English
Theapparitionofafileofsoldiersringingdownthebutt-endsoftheirloadedmusketsonourdoor-step,causedthedinner-partytorisefromtableinconfusion,andcausedMrs.Joere-enteringthekitchenempty-handed,tostopshortandstare,inherwonderinglamentof“Graciousgoodnessgraciousme,what’sgone—withthe—pie!”
ThesergeantandIwereinthekitchenwhenMrs.Joestoodstaring;atwhichcrisisIpartiallyrecoveredtheuseofmysenses.
Itwasthesergeantwhohadspokentome,andhewasnowlookingroundatthecompany,withhishandcuffsinvitinglyextendedtowardstheminhisrighthand,andhisleftonmyshoulder.
“Excuseme,ladiesandgentleman,”saidthesergeant,“butasIhavementionedatthedoortothissmartyoungshaver”(whichhehadn’t),“Iamonachaseinthenameoftheking,andIwanttheblacksmith.”
“Andpraywhatmightyouwantwithhim?”retortedmysister,quicktoresenthisbeingwantedatall.
“Missis,”returnedthegallantsergeant,“speakingformyself,Ishouldreply,thehonourandpleasureofhisfinewife’sacquaintance;speakingfortheking,Ianswer,alittlejobdone.”
Thiswasreceivedasratherneatinthesergeant;insomuchthatMrPumblechookcriedaudibly,“Goodagain!”
“Yousee,blacksmith,”saidthesergeant,whohadbythistimepickedoutJoewithhiseye,“wehavehadanaccidentwiththese,andIfindthelockofoneof‘emgoeswrong,andthecouplingdon’tactpretty.
Astheyarewantedforimmediateservice,willyouthrowyoureyeoverthem?”
Joethrewhiseyeoverthem,andpronouncedthatthejobwouldnecessitatethelightingofhisforgefire,andwouldtakenearertwohoursthanone,“Willit?
Thenwillyousetaboutitatonce,blacksmith?”
saidtheoff-handsergeant,“asit’sonhisMajesty’sservice.
Andifmymencanbeatahandanywhere,they’llmakethemselvesuseful.”
Withthat,hecalledtohismen,whocametroopingintothekitchenoneafteranother,andpiledtheirarmsinacorner.
Andthentheystoodabout,assoldiersdo;now,withtheirhandslooselyclaspedbeforethem;now,restingakneeorashoulder;now,easingabeltorapouch;now,openingthedoortospitstifflyovertheirhighstocks,outintotheyard.
AllthesethingsIsawwithoutthenknowingthatIsawthem,forIwasinanagonyofapprehension.
But,beginningtoperceivethatthehandcuffswerenotforme,andthatthemilitaryhadsofargotthebetterofthepieastoputitinthebackground,Icollectedalittlemoreofmyscatteredwits.
“WouldyougivemetheTime?”saidthesergeant,addressinghimselftoMr.Pumblechook,astoamanwhoseappreciativepowersjustifiedtheinferencethathewasequaltothetime.
“It’sjustgonehalf-pasttwo.”
“That’snotsobad,”saidthesergeant,reflecting;“evenifIwasforcedtohaltherenightwohours,that’lldo.
Howfarmightyoucallyourselvesfromthemarshes,hereabouts?Notaboveamile,Ireckon?”
“Justamile,”saidMrs.Joe.
“That’lldo.Webegintocloseinupon‘emaboutdusk.Alittlebeforedusk,myordersare.That’lldo.”
“Convicts,sergeant?”askedMr.Wopsle,inamatter-of-courseway.
“Ay!”returnedthesergeant,“two.They’reprettywellknowntobeoutonthemarshesstill,andtheywon’ttrytogetclearof‘embeforedusk.Anybodyhereseenanythingofanysuchgame?”
Everybody,myselfexcepted,saidno,withconfidence.Nobodythoughtofme.
“Well!”saidthesergeant,“they’llfindthemselvestrappedinacircle,Iexpect,soonerthantheycounton.Now,blacksmith!Ifyou’reready,hisMajestytheKingis.”
Joehadgothiscoatandwaistcoatandcravatoff,andhisleatherapronon,andpassedintotheforge.
