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st. ives-第13部分
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yards; so that we both rolled together on the ground。 As soon as
he could breathe he cursed me beyond belief; wept over his finger;
which he had broken; and cursed me again。 I bade him be still and
think shame of himself to be so great a cry…baby。 Did he not hear
the round going by above? I asked; and who could tell but what the
noise of his fall was already remarked; and the sentinels at the
very moment leaning upon the battlements to listen?
The round; however; went by; and nothing was discovered; the third
man came to the ground quite easily; the fourth was; of course;
child's play; and before there were ten of us collected; it seemed
to me that; without the least injustice to my comrades; I might
proceed to take care of myself。
I knew their plan: they had a map and an almanack; and designed for
Grangemouth; where they were to steal a ship。 Suppose them to do
so; I had no idea they were qualified to manage it after it was
stolen。 Their whole escape; indeed; was the most haphazard thing
imaginable; only the impatience of captives and the ignorance of
private soldiers would have entertained so misbegotten a device;
and though I played the good comrade and worked with them upon the
tunnel; but for the lawyer's message I should have let them go
without me。 Well; now they were beyond my help; as they had always
been beyond my counselling; and; without word said or leave taken;
I stole out of the little crowd。 It is true I would rather have
waited to shake hands with Laclas; but in the last man who had
descended I thought I recognised Clausel; and since the scene in
the shed my distrust of Clausel was perfect。 I believed the man to
be capable of any infamy; and events have since shown that I was
right。
CHAPTER VII … SWANSTON COTTAGE
I HAD two views。 The first was; naturally; to get clear of
Edinburgh Castle and the town; to say nothing of my fellow…
prisoners; the second to work to the southward so long as it was
night; and be near Swanston Cottage by morning。 What I should do
there and then; I had no guess; and did not greatly care; being a
devotee of a couple of divinities called Chance and Circumstance。
Prepare; if possible; where it is impossible; work straight
forward; and keep your eyes open and your tongue oiled。 Wit and a
good exterior … there is all life in a nutshell。
I had at first a rather chequered journey: got involved in gardens;
butted into houses; and had even once the misfortune to awake a
sleeping family; the father of which; as I suppose; menaced me from
the window with a blunderbuss。 Altogether; though I had been some
time gone from my companions; I was still at no great distance;
when a miserable accident put a period to the escape。 Of a sudden
the night was divided by a scream。 This was followed by the sound
of something falling; and that again by the report of a musket from
the Castle battlements。 It was strange to hear the alarm spread
through the city。 In the fortress drums were beat and a bell rung
backward。 On all hands the watchmen sprang their rattles。 Even in
that limbo or no…man's…land where I was wandering; lights were made
in the houses; sashes were flung up; I could hear neighbouring
families converse from window to window; and at length I was
challenged myself。
'Wha's that?' cried a big voice。
I could see it proceeded from a big man in a big nightcap; leaning
from a one…pair window; and as I was not yet abreast of his house;
I judged it was more wise to answer。 This was not the first time I
had had to stake my fortunes on the goodness of my accent in a
foreign tongue; and I have always found the moment inspiriting; as
a gambler should。 Pulling around me a sort of great…coat I had
made of my blanket; to cover my sulphur…coloured livery; … 'A
friend!' said I。
'What like's all this collieshangie?' said he。
I had never heard of a collieshangie in my days; but with the
racket all about us in the city; I could have no doubt as to the
man's meaning。
'I do not know; sir; really;' said I; 'but I suppose some of the
prisoners will have escaped。'
'Bedamned!' says he。
'Oh; sir; they will be soon taken;' I replied: 'it has been found
in time。 Good morning; sir!'
'Ye walk late; sir?' he added。
'Oh; surely not;' said I; with a laugh。 'Earlyish; if you like!'
which brought me finally beyond him; highly pleased with my
success。
I was now come forth on a good thoroughfare; which led (as well as
I could judge) in my direction。 It brought me almost immediately
through a piece of street; whence I could hear close by the
springing of a watchman's rattle; and where I suppose a sixth part
of the windows would be open; and the people; in all sorts of night
gear; talking with a kind of tragic gusto from one to another。
Here; again; I must run the gauntlet of a half…dozen questions; the
rattle all the while sounding nearer; but as I was not walking
inordinately quick; as I spoke like a gentleman; and the lamps were
too dim to show my dress; I carried it off once more。 One person;
indeed; inquired where I was off to at that hour。
I replied vaguely and cheerfully; and as I escaped at one end of
this dangerous pass I could see the watchman's lantern entering by
the other。 I was now safe on a dark country highway; out of sight
of lights and out of the fear of watchmen。 And yet I had not gone
above a hundred yards before a fellow made an ugly rush at me from
the roadside。 I avoided him with a leap; and stood on guard;
cursing my empty hands; wondering whether I had to do with an
officer or a mere footpad; and scarce knowing which to wish。 My
assailant stood a little; in the thick darkness I could see him bob
and sidle as though he were feinting at me for an advantageous
onfall。 Then he spoke。
'My goo' frien';' says he; and at the first word I pricked my ears;
'my goo' frien'; will you oblishe me with lil neshary infamation?
Whish roa' t' Cramond?'
I laughed out clear and loud; stepped up to the convivialist; took
him by the shoulders and faced him about。 'My good friend;' said
I; 'I believe I know what is best for you much better than
yourself; and may God forgive you the fright you have given me!
There; get you gone to Edinburgh!' And I gave a shove; which he
obeyed with the passive agility of a ball; and disappeared
incontinently in the darkness down the road by which I had myself
come。
Once clear of this foolish fellow; I went on again up a gradual
hill; descended on the other side through the houses of a country
village; and came at last to the bottom of the main ascent leading
to the Pentlands and my destination。 I was some way up when the
fog began to lighten; a little farther; and I stepped by degrees
into a clear starry night; and saw in front of me; and quite
distinct; the summits of the Pentlands; and behind; the valley of
the Forth and the city of my late captivity buried under a lake of
vapour。 I had but one encounter … that of a farm…cart; which I
heard; from a great way ahead of me; creaking nearer in the night;
and which passed me about the point of dawn like a thing seen in a
dream; with two silent figures in the inside nodding to the horse's
steps。 I presume they were asleep; by the shawl about her head and
shoulders; one of them should be a woman。 Soon; by concurrent
steps; the day began to break and the fog to subside and roll away。
The east grew luminous and was barred with chilly colours; and the
Castle on its rock; and the spires and chimneys of the upper town;
took gradual shape; and arose; like islands; out of the receding
cloud。 All about me was still and sylvan; the road mounting and
winding; with nowhere a sign of any passenger; the birds chirping;
I suppose for warmth; the boughs of the trees knocking together;
and the red leaves falling in the wind。
It was broad day; but still bitter cold and the sun not up; when I
came in view of my destination。 A single gable and chimney of the
cottage peeped over the shoulder of the hill; not far off; and a
trifle higher on the mountain; a tall old white…washed farmhouse
stood among the trees; beside a falling brook; beyond were rough
hills of pasture。 I bethought me that shepherd folk were early
risers; and if I were once seen skulking in that neighbourhood it
might prove the ruin of my prospects; took advantage of a line of
hedge; and worked myself up in its shadow till I was come under the
garden wall of my friends' house。 The cottage was a little quaint
place of many rough…cast gables and grey roofs。 It had something
the air of a rambling infinitesimal cathedral; the body of it
rising in the midst two storeys high; with a steep…pitched roof;
and sending out upon all hands (as it were chap
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