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