"They have not come for you as yet," he said; "so I took time by the forelock and passed the word for breakfast. It heartens a man to eat a bite and drink a cup of wine just on the battle's edge. Will you sit and let me serve you, Captain Ireton?"
"That I will not," said I; adding that I would blithely1 share the breakfast with him. Whereat he laughed and clipt my hand, and swore I was a true soldier and a brave gentleman to boot.
So we sat and hobnobbed at the table; and Tybee lighted all the remnant candle-ends, and broached3 the wine and pledged me in a bumper4 before we fell to upon the cold haunch of venison.
My summons came when we had shared the heel-tap of the bottle. It was my toast to this kind-hearted youngster, and we drained it standing5 what time the stair gave back the tread of marching men. Tybee crashed his glass upon the floor and wrung6 my hand across the table.
"Good by, my Captain; they have come. God damn me, sir, I'll swear they might do worse than let you go, for all your spying. You've carried off this matter with the lady as a gentleman should, and whilst I live, she shall not lack a friend. If you have any word to leave for her—"
I shook my head. "No," said I; then, on second thought: "And yet there is a word. You saw how I must see the matter through to shield the lady?"
"Surely; 'twas plain enough for any one to see."
"Then I shall die the easier if you will undertake to make it plain to Richard Jennifer. He must be made to know that I supplanted7 him only in a formal way, and that to save the lady's honor."
The lieutenant8 promised heartily9, and as he spoke10, the oaken bar was lifted and my reprieve11 was at an end.
Having the thing to despatch12 before they broke their fast, my soldier hangmen marched me off without ado. The house and all within it seemed yet asleep, but out of doors the legion vanguard was astir, and newly kindled13 camp-fires smoked and blazed among the trees. In shortest space we left these signs of life behind, and I began to think toward the end.
'Tis curious how sweet this troubled life of ours becomes when that day wakes wherein it must be shuffled14 off! As a soldier must, I thought I had held life lightly enough; nay15, this I know; I had often worn it upon my sleeve in battle. But now, when I was marching forth16 to this cold-blooded end without the battle-chance to make it welcome, all nature cried aloud to me.
The dawn was not unlike that other dawn a month past when I had ridden down the river road with Jennifer; a morning fair and fine, its cup abrim and running over with the wine of life. I thought the cool, moist air had never seemed so sweet and fragrant17; that nature's garb18 had never seemed so blithe2. There was no hint nor sign of death in all the wooded prospect19. The birds were singing joyously20; the squirrels, scarce alarmed enough to scamper21 out of sight, sat each upon his bough22 to chatter23 at us as we passed. And once, when we were filing through a bosky dell with softest turf to muffle24 all our treadings, a fox ran out and stood with one uplifted foot, and was as still as any stock or stone until he had the scent25 of us.
A mile beyond the outfields of Appleby Hundred we passed the legion picket26 line, and I began to wonder why we went so far; wondered and made bold to ask the ensign in command, turning it into a grim jest and saying I misliked to come too weary to my end.
The ensign, a curst young popinjay, as little officer cubs27 are like to be, answered flippantly that the colonel had commuted28 my sentence; that I was to be shot like a soldier, and that far enough afield so the volleying would not wake the house.
So we fared on, and a hundred yards beyond this point of question and reply came out into an open grove29 of oaks: then I knew where they had brought me—and why. 'Twas the glade30 where I had fought my losing battle with the baronet. On its farther confines two horses nibbled31 rein's-length at the grass, with Falconnet's trooper serving-man to hold them; and, standing on the very spot where he had thrust me out, my enemy was waiting.
'Twas all prearranged; for when the ensign had saluted32 he marched his men a little way apart and drew them up in line with muskets33 ported. But at a sign from Falconnet, two of the men broke ranks and came to strap34 me helpless with their belts. I smiled at that, and would not miss the chance to jeer35.
"You are a sorry coward, Captain Falconnet, as bullies36 ever are," I said. "Would not your sword suffice against a man with empty hands?"
He passed the taunt37 in silence, and when the men had left me, said: "I have come to speed your parting, Captain Ireton. You are a thick-headed, witless fool, as you have always been; yet since you've blundered into serving me, I would not grudge38 the time to come and thank you."
