第95章

Ohno，theroadwastoofardistantformetohearthenoiseofanythingmovingalongit。AgainIlistened，andnowIdistinctlyheardthesoundofwheels，whichseemedtobeapproachingthedingle；nearerandnearertheydrew，andpresentlythesoundofwheelswasblendedwiththemurmurofvoices。AnonIheardaboisterousshout，whichseemedtoproceedfromtheentranceofthedingle。’Herearefolksathand，’saidI，lettingtheshaftofthecartfalltotheground；’isitpossiblethattheycanbecominghere？’Mydoubtsonthatpoint，ifIentertainedany，weresoondispelled；thewheels，whichhadceasedmovingforamomentortwo，wereonceagaininmotion，andwerenowevidentlymovingdownthewindingpathwhichledtomyretreat。Leavingmycart，Icameforwardandplacedmyselfneartheentranceoftheopenspace，withmyeyesfixedonthepathdownwhichmyunexpected，andImaysayunwelcome，visitorswerecoming。PresentlyIheardastampingorsliding，asifofahorseinsomedifficulty；thenaloudcurse，andthenextmomentappearedamanandahorseandcart；theformerholdingtheheadofthehorseuptopreventhimfromfalling，ofwhichhewasindanger，owingtotheprecipitousnatureofthepath。Whilstthusoccupied，theheadofthemanwasavertedfromme。When，however，hehadreachedthebottomofthedescent，heturnedhishead，andperceivingme，asIstoodbareheaded，withouteithercoatorwaistcoat，abouttwoyardsfromhim，hegaveasuddenstart，soviolentthatthebackwardmotionofhishandhadnearlyflungthehorseuponhishaunches。

’Whydon’tyoumoveforward？’saidavoicefrombehind，apparentlythatofafemale；’youarestoppinguptheway，andweshallbealldownupononeanother’；andIsawtheheadofanotherhorseovertoppingthebackofthecart。

’Whydon’tyoumoveforward，Jack？’saidanothervoice，alsoafemale，yethigherupthepath。

Themanstirrednot，butremainedstaringatmeintheposturewhichhehadassumedonfirstperceivingme，hisbodyverymuchdrawnback，hisleftfootfarinadvanceofhisright，andwithhisrighthandstillgraspingthehalterofthehorse，whichgavewaymoreandmore，tillitwascleandownonitshaunches。

’What’sthematter？’saidthevoicewhichIhadlastheard。

’Getbackwithyou，Belle，Moll，’saidtheman，stillstaringatme；’here’ssomethingnotovercannyorcomfortable。’

’Whatisit？’saidthesamevoice；’letmepass，Moll，andI’llsooncleartheway’；andIheardakindofrushingdownthepath。

’Youneednotbeafraid，’saidI，addressingmyselftotheman，’I

meanyounoharm；Iamawandererlikeyourself-comeheretoseekforshelter-youneednotbeafraid；IamaRomanchabobymatriculation-oneoftherightsort，andnomistake-Good-daytoye，brother；Ibidyewelcome。’

Themaneyedmesuspiciouslyforamoment-then，turningtohishorsewithaloudcurse，hepulledhimupfromhishaunches，andledhimandthecartfartherdowntoonesideofthedingle，muttering，ashepassedme，’Afraid!Hm!’

Idonotrememberevertohaveseenamoreruffianly-lookingfellow；hewasaboutsixfeethigh，withanimmenselyathleticframe；hisfacewasblackandbluff，andsportedanimmensepairofwhiskers，butwithhereandthereagrayhair，forhisagecouldnotbemuchunderfifty。Heworeafadedbluefrock-coat，corduroys，andhighlows；onhisblackheadwasakindofrednightcap，roundhisbullneckaBarcelonahandkerchief-Ididnotlikethelookofthemanatall。

’Afraid!’growledthefellow，proceedingtounharnesshishorse；

’thatwastheword，Ithink。’

Butotherfigureswerenowalreadyuponthescene。Dashingpasttheotherhorseandcart，whichbythistimehadreachedthebottomofthepass，appearedanexceedinglytallwoman，orrathergirl，forshecouldscarcelyhavebeenaboveeighteen；shewasdressedinatightbodiceandabluestuffgown；hat，bonnet，orcapshehadnone，andherhair，whichwasflaxen，hungdownonhershouldersunconfined；hercomplexionwasfair，andherfeatureshandsome，withadeterminedbutopenexpression-shewasfollowedbyanotherfemale，aboutforty，stoutandvulgar-looking，atwhomIscarcelyglanced，mywholeattentionbeingabsorbedbythe