redgauntlet-第65部分

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An　inarticulate　answer　from　within　intimated　Malachi's　acquiescence　in　the　commands　imposed；　and；　Mr。　Trumbull；　shutting　the　door；　muttered　something　about　fast　bind；　fast　find；　turned　the　key；　and　put　it　into　his　pocket；　and　then　bidding　his　visitor　have　a　care　of　his　steps；　and　make　no　noise；　he　led　him　through　the　house；　and　out　at　a　back…door；　into　a　little　garden。　　Here　a　plaited　alley　conducted　them；　without　the　possibility　of　their　being　seen　by　any　neighbour；　to　a　door　in　the　garden…wall；　which　being　opened；　proved　to　be　a　private　entrance　into　a　three…　stalled　stable；　in　one　of　which　was　a　horse；　that　whinnied　on　their　entrance。　　'Hush；　hush！'　cried　the　old　man；　and　presently　seconded　his　exhortations　to　silence　by　throwing　a　handful　of　corn　into　the　manger；　and　the　horse　soon　converted　his　acknowledgement　of　their　presence　into　the　usual　sound　of　munching　and　grinding　his　provender。

As　the　light　was　now　failing　fast；　the　old　man；　with　much　more　alertness　than　might　have　been　expected　from　the　rigidity　of　his　figure；　closed　the　window…shutters　in　an　instant；　produced　phosphorus　and　matches；　and　lighted　a　stable…lantern；　which　he　placed　on　the　corn…bin；　and　then　addressed　Fairford。　　'We　are　private　here；　young　man；　and　as　some　time　has　been　wasted　already；　you　will　be　so　kind　as　to　tell　me　what　is　your　errand。　Is　it　about　the　way　of　business；　or　the　other　job？'

'My　business　with　you；　Mr。　Trumbull；　is　to　request　you　will　find　me　the　means　of　delivering　this　letter；　from　Mr。　Maxwell　of　Summertrees　to　the　Laird　of　Redgauntlet。'

'Humphfashious　job！　　Pate　Maxwell　will　still　be　the　auld　man　always　Pate…in…PerilCraig…in…Peril；　for　what　I　know。　　Let　me　see　the　letter　from　him。'

He　examined　it　with　much　care；　turning　it　up　and　down；　and　looking　at　the　seal　very　attentively。　　'All's　right；　I　see；　it　has　the　private　mark　for　haste　and　speed。　　I　bless　my　Maker　that　I　am　no　great　man；　or　great　man's　fellow；　and　so　I　think　no　more　of　these　passages　than　just　to　help　them　forward　in　the　way　of　business。　　You　are　an　utter　stranger　in　these　parts；　I　warrant？'

Fairford　answered　in　the　affirmative。

'AyeI　never　saw　them　make　a　wiser　choiceI　must　call　some　one　to　direct　you　what　to　doStay；　we　must　go　to　him；　I　believe。　You　are　well　recommended　to　me；　friend；　and　doubtless　trusty；　otherwise　you　may　see　more　than　I　would　like　to　show；　or　am　in　the　use　of　showing　in　the　common　line　of　business。'

Saying　this；　he　placed　his　lantern　on　the　ground；　beside　the　post　of　one　of　the　empty　stalls；　drew　up　a　small　spring　bolt　which　secured　it　to　the　floor；　and　then　forcing　the　post　to　one　side；　discovered　a　small　trap…door。　　'Follow　me；'　he　said；　and　dived　into　the　subterranean　descent　to　which　this　secret　aperture　gave　access。

Fairford　plunged　after　him；　not　without　apprehensions　of　more　kinds　than　one；　but　still　resolved　to　prosecute　the　adventure。

The　descent；　which　was　not　above　six　feet；　led　to　a　very　narrow　passage；　which　seemed　to　have　been　constructed　for　the　precise　purpose　of　excluding　every　one　who　chanced　to　be　an　inch　more　in　girth　than　was　his　conductor。　　A　small　vaulted　room；　of　about　eight　feet　square；　received　them　at　the　end　of　this　lane。　　Here　Mr。　Trumbull　left　Fairford　alone；　and　returned　for　an　instant；　as　he　said；　to　shut　his　concealed　trap…door。

