redgauntlet-第44部分

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nd　that　I　was　in　the　hands　of　those　who　had　lately　committed　a　great　outrage　on　property；　and　were　now　about　to　kidnap；　if　not　to　murder　me。　　I　opened　my　eyes；　it　was　to　no　purposeall　around　me　was　dark；　for　a　day　had　passed　over　during　my　captivity。　　A　dispiriting　sickness　oppressed　my　headmy　heart　seemed　on　fire；　while　my　feet　and　hands　were　chilled　and　benumbed　with　want　of　circulation。　　It　was　with　the　utmost　difficulty　that　I　at　length；　and　gradually；　recovered　in　a　sufficient　degree　the　power　of　observing　external　sounds　and　circumstances；　and　when　I　did　so；　they　presented　nothing　consolatory。

Groping　with　my　hands；　as　far　as　the　bandages　would　permit；　and　receiving　the　assistance　of　some　occasional　glances　of　the　moonlight；　I　became　aware　that　the　carriage　in　which　I　was　transported　was　one　of　the　light　carts　of　the　country；　called　TUMBLERS；　and　that　a　little　attention　had　been　paid　to　my　accommodation；　as　I　was　laid　upon　some　sacks　covered　with　matting；　and　filled　with　straw。　　Without　these；　my　condition　would　have　been　still　more　intolerable；　for　the　vehicle；　sinking　now　on　one　side；　and　now　on　the　other；　sometimes　sticking　absolutely　fast　and　requiring　the　utmost　exertions　of　the　animal　which　drew　it　to　put　it　once　more　in　motion；　was　subjected　to　jolts　in　all　directions；　which　were　very　severe。　　At　other　times　it　rolled　silently　and　smoothly　over　what　seemed　to　be　wet　sand；　and；　as　I　heard　the　distant　roar　of　the　tide；　I　had　little　doubt　that　we　were　engaged　in　passing　the　formidable　estuary　which　divides　the　two　kingdoms。

There　seemed　to　be　at　least　five　or　six　people　about　the　cart；　some　on　foot；　others　on　horseback；　the　former　lent　assistance　whenever　it　was　in　danger　of　upsetting；　or　sticking　fast　in　the　quicksand；　the　others　rode　before　and　acted　as　guides；　often　changing　the　direction　of　the　vehicle　as　the　precarious　state　of　the　passage　required。

I　addressed　myself　to　the　men　around　the　cart；　and　endeavoured　to　move　their　compassion。　　I　had　harmed；　I　said；　no　one；　and　for　no　action　in　my　life　had　deserved　such　cruel　treatment；　I　had　no　concern　whatever　in　the　fishing　station　which　had　incurred　their　displeasure；　and　my　acquaintance　with　Mr。　Geddes　was　of　a　very　late　date。　　Lastly；　and　as　my　strongest　argument；　I　endeavoured　to　excite　their　fears；　by　informing　them　that　my　rank　in　life　would　not　permit　me　to　be　either　murdered　or　secreted　with　impunity；　and　to　interest　their　avarice；　by　the　promises　I　made　them　of　reward；　if　they　would　effect　my　deliverance。　　I　only　received　a　scornful　laugh　in　reply　to　my　threats；　my　promises　might　have　done　more；　for　the　fellows　were　whispering　together　as　if　in　hesitation；　and　I　began　to　reiterate　and　increase　my　offers；　when　the　voice　of　one　of　the　horsemen；　who　had　suddenly　come　up；　enjoined　silence　to　the　men　on　foot；　and；　approaching　the　side　of　the　cart；　said　to　me；　with　a　strong　and　determined　voice；　'Young　man；　there　is　no　personal　harm　designed　to　you。　　If　you　remain　silent　and　quiet；　you　may　reckon　on　good　treatment；　but　if　you　endeavour　to　tamper　with　these　men　in　the　execution　of　their　duty；　I　will　take　such　measures　for　silencing　you；　as　you　shall　remember　the　longest　day　you　have　to　live。'

I　thought　I　knew　the　voice　which　uttered　these　threats；　but；　in　such　a　situation；　my　perceptions　could　not　be　supposed　to　be　perfectly　accurate。　　I　was　contented　to　reply；　'Whoever　you　are　that　speak　to　me；　I　entreat　the　benefit　of　the　meanest　prisoner；　who　is　not　to　be　subjected；　legally　to　greater　hardship　than　is　necessary　for　the　restraint　of　his　person。　　I　entreat　that　these　bonds；　which　hurt　me　so　cruelly；　may　be　slackened　at　least；　if　not　removed　altogether。'

