hard cash-第43章

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！


e　he　recognised　the　foulface　of　Andre　Tiribout；　a　face　not　to　be　forgotten　in　a　day。　I　don't　know　how　it　was；　but　he　saw　in　a　moment　that　face　was　after　him　to　rob　him；　and　he　naturally　enough　concluded　It　was　their　object。

And　he　was　without　a　weapon；　and　they　were　doubtless　armed。　Indeed；　Thibout　was　swinging　a　heavy　cudgel。

Poor　Dodd's　mind　went　into　a　whirl　and　his　body　into　a　cold　sweat。　In　such　moments　men　live　a　year。　To　gain　a　little　time　he　walked　swiftly　on；　pretending　not　to　have　noticed　them：　but　oh！　his　eyes　roved　wildly　to　each　side　of　the　road　for　a　chance　of　escape。　He　saw　none。　To　his　right　was　a　precipitous　rock；　to　his　left　a　profound　ravine　with　a　torrent　below；　and　the　sides　scantily　clothed　with　fir…trees　and　bushes：　he　was；　in　fact；　near　the　top　of　a　long　rising　ground　called　_〃La　Mauvaise　Cote；_〃　on　account　of　a　murder　committed　there　two　hundred　years　ago。

Presently　he　heard　the　men　close　behind　him。　At　the　same　moment　he　saw　at　the　side　of　the　ravine　a　flint　stone　about　the　size　of　two　fists：　he　made　but　three　swift　strides；　snatched　it　up；　and　turned　to　meet　the　robbers；　drawing　himself　up　high；　and　showing　fight　in　every　inch。

The　men　were　upon　him。　His　change　of　attitude　was　so　sudden　and　fiery　that　they　recoiled　a　step。　But　it　was　only　for　a　moment：　they　had　gone　too　far　to　retreat；　they　divided；　and　Thibout　attacked　him　on　his　left　with　uplifted　cudgel；　and　Moinard　on　his　right　with　a　long　glittering　knife。　The　latter；　to　guard　his　head　from　the　stone；　whipped　off　his　hat　and　held　it　before　his　head：　but　Dodd　was　what　is　called　〃left　handed：〃　〃ambidexter〃　would　be　nearer　the　mark　（he　carved　and　wrote　with　his　right　hand；　heaved　weights　and　flung　cricket…balls　with　his　left）。　He　stepped　forward；　flung　the　stone　in　Thibout's　face　with　perfect　precision；　and　that　bitter　impetus　a　good　thrower　lends　at　the　moment　of　delivery；　and　almost　at　the　same　moment　shot　out　his　right　hand　and　caught　Moinard　by　the　throat。　Sharper　and　fiercer　collision　was　never　seen　than　of　these　three。

Thibout's　face　crashed；　his　blood　squirted　all　round　the　stone；　and　eight　yards　off　lay　that　assailant　on　his　back。

Moinard　was　more　fortunate：　he　got　two　inches　of　his　knife　into　Dodd's　left　shoulder；　at　the　very　moment　Dodd　caught　him　in　his　right…hand　vice。　And　now　one　vengeful　hand　of　iron　grasped　him　felly　by　the　throat；　another　seized　his　knife　arm　and　twisted　it　back　like　a　child's。　He　kicked　and　struggled　furiously；　but　in　half　a　minute　the　mighty　English　arm　and　iron　fingers　held　the　limp　body　of　Jacques　Moinard　with　its　knees　knocking；　temples　bursting；　throat　relaxed；　eyes　protruding；　and　livid　tongue　lolling　down　to　his　chin。　A　few　seconds　more；　and；　with　the　same　stalwart　arm　that　kept　his　relaxed　and　sinking　body　from　falling；　Dodd　gave　him　one　fierce　whirl　round　to　the　edge　of　the　road；　then　put　a　foot　to　his　middle；　and　spurned　his　carcase　with　amazing　force　and　fury　down　the　precipice。　Crunch！　crunch！　it　plunged　from　tree　to　tree；　from　bush　to　bush；　and　at　last　rolled　into　a　thick　bramble；　and　there　stuck　in　the　form　of　a　crescent　But　Dodd　had　no　sooner　sent　him　headlong　by　that　mighty　effort；　than　his　own　sight　darkened；　his　head　swam；　and；　after　staggering　a　little　way；　he　sank　down　in　a　state　bordering　on　insensibility。　Meantime　Fullalove　and　Vespasian　were　galloping　down　the　opposite　hill　to　his　rescue。

Unfortunately；　Andre　Thibout　was　not　dead；　nor　even　mortally　wounded。　He　was　struck　on　the　nose　and　mouth；　that　nose　was　flat　for　the　rest　of　his　life；　and　half　of　his　front　teeth　were　battered　out　of　their　sockets；　but　he　fell；　not　from　the　brain　being　stunned；　but　the　body　driven　to　earth　by　the　mere　physical　force　of　so　momentous　a　blow；　knocked　down　like　a　ninepin。　He　now　sat　up　bewildered；　and　found　himself　in　a　pool　of　blood；　his　own。　He　had　little　sensation　of　pain；　but　he　put　his　hand　to　his　face；　and　found　scarce　a　trace　of　his　features；　and　his　hand　came　away　gory。　He　groaned。

