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