the trumpet-major-第44节

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'Do　such　alarms　as　these；　Cripplestraw；　ever　happen　without
foundation？　　Buonaparte　is　a　wretch；　a　miserable　wretch；　and　this
may　be　only　a　false　alarm　to　disappoint　such　as　me？'

'O　no；　sir；　O　no！'

'But　sometimes　there　are　false　alarms？'

'Well；　sir；　yes。　　There　was　a　pretended　sally　o'　gunboats　last
year。'

'And　was　there　nothing　else　pretendedsomething　more　like　this；　for
instance？'

Cripplestraw　shook　his　head。　　'I　notice　yer　modesty；　Mr。　Festus；　in
making　light　of　things。　　But　there　never　was；　sir。　　You　may　depend
upon　it　he's　come。　　Thank　God；　my　duty　as　a　Local　don't　require　me
to　go　to　the　front；　but　only　the　valiant　men　like　my　master。　　Ah；　if
Boney　could　only　see　'ee　now；　sir；　he'd　know　too　well　there　is
nothing　to　be　got　from　such　a　determined　skilful　officer　but　blows
and　musket…balls！'

'Yes；　yes。　　Cripplestraw；　if　I　ride　off　to　Budmouth　and　meet　'em；
all　my　training　will　be　lost。　　No　skill　is　required　as　a　forlorn
hope。'

'True；　that's　a　point；　sir。　　You　would　outshine　'em　all；　and　be
picked　off　at　the　very　beginning　as　a　too…dangerous　brave　man。'

'But　if　I　stay　here　and　urge　on　the　faint…hearted　ones；　or　get　up
into　the　turret…stair　by　that　gateway；　and　pop　at　the　invaders
through　the　loophole；　I　shouldn't　be　so　completely　wasted；　should
I？'

'You　would　not；　Mr。　Derriman。　　But；　as　you　was　going　to　say　next；
the　fire　in　yer　veins　won't　let　ye　do　that。　　You　are　valiant；　very
good：　　you　don't　want　to　husband　yer　valiance　at　home。　　The　arg'ment
is　plain。'

'If　my　birth　had　been　more　obscure；'　murmured　the　yeoman；　'and　I　had
only　been　in　the　militia；　for　instance；　or　among　the　humble　pikemen；
so　much　wouldn't　have　been　expected　of　meof　my　fiery　nature。
Cripplestraw；　is　there　a　drop　of　brandy　to　be　got　at　in　the　house？
I　don't　feel　very　well。'

'Dear　nephew；'　said　the　old　gentleman　from　above；　whom　neither　of
the　others　had　as　yet　noticed；　'I　haven't　any　spirits　openedso
unfortunate！　　But　there's　a　beautiful　barrel　of　crab…apple　cider　in
draught；　and　there's　some　cold　tea　from　last　night。'

'What；　is　he　listening？'　said　Festus；　staring　up。　　'Now　I　warrant
how　glad　he　is　to　see　me　forced　to　gocalled　out　of　bed　without
breakfast；　and　he　quite　safe；　and　sure　to　escape　because　he's　an　old
man！Cripplestraw；　I　like　being　in　the　yeomanry　cavalry；　but　I　wish
I　hadn't　been　in　the　ranks；　I　wish　I　had　been　only　the　surgeon；　to
stay　in　the　rear　while　the　bodies　are　brought　back　to　himI　mean；　I
should　have　thrown　my　heart　at　such　a　time　as　this　more　into　the
labour　of　restoring　wounded　men　and　joining　their　shattered　limbs
togetheru…u…ugh！more　than　I　can　into　causing　the　woundsI　am
too　humane；　Cripplestraw；　for　the　ranks！'

'Yes；　yes；'　said　his　companion；　depressing　his　spirits　to　a　kindred
level。　　'And　yet；　such　is　fate；　that；　instead　of　joining　men's　limbs
together；　you'll　have　to　get　your　own　joinedpoor　young　sojer！all
through　having　such　a　warlike　soul。'

'Yes；'　murmured　Festus；　and　paused。　　'You　can't　think　how　strange　I
feel　here；　Cripplestraw；'　he　continued；　laying　his　hand　upon　the
centre　buttons　of　his　waistcoat。　　'How　I　do　wish　I　was　only　the
surgeon！'

