At nightfall, on the third day, Israel had arrived within sixteen miles of the capital. Once more he sought refuge in a barn. This time he found some hay, and flinging himself down procured2 a tolerable night's rest.
Bright and early he arose refreshed, with the pleasing prospect4 of reaching his destination ere noon. Encouraged to find himself now so far from his original pursuers, Israel relaxed in his vigilance, and about ten o'clock, while passing through the town of Staines, suddenly encountered three soldiers. Unfortunately in exchanging clothes with the ditcher, he could not bring himself to include his shirt in the traffic, which shirt was a British navy shirt, a bargeman's shirt, and though hitherto he had crumpled5 the blue collar out of sight, yet, as it appeared in the present instance, it was not thoroughly6 concealed7. At any rate, keenly on the look-out for deserters, and made acute by hopes of reward for their apprehension8, the soldiers spied the fatal collar, and in an instant laid violent hands on the refugee.
"Hey, lad!" said the foremost soldier, a corporal, "you are one of his majesty9's seamen10! come along with ye."
So, unable to give any satisfactory account of himself, he was made prisoner on the spot, and soon after found himself handcuffed and locked up in the Bound House of the place, a prison so called, appropriated to runaways11, and those convicted of minor12 offences. Day passed dinnerless and supperless in this dismal13 durance, and night came on.
Israel had now been three days without food, except one two-penny loaf. The cravings of hunger now became sharper; his spirits, hitherto arming him with fortitude14, began to forsake15 him. Taken captive once again upon the very brink16 of reaching his goal, poor Israel was on the eve of falling into helpless despair. But he rallied, and considering that grief would only add to his calamity17, sought with stubborn patience to habituate himself to misery18, but still hold aloof19 from despondency. He roused himself, and began to bethink him how to be extricated20 from this labyrinth21.
Two hours sawing across the grating of the window, ridded him of his handcuffs. Next came the door, secured luckily with only a hasp and padlock. Thrusting the bolt of his handcuffs through a small window in the door, he succeeded in forcing the hasp and regaining22 his liberty about three o'clock in the morning.
Not long after sunrise, he passed nigh Brentford, some six or seven miles from the capital. So great was his hunger that downright starvation seemed before him. He chewed grass, and swallowed it. Upon first escaping from the hulk, six English pennies was all the money he had. With two of these he had bought a small loaf the day after fleeing the inn. The other four still remained in his pocket, not having met with a good opportunity to dispose of them for food.
Having torn off the collar of his shirt, and flung it into a hedge, he ventured to accost23 a respectable carpenter at a pale fence, about a mile this side of Brentford, to whom his deplorable situation now induced him to apply for work. The man did not wish himself to hire, but said that if he (Israel) understood farming or gardening, he might perhaps procure3 work from Sir John Millet24, whose seat, he said, was not remote. He added that the knight was in the habit of employing many men at that season of the year, so he stood a fair chance.
Revived a little by this prospect of relief, Israel starts in quest of the gentleman's seat, agreeably to the direction received. But he mistook his way, and proceeding25 up a gravelled and beautifully decorated walk, was terrified at catching27 a glimpse of a number of soldiers thronging28 a garden. He made an instant retreat before being espied29 in turn. No wild creature of the American wilderness30 could have been more panic-struck by a firebrand, than at this period hunted Israel was by a red coat. It afterwards appeared that this garden was the Princess Amelia's.
Taking another path, ere long he came to some laborers31 shovelling32 gravel26. These proved to be men employed by Sir John. By them he was directed towards the house, when the knight was pointed33 out to him, walking bare-headed in the inclosure with several guests. Having heard the rich men of England charged with all sorts of domineering qualities, Israel felt no little misgiving34 in approaching to an audience with so imposing35 a stranger. But, screwing up his courage, he advanced; while seeing him coming all rags and tatters, the group of gentlemen stood in some wonder awaiting what so singular a phantom36 might want.
"Mr. Millet," said Israel, bowing towards the bare-headed gentleman.
"Ha,—who are you, pray?"
"A poor fellow, sir, in want of work."
