But poor Hugo stood no chance whatever. His frantic10 and lubberly ’prentice-work found but a poor market for itself when pitted against an arm which had been trained by the first masters of Europe in single-stick, quarter-staff, and every art and trick of swordsmanship. The little King stood, alert but at graceful11 ease, and caught and turned aside the thick rain of blows with a facility and precision which set the motley on-lookers wild with admiration12; and every now and then, when his practised eye detected an opening, and a lightning-swift rap upon Hugo’s head followed as a result, the storm of cheers and laughter that swept the place was something wonderful to hear. At the end of fifteen minutes, Hugo, all battered13, bruised14, and the target for a pitiless bombardment of ridicule15, slunk from the field; and the unscathed hero of the fight was seized and borne aloft upon the shoulders of the joyous16 rabble17 to the place of honour beside the Ruffler, where with vast ceremony he was crowned King of the Game-Cocks; his meaner title being at the same time solemnly cancelled and annulled18, and a decree of banishment19 from the gang pronounced against any who should thenceforth utter it.
All attempts to make the King serviceable to the troop had failed. He had stubbornly refused to act; moreover, he was always trying to escape. He had been thrust into an unwatched kitchen, the first day of his return; he not only came forth20 empty-handed, but tried to rouse the housemates. He was sent out with a tinker to help him at his work; he would not work; moreover, he threatened the tinker with his own soldering-iron; and finally both Hugo and the tinker found their hands full with the mere22 matter of keeping his from getting away. He delivered the thunders of his royalty upon the heads of all who hampered23 his liberties or tried to force him to service. He was sent out, in Hugo’s charge, in company with a slatternly woman and a diseased baby, to beg; but the result was not encouraging—he declined to plead for the mendicants, or be a party to their cause in any way.
Thus several days went by; and the miseries25 of this tramping life, and the weariness and sordidness26 and meanness and vulgarity of it, became gradually and steadily27 so intolerable to the captive that he began at last to feel that his release from the hermit’s knife must prove only a temporary respite28 from death, at best.
But at night, in his dreams, these things were forgotten, and he was on his throne, and master again. This, of course, intensified29 the sufferings of the awakening—so the mortifications of each succeeding morning of the few that passed between his return to bondage30 and the combat with Hugo, grew bitterer and bitterer, and harder and harder to bear.
The morning after that combat, Hugo got up with a heart filled with vengeful purposes against the King. He had two plans, in particular. One was to inflict31 upon the lad what would be, to his proud spirit and ‘imagined’ royalty, a peculiar32 humiliation33; and if he failed to accomplish this, his other plan was to put a crime of some kind upon the King, and then betray him into the implacable clutches of the law.
In pursuance of the first plan, he purposed to put a ‘clime’ upon the King’s leg; rightly judging that that would mortify34 him to the last and perfect degree; and as soon as the clime should operate, he meant to get Canty’s help, and force the King to expose his leg in the highway and beg for alms. ’Clime’ was the cant3 term for a sore, artificially created. To make a clime, the operator made a paste or poultice of unslaked lime, soap, and the rust21 of old iron, and spread it upon a piece of leather, which was then bound tightly upon the leg. This would presently fret35 off the skin, and make the flesh raw and angry-looking; blood was then rubbed upon the limb, which, being fully36 dried, took on a dark and repulsive37 colour. Then a bandage of soiled rags was put on in a cleverly careless way which would allow the hideous38 ulcer39 to be seen, and move the compassion40 of the passer-by. {8}
Hugo got the help of the tinker whom the King had cowed with the soldering-iron; they took the boy out on a tinkering tramp, and as soon as they were out of sight of the camp they threw him down and the tinker held him while Hugo bound the poultice tight and fast upon his leg.
The King raged and stormed, and promised to hang the two the moment the sceptre was in his hand again; but they kept a firm grip upon him and enjoyed his impotent struggling and jeered41 at his threats. This continued until the poultice began to bite; and in no long time its work would have been perfected, if there had been no interruption. But there was; for about this time the ‘slave’ who had made the speech denouncing England’s laws, appeared on the scene, and put an end to the enterprise, and stripped off the poultice and bandage.
The King wanted to borrow his deliverer’s cudgel and warm the jackets of the two rascals42 on the spot; but the man said no, it would bring trouble—leave the matter till night; the whole tribe being together, then, the outside world would not venture to interfere43 or interrupt. He marched the party back to camp and reported the affair to the Ruffler, who listened, pondered, and then decided44 that the King should not be again detailed45 to beg, since it was plain he was worthy46 of something higher and better—wherefore, on the spot he promoted him from the mendicant24 rank and appointed him to steal!
Hugo was overjoyed. He had already tried to make the King steal, and failed; but there would be no more trouble of that sort, now, for of course the King would not dream of defying a distinct command delivered directly from head-quarters. So he planned a raid for that very afternoon, purposing to get the King in the law’s grip in the course of it; and to do it, too, with such ingenious strategy, that it should seem to be accidental and unintentional; for the King of the Game-Cocks was popular now, and the gang might not deal over-gently with an unpopular member who played so serious a treachery upon him as the delivering him over to the common enemy, the law.
Very well. All in good time Hugo strolled off to a neighbouring village with his prey47; and the two drifted slowly up and down one street after another, the one watching sharply for a sure chance to achieve his evil purpose, and the other watching as sharply for a chance to dart48 away and get free of his infamous49 captivity50 for ever.