'I　will　slacken　the　belts；'　said　the　former　speaker；　'nay；　I　will　altogether　remove　them；　and　allow　you　to　pursue　your　journey　in　a　more　convenient　manner；　provided　you　will　give　me　your　word　of　honour　that　you　will　not　attempt　an　escape？'

'NEVER！'　　I　answered；　with　an　energy　of　which　despair　alone　could　have　rendered　me　capable'I　will　never　submit　to　loss　of　freedom　a　moment　longer　than　I　am　subjected　to　it　by　force。'

'Enough；'　he　replied；　'the　sentiment　is　natural；　but　do　not　on　your　side　complain　that　I；　who　am　carrying　on　an　important　undertaking；　use　the　only　means　in　my　power　for　ensuring　its　success。'

I　entreated　to　know　what　it　was　designed　to　do　with　me；　but　my　conductor；　in　a　voice　of　menacing　authority；　desired　me　to　be　silent　on　my　peril；　and　my　strength　and　spirits　were　too　much　exhausted　to　permit　my　continuing　a　dialogue　so　singular；　even　if　I　could　have　promised　myself　any　good　result　by　doing　so。

It　is　proper　here　to　add；　that；　from　my　recollections　at　the　time；　and　from　what　has　since　taken　place；　I　have　the　strongest　possible　belief　that　the　man　with　whom　I　held　this　expostulation　was　the　singular　person　residing　at　Brokenburn；　in　Dumfriesshire；　and　called　by　the　fishers　of　that　hamlet；　the　Laird　of　the　Solway　Lochs。　　The　cause　for　his　inveterate　persecution　I　cannot　pretend　even　to　guess　at。

In　the　meantime；　the　cart　was　dragged　heavily　and　wearily　on；　until　the　nearer　roar　of　the　advancing　tide　excited　the　apprehension　of　another　danger。　　I　could　not　mistake　the　sound；　which　I　had　heard　upon　another　occasion；　when　it　was　only　the　speed　of　a　fleet　horse　which　saved　me　from　perishing　in　the　quicksands。　　Thou；　my　dear　Alan；　canst　not　but　remember　the　former　circumstances；　and　now；　wonderful　contrast！　　the　very　man；　to　the　best　of　my　belief；　who　then　saved　me　from　peril；　was　the　leader　of　the　lawless　band　who　had　deprived　me　of　my　liberty。　　I　conjectured　that　the　danger　grew　imminent；　for　I　heard　some　words　and　circumstances　which　made　me　aware　that　a　rider　hastily　fastened　his　own　horse　to　the　shafts　of　the　cart　in　order　to　assist　the　exhausted　animal　which　drew　it；　and　the　vehicle　was　now　pulled　forward　at　a　faster　pace；　which　the　horses　were　urged　to　maintain　by　blows　and　curses。　　The　men；　however；　were　inhabitants　of　the　neighbourhood；　and　I　had　strong　personal　reason　to　believe　that　one　of　them；　at　least；　was　intimately　acquainted　with　all　the　depths　and　shallows　of　the　perilous　paths　in　which　we　were　engaged。　　But　they　were　in　imminent　danger　themselves；　and　if　so；　as　from　the　whispering　and　exertions　to　push　on　with　the　cart　was　much　to　be　apprehended；　there　was　little　doubt　that　I　should　be　left　behind　as　a　useless　encumbrance；　and　that；　while　I　was　in　a　condition　which　rendered　every　chance　of　escape　impracticable。　　These　were　awful　apprehensions；　but　it　pleased　Providence　to　increase　them　to　a　point　which　my　brain　was　scarcely　able　to　endure。

As　we　approached　very　near　to　a　black　line；　which；　dimly　visible　as　it　was；　I　could　make　out　to　be　the　shore；　we　heard　two　or　three　sounds；　which　appeared　to　be　the　report　of　fire…arms。　Immediately　all　was　bustle　among　our　party　to　get　forward。　Presently　a　fellow　galloped　up　to　us；　crying　out；　'Ware　hawk！　ware　hawk！　　the　land…sharks　are　out　from　Burgh；　and　Allonby　Tom　will　lose　his　cargo　if　you　do　not　bear　a　hand。'