"A wardrobe, too, I should say," smiled one of the guests, of a very youthful, prosperous, and dandified air.
"Where's your hoe?" said Sir John.
"I have none, sir."
"Any money to buy one?"
"Only four English pennies, sir."
"English pennies. What other sort would you have?"
"Why, China pennies to be sure," laughed the youthful gentleman. "See his long, yellow hair behind; he looks like a Chinaman. Some broken-down Mandarin37. Pity he's no crown to his old hat; if he had, he might pass it round, and make eight pennies of his four."
"Will you hire me, Mr. Millet," said Israel.
"Ha! that's queer again," cried the knight.
"Hark ye, fellow," said a brisk servant, approaching from the porch, "this is Sir John Millet."
Seeming to take pity on his seeming ignorance, as well as on his undisputable poverty, the good knight now told Israel that if he would come the next morning he would see him supplied with a hoe, and moreover would hire him.
It would be hard to express the satisfaction of the wanderer at receiving this encouraging reply. Emboldened38 by it, he now returns towards a baker's he had spied, and bravely marching in, flings down all four pennies, and demands bread. Thinking he would not have any more food till next morning, Israel resolved to eat only one of the pair of two-penny loaves. But having demolished39 one, it so sharpened his longing40, that yielding to the irresistible41 temptation, he bolted down the second loaf to keep the other company.
After resting under a hedge, he saw the sun far descended42, and so prepared himself for another hard night. Waiting till dark, he crawled into an old carriage-house, finding nothing there but a dismantled43 old phaeton. Into this he climbed, and curling himself up like a carriage-dog, endeavored to sleep; but, unable to endure the constraint44 of such a bed, got out, and stretched himself on the bare boards of the floor.
No sooner was light in the east than he fastened to await the commands of one who, his instinct told him, was destined45 to prove his benefactor46. On his father's farm accustomed to rise with the lark47, Israel was surprised to discover, as he approached the house, that no soul was astir. It was four o'clock. For a considerable time he walked back and forth48 before the portal ere any one appeared. The first riser was a man servant of the household, who informed Israel that seven o'clock was the hour the people went to their work. Soon after he met an hostler of the place, who gave him permission to lie on some straw in an outhouse. There he enjoyed a sweet sleep till awakened49 at seven o'clock by the sounds of activity around him.
Supplied by the overseer of the men with a large iron fork and a hoe, he followed the hands into the field. He was so weak he could hardly support his tools. Unwilling50 to expose his debility, he yet could not succeed in concealing51 it. At last, to avoid worse imputations, he confessed the cause. His companions regarded him with compassion52, and exempted53 him from the severer toil54.
About noon the knight visited his workmen. Noticing that Israel made little progress, he said to him, that though he had long arms and broad shoulders, yet he was feigning55 himself to be a very weak man, or otherwise must in reality be so.
Hereupon one of the laborers standing56 by informed the gentleman how it was with Israel, when immediately the knight put a shilling into his hands and bade him go to a little roadside inn, which was nearer than the house, and buy him bread and a pot of beer. Thus refreshed he returned to the band, and toiled57 with them till four o'clock, when the day's work was over.
Arrived at the house he there again saw his employer, who, after attentively58 eyeing him without speaking, bade a meal be prepared for him, when the maid presenting a smaller supply than her kind master deemed necessary, she was ordered to return and bring out the entire dish. But aware of the danger of sudden repletion59 of heavy food to one in his condition, Israel, previously60 recruited by the frugal61 meal at the inn, partook but sparingly. The repast was spread on the grass, and being over, the good knight again looking inquisitively62 at Israel, ordered a comfortable bed to be laid in the barn, and here Israel spent a capital night.
After breakfast, next morning, he was proceeding to go with the laborers to their work, when his employer approaching him with a benevolent63 air, bade him return to his couch, and there remain till he had slept his fill, and was in a better state to resume his labors64.
