christie johnstone-第28节

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casting　a　contemptuous　look　on　all　the　rest；　lifted　himself　lazily　into
the　herring…boat　and　looked　seaward。　His　manner　changed　in　a　moment。

〃The　Deevil！〃　cried　he；　〃the　tide's　turned！　You　wi'　your　glass；　could　you
no　see　yon　man's　drifting　oot　to　sea？〃

〃Hech！〃　cried　the　women；　〃he'll　be　droonedhe'll　be　drooned！〃

〃Yes；　he'll　be　drooned！〃　cried　Sandy；　〃if　yon　lassie　does　na　come
alongside　him　deevelich　quickhe's　sair　spent；　I　doot。〃

Two　spectators　were　now　added　to　the　scene；　Mrs。　Gatty　and　Lord　Ipsden。
Mrs。　Gatty　inquired　what　was　the　matter。

〃It's　a　mon　drooning；〃　was　the　reply。

The　poor　fellow；　whom　Sandy；　by　aid　of　his　glass；　now　discovered　to　be　in
a　wornout　condition；　was　about　half　a　mile　east　of　Newhaven　pier…head；
and　unfortunately　the　wind　was　nearly　due　east。　Christie　was　standing
north…northeast；　her　boat…hook　jammed　against　the　sail；　which　stood　as
flat　as　a　knife。

The　natives　of　the　Old　Town　were　now　seen　pouring　down　to　the　pier　and
the　beach；　and　strangers　were　collecting　like　bees。

〃After　wit　is　everybody's　wit！！！〃_Old　Proverb。_

The　affair　was　in　the　Johnstone's　hands。

〃That　boat　is　not　going　to　the　poor　man；〃　said　Mrs。　Gatty；　〃it　is　turning
its　back　upon　him。〃

〃She　canna　lie　in　the　wind's　eye；　for　as　clever　as　she　is；〃　answered　a
fishwife。

〃I　ken　wha　it　is；〃　suddenly　squeaked　a　little　fishwife；　〃it's　Christie
Johnstone's　lad；　it's　yon　daft　painter　fr'　England。　Hech！〃　cried　she；
suddenly；　observing　Mrs。　Gatty；　〃it's　your　son；　woman。〃

The　unfortunate　woman　gave　a　fearful　scream；　and；　flying　like　a　tiger　on
Liston；　commanded　him　〃to　go　straight　out　to　sea　and　save　her　son。〃

Jean　Carnie　seized　her　arm。　〃Div　ye　see　yon　boat？〃　cried　she；　〃and　div　ye
mind　Christie；　the　lass　wha's　hairt　ye　hae　broken？　aweel；　woman_it's
just　a　race　between　deeth　and　Cirsty　Johnstone　for　your　son。_

The　poor　old　woman　swooned　dead　away；　they　carried　her　into　Christie
Johnstone's　house　and　laid　her　down；　then　hurried　backthe　greater
terror　absorbed　the　less。

Lady　Barbara　Sinclair　was　there　from　Leith；　and；　seeing　Lord　Ipsden
standing　in　the　boat　with　a　fisherman；　she　asked　him　to　tell　her　what　it
was；　neither　he　nor　any　one　answered　her。

〃Why　doesn't　she　come　about；　Liston　？〃　cried　Lord　Ipsden；　stamping　with
anxiety　and　impatience。

〃She'll　no　be　lang；〃　said　Sandy；　〃but　they'll　mak　a　mess　o'　't　wi'　ne'er
a　man　i'　the　boat。〃

〃Ye're　sure　o'　thaat？〃　put　in　a　woman。

〃Ay；　about　she　comes；〃　said　Liston；　as　the　sail　came　down　on　the　first
tack。　He　was　mistaken；　they　dipped　the　lug　as　cleverly　as　any　man　in　the
town　could。

〃Hech！　look　at　her　hauling　on　the　rope　like　a　mon；〃　cried　a　woman。　The
sail　flew　up　on　the　other　tack。

〃She's　an　awfu'　lassie；〃。　whined　another。

〃He's　awa；〃　groaned　Liston；　〃he's　doon！〃

〃No！　he's　up　again；〃　cried　Lord　Ipsden；　〃but　I　fear　he　can't　live　till
the　boat　comes　to　him。〃

