第45章
加入书架 A- A+
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  Ifherfathereverheldhersafeinhisarmsagain——ifsheeverawokefromthisnightmare,itwouldbeathingnevertoletone’smindharkbacktoagain——toshutoutofmemorywithirondoors。

  Thepainhadshotupanddown,andherforeheadwaswetbythetimeshehadreachedthesmallbackdoor。Wasitlockedorbolted——wasit?Sheputherhandgentlyuponthelatchandlifteditwithoutmakinganysound。ThankGodAlmighty,itwasneitherboltednorlocked,thelatchlifted,thedooropened,andsheslidthroughitintotheshadowofthegreywhichwasalreadyalmostthedarknessofnight。ThankGodforthat,too。

  Sheflattenedherselfagainsttheoutsidewallandlistened。

  HewashavingdifficultyinmanagingChildeHarold,whosnortedandpulledback,offendedandmaderebelliousbyhissavagelyimpatienthand。GoodChildeHarold,goodboy!Shecouldseethemassedoutlineofthetreesofthespinney。Ifshecouldbearthislongenoughtogetthere——evenifshecrawledpartoftheway。Thenitdartedthroughhermindthathewouldguessthatshewouldbesuretomakeforitscover,andthathewouldgotherefirsttosearch。

  \"Father,thinkforme——youweresoquicktothink!\"herbraincriedoutforher,asifshewasspeakingtoonewhocouldphysicallyhear。

  Shealmostfearedshehadspokenaloud,andthethoughtwhichflasheduponherlikelightningseemedtobeananswergiven。Hewouldbeconvincedthatshewouldatoncetrytogetawayfromthehouse。Ifshekeptnearit——somewhere——

  somewherequiteclose,andlethimsearchthespinney,shemightgetawaytoitscoverafterhegaveupthesearchandcameback。Thejaggedpainhadsettledinasortofimpossibleanguish,andonceortwiceshefeltsick。Butshewoulddieintheopen——andsheknewRosaliewasfrightenedbyherabsence,andwasprayingforher。Prayerscountedand,yet,theyhadallprayedyesterday。

  \"IfIwerenotverystrong,Ishouldfaint,\"shethought。

  \"ButIhavebeenstrongallmylife。ThatgreatFrenchdoctor——Ihaveforgottenhisname——saidthatIhadthephysiquetoendureanything。\"

  Shesaidthesethingsthatshemightgainsteadinessandconvinceherselfthatshewasnotmerelylivingthroughanightmare。Twiceshemovedherfootsuddenlybecauseshefoundherselfinamomentaryrespitefrompain,beginningtobelievethatthethingwasanightmare——thatnothingmattered——becauseshewouldwakeuppresently——sosheneednottrytohide。

  \"Butinanightmareonehasnopain。ItisrealandImustgosomewhere,\"shesaid,afterthefootwasmoved。Wherecouldshego?Shehadnotlookedattheplaceassherodeup。

  Shehadonlyhalf—consciouslyseenthespinney。Nigelwasswearingatthehorses。HavinggotChildeHaroldintotheshed,thereseemedtobenothingtofastenhisbridleto。Andhehadyettobringhisownhorseinandsecurehim。Shemustgetawaysomewherebeforethedelaywasover。

  Howdarkitwasgrowing!ThankGodforthatagain!

  Whatwastheratherhigh,darkobjectshecouldtraceinthedimnessnearthehedge?Itwassharplypointed,isifitwereanarrowtent。Herheartbegantobeatlikeadrumassherecalledsomething。Itwastheshapeofthesortofwigwamstructuremadeofhoppoles,aftertheyweretakenfromthefields。Iftherewasspacebetweenitandthehedge——evenanarrowspace——andshecouldcrouchthere?NigelwasfuriousbecauseChildeHaroldwasbacking,plunging,andsnortingdangerously。Shehaltedforward,shuttingherteethinherterriblepain。Shecouldscarcelysee,anddidnotrecognisethatnearthewigwamwasapileofhoppoleslaidontopofeachotherhorizontally。Itwasnotquiteashighasthehedgewhosedarkbackgroundpreventeditsbeingseen。Onlyafewstepsmore。No,shewasawake——inanightmareonefeltonlyterror,notpain。

