The sight renewed my courser's feet,
A moment, staggering feebly fleet,
A moment, with a faint low neigh,
He answered, and then fell.
His first, and last career was done.
---Mazeppa.
The sun had just o'ertopped the "high eastern hill," as Turpin reached the Ferry of Cawood, and his beams were reflected upon the deep and sluggish4 waters of the Ouse. Wearily had he dragged his course thither--wearily and slow. The powers of his gallant5 steed were spent, and he could scarcely keep her from sinking. It was now midway 'twixt the hours of five and six. Nine miles only lay before him, and that thought again revived him. He reached the water's edge, and hailed the ferryboat, which was then on the other side of the river. At that instant a loud shout smote6 his ear; it was the halloo of his pursuers. Despair was in his look. He shouted to the boatman, and bade him pull fast. The man obeyed; but he had to breast a strong stream, and had a lazy bark and heavy sculls to contend with. He had scarcely left the shore when, another shout was raised from the pursuers. The tramp of their steeds grew louder and louder.
The boat had scarcely reached the middle of the stream. His captors were at hand. Quietly did he walk down the bank, and as cautiously enter the water. There was a plunge7, and steed and rider were swimming down the river.
Major Mowbray was at the brink8 of the stream. He hesitated an instant, and stemmed the tide. Seized, as it were, by a mania9 for equestrian10 distinction, Mr. Coates braved the torrent11. Not so Paterson. He very coolly took out his bulldogs, and, watching Turpin, cast up in his own mind the pros12 and cons13 of shooting him as he was crossing. "I could certainly hit him," thought, or said, the constable14; "but what of that? A dead highwayman is worth nothing--alive, he weighs 300l. I won't shoot him, but I'll make a pretence15." And he fired accordingly.
The shot skimmed over the water, but did not, as it was intended, do much mischief16. It, however, occasioned a mishap17, which had nearly proved fatal to our aquatic18 attorney. Alarmed at the report of the pistol, in the nervous agitation19 of the moment Coates drew in his rein20 so tightly that his steed instantly sank. A moment or two afterwards he rose, shaking his ears, and floundering heavily towards the shore; and such was the chilling effect of this sudden immersion21, that Mr. Coates now thought much more of saving himself than of capturing Turpin. Dick, meanwhile, had reached the opposite bank, and, refreshed by her bath, Bess scrambled22 up the sides of the stream, and speedily regained23 the road. "I shall do it yet," shouted Dick; "that stream has saved her. Hark away, lass! Hark away!"
Bess heard the cheering cry, and she answered to the call. She roused all her energies; strained every sinew, and put forth24 all her remaining strength. Once more, on wings of swiftness, she bore him away from his pursuers, and Major Mowbray, who had now gained the shore, and made certain of securing him, beheld25 him spring, like a wounded hare, from beneath his very hand.
"It cannot hold out," said the major; "it is but an expiring flash; that gallant steed must soon drop."
"She be regularly booked, that's certain," said the postboy.
"We shall find her on the road."
Contrary to all expectation, however, Bess held on, and set pursuit at defiance26. Her pace was swift as when she started. But it was unconscious and mechanical action. It wanted the ease, the lightness, the life of her former riding. She seemed screwed up to a task which she must execute. There was no flogging, no gory27 heel; but the heart was throbbing28, tugging29 at the sides within. Her spirit spurred her onwards. Her eye was glazing; her chest heaving; her flank quivering; her crest30 again fallen. Yet she held on. "She is dying!" said Dick. "I feel it----" No, she held on.
Fulford is past. The towers and pinnacles31 of York burst upon him in all the freshness, the beauty, and the glory of a bright, clear, autumnal morn. The ancient city seemed to smile a welcome--a greeting. The noble Minster and its serene32 and massive pinnacles, crocketed, lantern-like, and beautiful; St. Mary's lofty spire33, All-Hallows Tower, the massive mouldering34 walls of the adjacent postern, the grim castle, and Clifford's neighboring keep--all beamed upon him, like a bright-eyed face, that laughs out openly.
"It is done--it is won," cried Dick. "Hurrah35! hurrah!" And the sunny air was cleft36 with his shouts.
Bess was not insensible to her master's exultation37. She neighed feebly in answer to his call, and reeled forwards. It was a piteous sight to see her,--to mark her staring, protruding38 eyeball,--her shaking flanks; but, while life and limb held together, she held on.
Another mile is past. York is near.
"Hurrah!" shouted Dick; but his voice was hushed. Bess tottered--fell. There was a dreadful gasp--a parting moan--a snort; her eye gazed, for an instant, upon her master, with a dying glare; then grew glassy, rayless, fixed39. A shiver ran through her frame. Her heart had burst.
