第48章

’Thereisabigyoungfellowuponthisfarm，’CarverDoonemutteredsulkily，’withwhomIhaveanaccounttosettle，ifeverIcomeacrosshim。Hehathacursedspitetous，becauseweshothisfather。Hewasgoingtobringthelumpersuponus，onlyhewasafeared，lastwinter。AndhehathbeeninLondonlately，forsometraitorousjob，Idoubt。’

’Oh，youmeanthatfool，JohnRidd，’answeredtheyoungsquire；’averysimpleclod-hopper。NotreacheryinhimIwarrant；hehathnottheheadforit。Allhecaresaboutiswrestling。Asstrongasabull，andwithnomorebrains。’

’Abulletforthatbull，’saidCarver；andIcouldseethegrinonhisscornfulface；’abulletforballasttohisbrain，thefirsttimeIcomeacrosshim。’

’Nonsense，captain!Iwon’thavehimshot，forheismyoldschool-fellow，andhathaveryprettysister。Buthiscousinisofadifferentmould，andtentimesasdangerous。’

’Weshallsee，lads，weshallsee，’grumbledthegreatblack-beardedman。’Illbodesforthefoolthatwouldhinderme。Butcome，letusonward。Nolingering，ortheviperwillbeinthebushfromus。Bodyandsoul，ifhegiveustheslip，bothofyoushallanswerit。’

’Nofear，captain，andnohurry，’Charlieansweredgallantly，’wouldIwereassureoflivingatwelvemonthasheisofdyingwithinthehour!Extremeunctionforhiminmybulletpatch。Remember，Iclaimtobehisconfessor，becausehehathinsultedme。’

’Thouartwelcometothejobforme，’saidMarwood，astheyturnedaway，andkeptalongthehedge-row；’Ilovetomeetamanswordtosword；nottopopathimfromafoxhole。’

WhatanswerwasmadeIcouldnothear，forbythistimethestoutashenhedgewasbetweenus，andnoothergaptobefoundinit，untilattheverybottom，wherethecornerofthecopsewas。YetIwasnotquitofdangernow；fortheymightcomethroughthatsecondgap，andthenwouldbesuretoseeme，unlessIcreptintotheuncutthicket，beforetheycouldentertheclearing。

Butinspiteofallmyfear，Iwasnotwiseenoughtodothat。AndintruththewordsofCarverDoonehadfilledmewithsuchanger，knowingwhatIdidabouthimandhispretencetoLorna；andthesightofSquireMarwood，insuchoutrageouscompany，hadsomovedmycuriosity，andtheirthreatsagainstsomeunknownpersonsoarousedmypity，thatmuchofmyprudencewasforgotten，oratleastthebetterpartofcourage，whichlovesdangeratlongdistance。

Therefore，holdingfastmybill-hook，Idroppedmyselfveryquietlyintothebedoftherunnel，beingresolvedtotakemychanceoftheirentranceatthecorner，wherethewaterdivedthroughthehedge-row。AndsoI

followedthemdownthefence，asgentlyasarabbitgoes，onlyIwasinsideit，andtheyontheoutside；

butyetsonearthatIheardthebranchesrustleastheypushedthem。

PerhapsIhadneverlovedfernssomuchaswhenIcametotheendofthatlittlegully，andstoopedbetwixttwopatchesofthem，nowmychiefestshelter，forcattlehadbeenthroughthegapjustthere，inquestoffodderandcoolness，andhadleftbutamoundoftroddenearthbetweenmeandtheoutlaws。Imeanatleastonmylefthand(uponwhichsidetheywere)，forinfrontwherethebrookranoutofthecopsewasagoodstiffhedgeofholly。AndnowIprayedHeaventoleadthemstraighton；foriftheyonceturnedtotheirright，throughthegap，themuzzlesoftheirgunswouldcomealmostagainstmyforehead。

Iheardthem，forIdurstnotlook；andcouldscarcekeepstillfortrembling——Iheardthemtramplingoutsidethegap，uncertainwhichtracktheyshouldfollow。Andinthatfearfulmoment，withmysoulalmostlookingoutofmybody，expectingnoticetoquitit，whatdoyouthinkIdid？Icountedthethreadsinaspider’sweb，andtheflieshehadlatelyeaten，astheirskeletonsshookinthetwilight。

’Weshallseehimbetterinthere，’saidCarver，inhishorriblegruffvoice，likethecreakingofthegallowschain；’sitthere，behindhollyhedge，lads，whilehecomethdownyonderhill；andthenourgood-eveningtohim；oneathisbody，andtwoathishead；andgoodaim，lestwebaulkthedevil。’

’Itellyou，captain，thatwillnotdo，’saidCharlie，almostwhispering：’youareveryproudofyourskill，weknow，andcanhitalarkifyouseeit：buthemaynotcomeuntilafterdark，andwecannotbetoonightohim。Thishollyhedgeistoofaraway。HecrossesdownherefromSloc