the trumpet-major-第40部分

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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　sword。　　When　they　were
within　speaking　distance　he　reined　round　his　charger's　head　to
Budmouth　and　shouted；　'On；　comrades；　on！　　I　am　waiting　for　you。　　You
have　been　a　long　time　getting　up　with　me；　seeing　the　glorious　nature
of　our　deeds　to…day！'

'Well　said；　Derriman；　well　said！'　replied　the　foremost　of　the
riders。　　'Have　you　heard　anything　new？'

'Only　that　he's　here　with　his　tens　of　thousands；　and　that　we　are　to
ride　to　meet　him　sword　in　hand　as　soon　as　we　have　assembled　in　the
town　ahead　here。'

'O　Lord！'　said　Noakes；　with　a　slight　falling　of　the　lower　jaw。

'The　man　who　quails　now　is　unworthy　of　the　name　of　yeoman；'　said
Festus；　still　keeping　ahead　of　the　other　troopers　and　holding　up　his
sword　to　the　sun。　　'O　Noakes；　fie；　fie！　　You　begin　to　look　pale；
man。'

'Faith；　perhaps　you'd　look　pale；'　said　Noakes；　with　an　envious
glance　upon　Festus's　daring　manner；　'if　you　had　a　wife　and　family
depending　upon　ye！'

'I'll　take　three　frog…eating　Frenchmen　single…handed！'　rejoined
Derriman；　still　flourishing　his　sword。

'They　have　as　good　swords　as　you；　as　you　will　soon　find；'　said
another　of　the　yeomen。

'If　they　were　three　times　armed；'　said　Festus'ay；　thrice　three
timesI　would　attempt　'em　three　to　one。　　How　do　you　feel　now；　my
old　friend　Stubb？'　（turning　to　another　of　the　warriors。）　　'O；　friend
Stubb！　no　bouncing　health　to　our　lady…loves　in　Oxwell　Hall　this
summer　as　last。　　Eh；　Brownjohn？'

'I　am　afraid　not；'　said　Brownjohn　gloomily。

'No　rattling　dinners　at　Stacie's　Hotel；　and　the　King　below　with　his
staff。　　No　wrenching　off　door…knockers　and　sending　'em　to　the
bakehouse　in　a　pie　that　nobody　calls　for。　　Weeks　of　cut…and…thrust
work　rather！'

'I　suppose　so。'

'Fight　how　we　may　we　shan't　get　rid　of　the　cursed　tyrant　before
autumn；　and　many　thousand　brave　men　will　lie　low　before　it's　done；'
remarked　a　young　yeoman　with　a　calm　face；　who　meant　to　do　his　duty
without　much　talking。

'No　grinning　matches　at　Mai…dun　Castle　this　summer；'　Festus　resumed；
'no　thread…the…needle　at　Greenhill　Fair；　and　going　into　shows　and
driving　the　showman　crazy　with　cock…a…doodle…doo！'

'I　suppose　not。'

'Does　it　make　you　seem　just　a　trifle　uncomfortable；　Noakes？　　Keep　up
your　spirits；　old　comrade。　　Come；　forward！　we　are　only　ambling　on
like　so　many　donkey…women。　　We　have　to　get　into　Budmouth；　join　the
rest　of　the　troop；　and　then　march　along　the　coast　west'ard；　as　I
imagine。　　At　this　rate　we　shan't　be　well　into　the　thick　of　battle
before　twelve　o'clock。　　Spur　on；　comrades。　　No　dancing　on　the　green；
Lockham；　this　year　in　the　moonlight！　　You　was　tender　upon　that　girl；
gad；　what　will　become　o'　her　in　the　struggle？'

'Come；　come；　Derriman；'　expostulated　Lockham'this　is　all　very
well；　but　I　don't　care　for　't。　　I　am　as　ready　to　fight　as　any　man；
but'

'Perhaps　when　you　get　into　battle；　Derriman；　and　see　what　it's　like；
your　courage　will　cool　down　a　little；'　added　Noakes　on　the　same
side；　but　with　secret　admiration　of　Festus's　reckless　bravery。

'I　shall　be　bayoneted　first；'　said　Festus。　　'Now　let's　rally；　and
on！'

Since　Festus　was　determined　to　spur　on　wildly；　the　rest　of　the
yeomen　did　not　like　to　seem　behindhand；　and　they　rapidly　approached
the　town。　　Had　they　been　calm　enough　to　reflect；　they　might　have
observed　that　for　the　last　half…hour　no　carts　or　carriages　had　met
them　on　the　way；　as　they　had　done　further　back。　　It　was　not　till　the
troopers　reached　the　turnpike　that　they　learnt　what　Festus　had　known
a　quarter　of　an　hour　before。　　At　the　intelligence　Derriman　sheathed
his　sword　with　a　sigh；　and　the　party　soon　fell　in　with　comrades　who
had　arrived　there　before　them；　whereupon　the　source　and　details　of
the　alarm　were　boisterously　discussed。

'What；　didn't　you　know　of　the　mistake　till　now？'　asked　one　of　these
of　the　new…comers。　　'Why；　when　I　was　dropping　over　the　hill　by　the
cross…roads　I　looked　back　and　saw　that　man　talking　to　the　messenger；
and　he　must　have　told　him　the　truth。'　　The　speaker　pointed　to
Festus。　　They　turned　their　indignant