Upon coming forth again a little after noon, he found Sir John walking alone in the grounds. Upon discovering him, Israel would have retreated, fearing that he might intrude65; but beckoning66 him to advance, the knight, as Israel drew nigh, fixed67 on him such a penetrating68 glance, that our poor hero quaked to the core. Neither was his dread69 of detection relieved by the knight's now calling in a loud voice for one from the house. Israel was just on the point of fleeing, when overhearing the words of the master to the servant who now appeared, all dread departed:
"Bring hither some wine!"
It presently came; by order of the knight the salver was set down on a green bank near by, and the servant retired70.
"My poor fellow," said Sir John, now pouring out a glass of wine, and handing it to Israel, "I perceive that you are an American; and, if I am not mistaken, you are an escaped prisoner of war. But no fear—drink the wine."
"Mr. Millet," exclaimed Israel aghast, the untasted wine trembling in his hand, "Mr. Millet, I—"
"Mr. Millet—there it is again. Why don't you say Sir John like the rest?"
"Why, sir—pardon me—but somehow, I can't. I've tried; but I can't. You won't betray me for that?"
"Betray—poor fellow! Hark ye, your history is doubtless a secret which you would not wish to divulge71 to a stranger; but whatever happens to you, I pledge you my honor I will never betray you."
"God bless you for that, Mr. Millet."
"Come, come; call me by my right name. I am not Mr. Millet. You have said Sir to me; and no doubt you have a thousand times said John to other people. Now can't you couple the two? Try once. Come. Only Sir and then John—Sir John—that's all."
"John—I can't—Sir, sir!—your pardon. I didn't mean that."
"My good fellow," said the knight looking sharply upon Israel, "tell me, are all your countrymen like you? If so, it's no use fighting them. To that effect, I must write to his Majesty myself. Well, I excuse you from Sir Johnning me. But tell me the truth, are you not a seafaring man, and lately a prisoner of war?"
Israel frankly72 confessed it, and told his whole story. The knight listened with much interest; and at its conclusion, warned Israel to beware of the soldiers; for owing to the seats of some of the royal family being in the neighborhood, the red-coats abounded73 hereabout.
"I do not wish unnecessarily to speak against my own countrymen," he added, "I but plainly speak for your good. The soldiers you meet prowling on the roads, are not fair specimens74 of the army. They are a set of mean, dastardly banditti, who, to obtain their fee, would betray their best friends. Once more, I warn you against them. But enough; follow me now to the house, and as you tell me you have exchanged clothes before now, you can do it again. What say you? I will give you coat and breeches for your rags."
Thus generously supplied with clothes and other comforts by the good knight, and implicitly75 relying upon the honor of so kind-hearted a man, Israel cheered up, and in the course of two or three weeks had so fattened76 his flanks, that he was able completely to fill Sir John's old buckskin breeches, which at first had hung but loosely about him.
He was assigned to an occupation which removed him from the other workmen. The strawberry bed was put under his sole charge. And often, of mild, sunny afternoons, the knight, genial77 and gentle with dinner, would stroll bare-headed to the pleasant strawberry bed, and have nice little confidential78 chats with Israel; while Israel, charmed by the patriarchal demeanor79 of this true Abrahamic gentleman, with a smile on his lip, and tears of gratitude80 in his eyes, offered him, from time to time, the plumpest berries of the bed.
When the strawberry season was over, other parts of the grounds were assigned him. And so six months elapsed, when, at the recommendation of Sir John, Israel procured a good berth81 in the garden of the Princess Amelia.
So completely now had recent events metamorphosed him in all outward things, that few suspected him of being any other than an Englishman. Not even the knight's domestics. But in the princess's garden, being obliged to work in company with many other laborers, the war was often a topic of discussion among them. And "the d—d Yankee rebels" were not seldom the object of scurrilous82 remark. Illy could the exile brook83 in silence such insults upon the country for which he had bled, and for whose honored sake he was that very instant a sufferer. More than once, his indignation came very nigh getting the better of his prudence84. He longed for the war to end, that he might but speak a little bit of his mind.
