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！
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。 I
heard； 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？'
said I。 'Can't say I be；' said the voice； 'not yet at any rate；
but who are you？ I don't know you。' 'A traveller whom you and
your partner were going to run over in this dark lane； you almost
frightened me out of my senses。' 'Frightened！' said the voice； in
a louder tone； 'frightened！ oh！' and thereupon I heard somebody
getting upon his legs。 This accomplished； the individual proceeded
to attend to his horse； and with a little difficulty raised him
upon his legs also。 'Aren't you hurt？' said I。 'Hurt！' said the
voice； 'not I； don't think it； whatever the horse may be。 I tell
you what； my fellow； I thought you were a robber； and now I find
you are not； I have a good mind … ' 'To do what？' 'To serve you
out； aren't you ashamed … ？' 'At what？' said I； 'not to have
robbed you？ Shall I set about it now？' 'Ha； ha！' said the man；
dropping the bullying tone which he had assumed； 'you are joking …
robbing！ who talks of robbing？ I wonder how my horse's knees are；
not much hurt； I think … only mired。' The man； whoever he was；
then got upon his horse； and； after moving him about a little；
said； 'Good night； friend； where are you？' 'Here I am；' said I；
'just behind you。' 'You are； are you？ Take that。' I know not
what he did； but probably pricking his horse with the spur the
animal kicked out violently； one of his heels struck me on the
shoulder； but luckily missed my face； I fell back with the violence
of the blow； whilst the fellow scampered off at a great rate。
Stopping at some distance； he loaded me with abuse； and then；
continuing his way at a rapid trot； I heard no more of him。
'What a difference！' said I； getting up； 'last night I was feted in
the hall of a rich genius； and to…night I am knocked down and mired
in a dark lane by the heel of Master Wise's horse … I wonder who
gave him that name？ And yet he was wise enough to wreak his
revenge upon me； and I was not wise enough to keep out of his way。
Well； I am not much hurt； so it is of little consequence。'
I now bethought me that； as I had a carriage of my own； I might as
well make use of it； I therefore got into the cart； and； taking the
reins in my hand； gave an encouraging cry to the pony； whereupon
the sturdy little animal started again at as brisk a pace as if he
had not already come many a long mile。 I lay half reclining in the
cart； holding the reins lazily； and allowing the animal to go just
where he pleased； often wondering where he would conduct me。 At
length I felt drowsy； and my head sank upon my breast； I soon
aroused myself； but it was only to doze again； this occurred
several times。 Opening my eyes after a doze somewhat longer than
the others； I found that the drizzling rain had ceased； a corner of
the moon was apparent in the heavens； casting a faint light； I
looked around for a moment or two； but my eyes and brain were heavy
with slumber； and I could scarcely distinguish where we were。 I
had a kind of dim consciousness that we were traversing an
uninclosed country … perhaps a heath； I thought； however； that I
saw certain large black objects looming in the distance； which I
had a confused idea might be woods or plantations； the pony still
moved at his usual pace。 I did not find the jolting of the cart at
all disagreeable； on the contrary； it had quite a somniferous
effect upon me。 Again my eyes closed； I opened them once more； but
with less perception in them than before； looked forward； and；
muttering something about woodlands； I placed myself in an easier
posture than I had hitherto done； and fairly fell asleep。
How long I continued in that state I am unable to say； but I
believe for a considerable time； I was suddenly awakened by the
ceasing of the jolting to which I had become accustomed； and of
which I was perfectly sensible in my sleep。 I started up and
looked around me； the moon was still shining； and the face of the
heaven was studded with stars； I found myself amidst a maze of
bushes of various kinds； but principally hazel and holly； through
which was a path or driftway with grass growing on either side；
upon which the pony was already diligently browsing。 I conjectured
that this place had been one of the haunts of his former master；
and； on dismounting and looking about； was strengthened in that
opinion by finding a spot under an ash tree which； from its burnt
and blackened appearance； seemed to have been frequently used as a
fireplace。 I will take up my quarters here； thought I； it is an
excellent spot for me to commence my new profession in； I was quite
right to trust myself to the guidance of the pony。 Unharnessing
the animal without delay； I permitted him to browse at free will on
the grass； convinced that he would not wander far from a place to
which he was so much attached； I then pitched the little tent close
beside the ash tree to which I have alluded； and conveyed two or
three articles into it； and instantly felt that I had commenced
housekeeping for the first time in my life。 Housekeeping； however；
without a fire is a very sorry affair； something like the
housekeeping of children in their toy houses； of this I was the
more sensible from feeling very cold and shivering； owing to my
late exposure to the rain； and sleeping in the night air。
Collecting； therefore； all the dry sticks and furze I could find； I