按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
caught hold of the handkerchief which the fellow wore round his
neck； with a grasp nearly as powerful us that with which he pressed
my throat。
'Do you call that fair play？' said she。
'Hands off； Belle；' said the other woman； 'do you call it fair play
to interfere？ hands off； or I'll be down upon you myself。'
But Belle paid no heed to the injunction； and tugged so hard at the
handkerchief that the Flaming Tinman was nearly throttled； suddenly
relinquishing his hold of me； he started on his feet； and aimed a
blow at my fair preserver； who avoided it； but said coolly：…
'Finish t'other business first； and then I'm your woman whenever
you like； but finish it fairly … no foul play when I'm by … I'll be
the boy's second； and Moll can pick up you when he happens to knock
you down。'
The battle during the next ten minutes raged with considerable
fury； but it so happened that during this time I was never able to
knock the Flaming Tinman down； but on the contrary received six
knock…down blows myself。 'I can never stand this；' said I； as I
sat on the knee of Belle； 'I am afraid I must give in； the Flaming
Tinman hits very hard；' and I spat out a mouthful of blood。
'Sure enough you'll never beat the Flaming Tinman in the way you
fight … it's of no use flipping at the Flaming Tinman with your
left hand； why don't you use your right？'
'Because I'm not handy with it；' said I； and then getting up； I
once more confronted the Flaming Tinman； and struck him six blows
for his one； but they were all left…handed blows； and the blow
which the Flaming Tinman gave me knocked me off my legs。
'Now； will you use Long Melford？' said Belle； picking me up。
'I don't know what you mean by Long Melford；' said I； gasping for
breath。
'Why； this long right of yours；' said Belle； feeling my right arm；
'if you do； I shouldn't wonder if you yet stand a chance。' And now
the Flaming Tinman was once more ready； much more ready than
myself。 I； however； rose from my second's knee as well as my
weakness would permit me。 On he came； striking left and right；
appearing almost as fresh as to wind and spirit as when he first
commenced the combat； though his eyes were considerably swelled；
and his nether lip was cut in two； on he came； striking left and
right； and I did not like his blows at all； or even the wind of
them； which was anything but agreeable； and I gave way before him。
At last he aimed a blow which； had it taken full effect； would
doubtless have ended the battle； but owing to his slipping； the
fist only grazed my left shoulder； and came with terrific force
against a tree； close to which I had been driven； before the Tinman
could recover himself； I collected all my strength； and struck him
beneath the ear； and then fell to the ground completely exhausted；
and it so happened that the blow which I struck the Tinker beneath
the ear was a right…handed blow。
'Hurrah for Long Melford！' I heard Belle exclaim； 'there is nothing
like Long Melford for shortness； all the world over。' At these
words I turned round my head as I lay； and perceived the Flaming
Tinman stretched upon the ground apparently senseless。 'He is
dead；' said the vulgar woman； as she vainly endeavoured to raise
him up； 'he is dead； the best man in all the north country； killed
in this fashion； by a boy！' Alarmed at these words； I made shift
to get on my feet； and； with the assistance of the woman； placed my
fallen adversary in a sitting posture。 I put my hand to his heart；
and felt a slight pulsation … 'He's not dead；' said I； 'only
stunned； if he were let blood； he would recover presently。' I
produced a penknife which I had in my pocket； and； baring the arm
of the Tinman； was about to make the necessary incision； when the
woman gave me a violent blow； and； pushing me aside； exclaimed；
'I'll tear the eyes out of your head if you offer to touch him。 Do
you want to complete your work； and murder him outright； now he's
asleep？ you have had enough of his blood already。' 'You are mad；'
said I； 'I only seek to do him service。 Well； if you won't let him
be blooded； fetch some water and fling it in his face； you know
where the pit is。'
'A pretty manoeuvre！' said the woman； 'leave my husband in the
hands of you and that limmer； who has never been true to us … I
should find him strangled or his throat cut when I came back。' 'Do
you go；' said I to the tall girl； 'take the can and fetch some
water from the pit。' 'You had better go yourself；' said the girl；
wiping a tear as she looked on the yet senseless form of the
Tinker； 'you had better go yourself； if you think water will do him
good。' I had by this time somewhat recovered my exhausted powers；
and； taking the can； I bent my steps as fast as I could to the pit；
arriving there； I lay down on the brink； took a long draught； and
then plunged my head into the water； after which I filled the can；
and bent my way back to the dingle。 Before I could reach the path
which led down into its depths； I had to pass some way along its
side； I had arrived at a part immediately over the scene of the
last encounter； where the bank； overgrown with trees； sloped
precipitously down。 Here I heard a loud sound of voices in the
dingle； I stopped； and laying hold of a tree； leaned over the bank
and listened。 The two women appeared to be in hot dispute in the
dingle。 'It was all owing to you； you limmer；' said the vulgar
woman to the other； 'had you not interfered； the old man would soon
have settled the boy。'
'I'm for fair play and Long Melford；' said the other。 'If your old
man； as you call him； could have settled the boy fairly； he might
for all I should have cared； but no foul work for me； and as for
sticking the boy with our gulleys when he comes back； as you
proposed； I am not so fond of your old man or you that I should
oblige you in it； to my soul's destruction。' 'Hold your tongue； or
I'll … ' I listened no farther； but hastened as fast as I could to
the dingle。 My adversary had just begun to show signs of
animation； the vulgar woman was still supporting him； and
occasionally cast glances of anger at the tall girl； who was
walking slowly up and down。 I lost no time in dashing the greater
part of the water into the Tinman's face； whereupon he sneezed；
moved his hands； and presently looked round him。 At first his
looks were dull and heavy； and without any intelligence at all； he
soon； however； began to recollect himself； and to be conscious of
his situation； he cast a scowling glance at me； then one of the
deepest malignity at the tall girl； who was still walking about
without taking much notice of what was going forward。 At last he
looked at his right hand； which had evidently suffered from the
blow against the tree； and a half…stifled curse escaped his lips。
The vulgar woman now said something to him in a low tone； whereupon
he looked at her for a moment； and then got upon his legs。 Again
the vulgar woman said something to him； her looks were furious； and
she appeared to be urging him on to attempt something。 I observed
that she had a clasped knife in her hand。 The fellow remained
standing for some time as if hesitating what to do； at last he
looked at his hand； and； shaking his head； said something to the
woman which I did not understand。 The tall girl； however； appeared
to overhear him； and； probably repeating his words； said； 'No； it
won't do； you are right there； and now hear what I have to say； …
let bygones be bygones； and let us all shake hands； and camp here；
as the young man was saying just now。' The man looked at her； and
then； without any reply； went to his horse； which was lying down
among the trees； and kicking it up； led it to the cart； to which he
forthwith began to harness it。 The other cart and horse had
remained standing motionless during the whole affair which I have
been recounting； at the bottom of the pass。 The woman now took the
horse by the head； and leading it with the cart into the open part
of the dingle； turned both round； and then led them back； till the
horse and cart had mounted a little way up the ascent； she then
stood still and appeared to be expecting the man。 During this
proceeding Belle had stood looking on without saying anything； at
last； perceiving that the man had harnessed his horse to the other
cart； and that both he and the woman were about to take their
departure； she said； 'You are not going； are you？' Receiving no
answer； she continued： 'I tell you what； both of you； Black John；
and you Moll； his mort； this is not treating me over civilly； …
however； I am ready to put up with it； and to go with you if you
like； for I bear no malice。 I'm sorry for what has happened； but
you have only yourselves to thank for it。 Now； shall I go with