Dick's eyes were blinded, as with rain. His triumph, though achieved, was forgotten--his own safety was disregarded. He stood weeping and swearing, like one beside himself.
"And art thou gone, Bess?" cried he, in a voice of agony, lifting up his courser's head, and kissing her lips, covered with blood-flecked foam40. "Gone, gone! and I have killed the best steed that was ever crossed! And for what?" added Dick, beating his brow with his clenched41 hand--"for what? for what?"
Turpin was roused from the state of stupefaction into which he had fallen by a smart slap on the shoulder. Recalled to himself by the blow, he started at once to his feet, while his hands sought his pistols: but he was spared the necessity of using them, by discovering in the intruder the bearded visage of the gipsy Balthazar. The patrico was habited in mendicant44 weeds, and sustained a large wallet upon his shoulders.
"So it's all over with the best mare45 in England, I see," said Balthazar; "I can guess how it has happened--you are pursued?"
"I am," said Dick, roughly.
"Your pursuers are at hand?"
"Within a few hundred yards."
"Then, why stay here? Fly while you can."
"Never--never," cried Turpin; "I'll fight it out here by Bess's side. Poor lass! I've killed her--but she has done it--ha, ha!--we have won--what?" And his utterance46 was again choked.
"Hark! I hear the tramp of horse, and shouts," cried the patrico. "Take this wallet. You will find a change of dress within it. Dart47 into that thick copse--save yourself."
"And what did Bess die for, but to save you?" rejoined the patrico.
"True, true," said Dick; "but take care of her, don't let those dogs of hell meddle49 with her carcase."
"Away," cried the patrico, "leave Bess to me."
Possessing himself of the wallet, Dick disappeared in the adjoining copse.
He had not been gone many seconds when Major Mowbray rode up.
"Who is this?" exclaimed the Major, flinging himself from his horse, and seizing the patrico; "this is not Turpin."
"Certainly not," replied Balthazar, coolly. "I am not exactly the figure for a highwayman."
"Where is he? What has become of him?" asked Coates, in despair, as he and Paterson joined the major.
"Escaped, I fear," replied the major. "Have you seen any one, fellow?" added he, addressing the patrico.
"I have seen no one," replied Balthazar. "I am only this instant arrived. This dead horse lying in the road attracted my attention."
"Ha!" exclaimed Paterson, leaping from his steed, "this may be Turpin after all. He has as many disguises as the devil himself, and may have carried that goat's hair in his pocket." Saying which, he seized the patrico by the beard, and shook it with as little reverence50 as the Gaul handled the hirsute51 chin of the Roman senator.
"The devil! hands off," roared Balthazar. "By Salamon, I won't stand such usage. Do you think a beard like mine is the growth of a few minutes? Hands off! I say."
"Regularly done!" said Paterson, removing his hold of the patrico's chin, and looking as blank as a cartridge52.
"Ay," exclaimed Coates; "all owing to this worthless piece of carrion53. If it were not that I hope to see him dangling54 from those walls"--pointing towards the Castle--"I should wish her master were by her side now. To the dogs with her." And he was about to spurn55 the breathless carcase of poor Bess, when a sudden blow, dealt by the patrico's staff, felled him to the ground.
"Come, come," said the discomfited57 chief constable, "no more of this. It's plain we're in the wrong box. Every bone in my body aches sufficiently58 without the aid of your cudgel, old fellow. Come, Mr. Coates, take my arm, and let's be moving. We've had an infernal long ride for nothing."
"Not so," replied Coates; "I've paid pretty dearly for it. However, let us see if we can get any breakfast at the Bowling-green, yonder; though I've already had my morning draught," added the facetious59 man of law, looking at his dripping apparel.
"Poor Black Bess!" said Major Mowbray, wistfully regarding the body of the mare, as it lay stretched at his feet. "Thou deservedst a better fate, and a better master. In thee, Dick Turpin has lost his best friend. His exploits will, henceforth, want the coloring of romance, which thy unfailing energies threw over them. Light lie the ground over thee, thou matchless mare!"
To the Bowling-green the party proceeded, leaving the patrico in undisturbed possession of the lifeless body of Black Bess. Major Mowbray ordered a substantial repast to be prepared with all possible expedition.
A countryman, in a smock-frock, was busily engaged at his morning's meal.
"To see that fellow bolt down his breakfast, one would think he had fasted for a month," said Coates; "see the wholesome60 effects of an honest, industrious61 life, Paterson. I envy him his appetite--I should fall to with more zest62 were Dick Turpin in his place."
The countryman looked up. He was an odd-looking fellow, with a terrible squint63, and a strange, contorted countenance64.
"An ugly dog!" exclaimed Paterson: "what a devil of a twist he has got!"
