In the meantime let us return to the little lord himself. Having secured the advantage of a long start, by the device of turning the key of his chamber5, he repaired to the stables, and finding no one to observe him, saddled his pony6 and galloped7 away without plan or purpose. An instinctive8 love of novelty and adventure induced him to direct his course by a road which he had never before pursued; and, after two or three miles progress through a wild open country of brushwood, he found that he had entered that considerable forest which formed the boundary of many of the views from Cadurcis. The afternoon was clear and still, the sun shining in the light blue sky, and the wind altogether hushed. On each side of the winding9 road spread the bright green turf, occasionally shaded by picturesque10 groups of doddered oaks. The calm beauty of the sylvan11 scene wonderfully touched the fancy of the youthful fugitive; it soothed12 and gratified him. He pulled up his pony; patted its lively neck, as if in gratitude13 for its good service, and, confident that he could not be successfully pursued, indulged in a thousand dreams of Robin14 Hood15 and his merry men. As for his own position and prospects16, he gave himself no anxiety about them: satisfied with his escape from a revolting thraldom18, his mind seemed to take a bound from the difficulty of his situation and the wildness of the scene, and he felt himself a man, and one, too, whom nothing could daunt19 or appal20.
Soon the road itself quite disappeared and vanished in a complete turfy track; but the continuing marks of cartwheels assured him that it was a thoroughfare, although he was now indeed journeying in the heart of a forest of oaks and he doubted not it would lead to some town or village, or at any rate to some farmhouse21. Towards sunset, he determined22 to make use of the remaining light, and pushed on apace; but it soon grew so dark, that he found it necessary to resume his walking pace, from fear of the overhanging branches and the trunks of felled trees which occasionally crossed his way.
Notwithstanding the probable prospect17 of passing his night in the forest, our little adventurer did not lose heart. Cadurcis was an intrepid23 child, and when in the company of those with whom he was not familiar, and free from those puerile24 associations to which those who had known and lived with him long were necessarily subject, he would assume a staid and firm demeanour unusual with one of such tender years. A light in the distance was now not only a signal that the shelter he desired was at hand, but reminded him that it was necessary, by his assured port, to prove that he was not unused to travel alone, and that he was perfectly25 competent and qualified26 to be his own master.
As he drew nearer, the lights multiplied, and the moon, which now rose over the forest, showed to him that the trees, retiring on both sides to some little distance, left a circular plot of ground, on which were not only the lights which had at first attracted his attention, but the red flames of a watch-fire, round which some dark figures had hitherto been clustered. The sound of horses’ feet had disturbed them, and the fire was now more and more visible. As Cadurcis approached, he observed some low tents, and in a few minutes he was in the centre of an encampment of gipsies. He was for a moment somewhat dismayed, for he had been brought up with the usual terror of these wild people; nevertheless, he was not unequal to the occasion. He was surrounded in an instant, but only with women and children; for the gipsy-men never immediately appear. They smiled with their bright eyes, and the flames of the watch-fire threw a lurid27 glow over their dark and flashing countenances29; they held out their practised hands; they uttered unintelligible30, but not unfriendly sounds. The heart of Cadurcis faltered31, but his voice did not betray him.
‘I am cold, good people,’ said the undaunted boy; ‘will you let me warm myself by your fire?’
A beautiful girl, with significant gestures, pressed her hand to her heart, then pointed32 in the direction of the tents, and then rushed away, soon reappearing with a short thin man, inclining to middle age, but of a compact and apparently33 powerful frame, lithe34, supple35, and sinewy36. His complexion37 was dark, but clear; his eye large, liquid, and black; but his other features small, though precisely38 moulded. He wore a green jacket and a pair of black velvet39 breeches, his legs and feet being bare, with the exception of slippers40. Round his head was twisted a red handkerchief, which, perhaps, might not have looked like a turban on a countenance28 less oriental.
‘What would the young master?’ inquired the gipsy-man, in a voice far from disagreeable, and with a gesture of courtesy; but, at the same time, he shot a scrutinising glance first at Plantagenet, and then at his pony.
‘I would remain with you,’ said Cadurcis; ‘that is, if you will let me.’
The gipsy-man made a sign to the women, and Plantagenet was lifted by them off his pony, before he could be aware of their purpose; the children led the pony away, and the gipsy-man conducted Plantagenet to the fire, where an old woman sat, presiding over the mysteries of an enormous flesh-pot. Immediately his fellows, who had originally been clustered around it, reappeared; fresh blocks and branches were thrown on, the flames crackled and rose, the men seated themselves around, and Plantagenet, excited by the adventure, rubbed his hands before the fire, and determined to fear nothing.
A savoury steam exuded41 from the flesh-pot.
‘That smells well,’ said Plantagenet.
’Tis a dimber cove42,’[A] whispered one of the younger men to a companion.
[Footnote A: ’Tis a lively lad.]
‘Our supper has but rough seasoning43 for such as you,’ said the man who had first saluted44 him, and who was apparently the leader; ‘but the welcome is hearty45.’
The woman and girls now came with wooden bowls and platters, and, after serving the men, seated themselves in an exterior46 circle, the children playing round them.
‘Come, old mort,’ said the leader, in a very different tone to the one in which he addressed his young guest, ‘tout47 the cobble-colter; are we to have darkmans upon us? And, Beruna, flick48 the panam.’[A]
[Footnote A: Come, old woman, took after the turkey. Are we to wait till night! And, Beruna, cut the bread.]
