They fixed3 on a spot where they made a cave, which was large enough to receive them and their horses. This cave was inclosed within a sort of thicket4 of bushes and brambles. From this station they used to issue, etc. —— Memoirs5 of Richard Turpin.
It was not for several minutes after their flight had commenced that any conversation passed between the robbers. Their horses flew on like wind; and the country through which they rode presented to their speed no other obstacle than an occasional hedge, or a short cut through the thicknesses of some leafless beechwood. The stars lent them a merry light, and the spirits of two of them at least were fully6 in sympathy with the exhilaration of the pace and the air. Perhaps, in the third, a certain presentiment7 that the present adventure would end less merrily than it had begun, conspired8, with other causes of gloom, to check that exaltation of the blood which generally follows a successful exploit.
The path which the robbers took wound by the sides of long woods or across large tracts9 of uncultivated land; nor did they encounter anything living by the road, save now and then a solitary10 owl11, wheeling its gray body around the skirts of the bare woods, or occasionally troops of conies, pursuing their sports and enjoying their midnight food in the fields.
“Heavens!” cried the tall robber, whose incognito12 we need no longer preserve, and who, as our readers are doubtless aware, answered to the name of Pepper — “heavens!” cried he, looking upward at the starry13 skies in a sort of ecstasy14, “what a jolly life this is! Some fellows like hunting; d —— it! what hunting is like the road? If there be sport in hunting down a nasty fox, how much more is there in hunting down a nice, clean nobleman’s carriage! If there be joy in getting a brush, how much more is there in getting a purse! If it be pleasant to fly over a hedge in the broad daylight, hang me if it be not ten times finer sport to skim it by night — here goes! Look how the hedges run away from us! and the silly old moon dances about, as if the sight of us put the good lady in spirits! Those old maids are always glad to have an eye upon such fine, dashing young fellows.”
“Ay,” cried the more erudite and sententious Augustus Tomlinson, roused by success from his usual philosophical15 sobriety; “no work is so pleasant as night-work, and the witches our ancestors burned were in the right to ride out on their broomsticks with the awls and the stars. We are their successors now, Ned. We are your true fly-by-nights!”
“Only,” quoth Ned, “we are a cursed deal more clever than they were; for they played their game without being a bit the richer for it, and we — I say, Tomlinson, where the devil did you put that red morocco case?”
“Experience never enlightens the foolish,” said Tomlinson, “or you would have known, without asking, that I had put it in the very safest pocket in my coat. ‘Gad, how heavy it is!
“Well,” cried Pepper, “I can’t say I wish it were lighter16! Only think of our robbing my lord twice, and on the same road too!”
“I say, Lovett,” exclaimed Tomlinson, “was it not odd that we should have stumbled upon our Bath friend so unceremoniously? Lucky for us that we are so strict in robbing in masks! He would not have thought the better of Bath company if he had seen our faces.”
Lovett, or rather Clifford, had hitherto been silent. He now turned slowly in his saddle, and said: “As it was, the poor devil was very nearly despatched. Long Ned was making short work with him, if I had not interposed!”
“And why did you?” said Ned.
“Because I will have no killing17; it is the curse of the noble art of our profession to have passionate18 professors like thee.”
“Passionate!” repeated Ned. “Well, I am a little choleric19, I own it; but that is not so great a fault on the road as it would be in housebreaking. I don’t know a thing that requires so much coolness and self-possession as cleaning out a house from top to bottom — quietly and civilly, mind you!”
“That is the reason, I suppose, then,” said Augustus, “that you altogether renounced20 that career. Your first adventure was house breaking, I think I have heard you say. I confess it was a vulgar debut21 — not worthy22 of you!”
“No! Harry23 Cook seduced24 me; but the specimen25 I saw that night disgusted me of picking locks; it brings one in contact with such low companions. Only think, there was a merchant, a rag-merchant, one of the party!”
“Faugh!” said Tomlinson, in solemn disgust.
“Ay, you may well turn up your lip; I never broke into a house again.”