Rising　to　his　feet；　he　saw　Dodd　sitting　at　some　distance；　his　first　impulse　was　to　fly　from　so　terrible　an　antagonist；　but；　as　he　made　for　the　ravine；　he　observed　that　Dodd　was　in　a　helpless　condition；　wounded　perhaps　by　Moinard。　And　where　was　Moinard？

Nothing　visible　of　him　but　his　knife：　that　lay　glittering　in　the　road。

Thibout　with　anxious　eye　turned　towards　Dodd；　kneeled　to　pick　it　up；　and　in　the　act　a　drop　of　his　own　blood　fell　on　the　dust　beside　it。　He　snarled　like　a　wounded　tiger；　spat　out　half…a…dozen　teeth；　and　crept　on　tiptoe　to　his　safe　revenge。

Awake　from　your　lethargy　or　you　are　a　dead　man！

No！　Thibout　got　to　him　unperceived；　and　the　knife　glittered　over　his　head。

At　this　moment　the　air　seemed　to　fill　with　clattering　hoofs　and　voices；　and　a　pistol…shot　rang。　Dodd　heard　and　started；　and　so　saw　his　peril。　He　put　up　his　left　hand　to　parry　the　blow；　but　feebly。　Luckily　for　him　Thibout's　eyes　were　now　turned　another　way；　and　glaring　with　stupid　terror　out　of　his　mutilated　visage：　a　gigantic　mounted　fiend；　with　black　face　and　white　gleaming；　rolling　eyes　was　coming　at　him　like　the　wind；　uttering　horrid　howls。　Thibout　launched　himself　at　the　precipice　with　a　shriek　of　dismay；　and　went　rolling　after　his　comrade；　but　ere　he　had　gone　ten　yards　he　fell　across　a　young　larch…tree　and　hung　balanced。　Up　came　the　foaming　horses：　Fullalove　dismounted　hastily　and　fired　three　deliberate　shots　down　at　Thibout　from　his　revolver。　He　rolled　off；　and　never　stopped　again　till　he　splashed　into　the　torrent；　and　lay　there　staining　it　with　blood　from　his　battered　face　and　perforated　shoulder。

Vespasian　jumped　off；　and　with　glistening　eyes　administered　some　good　brandy　to　Dodd。　He；　unconscious　of　his　wound；　a　slight　one；　relieved　their　anxiety　by　assuring　them　somewhat　faintly　he　was　not　hurt；　but　that；　ever　since　that　〃tap　on　the　head〃　he　got　in　the　Straits　of　Gaspar；　any　angry　excitement　told　on　him；　made　his　head　swim；　and　his　temples　seem　to　swell　from　the　inside。

〃I　should　have　come　off　second…best　but　for　you；　my　dear　friends。　Shake　hands　over　it；　do！　O；　Lord　bless　you！　Lord　bless　you　both。　As　for　you；　Vespasian；　I　do　think　you　are　my　guardian　angel。　Why；　this　is　the　second　time　you've　saved　my　life。　No；　it　isn't：　for　it's　the　third。〃

〃Now　you　git　along；　Massa　Cap'n；〃　said　Vespasian。　〃You　berry　good　man；　ridicalous　good　man；　and　dis　child　ar'nt　no　gardening　angel　at　all；　he　ar　a　darned　Anatomy〃　（with　such　a　look　of　offended　dignity　at　Fullalove）。

After　examining　the　field　of　battle　and　comparing　notes；　they　mounted　Dodd　on　Vespasian's　horse；　and　walked　quietly　till　Dodd's　head　got　better；　and　then　they　cantered　on　three　abreast；　Vespasian　in　the　middle　with　one　sinewy　hand　on　each　horse's　mane；　and　such　was　his　muscular　power；　that　he　often　relieved　his　feet　by　lifting　himself　clean　into　the　air；　and　the　rest　of　the　time　his　toe　but　touched　the　ground；　and　he　sailed　like　an　ostrich　and　grinned　and　chattered　like　a　monkey。

Sad　to　relate；　neither　Thibout　nor　Moinard　was　ended。　The　guillotine　stood　on　its　rights。　Meantime；　what　was　left　of　them　crawled　back　to　the　town　stiff　and　sore；　and　supped　togetherMoinard　on　liquids　onlyand　vowed　revenge　on　all　wrecked　people。

The　three　reached　Boulogne　in　time　for　the　_Nancy；_　and　put　Dodd　on　board：　the　pair　decided　to　go　to　the　Yankee　ParadiseParis。

They　parted　with　regret　and　tenderly；　like　old　tried　friends；　and　Vespasian　told　Dodd；　with　tears　in　his　eyes；　that　though　he　was　in　point　of　fact　only　a　darned　Anemo；　he　felt　like　a　coloured　gemman　at　parting　from　his　dear　old　Captain。