  \"YOU,WHODIEDTO—DAY,\"shemurmured。

  Shesawthehorizontalpolestoolate。Oneofthemhadrolledfromitsplaceandlayontheground,andshetrodonit,wasthrownforwardagainsttheheap,and,inherblindefforttorecoverherself,slippedandfellintoanarrow,grassedhollowbehindit,clutchingatthehedge。ThegreatFrenchdoctorhadnotbeenquiteright。Forthefirsttimeinherlifeshefeltherselfsinkingintobottomlessdarkness——whichwaswhathappenedtopeoplewhentheyfainted。

  Whensheopenedhereyesshecouldseenothing,becauseononesideofherrosethelowmassofthehoppoles,andontheotherwasthelong—untrimmedhedge,whichhadthrownoutathick,shelteringgrowthandcurvedaboveherlikeapenthouse。Wassheawakening,afterall?No,becausethepainwasawakeningwithher,andshecouldhear,whatseemedatfirsttobequiteloudsounds。Shecouldnothavebeenunconsciouslong,forshealmostimmediatelyrecognisedthattheyweretheechoofaman’shurriedfoot—

  stepsuponthebarewoodenstairway,leadingtothebedroomsintheemptyhouse。Havingsecuredthehorses,Nigelhadreturnedtothecottage,and,findinghergonehadrushedtotheupperfloorinsearchofher。Hewascallinghernameangrily,hisvoiceresoundingintheemptinessoftherooms。

  \"Betty;don’tplaythefoolwithme!\"

  Shecautiouslydrewherselffurtherundercover,makingsurethatnoendofherhabitremainedinsight。Theover—

  growthofthehedgewashersalvation。Ifshehadseenthespotbydaylight,shewouldnothavethoughtitapossibleplaceofconcealment。

  Onceshehadreadanaccountofawoman’sfranticflightfromamurdererwhowashuntinghertoherdeath,whilesheslippedfromonepoorhidingplacetoanother,sometimescrouchingbehindwallsorbushes,sometimeslyingflatinlonggrass,oncewadingwaist—deepthroughastream,andatlastfindingamiserablelittlefastness,whereshehidshiveringforhours,untilherenemygaveuphissearch。Oneneverfelttherealityofsuchhistories,buttherewasactuallyasortofparallelinthis。Madandcrudethingswereletloose,andtheworldofordinarylifeseemedthousandsofmilesaway。

  Sheheldherbreath,forhewasleavingthehousebythefrontdoor。Sheheardhisfootstepsonthebrickedpath,andtheninthelane。Hewenttotheroad,andthesoundofhisfeetdiedawayforafewmoments。Thensheheardthemreturning——hewasbackinthelane——onthebrickpath,andstoodlisteningor,perhaps,reflecting。Hemutteredsomethingexclamatory,andsheheardamatchstruck,andshortlyafterwardshemovedacrossthegardenpatchtowardsthelittlespinney。Hehadthoughtofit,asshehadbelievedhewould。Hewouldnotthinkofthisplace,andintheendhemightgettiredorawakenedtoasenseofhisluridfolly,andrealisethatitwouldbesaferforhimtogobacktoStornhamwithsomecleverlie,trustingtohisbeliefthatthereexistednogirlbutwouldshrinkfromtellingsuchastoryinconnectionwithamanwhowouldbrazenlydenyitwithcontemptuousdramaticdetail。Ifhewouldbutdecideonthis,shewouldbesafe——anditwouldbesolikehimthatshedaredtohope。But,ifhedidnot,shewouldlieclose,evenifshemustwaituntilmorning,whensomelabourer’scartwouldsurelypass,andshewouldhearitjolting,anddragherselfout,andcallaloudinsuchawaythatnomancouldbedeaf。Therewasmoreroomunderherhedgethanshehadthought,andshefoundthatshecouldsitup,byclaspingherkneesandbendingherhead,whileshelistenedtoeverysound,eventotherustleofthegrassinthewindsweepingacrossthemarsh。

