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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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