Oneofthesoldiersopeneditswoodenwindows,anotherlightedthefire,anotherturnedtoatthebellows,thereststoodroundtheblaze,whichwassoonroaring.
ThenJoebegantohammerandclink,hammerandclink,andwealllookedon.
Theinterestoftheimpendingpursuitnotonlyabsorbedthegeneralattention,butevenmademysisterliberal.
Shedrewapitcherofbeerfromthecask,forthesoldiers,andinvitedthesergeanttotakeaglassofbrandy.
ButMr.Pumblechooksaid,sharply,“Givehimwine,Mum.
I’llengagethere’snoTarinthat:”so,thesergeantthankedhimandsaidthatashepreferredhisdrinkwithouttar,hewouldtakewine,ifitwasequallyconvenient.
Whenitwasgivenhim,hedrankhisMajesty’shealthandComplimentsoftheSeason,andtookitallatamouthfulandsmackedhislips.
“Goodstuff,eh,sergeant?”saidMr.Pumblechook.
“I’lltellyousomething,”returnedthesergeant;“Isuspectthatstuff’sofyourproviding.”
Mr.Pumblechook,withafatsortoflaugh,said,“Ay,ay?Why?”
“Because,”returnedthesergeant,clappinghimontheshoulder,“you’reamanthatknowswhat’swhat.”
“D’yethinkso?”saidMr.Pumblechook,withhisformerlaugh.“Haveanotherglass!”
“Withyou.Hobandnob,”returnedthesergeant.
“Thetopofminetothefootofyours—thefootofyourstothetopofmine—Ringonce,ringtwice—thebesttuneontheMusicalGlasses!Yourhealth.
Mayyouliveathousandyears,andneverbeaworsejudgeoftherightsortthanyouareatthepresentmomentofyourlife!”
Thesergeanttossedoffhisglassagainandseemedquitereadyforanotherglass.
InoticedthatMr.Pumblechookinhishospitalityappearedtoforgetthathehadmadeapresentofthewine,buttookthebottlefromMrs.Joeandhadallthecreditofhandingitaboutinagushofjoviality.EvenIgotsome.
Andhewassoveryfreeofthewinethatheevencalledfortheotherbottle,andhandedthataboutwiththesameliberality,whenthefirstwasgone.
AsIwatchedthemwhiletheyallstoodclusteringabouttheforge,enjoyingthemselvessomuch,Ithoughtwhatterriblegoodsauceforadinnermyfugitivefriendonthemarsheswas.
Theyhadnotenjoyedthemselvesaquartersomuch,beforetheentertainmentwasbrightenedwiththeexcitementhefurnished.
Andnow,whentheywereallinlivelyanticipationof“thetwovillains”beingtaken,andwhenthebellowsseemedtoroarforthefugitives,thefiretoflareforthem,thesmoketohurryawayinpursuitofthem,Joetohammerandclinkforthem,andallthemurkyshadowsonthewalltoshakeattheminmenaceastheblazeroseandsankandthered-hotsparksdroppedanddied,thepaleafter-noonoutside,almostseemedinmypityingyoungfancytohaveturnedpaleontheiraccount,poorwretches.
Atlast,Joe’sjobwasdone,andtheringingandroaringstopped.
AsJoegotonhiscoat,hemusteredcouragetoproposethatsomeofusshouldgodownwiththesoldiersandseewhatcameofthehunt.
Mr.PumblechookandMr.Hubbledeclined,onthepleaofapipeandladies’society;butMr.Wopslesaidhewouldgo,ifJoewould.
Joesaidhewasagreeable,andwouldtakeme,ifMrs.Joeapproved.
Wenevershouldhavegotleavetogo,Iamsure,butforMrs.Joe’scuriositytoknowallaboutitandhowitended.
Asitwas,shemerelystipulated,“Ifyoubringtheboybackwithhisheadblowntobitsbyamusket,don’tlooktometoputittogetheragain.”
Thesergeanttookapoliteleaveoftheladies,andpartedfromMr.Pumblechookasfromacomrade;thoughIdoubtifhewerequiteasfullysensibleofthatgentleman’smeritsunderaridconditions,aswhensomethingmoistwasgoing.
