christie johnstone-第16章

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half　of　the　net　was　empty；　but　the　lower　half　was　one　solid　mass　of　fish。

The　boys　could　not　find　a　mesh；　they　had　nothing　to　handle　but　fish。

At　this　moment　the　easternmost　boat　showed　a　blue　light。

〃The　fish　are　rising；〃　said　Flucker；　〃we'll　na　risk　nae　mair　nets。〃

Soon　after　this　a　sort　of　song　was　heard　from　the　boat　that　had　showed　a
light。　Flucker；　who　had　got　his　net　in；　ran　down　to　her；　and　found；　as　he
suspected；　that　the　boys　had　not　power　to　draw　the　weight　of　fish　over
the　gunwale。

They　were　singing；　as　sailors　do；　that　they　might　all　pull　together；　he
gave　them　two　of　his　crew；　and　ran　down　to　his　own　skipper。

The　said　skipper　gave　him　four　men。

Another　blue　light！

Christie　and　her　crew　came　a　little　nearer　the　boats；　and　shot　twelve
nets。

The　yachtsmen　entered　the　sport　with　zeal；　so　did　his　lordship。

The　boats　were　all　full　in　a　few　minutes；　and　nets　still　out。

Then　Flucker　began　to　fear　some　of　these　nets　would　sink　with　the　weight
of　fish；　for　the　herring　die　after　a　while　in　a　net；　and　a　dead　herring
sinks。

What　was　to　be　done？

They　got　two　boats　alongside　the　cutter；　and　unloaded　them　into　her　as
well　as　they　could；　but　before　they　could　half　do　this　the　other　boats
hailed　them。

They　came　to　one　of　them；　the　boys　were　struggling　with　a　thing　which　no
stranger　would　have　dreamed　was　a　net。

Imagine　a　white　sheet；　fifty　feet　long；　varnished　with　red…hot　silver。
There　were　twenty　barrels　in　this　single　net。　By　dint　of　fresh　hands　they
got　half　of　her　in；　and　then　the　meshes　began　to　break；　the　men　leaned
over　the　gunwale；　and　put　their　arms　round　blocks　and　masses　of　fish；　and
so　flung　them　on　board；　and　the　codfish　and　dogfish　snapped　them　almost
out　of　the　men's　hands　like　tigers。

At　last　they　came　to　a　net　which　was　a　double　wall　of　herring；　it　had
been　some　time　in　the　water；　and　many　of　the　fish　were　dead；　they　tried
their　best；　but　it　was　impracticable；　they　laid　hold　of　the　solid
herring；　and　when　they　lifted　up　a　hundred…weight　clear　of　the　water；
away　it　all　tore；　and　sank　back　again。

They　were　obliged　to　cut　away　this　net；　with　twenty　pounds　sterling　in
her。　They　cut　away　the　twine　from　the　head…ropes；　and　net　and　fish　went
to　the　bottom。

All　hands　were　now　about　the　cutter；　Christie's　nets　were　all　strong　and
new；　they　had　been　some　time　in　the　water；　in　hauling　them　up　her　side；
quantities　of　fish　fell　out　of　the　net　into　the　water；　but　there　were
enough　left。

She　averaged　twelve　barrels　a　net。

Such　of　the　yawls　as　were　not　quite　full　crept　between　the　cutter　and　the
nets；　and　caught　all　they　wanted。

The　projector　of　this　fortunate　speculation　suddenly　announced　that　she
was　very　sleepy。

Flucker　rolled　her　up　in　a　sail；　and　she　slept　the　sleep　of　infancy　on
board　her　cutter。

When　she　awoke　it　was　seven　o'clock　in　the　morning；　and　her　cutter　was
creeping　with　a　smart　breeze　about　two　miles　an　hour；　a　mile　from
Newhaven　pier。

The　yacht　had　returned　to　Granton；　and　the　yawls；　very　low　in　the　water；
were　creeping　along　like　snails；　with　both　sails　set。

