第 117 节
作者:恐龙王      更新:2021-02-21 15:32      字数:9321
  caught hold of the handkerchief which the fellow wore round his
  neck; with a grasp nearly as powerful us that with which he pressed
  my throat。
  'Do you call that fair play?' said she。
  'Hands off; Belle;' said the other woman; 'do you call it fair play
  to interfere? hands off; or I'll be down upon you myself。'
  But Belle paid no heed to the injunction; and tugged so hard at the
  handkerchief that the Flaming Tinman was nearly throttled; suddenly
  relinquishing his hold of me; he started on his feet; and aimed a
  blow at my fair preserver; who avoided it; but said coolly:…
  'Finish t'other business first; and then I'm your woman whenever
  you like; but finish it fairly … no foul play when I'm by … I'll be
  the boy's second; and Moll can pick up you when he happens to knock
  you down。'
  The battle during the next ten minutes raged with considerable
  fury; but it so happened that during this time I was never able to
  knock the Flaming Tinman down; but on the contrary received six
  knock…down blows myself。  'I can never stand this;' said I; as I
  sat on the knee of Belle; 'I am afraid I must give in; the Flaming
  Tinman hits very hard;' and I spat out a mouthful of blood。
  'Sure enough you'll never beat the Flaming Tinman in the way you
  fight … it's of no use flipping at the Flaming Tinman with your
  left hand; why don't you use your right?'
  'Because I'm not handy with it;' said I; and then getting up; I
  once more confronted the Flaming Tinman; and struck him six blows
  for his one; but they were all left…handed blows; and the blow
  which the Flaming Tinman gave me knocked me off my legs。
  'Now; will you use Long Melford?' said Belle; picking me up。
  'I don't know what you mean by Long Melford;' said I; gasping for
  breath。
  'Why; this long right of yours;' said Belle; feeling my right arm;
  'if you do; I shouldn't wonder if you yet stand a chance。'  And now
  the Flaming Tinman was once more ready; much more ready than
  myself。  I; however; rose from my second's knee as well as my
  weakness would permit me。  On he came; striking left and right;
  appearing almost as fresh as to wind and spirit as when he first
  commenced the combat; though his eyes were considerably swelled;
  and his nether lip was cut in two; on he came; striking left and
  right; and I did not like his blows at all; or even the wind of
  them; which was anything but agreeable; and I gave way before him。
  At last he aimed a blow which; had it taken full effect; would
  doubtless have ended the battle; but owing to his slipping; the
  fist only grazed my left shoulder; and came with terrific force
  against a tree; close to which I had been driven; before the Tinman
  could recover himself; I collected all my strength; and struck him
  beneath the ear; and then fell to the ground completely exhausted;
  and it so happened that the blow which I struck the Tinker beneath
  the ear was a right…handed blow。
  'Hurrah for Long Melford!' I heard Belle exclaim; 'there is nothing
  like Long Melford for shortness; all the world over。'  At these
  words I turned round my head as I lay; and perceived the Flaming
  Tinman stretched upon the ground apparently senseless。  'He is
  dead;' said the vulgar woman; as she vainly endeavoured to raise
  him up; 'he is dead; the best man in all the north country; killed
  in this fashion; by a boy!'  Alarmed at these words; I made shift
  to get on my feet; and; with the assistance of the woman; placed my
  fallen adversary in a sitting posture。  I put my hand to his heart;
  and felt a slight pulsation … 'He's not dead;' said I; 'only
  stunned; if he were let blood; he would recover presently。'  I
  produced a penknife which I had in my pocket; and; baring the arm
  of the Tinman; was about to make the necessary incision; when the
  woman gave me a violent blow; and; pushing me aside; exclaimed;
  'I'll tear the eyes out of your head if you offer to touch him。  Do
  you want to complete your work; and murder him outright; now he's
  asleep? you have had enough of his blood already。'  'You are mad;'
  said I; 'I only seek to do him service。  Well; if you won't let him
  be blooded; fetch some water and fling it in his face; you know
  where the pit is。'
  'A pretty manoeuvre!' said the woman; 'leave my husband in the
  hands of you and that limmer; who has never been true to us … I
  should find him strangled or his throat cut when I came back。'  'Do
