the trumpet-major-第53节

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the　trees　and　the　hill；　and　she　leaned　upon　its　sill　listening
intently。　　She　could　have　heard　any　strange　sound　distinctly　enough
in　one　direction；　but　in　the　other　all　low　noises　were　absorbed　in
the　patter　of　the　mill；　and　the　rush　of　water　down　the　race。

However；　what　she　heard　came　from　the　hitherto　silent　side；　and　was
intelligible　in　a　moment　as　being　the　footsteps　of　men。　　She　tried
to　think　they　were　some　late　stragglers　from　Budmouth。　　Alas！　no；
the　tramp　was　too　regular　for　that　of　villagers。　　She　hastily
turned；　extinguished　the　candle；　and　listened　again。　　As　they　were
on　the　main　road　there　was；　after　all；　every　probability　that　the
party　would　pass　the　bridge　which　gave　access　to　the　mill　court
without　turning　in　upon　it；　or　even　noticing　that　such　an　entrance
existed。　　In　this　again　she　was　disappointed：　　they　crossed　into　the
front　without　a　pause。　　The　pulsations　of　her　heart　became　a　turmoil
now；　for　why　should　these　men；　if　they　were　the　press…gang；　and
strangers　to　the　locality；　have　supposed　that　a　sailor　was　to　be
found　here；　the　younger　of　the　two　millers　Loveday　being　never　seen
now　in　any　garb　which　could　suggest　that　he　was　other　than　a　miller
pure；　like　his　father？　　One　of　the　men　spoke。

'I　am　not　sure　that　we　are　in　the　right　place；'　he　said。

'This　is　a　mill；　anyhow；'　said　another。

'There's　lots　about　here。'

'Then　come　this　way　a　moment　with　your　light。'

Two　of　the　group　went　towards　the　cart…house　on　the　opposite　side　of
the　yard；　and　when　they　reached　it　a　dark　lantern　was　opened；　the
rays　being　directed　upon　the　front　of　the　miller's　waggon。

'〃Loveday　and　Son；　Overcombe　Mill；〃'　continued　the　man；　reading　from
the　waggon。　　'〃Son；〃　you　see；　is　lately　painted　in。　　That's　our
man。'

He　moved　to　turn　off　the　light；　but　before　he　had　done　so　it　flashed
over　the　forms　of　the　speakers；　and　revealed　a　sergeant；　a　naval
officer；　and　a　file　of　marines。

Anne　waited　to　see　no　more。　　When　Bob　stayed　up　to　grind；　as　he　was
doing　to…night；　he　often　sat　in　his　room　instead　of　remaining　all
the　time　in　the　mill；　and　this　room　was　an　isolated　chamber　over　the
bakehouse；　which　could　not　be　reached　without　going　downstairs　and
ascending　the　step…ladder　that　served　for　his　staircase。　　Anne
descended　in　the　dark；　clambered　up　the　ladder；　and　saw　that　light
strayed　through　the　chink　below　the　door。　　His　window　faced　towards
the　garden；　and　hence　the　light　could　not　as　yet　have　been　seen　by
the　press…gang。

'Bob；　dear　Bob！'　she　said；　through　the　keyhole。　　'Put　out　your
light；　and　run　out　of　the　back…door！'

'Why？'　said　Bob；　leisurely　knocking　the　ashes　from　the　pipe　he　had
been　smoking。

'The　press…gang！'

'They　have　come？　　By　God！　who　can　have　blown　upon　me？　　All　right；
dearest。　　I'm　game。'

Anne；　scarcely　knowing　what　she　did；　descended　the　ladder　and　ran　to
the　back…door；　hastily　unbolting　it　to　save　Bob's　time；　and　gently
opening　it　in　readiness　for　him。　　She　had　no　sooner　done　this　than
she　felt　hands　laid　upon　her　shoulder　from　without；　and　a　voice
exclaiming；　'That's　how　we　doos　itquite　an　obleeging　young　man！'