"I serve you?" I cried. "God knows I'd serve you up in collops at the table of your master, the devil, could I but stand before you with a carving39 tool!"
He laughed softly. "Always vengeful and vindictive40, and always because you must ever mess and meddle41 with other men's concerns," he retorted. "And yet I say you've served me."
"Tell me how, in God's name, that I may not die with that sin unrepented of."
"Oh, in many small ways, but chiefly in this affair with the little lady of Appleby."
"Never!" I denied. "So far as decent speech could compass it, I have ever sought to tell her what a conscienceless villain42 you are."
He laughed again at that.
"You know women but indifferently, my Captain, if you think to breach43 a love affair by a cannonade of hard words. But I am in no humor to dispute with you. You have lost, and I have won; and, were I not here to come between, you'd look your last upon the things of earth in shortest order, I do assure you."
"You?—you come between?" I scoffed44. "You are all kinds of a knave45, Sir Francis, but your worst enemy never accused you of being a fool!"
"You are bitter hard, John Ireton—bitter and savage47 and unforgiving. You knew the wild blade of a half-score years ago, and now you'd make the grown man pay scot and lot for that same youngster's misdeeds. Have you never a touch of human kindliness48 in you?"
To know how this affected49 me you must turn back to that place where I have tried to picture out this man for you. I said he had a gift to turn a woman's head or touch her heart. I should have said that he could use this gift at will on any one. For the moment I forgot his cool disposal of me in the talk with Captain Stuart; forgot how he had lied to make me out a spy and so had brought me to this pass.
So I could only say: "You killed my friend, Frank Falconnet, and—"
"Tush!" said he. "That quarrel died nine years ago. Your reviving of it now is but a mask."
"For what?" I asked.
"For your just resentment50 in sweet Margery's behalf. Believe it or not, as you like, but I could love you for that blow you gave me, John Ireton. I had been losing cursedly at cards that day, and mine host's wine had a dash of usquebaugh in it, I dare swear. At any rate, I knew not what it was I said till Tybee said it over for me."
"But the next morning you took a cur's advantage of me on this very spot and ran me through," I countered.
"Name it what you will and let it go at that. There was murder in your eye, and you are the better swordsman. You put me upon it for my life, and when you gave me leave, I did not kill you, as I might."
"No; you reserved me for this."
"You forced my hand, John Ireton," he said, speaking low that the others might not hear. "You had her ear from day to day and used your privilege against me. As an enemy who merely sought my life for vengeance's sake I could spare you; but as a rival—"
I laughed, and sanity52 began to come again. "Make an end of it," I said. "I'd rather hear the muskets speak than you."
For reply he took a folded paper from his pocket and spread and held it so that I might read. It was a letter from my Lord Cornwallis, directing Captain Falconnet to send his prisoner, Captain John Ireton, sometime lieutenant in the Royal Scots Blues53, under guard to his Lordship's headquarters in South Carolina.
"Can you read it?" he asked.
I nodded.
"Well, this supersedes54 the colonel's sentence. If I say the word to Ensign Farquharson you will be remanded."
"To be shot or hanged a little later, I suppose?"
"No. Have you any notion why my Lord Charles is sending for you?"
"No," said I, in my turn; and, indeed, I had not.
"He knows your record as an officer, and would give you a chance to 'list in your old service."
"I would not take it—at your hands or his."
"You'd best take it. But in any event, you'll have your life and honorable safe-conduct beyond the lines."
"Make an end," I said again. "I understand you will obey his Lordship's order, or disregard it, as your own interest directs. What would you have me do?"
"A very little thing to weigh against a life. Mr. Gilbert Stair is my very good friend."
I let that go uncontradicted.
"His title to the estate is secure enough, as you know, but you can make it better," he went on.
This saying of his told me what I had only guessed: that as yet he had not been admitted into Gilbert Stair's full confidence; also, that he had no hint of what had taken place in my chamber55 some hour or two past midnight. At that, a joy fierce like pain came to thrill me.
"Go on," said I.
"Your route to Camden lies through Charlotte. Your guard will give you time and opportunity to execute a quitclaim in Mr. Stair's favor."
"Is that all?" I asked.
"No; after that our ways must lie apart—or yours and Margery's, at all events. Give me your word of honor that you relinquish56 any claim you have, or think you have, upon her, and I pass this letter on to the ensign."
