登陆注册
5150400000043

第43章

Yf Irish ffoxe com out of rocks Grip and hold hym tight.""I would have showed it my father," said Will, "but--""I verily believe it to be a blind.See now, this is the handwriting of a man who has been trying to write vilely, and yet cannot.Look at that B, and that G; their formae formativae never were begotten in a hedge-school.And what is more, this is no Devon man's handiwork.We say 'to' and not 'by,' Will, eh? in the West country?""Of course."

"And 'man,' instead of 'him'?"

"True, O Daniel! But am I to do nothing therefore?""On that matter I am no judge.Let us ask much-enduring Ulysses here; perhaps he has not sailed round the world without bringing home a device or two."Whereon Amyas was called to counsel, as soon as Mr.Cary could be stopped in a long cross-examination of him as to Mr.Doughty's famous trial and execution.

Amyas pondered awhile, thrusting his hands into his long curls; and then--"Will, my lad, have you been watching at the Deer Park End of late?""Never."

"Where, then?"

"At the town-beach."

"Where else?

"At the town-head."

"Where else?"

"Why, the fellow is turned lawyer! Above Freshwater.""Where is Freshwater?"

"Why, where the water-fall comes over the cliff, half-a-mile from the town.There is a path there up into the forest.""I know.I'll watch there to-night.Do you keep all your old haunts safe, of course, and send a couple of stout knaves to the mill, to watch the beach at the Deer Park End, on the chance; for your poet may be a true man, after all.But my heart's faith is, that this comes just to draw you off from some old beat of yours, upon a wild-goose chase.If they shoot the miller by mistake, Isuppose it don't much matter?"

"Marry, no."

"'When a miller's knock'd on the head, The less of flour makes the more of bread.'""Or, again," chimed in old Mr.Cary, "as they say in the North--"'Find a miller that will not steal, Or a webster that is leal, Or a priest that is not greedy, And lay them three a dead corpse by;And by the virtue of them three, The said dead corpse shall quicken'd be.'""But why are you so ready to watch Freshwater to-night, Master Amyas?""Because, sir, those who come, if they come, will never land at Mouthmill; if they are strangers, they dare not; and if they are bay's-men, they are too wise, as long as the westerly swell sets in.As for landing at the town, that would be too great a risk;but Freshwater is as lonely as the Bermudas; and they can beach a boat up under the cliff at all tides, and in all weathers, except north and nor'west.I have done it many a time, when I was a boy.""And give us the fruit of your experience now in your old age, eh?

Well, you have a gray head on green shoulders, my lad; and I verily believe you are right.Who will you take with you to watch?""Sir," said Frank, "I will go with my brother; and that will be enough.""Enough? He is big enough, and you brave enough, for ten; but still, the more the merrier.""But the fewer, the better fare.If I might ask a first and last favor, worshipful sir," said Frank, very earnestly, "you would grant me two things: that you would let none go to Freshwater but me and my brother; and that whatsoever we shall bring you back shall be kept as secret as the commonweal and your loyalty shall permit.I trust that we are not so unknown to you, or to others, that you can doubt for a moment but that whatsoever we may do will satisfy at once your honor and our own.""My dear young gentleman, there is no need of so many courtier's words.I am your father's friend, and yours.And God forbid that a Cary--for I guess your drift--should ever wish to make a head or a heart ache; that is, more than--""Those of whom it is written, 'Though thou bray a fool in a mortar, yet will not his folly depart from him,'" interposed Frank, in so sad a tone that no one at the table replied; and few more words were exchanged, till the two brothers were safe outside the house;and then--

"Amyas," said Frank, "that was a Devon man's handiwork, nevertheless; it was Eustace's handwriting.""Impossible!"

"No, lad.I have been secretary to a prince, and learnt to interpret cipher, and to watch every pen-stroke; and, young as Iam, I think that I am not easily deceived.Would God I were! Come on, lad; and strike no man hastily, lest thou cut off thine own flesh."So forth the two went, along the park to the eastward, and past the head of the little wood-embosomed fishing-town, a steep stair of houses clinging to the cliff far below them, the bright slate roofs and white walls glittering in the moonlight; and on some half-mile farther, along the steep hill-side, fenced with oak wood down to the water's edge, by a narrow forest path, to a point where two glens meet and pour their streamlets over a cascade some hundred feet in height into the sea below.By the side of this waterfall a narrow path climbs upward from the beach; and here it was that the two brothers expected to meet the messenger.

Frank insisted on taking his station below Amyas.He said that he was certain that Eustace himself would make his appearance, and that he was more fit than Amyas to bring him to reason by parley;that if Amyas would keep watch some twenty yards above, the escape of the messenger would be impossible.Moreover, he was the elder brother, and the post of honor was his right.So Amyas obeyed him, after making him promise that if more than one man came up the path, he would let them pass him before he challenged, so that both might bring them to bay at the same time.