Though　the　hands　held　her　rather　roughly；　Anne　did　not　mind　for
herself；　and　turning　she　cried　desperately；　in　tones　intended　to
reach　Bob's　ears：　　'They　are　at　the　back…door；　try　the　front！'

But　inexperienced　Miss　Garland　little　knew　the　shrewd　habits　of　the
gentlemen　she　had　to　deal　with；　who；　well　used　to　this　sort　of
pastime；　had　already　posted　themselves　at　every　outlet　from　the
premises。

'Bring　the　lantern；'　shouted　the　fellow　who　held　her。　　'Why'tis　a
girl！　　I　half　thought　soHere　is　a　way　in；'　he　continued　to　his
comrades；　hastening　to　the　foot　of　the　ladder　which　led　to　Bob's
room。

'What　d'ye　want？'　said　Bob；　quietly　opening　the　door；　and　showing
himself　still　radiant　in　the　full　dress　that　he　had　worn　with　such
effect　at　the　Theatre　Royal；　which　he　had　been　about　to　change　for
his　mill　suit　when　Anne　gave　the　alarm。

'This　gentleman　can't　be　the　right　one；'　observed　a　marine；　rather
impressed　by　Bob's　appearance。

'Yes；　yes；　that's　the　man；'　said　the　sergeant。　　'Now　take　it
quietly；　my　young　cock…o'…wax。　　You　look　as　if　you　meant　to；　and
'tis　wise　of　ye。'

'Where　are　you　going　to　take　me？'　said　Bob。

'Only　aboard　the　Black　Diamond。　　If　you　choose　to　take　the　bounty
and　come　voluntarily；　you'll　be　allowed　to　go　ashore　whenever　your
ship's　in　port。　　If　you　don't；　and　we've　got　to　pinion　ye；　you　will
not　have　your　liberty　at　all。　　As　you　must　come；　willy…nilly；　you'll
do　the　first　if　you've　any　brains　whatever。'

Bob's　temper　began　to　rise。　　'Don't　you　talk　so　large；　about　your
pinioning；　my　man。　　When　I've　settled'

'Now　or　never；　young　blow…hard；'　interrupted　his　informant。

'Come；　what　jabber　is　this　going　on？'　said　the　lieutenant；　stepping
forward。　　'Bring　your　man。'

One　of　the　marines　set　foot　on　the　ladder；　but　at　the　same　moment　a
shoe　from　Bob's　hand　hit　the　lantern　with　well…aimed　directness；
knocking　it　clean　out　of　the　grasp　of　the　man　who　held　it。　　In　spite
of　the　darkness　they　began　to　scramble　up　the　ladder。　　Bob　thereupon
shut　the　door；　which　being　but　of　slight　construction；　was　as　he
knew　only　a　momentary　defence。　　But　it　gained　him　time　enough　to
open　the　window；　gather　up　his　legs　upon　the　sill；　and　spring　across
into　the　apple…tree　growing　without。　　He　alighted　without　much　hurt
beyond　a　few　scratches　from　the　boughs；　a　shower　of　falling　apples
testifying　to　the　force　of　his　leap。

'Here　he　is！'　shouted　several　below　who　had　seen　Bob's　figure　flying
like　a　raven's　across　the　sky。

There　was　stillness　for　a　moment　in　the　tree。　　Then　the　fugitive
made　haste　to　climb　out　upon　a　low…hanging　branch　towards　the
garden；　at　which　the　men　beneath　all　rushed　in　that　direction　to
catch　him　as　he　dropped；　saying；　'You　may　as　well　come　down；　old
boy。　　'Twas　a　spry　jump；　and　we　give　ye　credit　for　't。'

The　latter　movement　of　Loveday　had　been　a　mere　feint。　　Partly　hidden
by　the　leaves　he　glided　back　to　the　other　part　of　the　tree；　from
whence　it　was　easy　to　jump　upon　a　thatch…covered　out…house。　　This
intention　they　did　not　appear　to　suspect；　which　gave　him　the
opportunity　of　sliding　down　the　slope　and　entering　the　back　door　of
the　mill。