  Shemovedverygraduallyandslowly,andhadjustsettledintouttermotionlessnesswhensherealisedthathewascomingbackthroughthegarden——thestragglingcurrantandgooseberrybusheswerebeingtrampledthrough。

  \"Betty,gohome,\"Rosaliehadpleaded。\"Gohome——gohome。\"Andshehadrefused,becauseshecouldnotdeserther。

  Sheheldherbreathandpressedherhandagainstherside,becauseherheartbeat,asitseemedtoher,withanactualsound。Hemovedwithunsteadystepsfromonepointtoanother,morethanoncehestumbled,andhisangryoathreachedher;atlasthewassonearherhidingplacethathisshorthardbreathingwasadistinctsound。Amomentlaterhespoke,raisinghisvoice,whichfactbroughttoherarushofrelief,throughitssignifyingthathehadnotevenguessedhernearness。

  \"MydearBetty,\"hesaid,\"youhavethepluckofthedevil,butcircumstancesaretoomuchforyou。Youarenotontheroad,andIhavebeenthroughthespinney。Merelogicconvincesmethatyoucannotbefaraway。Youmayaswellgivethethingup。Itwillbebetterforyou。\"

  \"Youwhodiedto—day——donotleaveme,\"wasBetty’sinwardcry,andshedroppedherfaceonherknees。

  \"Iamnotapleasant—temperedfellow,asyouknow,andI

  amlosingmyholdonmyself。Thewindisblowingthemistaway,andtherewillbeamoon。Ishallfindyou,mygoodgirl,inhalfanhour’stime——andthenweshallbejollywelleven。\"

  Shehadnotdroppedherwhip,andsheheldittight。If,whenthemoonlightrevealedthepileofhoppolestohim,hesuspectedandsprangatthemtotearthemaway,shewouldbegivenstrengthtomakeonespring,eveninheragony,andshewouldstrikeathiseyes——awfully,withoutonetouchofcompunction——shewouldstrike——strike。

  Therewasabriefsilence,andthenamatchwasstruckagain,andalmostimmediatelysheinhaledthefragranceofanexcellentcigar。

  \"Iamgoingtohaveacomfortablesmokeandstrollabout——alwayswithinsightandhearing。Idaresayyouarewatchingme,andwonderingwhatwillhappenwhenIdiscoveryou,Icantellyouwhatwillhappen。Youarenotahystericalgirl,butyouwillgointohysterics——andnoonewillhearyou。\"

  (Allthepowerofher——bodyandsoul——inoneleaponhimandthenalashthatwouldcuttothebone。Anditwasnotanightmare——andRosywasatStornham,andherfatherlookingoversteamerlistsandchoosinghisstaterooms。)

  Hewalkedaboutslowly,thescentofhiscigarfloatingbehindhim。Shenoticed,asshehaddonemorethanoncebefore,thatheseemedtoslightlydragonefoot,andshewonderedwhy。Thewindwasblowingthemistaway,andtherewasafaintgrowingoflight。Themoonwasnotfull,butyoung,andyetitwouldmakeadifference。Buttheupperpartofthehedgegrewthickandclosetotheheapofwood,and,butforherfall,shewouldneverhavedreamedoftherefuge。

  Shecouldonlyguessathismovements,buthisfootstepsgavesomeclue。Hewasexaminingthegroundinasfarasthedarknesswouldallow。Hewentintotheshedandroundaboutit,heopenedthedoorofthetinycoallodge,andlookedagainintothesmallbackkitchen。Hecamenear——nearer——sonearoncethat,bendingsidewise,shecouldhaveputoutahandandtouchedhim。Hestoodquitestill,thenmadeasteporsoaway,stoodstillagain,andburstintoalaughoncemore。

