hard times(艰难时世)-第64章
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Old Hell Shaft； they found it as lonely as she had left it。 The men
called and listened as she had done； and examined the edge of the
chasm； and settled how it had happened； and then sat down to
wait until the implements they wanted should come up。
Every sound of insects in the air； every stirring of the leaves；
every whisper among these men； made Sissy tremble； for she
thought it was a cry at the bottom of the pit。 But the wind blew
idly over it； and no sound arose to the surface； and they sat upon
the grass； waiting and waiting。 After they had waited some time；
straggling people who had heard of the accident began to come
up； then the real help of implements began to arrive。 In the midst
of this； Rachael returned； and with her party there was a surgeon；
who brought some wine and medicines。 But； the expectation
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among the people that the man would be found alive； was very
slight indeed。
There being now people enough present to impede the work；
the sobered man put himself at the head of the rest； or was put
there by the general consent； and made a large ring round the Old
Hell Shaft； and appointed men to keep it。 Besides such volunteers
as were accepted to work； only Sissy and Rachael were at first
permitted within this ring； but； later in the day； when the message
brought an express from Coketown； Mr Gradgrind and Louisa；
and Mr Bounderby and the whelp； were also there。
The sun was four hours lower than when Sissy and Rachael
had first sat down upon the grass； before a means of enabling two
men to descend securely was rigged with poles and ropes。
Difficulties had arisen in the construction of this machine； simple
as it was； requisites had been found wanting； and messages had
had to go and return。 It was five o’clock in the afternoon of the
bright autumnal Sunday； before a candle was sent down to try the
air； while three or four rough faces stood crowded close together；
attentively watching it： the men at the windlass lowering as they
were told。 The candle was brought up again； feebly burning； and
then some water was cast in。 Then the bucket was hooked on； and
the sobered man and another got in with lights； giving the word
“Lower away！”
As the rope went out； tight and strained； and the windlass
creaked； there was not a breath among the one or two hundred
men and women looking on； that came as it was wont to come。 The
signal was given and the windlass stopped； with abundant rope to
spare。 Apparently so long an interval ensued with the men at the
windlass standing idle； that some women shrieked that another
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accident had happened！ But the surgeon who held the watch；
declared five minutes not to have elapsed yet； and sternly
admonished them to keep silence。 He had not well done speaking；
when the windlass was reversed and worked again。 Practised eyes
knew that it did not go as heavily as it would if both workmen had
been coming up； and that only one was returning。
The rope came in tight and strained； and ring after ring was
coiled upon the barrel of the windlass； and all eyes were fastened
on the pit。 The sobered man was brought up and leaped out
briskly on the grass。 There was an universal cry of “Alive or
dead？” and then a deep； profound hush。
When he said “Alive！” a great shout arose and many eyes had
tears in them。
“But he’s hurt very bad；” be added； as soon as he could make
himself heard again。 “Where’s doctor？ He’s hurt so very bad； sir；
that we donno how to get him up。”
They all consulted together； and looked anxiously at the
surgeon； as he asked some questions； and shook his head on
receiving the replies。 The sun was setting now and the red light in
the evening sky touched every face there； and caused it to be
distinctly seen in all its wrapped suspense。
The consultation ended in the men returning to the windlass；
and the pitman going down again； carrying the wine and some
other small matters with him。 Then the other man came up。 In the
meantime under the surgeon’s directions； some men brought a
hurdle on which others made a thick bed of spare clothes covered
with loose straw； while he himself contrived some bandages and
slings from shawls and handkerchiefs。 As these were made； they
were hung upon an arm of the pitman who had last come up； with
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instructions how to use them： and as he stood； shown by the light
he carried； leaning his powerful loose hand upon one of the poles；
and sometimes glancing down the pit； and sometimes glancing
round upon the people； he was not the least conspicuous figure in
the scene。 It was dark now； and torches were kindled。
It appeared from the little this man said to those about him；
which was quickly repeated all over the circle； that the lost man
had fallen upon a mass of crumbled rubbish with which the pit
was half choked up； and that his fall had been further broken by
some jagged earth at the side。 He lay upon his back with one arm
doubled under him； and according to his own belief had hardly
stirred since he fell； except that he had moved his free hand to a
side pocket； in which he remembered to have some bread and
meat （of which he had swallowed crumbs）； and had likewise
scooped up a little water in it now and then。 He had come straight
away from his work； on being written to； and had walked the
whole journey； and was on his way to Mr Bounderby’s country…
house after dark； when he fell。 He was crossing that dangerous
country at such a dangerous time； because he was innocent of
what was laid to his charge； and couldn’t rest from coming the
nearest way to deliver himself up。 The Old Hell Shaft； the pitman
said； with a curse upon it； was worthy of its bad name to the last；
for though Stephen could speak now； he believed it would soon be
found to have mangled the life out of him。
When all was ready； this man； still taking his last hurried
charges from his comrades and the surgeon after the windlass had
begun to lower him； disappeared into the pit。 The rope went out as
before； the signal was made as before； and the windlass stopped。
No man removed his hand from it now。 Every one waited with his
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grasp set； and his body bent down to the work； ready to reverse
and wind in。 At length the signal was given； and all the ring leaned
forward。
For； now； the rope came in； tightened and strained to its utmost
as it appeared； and the men turned heavily； and the windlass
complained。 It was scarcely endurable to look at the rope； and
think of its giving way。 But； ring after ring was coiled upon the
barrel of the windlass safely； and the connecting chains appeared；
and finally the bucket with the two men holding on at the sides—a
sight to make the head swim； and oppress the head—and tenderly
supporting between them； slung and tied within； the figure of a
poor； crushed； human creature。
A low murmur of pity went round the throng； and the women
wept aloud； as this form； almost without form； was moved very
slowly from its iron deliverance； and laid upon the bed of straw。 At
first； none but the surgeon went close to it。 He did what he could
in its adjustment on the couch； but the best he could do was to
cover it。 That gently done； he called to him Rachael and Sissy。 And
at that time the pale； worn； patient face was seen looking up at the
sky； with the broken right hand lying bare on the outside of the
covering garments； as if waiting to be taken by another hand。
They gave him drink； moistened his face with water； and
administered some drops of cordial and wine。 Though he lay quite
motionless looking up at the sky； he smiled and said； “Rachael。”
She stooped down on the grass at his side； and bent over him
until her eyes were between his and the sky； for he could not so
much as turn them to look at her。
“Rachael； my dear。”
She took hand。 He smiled again and said； “Don’t let ’t go。”
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“Thou’rt in great pain； my own dear Stephen？”
“I ha’ been； but not now。 I ha’ been—dreadful； and dree； and
long； my dear—but ’tis ower now。 Ah； Rachael； aw a muddle！ Fro’
first to last； a muddle！”
The spectre of his old look seemed to pass as he said the word。
“I ha’ fell into th’ pit； my dear； as have cost wi’in the knowledge
o’ old fok now livin； hundreds and hundreds o’ men’s lives—
fathers； sons； brothers； dear to thousands an thousands； an keepin’
’em fro’ want and hunger。 I ha’ fell into a pit that ha’ been wi’ th’
Fire…damp crueller than battle。 I ha’ read on ’t in the public
petition； as onny one may read； fro’ the men that
