the trumpet-major-第39部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


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　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　on