Chapter XIV. Modesty of Mr. Galt

 Roger Galt was laughing triumphantly¹.  He roared in my ear, “So you’ll not go sailing overseas yet awhile, John Craike, to pleasure Uncle Charles.  Blunt’ll never earn his guineas for your kidnapping.”

 

“Thanks to you!  Will they come after us, do you think?”

 

“There’s not a man among ’em has a horse can match mine.  Save Martin!  And he’ll not dare.  I vow² by now Martin’s gallopin’ like the devil to Craike House with the bad news for Charles.”

 

“Yes, and you’re like to suffer for it at Craike’s hands.”

 

He answered lugubriously⁴, “Ay, I’m like to suffer for it if I remain in this part of the country.  But I’ll be riding elsewhere,—when I’ve set you down.  I’m not so much afraid of Craike or aught that he may do, that I’ll dance to his fiddling⁵ always.”

 

“Why d’ye help me now?”

 

“For no more than knowin’ that you’re Dick Craike’s son.”

 

p. 112“He was your friend?”

 

“Ay, friend and master.”

 

“You said that he’d been put out of the way, as I’d be put out of the way.  What did you mean by that?”

 

“He was shipped overseas, I’ve heard tell.”

 

“You don’t know?”

 

“No, I don’t know.”

 

“Whither do you take me now?”

 

“Come to think of it now,” he answered, laughing, “I hadn’t thought of it before.  Not to Rogues⁶’ Haven⁷.”

 

“Do you know Mr. Bradbury?”

 

“I’ve heard tell of him.”

 

“He’s with old Gavin Masters—whoever he may be.  Will you take me to him, or set me down on the way to Masters’ house?”

 

He answered uneasily, “I’ll set you down near his house.  I’ll not wait on old Sir Gavin, I’m that modest, Mr. Craike.  He’s a gentleman.  He’s a justice—as Charles Craike’s a justice.”  His laughter sounded out on the wind.  “Ay, I’ll take you near enough.  Get on, old horse!  Get on!”

 

We were out then from the green cup in which the Stone House lay.  Looking back from the ridge⁸, ere the trees took us into their company, I saw the old house stand grey to the morning; p. 113I saw a confusion of figures all about it; I saw a rider dashing from the gate and galloping⁹ of apace.

 

“Martin!” growled¹⁰ Roger.  “He’s riding of for Rogues’ Haven to give Craike word.  I’ve a mind to cut him off.”

 

“Who is Martin?  Bart and he are brothers, aren’t they?”

 

“Martin and Bart Baynes, ay, they’re brothers, both rogues, spawn¹¹ of old Mag Baynes’s son Adam,—he that was transported and died some year back.  Ay, transported he was, but died.  Craike’s men, Mart and Bart—rogues both!”

 

“Where does Rogues’ Haven lie?”

 

“That way”—with a sweep of his hand towards the rocky uplands.  “Away, with the wood all about it.”

 

“Why the name?”

 

“Didn’t you see and hear enough, young sir, in Mag’s house?”

 

“Smugglers—ay, and worse—is that why?”

 

“Ay, ay; and there’s odd tales of old Edward, how his money come—” but he broke of—“I’m not forgettin’ you’re the old man’s grandson.”

 

“Forget that I am, and tell me.”

 

“There’s odd tales.  Maybe he made his p. 114fortune in the East, like any India merchant.  He came as honest by it as many another, I’ve no doubt.”

 

“You mean dishonestly.  What was my grandfather?”

 

He answered, laughing, “A gentleman of fortune, folk say”—and galloped¹² on through the trees and out upon the open moorlands.

