redgauntlet-第46节

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His　eloquence　being　unable　to　persuade　me　that　I　should　take　any　pleasure　in　seeing　the　fruitless　struggles　of　the　fish　when　left　in　the　nets　and　deserted　by　the　tide；　he　artfully　suggested；　that　Mr。　and　Miss　Geddes；　a　respectable　Quaker　family　well　known　in　the　neighbourhood　and　with　whom　I　had　contracted　habits　of　intimacy；　would　possibly　be　offended　if　I　did　not　make　them　an　early　visit。　　Both；　he　said；　had　been　particularly　inquiring　the　reasons　of　my　leaving　their　house　rather　suddenly　on　the　previous　day。　　I　resolved；　therefore；　to　walk　up　to　Mount　Sharon　and　make　my　apologies；　and　I　agreed　to　permit　the　boy　to　attend　upon　me；　and　wait　my　return　from　the　house；　that　I　might　fish　on　my　way　homeward　to　Shepherd's　Bush；　for　which　amusement；　he　assured　me；　I　would　find　the　evening　most　favourable。　　I　mention　this　minute　circumstance；　because　I　strongly　suspect　that　this　boy　had　a　presentiment　how　the　evening　was　to　terminate　with　me；　and　entertained　the　selfish　though　childish　wish　of　securing　to　himself　an　angling…rod　which　he　had　often　admired；　as　a　part　of　my　spoils。　　I　may　do　the　boy　wrong；　but　I　had　before　remarked　in　him　the　peculiar　art　of　pursuing　the　trifling　objects　of　cupidity　proper　to　his　age；　with　the　systematic　address　of　much　riper　years。

When　we　had　commenced　our　walk；　I　upbraided　him　with　the　coolness　of　the　evening；　considering　the　season；　the　easterly　wind；　and　other　circumstances；　unfavourable　for　angling。　　He　persisted　in　his　own　story；　and　made　a　few　casts；　as　if　to　convince　me　of　my　error；　but　caught　no　fish；　and；　indeed；　as　I　am　now　convinced；　was　much　more　intent　on　watching　my　motions　than　on　taking　any。　When　I　ridiculed　him　once　more　on　his　fruitless　endeavours；　he　answered　with　a　sneering　smile；　that　'the　trouts　would　not　rise；　because　there　was　thunder　in　the　air；'　an　intimation　which；　in　one　sense；　I　have　found　too　true。

I　arrived　at　Mount　Sharon；　was　received　by　my　friends　there　with　their　wonted　kindness；　and　after　being　a　little　rallied　on　my　having　suddenly　left　them　on　the　preceding　evening；　I　agreed　to　make　atonement　by　staying　all　night；　and　dismissed　the　lad　who　attended　with　my　fishing…rod；　to　carry　that　information　to　Shepherd's　Bush。　　It　may　be　doubted　whether　he　went　thither；　or　in　a　different　direction。

Betwixt　eight　and　nine　o'clock；　when　it　began　to　become　dark；　we　walked　on　the　terrace　to　enjoy　the　appearance　of　the　firmament；　glittering　with　ten　million　stars；　to　which　a　slight　touch　of　early　frost　gave　tenfold　lustre。　　As　we　gazed　on　this　splendid　scene；　Miss　Geddes；　I　think；　was　the　first　to　point　out　to　our　admiration　a　shooting　or　falling　star；　which；　she　said；　drew　a　long　train　after　it。　　Looking　to　the　part　of　the　heavens　which　she　pointed　out；　I　distinctly　observed　two　successive　sky…rockets　arise　and　burst　in　the　sky。

'These　meteors；'　said　Mr。　Geddes；　in　answer　to　his　sister's　observation；　'are　not　formed　in　heaven；　nor　do　they　bode　any　good　to　the　dwellers　upon　earth。'

As　he　spoke；　I　looked　to　another　quarter　of　the　sky；　and　a　rocket；　as　if　a　signal　in　answer　to　those　which　had　already　appeared；　rose　high　from　the　earth；　and　burst　apparently　among　the　stars。