Hismenresumedtheirmusketsandfellin.
Mr.Wopsle,Joe,andI,receivedstrictchargetokeepintherear,andtospeaknowordafterwereachedthemarshes.
Whenwewerealloutintherawairandweresteadilymovingtowardsourbusiness,ItreasonablywhisperedtoJoe,“Ihope,Joe,weshan’tfindthem.”
andJoewhisperedtome,“I’dgiveashillingiftheyhadcutandrun,Pip.”
Wewerejoinedbynostragglersfromthevillage,fortheweatherwascoldandthreatening,thewaydreary,thefootingbad,darknesscomingon,andthepeoplehadgoodfiresin-doorsandwerekeepingtheday.
Afewfaceshurriedtoglowingwindowsandlookedafterus,butnonecameout.
Wepassedthefinger-post,andheldstraightontothechurchyard.
There,wewerestoppedafewminutesbyasignalfromthesergeant’shand,whiletwoorthreeofhismendispersedthemselvesamongthegraves,andalsoexaminedtheporch.
Theycameinagainwithoutfindinganything,andthenwestruckoutontheopenmarshes,throughthegateatthesideofthechurchyard.
Abittersleetcamerattlingagainstushereontheeastwind,andJoetookmeonhisback.
NowthatwewereoutuponthedismalwildernesswheretheylittlethoughtIhadbeenwithineightorninehoursandhadseenbothmenhiding,Iconsideredforthefirsttime,withgreatdread,ifweshouldcomeuponthem,wouldmyparticularconvictsupposethatitwasIwhohadbroughtthesoldiersthere?
HehadaskedmeifIwasadeceivingimp,andhehadsaidIshouldbeafierceyounghoundifIjoinedthehuntagainsthim.
WouldhebelievethatIwasbothimpandhoundintreacherousearnest,andhadbetrayedhim?
Itwasofnouseaskingmyselfthisquestionnow.
ThereIwas,onJoe’sback,andtherewasJoebeneathme,chargingattheditcheslikeahunter,andstimulatingMr.WopslenottotumbleonhisRomannose,andtokeepupwithus.
Thesoldierswereinfrontofus,extendingintoaprettywidelinewithanintervalbetweenmanandman.
WeweretakingthecourseIhadbegunwith,andfromwhichIhaddivergedinthemist.
Eitherthemistwasnotoutagainyet,orthewindhaddispelledit.
Underthelowredglareofsunset,thebeacon,andthegibbet,andthemoundoftheBattery,andtheoppositeshoreoftheriver,wereplain,thoughallofawateryleadcolour.
WithmyheartthumpinglikeablacksmithatJoe’sbroadshoulder,Ilookedallaboutforanysignoftheconvicts.Icouldseenone,Icouldhearnone.
Mr.Wopslehadgreatlyalarmedmemorethanonce,byhisblowingandhardbreathing;butIknewthesoundsbythistime,andcoulddissociatethemfromtheobjectofpursuit.
Igotadreadfulstart,whenIthoughtIheardthefilestillgoing;butitwasonlyasheepbell.
Thesheepstoppedintheireatingandlookedtimidlyatus;andthecattle,theirheadsturnedfromthewindandsleet,staredangrilyasiftheyheldusresponsibleforbothannoyances;but,exceptthesethings,andtheshudderofthedyingdayineverybladeofgrass,therewasnobreakinthebleakstillnessofthemarshes.
ThesoldiersweremovingoninthedirectionoftheoldBattery,andweweremovingonalittlewaybehindthem,when,allofasudden,weallstopped.
For,therehadreachedusonthewingsofthewindandrain,alongshout.Itwasrepeated.
Itwasatadistancetowardstheeast,butitwaslongandloud.
Nay,thereseemedtobetwoormoreshoutsraisedtogether—ifonemightjudgefromaconfusioninthesound.
Tothiseffectthesergeantandthenearestmenwerespeakingundertheirbreath,whenJoeandIcameup.
Afteranothermoment’slistening,Joe(whowasagoodjudge)agreed,andMr.Wopsle(whowasabadjudge)agreed.
