Meanwhile the gossiping woman of the cottage on the moor2, whose grateful heart had never forgotten the little kindness done to her boy by the young doctor, and who knew that the doctor loved Rose Ellis, more surely, perhaps, than Rose did herself, went off in a state of deep anxiety to St. Just, and, by dint3 of diligent4 inquiries5 and piecing of things together, coupled with her knowledge of Clearemout’s intentions, came to a pretty correct conclusion as to the state of affairs.
She then went to the abode6 of young Charles Tregarthen, whom she knew to be Oliver’s friend, and unbosomed herself. Charlie repaid her with more than thanks, and almost hugged her in his gratitude7 for her prompt activity.
“And now, Mrs Hicks,” said he, “you shall see how we will thwart8 this scoundrel. As for Oliver Trembath, I cannot imagine what could take him into Penzance in the wild state that you describe. Of course this affair has to do with it, and he evidently has learned something of this, and must have misunderstood the matter, else assuredly he had not been absent at such a time. But why go to Penzance? However, he will clear up the mystery ere long, no doubt. Meanwhile we shall proceed to thwart your schemes, good Mr Clearemout!”
So saying, Charlie Tregarthen set about laying his counter-plans. He also, as the managing director had done, visited several men, some of whom were miners and some smugglers, and arranged a meeting that evening near Cape10 Cornwall.
When evening drew on apace, four separate parties converged11 towards Priest’s Cove12. First, a boat crept along shore propelled by four men and steered13 by Jim Cuttance. Secondly14, six stout15 men crept stealthily down to the cove, led by Charlie Tregarthen, with Maggot as his second in command. Thirdly, Rose Ellis wended her way to the rendezvous16 with trembling step and beating heart; and, fourthly, George Augustus Clearemout moved in the same direction.
But the managing director moved faster than the others, having a longer way to travel, for, having had to pay a last visit to Wheal Dooem, he rode thence to St. Just. On the way he was particularly interested in a water-wheel which worked a pump, beside which a man in mining costume was seated smoking his pipe.
“Good-evening,” said Clearemout, reining17 up.
“Good-hevenin’, sur.”
“What does that pump?” asked the managing director, pointing to the wheel.
“That, sur?” said the miner, drawing a few whiffs from his pipe; “why, that do pump gold out o’ the Londoners, that do.”
The managing director chuckled18 very much, and said, “Indeed!”
“Iss, sur,” continued the miner, pointing to Wheal Dooem, “an’ that wan19 theere, up over hill, do the same thing.”
The managing director chuckled much more at this, and displayed his teeth largely as he nodded to the man and rode on.
Before his arrival at the rendezvous, the boat was run ashore20 not far from the spot where Tregarthen and his men were concealed21. As soon as the men had landed, Charlie walked down to them alone and accosted22 their leader.
“Well, Cuttance, you’re a pretty fellow to put your finger in such a dirty pie as this.”
Cuttance had seen the approach of Tregarthen with surprise and some alarm.
“Well, sur,” said he, without any of the bold expression that usually characterised him, “what can a man do when he’s to be well paid for the job? I do confess that I don’t half like it, but, after all, what have we got to do weth the opinions of owld aunts or uncles? If a gurl do choose to go off wi’ the man she likes, that’s no matter to we, an’ if I be well paid for lendin’ a hand, why shouldn’t I? But it do puzzle me, Mr Tregarthen, to guess how yow did come to knaw of it.”
“That don’t signify,” said Tregarthen sternly. “Do you know who the girl is?”
“I don’t knaw, an’ I don’t care,” said Jim doggedly23.
“What would you say if I told you it was Miss Rose Ellis?” said Charlie.
“I’d say thee was a liard,” replied Cuttance.
“Then I do tell you so.”
“Thee don’t mean that!” exclaimed the smuggler9, with a blaze of amazement24 and wrath25 in his face.
“Indeed I do.”
“Whew!” whistled Jim, “then that do explain the reason why that smooth-tongued feller said he would car’ her to the boat close veiled up for fear the men should see her.”
A rapid consultation26 was now held by the two as to the proper mode of proceeding27. Cuttance counselled an immediate28 capture of the culprit, and pitching him off the end of Cape Cornwall; but Tregarthen advised that they should wait until Clearemout seized his victim, otherwise they could not convict him, because he would deny any intention of evil against Rose, and pretend that some other girl, who had been scared away by their impetuosity, was concerned, for they might depend on it he’d get up a plausible29 story and defeat them.
Tregarthen’s plan was finally agreed to, and he returned to his men and explained matters.
Soon afterwards the managing director appeared coming down the road.
“Is all right?” he inquired of Cuttance, who went forward to meet him.
“All right, sur.”
“Go down to the boat then and wait,” he said, turning away.
Ere long he was joined by Rose, with whom he entered into conversation, leading her over the cape so as to get out of sight of the men, but young Tregarthen crept among the rocks and never for a moment lost sight of them. He saw Clearemout suddenly place a kerchief on Rose’s mouth, and, despite the poor girl’s struggles, tie it firmly so as to prevent her screaming, then he threw a large shawl over her, and catching30 her in his arms bore her swiftly towards the boat.
Tregarthen sprang up and confronted him.
Clearemout, astonished and maddened by this unexpected interference, shouted,—“Stand aside, sir! You have no interest in this matter, or right to interfere31.”
