redgauntlet-第8部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


the　kitchen；　as　a　footman　in　the　shilling　gallery；　so　little　are　modesty　and　innocence　the　inseparable　companions　of　rusticity　and　seclusion。

When　after　dinner　the　day　cleared；　and　we　at　length　sallied　out　to　the　river　side；　I　found　myself　subjected　to　a　new　trick　on　the　part　of　my　accomplished　preceptor。　　Apparently；　he　liked　fishing　himself　better　than　the　trouble　of　instructing　an　awkward　novice　such　as　I；　and　in　hopes　of　exhausting　my　patience；　and　inducing　me　to　resign　the　rod；　as　I　had　done　the　preceding　day；　my　friend　contrived　to　keep　me　thrashing　the　water　more　than　an　hour　with　a　pointless　hook。　　I　detected　this　trick　at　last；　by　observing　the　rogue　grinning　with　delight　when　he　saw　a　large　trout　rise　and　dash　harmless　away　from　the　angle。　　I　gave　him　a　sound　cuff；　Alan；　but　the　next　moment　was　sorry；　and；　to　make　amends；　yielded　possession　of　the　fishing…rod　for　the　rest　of　the　evening；　he　undertaking　to　bring　me　home　a　dish　of　trouts　for　my　supper；　in　atonement　for　his　offences。

Having　thus　got　honourably　rid　of　the　trouble　of　amusing　myself　in　a　way　I　cared　not　for；　I　turned　my　steps　towards　the　sea；　or　rather　the　Solway　Firth　which　here　separates　the　two　sister　kingdoms；　and　which　lay　at　about　a　mile's　distance；　by　a　pleasant　walk　over　sandy　knells；　covered　with　short　herbage；　which　you　call　Links；　and　we　English；　Downs。

But　the　rest　of　my　adventure　would　weary　out　my　fingers；　and　must　be　deferred　until　to…morrow；　when　you　shall　hear　from　me；　by　way　of　continuation；　and；　in　the　meanwhile；　to　prevent　over…hasty　conclusions；　I　must　just　hint　to　you；　we　are　but　yet　on　the　verge　of　the　adventure　which　it　is　my　purpose　to　communicate。




LETTER　IV

THE　SAME　TO　THE　SAME

SHEPHERD'S　BUSH。

I　mentioned　in　my　last；　that　having　abandoned　my　fishing…rod　as　an　unprofitable　implement；　I　crossed　over　the　open　downs　which　divided　me　from　the　margin　of　the　Solway。　　When　I　reached　the　banks　of　the　great　estuary；　which　are　here　very　bare　and　exposed；　the　waters　had　receded　from　the　large　and　level　space　of　sand；　through　which　a　stream；　now　feeble　and　fordable；　found　its　way　to　the　ocean。　　The　whole　was　illuminated　by　the　beams　of　the　low　and　setting　sun；　who　showed　his　ruddy　front；　like　a　warrior　prepared　for　defence；　over　a　huge　battlemented　and　turreted　wall　of　crimson　and　black　clouds；　which　appeared　like　an　immense　Gothic　fortress；　into　which　the　lord　of　day　was　descending。　　His　setting　rays　glimmered　bright　upon　the　wet　surface　of　the　sands；　and　the　numberless　pools　of　water　by　which　it　was　covered；　where　the　inequality　of　the　ground　had　occasioned　their　being　left　by　the　tide。

