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！
of the tall trees on the outside of the dingle has been snapped
short。'
'What a pity；' said Belle； 'that the fine old oak； which you saw
the peasants cutting up； gave way the other night； when scarcely a
breath of air was stirring； how much better to have fallen in a
storm like this； the fiercest I remember。'
'I don't think so；' said I； 'after braving a thousand tempests； it
was meeter for it to fall of itself than to be vanquished at last。
But to return to Ab Gwilym's poetry： he was above culling dainty
words； and spoke boldly his mind on all subjects。 Enraged with the
thunder for parting him and Morfydd； he says； at the conclusion of
his ode；
'My curse； O Thunder； cling to thee；
For parting my dear pearl and me！'
'You and I shall part； that is； I shall go to my tent； if you
persist in repeating from him。 The man must have been a savage。 A
poor wood…pigeon has fallen dead。'
'Yes；' said I； 'there he lies； just outside the tent； often have I
listened to his note when alone in this wilderness。 So you do not
like Ab Gwilym； what say you to old Gothe？ …
'Mist shrouds the night； and rack；
Hear； in the woods； what an awful crack！
Wildly the owls are flitting；
Hark to the pillars splitting
Of palaces verdant ever；
The branches quiver and sever；
The mighty stems are creaking；
The poor roots breaking and shrieking；
In wild mixt ruin down dashing；
O'er one another they're crashing；
Whilst 'midst the rocks so hoary
Whirlwinds hurry and worry。
Hear'st not； sister … '
'Hark！' said Belle； 'hark！'
'Hear'st not； sister； a chorus
Of voices … ？'
'No；' said Belle； 'but I hear a voice。'
CHAPTER XCVI
A shout … A fireball … See to the horses … Passing away … Gap in
the hedge … On three wheels … Why do you stop？ … No craven heart …
The cordial … Across the country … Small bags。
I LISTENED attentively； but I could hear nothing but the loud
clashing of branches； the pattering of rain； and the muttered growl
of thunder。 I was about to tell Belle that she must have been
mistaken； when I heard a shout … indistinct； it is true； owing to
the noises aforesaid … from some part of the field above the
dingle。 'I will soon see what's the matter；' said I to Belle；
starting up。 'I will go too；' said the girl。 'Stay where you
are；' said I； 'if I need you； I will call'； and； without waiting
for any answer； I hurried to the mouth of the dingle。 I was about
a few yards only from the top of the ascent； when I beheld a blaze
of light； from whence I knew not； the next moment there was a loud
crash； and I appeared involved in a cloud of sulphurous smoke。
'Lord have mercy upon us！' I heard a voice say； and methought I
heard the plunging and struggling of horses。 I had stopped short
on hearing the crash； for I was half stunned； but I now hurried
forward； and in a moment stood upon the plain。 Here I was
instantly aware of the cause of the crash and the smoke。 One of
those balls； generally called fireballs； had fallen from the
clouds； and was burning on the plain at a short distance； and the
voice which I had heard； and the plunging； were as easily accounted
for。 Near the left…hand corner of the grove which surrounded the
dingle； and about ten yards from the fireball； I perceived a
chaise； with a postilion on the box； who was making efforts；
apparently useless； to control his horses； which were kicking and
plunging in the highest degree of excitement。 I instantly ran
towards the chaise； in order to offer what help was in my power。
'Help me；' said the poor fellow； as I drew nigh； but before I could
reach the horses； they had turned rapidly round； one of the fore…
wheels flew from its axle…tree； the chaise was overset； and the
postilion flung violently from his seat upon the field。 The horses
now became more furious than before； kicking desperately； and
endeavouring to disengage themselves from the fallen chaise。 As I
was hesitating whether to run to the assistance of the postilion or
endeavour to disengage the animals； I heard the voice of Belle
exclaiming； 'See to the horses； I will look after the man。' She
had； it seems； been alarmed by the crash which accompanied the
firebolt； and had hurried up to learn the cause。 I forthwith
seized the horses by the heads； and used all the means I possessed
to soothe and pacify them； employing every gentle modulation of