  you go;' said I to the tall girl; 'take the can and fetch some
  water from the pit。'  'You had better go yourself;' said the girl;
  wiping a tear as she looked on the yet senseless form of the
  Tinker; 'you had better go yourself; if you think water will do him
  good。' I had by this time somewhat recovered my exhausted powers;
  and; taking the can; I bent my steps as fast as I could to the pit;
  arriving there; I lay down on the brink; took a long draught; and
  then plunged my head into the water; after which I filled the can;
  and bent my way back to the dingle。  Before I could reach the path
  which led down into its depths; I had to pass some way along its
  side; I had arrived at a part immediately over the scene of the
  last encounter; where the bank; overgrown with trees; sloped
  precipitously down。  Here I heard a loud sound of voices in the
  dingle; I stopped; and laying hold of a tree; leaned over the bank
  and listened。  The two women appeared to be in hot dispute in the
  dingle。  'It was all owing to you; you limmer;' said the vulgar
  woman to the other; 'had you not interfered; the old man would soon
  have settled the boy。'
  'I'm for fair play and Long Melford;' said the other。  'If your old
  man; as you call him; could have settled the boy fairly; he might
  for all I should have cared; but no foul work for me; and as for
  sticking the boy with our gulleys when he comes back; as you
  proposed; I am not so fond of your old man or you that I should
  oblige you in it; to my soul's destruction。'  'Hold your tongue; or
  I'll … '  I listened no farther; but hastened as fast as I could to
  the dingle。  My adversary had just begun to show signs of
  animation; the vulgar woman was still supporting him; and
  occasionally cast glances of anger at the tall girl; who was
  walking slowly up and down。  I lost no time in dashing the greater
  part of the water into the Tinman's face; whereupon he sneezed;
  moved his hands; and presently looked round him。  At first his
  looks were dull and heavy; and without any intelligence at all; he
  soon; however; began to recollect himself; and to be conscious of
  his situation; he cast a scowling glance at me; then one of the
  deepest malignity at the tall girl; who was still walking about
  without taking much notice of what was going forward。  At last he
  looked at his right hand; which had evidently suffered from the
  blow against the tree; and a half…stifled curse escaped his lips。
  The vulgar woman now said something to him in a low tone; whereupon
  he looked at her for a moment; and then got upon his legs。  Again
  the vulgar woman said something to him; her looks were furious; and
  she appeared to be urging him on to attempt something。  I observed
  that she had a clasped knife in her hand。  The fellow remained
  standing for some time as if hesitating what to do; at last he
  looked at his hand; and; shaking his head; said something to the
  woman which I did not understand。  The tall girl; however; appeared
  to overhear him; and; probably repeating his words; said; 'No; it
  won't do; you are right there; and now hear what I have to say; …
  let bygones be bygones; and let us all shake hands; and camp here;
  as the young man was saying just now。'  The man looked at her; and
  then; without any reply; went to his horse; which was lying down
  among the trees; and kicking it up; led it to the cart; to which he
  forthwith began to harness it。  The other cart and horse had
  remained standing motionless during the whole affair which I have
  been recounting; at the bottom of the pass。  The woman now took the
  horse by the head; and leading it with the cart into the open part
  of the dingle; turned both round; and then led them back; till the
  horse and cart had mounted a little way up the ascent; she then
  stood still and appeared to be expecting the man。  During this
  proceeding Belle had stood looking on without saying anything; at
  last; perceiving that the man had harnessed his horse to the other
  cart; and that both he and the woman were about to take their
  departure; she said; 'You are not going; are you?'  Receiving no
  answer; she continued:  'I tell you what; both of you; Black John;
  and you Moll; his mort; this is not treating me over civilly; …
  however; I am ready to put up with it; and to go with you if you
  like; for I bear no malice。  I'm sorry for what has happened; but
  you have only yourselves to thank for it。  Now; shall I go with