“Who were your other companions?” asked Augustus. “Only Harry Cook — [A noted26 highwayman.]— and a very singular woman —”
Here Ned’s narrative27 was interrupted by a dark defile28 through a wood, allowing room for only one horseman at a time. They continued this gloomy path for several minutes, until at length it brought them to the brink29 of a large dell, overgrown with bushes, and spreading around somewhat in the form of a rude semicircle. Here the robbers dismounted, and led their reeking30 horses down the descent. Long Ned, who went first, paused at a cluster of bushes, which seemed so thick as to defy intrusion, but which, yielding on either side to the experienced hand of the robber, presented what appeared the mouth of a cavern31. A few steps along the passage of this gulf32 brought them to a door, which, even seen by torchlight, would have appeared so exactly similar in colour and material to the rude walls on either side as to have deceived any unsuspecting eye, and which, in the customary darkness brooding over it, might have remained for centuries undiscovered. Touching33 a secret latch34, the door opened, and the robbers were in the secure precincts of the “Red Cave.” It may be remembered that among the early studies of our exemplary hero the memoirs of Richard Turpin had formed a conspicuous35 portion; and it may also be remembered that in the miscellaneous adventures of that gentleman nothing had more delighted the juvenile36 imagination of the student than the description of the forest cave in which the gallant37 Turpin had been accustomed to conceal38 himself, his friend, his horse,
“And that sweet saint who lay by Turpin’s side;”
or, to speak more domestically, the respectable Mrs. Turpin. So strong a hold, indeed, had that early reminiscence fixed upon our hero’s mind, that no sooner had he risen to eminence39 among his friends than he had put the project of his childhood into execution. He had selected for the scene of his ingenuity40 an admirable spot. In a thinly peopled country, surrounded by commons and woods, and yet, as Mr. Robins41 would say if he had to dispose of it by auction42, “within an easy ride” of populous43 and well-frequented roads, it possessed44 all the advantages of secrecy45 for itself and convenience for depredation46. Very few of the gang, and those only who had been employed in its construction, were made acquainted with the secret of this cavern; and as our adventurers rarely visited it, and only on occasions of urgent want or secure concealment47, it had continued for more than two years undiscovered and unsuspected.
The cavern, originally hollowed by nature, owed but little to the decorations of art; nevertheless, the roughness of the walls was concealed48 by a rude but comfortable arras of matting; four or five of such seats as the robbers themselves could construct were drawn49 around a small but bright wood-fire, which, as there was no chimney, spread a thin volume of smoke over the apartment. The height of the cave, added to the universal reconciler (custom), prevented, however, this evil from being seriously unpleasant; and, indeed, like the tenants50 of an Irish cabin, perhaps the inmates51 attached a degree of comfort to a circumstance which was coupled with their dearest household associations. A table, formed of a board coarsely planed, and supported by four legs of irregular size, made equal by the introduction of blocks or wedges between the legs and the floor, stood warming its uncouth52 self by the fire. At one corner a covered cart made a conspicuous article of furniture, no doubt useful either in conveying plunder53 or provisions; beside the wheels were carelessly thrown two or three coarse carpenter’s tools, and the more warlike utilities of a blunderbuss, a rifle, and two broadswords. In the other corner was an open cupboard, containing rows of pewter platters, mugs, etc. Opposite the fireplace, which was to the left of the entrance, an excavation54 had been turned into a dormitory; and fronting the entrance was a pair of broad, strong wooden steps, ascending55 to a large hollow about eight feet from the ground. This was the entrance to the stables; and as soon as their owners released the reins56 of the horses, the docile57 animals proceeded one by one leisurely58 up the steps, in the manner of quadrupeds educated at the public seminary of Astley’s, and disappeared within the aperture59.
These steps, when drawn up — which, however, from their extreme clumsiness, required the united strength of two ordinary men, and was not that instantaneous work which it should have been — made the place above a tolerably strong hold; for the wall was perfectly60 perpendicular61 and level, and it was only by placing his hands upon the ledge62, and so lifting himself gymnastically upward, that an active assailant could have reached the eminence — a work which defenders63 equally active, it may easily be supposed, would not be likely to allow.
This upper cave — for our robbers paid more attention to their horses than themselves, as the nobler animals of the two species — was evidently fitted up with some labour. The stalls were rudely divided, the litter of dry fern was clean, troughs were filled with oats, and a large tub had been supplied from a pond at a little distance. A cart-harness and some old wagoners’ frocks were fixed on pegs64 to the wall; while at the far end of these singular stables was a door strongly barred, and only just large enough to admit the body of a man. The confederates had made it an express law never to enter their domain65 by this door, or to use it, except for the purpose of escape, should the cave ever be attacked; in which case, while one or two defended the entrance from the inner cave, another might unbar the door, and as it opened upon the thickest part of the wood, through which with great ingenuity a labyrinthine66 path had been cut, not easily tracked by ignorant pursuers, these precautions of the highwaymen had provided a fair hope of at least a temporary escape from any invading enemies.
Such were the domestic arrangements of the Red Cave; and it will be conceded that at least some skill had been shown in the choice of the spot, if there were a lack of taste in its adornments.
