　and　reason；　John。'

'And　you　may　just　as　well　cast　chaff　against　the　wind；　as　speak　sense　and　reason　to　the　like　of　them。'

'Well；　well；　be　it　so；'　said　Joshua；　'and　now；　John　Davies；　I　know　thou　art　what　the　world　calls　a　brave　fellow；　and　I　have　ever　found　thee　an　honest　one。　　And　now　I　command　you　to　go　to　Mount　Sharon；　and　let　Phil　lie　on　the　bank…sidesee　the　poor　boy　hath　a　sea…cloak；　thoughand　watch　what　happens　there；　and　let　him　bring　you　the　news；　and　if　any　violence　shall　be　offered　to　the　property　there；　I　trust　to　your　fidelity　to　carry　my　sister　to　Dumfries　to　the　house　of　our　friends　the　Corsacks；　and　inform　the　civil　authorities　of　what　mischief　hath　befallen。'

The　old　seaman　paused　a　moment。　　'It　is　hard　lines　for　me；'　he　said；　'to　leave　your　honour　in　tribulation；　and　yet；　staying　here；　I　am　only　like　to　make　bad　worse；　and　your　honour's　sister；　Miss　Rachel；　must　be　looked　to；　that's　certain；　for　if　the　rogues　once　get　their　hand　to　mischief；　they　will　come　to　Mount　Sharon　after　they　have　wasted　and　destroyed　this　here　snug　little　roadstead；　where　I　thought　to　ride　at　anchor　for　life。'

'Right；　right；　John　Davies；'　said　Joshua　Geddes；　'and　best　call　the　dogs　with　you。'

'Aye；　aye；　sir；'　said　the　veteran；　'for　they　are　something　of　my　mind；　and　would　not　keep　quiet　if　they　saw　mischief　doing；　so　maybe　they　might　come　to　mischief；　poor　dumb　creatures。　　So　God　bless　your　honourI　mean　your　worshipI　cannot　bring　my　mouth　to　say　fare　you　well。　　Here；　Neptune；　Thetis！　　come；　dogs；　come。'

So　saying；　and　with　a　very　crestfallen　countenance；　John　Davies　left　the　hut。

'Now　there　goes　one　of　the　best　and　most　faithful　creatures　that　ever　was　born；'　said　Mr。　Geddes；　as　the　superintendent　shut　the　door　of　the　cottage。　　'Nature　made　him　with　a　heart　that　would　not　have　suffered　him　to　harm　a　fly；　but　thou　seest；　friend　Latimer；　that　as　men　arm　their　bull…dogs　with　spiked　collars；　and　their　game…cocks　with　steel　spurs；　to　aid　them　in　fight；　so　they　corrupt；　by　education；　the　best　and　mildest　natures；　until　fortitude　and　spirit　become　stubbornness　and　ferocity。　　Believe　me；　friend　Latimer；　I　would　as　soon　expose　my　faithful　household　dog　to　a　vain　combat　with　a　herd　of　wolves；　as　yon　trusty　creature　to　the　violence　of　the　enraged　multitude。　　But　I　need　say　little　on　this　subject　to　thee；　friend　Latimer；　who；　I　doubt　not；　art　trained　to　believe　that　courage　is　displayed　and　honour　attained；　not　by　doing　and　suffering　as　becomes　a　man　that　which　fate　calls　us　to　suffer　and　justice　commands　us　to　do；　but　because　thou　art　ready　to　retort　violence　for　violence；　and　considerest　the　lightest　insult　as　a　sufficient　cause　for　the　spilling　of　blood；　nay；　the　taking　of　life。　　But；　leaving　these　points　of　controversy　to　a　more　fit　season；　let　us　see　what　our　basket　of　provision　contains；　for　in　truth；　friend　Latimer；　I　am　one　of　those　whom　neither　fear　nor　anxiety　deprives　of　their　ordinary　appetite。'

We　found　the　means　of　good　cheer　accordingly；　which　Mr。　Geddes　seemed　to　enjoy　as　much　as　if　it　had　been　eaten　in　a　situation　of　perfect　safety；　nay；　his　conversation　appeared　to　be　rather　more　gay　than　on　ordinary　occasions。　　After　eating　our　supper；　we　left　the　hut　together；　and　walked　for　a　few　minutes　on　the　banks　of　the　sea。　　It　was　high　water；　and　the　ebb　had　not　yet　commenced。　The　moon　shone　broad　and　bright　upon　the　placid　face　of　the　Solway　Firth；　and　showed　a　slight　ripple　upon　the　stakes；　the　tops　of　which　were　just　visible　above　the　waves；　and　on　the　dark…　coloured　buoys　which　marked　the　upper　edge　of　the　enclosure　of　nets。　　At　a　much　greater　distancefor　the　estuary　is　here　very　widethe　line　of　the　English　coast　was　seen　on　the　verge　of　the　water；　resembling　one　of　those　fog…banks　on　which　mariners　are　said　to　gaze；　uncertain　whether　it　be　land　or　atmospherical　delusion。

'We　shall　be　undisturbed　for　some　hours；'　said　Mr。　Geddes；　'they　will　not　come　down　upon　us：　　till　the　state　of　the　tide　permits　them　to　destroy　the　tide…nets。　　Is　it　not　strange　to　think　that　human　passions　will　so　soon　transform　such　a　tranquil　scene　as　this　into　one　of　devastation　and　confusion？'

It　was　indeed　a　scene　of　exquisite　stillness；　so　much　so；　that　t