"And if I refuse?"
"If you refuse? Harken, John Ireton; if you had a hundred lives to thrust between me and the thing I crave58, I'd take them all." So much he said calmly; then a sudden gust59 of passion seized him, and for once, I think, he spoke the simple truth. "God! I'd sink my soul in Calvin's hell to have her!"
I could not wholly mask the smile of triumph that his words evoked60. This fox of maiden61 vineyards was entrapped62 at last. I saw the fire of such a passion as such a man may know burning in his eyes; and then I knew why he was come upon this errand.
"So?" said I. "Then Mistress Margery sent you here to save me?" 'Twas but a guess, but I made sure it hit the truth.
He swore a sneering63 oath. "So the priest carried tales, did he? Well, make the most of it; she would not have her father's guest taken from his bed and hanged like a dog."
I smiled again. "'Twas more than that: she would even go so far as to beg her husband's life a boon64 from that same husband's mortal enemy."
"Bah!" he scoffed. "That lie of yours imposed upon the colonel, but I had better information."
"A lie, you say? True, 'twas a lie when it was uttered. But afterward65, some hour or so past midnight, by the good help of Father Matthieu, and with your Lieutenant Tybee for one witness and the lawyer for another, we made a sober truth of it."
I hope, for your own peace of mind, my dears, that you may never see a fellow human turn devil in a breath as I did then. His man's face fell away from him like a vanishing mask, and in the place of it a hideous66 demon67, malignant68 and murderous, glared upon me. Twice his hand sought the sword-hilt, and once the blade was half unsheathed. Then he thrust his devil-face in mine and hissed69 his parting word at me so like a snake it made me shudder70 with abhorrence71.
"You've signed your own death warrant, you witless fool! You'd play the spoil-sport here as you did once before, would you? Curse you! I wish you had a hundred lives that I might take them one by one!" Then he wheeled sharp upon his heel and gave the order to the ensign. "Belt him to the tree, Farquharson, and make an end of him. I've kept you waiting over-long."
They strapped72 me to a tree with other belts, and when all was ready the ensign stepped aside to give the word. Just here there came a little pause prolonged beyond the moment of completed preparation. I knew not why they waited, having other things to think of. I saw the firing line drawn73 up with muskets leveled. I marked the row of weather-beaten faces pillowed on the gun-stocks with eyes asquint to sight the pieces. I remember counting up the pointing muzzles74; remember wondering which would be the first to belch75 its fire at me, and if, at that short range, a man might live to see the flash and hear the roar before the bullets killed the senses.
But while I screwed my courage to the sticking place and sought to hold it there, the pause became a keen-edged agony. A glance aside—a glance that cost a mightier76 effort than it takes to break a nightmare—showed me the ensign standing ear a-cock, as one who listens.
What he heard I know not, for all the earth seemed hushed to silence waiting on his word. But on the instant the early morning stillness of the forest crashed alive, and pandemonium77 was come. A savage yell to set the very leaves a-tremble; a crackling volley from the underwood that left a heap of writhing78, dying men where but now the firing squad79 had stood; then a headlong charge of rough-clad horsemen—all this befell in less than any time the written words can measure.
I sensed it all but vaguely80 at the first, but when a passing horseman slashed81 me free I came alive, and life and all it meant to me was centered in a single fierce desire. Falconnet had escaped the fusillade; was making swiftly for his horse, safe as yet from any touch of lead or steel. So I might reach and pull him down, I cared no groat what followed after.
It was not so to be. In the swift dash across the glade I went too near the shambles82 in the midst. The corporal of the firing squad, a bearded Saxon giant, whose face, hideously83 distorted, will haunt me while I live, lay fairly in the way, his heels drumming in the death agony, and his great hands clutching at the empty air.
I leaped to clear him. In the act the clutching hands laid hold of me and I was tripped and thrown upon the heap of dead and dying men, and could not free myself in time to stop the baronet.
I saw him gain his horse and mount; saw the flash of his sword and the skilful84 parry that in a single parade warded85 death on either hand; saw him drive home the spurs and vanish among the trees, with his horse-holding trooper at his heels.
And then my rescuers, or else my newer captors, picked me up hastily; and I was hoisted86 behind the saddle of the nearest, and so was borne away in all the hue87 and cry of a most unsoldierly retreat.