The　scene　was　animated　by　the　exertions　of　a　number　of　horsemen；　who　were　actually　employed　in　hunting　salmon。　　Aye；　Alan；　lift　up　your　hands　and　eyes　as　you　will；　I　can　give　their　mode　of　fishing　no　name　so　appropriate；　for　they　chased　the　fish　at　full　gallop；　and　struck　them　with　their　barbed　spears；　as　you　see　hunters　spearing　boars　in　the　old　tapestry。　　The　salmon；　to　be　sure；　take　the　thing　more　quietly　than　the　boars；　but　they　are　so　swift　in　their　own　element；　that　to　pursue　and　strike　them　is　the　task　of　a　good　horseman；　with　a　quick　eye；　a　determined　hand；　and　full　command　both　of　his　horse　and　weapon。　　The　shouts　of　the　fellows　as　they　galloped　up　and　down　in　the　animating　exercisetheir　loud　bursts　of　laughter　when　any　of　their　number　caught　a　fall　and　still　louder　acclamations　when　any　of　the　party　made　a　capital　stroke　with　his　lancegave　so　much　animation　to　the　whole　scene；　that　I　caught　the　enthusiasm　of　the　sport；　and　ventured　forward　a　considerable　space　on　the　sands。　　The　feats　of　one　horseman；　in　particular；　called　forth　so　repeatedly　the　clamorous　applause　of　his　companions；　that　the　very　banks　rang　again　with　their　shouts。　　He　was　a　tall　man；　well　mounted　on　a　strong　black　horse；　which　he　caused　to　turn　and　wind　like　a　bird　in　the　air；　carried　a　longer　spear　than　the　others；　and　wore　a　sort　of　fur　cap　or　bonnet；　with　a　short　feather　in　it；　which　gave　him　on　the　whole　rather　a　superior　appearance　to　the　other　fishermen。　　He　seemed　to　hold　some　sort　of　authority　among　them；　and　occasionally　directed　their　motions　both　by　voice　and　hand：　at　which　times　I　thought　his　gestures　were　striking；　and　his　voice　uncommonly　sonorous　and　commanding。

The　riders　began　to　make　for　the　shore；　and　the　interest　of　the　scene　was　almost　over；　while　I　lingered　on　the　sands；　with　my　looks　turned　to　the　shores　of　England；　still　gilded　by　the　sun's　last　rays；　and；　as　it　seemed；　scarce　distant　a　mile　from　me。　　The　anxious　thoughts　which　haunt　me　began　to　muster　in　my　bosom；　and　my　feet　slowly　and　insensibly　approached　the　river　which　divided　me　from　the　forbidden　precincts；　though　without　any　formed　intention；　when　my　steps　were　arrested　by　the　sound　of　a　horse　galloping；　and　as　I　turned；　the　rider　（the　same　fisherman　whom　I　had　formerly　distinguished）　called　out　to　me；　in　an　abrupt　manner；　'Soho；　brother！　　you　are　too　late　for　Bowness　to…night　the　tide　will　make　presently。'

I　turned　my　head　and　looked　at　him　without　answering；　for；　to　my　thinking；　his　sudden　appearance　（or　rather；　I　should　say；　his　unexpected　approach）　had；　amidst　the　gathering　shadows　and　lingering　light；　something　in　it　which　was　wild　and　ominous。

'Are　you　deaf？'　　he　added'or　are　you　mad？or　have　you　a　mind　for　the　next　world？'

'I　am　a　stranger；'　I　answered；'　and　had　no　other　purpose　than　looking　on　at　the　fishingI　am　about　to　return　to　the　side　I　came　from。'

'Best　make　haste　then；'　said　he。　　'He　that　dreams　on　the　bed　of　the　Solway；　may　wake　in　the　next　world。　　The　sky　threatens　a　blast　that　will　bring　in　the　waves　three　feet　abreast。'

So　saying；　he　turned　his　horse　and　rode　off；　while　I　began　to　walk　back　towards　the　Scottish　shore；　a　little　alarmed　at　what　I　had　heard；　for　the　tide　advances　with　such　rapidity　upon　these　fatal　sands；　that　well…mounted　horsemen　lay　aside　hopes　of　safety；　if　they　see　its　white　surge　advancing　while　they　are　yet　at　a　distance　from　the　bank。

These　recollections　grew　more　agitating；　and；　instead　of　walking　deliberately；　I　began　a　race　as　fast　as　I　could；　feeling；　or　thinking　I　felt；　each　pool　of　salt　water　through　which　I　splashed；　grow　deeper　and　deeper。　　At　length　the　surface　of　the　sand　did　seem　considerably　more　intersected　with　pools　and　channels　full　of　watereither　that　the　tide　was　really　beginning　to　influence　the　bed　of　the　estuary；　or；　as　I　must　own　is　equally　probable；　that　I　had；　in　the　hurry　and　confusion　of　my　retreat；　involved　myself　in　difficulties　which　I　had　avoided　in　my　more　deliberate　advance。　　Either　way；　it　was　rather　an　unpromising　state　of　affairs；　for　the　sands　at　the　same　time　turned　softer；　and　my　footsteps；　so　soon　as　I　had　passed；　were　instantly　filled　with　water。　　I　began　to　have　odd　recollections　concerning　the　snugness　of　your　father's　parlour；　and　the　secure　footing　afforded　by　the　pavement　of　Brown's　Square　and　Scott's　Close；　when　my　better　genius；　the　tall　fisherman；　appeared　once　more　close　to　my　side；　he　and　his　sable　horse　looming　gigantic　in　the　now　darkening　twilight。

