第 94 节
作者:
恐龙王 更新:2021-02-21 15:32 字数:9322
late exposure to the rain; and sleeping in the night air。
Collecting; therefore; all the dry sticks and furze I could find; I
placed them upon the fireplace; adding certain chips and a billet
which I found in the cart; it having apparently been the habit of
Slingsby to carry with him a small store of fuel。 Having then
struck a spark in a tinder…box and lighted a match; I set fire to
the combustible heap; and was not slow in raising a cheerful blaze;
I then drew my cart near the fire; and; seating myself on one of
the shafts; hung over the warmth with feelings of intense pleasure
and satisfaction。 Having continued in this posture for a
considerable time; I turned my eyes to the heaven in the direction
of a particular star; I; however; could not find the star; nor
indeed many of the starry train; the greater number having fled;
from which circumstance; and from the appearance of the sky; I
concluded that morning was nigh。 About this time I again began to
feel drowsy; I therefore arose; and having prepared for myself a
kind of couch in the tent; I flung myself upon it and went to
sleep。
I will not say that I was awakened in the morning by the carolling
of birds; as I perhaps might if I were writing a novel; I awoke
because; to use vulgar language; I had slept my sleep out; not
because the birds were carolling around me in numbers; as they had
probably been for hours without my hearing them。 I got up and left
my tent; the morning was yet more bright than that of the preceding
day。 Impelled by curiosity; I walked about endeavouring to
ascertain to what place chance; or rather the pony; had brought me;
following the driftway for some time; amidst bushes and stunted
trees; I came to a grove of dark pines; through which it appeared
to lead; I tracked it a few hundred yards; but seeing nothing but
trees; and the way being wet and sloughy; owing to the recent rain;
I returned on my steps; and; pursuing the path in another
direction; came to a sandy road leading over a common; doubtless
the one I had traversed the preceding night。 My curiosity
satisfied; I returned to my little encampment; and on the way
beheld a small footpath on the left winding through the bushes;
which had before escaped my observation。 Having reached my tent
and cart; I breakfasted on some of the provisions which I had
procured the day before; and then proceeded to take a regular
account of the stock formerly possessed by Slingsby the tinker; but
now become my own by right of lawful purchase。
Besides the pony; the cart; and the tent; I found I was possessed
of a mattress stuffed with straw on which to lie; and a blanket to
cover me; the last quite clean and nearly new; then there was a
frying…pan and a kettle; the first for cooking any food which
required cooking; and the second for heating any water which I
might wish to heat。 I likewise found an earthen teapot and two or
three cups; of the first I should rather say I found the remains;
it being broken in three parts; no doubt since it came into my
possession; which would have precluded the possibility of my asking
anybody to tea for the present; should anybody visit me; even
supposing I had tea and sugar; which was not the case。 I then
overhauled what might more strictly be called the stock in trade;
this consisted of various tools; an iron ladle; a chafing…pan and
small bellows; sundry pans and kettles; the latter being of tin;
with the exception of one which was of copper; all in a state of
considerable dilapidation … if I may use the term; of these first
Slingsby had spoken in particular; advising me to mend them as soon
as possible; and to endeavour to sell them; in order that I might
have the satisfaction of receiving some return upon the outlay
which I had made。 There was likewise a small quantity of block
tin; sheet tin; and solder。 'This Slingsby;' said I; 'is certainly
a very honest man; he has sold me more than my money's worth; I
believe; however; there is something more in the cart。' Thereupon
I rummaged the farther end of the cart; and; amidst a quantity of
straw; I found a small anvil and bellows of that kind which are
used in forges; and two hammers such as smiths use; one great; and
the other small。
The sight of these last articles caused me no little surprise; as
no word which had escaped from the mouth of Slingsby had given me
reason to suppose that he had ever followed the occupation of a
smith; yet; if he had not; how did he come by them? I sat down
upon the shaft; and pondered the question deliberately in my mind;
at length I concluded that he had come by them by one of those
numerous casualties which occur upon the roads; of which I; being a
young hand upon the roads; must have a very imperfect conception;
honestly; of course … for I scouted the idea that Slingsby would
have stolen this blacksmith's gear … for I had the highest opinion
of his honesty; which opinion I still retain at the present day;
which is upwards of twenty years from the time of which I am
speaking; during the whole of which period I have neither seen the
poor fellow nor received any intelligence of him。
CHAPTER LXX
New profession … Beautiful night … Jupiter … Sharp and shrill … The
Rommany chi … All alone … Three…and…sixpence … What is Rommany? Be
civil … Parraco tute … Slight start … She will be grateful … The
rustling。
I PASSED the greater part of the day in endeavouring to teach
myself the mysteries of my new profession。 I cannot say that I was
very successful; but the time passed agreeably; and was therefore
not ill spent。 Towards evening I flung my work aside; took some
refreshment; and afterwards a walk。
This time I turned up the small footpath of which I have already
spoken。 It led in a zigzag manner through thickets of hazel;
elder; and sweet…brier; after following its windings for somewhat
better than a furlong; I heard a gentle sound of water; and
presently came to a small rill; which ran directly across the path。
I was rejoiced at the sight; for I had already experienced the want
of water; which I yet knew must be nigh at hand; as I was in a
place to all appearance occasionally frequented by wandering
people; who I was aware never take up their quarters in places
where water is difficult to be obtained。 Forthwith I stretched
myself on the ground; and took a long and delicious draught of the
crystal stream; and then; seating myself in a bush; I continued for
some time gazing on the water as it purled tinkling away in its
channel through an opening in the hazels; and should have probably
continued much longer had not the thought that I had left my
property unprotected compelled me to rise and return to my
encampment。
Night came on; and a beautiful night it was; up rose the moon; and
innumerable stars decked the firmament of heaven。 I sat on the
shaft; my eyes turned upwards。 I had found it: there it was
twinkling millions of miles above me; mightiest star of the system
to which we belong: of all stars the one which has most interest
for me … the star Jupiter。
Why have I always taken an interest in thee; O Jupiter? I know
nothing about thee; save what every child knows; that thou art a
big star; whose only light is derived from moons。 And is not that
knowledge enough to make me feel an interest in thee? Ay; truly; I
never look at thee without wondering what is going on in thee; what
is life in Jupiter? That there is life in Jupiter who can doubt?
There is life in our own little star; therefore there must be life
in Jupiter; which is not a little star。 But how different must
life be in Jupiter from what it is in our own little star! Life
here is life beneath the dear sun … life in Jupiter is life beneath
moons … four moons … no single moon is able to illumine that vast
bulk。 All know what life is in our own little star; it is anything
but a routine of happiness here; where the dear sun rises to us
every day: then how sad and moping must life be in mighty Jupiter;
on which no sun ever shines; and which is never lighted save by
pale moonbeams! The thought that there is more sadness and
melancholy in Jupiter than in this world of ours; where; alas!
there is but too much; has always made me take a melancholy
interest in that huge distant star。
Two or three days passed by in much the same manner as the first。
During the morning I worked upon my kettles; and employed the
remaining part of the day as I best could。 The whole of this time
I only saw two individuals; rustics; who passed by my encampment
without vouchsafing me a glance; they probably considered
themselves my superiors; as perhaps they were。
One very brilliant morning; as I sat at work in very good spirits;
for by this time I had actuall