登陆注册
4617400000100

第100章 THE STARLIGHT(3)

It appeared from the little this man said to those about him, which was quickly repeated all over the circle, that the lost man had fallen upon a mass of crumbled rubbish with which the pit was half choked up, and that his fall had been further broken by some jagged earth at the side. He lay upon his back with one arm doubled under him, and according to his own belief had hardly stirred since he fell, except that he had moved his free hand to a side pocket, in which he remembered to have some bread and meat (of which he had swallowed crumbs), and had likewise scooped up a little water in it now and then. He had come straight away from his work, on being written to, and had walked the whole journey; and was on his way to Mr. Bounderby's country house after dark, when he fell. He was crossing that dangerous country at such a dangerous time, because he was innocent of what was laid to his charge, and couldn't rest from coming the nearest way to deliver himself up. The Old Hell Shaft, the pitman said, with a curse upon it, was worthy of its bad name to the last; for though Stephen could speak now, he believed it would soon be found to have mangled the life out of him.

When all was ready, this man, still taking his last hurried charges from his comrades and the surgeon after the windlass had begun to lower him, disappeared into the pit. The rope went out as before, the signal was made as before, and the windlass stopped. No man removed his hand from it now. Every one waited with his grasp set, and his body bent down to the work, ready to reverse and wind in.

At length the signal was given, and all the ring leaned forward.

For, now, the rope came in, tightened and strained to its utmost as it appeared, and the men turned heavily, and the windlass complained. It was scarcely endurable to look at the rope, and think of its giving way. But, ring after ring was coiled upon the barrel of the windlass safely, and the connecting chains appeared, and finally the bucket with the two men holding on at the sides - a sight to make the head swim, and oppress the heart - and tenderly supporting between them, slung and tied within, the figure of a poor, crushed, human creature.

A low murmur of pity went round the throng, and the women wept aloud, as this form, almost without form, was moved very slowly from its iron deliverance, and laid upon the bed of straw. At first, none but the surgeon went close to it. He did what he could in its adjustment on the couch, but the best that he could do was to cover it. That gently done, he called to him Rachael and Sissy.

And at that time the pale, worn, patient face was seen looking up at the sky, with the broken right hand lying bare on the outside of the covering garments, as if waiting to be taken by another hand.

They gave him drink, moistened his face with water, and administered some drops of cordial and wine. Though he lay quite motionless looking up at the sky, he smiled and said, 'Rachael.'

She stooped down on the grass at his side, and bent over him until her eyes were between his and the sky, for he could not so much as turn them to look at her.

'Rachael, my dear.'

She took his hand. He smiled again and said, 'Don't let 't go.'

'Thou'rt in great pain, my own dear Stephen?'

'I ha' been, but not now. I ha' been - dreadful, and dree, and long, my dear - but 'tis ower now. Ah, Rachael, aw a muddle! Fro'

first to last, a muddle!'

The spectre of his old look seemed to pass as he said the word.

'I ha' fell into th' pit, my dear, as have cost wi'in the knowledge o' old fok now livin, hundreds and hundreds o' men's lives -fathers, sons, brothers, dear to thousands an' thousands, an'

keeping 'em fro' want and hunger. I ha' fell into a pit that ha'

同类推荐
  • The Love-Chase

    The Love-Chase

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • John Ingerfield and Other Stories

    John Ingerfield and Other Stories

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 冷庐杂识

    冷庐杂识

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 三辅黄图

    三辅黄图

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 杂纂之纂得确

    杂纂之纂得确

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 毒女归来,冷王追妻忙

    毒女归来,冷王追妻忙

    沈氏诞下死胎,有负皇恩,羞愧自尽死胎?明明是你的小妾捂死了我的儿子忘川水不止,奈何桥不断,此恨不休沈清漓含恨重生,回到未出嫁时吃软饭的爹,势利眼的祖母虚伪冷血的未婚夫,阴毒狠辣的姐姐去你丫的,一包药粉通通毒死。情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 末世之我的妹妹

    末世之我的妹妹

    “恭喜宿主,您被本系统选中,现在开始,你将要肩负起拯救末世所有软妹子的责任,您准备好了吗?”
  • 缁门崇行录

    缁门崇行录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 好妈妈富养女孩全书

    好妈妈富养女孩全书

    本书从“走进女孩的世界,解读成长的秘密;富养女孩,妈妈要把握的关键细节;家有女孩,妈妈要掌握点沟通艺术;养育女孩,重视培养她的良好习惯;为女孩“投资”,打造她的非凡气质;疏而非堵,帮女孩顺利度过青春期”等十大方面,全面解读富养女孩的方法与细节。和男孩相比,女孩天性柔弱,需要更多的爱和关注。因此,“富养”是最适合的教养方式。妈妈只有给女孩一个相对宽松的成长环境,才能让女孩开阔眼界、精神富足、气质高贵、人格独立,从而变得更聪明,更自信,更有内涵。富养不仅指生活的富足,更是教育的富足。富养女孩不是娇生惯养,而是给她更为精细的教育。可以说,富养的着眼点,是给女孩一个幸福的人生。
  • Riders to the Sea

    Riders to the Sea

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 人生不过一念间:南怀瑾的15堂人生智慧课

    人生不过一念间:南怀瑾的15堂人生智慧课

    人的一生是一场修行,总会面对这样或那样的困难,南怀瑾先生将人生归结为三个阶段:莫名其妙的生来;无可奈何的活着;不知所以然的死掉。这是每个人都会遇到并不断求索的问题。在本书中,通过南怀瑾先生对国学经典的讲解,对儒、道、佛经典智慧的归纳,从做人的大智慧到生活中的小问题,深入浅出,化深奥晦涩为平易晓畅,在你人生路上指点迷津,为你讲述大得大失间的智慧。
  • 医闾先生集

    医闾先生集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 乱世悍妃

    乱世悍妃

    云清歌以为就算她死,也是战死沙场。不成想,兔死狗烹,君王一声令下,她被围剿,万剑穿心而死。再世为人,她是中楚国浣衣局最低等宫女——清浅。找靠山、玩人心、弄权谋……她一心只为复仇。谁知突然有一天,靠山说,“清浅,以我为聘,我娶你。”
  • 驻春园小史

    驻春园小史

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 魔劫灭

    魔劫灭

    传说洪荒世界每过万年,必有一劫。大劫之下,便是天地圣人也难免身死道消。然而大道五十,天衍四九。每到此时,又有无数应劫而生之人在这乱世大放异彩。天帝、佛陀、妖皇、魔祖……各路大能接连走出幕后。李玄,原本只是太白剑宗的普通弟子,却一步步被迫卷入这纷扰大势之中。一个崭新的时代就此拉开序幕。