Mr。　Geddes　seemed　very　thoughtful　for　some　minutes；　and　then　said　to　his　sister；　'Rachel；　though　it　waxes　late。　　I　must　go　down　to　the　fishing　station；　and　pass　the　night　in　the　overseer's　room　there。'

'Nay；　then；'　replied　the　lady；　'I　am　but　too　well　assured　that　the　sons　of　Belial　are　menacing　these　nets　and　devices。　　Joshua；　art　thou　a　man　of　peace；　and　wilt　thou　willingly　and　wittingly　thrust　thyself　where　thou　mayst　be　tempted　by　the　old　man　Adam　within　thee；　to　enter　into　debate　and　strife？'

'I　am　a　man　of　peace；　Rachel；'　answered　Mr。　Geddes；　'even　to　the　utmost　extent　which　our　friends　can　demand　of　humanity；　and　neither　have　I　ever　used；　nor；　with　the　help　of　God；　will　I　at　any　future　time　employ；　the　arm　of　flesh　to　repel　or　to　revenge　injuries。　　But　if　I　can；　by　mild　reasons　and　firm　conduct；　save　those　rude　men　from　committing　a　crime；　and　the　property　belonging　to　myself　and　others　from　sustaining　damage；　surely　I　do　but　the　duty　of　a　man　and　a　Christian。'

With　these　words；　he　ordered　his　horse　instantly；　and　his　sister；　ceasing　to　argue　with　him；　folded　her　arms　upon　her　bosom；　and　looked　up　to　heaven　with　a　resigned　and　yet　sorrowful　countenance。

These　particulars　may　appear　trivial；　but　it　is　better；　in　my　present　condition；　to　exert　my　faculties　in　recollecting　the　past；　and　in　recording　it；　than　waste　them　in　vain　and　anxious　anticipations　of　the　future。

It　would　have　been　scarcely　proper　in　me　to　remain　in　the　house　from　which　the　master　was　thus　suddenly　summoned　away；　and　I　therefore　begged　permission　to　attend　him　to　the　fishing　station；　assuring　his　sister　that　I　would　be　a　guarantee　for　his　safety。

That　proposal　seemed　to　give　much　pleasure　to　Miss　Geddes。　　'Let　it　be　so；　brother；'　she　said；　'and　let　the　young　man　have　the　desire　of　his　heart；　that　there　may　be　a　faithful　witness　to　stand　by　thee　in　the　hour　of　need；　and　to　report　how　it　shall　fare　with　thee。

'Nay；　Rachel；'　said　the　worthy　man；　'thou　art　to　blame　in　this；　that　to　quiet　thy　apprehensions　on　my　account；　thou　shouldst　thrust　into　dangerif　danger　it　shall　prove　to　bethis　youth；　our　guest；　for　whom；　doubtless；　in　case　of　mishap；　as　many　hearts　will　ache　as　may　be　afflicted　on　our　account。'

'No；　my　good　friend；'　said　I；　taking　Mr。　Geddes's　hand；　'I　am　not　so　happy　as　you　suppose　me。　　Were　my　span　to　be　concluded　this　evening；　few　would　so　much　as　know　that　such　a　being　had　existed　for　twenty　years　on　the　face　of　the　earth；　and　of　these　few；　only　one　would　sincerely　regret　me。　　Do　not；　therefore；　refuse　me　the　privilege　attending　you；　and　of　showing；　by　so　trifling　an　act　of　kindness；　that　if　I　have　few　friends；　I　am　at　least　desirous　to　serve　them。'

'Thou　hast　a　kind　heart；　I　warrant　thee；'　said　Joshua　Geddes；　returning　the　pressure　of　my　hand。　　'Rachel；　the　young　man　shall　go　with　me。　　Why　should　he　not　face　danger；　in　order　to　do　justice　and　preserve　peace？　　There　is　that　within　me；'　he　added；　looking　upwards；　and　with　a　passing　enthusiasm　which　I　had　not　before　observed　and　the　absence　of　which　perhaps　rather　belonged　to　the　sect　than　to　his　own　personal　character'I　say；　I　have　that　within　which　assures　me；　that　though　the　ungodly　may　rage　even　like　the　storm　of　the　ocean；　they　shall　not　have　freedom　to　prevail　against　us。'