Fairford　liked　not　his　departure；　as　it　left　him　in　utter　darkness；　besides　that　his　breathing　was　much　affected　by　a　strong　and　stifling　smell　of　spirits；　and　other　articles　of　a　savour　more　powerful　than　agreeable　to　the　lungs。　　He　was　very　glad；　therefore；　when　he　heard　the　returning　steps　of　Mr。　Trumbull；　who；　when　once　more　by　his　side；　opened　a　strong　though　narrow　door　in　the　wall；　and　conveyed　Fairford　into　an　immense　magazine　of　spirit…casks；　and　other　articles　of　contraband　trade。

There　was　a　small；　light　at　the　end　of　this　range　of　well…stocked　subterranean　vaults；　which；　upon　a　low　whistle；　began　to　flicker　and　move　towards　them。　　An　undefined　figure；　holding　a　dark　lantern；　with　the　light　averted；　approached　them；　whom　Mr。　Trumbull　thus　addressed：'Why　were　you　not　at　worship；　Job；　and　this　Saturday　at　e'en？'

'Swanston　was　loading　the　JENNY；　sir；　and　I　stayed　to　serve　out　the　article。'

'Truea　work　of　necessity；　and　in　the　way　of　business。　　Does　the　JUMPING　JENNY　sail　this　tide？'

'Aye；　aye；　sir；　she　sails　for'

'I　did　not　ask　you　WHERE　she　sailed　for；　Job；'　said　the　old　gentleman；　interrupting　him。　　'I　thank　my　Maker；　I　know　nothing　of　their　incomings　or　outgoings。　　I　sell　my　article　fairly　and　in　the　ordinary　way　of　business；　and　I　wash　my　hands　of　everything　else。　　But　what　I　wished　to　know　is；　whether　the　gentleman　called　the　Laird　of　the　Solway　Lakes　is　on　the　other　side　of　the　Border　even　now？'

'Aye；　aye；'　said　Job；　'the　laird　is　something　in　my　own　line；　you　knowa　little　contraband　or　so；　There　is　a　statute　for　himBut　no　matter；　he　took　the　sands　after　the　splore　at　the　Quaker's　fish…traps　yonder；　for　he　has　a　leal　heart；　the　laird；　and　is　always　true　to　the　country…side。　　But　avastis　all　snug　here？'

So　saying；　he　suddenly　turned　on　Alan　Fairford　the　light　side　of　the　lantern　he　carried；　who；　by　the　transient　gleam　which　it　threw　in　passing　on　the　man　who　bore　it；　saw　a　huge　figure；　upwards　of　six　feet　high；　with　a　rough　hairy　cap　on　his　head；　and　a　set　of　features　corresponding　to　his　bulky　frame。　　He　thought　also　he　observed　pistols　at　his　belt。

'I　will　answer　for　this　gentleman；'　said　Mr。　Trumbull；　'he　must　be　brought　to　speech　of　the　laird。'

'That　will　be　kittle　steering；'　said　the　subordinate　personage；　'for　I　understood　that　the　laird　and　his　folk　were　no　sooner　on　the　other　side　than　the　land…sharks　were　on　them；　and　some　mounted　lobsters　from　Carlisle；　and　so　they　were　obliged　to　split　and　squander。　　There　are　new　brooms　out　to　sweep　the　country　of　them；　they　say；　for　the　brush　was　a　hard　one；　and　they　say　there　was　a　lad　drowned；he　was　not　one　of　the　laird's　gang；　so　there　was　the　less　matter。'

'Peace！　　prithee；　peace；　Job　Rutledge；'　said　honest；　pacific　Mr。　Trumbull。　　'I　wish　thou　couldst　remember；　man；　that　I　desire　to　know　nothing　of　your　roars　and　splores；　your　brooms　and　brushes。　I　dwell　here　among　my　own　people；　and　I　sell　my　commodity　to　him　who　comes　in　the　way　of　business；　and　so　wash　my　hands　of　all　consequences；　as　becomes　a　quiet　subject　and　an　honest　man。　　I　never　take　payment；　save　in　ready　money。'

'Aye；　aye；'　muttered　he　with　the　lantern；　'your　worship；　Mr。　Trumbull；　understands　that　in　the　way　of　business。'

'Well；　I　hope　you　will　one　day　know；　Job；'　answered　Mr。　Trumbull；'the　comfort　of　a　conscience　void　of　offence；　and　that　fears　neither　gauger　nor　collector；　neither　excise　nor　customs。　The　business　is　to　pass　this　gentleman　to　Cumberland　upon　earnest　business；　and　to　procure　him　speech　with　the　Laird　of　the　Solway　LakesI　suppose　that　can　be　done？　　Now　I　think　Nanty　Ewart；　if　he　sails　with　the　brig　this　morning　tide；　is　the　man　to　set　him　forward。'