Both threw away some tolerably fair-looking opportunities; for both, in their secret hearts, were resolved to make absolutely sure work this time, and neither meant to allow his fevered desires to seduce51 him into any venture that had much uncertainty52 about it.
Hugo’s chance came first. For at last a woman approached who carried a fat package of some sort in a basket. Hugo’s eyes sparkled with sinful pleasure as he said to himself, “Breath o’ my life, an’ I can but put that upon him, ’tis good-den and God keep thee, King of the Game-Cocks!” He waited and watched—outwardly patient, but inwardly consuming with excitement—till the woman had passed by, and the time was ripe; then said, in a low voice—
The King’s heart was filled with joy—he could make his escape, now, if Hugo’s quest only carried him far enough away.
But he was to have no such luck. Hugo crept behind the woman, snatched the package, and came running back, wrapping it in an old piece of blanket which he carried on his arm. The hue54 and cry was raised in a moment, by the woman, who knew her loss by the lightening of her burden, although she had not seen the pilfering55 done. Hugo thrust the bundle into the King’s hands without halting, saying—
“Now speed ye after me with the rest, and cry ‘Stop thief!’ but mind ye lead them astray!”
The next moment Hugo turned a corner and darted down a crooked56 alley—and in another moment or two he lounged into view again, looking innocent and indifferent, and took up a position behind a post to watch results.
The insulted King threw the bundle on the ground; and the blanket fell away from it just as the woman arrived, with an augmenting57 crowd at her heels; she seized the King’s wrist with one hand, snatched up her bundle with the other, and began to pour out a tirade58 of abuse upon the boy while he struggled, without success, to free himself from her grip.
Hugo had seen enough—his enemy was captured and the law would get him, now—so he slipped away, jubilant and chuckling59, and wended campwards, framing a judicious60 version of the matter to give to the Ruffler’s crew as he strode along.
The King continued to struggle in the woman’s strong grasp, and now and then cried out in vexation—
The crowd closed around, threatening the King and calling him names; a brawny63 blacksmith in leather apron64, and sleeves rolled to his elbows, made a reach for him, saying he would trounce him well, for a lesson; but just then a long sword flashed in the air and fell with convincing force upon the man’s arm, flat side down, the fantastic owner of it remarking pleasantly, at the same time—
“Marry, good souls, let us proceed gently, not with ill blood and uncharitable words. This is matter for the law’s consideration, not private and unofficial handling. Loose thy hold from the boy, goodwife.”
The blacksmith averaged the stalwart soldier with a glance, then went muttering away, rubbing his arm; the woman released the boy’s wrist reluctantly; the crowd eyed the stranger unlovingly, but prudently65 closed their mouths. The King sprang to his deliverer’s side, with flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes, exclaiming—
“Thou hast lagged sorely, but thou comest in good season, now, Sir Miles; carve me this rabble to rags!”
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1
outlaws
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| 歹徒，亡命之徒( outlaw的名词复数 )； 逃犯 | |
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butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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cant
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| n.斜穿，黑话，猛扔 | |
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ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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covertly
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| adv.偷偷摸摸地 | |
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indignities
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| n.侮辱，轻蔑( indignity的名词复数 ) | |
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royalty
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| n.皇家，皇族 | |
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prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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ridicule
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| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
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joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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rabble
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| n.乌合之众，暴民；下等人 | |
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18
annulled
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| v.宣告无效( annul的过去式和过去分词 )；取消；使消失；抹去 | |
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banishment
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| n.放逐，驱逐 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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rust
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| n.锈；v.生锈；(脑子)衰退 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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hampered
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| 妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24
mendicant
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| n.乞丐；adj.行乞的 | |
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25
miseries
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| n.痛苦( misery的名词复数 )；痛苦的事；穷困；常发牢骚的人 | |
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26
sordidness
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| n.肮脏；污秽；卑鄙；可耻 | |
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27
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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28
respite
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| n.休息，中止，暂缓 | |
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29
intensified
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| v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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bondage
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| n.奴役，束缚 | |
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31
inflict
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| vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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humiliation
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| n.羞辱 | |
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34
mortify
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| v.克制，禁欲，使受辱 | |
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fret
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| v.(使)烦恼；(使)焦急；(使)腐蚀，(使)磨损 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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repulsive
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| adj.排斥的，使人反感的 | |
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hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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ulcer
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| n.溃疡，腐坏物 | |
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40
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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41
jeered
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| v.嘲笑( jeer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42
rascals
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| 流氓( rascal的名词复数 )； 无赖； （开玩笑说法）淘气的人（尤指小孩）； 恶作剧的人 | |
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43
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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44
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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45
detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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46
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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47
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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48
dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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49
infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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50
captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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51
seduce
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| vt.勾引，诱奸，诱惑，引诱 | |
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52
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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53
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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54
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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55
pilfering
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| v.偷窃（小东西），小偷( pilfer的现在分词 )；偷窃（一般指小偷小摸） | |
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56
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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57
augmenting
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| 使扩张 | |
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58
tirade
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| n.冗长的攻击性演说 | |
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59
chuckling
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 ) | |
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60
judicious
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| adj.明智的，明断的，能作出明智决定的 | |
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bereaved
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| adj.刚刚丧失亲人的v.使失去（希望、生命等）( bereave的过去式和过去分词)；（尤指死亡）使丧失（亲人、朋友等）；使孤寂；抢走（财物） | |
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62
paltry
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| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
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brawny
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| adj.强壮的 | |
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apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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prudently
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| adv. 谨慎地，慎重地 | |
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