He　slowly　mounted；　and　Uncle　Benjy；　in　the　meantime；　sang　to　himself
as　he　looked　on；　'TWEN…TY…THREE　AND　HALF　FROM　N。W。　　SIX…TEEN　AND
THREE…QUAR…TERS　FROM　N。E。'

'What's　that　old　mummy　singing？'　said　Festus　savagely。

'Only　a　hymn　for　preservation　from　our　enemies；　dear　nephew；'　meekly
replied　the　farmer；　who　had　heard　the　remark。　　'TWEN…TY…THREE　AND
HALF　FROM　N。W。'

Festus　allowed　his　horse　to　move　on　a　few　paces；　and　then　turned
again；　as　if　struck　by　a　happy　invention。　　'Cripplestraw；'　he　began；
with　an　artificial　laugh；　'I　am　obliged　to　confess；　after　allI
must　see　her！　　'Tisn't　nature　that　makes　me　draw　back'tis　love。　　I
must　go　and　look　for　her。'

'A　woman；　sir？'

'I　didn't　want　to　confess　it；　but　'tis　a　woman。　　Strange　that　I
should　be　drawn　so　entirely　against　my　natural　wish　to　rush　at　'em！'

Cripplestraw；　seeing　which　way　the　wind　blew；　found　it　advisable　to
blow　in　harmony。　　'Ah；　now　at　last　I　see；　sir！　　Spite　that　few　men
live　that　be　worthy　to　command　ye；　spite　that　you　could　rush　on；
marshal　the　troops　to　victory；　as　I　may　say；　but　thenwhat　of　it？
there's　the　unhappy　fate　of　being　smit　with　the　eyes　of　a　woman；　and
you　are　unmanned！　　Maister　Derriman；　who　is　himself；　when　he's　got　a
woman　round　his　neck　like　a　millstone？'

'It　is　something　like　that。'

'I　feel　the　case。　　Be　you　valiant？I　know；　of　course；　the　words
being　a　matter　of　formbe　you　valiant；　I　ask？　　Yes；　of　course。
Then　don't　you　waste　it　in　the　open　field。　　Hoard　it　up；　I　say；　sir；
for　a　higher　class　of　warthe　defence　of　yer　adorable　lady。　　Think
what　you　owe　her　at　this　terrible　time！　　Now；　Maister　Derriman；　once
more　I　ask　ye　to　cast　off　that　first　haughty　wish　to　rush　to
Budmouth；　and　to　go　where　your　mis'ess　is　defenceless　and　alone。'

'I　will；　Cripplestraw；　now　you　put　it　like　that！'

'Thank　ye；　thank　ye　heartily；　Maister　Derriman。　　Go　now　and　hide
with　her。'

'But　can　I？　　Now；　hang　flattery！can　a　man　hide　without　a　stain？
Of　course　I　would　not　hide　in　any　mean　sense；　no；　not　I！'

'If　you　be　in　love；　'tis　plain　you　may；　since　it　is　not　your　own
life；　but　another's；　that　you　are　concerned　for；　and　you　only　save
your　own　because　it　can't　be　helped。'

''Tis　true；　Cripplestraw；　in　a　sense。　　But　will　it　be　understood
that　way？　　Will　they　see　it　as　a　brave　hiding？'

'Now；　sir；　if　you　had　not　been　in　love　I　own　to　ye　that　hiding　would
look　queer；　but　being　to　save　the　tears；　groans；　fits；　swowndings；
and　perhaps　death　of　a　comely　young　woman；　yer　principle　is　good；
you　honourably　retreat　because　you　be　too　gallant　to　advance。　　This
sounds　strange；　ye　may　say；　sir；　but　it　is　plain　enough　to　less
fiery　minds。'

Festus　did　for　a　moment　try　to　uncover　his　teeth　in　a　natural　smile；
but　it　died　away。　　'Cripplestraw；　you　flatter　me；　or　do　you　mean　it？
Well；　there's　truth　in　it。　　I　am　more　gallant　in　going　to　her　than
in　marching　to　the　shore。　　But　we　cannot　be　too　careful　about　our
good　names；　we　soldiers。　　I　must　not　be　seen。　　I'm　off。'

