第 8 节
作者:
圈圈 更新:2021-02-21 10:20 字数:9296
for admirers。
Under Allen he served a brilliant apprenticeship。 Enrolled as a
servant; he speedily sat at the master's right hand; and his nimble brains
devised many a pretty campaign。 For a while success dogged the horse…
hoofs of the gang; with wealth came immunity; and not one of the warriors
had the misfortune to look out upon the world through a grate。 They
robbed with dignity; even with splendour。 Now they would drive forth in
a coach and four; carrying with them a whole armoury of offensive
weapons; now they would take the road apparelled as noblemen; and
attended at a discreet distance by their proper servants。 But recklessness
brought the inevitable disaster; and it was no less a personage than Oliver
Cromwell who overcame the hitherto invincible Allen。 A handful of the
gang attacked Oliver on his way from Huntingdon; but the marauders were
outmatched; and the most of them were forced to surrender。 Allen; taken
red…handed; swung at Tyburn; Hind; with his better mount and defter
horsemanship; rode clear away。
The loss of his friend was a lesson in caution; and henceforth Hind
resolved to follow his craft in solitude。 He had embellished his native
talent with all the instruction that others could impart; and he reflected that
he who rode alone neither ran risk of discovery nor had any need to share
his booty。 Thus he began his easy; untrammelled career; making time and
space of no account by his rapid; fearless journeys。 Now he was
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prancing the moors of Yorkshire; now he was scouring the plain between
Gloucester and Tewkesbury; but wherever he rode; he had a purse in his
pocket and a jest on his tongue。 To recall his prowess is to ride with him
(in fancy) under the open sky along the fair; beaten road; to put up with
him at the busy; white posthouse; to drink unnumbered pints of mulled
sack with the round…bellied landlord; to exchange boastful stories over the
hospitable fire; and to ride forth in the morning with the joyous
uncertainty of travel upon you。 Failure alone lay outside his experience;
and he presently became at once the terror and the hero of England。
Not only was his courage conspicuous; luck also was his constant
companion; and a happy bewitchment protected him for three years
against the possibility of harm。 He had been lying at Hatfield; at the
George Inn; and set out in the early morning for London。 As he neared
the town…gate; an old beldame begged an alms of him; and though Hind;
not liking her ill…favoured visage; would have spurred forward; the
beldame's glittering eye held his horse motionless。 ‘Good woman;' cried
Hind; flinging her a crown; ‘I am in haste; pray let me pass。' ‘Sir;'
answered the witch; ‘three days I have awaited your coming。 Would you
have me lose my labour now?' And with Hind's assent the sphinx
delivered her message: ‘Captain Hind;' said she; ‘your life is beset with
constant danger; and since from your birth I have wished you well; my
poor skill has devised a perfect safeguard。' With this she gave him a
small box containing what might have been a sundial or compass。
‘Watch this star;' quoth she; ‘and when you know not your road; follow its
guidance。 Thus you shall be preserved from every peril for the space of
three years。 Thereafter; if you still have faith in my devotion; seek me
again; and I will renew the virtue of the charm。'
Hind took the box joyfully; but when he turned to murmur a word of
gratitude; the witch struck his nag's flanks with a white wand; the horse
leapt vehemently forward; and Hind saw his benefactress no more。
Henceforth; however; a warning voice spoke to him as plainly as did the
demon to Socrates; and had he but obeyed the beldame's admonition; he
might have escaped a violent death。 For he passed the last day of the
third year at the siege of Youghal; where; deprived of happy guidance; he
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was seriously wounded; and whence he presently regained England to his
own undoing。
So long as he kept to the road; his life was one long comedy。 His wit
and address were inexhaustible; and fortune never found him at a loss。
He would avert suspicion with the tune of a psalm; as when; habited like a
pious shepherd; he broke a traveller's head with his crook; and deprived
him of his horse。 An early adventure was to force a pot…valiant parson;
who had drunk a cup too much at a wedding; into a rarely farcical
situation。 Hind; having robbed two gentlemen's servants of a round sum;
went ambling along the road until he encountered a parson。 ‘Sir;' said he;
‘I am closely pursued by robbers。 You; I dare swear; will not stand by
and see me plundered。' Before the parson could protest; he thrust a pistol
into his hand; and bade him fire it at the first comer; while he rode off to
raise the county。 Meanwhile the rifled travellers came up with the parson;
who; straightway; mistaking them for thieves; fired without effect; and
then; riding forward; flung the pistol in the face of the nearest。 Thus the
parson of the parish was dragged before the magistrate; while Hind; before
his dupe could furnish an explanation; had placed many a mile between
himself and his adversary。
Though he could on occasion show a clean pair of heels; Hind was
never lacking in valiance; and; another day; meeting a traveller with a
hundred pounds in his pocket; he challenged him to fight there and then;
staked his own horse against the money; and declared that he should win
who drew first blood。 ‘If I am the conqueror;' said the magnanimous
Captain; ‘I will give you ten pounds for your journey。 If you are
favoured of fortune; you shall give me your servant's horse。' The terms
were instantly accepted; and in two minutes Hind had run his adversary
through the sword…arm。 But finding that his victim was but a poor squire
going to London to pay his composition; he not only returned his money;
but sought him out a surgeon; and gave him the best dinner the
countryside could afford。
Thus it was his pleasure to act as a providence; many a time robbing
Peter to pay Paul; and stripping the niggard that he might indulge his
fervent love of generosity。 Of all usurers and bailiffs he had a
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wholesome horror; and merry was the prank which he played upon the
extortionate money…lender of Warwick。 Riding on an easy rein through
the town; Hind heard a tumult at a street corner; and inquiring the cause;
was told that an innkeeper was arrested by a thievish usurer for a paltry
twenty pounds。 Dismounting; this providence in jack…boots discharged
the debt; cancelled the bond; and took the innkeeper's goods for his own
security。 And thereupon overtaking the usurer; ‘My friend!' he exclaimed;
‘I lent you late a sum of twenty pounds。 Repay it at once; or I take your
miserable life。' The usurer was obliged to return the money; with another
twenty for interest; and when he would take the law of the innkeeper; was
shown the bond duly cancelled; and was flogged wellnigh to death for his
pains。
So Hind rode the world up and down; redressing grievances like an
Eastern monarch; and rejoicing in the abasement of the evildoer。 Nor
was the spirit of his adventure bounded by the ocean。 More than once he
crossed the seas; the Hague knew him; and Amsterdam; though these
somnolent cities gave small occasion for the display of his talents。 It was
from Scilly that he crossed to the Isle of Man; where; being recommended
to Lord Derby; he gained high favour; and received in exchange for his
jests a comfortable stipend。 Hitherto; said the Chronicles; thieving was
unknown in the island。 A man might walk whither he would; a bag of
gold in one hand; a switch in the other; and fear no danger。 But no
sooner had Hind appeared at Douglas than honest citizens were pilfered at
every turn。 In dismay they sought the protection of the Governor; who
instantly suspected Hind; and gallantly disclosed his suspicions to the
Captain。 ‘My lord!' exclaimed Hind; a blush upon his cheek; ‘I protest
my innocence; but willingly will I suffer the heaviest penalty of your law
if I am recognised for the thief。' The victims; confronted with their
robber; knew him not; picturing to the Governor a monster with long hair
and unkempt beard。 Hind; acquitted with apologies; fetched from his
lodging the disguise of periwig and beard。 ‘They laugh who win!' he
murmured; and thus forced forgiveness and a chuckle even from his
judges。
As became a gentleman…adventurer; Captain Hind was staunch in his