which my voice was capable。 Belle； in the meantime； had raised up
the man； who was much stunned by his fall； but； presently
recovering his recollection to a certain degree； he came limping to
me； holding his hand to his right thigh。 'The first thing that
must now be done；' said I； 'is to free these horses from the
traces； can you undertake to do so？' ' I think I can；' said the
man； looking at me somewhat stupidly。 'I will help；' said Belle；
and without loss of time laid hold of one of the traces。 The man；
after a short pause； also set to work； and in a few minutes the
horses were extricated。 'Now；' said I to the man； 'what is next to
be done？' 'I don't know；' said he； 'indeed； I scarcely know
anything； I have been so frightened by this horrible storm； and so
shaken by my fall。' 'I think；' said I； 'that the storm is passing
away； so cast your fears away too； and as for your fall； you must
bear it as lightly as you can。 I will tie the horses amongst those
trees； and then we will all betake us to the hollow below。' 'And
what's to become of my chaise？' said the postilion； looking
ruefully on the fallen vehicle。 'Let us leave the chaise for the
present；' said I； 'we can be of no use to it。' 'I don't like to
leave my chaise lying on the ground in this weather；' said the man；
'I love my chaise； and him whom it belongs to。' 'You are quite
right to be fond of yourself；' said I； 'on which account I advise
you to seek shelter from the rain as soon as possible。' 'I was not
talking of myself；' said the man； 'but my master； to whom the
chaise belongs。' 'I thought you called the chaise yours；' said I。
'That's my way of speaking；' said the man； 'but the chaise is my
master's； and a better master does not live。 Don't you think we
could manage to raise up the chaise？' 'And what is to become of
the horses？' said I。 'I love my horses well enough；' said the man；
'but they will take less harm than the chaise。 We two can never
lift up that chaise。' 'But we three can；' said Belle； 'at least； I
think so； and I know where to find two poles which will assist us。'
'You had better go to the tent；' said I； 'you will be wet through。'
'I care not for a little wetting；' said Belle； 'moreover； I have
more gowns than one … see you after the horses。' Thereupon； I led
the horses past the mouth of the dingle； to a place where a gap in
the hedge afforded admission to the copse or plantation on the
southern side。 Forcing them through the gap； I led them to a spot
amidst the trees which I deemed would afford them the most
convenient place for standing； then； darting down into the dingle；
I brought up a rope； and also the halter of my own nag； and with
these fastened them each to a separate tree in the best manner I
could。 This done； I returned to the chaise and the postilion。 In
a minute or two Belle arrived with two poles which； it seems； had
long been lying； overgrown with brushwood； in a ditch or hollow
behind the plantation。 With these both she and I set to work in
endeavouring to raise the fallen chaise from the ground。
We experienced considerable difficulty in this undertaking； at
length； with the assistance of the postilion； we saw our efforts
crowned with success … the chaise was lifted up； and stood upright
on three wheels。
'We may leave it here in safety；' said I； 'for it will hardly move
away on three wheels； even supposing it could run by itself； I am
afraid there is work here for a wheelwright； in which case I cannot
assist you； if you were in need of a blacksmith it would be
otherwise。' 'I don't think either the wheel or the axle is hurt；'
said the postilion； who had been handling both； 'it is only the
linch…pin having dropped out that caused the wheel to fly off； if I
could but find the linch…pin！ … though； perhaps； it fell out a mile
away。' 'Very likely；' said I； 'but never mind the linch…pin； I can
make you one； or something that will serve： but I can't stay here
any longer； I am going to my place below with this young
gentlewoman； and you had better follow us。' 'I am ready；' said the
man； and after lifting up the wheel and propping it against the
chaise； he went with us； slightly limping； and with his hand
pressed to his thigh。
As we were descending the narrow path； Belle leading the way； and
myself the last of the party； the postilion suddenly stopped sho