So Amyas took his station under a high marl bank, and, bedded in luxuriant crown-ferns, kept his eye steadily on Frank, who sat down on a little knoll of rock (where is now a garden on the cliff-edge)which parts the path and the dark chasm down which the stream rushes to its final leap over the cliff.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • Rambling Idle Excursion

    Rambling Idle Excursion

    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。
  • 狐妖适合家养

    狐妖适合家养

    “我就像捧了一个冰做的杯子,捂得紧了,怕化了;捂得松了,又怕摔了;放到桌子上,还怕被别人拿走。你说,我到底该拿你怎么办?”南陌多么希望,永远做他手中的那个杯子,哪怕他攥得太紧,化了,也要顺着他的肌肤一点一点融进他的血肉中。但,她终要离他而去,哪怕碎成渣滓,她只愿,来生还做他最爱的那个人……
  • 索多玛的苹果

    索多玛的苹果

    在一次航海旅行中,少年御景风对一种名为“索多玛的苹果”的毒品紧迫不舍,与他一起参与整个事件的少女橘真绫也对他的真实身份产生了好奇与疑惑,与此同时,一连串神秘的死亡事件频频发生……随后,令御景风更为惊讶的是,一个名为“STH”的神秘程序总是被人反复提起,而因追逐STH秘密而亡故的人越来越多。这个程序到底隐藏着怎样的秘密?它和御景风从不愿意多提的身世有着怎样的联系?接下来的变故与转折,御景风和超级骇客杰比又该怎样面对?亦正亦邪的神秘少年御景风到底会路向何方?于索多玛城内幻化的苹果到底象征的是希望还是失望?一在劫数与结束来临之前一切已然开始……“苹果”在《圣经》中是智慧之果,但产于死海之滨索多玛城的一种苹果,却有着另外一种含义,即“空欢喜”与“失望的源泉”。面对离奇的身世、飘忽的爱情、忠实的友情以及人与人之问的狡诈争斗,少年御景风该何去何从?作者以独特的笔触细致抒发了一种独立、叛逆、迷茫而又坚定的少年情怀。
  • 季太子的初恋

    季太子的初恋

    桀骜不驯的季家太子爷初恋了,从此化身护妻狂魔,做老婆大人的第一忠犬,谁欺负老婆就咬死谁。季太子挂在老婆身上:“老婆,我负责虐渣,你负责貌美如花。”遇到情敌,季太子暴力捍卫:“老婆,对你虎视眈眈的几个歪瓜裂枣,被我打残了,我是你的唯一。”情人节季太子土味情话:“老婆,你虐我千万次,还是我初恋,爱你一万年。”某个吉日:“老婆,我们的结婚证,我会保管好,永远不会换证。”老婆小姐姐摸摸季太子年轻帅气的脸,姨母笑:“乖!”这是小姐姐和小狼狗老公的甜婚蜜恋,陪你一起相信爱情。
  • 遇见你,是我一生所修

    遇见你,是我一生所修

    行李到了泰国,人却在云顶赌场。就让她任性这一次吧!让她的生命里,就这一次,只为她自己考虑。他,一个寡情、冷酷、倨傲的男子,冷眼旁观的独行客,却在异国他乡对她伸出援手。老天!她不过是想在绝境里求得一线生机,怎奈成为他的信仰。——在吉隆坡的风下之乡。他和她的相遇,都只是为了他心中另一个珍贵的女孩。
  • 帅哥一锅端

    帅哥一锅端

    一个是超级自恋女,一个是绝对腹黑女,当两女遭遇帅哥,家财万贯,于是乎,斗得地覆天翻。你来我往间,刀光剑影,不亦乐乎。诡计算什么,色相算什么,看我苏锅锅丑女无敌,步步为营。
  • 宝贝,宠你上瘾

    宝贝,宠你上瘾

    ”求你放手!“”她因惊吓惶恐,声音颤抖,黑眸氤氲水雾。他依旧把她桎梏在怀里,声音岑冷,鼻息间充斥着她清淡的香甜。门外,由远而近的一声声温柔的呼唤,让她的小心脏都快要跳出来了。这样的局面,怎么面对!他与他亲如手足,而他却是为了复仇而来,却一脚深陷情爱沼泽,强势闯入她的世界!
  • 八零甜宠俏佳人

    八零甜宠俏佳人

    辛辛苦苦这些年,一夜回到解放前,顾雨薇含泪看苍天,想她一介高材生,辛苦了十几年,终于在一线城市走了自己的立足之地,还没有享受到自己的大别墅,跑车。就在自己搬家的前一天,在租的小房间里,因为洗澡摔倒丢了小命,可怜她的钱啊,好不容易攒下的存款,也不知道便宜了谁!谁能来告诉她,现在这是什么个情况,白莲花?是来找虐吗?高门大户家的小姐?不好意思,我才是真的!你一个假货靠边站吧!怎么?这位兵哥哥是看上我了?看在你颜值爆表还不多话的情况下姐姐答应你了!商场精英穿越成农村里宠大的小公主身上,改掉一身的坏毛病,重新变成人见人爱的小公主!还有谁对我有意见?来来来,咱们单独聊聊!
  • 天降神女,傻王很腹黑

    天降神女,傻王很腹黑

    偶尔的一次回眸,便是千年的相守。万万年的等待也只为一人。二人在万万年前便已相识。再见时已是物是人非,相见却不相识,但那份灵魂呼应,却从未变过!!
  • 病逸漫记

    病逸漫记

    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。