Now the superintendent85 of the garden was a harsh, overbearing man. The workmen with tame servility endured his worst affronts86. But Israel, bred among mountains, found it impossible to restrain himself when made the undeserved object of pitiless epithets87. Ere two months went by, he quitted the service of the princess, and engaged himself to a farmer in a small village not far from Brentford. But hardly had he been here three weeks, when a rumor88 again got afloat that he was a Yankee prisoner of war. Whence this report arose he could never discover. No sooner did it reach the ears of the soldiers, than they were on the alert. Luckily, Israel was apprised89 of their intentions in time. But he was hard pushed. He was hunted after with a perseverance90 worthy91 a less ignoble92 cause. He had many hairbreadth escapes. Most assuredly he would have been captured, had it not been for the secret good offices of a few individuals, who, perhaps, were not unfriendly to the American side of the question, though they durst not avow93 it.
Tracked one night by the soldiers to the house of one of these friends, in whose garret he was concealed, he was obliged to force the skuttle, and running along the roof, passed to those of adjoining houses to the number of ten or twelve, finally succeeding in making his escape.
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1
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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runaways
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| （轻而易举的）胜利( runaway的名词复数 ) | |
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minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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fortitude
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| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 | |
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forsake
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| vt.遗弃，抛弃；舍弃，放弃 | |
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brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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extricated
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| v.使摆脱困难，脱身( extricate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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labyrinth
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| n.迷宫；难解的事物；迷路 | |
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regaining
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| 复得( regain的现在分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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accost
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| v.向人搭话，打招呼 | |
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millet
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| n.小米，谷子 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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gravel
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| n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石 | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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thronging
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的现在分词 ) | |
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espied
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| v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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laborers
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| n.体力劳动者，工人( laborer的名词复数 )；（熟练工人的）辅助工 | |
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shovelling
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| v.铲子( shovel的现在分词 )；锹；推土机、挖土机等的)铲；铲形部份 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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misgiving
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕 | |
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imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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phantom
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| n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的 | |
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Mandarin
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| n.中国官话，国语，满清官吏；adj.华丽辞藻的 | |
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emboldened
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| v.鼓励，使有胆量( embolden的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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demolished
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| v.摧毁( demolish的过去式和过去分词 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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dismantled
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| 拆开( dismantle的过去式和过去分词 )； 拆卸； 废除； 取消 | |
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constraint
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| n.(on)约束，限制；限制(或约束)性的事物 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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benefactor
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| n. 恩人，行善的人，捐助人 | |
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lark
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| n.云雀，百灵鸟；n.嬉戏，玩笑；vi.嬉戏 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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51
concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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exempted
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| 使免除[豁免]( exempt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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feigning
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| 假装，伪装( feign的现在分词 )； 捏造（借口、理由等） | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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repletion
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| n.充满，吃饱 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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frugal
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| adj.节俭的，节约的，少量的，微量的 | |
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inquisitively
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| 过分好奇地； 好问地 | |
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benevolent
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| adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的 | |
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labors
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| v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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intrude
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| vi.闯入；侵入；打扰，侵扰 | |
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beckoning
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| adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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divulge
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| v.泄漏(秘密等)；宣布，公布 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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abounded
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| v.大量存在，充满，富于( abound的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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implicitly
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| adv. 含蓄地, 暗中地, 毫不保留地 | |
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fattened
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| v.喂肥( fatten的过去式和过去分词 )；养肥（牲畜）；使（钱）增多；使（公司）升值 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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demeanor
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| n.行为；风度 | |
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80
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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81
berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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82
scurrilous
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| adj.下流的，恶意诽谤的 | |
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brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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84
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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85
superintendent
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| n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长 | |
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86
affronts
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| n.（当众）侮辱，（故意）冒犯( affront的名词复数 )v.勇敢地面对( affront的第三人称单数 )；相遇 | |
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87
epithets
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| n.（表示性质、特征等的）词语( epithet的名词复数 ) | |
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rumor
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| n.谣言，谣传，传说 | |
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89
apprised
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| v.告知，通知( apprise的过去式和过去分词 )；评价 | |
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90
perseverance
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| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
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91
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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ignoble
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| adj.不光彩的，卑鄙的；可耻的 | |
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avow
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| v.承认，公开宣称 | |
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