Having　spoken　thus；　Mr。　Geddes　appointed　a　pony　to　be　saddled　for　my　use；　and　having　taken　a　basket　with　some　provisions；　and　a　servant　to　carry　back　the　horses　for　which　there　was　no　accommodation　at　the　fishing　station；　we　set　off　about　nine　o'clock　at　night；　and　after　three…quarters　of　an　hour's　riding；　arrived　at　our　place　of　destination。

The　station　consists；　or　then　consisted；　of　huts　for　four　or　five　fishermen；　a　cooperage　and　shed；　and　a　better　sort　of　cottage　at　which　the　superintendent　resided。　　We　gave　our　horses　to　the　servant；　to　be　carried　back　to　Mount　Sharon；　my　companion　expressing　himself　humanely　anxious　for　their　safetyand　knocked　at　the　door　of　the　house。　　At　first　we　only　heard　a　barking　of　dogs；　but　these　animals　became　quiet　on　snuffing　beneath　the　door；　and　acknowledging　the　presence　of　friends。　　A　hoarse　voice　then　demanded；　in　rather　unfriendly　accents；　who　we　were；　and　what　we　wanted　and　it　was　not；　until　Joshua　named　himself；　and　called　upon　his　superintendent　to　open；　that　the　latter　appeared　at　the　door　of　the　hut；　attended　by　three　large　dogs　of　the　Newfoundland　breed。　　He　had　a　flambeau　in　his　hand；　and　two　large　heavy　ship…pistols　stuck　into　his　belt。　　He　was　a　stout　elderly　man；　who　had　been　a　sailor；　as　I　learned；　during　the　earlier　part　of　his　life；　and　was　now　much　confided　in　by　the　Fishing　Company；　whose　concerns　he　directed　under　the　orders　of　Mr。　Geddes。

'Thou　didst　not　expect　me　to…night；　friend　Davies？'　　said　my　friend　to　the　old　man；　who　was　arranging　seats　for　us　by　the　fire。

'No；　Master　Geddes；'　answered　he；　'I　did　not　expect　you；　nor；　to　speak　the　truth；　did　I　wish　for　you　either。'

'These　are　plain　terms：　　John　Davies；'　answered　Mr。Geddes。

'Aye；　aye；　sir；　I　know　your　worship　loves　no　holiday　speeches。'

'Thou　dost　guess；　I　suppose；　what　brings　us　here　so　late；　John　Davies？'　　said　Mr。　Geddes。

'I　do　suppose；　sir；'　answered　the　superintendent；　'that　it　was　because　those　dd　smuggling　wreckers　on　the　coast　are　showing　their　lights　to　gather　their　forces；　as　they　did　the　night　before　they　broke　down　the　dam…dyke　and　weirs　up　the　country；　but　if　that　same　be　the　case；　I　wish　once　more　you　had　stayed　away；　for　your　worship　carries　no　fighting　tackle　aboard；　I　think；　and　there　will　be　work　for　such　ere　morning；　your　worship。'

'Worship　is　due　to　Heaven　only；　John　Davies；'　said　Geddes；　'I　have　often　desired　thee　to　desist　from　using　that　phrase　to　me。'

'I　won't；　then；'　said　John；　'no　offence　meant：　　But　how　the　devil　can　a　man　stand　picking　his　words；　when　he　is　just　going　to　come　to　blows？'

'I　hope　not；　John　Davies；'　said　Joshua　Geddes。　　'Call　in　the　rest　of　the　men；　that　I　may　give　them　their　instructions。'

'I　may　cry　till　doomsday　Master　Geddes；　ere　a　soul　answersthe　cowardly　lubbers　have　all　made　sai