'Are　you　mad？'　　he　said；　in　the　same　deep　tone　which　had　before　thrilled　on　my　ear；　'or　are　you　weary　of　your　life？　　You　will　be　presently　amongst　the　quicksands。'　　I　professed　my　ignorance　of　the　way；　to　which　he　only　replied；　'There　is　no　time　for　prating　get　up　behind　me。'

He　probably　expected　me　to　spring　from　the　ground　with　the　activity　which　these　Borderers　have；　by　constant　practice；　acquired　in　everything　relating　to　horsemanship；　but　as　I　stood　irresolute；　he　extended　his　hand；　and　grasping　mine；　bid　me　place　my　foot　on　the　toe　of　his　boot；　and　thus　raised　me　in　a　trice　to　the　croupe　of　his　horse。　　I　was　scarcely　securely　seated；　ere　he　shook　the　reins　of　his　horse；　who　instantly　sprang　forward；　but　annoyed；　doubtless；　by　the　unusual　burden；　treated　us　to　two　or　three　bounds；　accompanied　by　as　many　flourishes　of　his　hind　heels。　　The　rider　sat　like　a　tower；　notwithstanding　that　the　unexpected　plunging　of　the　animal　threw　me　forward　upon　him。　　The　horse　was　soon　compelled　to　submit　to　the　discipline　of　the　spur　and　bridle；　and　went　off　at　a　steady　hand　gallop；　thus　shortening　the　devious；　for　it　was　by　no　means　a　direct　path；　by　which　the　rider；　avoiding　the　loose　quicksands；　made　for　the　northern　bank。

My　friend；　perhaps　I　may　call　him　my　preserver；for；　to　a　stranger；　my　situation　was　fraught　with　real　danger；continued　to　press　on　at　the　same　speedy　pace；　but　in　perfect　silence；　and　I　was　under　too　much　anxiety　of　mind　to　disturb　him　with　any　questions。　　At　length　we　arrived　at　a　part　of　the　shore　with　which　I　was　utterly　unacquainted；　when　I　alighted　and　began　to　return　in　the　best　fashion　I　could　my　thanks　for　the　important　service　which　he　had　just　rendered　me。

The　stranger　only　replied　by　an　impatient　'pshaw！'　　and　was　about　to　ride　off；　and　leave　me　to　my　own　resources　when　I　implored　him　to　complete　his　work　of　kindness　by　directing　me　to　Shepherd's　Bush；　which　was；　as　I　informed　him；　my　home　for　the　present。

'To　Shepherd's　Bush？'　　he　said；　'it　is　but　three　miles　but　if　you　know　not　the　land　better　than　the　sand；　you　may　break　your　neck　before　you　get　there；　for　it　is　no　road　for　a　moping　boy　in　a　dark　night；　and；　besides；　there　are　the　brook　and　the　fens　to　cross。'

I　was　a　little　dismayed　at　this　communication　of　such　difficulties　as　my　habits　had　not　called　on　me　to　contend　with。　Once　more　the　idea　of　thy　father's　fireside　came　across　me；　and　I　could　have　been　well　contented　to　have　swapped　the　romance　of　my　situation；　together　with　the　glorious　independence　of　control　which　I　possessed　at　the　moment；　for　the　comforts　of　that　chimney…corner；　though　I　were　obliged　to　keep　my　eyes　chained　to　Erskine's　LARGER　INSTITUTES。

I　asked　my　new　friend　whether　he　could　not　direct　me　to　any　house　of　public　entertainment　for　the　night；　and　supposing　it　probable　he　was　himself　a　poor　man；　I　added；　with　the　conscious　dignity　of　a　well…filled　pocket…book；　that　I　could　make　it　worth　any　man's　while　to　oblige　me。　　The　fisherman　making　no　answer；　I　turned　away　from　him　with　as　gallant　an　appearance　of　indifference　as　I　could　command；　and　began　to　take；　as　I　thought；　the　path　which　he　had　pointed　out　to　me。

H