Charlie made no reply, but sprang on him like a tiger. Clearemout dropped his burden and grappled with the youth, who threw him in an instant, big though he was, for Tregarthen was a practised wrestler32, and the managing director was not. His great strength, however, enabled him to get on his knees, and there is no saying how the struggle might have terminated had not Cuttance come forward, and, putting his hard hands round Clearemout’s throat, caused that gentleman’s face to grow black, and his tongue and eyes to protrude33. Having thus induced him to submit, he eased off the necklace, and assisted him to rise, while the men of both parties crowded round.
“Now, then, boys,” cried Jim Cuttance, “bear a hand, one and all, and into the say with him.”
The managing director was at once knocked off his legs, and borne shoulder-high down to the beach by as many hands as could lay hold of him. Here they paused:—
“All together, boys—one—two—ho!”
At the word the unfortunate man was shot, by strong and willing arms, into the air like a bombshell, and fell into the water with a splash that was not unlike an explosion.
Clearemout was a good swimmer. When he came to the surface he raised himself, and, clearing the water from his eyes, glanced round. Even in that extremity34 the quickness and self-possession of the man did not forsake35 him. He perceived, at a glance, that the boat which, in the excitement of the capture, had been left by all the men, had floated off with the receding36 tide, and now lay a short distance from the shore.
At once he struck out for it. There was a shout of consternation37 and a rush to the water’s edge. Maggot shot far ahead of the others, plunged38 into the sea, and swam off. Observing this, and knowing well the courage and daring of the man, the rest stopped on the shore to witness the result.
Clearemout reached the boat first, but, owing to exhaustion39, was unable to raise himself into it. Maggot soon came up and grasped him by the throat, both men managed to get their arms over the gunwale, but in their struggle upset the boat and were separated. Clearemout then made for the shore with the intention of giving himself up, and Maggot followed, but he was not equal in swimming to the managing director, whose long steady strokes easily took him beyond the reach of his pursuer. He reached the shore, and stalked slowly out of the water. At the same moment Maggot sank and disappeared.
The consternation of his comrades was so great that in the confusion their prisoner was unheeded. Some sprang into the sea and dived after Maggot; others swam to the boat, intending to right it and get the boat-hooks.
Suddenly those who had remained on the beach observed something creep out of the sea near to some rocks a little to the right of the place where they stood. They ran towards it.
“Hallo! is that you, old Maggot?” they cried.
It was indeed the valiant40 smith himself! How he got there no one ever knew, nor could himself tell. It was conjectured41 that he must have become partially42 exhausted43, and, after sinking, had crept along the bottom to the shore! However, be that as it may, there he was, lying with his arm lovingly round a rock, and the first thing he said on looking up was,—“Aw! my dear men, has any of ’ee got a chaw of baccy about ’ee?”
This was of course received with a shout of laughter, and unlimited44 offers of quids while they assisted him to rise.
Meanwhile Tregarthen was attending to Rose, who had swooned when Clearemout dropped her. He also kept a watch over the prisoner, who, however, showed no intention of attempting to escape, but sat on a stone with his face buried in his hands.
The men soon turned their attention to him again, and some of the more violent were advancing to seize him, with many terrible threats of further vengeance45, when Rose ran between them, and entreated46 them to spare him.
Tregarthen seconded the proposal, and urged that as he had got pretty severe punishment already, they should set him free. This being agreed to, Charlie turned to the managing director, and said, with a look of pity, “You may go, sir, but, be assured, it is not for your own sake that we let you off. You know pretty well what the result would be if we chose to deliver you up to justice; we care more, however, for the feelings of this lady—whose name would be unavoidably and disagreeably brought before the public at the trial—than we care for your getting your merited reward. But, mark me, if you ever open your lips on the subject, you shall not escape us.”
“Iss,” added Jim Cuttance, “ann remember, you chucklehead, that if you do write or utter wan word ’bout it, after gettin’ back to London, there are here twelve Cornish men who will never rest till they have flayed47 thee alive!”
“You need have no fear,” said Clearemout with a bitter smile, as he turned and walked away, followed by a groan48 from the whole party.
“Now, lads,” said Cuttance after he was gone, “not wan word of this must ever be breathed, and we’ll howld ’ee responsible, David Hicks, for t’ wife’s tongue; dost a hear?”
This was agreed to by all, and, to the credit of these honest smugglers, and of Mrs Hicks, be it said, that not a syllable49 about the incident was ever heard of in the parish of St. Just from that day to this!
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1
marred
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| adj. 被损毁, 污损的 | |
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moor
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| n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊 | |
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dint
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| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
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diligent
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| adj.勤勉的，勤奋的 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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8
thwart
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| v.阻挠，妨碍，反对；adj.横(断的) | |
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smuggler
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| n.走私者 | |
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cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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converged
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| v.（线条、运动的物体等）会于一点( converge的过去式 )；（趋于）相似或相同；人或车辆汇集；聚集 | |
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12
cove
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| n.小海湾，小峡谷 | |
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steered
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| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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14
secondly
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| adv.第二，其次 | |
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rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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17
reining
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| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的现在分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
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18
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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19
wan
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| (wide area network)广域网 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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doggedly
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| adv.顽强地，固执地 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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plausible
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| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
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30
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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31
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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wrestler
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| n.摔角选手，扭 | |
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33
protrude
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| v.使突出，伸出，突出 | |
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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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35
forsake
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| vt.遗弃，抛弃；舍弃，放弃 | |
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receding
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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37
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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38
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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exhaustion
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| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
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valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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41
conjectured
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| 推测，猜测，猜想( conjecture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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unlimited
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| adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的 | |
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45
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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46
entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
flayed
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| v.痛打( flay的过去式和过去分词 )；把…打得皮开肉绽；剥（通常指动物）的皮；严厉批评 | |
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48
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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49
syllable
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| n.音节；vt.分音节 | |
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