The　news　was　in　Edinburgh　long　before　they　landed。　They　had　been
discerned　under　Inch　Keith　at　the　dawn。

And　the　manner　of　their　creeping　along；　when　there　was　such　a　breeze；
told　the　tale　at　once　to　the　keen；　experienced　eyes　that　are　sure　to　be
scanning　the　sea。

Donkey…carts　came　rattling　down　from　the　capital。

Merchants　came　pelting　down　to　Newhaven　pier。

The　whole　story　began　to　be　put　together　by　bits；　and　comprehended。　Old
Johnstone's　cleverness　was　recalled　to　mind。

The　few　fishermen　left　at　Newhaven　were　ready　to　kill　themselves。

Their　wives　were　ready　to　do　the　same　good　office　for　La　Johnstone。

Four　Irish　merchants　agreed　to　work　together；　and　to　make　a　show　of
competition；　the　better　to　keep　the　price　down　within　bounds。

It　was　hardly　fair；　four　men　against　one　innocent　unguarded　female。

But　this　is　a　wicked　world。

Christie　landed；　and　proceeded　to　her　own　house；　on　the　way　she　was　met
by　Jean　Carnie；　who　debarrassed　her　of　certain　wrappers；　and　a
handkerchief　she　had　tied　round　her　head；　and　informed　her　she　was　the
pride　of　Newhaven。

She　next　met　these　four　little　merchants；　one　after　another。

And　since　we　ought　to　dwell　as　little　as　possible　upon　scenes　in　which
unguarded　innocence　is　exposed　to　artful　conspiracies；　we　will　put　a　page
or　two　into　the　brute　form　of　dramatic　dialogue；　and　so　sail　through　it
quicker。

_1st　Merchant。_　〃Where　are　ye　going；　Meggie？〃

_Christie　Johnstone。_　〃If　onybody　asks　ye；　say　ye　dinna　ken。〃

_1st　Mer。_　〃Will　ye　sell　your　fish？〃

_Christie。_　〃Suner　than　gie　them。〃

_1st　Mer。_　〃You　will　be　asking　fifteen　shillin'　the　cran。〃

_Christie。_　〃And　ten　to　that。〃

_1st　Mer。_　〃Good…morning。〃

_2d　Mer。_　〃Would　he　not　go　over　fifteen　shillings？　Oh；　the　thief　o'　the
world！　I'll　give　sixteen。〃

_3d　Mer。_　〃But　I'll　give　eighteen。〃

_2d　Mer。_　〃More　fool　you！　Take　him　up；　my　girl。〃

_Christie。_　〃Twenty…five　is　my　price　the　day。〃

_3d　Mer。_　〃You　will　keep　them　till　Sunday　week　and　sell　their　bones。〃

_＇Exeunt　the　three　Merchants。　Enter　4th　Merchant。_

_4th　Mer。_　〃Are　your　fish　sold？　I'll　give　sixteen　shillings。〃

_Christie。_　〃I'm　seeking　twenty…five；　an'　I'm　offered　eighteen。

_4th　Mer。_　〃Take　it。〃　_＇Exit。_

_Christie。_　〃They　hae　putten　their　heads　thegither。〃

Here　Flucker　came　up　to　her；　and　told　her　there　was　a　Leith　merchant
looking　for　her。　〃And；　Custy；〃　said　he；　〃there's　plenty　wind　getting　up；
your　fish　will　be　sair　hashed；　put　them　off　your　hands；　I　rede　ye。〃

_Christie。_　〃Ay；　lad！　Flucker；　hide；　an'　when　I　play　my　hand　sae；　ye'll
run　in　an　cry；　'Cirsty；　the　Irishman　will　gie　ye　twenty…two　schellin　the
cran。'〃