 

Seated before him in saddle, with nigh as much discomfort¹³ to me as when he had borne me on to Mag’s farm in the night, I fell to pondering over the mystery of old Edward Craike.  How had he come by his money?  Mr. Bradbury would never tell me, fencing me delicately; Roger Galt would not, but “gentleman of fortune”—it might mean buccaneer, freebooter, pirate, as Henry Morgan or many another.  Ever my mother’s words recurred¹⁴ to me, “the doomed¹⁵ house”—“ill-gotten wealth”—the thought of her hate of Charles and terror of Rogues’ Haven.  And the name and the company old Edward kept?  Howbeit, I should know soon.  When once I was safe with Mr. Bradbury, and the justice Sir Gavin Masters, and the thief-catchers from London.  And how would my uncle take all this, and what should be his punishment, after his plot against me-defeated by this gentleman of the road whom he had vowed¹⁶ to hang, if he p. 115should play him false, as Roger Galt had played him!

 

But my thoughts were yet all awhirl, even as my body was jolted¹⁷ and jarred before Roger Galt on his great black horse, as now putting his mount to its full speed he galloped over the moors¹⁸.  He descended¹⁹ at last on to a rough and broken road, striking back, as nearly as I might guess, for the highway on which Mr. Bradbury and I had been intercepted²⁰.  And, suddenly, rounding a bend in the road, we came face to face with four riders, at the sight of whom Roger pulled up abruptly—to snatch a pistol from his holster, loosing his hold upon me, and muttering, “Jump down!  Quick!  I’ll not stay!”

 

They came onward²¹ riding swiftly, as I dropped stiffly to my feet.  Roger Galt, with a wave of his hand and a cry, “Good day to ye, lad,” turned his horse and was off at a gallop³, ere I understood who came and why he fled.  And standing²² in the road, I swung round to meet the riders.  I saw Mr. Bradbury come riding swiftly through the morning; beside him a stout²³ gentleman in a scarlet²⁴ coat as flushed as his jovial²⁵ face; after them two hard-looking fellows, who, by their grim visages and rigs, I took for the runners whom Mr. Bradbury had called down from London.

 

Mr. Bradbury, with an exclamation²⁶, pulled up p. 116beside me; but the red-coated gentleman, roaring, “After him!  After him!  There’s Galt!  There’s our man!” set spurs to his mount and galloped apace down the track, with the two fellows clattering²⁷ after.

 

Mr. Bradbury dismounted stiffly; hands outstretched, he came to me, crying in that shrill²⁸ voice of his, “Why, Mr. Craike—my dear sir!  My dear sir!”

 

“Good morning, Mr. Bradbury,” I answered, as he took my hands.  “I’m glad to see you.”

 

“But where in the devil’s name had they hid you?  With whom were you riding?  He had cause to fear my friend here, Sir Gavin.”

 

“He’s Roger Galt.  He took me out of Charles Craike’s hands, when he held me prisoner in a farmhouse²⁹ away on the moors miles from here.”

 

“Galt!  A notorious fellow.  Highwayman!  There’s a price on his head.”

 

“Yet my father’s friend and mine.  I’m safe through him.  But for him I should be aboard the ship of one Blunt, smuggler—may be worse; oh, it’s been the prettiest of plots, Mr. Bradbury, and I’ve the wildest of tales for you.”

 

“So!” he said swiftly.  “So!  Charles Craike thought to trick us, and you’ve tricked Charles Craike.  By heaven, he’ll answer for this—by heaven!  My dear sir, I’ve hunted high and low p. 117for you.  Charles Craike denied all knowledge of you.  Old Mr. Edward would not lift a finger.  Lord knows and I guess the story our precious gentleman has told him of you.  But I’ll lay Charles Craike by the heels yet.”

 

“Mr. Bradbury,” said I, “your friend here and the runners follow after Galt.  I’d have no hurt come to him, for through him, and him only, despite Craike, I’m here and safe ashore³⁰.  Not that they’re like to take him,” as I stared up the road and saw the riders pulling in, while Roger vanished from view.  “Charles Craike has sworn that Roger Galt shall pay for this; I’d not have your friend there play Craike’s part, and set his hands on Galt.”

