登陆注册
5220400000168

第168章

Effects of corn-One night longer-The hoofs-A stumble-Are you hurt?-What a difference-Drowsy-Maze of bushes-Housekeeping-Sticks and furze-The driftway-Account of stock-Anvil and bellows-Twenty years.

IT was two or three hours past noon when I took my departure from the place of the last adventure,walking by the side of my little cart;the pony,invigorated by the corn,to which he was probably not much accustomed,proceeded right gallantly;so far from having to hasten him forward by the particular application which the tinker had pointed out to me,I had rather to repress his eagerness,being,though an excellent pedestrian,not unfrequently left behind.The country through which I passed was beautiful and interesting,but solitary;few habitations appeared.As it was quite a matter of indifference to me in what direction I went,the whole world being before me,I allowed the pony to decide upon the matter;it was not long before he left the high-road,being probably no friend to public places.I followed him I knew not whither,but,from subsequent observation,have reason to suppose that our course was in a north-west direction.At length night came upon us,and a cold wind sprang up,which was succeeded by a drizzling rain.

I had originally intended to pass the night in the cart,or to pitch my little tent on some convenient spot by the road's side;but,owing to the alteration in the weather,I thought that it would be advisable to take up my quarters in any hedge alehouse at which I might arrive.To tell the truth,I was not very sorry to have an excuse to pass the night once more beneath a roof.I had determined to live quite independent,but I had never before passed a night by myself abroad,and felt a little apprehensive at the idea;I hoped,however,on the morrow,to be a little more prepared for the step,so I determined for one night-only for one night longer-to sleep like a Christian;but human determinations are not always put into effect,such a thing as opportunity is frequently wanting,such was the case here.I went on for a considerable time,in expectation of coming to some rustic hostelry,but nothing of the kind presented itself to my eyes;the country in which I now was seemed almost uninhabited,not a house of any kind was to be seen-at least I saw none-though it is true houses might be near without my seeing them,owing to the darkness of the night,for neither moon nor star was abroad.Iheard,occasionally,the bark of dogs;but the sound appeared to come from an immense distance.The rain still fell,and the ground beneath my feet was wet and miry;in short,it was a night in which even a tramper by profession would feel more comfortable in being housed than abroad.I followed in the rear of the cart,the pony still proceeding at a sturdy pace,till methought I heard other hoofs than those of my own nag;I listened for a moment,and distinctly heard the sound of hoofs approaching at a great rate,and evidently from the quarter towards which I and my little caravan were moving.We were in a dark lane-so dark that it was impossible for me to see my own hand.Apprehensive that some accident might occur,I ran forward,and,seizing the pony by the bridle,drew him as near as I could to the hedge.On came the hoofs-trot,trot,trot;and evidently more than those of one horse;their speed as they advanced appeared to slacken-it was only,however,for a moment.I heard a voice cry,'Push on,-this is a desperate robbing place,-never mind the dark';and the hoofs came on quicker than before.'Stop!'said I,at the top of my voice;'stop!or-'Before I could finish what I was about to say there was a stumble,a heavy fall,a cry,and a groan,and putting out my foot I felt what I conjectured to be the head of a horse stretched upon the road.'Lord have mercy upon us!what's the matter?'exclaimed a voice.'Spare my life,'cried another voice,apparently from the ground;'only spare my life,and take all I have.''Where are you,Master Wise?'cried the other voice.

'Help!here,Master Bat,'cried the voice from the ground;'help me up or I shall be murdered.''Why,what's the matter?'said Bat.

'Some one has knocked me down,and is robbing me,'said the voice from the ground.'Help!murder!'cried Bat;and,regardless of the entreaties of the man on the ground that he would stay and help him up,he urged his horse forward and galloped away as fast as he could.I remained for some time quiet,listening to various groans and exclamations uttered by the person on the ground;at length I said,'Holloa!are you hurt?''Spare my life,and take all I have!'said the voice from the ground.'Have they not done robbing you yet?'said I;'when they have finished let me know,and I will come and help you.''Who is that?'said the voice;'pray come and help me,and do me no mischief.''You were saying that some one was robbing you,'said I;'don't think I shall come till he is gone away.''Then you ben't he?'said the voice.'Aren't you robbed?'