Thesergeant,adecisiveman,orderedthatthesoundshouldnotbeanswered,butthatthecourseshouldbechanged,andthathismenshouldmaketowardsit“atthedouble.”
Soweslantedtotheright(wheretheEastwas),andJoepoundedawaysowonderfully,thatIhadtoholdontighttokeepmyseat.
Itwasarunindeednow,andwhatJoecalled,intheonlytwowordshespokeallthetime,“aWinder.”
Downbanksandupbanks,andovergates,andsplashingintodykes,andbreakingamongcoarserushes:nomancaredwherehewent.
Aswecamenearertotheshouting,itbecamemoreandmoreapparentthatitwasmadebymorethanonevoice.
Sometimes,itseemedtostopaltogether,andthenthesoldiersstopped.
Whenitbrokeoutagain,thesoldiersmadeforitatagreaterratethanever,andweafterthem.
Afterawhile,wehadsorunitdown,thatwecouldhearonevoicecalling“Murder!”andanothervoice,“Convicts!Runaways!Guard!Thiswayfortherunawayconvicts!”
Thenbothvoiceswouldseemtobestifledinastruggle,andthenwouldbreakoutagain.
Andwhenithadcometothis,thesoldiersranlikedeer,andJoetoo.
Thesergeantraninfirst,whenwehadrunthenoisequitedown,andtwoofhismenranincloseuponhim.Theirpieceswerecockedandlevelledwhenweallranin.
“Herearebothmen!”pantedthesergeant,strugglingatthebottomofaditch.“Surrender,youtwo!andconfoundyoufortwowildbeasts!Comeasunder!”
Waterwassplashing,andmudwasflying,andoathswerebeingsworn,andblowswerebeingstruck,whensomemoremenwentdownintotheditchtohelpthesergeant,anddraggedout,separately,myconvictandtheotherone.
Bothwerebleedingandpantingandexecratingandstruggling;butofcourseIknewthembothdirectly.
“Mind!”saidmyconvict,wipingbloodfromhisfacewithhisraggedsleeves,andshakingtornhairfromhisfingers:“Itookhim!Igivehimuptoyou!Mindthat!”
“It’snotmuchtobeparticularabout,”saidthesergeant;“it’lldoyousmallgood,myman,beinginthesameplightyourself.Handcuffsthere!”
“Idon’texpectittodomeanygood.Idon’twantittodomemoregoodthanitdoesnow,”saidmyconvict,withagreedylaugh.“Itookhim.Heknowsit.That’senoughforme.”
Theotherconvictwaslividtolookat,and,inadditiontotheoldbruisedleftsideofhisface,seemedtobebruisedandtornallover.
Hecouldnotsomuchasgethisbreathtospeak,untiltheywerebothseparatelyhandcuffed,butleaneduponasoldiertokeephimselffromfalling.
“Takenotice,guard—hetriedtomurderme,”werehisfirstwords.
“Triedtomurderhim?”saidmyconvict,disdainfully.“Try,andnotdoit?
Itookhim,andgiv’himup;that’swhatIdone.
Inotonlypreventedhimgettingoffthemarshes,butIdraggedhimhere—draggedhimthisfaronhiswayback.
He’sagentleman,ifyouplease,thisvillain.
Now,theHulkshasgotitsgentlemanagain,throughme.Murderhim?
Worthmywhile,too,tomurderhim,whenIcoulddoworseanddraghimback!”
Theotheronestillgasped,“Hetried—hetried—to—murderme.Bear—bearwitness.”
“Lookeehere!”saidmyconvicttothesergeant.
“Single-handedIgotclearoftheprison-ship;ImadeadashandIdoneit.
Icouldha’gotclearofthesedeath-coldflatslikewise—lookatmyleg:youwon’tfindmuchirononit—ifIhadn’tmadethediscoverythathewashere.Lethimgofree?
LethimprofitbythemeansasIfoundout?
Lethimmakeatoolofmeafreshandagain?Oncemore?No,no,no.
IfIhaddiedatthebottomthere;”andhemadeanemphaticswingattheditchwithhismanacledhands;“I’dhaveheldtohimwiththatgrip,thatyoushouldhavebeensafetofindhiminmyhold.”