'Aye；　aye；　truly　is　he；'　said　Job；　'never　man　knew　the　Border；　dale　and　fell；　pasture　and　ploughland；　better　than　Nanty；　and　he　can　always　bring　him　to　the　laird；　too；　if　you　are　sure　the　gentleman's　right。　　But　indeed　that's　his　own　look…out；　for　were　he　the　best　man　in　Scotland；　and　the　chairman　of　the　dd　Board　to　boot；　and　had　fifty　men　at　his　back；　he　were　as　well　not　visit　the　laird　for　anything　but　good。　　As　for　Nanty；　he　is　word　and　blow；　a　dd　deal　fiercer　than　Cristie　Nixon　that　they　keep　such　a　din　about。　　I　have　seen　them　both　tried；　by'

Fairford　now　found　himself　called　upon　to　say　something；　yet　his　feelings；　upon　finding　himself　thus　completely　in　the　power　of　a　canting　hypocrite；　and　of　his　retainer；　who　had　so　much　the　air　of　a　determined　ruffian；　joined　to　the　strong　and　abominable　fume　which　they　snuffed　up　with　indifference；　while　it　almost　deprived　him　of　respiration；　combined　to　render　utterance　difficult。　　He　stated；　however；　that　he　had　no　evil　intentions　towards　the　laird；　as　they　called　him；　but　was　only　the　bearer　of　a　letter　to　him　on　particular　business；　from　Mr。　Maxwell　of　Summertrees。

'Aye；　aye；'　said　Job；　'that　may　be　well　enough；　and　if　Mr。　Trumbull　is　satisfied　that　the　service　is　right；　why；　we　will　give　you　a　cast　in　the　JUMPING　JENNY　this　tide；　and　Nanty　Ewart　will　put　you　on　a　way　of　finding　the　laird；　I　warrant　you。'

'I　may　for　the　present　return；　I　presume；　to　the　inn　where　I　left　my　horse？'　　said　Fairford。

'With　pardon；'　replied　Mr。　Trumbull；　'you　have　been　ower　far　ben　with　us　for　that；　but　Job　will　take　you　to　a　place　where　you　may　sleep　rough　till　he　calls　you。　　I　will　bring　you　what　little　baggage　you　can　needfor　those　who　go　on　such　errands　must　not　be　dainty。　　I　will　myself　see　after　your　horse；　for　a　merciful　man　is　merciful　to　his　beasta　matter　too　often　forgotten　in　our　way　of　business。'

'Why；　Master　Trumbull；'　replied　Job；　'you　know　that　when　we　are　chased；　it's　no　time　to　shorten　sail；　and　so　the　boys　do　ride　whip　and　spur。'　　He　stopped　in　his　speech；　observing　the　old　man　had　vanished　through　the　door　by　which　he　had　entered'That's　always　the　way　with　old　Turnpenny；'　he　said　to　Fairford；　'he　cares　for　nothing　of　the　trade　but　the　profitnow；　dme；　if　I　don't　think　the　fun　of　it　is　better　worth　while。　　But　come　along；　my　fine　chap；　I　must　stow　you　away　in　safety　until　it　is　time　to　go　aboard。'



CHAPTER　XIII

NARRATIVE　OF　ALAN　FAIRFORD；　CONTINUED

Fairford　followed　his　gruff　guide　among　a　labyrinth　of　barrels　and　puncheons；　on　which　he　had　more　than　once　like　to　have　broken　his　nose；　and　from　thence　into　what；　by　the　glimpse　of　the　passing　lantern　upon　a　desk　and　writing　materials；　seemed　to　be　a　small　office　for　the　dispatch　of　business。　　Here　there　appeared　no　exit；　but　the　smuggler；　or　smuggler's　ally；　availing　himself　of　a　ladder；　removed　an　old　picture；　which　showed　a　door　about　seven　feet　from　the　ground；　and　Fairford；　still　following　Job；　was　involved　in　another　tortuous　and　dark　passage；　which　involuntarily　reminded　him　of　Peter　Peebles's　lawsuit。　　At　the　end　of　this　labyrinth；　when　he　had　little　guess　where　he　had　been　conducted；　and　was；　according　to　the　French　phrase；　totally　DESORIENTE；　Job　suddenly　set　down　the　lantern；　and　availing　himself　of　the　flame　to　light　two