While the horses were performing their nightly ascent67, our three heroes, after securing the door, made at once to the fire. And there, O reader! they were greeted in welcome by one — an old and revered68 acquaintance of thine — whom in such a scene it will equally astound69 and wound thee to re-behold.
Know, then — But first we will describe to thee the occupation and the garb70 of the August personage to whom we allude71. Bending over a large gridiron, daintily bespread with steaks of the fatted rump, the INDIVIDUAL stood, with his right arm bared above the elbow, and his right hand grasping that mimic72 trident known unto gastronomers by the monosyllable “fork.” His wigless73 head was adorned74 with a cotton nightcap. His upper vestment was discarded, and a whitish apron75 flowed gracefully76 down his middle man. His stockings were ungartered, and permitted between the knee and the calf77 interesting glances of the rude carnal. One list shoe and one of leathern manufacture cased his ample feet. Enterprise, or the noble glow of his present culinary profession, spread a yet rosier78 blush over a countenance79 early tinged80 by generous libations, and from beneath the curtain of his pallid81 eyelashes his large and rotund orbs82 gleamed dazzlingly on the new comers. Such, O reader! was the aspect and the occupation of the venerable man whom we have long since taught thee to admire; such, alas83 for the mutabilities of earth! was — A new chapter only can contain the name.
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1
rogues
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| n.流氓( rogue的名词复数 )；无赖；调皮捣蛋的人；离群的野兽 | |
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bias
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| n.偏见，偏心，偏袒；vt.使有偏见 | |
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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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thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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memoirs
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| n.回忆录；回忆录传( mem,自oir的名词复数) | |
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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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presentiment
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| n.预感，预觉 | |
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conspired
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| 密谋( conspire的过去式和过去分词 )； 搞阴谋； （事件等）巧合； 共同导致 | |
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tracts
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| 大片土地( tract的名词复数 )； 地带； （体内的）道； （尤指宣扬宗教、伦理或政治的）短文 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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owl
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| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
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incognito
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| adv.匿名地；n.隐姓埋名；adj.化装的，用假名的，隐匿姓名身份的 | |
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starry
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| adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的 | |
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ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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philosophical
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| adj.哲学家的，哲学上的，达观的 | |
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lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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choleric
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| adj.易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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renounced
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| v.声明放弃( renounce的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布放弃；宣布与…决裂；宣布摒弃 | |
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debut
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| n.首次演出，初次露面 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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seduced
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| 诱奸( seduce的过去式和过去分词 )； 勾引； 诱使堕落； 使入迷 | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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defile
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| v.弄污，弄脏；n.(山间)小道 | |
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brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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reeking
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| v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的现在分词 )；散发臭气；发出难闻的气味 (of sth)；明显带有（令人不快或生疑的跡象） | |
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cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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latch
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| n.门闩，窗闩；弹簧锁 | |
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conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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juvenile
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| n.青少年，少年读物；adj.青少年的，幼稚的 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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robins
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| n.知更鸟，鸫( robin的名词复数 )；（签名者不分先后，以避免受责的）圆形签名抗议书（或请愿书） | |
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auction
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| n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖 | |
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populous
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| adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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depredation
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| n.掠夺，蹂躏 | |
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concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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tenants
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| n.房客( tenant的名词复数 )；佃户；占用者；占有者 | |
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inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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uncouth
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| adj.无教养的，粗鲁的 | |
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plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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excavation
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| n.挖掘，发掘；被挖掘之地 | |
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ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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docile
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| adj.驯服的，易控制的，容易教的 | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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aperture
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| n.孔，隙，窄的缺口 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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pegs
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| n.衣夹( peg的名词复数 )；挂钉；系帐篷的桩；弦钮v.用夹子或钉子固定( peg的第三人称单数 )；使固定在某水平 | |
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domain
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| n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围 | |
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labyrinthine
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| adj.如迷宫的；复杂的 | |
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ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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revered
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| v.崇敬，尊崇，敬畏( revere的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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astound
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| v.使震惊，使大吃一惊 | |
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garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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allude
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| v.提及，暗指 | |
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mimic
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| v.模仿，戏弄；n.模仿他人言行的人 | |
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wigless
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| adj.无假发的，不戴假发（套）的 | |
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adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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calf
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| n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮 | |
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rosier
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| Rosieresite | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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tinged
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| v.（使）发丁丁声( ting的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pallid
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| adj.苍白的，呆板的 | |
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orbs
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| abbr.off-reservation boarding school 在校寄宿学校n.球，天体，圆形物( orb的名词复数 ) | |
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83
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
参考例句： |
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