barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第123章
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devil’s loose in London somewhere。 Damme if I wouldn’t twist his
neck round； on the chance； if I had my way。’
The young man had taken two or three steps away； as if to go
and see this creature； when he was arrested by the voice of
Barnaby。
‘It’s mine；’ he called out； half laughing and half weeping—‘my
pet； my friend Grip。 Ha ha ha！ Don’t hurt him； he has done no
harm。 I taught him； it’s my fault。 Let me have him； if you please。
He’s the only friend I have left now。 He’ll not dance； or talk； or
whistle for you； I know； but he will for me； because he knows me
and loves me—though you wouldn’t think it—very well。 You
wouldn’t hurt a bird； I’m sure。 You’re a brave soldier； sir； and
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wouldn’t harm a woman or a child—no； no； nor a poor bird； I’m
certain。’
This latter adjuration was addressed to the serjeant； whom
Barnaby judged from his red coat to be high in office； and able to
seal Grip’s destiny by a word。 But that gentleman； in reply； surlily
damned him for a thief and rebel as he was； and with many
disinterested imprecations on his own eyes； liver； blood； and body；
assured him that if it rested with him to decide； he would put a
final stopper on the bird； and his master too。
‘You talk boldly to a caged man；’ said Barnaby； in anger。 ‘If I
was on the other side of the door and there were none to part us；
you’d change your note—ay； you may toss your head—you would！
Kill the bird—do。 Kill anything you can； and so revenge yourself
on those who with their bare hands untied could do as much to
you！’
Having vented his defiance； he flung himself into the furthest
corner of his prison； and muttering； ‘Good bye； Grip—good bye；
dear old Grip！’ shed tears for the first time since he had been
taken captive； and hid his face in the straw。
He had had some fancy at first； that the one…armed man would
help him； or would give him a kind word in answer。 He hardly
knew why； but he hoped and thought so。 The young fellow had
stopped when he called out； and checking himself in the very act
of turning round； stood listening to every word he said。 Perhaps he
built his feeble trust on this； perhaps on his being young； and
having a frank and honest manner。 However that might be； he
built on sand。 The other went away directly he had finished
speaking； and neither answered him； nor returned。 No matter。
They were all against him here： he might have known as much。
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Good bye； old Grip； good bye！
After some time； they came and unlocked the door； and called
to him to come out。 He rose directly； and complied； for he would
not have them think he was subdued or frightened。 He walked out
like a man； and looked from face to face。
None of them returned his gaze or seemed to notice it。 They
marched him back to the parade by the way they had brought him；
and there they halted； among a body of soldiers； at least twice as
numerous as that which had taken him prisoner in the afternoon。
The officer he had seen before； bade him in a few brief words take
notice that if he attempted to escape； no matter how favourable a
chance he might suppose he had； certain of the men had orders to
fire upon him； that moment。 They then closed round him as
before； and marched him off again。
In the same unbroken order they arrived at Bow Street；
followed and beset on all sides by a crowd which was continually
increasing。 Here he was placed before a blind gentleman； and
asked if he wished to say anything。 Not he。 What had he got to tell
them？ After a very little talking； which he was careless of and
quite indifferent to； they told him he was to go to Newgate； and
took him away。
He went out into the street； so surrounded and hemmed in on
every side by soldiers； that he could see nothing； but he knew
there was a great crowd of people； by the murmur； and that they
were not friendly to the soldiers； was soon rendered evident by
their yells and hisses。 How often and how eagerly he listened for
the voice of Hugh！ There was not a voice he knew among them all。
Was Hugh a prisoner too？ Was there no hope！
As they came nearer and nearer to the prison； the hootings of
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the people grew more violent； stones were thrown； and every now
and then； a rush was made against the soldiers； which they
staggered under。 One of them； close before him； smarting under a
blow upon the temple； levelled his musket； but the officer struck it
upwards with his sword； and ordered him on peril of his life to
desist。 This was the last thing he saw with any distinctness； for
directly afterwards he was tossed about； and beaten to and fro； as
though in a tempestuous sea。 But go where he would； there were
the same guards about him。 Twice or thrice he was thrown down；
and so were they； but even then； he could not elude their vigilance
for a moment。 They were up again； and had closed about him；
before he； with his wrists so tightly bound； could scramble to his
feet。 Fenced in； thus； he felt himself hoisted to the top of a low
flight of steps； and then for a moment he caught a glimpse of the
fighting in the crowd； and of a few red coats sprinkled together；
here and there； struggling to rejoin their fellows。 Next moment；
everything was dark and gloomy； and he was standing in the
prison lobby； the centre of a group of men。
A smith was speedily in attendance； who riveted upon him a set
of heavy irons。 Stumbling on as well as he could； beneath the
unusual burden of these fetters； he was conducted to a strong
stone cell； where； fastening the door with locks； and bolts； and
chains； they left him； well secured； having first； unseen by him；
thrust in Grip； who； with his head drooping and his deep black
plumes rough and rumpled； appeared to comprehend and to
partake； his master’s fallen fortunes。
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Chapter 59
t is necessary at this juncture to return to Hugh； who； having；
Ias we have seen； called to the rioters to disperse from about
the Warren； and meet again as usual； glided back into the
darkness from which he had emerged； and reappeared no more
that night。
He paused in the copse which sheltered him from the
observation of his mad companions； and waited to ascertain
whether they drew off at his bidding； or still lingered and called to
him to join them。 Some few； he saw； were indisposed to go away
without him； and made towards the spot where he stood concealed
as though they were about to follow in his footsteps； and urge him
to come back； but these men； being in their turn called to by their
friends； and in truth not greatly caring to venture into the dark
parts of the grounds； where they might be easily surprised and
taken； if any of the neighbours or retainers of the family were
watching them from among the trees； soon abandoned the idea；
and hastily assembling such men as they found of their mind at
the moment； straggled off。
When he was satisfied that the great mass of the insurgents
were imitating this example； and that the ground was rapidly
clearing； he plunged into the thickest portion of the little wood；
and； crashing the branches as he went； made straight towards a
distant light： guided by that； and by the sullen glow of the fire
behind him。
As he drew nearer and nearer to the twinkling beacon towards
which he bent his course； the red glare of a few torches began to
reveal itself； and the voices of men speaking together in a subdued
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tone broke the silence which； save for a distant shouting now and
then； already prevailed。 At length he cleared the wood； and；
springing across a ditch； stood in a dark lane； where a small body
of ill…looking vagabonds； whom he had left there some twenty
minutes before； waited his coming with impatience。
They were gathered round an old post…chaise or chariot； driven
by one of themselves； who sat postilion…wise upon the near horse。
The blinds were drawn up； and Mr Tappertit and Dennis kept
guard at the two windows。 The former assumed the command of
the party； for he challenged Hugh as he advanced towards them；
and when he did so； those who were resting on the ground about
the carriage rose to their feet and clustered round him。
‘Well！’ said Simon； in a low voice； ‘is all right？’
‘Right enough；’ replied Hugh； in the same tone。 ‘They’re
dispersing now—had begun before I came away。’
‘And is th
