the trumpet-major-第43节

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moving　and　twinkling　like　a　school　of　mackerel　under　the　rays　of　the
sun。　　The　regular　way　of　passing　an　afternoon　in　the　coast　towns　was
to　stroll　up　to　the　signal　posts　and　chat　with　the　lieutenant　on
duty　there　about　the　latest　inimical　object　seen　at　sea。　　About　once
a　week　there　appeared　in　the　newspapers　either　a　paragraph
concerning　some　adventurous　English　gentleman　who　had　sailed　out　in
a　pleasure…boat　till　he　lay　near　enough　to　Boulogne　to　see
Buonaparte　standing　on　the　heights　among　his　marshals；　or　else　some
lines　about　a　mysterious　stranger　with　a　foreign　accent；　who；　after
collecting　a　vast　deal　of　information　on　our　resources；　had　hired　a
boat　at　a　southern　port；　and　vanished　with　it　towards　France　before
his　intention　could　be　divined。

In　forecasting　his　grand　venture；　Buonaparte　postulated　the　help　of
Providence　to　a　remarkable　degree。　　Just　at　the　hour　when　his　troops
were　on　board　the　flat…bottomed　boats　and　ready　to　sail；　there　was
to　be　a　great　fog；　that　should　spread　a　vast　obscurity　over　the
length　and　breadth　of　the　Channel；　and　keep　the　English　blind　to
events　on　the　other　side。　　The　fog　was　to　last　twenty…four　hours；
after　which　it　might　clear　away。　　A　dead　calm　was　to　prevail
simultaneously　with　the　fog；　with　the　twofold　object　of　affording
the　boats　easy　transit　and　dooming　our　ships　to　lie　motionless。
Thirdly；　there　was　to　be　a　spring　tide；　which　should　combine　its
manoeuvres　with　those　of　the　fog　and　calm。

Among　the　many　thousands　of　minor　Englishmen　whose　lives　were
affected　by　these　tremendous　designs　may　be　numbered　our　old
acquaintance　Corporal　Tullidge；　who　sported　the　crushed　arm；　and
poor　old　Simon　Burden；　the　dazed　veteran　who　had　fought　at　Minden。
Instead　of　sitting　snugly　in　the　settle　of　the　Old　Ship；　in　the
village　adjoining　Overcombe；　they　were　obliged　to　keep　watch　on　the
hill。　　They　made　themselves　as　comfortable　as　was　possible　in　the
circumstances；　dwelling　in　a　hut　of　clods　and　turf；　with　a　brick
chimney　for　cooking。　　Here　they　observed　the　nightly　progress　of　the
moon　and　stars；　grew　familiar　with　the　heaving　of　moles；　the　dancing
of　rabbits　on　the　hillocks；　the　distant　hoot　of　owls；　the　bark　of
foxes　from　woods　further　inland；　but　saw　not　a　sign　of　the　enemy。
As；　night　after　night；　they　walked　round　the　two　ricks　which　it　was
their　duty　to　fire　at　a　signalone　being　of　furze　for　a　quick
flame；　the　other　of　turf；　for　a　long；　slow　radiancethey　thought
and　talked　of　old　times；　and　drank　patriotically　from　a　large　wood
flagon　that　was　filled　every　day。

Bob　and　his　father　soon　became　aware　that　the　light　was　from　the
beacon。　　By　the　time　that　they　reached　the　top　it　was　one　mass　of
towering　flame；　from　which　the　sparks　fell　on　the　green　herbage　like
a　fiery　dew；　the　forms　of　the　two　old　men　being　seen　passing　and
repassing　in　the　midst　of　it。　　The　Lovedays；　who　came　up　on　the
smoky　side；　regarded　the　scene　for　a　moment；　and　then　emerged　into
the　light。

'Who　goes　there？'　said　Corporal　Tullidge；　shouldering　a　pike　with
his　sound　arm。　　'O；　'tis　neighbour　Loveday！'