"What's that you says about Dick Taarpin, measter?" asked the countryman, with his mouth half full of bread.
"Have you seen aught of him?" asked Coates.
"Not I," mumbled65 the rustic66; "but I hears aw the folks hereabouts talk on him. They say as how he sets all the lawyers and constables67 at defiance, and laughs in his sleeve at their efforts to cotch him--ha, ha! He gets over more ground in a day than they do in a week--ho, ho!"
"That's all over now," said Coates, peevishly68. "He has cut his own throat--ridden his famous mare to death."
The countryman almost choked himself, in the attempt to bolt a huge mouthful. "Ay--indeed, measter! How happened that?" asked he, so soon as he recovered speech.
"The fool rode her from London to York last night," returned Coates; "such a feat69 was never performed before. What horse could be expected to live through such work as that?"
"Ah, he were a foo' to attempt that," observed the countryman; "but you followed belike?"
"We did."
"No," returned Coates, "I can't say we did; but we'll have him yet. I'm pretty sure he can't be far off. We may be nearer him than we imagine."
"May be so, measter," returned the countryman; "but might I be so bold as to ax how many horses you used i' the chase--some half-dozen, maybe?"
"And I ONE!" mentally ejaculated Turpin, for he was the countryman.
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收听单词发音
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1
gasps
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| v.喘气( gasp的第三人称单数 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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2
glazing
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| n.玻璃装配业；玻璃窗；上釉；上光v.装玻璃( glaze的现在分词 )；上釉于，上光；（目光）变得呆滞无神 | |
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3
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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sluggish
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| adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的 | |
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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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6
smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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8
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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mania
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| n.疯狂；躁狂症，狂热，癖好 | |
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10
equestrian
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| adj.骑马的；n.马术 | |
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11
torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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12
pros
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| abbr.prosecuting 起诉；prosecutor 起诉人；professionals 自由职业者；proscenium （舞台）前部n.赞成的意见( pro的名词复数 )；赞成的理由；抵偿物；交换物 | |
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13
cons
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| n.欺骗，骗局( con的名词复数 )v.诈骗，哄骗( con的第三人称单数 ) | |
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14
constable
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| n.(英国)警察，警官 | |
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15
pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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16
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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17
mishap
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| n.不幸的事，不幸；灾祸 | |
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18
aquatic
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| adj.水生的，水栖的 | |
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19
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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21
immersion
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| n.沉浸；专心 | |
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22
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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23
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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24
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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25
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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26
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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gory
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| adj.流血的；残酷的 | |
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28
throbbing
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| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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29
tugging
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| n.牵引感v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的现在分词 ) | |
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30
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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31
pinnacles
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| 顶峰( pinnacle的名词复数 )； 顶点； 尖顶； 小尖塔 | |
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32
serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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33
spire
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| n.(教堂)尖顶，尖塔，高点 | |
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34
mouldering
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| v.腐朽( moulder的现在分词 )；腐烂，崩塌 | |
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35
hurrah
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| int.好哇，万岁，乌拉 | |
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36
cleft
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| n.裂缝；adj.裂开的 | |
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exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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38
protruding
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
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39
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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40
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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41
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42
tolled
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| 鸣钟（toll的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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43
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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44
mendicant
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| n.乞丐；adj.行乞的 | |
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45
mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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46
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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47
dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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48
agonizing
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| adj.痛苦难忍的；使人苦恼的v.使极度痛苦；折磨(agonize的ing形式) | |
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49
meddle
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| v.干预，干涉，插手 | |
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50
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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51
hirsute
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| adj.多毛的 | |
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52
cartridge
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| n.弹壳，弹药筒；(装磁带等的)盒子 | |
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53
carrion
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| n.腐肉 | |
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54
dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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55
spurn
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| v.拒绝，摈弃；n.轻视的拒绝；踢开 | |
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56
molest
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| vt.骚扰，干扰，调戏 | |
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57
discomfited
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| v.使为难( discomfit的过去式和过去分词)；使狼狈；使挫折；挫败 | |
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58
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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59
facetious
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| adj.轻浮的，好开玩笑的 | |
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60
wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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61
industrious
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| adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的 | |
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62
zest
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| n.乐趣；滋味，风味；兴趣 | |
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63
squint
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| v. 使变斜视眼, 斜视, 眯眼看, 偏移, 窥视; n. 斜视, 斜孔小窗; adj. 斜视的, 斜的 | |
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64
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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65
mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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66
rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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67
constables
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| n.警察( constable的名词复数 ) | |
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68
peevishly
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| adv．暴躁地 | |
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69
feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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70
squinting
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| 斜视( squint的现在分词 )； 眯着眼睛； 瞟； 从小孔或缝隙里看 | |
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71
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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