Most　of　my　company　seemed　to　make　hastily　for　the　shore　on　receiving　this　intelligence。　　A　driver　was　left　with　the　cart；　but　at　length；　when；　after　repeated　and　hairbreadth　escapes；　it　actually　stuck　fast　in　a　slough　or　quicksand；　the　fellow；　with　an　oath；　cut　the　harness；　and；　as　I　presume；　departed　with　the　horses；　whose　feet　I　heard　splashing　over　the　wet　sand　and　through　the　shallows；　as　he　galloped　off。

The　dropping　sound　of　fire…arms　was　still　continued；　but　lost　almost　entirely　in　the　thunder　of　the　advancing　surge。　　By　a　desperate　effort　I　raised　myself　in　the　cart；　and　attained　a　sitting　posture；　which　served　only　to　show　me　the　extent　of　my　danger。　　There　lay　my　native　landmy　own　Englandthe　land　where　I　was　born；　and　to　which　my　wishes；　since　my　earliest　age；　had　turned　with　all　the　prejudices　of　national　feelingthere　it　lay；　within　a　furlong　of　the　place　where　I　yet　was；　that　furlong；　which　an　infant　would　have　raced　over　in　a　minute；　was　yet　a　barrier　effectual　to　divide　me　for　ever　from　England　and　from　life。　　I　soon　not　only　heard　the　roar　of　this　dreadful　torrent；　but　saw；　by　the　fitful　moonlight；　the　foamy　crests　of　the　devouring　waves；　as　they　advanced　with　the　speed　and　fury　of　a　pack　of　hungry　wolves。

The　consciousness　that　the　slightest　ray　of　hope；　or　power　of　struggling；　was　not　left　me；　quite　overcame　the　constancy　which　I　had　hitherto　maintained。　　My　eyes　began　to　swimmy　head　grew　giddy　and　mad　with　fearI　chattered　and　howled　to　the　howling　and　roaring　sea。　　One　or　two　great　waves　already　reached　the　cart；　when　the　conductor　of　the　party　whom　I　have　mentioned　so　often；　was；　as　if　by　magic；　at　my　side。　　He　sprang　from　his　horse　into　the　vehicle；　cut　the　ligatures　which　restrained　me；　and　bade　me　get　up　and　mount　in　the　fiend's　name。

Seeing　I　was　incapable　of　obeying；　he　seized　me　as　if　I　had　been　a　child　of　six　months　old；　threw　me　across　the　horse；　sprang　on　behind；　supporting　with　one　hand；　while　he　directed　the　animal　with　the　other。　　In　my　helpless　and　painful　posture；　I　was　unconscious　of　the　degree　of　danger　which　we　incurred；　but　I　believe　at　one　time　the　horse　was　swimming；　or　nearly　so；　and　that　it　was　with　difficulty　that　my　stern　and　powerful　assistant　kept　my　head　above　water。　　I　remember　particularly　the　shock　which　I　felt　when　the　animal；　endeavouring　to　gain　the　bank；　reared；　and　very　nearly　fell　back　on　his　burden。　　The　time　during　which　I　continued　in　this　dreadful　condition　did　not　probably　exceed　two　or　three　minutes；　yet　so　strongly　were　they　marked　with　horror　and　agony；　that　they　seem　to　my　recollection　a　much　more　considerable　space　of　time。

When　I　had　been　thus　snatched　from　destruction；　I　had　only　power　to　say　to　my　protector；or　oppressor；for　he　merited　either　name　at　my　hand；　'You　do　not；　then；　design　to　murder　me？'

He　laughed　as　he　replied；　but　it　was　a　sort　of　laughter　which　I　scarce　desire　to　hear　again；'Else　you　think　I　had　let　the　waves　do　the　work？　　But　remember；　the　shepherd　saves　his　sheep　from　the　torrentis　it　to　preserve　its　life？Be　silent；　however；　with　questions　or　entreaties。　　What　I　mean　to　do；　thou　canst　no　more　discover　or　prevent；　than　a　man；　with　his　bare　palm；　can　scoop　dry　the　Solway。'

I　was　too　much　exhausted　to　continue　the　argume