_Flucker。_　〃Ye　ken　mair　than's　in　the　catecheesm；　for　as　releegious　as　ye
are。〃

The　Leith　merchant　was　Mr。　Miller；　and　this　is　the　way　he　worked。

_Miller　（in　a　mellifluous　voice）。_　〃Are　ye　no　fatigued；　my　deear？〃

_Christie　（affecting　fatigue）。_　〃Indeed；　sir；　and　I　am。〃

_Miller。_　〃Shall　I　have　the　pleasure　to　deal　wi'　ye？〃

_Christie。_　〃If　it's　your　pleasure；　sir。　I'm　seekin'　twenty…five
schellin。〃

_Miller　（pretending　not　to　hear）。_　〃As　you　are　a　beginner；　I　must　offer
fair；　twenty　schellin　you　shall　have；　and　that's　three　shillings　above
Dunbar。〃

_Christie。_　〃Wad　ye　even　carted　herrin　with　my　fish　caller　fra'　the　sea？
and　Dunbaroh；　fine！　ye　ken　there's　nae　herrin　at　Dunbar　the　morn；　this
is　the　Dunbar　schule　that　slipped　westward。　I'm　the　matirket；　ye'll　hae
to　buy　o'　me　or　gang　to　your　bed〃　_（here　she　signaled　to　Flucker）。_　〃I'll
no　be　oot　o'　mine　lang。〃

_Enter　Flucker　hastily；　crying：_　〃Cirsty；　the　Irishman　will　gie　ye
twenty…two　schellin。〃

〃I'll　no　tak　it；〃　said　Christie。

〃They　are　keen　to　hae　them；〃　said　Flucker；　and　hastily　retired；　as　if　to
treat　further　with　the　small　merchants。

On　this；　Mr。　Miller；　pretending　to　make　for　Leith；　said；　carelessly；
〃Twenty…three　shillings；　or　they　are　not　for　me。〃

〃Tak　the　cutter's　freight　at　a　hundre'　cran；　an'　I'm　no　caring；〃　said
Christie。

〃They　are　mine！〃　said　Mr。　Miller；　very　sharply。　〃How　much　shall　I　give
you　the　day？〃

〃Auchty　pund；　sir；　if　you　pleasethe　lave　when　you　like；　I　ken　ye；　Mr。
Miller。〃

While　counting　her　the　notes；　the　purchaser　said　slyly　to　her：

〃There's　more　than　a　hundred　cran　in　the　cutter；　my　woman。〃

〃A　little；　sir；〃　replied　the　vender；　〃but；　ere　I　could　count　them　till　ye
by　baskets；　they　would　lose　seven　or　eight　cran　in　book；*　your　gain；　my
loss。〃

*Bulk。

〃You　are　a　vara　intelligent　young　person；〃　said　Mr。　Miller；　gravely。

〃Ye　had　measured　them　wi'　your　walking…stick；　sir；　there's　just　ae　scale
ye　didna　wipe　off；　though　ye　are　a　carefu'　mon；　Mr。　Miller；　sae　I　laid
the　bait　for　ye　an'　fine　ye　took　it。〃

Miller　took　out　his　snuff…box；　and　tapping　it　said：

〃Will　ye　go　into　partnership　with　me；　my　dear？〃

〃Ay；　sir！〃　was　the　reply。　〃When　I'm　aulder　an'　ye're　younger。〃

At　this　moment　the　four　merchants；　believing　it　useless　to　disguise　their
co…operation；　returned　to　see　what　could　be　done。

〃We　shall　give　you　a　guinea　a　barrel。〃

〃Why；　ye　offered　her　twenty…two　shillings　before。〃

〃That　we　never　did；　Mr。　Miller。〃

〃Haw！　haw！〃　went　Flucker。

Christie　looked　down　and　blushed。

Eyes　met　eyes；　and　without　a　word　spoken　all　was　comprehended　and
silently　approved。　There　was　no　nonsense　uttered　about　morality　in
connection　with　dealing。