  \"Oh,youarehere,areyou?\"hesaid。\"Youareafinebiggirltobeabletocrowdyourselfintoaplacelikethat!\"

  Hotandcolddewstoodoutonherforeheadandmadeherhairdampassheheldherwhiphard。

  \"Comeout,mydear!\"alluringly。\"Itisnottoosoon。OrdoyoupreferthatIshouldassistyou?\"

  Herheartstoodquitestill——quite。Hewasstandingbythewigwamofhoppolesandthoughtshehadhiddenherselfinsideit。Herplaceunderthehedgehehadnotevenglancedat。

  Sheknewhebentdownandthrusthisarmintothewigwam,forhisfuryattheresultexpresseditselfplainlyenough。Thathehadmadeafoolofhimselfwasworsetohimthanallelse。

  Heactuallywheeledaboutandstrodeawaytothehouse。

  Becauseminutesseemedhours,shethoughthewasgonelong,buthewasnotawayfortwentyminutes。Hehad,infact,goneintothebarefrontroomagain,andsittingupontheboxnearthehearth,lethisheaddropinhishandsandremainedinthispositionthinking。Intheendhegotupandwentouttotheshedwherehehadleftthehorses。

  Bettywasfeelingthatbeforelongshemightfindherselfmakingthatstrangeswoopintothedarknessofspaceagain,andthatitdidnotmattermuch,asoneapparentlylayquitestillwhenonewasunconscious——whensheheardthatonehorsewasbeingledoutintothelane。Whatdidthatmean?Hadhegottiredofthechase——astheothermandid——andwashegoingawaybecausediscomfortandfatiguehadcooledanddisgustedhim——perhapsevenmadehimfeelthathewasplayingthepartofasensationalidiotwhowaslayinghimselfopentoderision?Thatwouldbelikehim,too。

  Presentlysheheardhisfootstepsoncemore,buthedidnotcomeasnearherasbefore——infact,hestoodatsomeyards’

  distancewhenhestoppedandspoke——inquiteanewmanner。

  \"Betty,\"histonewasevencynicallycool,\"Ishallstalkyounomore。Thechaseisatanend。IthinkIhavetakenalloutofyouIintendedto。Perhapsitwasabadjokeandwascarriedtoofar。IwantedtoprovetoyouthattherewerecircumstanceswhichmightbetoomuchevenforayoungwomanfromNewYork。Ihavedoneit。DoyousupposeI

  amsuchafoolastobringmyselfwithinreachofthelaw?

  IamgoingawayandwillsendassistancetoyoufromthenexthouseIpass。Ihaveleftsomematchesandafewbrokensticksonthehearthinthecottage。Beasensiblegirl。Limpinthereandbuildyourselfafireassoonasyouhearmegallopaway。Youmustbechilledthrough。NowIamgoing。\"

  Hetrampedacrossthebitofgarden,downthebrickpath,mountedhishorseandputittoagallopatonce。Clack,clack,clack——clackingfainterandfainterintothedistance——andhewasgone。

  Whensherealisedthatthethingwastrue,theeffectuponherofhersenseofreliefwasthatthegrowinglikelihoodofasecondswoopintodarknessdiedaway,butonecurioussobliftedherchestassheleanedbackagainsttheroughgrowthbehindher。Asshechangedherpositionforabetteroneshefeltthejaggedpainagainandknewthatinthetensenessofherterrorshehadactuallyforsometimefeltnexttonothingofherhurt。Shehadnotevenbeencold,forthehedgebehindandoverherandthebarricadebeforehadprotectedherfrombothwindandrain。Thegrassbeneathherwasnotdampforthesamereason。Thewearythoughtroseinhermindthatshemightevenliedownandsleep。Butshepulledherselftogetherandtoldherselfthatthiswaslikethetemptationofbelievinginthenightmare。Hewasgone,andshehadarespite——butwasittobeanythingmore?Shedidnotmakeanyattempttoleaveherplaceofconcealment,rememberingthestrangethingsshehadlearnedinwatchinghim,andthestrangeterrorinwhichRosalielived。