 

“I’ll have a word with Sir Gavin,” Mr. Bradbury assented³¹.  “Not that ’twill count, for Sir Gavin is set against the fellow, he’s been swearing indeed, for all I might say to the contrary, that not Charles Craike but Galt was responsible for the outrage³² upon us.”

 

“You took little hurt from your fall, I trust, Mr. Bradbury.”

 

“Little save a bad shaking.  I was afoot almost at once.  And must step it every foot of the way to the village—there’s a tolerable inn there, whither I’ll now lead you, Mr. Craike.”

 

“And what then?” I asked.

 

p. 118“Why, surely, we’ll proceed to wait upon your grandfather, sir.”

 

“Unless my Uncle Charles plans otherwise.”

 

“Nay, we’ll ride thither³³ this afternoon, sir, if you’re rested and well.  But the runners shall go beside our coach, lest Mr. Charles Craike still desire that we shall not meet your grandfather.”

1 triumphantly   

ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地

参考例句：

• The lion was roaring triumphantly. 狮子正在发出胜利的吼叫。
• Robert was looking at me triumphantly. 罗伯特正得意扬扬地看着我。

2 vow   

n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓

参考例句：

• My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
• I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。

3 gallop   

v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展

参考例句：

• They are coming at a gallop towards us.他们正朝着我们飞跑过来。
• The horse slowed to a walk after its long gallop.那匹马跑了一大阵后慢下来缓步而行。

4 lugubriously   

参考例句：

• His mirth hoarse and ghastly, like a raven's and the sick wolf joined him, howling lugubriously. 他的笑声粗厉可怕，跟乌鸦的怪叫一样，而那条病狼也随着他，一阵阵地惨嗥。 来自互联网

5 fiddling   

微小的

参考例句：

• He was fiddling with his keys while he talked to me. 和我谈话时他不停地摆弄钥匙。
• All you're going to see is a lot of fiddling around. 你今天要看到的只是大量的胡摆乱弄。 来自英汉文学 - 廊桥遗梦

6 rogues   

n.流氓( rogue的名词复数 )；无赖；调皮捣蛋的人；离群的野兽

参考例句：

• 'I'll show these rogues that I'm an honest woman,'said my mother. “我要让那些恶棍知道，我是个诚实的女人。” 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
• The rogues looked at each other, but swallowed the home-thrust in silence. 那些恶棍面面相觑，但只好默默咽下这正中要害的话。 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛

7 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

8 ridge   

n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭

参考例句：

• We clambered up the hillside to the ridge above.我们沿着山坡费力地爬上了山脊。
• The infantry were advancing to attack the ridge.步兵部队正在向前挺进攻打山脊。

9 galloping   

adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• The horse started galloping the moment I gave it a good dig. 我猛戳了马一下，它就奔驰起来了。
• Japan is galloping ahead in the race to develop new technology. 日本在发展新技术的竞争中进展迅速，日新月异。

10 growled   

v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说

参考例句：

• \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道：“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 spawn   

n.卵，产物，后代，结果；vt.产卵，种菌丝于，产生，造成；vi.产卵，大量生产

参考例句：

• The fish were madly pushing their way upstream to spawn.鱼群为产卵而疯狂地向上游挤进。
• These fish will lay spawn in about one month from now.这些鱼大约一个月内会产卵。

12 galloped   

（使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事

参考例句：

• Jo galloped across the field towards him. 乔骑马穿过田野向他奔去。
• The children galloped home as soon as the class was over. 孩子们一下课便飞奔回家了。

13 discomfort   

n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便

参考例句：

• One has to bear a little discomfort while travelling.旅行中总要忍受一点不便。
• She turned red with discomfort when the teacher spoke.老师讲话时她不好意思地红着脸。

14 recurred   

再发生，复发( recur的过去式和过去分词 )； 治愈

参考例句：

• Old memories constantly recurred to him. 往事经常浮现在他的脑海里。
• She always winced when he recurred to the subject of his poems. 每逢他一提到他的诗作的时候，她总是有点畏缩。