Mr。　Miller　took　an　enormous　pinch　of　snuff；　and　drew　for　the　benefit　of
all　present　the　following　inference：

MR。　MILLER'S　APOTHEGM。

〃Friends　and　neighbors！　when　a　man's　heed　is　gray　with　age　and　thoucht
_（pause）_　he's　just　fit　to　go　to　schule　to　a　young　lass　o'　twenty。〃

There　was　a　certain　middle…aged　fishwife；　called　Beeny　Liston；　a　tenant
of　Christie　Johnstone's；　she　had　not　paid　her　rent　for　some　time；　and　she
had　not　been　pressed　for　it；　whether　this；　or　the　whisky　she　was　in　the
habit　of　taking；　rankled　in　her　mind；　certain　it　is　she　had　always　an　ill
word　for　her　landlady。

She　now　met　her；　envied　her　success；　and　called　out　in　a　coarse　tone：

〃Oh；　ye're　a　gallant　quean；　ye'll　be　waur　than　ever　the　noo。〃

〃What's　wrang；　if　ye　please？〃　said　the　Johnstone；　sharply。

Reader；　did　you　ever　see　two　fallow　bucks　commence　a　duel？

They　strut　round；　eight　yards　apart；　tails　up；　look　carefully　another　way
to　make　the　other　think　it　all　means　nothing；　and；　being　both　equally
sly；　their　horns　come　together　as　if　by　concert。

Even　so　commenced　this　duel　of　tongues　between　these　two　heroines。

Beeny　Liston；　looking　at　everybody　but　Christie；　addressed　the　natives
who　were　congregating　thus：

〃Did　ever　ye　hear　o'　a　decent　lass　taking　the　herrin'　oot　o'　the　men's
mooths？is　yon　a　woman's　pairt；　I'm　asking　ye？〃

On　this；　Christie；　looking　carefully　at　all　the　others　except　Beeny；
inquired　with　an　air　of　simple　curiosity：

〃Can　onybody　tell　me　wha　Liston　Carnie's　drunken　wife　is　speakin'　till？
no　to　ony　decent　lass；　though。　Na！　ye　ken　she　wad　na　hae　th'　impudence！〃

〃Oh；　ye　ken　fine　I'm　speakin'　till　yoursel'。〃

Here　the　horns　clashed　together。

〃To　me；　woman？〃　_（with　admirably　acted　surprise。）_　〃Oo；　ay！　it　will　be
for　the　twa　years'　rent　you're　awin　me。　Giest！〃

_Beeny　Liston。_　〃Ye're　just　the　impudentest　girrl　i'　the　toon；　an'　ye　hae
proved　it　the　day〃　（her　arms　akimbo）。

_Christie　（arms　akimbo）。_　〃Me；　impudent？　how　daur　ye　speak　against　my
charackter；　that's　kenned　for　decency　o'　baith　sides　the　Firrth。〃

_Beeny　（contemptuously）。_　〃Oh；　ye're　sly　enough　to　beguile　the　men；　but
we　ken　ye。〃

_Christie。_　〃I'm　no　sly；　and〃　_（drawing　near　and　hissing　the　words）_　〃I'm
no　like　the　woman　Jean　an'　I　saw　in　Rose　Street；　dead　drunk　on　the
causeway；　while　her　mon　was　working　for　her　at　sea。　If　ye're　no　ben　your
hoose　in　ae　minute；　I'll　say　that　will　gar　Liston　Carnie　fling　ye　ower
the　pier…head；　ye　fool…moothed　drunken　leearScairt！〃*

*A　local　word；　a　corruption　from　the　French　_Sortez。_

If　my　reader　has　seen　and　heard　Mademoiselle　Rachel　utter　her　famous
_Sortez；_　in　〃Virginie；〃　he　knows　exactly　with　what　a　gesture　and　tone
the　Johnstone　uttered　this　word。

_Beeny　（in　a　voice　of　whining　surprise）。_　〃Hech！