Upon this, that beautiful girl, who had at first attracted the notice of Cadurcis, called out in a sweet lively voice, ‘Ay! ay! Morgana!’ and in a moment handed over the heads of the women a pannier of bread, which the leader took, and offered its contents to our fugitive. Cadurcis helped himself, with a bold but gracious air. The pannier was then passed round, and the old woman, opening the pot, drew out, with a huge iron fork, a fine turkey, which she tossed into a large wooden platter, and cut up with great quickness. First she helped Morgana, but only gained a reproof49 for her pains, who immediately yielded his portion to Plantagenet. Each man was provided with his knife, but the guest had none. Morgana immediately gave up his own.
‘Beruna!’ he shouted, ‘gibel a chiv for the gentry50 cove.’[A]
[Footnote A: Bring a knife for the gentleman.]
‘Ay! ay! Morgana!’ said the girl; and she brought the knife to Plantagenet himself, saying at the same time, with sparkling eyes, ‘Yam, yam, gentry cove.’[A]
[Footnote A: Eat, eat, gentleman.]
Cadurcis really thought it was the most delightful51 meal he had ever made in his life. The flesh-pot held something besides turkeys. Rough as was the fare, it was good and plentiful52. As for beverage53, they drank humpty-dumpty, which is ale boiled with brandy, and which is not one of the slightest charms of a gipsy’s life. When the men were satisfied, their platters were filled, and given to the women and children; and Beruna, with her portion, came and seated herself by Plantagenet, looking at him with a blended glance of delight and astonishment54, like a beautiful young savage55, and then turning to her female companions to stifle56 a laugh. The flesh-pot was carried away, the men lit their pipes, the fire was replenished57, its red shadow mingled58 with the silver beams of the moon; around were the glittering tents and the silent woods; on all sides flashing eyes and picturesque forms. Cadurcis glanced at his companions, and gazed upon the scene with feelings of ravishing excitement; and then, almost unconscious of what he was saying, exclaimed, ‘At length I have found the life that suits me!’
‘Indeed, squire59!’ said Morgana. ‘Would you be one of us?’
‘From this moment,’ said Cadurcis, ‘if you will admit me to your band. But what can I do? And I have nothing to give you. You must teach me to earn my right to our supper.’
‘We’ll make a Turkey merchant[A] of you yet,’ said an old gipsy, ‘never fear that.’
[Footnote A: i.e. We will teach you to steal a turkey]
‘Bah, Peter!’ said Morgana, with an angry look, ‘your red rag will never be still. And what was the purpose of your present travel?’ he continued to Plantagenet.
‘None; I was sick of silly home.’
‘The gentry cove will be romboyled by his dam,’ said a third gipsy. ‘Queer Cuffin will be the word yet, if we don’t tout.’[A]
[Footnote A: His mother will make a hue60 and cry after the gentleman yet; justice of the peace will be the word, if we don’t look sharp.]
‘Well, you shall see a little more of us before you decide,’ said Morgana, thoughtfully, and turning the conversation. ‘Beruna.’
‘Ay! ay! Morgana!’
‘Tip me the clank, like a dimber mort as you are; trim a ken61 for the gentry cove; he is no lanspresado, or I am a kinchin.’[A]
[Footnote A: Give me the tankard, like a pretty girl. Get a bed ready for the gentleman. He is no informer, or I am an infant.]
‘Ay! ay! Morgana’ gaily62 exclaimed the girl, and she ran off to prepare a bed for the Lord of Cadurcis.
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1
fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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2
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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3
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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4
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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5
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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6
pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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7
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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8
instinctive
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| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
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9
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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10
picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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11
sylvan
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| adj.森林的 | |
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12
soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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13
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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14
robin
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| n.知更鸟，红襟鸟 | |
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15
hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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16
prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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17
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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18
thraldom
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| n.奴隶的身份，奴役，束缚 | |
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19
daunt
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| vt.使胆怯，使气馁 | |
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20
appal
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| vt.使胆寒，使惊骇 | |
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21
farmhouse
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| n.农场住宅（尤指主要住房） | |
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22
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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23
intrepid
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| adj.无畏的，刚毅的 | |
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24
puerile
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| adj.幼稚的，儿童的 | |
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25
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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26
qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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27
lurid
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| adj.可怕的；血红的；苍白的 | |
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28
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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29
countenances
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| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
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30
unintelligible
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| adj.无法了解的，难解的，莫明其妙的 | |
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31
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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32
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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33
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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34
lithe
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| adj.(指人、身体)柔软的，易弯的 | |
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35
supple
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| adj.柔软的，易弯的，逢迎的，顺从的，灵活的；vt.使柔软，使柔顺，使顺从；vi.变柔软，变柔顺 | |
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36
sinewy
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| adj.多腱的，强壮有力的 | |
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37
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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38
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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39
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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40
slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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41
exuded
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| v.缓慢流出，渗出，分泌出( exude的过去式和过去分词 )；流露出对（某物）的神态或感情 | |
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42
cove
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| n.小海湾，小峡谷 | |
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43
seasoning
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| n.调味；调味料；增添趣味之物 | |
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44
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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45
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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46
exterior
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| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
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47
tout
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| v.推销，招徕；兜售；吹捧，劝诱 | |
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48
flick
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| n.快速的轻打，轻打声，弹开；v.轻弹，轻轻拂去，忽然摇动 | |
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49
reproof
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| n.斥责，责备 | |
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50
gentry
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| n.绅士阶级，上层阶级 | |
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51
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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52
plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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53
beverage
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| n.(水，酒等之外的)饮料 | |
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54
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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55
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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56
stifle
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| vt.使窒息；闷死；扼杀；抑止，阻止 | |
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57
replenished
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| 补充( replenish的过去式和过去分词 )； 重新装满 | |
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58
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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59
squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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60
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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61
ken
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| n.视野，知识领域 | |
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62
gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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