  \"Oneneverknowswhathewilldonext;Iwillnotstir,\"

  shesaidthroughherteeth。\"No,Iwillnotstirfromhere。\"

  Andshedidnot,butsatstill,whilethepaincamebacktoherbodyandtheanguishtoherheart——andsometimessuchheavinessthatherheaddroppedforwarduponherkneesagain,andshefellintoastupefiedhalf—doze。

  Fromonesuchdozesheawakenedwithastart,hearingaslightclickofthegate。Afterit,therewereseveralsecondsofdeadsilence。Itwastheslightnessoftheclickwhichwasstartling——ifithadnotbeencausedbythewind,ithadbeencausedbysomeone’shavingcautiouslymovedit——andthissomeonewishingtomakeasoundlessapproachhadimmediatelystoodstillandwaswaiting。Therewasonlyonepersonwhowoulddothat。Bythistime,themistbeingblownaway,thelightofthemoonbegantomakeagrowingclearness。

  Sheliftedherhandanddelicatelyheldasideafewtwigsthatshemightlookout。

  Shehadbeenquiterightindecidingnottomove。NigelAnstruthershadcomeback,andafterhispauseturned,andavoidingthebrickpath,stoleoverthegrasstothecottagedoor。Hisgoinghadmerelybeenaninspirationtotrapher,andthewoodandmatcheshadbeenintendedtomakeabeaconlightforhim。Thatwaslikehim,aswell。Hishorsehehadleftdowntheroad。

  Butthereliefofhisabsencehadbeengoodforher,andshewasabletochecktheshudderingfitwhichthreatenedherforamoment。Thenext,herearsawoketoanewsound。Somethingwasstumblingheavilyaboutthepatchofgarden——someanimal。Acroppingofgrass,asnortingbreath,andmorestumblinghoofs,andsheknewthatChildeHaroldhadmanagedtoloosenhisbridleandlimpoutoftheshed。Themeresenseofhisnearnessseemedasortofprotection。

  HehadlimpedandstumbledtothefrontpartofthegardenbeforeNigelheardhim。Whenhedidhear,hecameoutofthehouseinthehumourofamantheinflamingofwhosemoodhasbeencumulative;ChildeHarold’stemperalsowasnottobetrifledwith。Hethrewuphishead,swingingthebridleoutofreach;hesnorted,andevenrearedwithanuglylashingofhisforefeet。

  \"Goodboy!\"whisperedBetty。\"Donotlethimtakeyou——donot!\"

  Ifheremainedwherehewashewouldattractattentionifanyonepassedby。\"Fight,ChildeHarold,beasviciousasyouchoose——donotallowyourselftobedraggedback。\"

  Andfighthedid,withanuglinessoftemperhehadnevershownbefore——withsnortingsandtossedheadandlashed——outheels,asifheknewhewasfightingtogaintimeandwithapurpose。

  ButinthemidstofthestruggleNigelAnstruthersstoppedsuddenly。Hehadstumbledagain,andrisenragingandstainedwithdampearth。Nowhestoodstill,pantingforbreath——asstillashehadstoodaftertheclickofthegate。

  Washe——listening?Whatwashelisteningto?Hadshemovedinherexcitement,andwasitpossiblehehadcaughtthesound?No,hewaslisteningtosomethingelse。Faruptheroaditechoed,butcomingnearereverymoment,andveryfast。Anotherhorse——abigone——gallopinghard。Whosoeveritwaswouldpassthisplace;itcouldonlybeaman——Godgrantthathewouldnotgobysoquicklythathisattentionwouldnotbearrestedbyashriek!Cryoutshemust——andifhedidnothearandwentgallopingonhiswayshewouldhavebetrayedherselfandbelost。