'Did　you　get　your　signal　to　fire　it　from　the　east？'　said　the　miller
hastily。

'No；　from　Abbotsea　Beach。'

'But　you　are　not　to　go　by　a　coast　signal！'

'Chok'　it　all；　wasn't　the　Lord…Lieutenant's　direction；　whenever　you
see　Rainbarrow's　Beacon　burn　to　the　nor'east'ard；　or　Haggardon　to
the　nor'west'ard；　or　the　actual　presence　of　the　enemy　on　the　shore？'

'But　is　he　here？'

'No　doubt　o't！　　The　beach　light　is　only　just　gone　down；　and　Simon
heard　the　guns　even　better　than　I。'

'Hark；　hark！　　I　hear　'em！'　said　Bob。

They　listened　with　parted　lips；　the　night　wind　blowing　through　Simon
Burden's　few　teeth　as　through　the　ruins　of　Stonehenge。　　From　far
down　on　the　lower　levels　came　the　noise　of　wheels　and　the　tramp　of
horses　upon　the　turnpike　road。

'Well；　there　must　be　something　in　it；'　said　Miller　Loveday　gravely。
'Bob；　we'll　go　home　and　make　the　women…folk　safe；　and　then　I'll　don
my　soldier's　clothes　and　be　off。　　God　knows　where　our　company　will
assemble！'

They　hastened　down　the　hill；　and　on　getting　into　the　road　waited　and
listened　again。　　Travellers　began　to　come　up　and　pass　them　in
vehicles　of　all　descriptions。　　It　was　difficult　to　attract　their
attention　in　the　dim　light；　but　by　standing　on　the　top　of　a　wall
which　fenced　the　road　Bob　was　at　last　seen。

'What's　the　matter？'　he　cried　to　a　butcher　who　was　flying　past　in
his　cart；　his　wife　sitting　behind　him　without　a　bonnet。

'The　French　have　landed！'　said　the　man；　without　drawing　rein。

'Where？'　shouted　Bob。

'In　West　Bay；　and　all　Budmouth　is　in　uproar！'　replied　the　voice；　now
faint　in　the　distance。

Bob　and　his　father　hastened　on　till　they　reached　their　own　house。
As　they　had　expected；　Anne　and　her　mother；　in　common　with　most　of
the　people；　were　both　dressed；　and　stood　at　the　door　bonneted　and
shawled；　listening　to　the　traffic　on　the　neighbouring　highway；　Mrs。
Loveday　having　secured　what　money　and　small　valuables　they　possessed
in　a　huge　pocket　which　extended　all　round　her　waist；　and　added
considerably　to　her　weight　and　diameter。

''Tis　true　enough；'　said　the　miller：　　'he's　come！　　You　and　Anne　and
the　maid　must　be　off　to　Cousin　Jim's　at　King's…Bere；　and　when　you
get　there　you　must　do　as　they　do。　　I　must　assemble　with　the
company。'

'And　I？'　said　Bob。

'Thou'st　better　run　to　the　church；　and　take　a　pike　before　they　be
all　gone。'

The　horse　was　put　into　the　gig；　and　Mrs。　Loveday；　Anne；　and　the
servant…maid　were　hastily　packed　into　the　vehicle；　the　latter　taking
the　reins；　David's　duties　as　a　fighting…man　forbidding　all　thought
of　his　domestic　offices　now。　　Then　the　silver　tankard；　teapot；　pair
of　candlesticks　like　Ionic　columns；　and　other　articles　too　large　to
be　pocketed　were　thrown　into　a　basket　and　put　up　behind。　　Then　came
the　leave…taking；　which　was　as　sad　as　it　was　hurried。　　Bob　kissed
Anne；　and　there　was　no　affectation　in　her　receiving　that　mark　of
affection　as　she　said　through　her　tears；　'God　bless　you！'　　At　last
they　moved　off　in　the　dim　light　of　dawn；　neither　of　the　three　women
knowing　which　road　they　were　to　take；　but　trusting　to　chance　to　find
it。