The　master　of　the　_Nancy_　knew　Dodd　well；　and　gave　him　a　nice　cot　to　sleep　in。　He　tumbled　in　with　a　bad　headache　and　quite　worn　out；　and　never　woke　for　fifteen　hours。

And　when　he　did　wake；　he　was　safe　at　Barkington。

He　and　It　landed　on　the　quay。　He　made　for　home。

On　the　way　he　passed　Hardie's　bank；　a　firm　synonymous　in　his　mind　with　the　Bank　of　England。

A　thrill　of　joy　went　through　him。　Now　it　_was_　safe。　When　he　first　sewed　It　on　in　China；　It　seemed　secure　nowhere　except　on　his　own　person。　But　since　then；　the　manifold　perils　by　sea　and　land　It　had　encountered　through　being　on　him；　had　caused　a　strong　reaction　in　his　mind　on　that　point。　He　longed　to　see　It　safe　out　of　his　own　hands　and　in　good　custody。

He　made　for　Hardie's　door　with　a　joyful　rush；　waved　his　cap　over　his　head　in　triumph；　and　entered　the　bank　with　It。

Ah！


CHAPTER　XV

CHRONOLOGY。The　Hard　Cash　sailed　from　Canton　months　before　the　boat　race　at　Henley　recorded　in　Chapter　I。；　but　it　landed　in　Barkington　a　fortnight　after　the　last　home　event　I　recorded　in　its　true　series。

Now　this　fortnight；　as　it　happens；　was　fruitful　of　incidents；　and　must　be　dealt　with　at　once。　After　that；　〃Love〃　and　〃Cash；〃　the　converging　branches　of　this　story；　will　flow　together　in　one　stream。


Alfred　Hardie　kept　faith　with　Mrs。　Dodd；　and；　by　an　effort　she　appreciated；　forbore　to　express　his　love　for　Julia　except　by　the　pen。　He　took　in　Lloyd's　shipping　news；　and　got　it　down　by　rail；　in　hopes　there　would　be　something　about　the　_Agra；_　then　he　could　call　at　Albion　Villa。　Mrs。　Dodd　had　given　him　that　loophole：　meantime　he　kept　moping　for　an　invitation；　which　never　came。

Julia　was　now　comparatively　happy；　and　so　indeed　was　Alfred；　but　then　the　male　of　our　species　likes　to　be　superlatively　happy；　not　comparatively；　and　that　Mrs。　Dodd　forgot　or　perhaps　had　not　observed。

One　day　Sampson　was　at　Albion　Villa；　and　Alfred　knew　it。　Now；　though　it　was　a　point　of　honour　with　poor　Alfred　not　to　hang　about　after　Julia　until　her　father's　return；　he　had　a　perfect　right　to　lay　in　wait　for　Sampson　and　hear　something　about　her；　and　he　was　so　deep　in　love　that　even　a　word　at　second…hand　from　her　lips　was　a　drop　of　dew　to　his　heart。

So　he　strolled　up　towards　the　villa。　He　had　nearly　reached　it；　when　a　woman　ran　past　him　making　the　most　extraordinary　sounds：　I　can　only　describe　it　as　screaming　under　her　breath。　Though　he　only　saw　her　back；　he　recognised　Mrs。　Maxley。　One　back　differeth　from　another；　whatever　you　may　have　been　told　to　the　contrary　in　novels　and　plays。　He　called　to　her：　she　took　no　notice；　and　darted　wildly　through　the　gate　of　Albion　Villa。　Alfred's　curiosity　was　excited；　and　he　ventured　to　put　his　head　over　the　gate。　But　Mrs。　Maxley　had　disappeared。

Alfred　had　half　a　mind　to　go　in　and　inquire　if　anything　was　the　matter：　it　would　be　a　good　excuse。

While　he　hesitated；　the　dining…room　window　was　thrown　violently　up；　and　Sampson　looked　out。　〃Hy！　Hardie！　my　good　fellow！　for　Heaven's　sake　a　fly；　and　a　fast　one！〃

It　was　plain　something　very　serious　had　occurred：　so　Alfred　flew　towards　the　nearest　fly…stand。　On　the　way；　he　fell　in　with　a　chance　fly　drawn　up　at　a　public…house；　he　jumped　on　the　box　and　drove　rapidly　towards　Albion　Villa。　Sampson　was　hobbling　to　meet　himhe　had　sprained　his　ankle　or　would　not　have　asked　for　a　conveyanceto　save　time　he　got　up　beside　Alfred；　and　told　him　to　drive　hard　to　Little　Friar　Street。　On　the　way　he　explained　hurriedly：　Mrs。　Maxley　had　burst　in　on　him　at　Albion　Villa　to　say　her　husband　was　dying　in　torment：　and　indeed　the　symptoms　she　gave　were　alarming；　and；　if　correct；　looked　very　like　lockjaw。　But　her　description　had　been　cut　short　by　a　severe　attack；　which　choked　her　and　turned