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收听单词发音
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1
blithely
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| adv.欢乐地，快活地，无挂虑地 | |
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blithe
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| adj.快乐的，无忧无虑的 | |
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3
broached
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| v.谈起( broach的过去式和过去分词 )；打开并开始用；用凿子扩大（或修光）；（在桶上）钻孔取液体 | |
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bumper
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| n.(汽车上的)保险杠；adj.特大的，丰盛的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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6
wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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7
supplanted
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| 把…排挤掉，取代( supplant的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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reprieve
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| n.暂缓执行（死刑）；v.缓期执行；给…带来缓解 | |
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12
despatch
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| n./v.(dispatch)派遣；发送；n.急件；新闻报道 | |
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13
kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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14
shuffled
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| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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joyously
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| ad.快乐地, 高兴地 | |
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21
scamper
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| v.奔跑，快跑 | |
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bough
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| n.大树枝，主枝 | |
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chatter
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| vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战 | |
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muffle
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| v.围裹；抑制；发低沉的声音 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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picket
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| n.纠察队；警戒哨；v.设置纠察线；布置警卫 | |
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27
cubs
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| n.幼小的兽，不懂规矩的年轻人( cub的名词复数 ) | |
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commuted
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| 通勤( commute的过去式和过去分词 )； 减（刑）； 代偿 | |
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29
grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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30
glade
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| n.林间空地，一片表面有草的沼泽低地 | |
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31
nibbled
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| v.啃，一点一点地咬（吃）( nibble的过去式和过去分词 )；啃出（洞），一点一点咬出（洞）；慢慢减少；小口咬 | |
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32
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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muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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strap
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| n.皮带，带子；v.用带扣住，束牢；用绷带包扎 | |
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35
jeer
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| vi.嘲弄，揶揄；vt.奚落；n.嘲笑，讥评 | |
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bullies
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| n.欺凌弱小者, 开球 vt.恐吓, 威胁, 欺负 | |
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37
taunt
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| n.辱骂，嘲弄；v.嘲弄 | |
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38
grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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39
carving
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| n.雕刻品，雕花 | |
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40
vindictive
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| adj.有报仇心的，怀恨的，惩罚的 | |
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41
meddle
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| v.干预，干涉，插手 | |
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42
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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43
breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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44
scoffed
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| 嘲笑，嘲弄( scoff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
knave
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| n.流氓；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
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46
fathom
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| v.领悟，彻底了解 | |
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47
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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48
kindliness
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| n.厚道，亲切，友好的行为 | |
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49
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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50
resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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51
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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52
sanity
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| n.心智健全，神智正常，判断正确 | |
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53
blues
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| n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐 | |
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54
supersedes
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| 取代，接替( supersede的第三人称单数 ) | |
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55
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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56
relinquish
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| v.放弃，撤回，让与，放手 | |
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57
lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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58
crave
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| vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求 | |
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59
gust
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| n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发 | |
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60
evoked
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| [医]诱发的 | |
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61
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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62
entrapped
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| v.使陷入圈套，使入陷阱( entrap的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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63
sneering
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| 嘲笑的，轻蔑的 | |
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64
boon
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| n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠 | |
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65
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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66
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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67
demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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68
malignant
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| adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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69
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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70
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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71
abhorrence
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| n.憎恶；可憎恶的事 | |
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72
strapped
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| adj.用皮带捆住的，用皮带装饰的；身无分文的；缺钱；手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词)；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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73
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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74
muzzles
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| 枪口( muzzle的名词复数 )； （防止动物咬人的）口套； （四足动物的）鼻口部； （狗）等凸出的鼻子和口 | |
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75
belch
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| v.打嗝，喷出 | |
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76
mightier
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| adj. 强有力的，强大的，巨大的 adv. 很，极其 | |
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77
pandemonium
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| n.喧嚣，大混乱 | |
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78
writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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79
squad
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| n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组 | |
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80
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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81
slashed
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| v.挥砍( slash的过去式和过去分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减 | |
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82
shambles
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| n.混乱之处；废墟 | |
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83
hideously
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| adv.可怕地，非常讨厌地 | |
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84
skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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85
warded
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| 有锁孔的，有钥匙榫槽的 | |
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86
hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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87
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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