As　soon　as　they　were　out　of　sight　Bob　went　off　for　a　pike；　and　his
father；　first　new…flinting　his　firelock；　proceeded　to　don　his
uniform；　pipe…claying　his　breeches　with　such　cursory　haste　as　to
bespatter　his　black　gaiters　with　the　same　ornamental　compound。
Finding　when　he　was　ready　that　no　bugle　had　as　yet　sounded；　he　went
with　David　to　the　cart…house；　dragged　out　the　waggon；　and　put
therein　some　of　the　most　useful　and　easily…handled　goods；　in　case
there　might　be　an　opportunity　for　conveying　them　away。　　By　the　time
this　was　done　and　the　waggon　pushed　back　and　locked　in；　Bob　had
returned　with　his　weapon；　somewhat　mortified　at　being　doomed　to　this
low　form　of　defence。　　The　miller　gave　his　son　a　parting　grasp　of　the
hand；　and　arranged　to　meet　him　at　King's…Bere　at　the　first
opportunity　if　the　news　were　true；　if　happily　false；　here　at　their
own　house。

'Bother　it　all！'　he　exclaimed；　looking　at　his　stock　of　flints。

'What？'　said　Bob。

'I've　got　no　ammunition：　　not　a　blessed　round！'

'Then　what's　the　use　of　going？'　asked　his　son。

The　miller　paused。　　'O；　I'll　go；'　he　said。　　'Perhaps　somebody　will
lend　me　a　little　if　I　get　into　a　hot　corner？'

'Lend　ye　a　little！　　Father；　you　was　always　so　simple！'　said　Bob
reproachfully。

'WellI　can　bagnet　a　few；　anyhow；'　said　the　miller。

The　bugle　had　been　blown　ere　this；　and　Loveday　the　father
disappeared　towards　the　place　of　assembly；　his　empty　cartridge…box
behind　him。　　Bob　seized　a　brace　of　loaded　pistols　which　he　had
brought　home　from　the　ship；　and；　armed　with　these　and　a　pike；　he
locked　the　door　and　sallied　out　again　towards　the　turnpike　road。

By　this　time　the　yeomanry　of　the　district　were　also　on　the　move；　and
among　them　Festus　Derriman；　who　was　sleeping　at　his　uncle's；　and　had
been　awakened　by　Cripplestraw。　　About　the　time　when　Bob　and　his
father　were　descending　from　the　beacon　the　stalwart　yeoman　was
standing　in　the　stable…yard　adjusting　his　straps；　while　Cripplestraw
saddled　the　horse。　　Festus　clanked　up　and　down；　looked　gloomily　at
the　beacon；　heard　the　retreating　carts　and　carriages；　and　called
Cripplestraw　to　him；　who　came　from　the　stable　leading　the　horse　at
the　same　moment　that　Uncle　Benjy　peeped　unobserved　from　a　mullioned
window　above　their　heads；　the　distant　light　of　the　beacon　fire
touching　up　his　features　to　the　complexion　of　an　old　brass
clock…face。

'I　think　that　before　I　start；　Cripplestraw；'　said　Festus；　whose
lurid　visage　was　undergoing　a　bleaching　process　curious　to　look
upon；　'you　shall　go　on　to　Budmouth；　and　make　a　bold　inquiry　whether
the　cowardly　enemy　is　on　shore　as　yet；　or　only　looming　in　the　bay。'

'I'd　go　in　a　moment；　sir；'　said　the　other；　'if　I　hadn't　my　bad　leg
again。　　I　should　have　joined　my　company　afore　this；　but　they　said　at
last　drill　that　I　was　too　old。　　So　I　shall　wait　up　in　the　hay…loft
for　tidings　as　soon　as　I　have　packed　you　off；　poor　gentleman！'

'Do　such　alarms　as　these；　Cripplestraw；　ever　happen　without
foundation？　　Buonaparte　is　a　wretch；　a　miserable　wretch；　and　this
may