The　fisherman　and　the　viscount　held　on　by　each　other。

〃He　does　na　see　her；　or　maybe　he'd　tak　hairt。〃

〃I'd　give　ten　thousand　pounds　if　only　he　could　see　her。　My　God；　the　man
will　be　drowned　under　our　eyes。　If　he　but　saw　her！！！〃

The　words　had　hardly　left　Lord　Ipsden's　lips；　when　the　sound　of　a　woman's
voice　came　like　an　AEolian　note　across　the　water。

〃Hurraih！〃　roared　Liston；　and　every　creature　joined　the　cheer。

〃She'll　no　let　him　dee。　Ah！　she's　in　the　bows；　hailing　him　an'　waving　the
lad's　bonnet　ower　her　head　to　gie　him　coorage。　Gude　bless　ye；　lass；　Gude
bless　ye！〃

Christie　knew　it　was　no　use　hailing　him　against　the　wind；　but　the　moment
she　got　the　wind　she　darted　into　the　bows；　and　pitched　in　its　highest　key
her　full　and　brilliant　voice；　after　a　moment　of　suspense　she　received
proof　that　she　must　be　heard　by　him；　for　on　the　pier　now　hung　men　and
women；　clustered　like　bees；　breathless　with　anxiety；　and　the　moment　after
she　hailed　the　drowning　man；　she　saw　and　heard　a　wild　yell　of　applause
burst　from　the　pier；　and　the　pier　was　more　distant　than　the　man。　She
snatched　Flucker's　cap；　planted　her　foot　on　the　gunwale；　held　on　by　a
rope；　hailed　the　poor　fellow　again；　and　waved　the　cap　round　and　round　her
head；　to　give　him　courage；　and　in　a　moment；　at　the　sight　of　this；
thousands　of　voices　thundered　back　their　cheers　to　her　across　the　water。
Blow；　windspring；　boatand　you；　Christie；　still　ring　life　toward　those
despairing　ears　and　wave　hope　to　those　sinking　eyes；　cheer　the　boat　on；
you　thousands　that　look　upon　this　action；　hurrah！　from　the　pier；　hurrah！
from　the　town；　hurrah！　from　the　shore；　hurrah！　now；　from　the　very　ships
in　the　roads；　whose　crews　are　swarming　on　the　yards　to　look；　five　minutes
ago　they　laughed　at　you；　three　thousand　eyes　and　hearts　hang　upon　you
now；　ay；　these　are　the　moments　we　live　for！

And　now　dead　silence。　The　boat　is　within　fifty　yards；　they　are　all　three
consulting　together　round　the　mast；　an　error　now　is　death；　his　forehead
only　seems　above　water。

〃If　they　miss　him　on　that　tack？〃　said　Lord　Ipsden；　significantly；　to
Liston。

〃He'll　never　see　London　Brigg　again；〃　was　the　whispered　reply。

They　carried　on　till　all　on　shore　thought　they　would　run　over　him；　or
past　him；　but　no；　at　ten　yards　distant　they　were　all　at　the　sail；　and　had
it　down　like　lightning；　and　then　Flucker　sprang　to　the　bows；　the　other
boy　to　the　helm。

Unfortunately；　there　were　but　two　Johnstones　in　the　boat；　and　this　boy；
in　his　hurry；　actually　put　the　helm　to　port；　instead　of　to　starboard。
Christie；　who　stood　amidships；　saw　the　error；　she　sprang　aft；　flung　the
boy　from　the　helm　and　jammed　it　hard…a…starboard　with　her　foot。　The　boat
answered　the　helm；　but　too　late　for　Flucker；　the　man　was　four　yards　from
him　as　the　boat　drifted　by。

〃He's　a　deed　mon！〃　cried　Liston；　on　shore。

The　boat's　length　gave　one　more　little　chance；　the　after…part　must　drift
nearer　himthanks　to　Christie。　Flucker　flew　aft；　flung　himself　on　his
back；　and　seized　his　sister's　petticoats。

〃Fling　yourself　ower　the　gunwale；〃　screamed　he。　〃Ye'll　no　hurt；　I'se　haud
ye。〃

She　flung　herself　boldly　over　the　gunwale；　the　man　was　sinking；　her　nails
touched　his　hair；　her　fingers　entangled　themselves　in　it；　she　gave　him　a
powerful　wrench　and　brought　him　alongside；　the　boys　pinned　him　like
wild…cats。