Theotherfugitive,whowasevidentlyinextremehorrorofhiscompanion,repeated,“Hetriedtomurderme.Ishouldhavebeenadeadmanifyouhadnotcomeup.”
“Helies!”saidmyconvict,withfierceenergy.“He’saliarborn,andhe’lldiealiar.Lookathisface;ain’titwrittenthere?Lethimturnthoseeyesofhisonme.Idefyhimtodoit.”
Theother,withaneffortatascornfulsmile—whichcouldnot,however,collectthenervousworkingofhismouthintoanysetexpression—lookedatthesoldiers,andlookedaboutatthemarshesandatthesky,butcertainlydidnotlookatthespeaker.
“Doyouseehim?”pursuedmyconvict.“Doyouseewhatavillainheis?Doyouseethosegrovellingandwanderingeyes?That’showhelookedwhenweweretriedtogether.Heneverlookedatme.”
Theother,alwaysworkingandworkinghisdrylipsandturninghiseyesrestlesslyabouthimfarandnear,didatlastturnthemforamomentonthespeaker,withthewords,“Youarenotmuchtolookat,”andwithahalf-tauntingglanceattheboundhands.
Atthatpoint,myconvictbecamesofranticallyexasperated,thathewouldhaverusheduponhimbutfortheinterpositionofthesoldiers.
“Didn’tItellyou,”saidtheotherconvictthen,“thathewouldmurderme,ifhecould?”
Andanyonecouldseethatheshookwithfear,andthattherebrokeoutuponhislips,curiouswhiteflakes,likethinsnow.
“Enoughofthisparley,”saidthesergeant.“Lightthosetorches.”
Asoneofthesoldiers,whocarriedabasketinlieuofagun,wentdownonhiskneetoopenit,myconvictlookedroundhimforthefirsttime,andsawme.
IhadalightedfromJoe’sbackonthebrinkoftheditchwhenwecameup,andhadnotmovedsince.
Ilookedathimeagerlywhenhelookedatme,andslightlymovedmyhandsandshookmyhead.
Ihadbeenwaitingforhimtoseeme,thatImighttrytoassurehimofmyinnocence.
Itwasnotatallexpressedtomethatheevencomprehendedmyintention,forhegavemealookthatIdidnotunderstand,anditallpassedinamoment.
Butifhehadlookedatmeforanhourorforaday,Icouldnothaverememberedhisfaceeverafterwards,ashavingbeenmoreattentive.
Thesoldierwiththebasketsoongotalight,andlightedthreeorfourtorches,andtookonehimselfanddistributedtheothers.
Ithadbeenalmostdarkbefore,butnowitseemedquitedark,andsoonafterwardsverydark.
Beforewedepartedfromthatspot,foursoldiersstandinginaring,firedtwiceintotheair.
Presentlywesawothertorcheskindledatsomedistancebehindus,andothersonthemarshesontheoppositebankoftheriver.“Allright,”saidthesergeant.“March.”
Wehadnotgonefarwhenthreecannonwerefiredaheadofuswithasoundthatseemedtoburstsomethinginsidemyear.
“Youareexpectedonboard,”saidthesergeanttomyconvict;“theyknowyouarecoming.Don’tstraggle,myman.Closeuphere.”
Thetwowerekeptapart,andeachwalkedsurroundedbyaseparateguard.
IhadholdofJoe’shandnow,andJoecarriedoneofthetorches.
Mr.Wopslehadbeenforgoingback,butJoewasresolvedtoseeitout,sowewentonwiththeparty.
Therewasareasonablygoodpathnow,mostlyontheedgeoftheriver,withadivergencehereandtherewhereadykecame,withaminiaturewindmillonitandamuddysluice-gate.
WhenIlookedround,Icouldseetheotherlightscominginafterus.
Thetorcheswecarried,droppedgreatblotchesoffireuponthetrack,andIcouldseethose,too,lyingsmokingandflaring.
Icouldseenothingelsebutblackdarkness.