Cripplestraw　opened　the　hurdle　which　closed　the　arch　under　the
portico　gateway；　and　Festus　passed　under；　Uncle　Benjamin　singing；
TWEN…TY…THREE　AND　A　HALF　FROM　N。W。　with　a　sort　of　sublime　ecstasy；
feeling；　as　Festus　had　observed；　that　his　money　was　safe；　and　that
the　French　would　not　personally　molest　an　old　man　in　such　a　ragged；
mildewed　coat　as　that　he　wore；　which　he　had　taken　the　precaution　to
borrow　from　a　scarecrow　in　one　of　his　fields　for　the　purpose。

Festus　rode　on　full　of　his　intention　to　seek　out　Anne；　and　under
cover　of　protecting　her　retreat　accompany　her　to　King's…Bere；　where
he　knew　the　Lovedays　had　relatives。　　In　the　lane　he　met　Granny
Seamore；　who；　having　packed　up　all　her　possessions　in　a　small
basket；　was　placidly　retreating　to　the　mountains　till　all　should　be
over。

'Well；　granny；　have　ye　seen　the　French？'　asked　Festus。

'No；'　she　said；　looking　up　at　him　through　her　brazen　spectacles。
'If　I　had　I　shouldn't　ha'　seed　thee！'

'Faugh！'　replied　the　yeoman；　and　rode　on。　　Just　as　he　reached　the
old　road；　which　he　had　intended　merely　to　cross　and　avoid；　his
countenance　fell。　　Some　troops　of　regulars；　who　appeared　to　be
dragoons；　were　rattling　along　the　road。　　Festus　hastened　towards　an
opposite　gate；　so　as　to　get　within　the　field　before　they　should　see
him；　but；　as　ill…luck　would　have　it；　as　soon　as　he　got　inside；　a
party　of　six　or　seven　of　his　own　yeomanry　troop　were　straggling
across　the　same　field　and　making　for　the　spot　where　he　was。　　The
dragoons　passed　without　seeing　him；　but　when　he　turned　out　into　the
road　again　it　was　impossible　to　retreat　towards　Overcombe　village
because　of　the　yeomen。　　So　he　rode　straight　on；　and　heard　them
coming　at　his　heels。　　There　was　no　other　gate；　and　the　highway　soon
became　as　straight　as　a　bowstring。　　Unable　thus　to　turn　without
meeting　them；　and　caught　like　an　eel　in　a　water…pipe；　Festus　drew
nearer　and　nearer　to　the　fateful　shore。　　But　he　did　not　relinquish
hope。　　Just　ahead　there　were　cross…roads；　and　he　might　have　a　chance
of　slipping　down　one　of　them　without　being　seen。　　On　reaching　the
spot　he　found　that　he　was　not　alone。　　A　horseman　had　come　up　the
right…hand　lane　and　drawn　rein。　　It　was　an　officer　of　the　German
legion；　and　seeing　Festus　he　held　up　his　hand。　　Festus　rode　up　to
him　and　saluted。

'It　ist　false　report！'　said　the　officer。

Festus　was　a　man　again。　　He　felt　that　nothing　was　too　much　for　him。
The　officer；　after　some　explanation　of　the　cause　of　alarm；　said　that
he　was　going　across　to　the　road　which　led　by　the　moor；　to　stop　the
troops　and　volunteers　converging　from　that　direction；　upon　which
Festus　offered　to　give　information　along　the　Casterbridge　road。　　The
German　crossed　over；　and　was　soon　out　of　sight　in　the　lane；　while
Festus　turned　back　upon　the　way　by　which　he　had　come。　　The　party　of
yeomanry　cavalry　was　rapidly　drawing　near；　and　he　soon　recognized
among　them　the　excited　voices　of　Stubb　of　Duddle　Hole；　Noakes　of
Muckleford；　and　other　comrades　of　his　orgies　at　the　hall。　　It　was　a
magnificent　opportunity；　and　Festus　drew　his