同类推荐
  • 东方最胜灯王如来助护持世间神咒经

    东方最胜灯王如来助护持世间神咒经

    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。
  • 淡新凤三县简明总括图册

    淡新凤三县简明总括图册

    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。
  • 佛说如幻三昧经

    佛说如幻三昧经

    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。
  • 赞僧功德经

    赞僧功德经

    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。
  • 檐曝杂记

    檐曝杂记

    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。
热门推荐
  • 冷傲太子的灵契师

    冷傲太子的灵契师

    前世,他把她推入万阵血咒中。以她血肉铸成了封印,将山海卷尘封。今生,她狂妄归来,发誓要将所有亏欠如数讨回。只是当封印再破。长老欺她,什么?敢欺负本太子的女人,解除长老一职,回家养老。庶妹打她,废了庶女的双手,从此再无灵力。夜里,他负荆请罪,露出坚实的腹肌调笑道:“娘子,咱们来滚床单吗?”“滚……”“去你屋还是去我屋?”“去你的……”【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 低调是一种大智慧(精华版)

    低调是一种大智慧(精华版)

    低调是一种做人处世的大智慧。低调是表示一种谦虚谨慎的生活态度,低调是不张扬的处世经。低调是暂时隐藏自己的能力,不到处炫耀自己,张扬自己,以免带来不必要的麻烦。有的人确实很聪明,但因为不懂得低调做人的道理,结果一事无成,甚至是落得了很悲惨的结局。这样的人在历史上大有人在,在我们的现实生活中也很多。其实,聪明是一笔财富,关键在于人怎么使用。懂得低调的人会使用自己的聪明和智慧,那是因为他们懂得低调,懂得深藏不露,不到火候不会轻易使用。一味地耍小聪明,时时处处显露精明,不仅不会帮助你成功,反而会招灾引祸。低调是一种更具智慧的竞争策略,低调是一种更高境界的自我保护。
  • 吕著中国通史(全集)

    吕著中国通史(全集)

    《吕著中国通史》以传统国史为据分上下两编,分门别类地、有系统地叙述了社会经济制度、政治制度和文化学术的发展情况、政治历史的变革。在叙述理乱兴亡的过程中,夹叙典章制度、个人点评,倾注了吕思勉先生一生的真知灼见,能够给读者提供中国历代社会经济、政治制度以及学术文化等方面的历史知识,是最权威、最经典、最完整的中国通史著作。
  • 当时明月在

    当时明月在

    2008新春之际,悲情天后匪我思存一扫悲剧路线,摇身一变恶搞女王,推出首部大团圆结局的小说。至于本书具体内容嘛,自然是边恶搞边言情喽!想要看看后妈如何变身亲妈吗?想要知道匪我如何操刀恶搞言情吗?那你绝对绝对不要错过这本——《当时明月在》哦!
  • 重回大明之还我河山

    重回大明之还我河山

    “蛟龙”特战队员,穿越回了烽火连天的明末,面对的是暴戾凶残的强敌、愚昧自私的朝臣、以及居心叵测的异族……
  • 鬼王爷的绝世毒妃

    鬼王爷的绝世毒妃

    【2019年7月新文《嫡狂之最强医妃》求收!一句话简介:真狠毒貌美女主和假无害忠犬男主互宠互爱的故事。】她是现代黑白皆惧的修罗毒医,翻手掌黑,覆手控白,微微一笑,杀人无声!她是泽国世族白家的嫡女,却是人人避之不及的第一恶女,一朝身死,举国欢庆!当她穿越而来,昔日的恶女究竟迷了多少人的眼?她是白琉璃。他是百姓口中的鬼王爷,传闻,鬼王爷红瞳紫发青面獠牙,丑陋至极,可怕无比。传闻,鬼王爷的眼睛会杀人,只要被鬼王爷看过一眼的人,必会在暗夜暴亡。传闻,鬼王爷只在暗夜出现,从无人见过他的真面目,是名副其实的妖瞳鬼王!又有谁知,那一双在暗夜睁开的眼睛深处,是何等的惊华天下。他是百里云鹫。*当某一天,鬼王爷要十里红妆迎娶第一恶女——*百里云鹫:有他在,谁也休想动她半分。白琉璃:谁若欺他害他,性命来偿。*一对一宠文,男女主身心干净,男强女强,强强联合,后有机灵萌宝宝,无误会无小三,放心跳坑。
  • 沙州记

    沙州记

    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。
  • 神鬼冥后

    神鬼冥后

    陌鸾是冥界下一任冥王,手中掌管冥界万鬼妖魔。一次冥界大乱时,界境裂开,万鬼妖魔趁乱逃出冥界,她也受到重创,被反噬坠入异界大陆,变成了七八岁的女娃娃。星牟沽源是星牟国的三皇子,传说中的废材,却不知他的灵力已经超越常人,当一人一鬼相遇,他们会擦出什么样的火花。看万鬼如何在她手底俯首称臣,看她如何将异界大陆搅的天翻地覆。
  • 花狗探长破奇案

    花狗探长破奇案

    本书共收入了作者近年来精心创作的22个小故事。这些故事分别讲的是在动物界和植物界发生的形形色色的奇案、怪案,以及这些案件的侦破过程。
  • 捉妖有挂是种什么体验

    捉妖有挂是种什么体验

    如何才能救民于水火普度众生?沈有德以为斩尽世间妖邪便是普度众生!沈有德以为驱除蛮族便是普度众生!沈有德以为安抚乱民便是普度众生!最后他发现他错了,害民之贼不在深山,不在江湖,不在塞外,而在庙堂!