Ourlightswarmedtheairaboutuswiththeirpitchyblaze,andthetwoprisonersseemedrathertolikethat,astheylimpedalonginthemidstofthemuskets.
Wecouldnotgofast,becauseoftheirlameness;andtheyweresospent,thattwoorthreetimeswehadtohaltwhiletheyrested.
Afteranhourorsoofthistravelling,wecametoaroughwoodenhutandalanding-place.
Therewasaguardinthehut,andtheychallenged,andthesergeantanswered.
Then,wewentintothehutwheretherewasasmelloftobaccoandwhitewash,andabrightfire,andalamp,andastandofmuskets,andadrum,andalowwoodenbedstead,likeanovergrownmanglewithoutthemachinery,capableofholdingaboutadozensoldiersallatonce.
Threeorfoursoldierswholayuponitintheirgreat-coats,werenotmuchinterestedinus,butjustliftedtheirheadsandtookasleepystare,andthenlaydownagain.
Thesergeantmadesomekindofreport,andsomeentryinabook,andthentheconvictwhomIcalltheotherconvictwasdraftedoffwithhisguard,togoonboardfirst.
Myconvictneverlookedatme,exceptthatonce.
Whilewestoodinthehut,hestoodbeforethefirelookingthoughtfullyatit,orputtinguphisfeetbyturnsuponthehob,andlookingthoughtfullyatthemasifhepitiedthemfortheirrecentadventures.
Suddenly,heturnedtothesergeant,andremarked:
“Iwishtosaysomethingrespectingthisescape.Itmaypreventsomepersonslayingundersuspicionalongerme.”
“Youcansaywhatyoulike,”returnedthesergeant,standingcoollylookingathimwithhisarmsfolded,“butyouhavenocalltosayithere.
You’llhaveopportunityenoughtosayaboutit,andhearaboutit,beforeit’sdonewith,youknow.”
“Iknow,butthisisanotherpint,aseparatematter.Amancan’tstarve;atleastIcan’t.Itooksomewittles,upatthewillageoveryonder—wherethechurchstandsa’mostoutonthemarshes.”
“Youmeanstole,”saidthesergeant.
“AndI’lltellyouwherefrom.Fromtheblacksmith’s.”
“Halloa!”saidthesergeant,staringatJoe.
“Halloa,Pip!”saidJoe,staringatme.
“Itwassomebrokenwittles—that’swhatitwas—andadramofliquor,andapie.”
“Haveyouhappenedtomisssuchanarticleasapie,blacksmith?”askedthesergeant,confidentially.
“Mywifedid,attheverymomentwhenyoucamein.Don’tyouknow,Pip?”
“So,”saidmyconvict,turninghiseyesonJoeinamoodymanner,andwithouttheleastglanceatme;“soyou’retheblacksmith,areyou?ThanI’msorrytosay,I’veeatyourpie.”
“Godknowsyou’rewelcometoit—sofarasitwasevermine,”returnedJoe,withasavingremembranceofMrs.Joe.
“Wedon’tknowwhatyouhavedone,butwewouldn’thaveyoustarvedtodeathforit,poormiserablefellow-creatur.—Wouldus,Pip?”
ThesomethingthatIhadnoticedbefore,clickedintheman’sthroatagain,andheturnedhisback.
Theboathadreturned,andhisguardwereready,sowefollowedhimtothelanding-placemadeofroughstakesandstones,andsawhimputintotheboat,whichwasrowedbyacrewofconvictslikehimself.
Nooneseemedsurprisedtoseehim,orinterestedinseeinghim,orgladtoseehim,orsorrytoseehim,orspokeaword,exceptthatsomebodyintheboatgrowledasiftodogs,“Giveway,you!”
whichwasthesignalforthedipoftheoars.
Bythelightofthetorches,wesawtheblackHulklyingoutalittlewayfromthemudoftheshore,likeawickedNoah’sark.
Cribbedandbarredandmooredbymassiverustychains,theprison-shipseemedinmyyoungeyestobeironedliketheprisoners.
Wesawtheboatgoalongside,andwesawhimtakenupthesideanddisappear.
Then,theendsofthetorcheswereflunghissingintothewater,andwentout,asifitwerealloverwithhim.
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