第92章

Nowthesemenupseteverything。Havingbeenamongwrestlerssomuchasmydutycompelledmetobe，andhavinglearnedthenecessityoftherestwhichfollowstheconflict，andtherightofdiscussionwhichallpeoplehavetopaytheirsixpencetoenter；andhowtheyobtrudethisright，andtheirwisdom，uponthemanwhohaslaboured，untilheforgetsalltheworkhedid，andbeginstothinkthattheydidit；havingsomeknowledgeofthissortofthing，andthefluxofmindsswimminginliquor，Iforesawabrawl，asplainlyasifitwereBearStreetinBarnstaple。

Andabrawltherewas，withoutanyerror，exceptofthemenwhohittheirfriends，andthosewhodefendedtheirenemies。Mypartnersinbreakfastandbeer-cansworethatIwasnoprisoner，butthebestandmostloyalsubject，andthefinest-heartedfellowtheyhadeverthelucktomeetwith。WhereasthemenfromthelinhaysworethatIwasarebelmiscreant；andhavemetheywould，witharope’s-endready，inspiteofevery[violentlanguage]whohadgotdrunkatmyexpense，andbeenmisledbymy[strongword]lies。

Whilethisfightwasgoingon(anditsmereoccurrenceshows，perhaps，thatmyconversationinthosedayswasnotentirelydespicable——elsewhyshouldmynewfriendsfightforme，whenIhadpaidfortheale，andthereforewonthewrongtenseofgratitude？)itwasinmypoweratanymomenttotakehorseandgo。Andthiswouldhavebeenmywisestplan，andaverygreatsavingofmoney；butsomehowIfeltasifitwouldbeameanthingtoslipoffso。EvenwhileIwashesitating，andthemenwerebreakingeachother’sheads，asuperiorofficerrodeup，withhissworddrawn，andhisfaceonfire。

’What，mylambs，mylambs!’hecried，smitingwiththeflatofhissword；’isthishowyouwastemytimeandmypurse，whenyououghttobecatchingahundredprisoners，worthtenpoundsapiecetome？Whoisthisyoungfellowwehavehere？Speakup，sirrah；whatartthou，andhowmuchwillthygoodmotherpayforthee？’

’Mymotherwillpaynaughtforme，’Ianswered；whilethelambsfellback，andgloweredatoneanother：’sopleaseyourworship，Iamnorebel；butanhonestfarmer，andwell-provedofloyalty。’

’Ha，ha；afarmerartthou？Thosefellowsalwayspaythebest。Goodfarmer，cometoyonbarrentree；thoushaltmakeitfruitful。’

ColonelKirkemadeasigntohismen，andbeforeI

couldthinkofresistance，stoutnewropeswereflungaroundme；andwiththreemenoneithersideIwasledalongverypainfully。AndnowIsaw，andrepenteddeeplyofmycarelessfolly，instoppingwiththoseboon-companions，insteadofbeingfaraway。Butthenewnessoftheirmannerstome，andtheirmodeofregardingtheworld(differingsomuchfrommineown)，aswellastheflavouroftheirtobacco，hadmademequiteforgetmydutytothefarmandtomyself。Yetmethoughttheywouldbetendertome，afterallourspeeches：howthenwasIdisappointed，whenthemenwhohaddrunkmybeer，drewonthosegrievousropes，twiceashardasthemenIhadbeenatstrifewith!Yetthismayhavebeenfromnoillwill；butsimplythathavingfallenundersuspicionoflaxity，theywerecompelled，inself-defence，nowtobeover-zealous。

Nevertheless，howeverpureandgodlymightbetheirmotives，Ibeheldmyselfinagrievouscase，andlikelytogettheworstofit。ForthefaceoftheColonelwashardandsternasablockofbogwoodoak；andthoughthemenmightpitymeandthinkmeunjustlyexecuted，yettheymustobeytheirorders，orthemselvesbeputtodeath。ThereforeIaddressedmyselftotheColonel，inamostingratiatingmanner；

begginghimnottosullythegloryofhisvictory，anddwellinguponmypureinnocence，andevengoodservicetoourlordtheKing。ButColonelKirkeonlygavecommandthatIshouldbesmitteninthemouth；whichofficeBob，whomIhadflungsohardoutofthelinhay，performedwithgreatzealandefficiency。Butbeingawareofthecomingsmack，Ithrustforthapairofteeth；uponwhichtheknucklesofmygoodfriendmadeamelancholyshipwreck。

Itisnotinmypowertotellhalfthethoughtsthatmovedme，whenwecametothefataltree，andsawtwomenhangingtherealready，asinnocentperhapsasI

was，andhenceforthentirelyharmless。ThoughorderedbytheColoneltolooksteadfastlyuponthem，Icouldnotbeartodoso；uponwhichhecalledmeapaltrycoward，andpromisedmybreechestoanymanwhowouldspituponmycountenance。ThisvilethingBob，beingangeredperhapsbythesmartingwoundofhisknuckles，bravelysteppedforwardtodoforme，trustingnodoubttotheropeIwasl