  Shebitoffagroanbybitingherlip。

  \"Youwhodiedto—day——now——now!\"

  Nearerandnearer。Nohumancreaturecouldpassbyathinglikethis——itwouldnotbepossible。AndChildeHarold,backingandfighting,scentedtheotherhorseandneighedfiercelyandhigh。Theriderwasslackeninghispace;hewasnearthelane。Hehadturnedintoitandstopped。Nowforheronefranticcry——butbeforeshecouldgatherpowertogiveitforth,themanwhohadstoppedhadflunghimselffromhissaddleandwasinsidethegardenspeaking。Abigvoiceandaclearone,witharingingtoneofauthority。

  \"Whatareyoudoinghere?AndwhatisthematterwithMissVanderpoel’shorse?\"itcalledout。

  Nowtherewasdangeroftheswoopintothedarkness——

  greatdanger——thoughsheclutchedatthehedgethatshemightfeelitsthornsandholdherselftotheearth。

  \"YOU!\"NigelAnstrutherscriedout。\"You!\"andflungforthashoutoflaughter。

  \"Whereisshe?\"fiercely。\"LadyAnstruthersisterrified。

  Wehavebeensearchingforhours。OnlyjustnowIheardonthemarshthatshehadbeenseentoridethisway。Whereisshe,Isay?\"

  Astrong,angry,earthlyvoice——notpartofthemelodrama——

  notpartofadream,butavoicesheknew,andwhosesoundcausedherhearttoleaptoherthroat,whileshetrembledfromheadtofoot,andalight,colddampnessbrokeforthonherskin。Somethinghadbeenadream——herwild,desolateride——

  theslewtolling;forthevoicewhichcommandedwithsuchhumanfiercenesswasthatofthemanforwhomtheheavybellhadstruckforthfromthechurchtower。

  SirNigelrecoveredhimselfbrilliantly。Notthathedidnotrecognisethathehadbeenafoolagainandwasinanastyplace;butitwasnotforthefirsttimeinhislife,andhehadlearnedhowtobrazenhimselfoutofnastyplaces。

  \"MydearMountDunstan,\"heansweredwithtolerantirritation,\"Ihavebeenhavingadevilofatimewithfemalehysterics。Sheheardthebelltollandranawaywiththeideathatitwasforyou,andpaidyouthecomplimentoflosingherhead。Icameonherherewhenshehadriddenherhorsehalftodeathandtheyhadbothcomeacropper。Confoundwomen’shysterics!Icoulddonothingwithher。WhenIleftherforamomentsheranawayandhidherself。Sheisconcealedsomewhereontheplaceorhaslimpedoffontothemarsh。I

  wishsomeNewYorkmillionairesswouldworkherselfintohysteriaonmyhumbleaccount。\"

  \"Thosearelies,\"MountDunstananswered——\"everydamnedoneofthem!\"

  Hewheeledaroundtolookabouthim,attractedbyasound,andintheclearingmoonlightsawafigureapproachingwhichmighthaverisenfromtheearth,sofarashecouldguesswhereithadcomefrom。Hestrodeovertoit,anditwasBettyVanderpoel,holdingherwhipinaclenchedhandandshowingtohiseagernesssuchhuntedfaceandeyesaswerebarelyhuman。Hecaughtherunsteadinesstosupportit,andfeltherfingersclutchatthetweedofhiscoatsleeveandmovethereasifthemerefeelingofitsroughtexturebroughtheavenlycomforttoherandgaveherstrength。

  \"Yes,theyarelies,LordMountDunstan,\"shepanted。

  \"Hesaidthathemeanttogetwhathecalled`even’withme。HetoldmeIcouldnotgetawayfromhimandthatnoonewouldhearmeifIcriedoutforhelp。Ihavehiddenlikesomehuntedanimal。\"Hershakingvoicebroke,andsheheldtheclothofhissleevetightly。\"Youarealive——alive!\"withasuddensweetwildness。\"Butitistruethebelltolled!

