barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第176节
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had come upon him；—but it seemed peopled by a legion of devils。
This flight and pursuit； this cruel burning and destroying； these
dreadful cries and stunning noises； were they the good lord’s noble
cause！
Though almost stupefied by the bewildering scene； still be
found the blind man’s house。 It was shut up and tenantless。
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He waited for a long while； but no one came。 At last he
withdrew； and as he knew by this time that the soldiers were
firing； and many people must have been killed； he went down into
Holborn； where he heard the great crowd was； to try if he could
find Hugh； and persuade him to avoid the danger； and return with
him。
If he had been stunned and shocked before； his horror was
increased a thousandfold when he got into this vortex of the riot；
and not being an actor in the terrible spectacle； had it all before
his eyes。 But there； in the midst； towering above them all； close
before the house they were attacking now； was Hugh on
horseback； calling to the rest！
Sickened by the sights surrounding him on every side； and by
the heat and roar； and crash； he forced his way among the crowd
（where many recognised him； and with shouts pressed back to let
him pass）； and in time was nearly up with Hugh； who was savagely
threatening some one； but whom or what he said； he could not； in
the great confusion； understand。 At that moment the crowd forced
their way into the house； and Hugh—it was impossible to see by
what means； in such a concourse—fell headlong down。
Barnaby was beside him when he staggered to his feet。 It was
well he made him hear his voice； or Hugh； with his uplifted axe；
would have cleft his skull in twain。
‘Barnaby—you！ Whose hand was that； that struck me down？’
‘Not mine。’
‘Whose！—I say； whose！’ he cried； reeling back； and looking
wildly round。 ‘What are you doing？ Where is he？ Show me！’
‘You are hurt；’ said Barnaby—as indeed he was； in the head；
both by the blow he had received； and by his horse’s hoof。 ‘Come
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away with me。’
As he spoke； he took the horse’s bridle in his hand； turned him；
and dragged Hugh several paces。 This brought them out of the
crowd； which was pouring from the street into the vintner’s
cellars。
‘Where’s—where’s Dennis？’ said Hugh； coming to a stop； and
checking Barnaby with his strong arm。 ‘Where has he been all
day？ What did he mean by leaving me as he did； in the jail； last
night？ Tell me； you—d’ye hear！’
With a flourish of his dangerous weapon； he fell down upon the
ground like a log。 After a minute； though already frantic with
drinking and with the wound in his head； he crawled to a stream
of burning spirit which was pouring down the kennel； and began
to drink at it as if it were a brook of water。
Barnaby drew him away； and forced him to rise。 Though he
could neither stand nor walk； he involuntarily staggered to his
horse； climbed upon his back； and clung there。 After vainly
attempting to divest the animal of his clanking trappings； Barnaby
sprung up behind him； snatched the bridle； turned into Leather
Lane； which was close at hand； and urged the frightened horse
into a heavy trot。
He looked back； once； before he left the street； and looked upon
a sight not easily to be erased； even from his remembrance； so
long as he had life。
The vintner’s house with a half…a…dozen others near at hand；
was one great； glowing blaze。 All night； no one had essayed to
quench the flames； or stop their progress； but now a body of
soldiers were actively engaged in pulling down two old wooden
houses； which were every moment in danger of taking fire； and
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which could scarcely fail； if they were left to burn； to extend the
conflagration immensely。 The tumbling down of nodding walls
and heavy blocks of wood； the hooting and the execrations of the
crowd； the distant firing of other military detachments； the
distracted looks and cries of those whose habitations were in
danger； the hurrying to and fro of frightened people with their
goods； the reflections in every quarter of the sky； of deep； red；
soaring flames； as though the last day had come and the whole
universe were burning； the dust； and smoke； and drift of fiery
particles； scorching and kindling all it fell upon； the hot
unwholesome vapour； the blight on everything； the stars； and
moon； and very sky； obliterated；—made up such a sum of
dreariness and ruin； that it seemed as if the face of Heaven were
blotted out； and night； in its rest and quiet； and softened light；
never could look upon the earth again。
But there was a worse spectacle than this—worse by far than
fire and smoke； or even the rabble’s unappeasable and maniac
rage。 The gutters of the street； and every crack and fissure in the
stones； ran with scorching spirit； which being dammed up by busy
hands； overflowed the road and pavement； and formed a great
pool； into which the people dropped down dead by dozens。 They
lay in heaps all round this fearful pond； husbands and wives；
fathers and sons； mothers and daughters； women with children in
their arms and babies at their breasts； and drank until they died。
While some stooped with their lips to the brink and never raised
their heads again； others sprang up from their fiery draught； and
danced； half in a mad triumph； and half in the agony of
suffocation； until they fell； and steeped their corpses in the liquor
that had killed them。 Nor was even this the worst or most
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appalling kind of death that happened on this fatal night。 From
the burning cellars； where they drank out of hats； pails； buckets；
tubs； and shoes； some men were drawn； alive； but all alight from
head to foot； who； in their unendurable anguish and suffering；
making for anything that had the look of water； rolled； hissing； in
this hideous lake； and splashed up liquid fire which lapped in all it
met with as it ran along the surface； and neither spared the living
nor the dead。 On this last night of the great riots—for the last night
it was—the wretched victims of a senseless outcry； became
themselves the dust and ashes of the flames they had kindled； and
strewed the public streets of London。
With all he saw in this last glance fixed indelibly upon his mind；
Barnaby hurried from the city which enclosed such horrors； and
holding down his head that he might not even see the glare of the
fires upon the quiet landscape； was soon in the still country roads。
He stopped at about half…a…mile from the shed where his father
lay； and with some difficulty making Hugh sensible that he must
dismount； sunk the horse’s furniture in a pool of stagnant water；
and turned the animal loose。 That done； he supported his
companion as well as he could； and led him slowly forward。
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