'He's　here；　he's　here！'　the　men　exclaimed；　running　back　from　the
tree。

By　this　time　they　had　obtained　another　light；　and　pursued　him
closely　along　the　back　quarters　of　the　mill。　　Bob　had　entered　the
lower　room；　seized　hold　of　the　chain　by　which　the　flour…sacks　were
hoisted　from　story　to　story　by　connexion　with　the　mill…wheel；　and
pulled　the　rope　that　hung　alongside　for　the　purpose　of　throwing　it
into　gear。　　The　foremost　pursuers　arrived　just　in　time　to　see
Captain　Bob's　legs　and　shoe…buckles　vanishing　through　the　trap…door
in　the　joists　overhead；　his　person　having　been　whirled　up　by　the
machinery　like　any　bag　of　flour；　and　the　trap　falling　to　behind　him。

'He's　gone　up　by　the　hoist！'　said　the　sergeant；　running　up　the
ladder　in　the　corner　to　the　next　floor；　and　elevating　the　light　just
in　time　to　see　Bob's　suspended　figure　ascending　in　the　same　way
through　the　same　sort　of　trap　into　the　second　floor。　　The　second
trap　also　fell　together　behind　him；　and　he　was　lost　to　view　as
before。

It　was　more　difficult　to　follow　now；　there　was　only　a　flimsy　little
ladder；　and　the　men　ascended　cautiously。　　When　they　stepped　out　upon
the　loft　it　was　empty。

'He　must　ha'　let　go　here；'　said　one　of　the　marines；　who　knew　more
about　mills　than　the　others。　　'If　he　had　held　fast　a　moment　longer；
he　would　have　been　dashed　against　that　beam。'

They　looked　up。　　The　hook　by　which　Bob　had　held　on　had　ascended　to
the　roof；　and　was　winding　round　the　cylinder。　　Nothing　was　visible
elsewhere　but　boarded　divisions　like　the　stalls　of　a　stable；　on　each
side　of　the　stage　they　stood　upon；　these　compartments　being　more　or
less　heaped　up　with　wheat　and　barley　in　the　grain。

'Perhaps　he's　buried　himself　in　the　corn。'

The　whole　crew　jumped　into　the　corn…bins；　and　stirred　about　their
yellow　contents；　but　neither　arm；　leg；　nor　coat…tail　was　uncovered。
They　removed　sacks；　peeped　among　the　rafters　of　the　roof；　but　to　no
purpose。　　The　lieutenant　began　to　fume　at　the　loss　of　time。

'What　cursed　fools　to　let　the　man　go！　　Why；　look　here；　what's　this？'
He　had　opened　the　door　by　which　sacks　were　taken　in　from　waggons
without；　and　dangling　from　the　cat…head　projecting　above　it　was　the
rope　used　in　lifting　them。　　'There's　the　way　he　went　down；'　the
officer　continued。　　'The　man's　gone。'

Amidst　mumblings　and　curses　the　gang　descended　the　pair　of　ladders
and　came　into　the　open　air；　but　Captain　Bob　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。
When　they　reached　the　front　door　of　the　house　the　miller　was
standing　on　the　threshold；　half　dressed。

'Your　son　is　a　clever　fellow；　miller；'　said　the　lieutenant；　'but　it
would　have　been　much　better　for　him　if　he　had　come　quiet。'

'That's　a　matter　of　opinion；'　said　Loveday。

'I　have　no　doubt　that　he's　in　the　house。'

'He　may　be；　and　he　may　not。'

'Do　you　know　where　he　is？'

'I　do　not；　and　if　I　did　I　shouldn't　tell。'

'Naturally。'

'I　heard　steps　beating　up　the　road；　sir；'　said　the　sergeant。

They