  WhileIwascrouchinginthedarkIcalledtoyou——whodiedto—day——tostandbetweenus!\"

  Themanabsolutelyshudderedfromheadtofoot。

  \"Iwasalive,andyouseeIheardyouandcame,\"heansweredhoarsely。

  Heliftedherinhisarmsandcarriedherintothecottage。

  Hercheekfelttheenrapturingroughnessofhistweedshoulderashedidit。Helaidherdownonthecouchofhayandturnedaway。

  \"Don’tmove,\"hesaid。\"Iwillcomeback。Youaresafe。\"

  Iftherehadbeenmorelightshewouldhaveseenthathisjawwassetlikeabulldog’s,andtherewasaredsparkinhiseyes——afearsomeone。Butthoughshedidnotclearlysee,sheKNEW,andthenearnessofthelasthourssweptawayallrelenting。

  NigelAnstruthershavingdiscreetlywaiteduntilthetwohadpassedintothehouse,andfeelingthatamanwouldbeanidiotwhodidnotremovehimselffromanatmospheresohighlycharged,wasmakinghiswaytowardthelaneandwas,indeed,halfwaythroughthegatewhenheavyfeetwerebehindhimandagripofuglystrengthwrenchedhimbackward。

  \"Yourhorseiscroppingthegrasswhereyoulefthim,butyouarenotgoingtohim,\"saidasingularlymeaningvoice。

  \"Youarecomingwithme。\"

  Anstruthersendeavouredtoconvincehimselfthathedidnotatthatmomentturndeadlysickandthatthebrutewouldnotmakeanassofhimself。

  \"Don’tbeaballyfool!\"hecriedout,tryingtotearhimselffree。

  Themuscularhandonhisshoulderbeingreinforcedbyanother,whichclutchedhiscollar,draggedhimback,stumblingignominiouslythroughthegooseberrybushestowardsthecart—

  shed。Bettylyinguponherbedofhayheardthescuffling,mingledwithragingandgaspingcurses。ChildeHarold,liftinghisheadfromhiscroppingofthegrass,lookedaftertheviolentlyjerkingfiguresandsnortedslightly,snuffingwithdilatedrednostrils。Asawarhorsescentingbloodandbattle,hewasexcited。

  WhenMountDunstangothiscaptiveintotheshedthebloodwhichhadsurgedinRedGodwyn’sveinswasupandleaping。

  Anstruthers,hiscollarheldbyahandwithfingersofiron,writhedaboutandturnedalivid,ghastlyfaceuponhiscaptor。

  \"Youhavetwicemystrengthandhalfmyage,youbeastanddevil!\"hefoamedinahalfshriek,andpouredforthfrightfulblasphemies。

  \"Thatcountsbetweenmanandman,butnotbetweenverminandexecutioner,\"gavebackMountDunstan。

  Theheavywhip,flungupward,whistleddownthroughtheair,cuttingthroughclothandlinenasthoughitwouldcutthroughfleshtobone。

  \"ByGod!\"shriekedthewrithingthingheheld,leapinglikeamanwhohasbeenshot。\"Don’tdothatagain!DAMN

  you!\"astheunswervinglashcutdownagain——again。

  Whatfollowedwouldnotbegoodtodescribe。Bettythroughtheopendoorheardwildandawfulthings——andmorethanonceasoundasifadogwerehowling。

  Whenthethingwasover,oneofthetwo——hisclothescuttoribbons,histornwhitelinenexposed,lay,awrithing,huddledworm,hiccoughingfrenziedsobsupontheearthinacornerofthecart—shed。Theothermanstoodoverhim,breathlessandwhite,butsingularlyexalted。

点击下载App,搜索"The Shuttlel",免费读到尾