Christie　darted　away　forward　to　the　mast；　passed　a　rope　round　it；　threw
it　the　boys；　in　a　moment　it　was　under　his　shoulders。　Christie　hauled　on
it　from　the　fore　thwart；　the　boys　lifted　him；　and　they　tumbled　him；
gasping　and　gurgling　like　a　dying　salmon；　into　the　bottom　of　the　boat；
and　flung　net　and　jackets　and　sail　over　him　to　keep　the　life　in　him。

Ah！　draw　your　breath　all　hands　at　sea　and　ashore；　and　don't　try　it　again；
young　gentleman；　for　there　was　nothing　to　spare；　when　you　were　missed　at
the　bow　two　stout　hearts　quivered　for　you；　Lord　Ipsden　hid　his　face　in
his　two　hands；　Sandy　Liston　gave　a　groan；　and；　when　you　were　grabbed
astern；　jumped　out　of　his　boat　and　cried：

〃A　gill　o'　whisky　for　ony　favor；　for　it's　turned　me　as　seeck　as　a　doeg。〃
He　added：　〃He　may　bless　yon　lassie's　fowr　banes；　for　she's　ta'en　him　oot
o'　Death's　maw；　as　sure　as　Gude's　in　heaven！〃

Lady　Barbara；　who　had　all　her　life　been　longing　to　see　perilous
adventures；　prayed　and　trembled　and　cried　most　piteously；　and　Lord
Ipsden's　back　was　to　her；　and　he　paid　no　attention　to　her　voice；　but　when
the　battle　was　won；　and　Lord　Ipsden　turned　and　saw　her；　she　clung　to　his
arm　and　dried　her　tears；　and　then　the　Old　Town　cheered　the　boat；　and　the
New　Town　cheered　the　boat；　and　the　towns　cheered　each　other；　and　the
Johnstones；　lad　and　lass；　set　their　sail；　and　swept　back　in　triumph　to
the　pier；　so　then　Lady　Barbara's　blood　mounted　and　tingled　in　her　veins
like　fire。　〃Oh；　how　noble！〃　cried　she。

〃Yes；　dearest；〃　said　Ipsden。　〃You　have　seen　something　great　done　at　last；
and　by　a　woman；　too！〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Barbara；　〃how　beautiful！　oh！　how　beautiful　it　all　is；　only
the　next　one　I　see　I　should　like　the　danger　to　be　over　first；　that　is
all。〃

The　boys　and　Christie；　the　moment　they　had　saved　Gatty；　up　sail　again　for
Newhaven；　they　landed　in　about　three　minutes　at　the　pier。


TIME。　From　Newhaven　town　to　pier　on　foot：　1　m。　30　sec。　First　tack：　5　m。
30　sec。　Second　tack；　and　getting　him　on　board：　4　m。　0　sec。　Back　to　the
pier；　going　free：　3　m。　30　sec。

Total：　14　m。　30　sec。


They　came　in　to　the　pier；　Christie　sitting　quietly　on　the　thwart　after
her　work；　the　boy　steering；　and　Flucker　standing　against　the　mast；　hands
in　his　pockets；　the　deportment　this　young　gentleman　thought　fit　to　assume
on　this　occasion　was　〃complete　apathy〃；　he　came　into　port　with　the　air　of
one　bringing　home　the　ordinary　results　of　his　day's　fishing；　this　was；　I
suppose；　to　impress　the　spectators　with　the　notion　that　saving　lives　was
an　every…day　affair　with　La　Famille　Johnstone；　as　for　Gatty；　he　came　to
himself　under　his　heap　of　nets　and　jackets　and　spoke　once　between　Death's
jaw　and　the　pier。

〃Beautiful！〃　murmured　he；　and　was　silent。　The　meaning　of　this　observation
never　transpired；　and　never　will　in　this　world。　Six　months　afterward；
being　subjected　to　a　searching　interrogatory；　he　stated　that　he　had
alluded　to　the　majesty　and　freedom　of　a　certain　_pose_　Christie　had
adopted　whi