15 doomed   

命定的

参考例句：

• The court doomed the accused to a long term of imprisonment. 法庭判处被告长期监禁。
• A country ruled by an iron hand is doomed to suffer. 被铁腕人物统治的国家定会遭受不幸的。

16 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

17 jolted   

（使）摇动， （使）震惊( jolt的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The truck jolted and rattled over the rough ground. 卡车嘎吱嘎吱地在凹凸不平的地面上颠簸而行。
• She was jolted out of her reverie as the door opened. 门一开就把她从幻想中惊醒。

18 moors   

v.停泊，系泊（船只）( moor的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• the North York moors 北约克郡的漠泽
• They're shooting grouse up on the moors. 他们在荒野射猎松鸡。 来自《简明英汉词典》

19 descended   

a.为...后裔的，出身于...的

参考例句：

• A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。
• The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。

20 intercepted   

拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻

参考例句：

• Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave the hotel. 他正要离开旅馆，记者们把他拦截住了。
• Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave by the rear entrance. 他想从后门溜走，记者把他截住了。

21 onward   

adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先

参考例句：

• The Yellow River surges onward like ten thousand horses galloping.黄河以万马奔腾之势滚滚向前。
• He followed in the steps of forerunners and marched onward.他跟随着先辈的足迹前进。

22 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

24 scarlet   

n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的

参考例句：

• The scarlet leaves of the maples contrast well with the dark green of the pines.深红的枫叶和暗绿的松树形成了明显的对比。
• The glowing clouds are growing slowly pale,scarlet,bright red,and then light red.天空的霞光渐渐地淡下去了，深红的颜色变成了绯红，绯红又变为浅红。

25 jovial   

adj.快乐的，好交际的

参考例句：

• He seemed jovial,but his eyes avoided ours.他显得很高兴，但他的眼光却避开了我们的眼光。
• Grandma was plump and jovial.祖母身材圆胖，整天乐呵呵的。

26 exclamation   

n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词

参考例句：

• He could not restrain an exclamation of approval.他禁不住喝一声采。
• The author used three exclamation marks at the end of the last sentence to wake up the readers.作者在文章的最后一句连用了三个惊叹号，以引起读者的注意。

27 clattering   

发出咔哒声（clatter的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• Typewriters keep clattering away. 打字机在不停地嗒嗒作响。
• The typewriter was clattering away. 打字机啪嗒啪嗒地响着。

28 shrill   

adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫

参考例句：

• Whistles began to shrill outside the barn.哨声开始在谷仓外面尖叫。
• The shrill ringing of a bell broke up the card game on the cutter.刺耳的铃声打散了小汽艇的牌局。

29 farmhouse   

n.农场住宅（尤指主要住房）

参考例句：

• We fell for the farmhouse as soon as we saw it.我们对那所农舍一见倾心。
• We put up for the night at a farmhouse.我们在一间农舍投宿了一夜。

30 ashore   

adv.在(向)岸上，上岸

参考例句：

• The children got ashore before the tide came in.涨潮前，孩子们就上岸了。
• He laid hold of the rope and pulled the boat ashore.他抓住绳子拉船靠岸。

31 assented   

同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The judge assented to allow the prisoner to speak. 法官同意允许犯人申辩。
• "No," assented Tom, "they don't kill the women -- they're too noble. “对，”汤姆表示赞同地说，“他们不杀女人——真伟大！

32 outrage   

n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒

参考例句：

• When he heard the news he reacted with a sense of outrage.他得悉此事时义愤填膺。
• We should never forget the outrage committed by the Japanese invaders.我们永远都不应该忘记日本侵略者犯下的暴行。

33 thither   

adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的

参考例句：

• He wandered hither and thither looking for a playmate.他逛来逛去找玩伴。
• He tramped hither and thither.他到处流浪。