按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
enigma； the shepherd's wife once more called for a song。 The same
obstacles presented themselves as at the former timeone had no
voice； another had forgotten the first verse。 The stranger at the
table； whose soul had now risen to a good working temperature；
relieved the difficulty by exclaiming that； to start the company； he
would sing himself。 Thrusting one thumb into the arm…hole of his
waistcoat； he waved the other hand in the air； and； with an
extemporizing gaze at the shining sheep…crooks above the
mantelpiece； began：…
'O my trade it is the rarest one；
Simple shepherds all …
My trade is a sight to see；
For my customers I tie； and take them up on high；
And waft 'em to a far countree！'
The room was silent when he had finished the versewith one
exception； that of the man in the chimney…corner； who； at the
singer's word； 'Chorus！ 'joined him in a deep bass voice of musical
relish …
'And waft 'em to a far countree！'
Oliver Giles； John Pitcher the dairyman； the parish…clerk； the
engaged man of fifty； the row of young women against the wall；
seemed lost in thought not of the gayest kind。 The shepherd looked
meditatively on the ground； the shepherdess gazed keenly at the
singer； and with some suspicion； she was doubting whether this
stranger were merely singing an old song from recollection； or was
composing one there and then for the occasion。 All were as
perplexed at the obscure revelation as the guests at Belshazzar's
Feast； except the man in the chimney…corner； who quietly said；
'Second verse； stranger；' and smoked on。
The singer thoroughly moistened himself from his lips inwards； and
went on with the next stanza as requested：…
'My tools are but common ones；
Simple shepherds all …
My tools are no sight to see：
A little hempen string； and a post whereon to swing；
Are implements enough for me！'
Shepherd Fennel glanced round。 There was no longer any doubt that
the stranger was answering his question rhythmically。 The guests
one and all started back with suppressed exclamations。 The young
woman engaged to the man of fifty fainted half…way； and would have
proceeded； but finding him wanting in alacrity for catching her she
sat down trembling。
'O； he's the！' whispered the people in the background； mentioning
the name of an ominous public officer。 'He's come to do it！ 'Tis
to be at Casterbridge jail to…morrowthe man for sheep…stealing
the poor clock…maker we heard of； who used to live away at
Shottsford and had no work to doTimothy Summers； whose family were
a…starving； and so he went out of Shottsford by the high…road； and
took a sheep in open daylight； defying the farmer and the farmer's
wife and the farmer's lad； and every man jack among 'em。 He' （and
they nodded towards the stranger of the deadly trade） 'is come from
up the country to do it because there's not enough to do in his own
county…town； and he's got the place here now our own county man's
dead； he's going to live in the same cottage under the prison wall。'
The stranger in cinder…gray took no notice of this whispered string
of observations； but again wetted his lips。 Seeing that his friend
in the chimney…corner was the only one who reciprocated his
joviality in any way； he held out his cup towards that appreciative
comrade； who also held out his own。 They clinked together； the eyes
of the rest of the room hanging upon the singer's actions。 He
parted his lips for the third verse； but at that moment another
knock was audible upon the door。 This time the knock was faint and
hesitating。
The company seemed scared； the shepherd looked with consternation
towards the entrance； and it was with some effort that he resisted
his alarmed wife's deprecatory glance； and uttered for the third
time the welcoming words； 'Walk in！'
The door was gently opened； and another man stood upon the mat。 He；
like those who had preceded him； was a stranger。 This time it was a
short； small personage； of fair complexion； and dressed in a decent
suit of dark clothes。
'Can you tell me the way to？' he began： when； gazing round the
room to observe the nature of the company amongst whom he had
fallen； his eyes lighted on the stranger in cinder…gray。 It was
just at the instant when the latter； who had thrown his mind into
his song with such a will that he scarcely heeded the interruption；
silenced all whispers and inquiries by bursting into his third
verse：…
'To…morrow is my working day；
Simple shepherds all …
To…morrow is a working day for me：
For the farmer's sheep is slain； and the lad who did it ta'en；
And on his soul may God ha' merc…y！'
The stranger in the chimney…corner； waving cups with the singer so
heartily that his mead splashed over on the hearth； repeated in his
bass voice as before：…
'And on his soul may God ha' merc…y！'
All this time the third stranger had been standing in the doorway。
Finding now that he did not come forward or go on speaking； the
guests particularly regarded him。 They noticed to their surprise
that he stood before them the picture of abject terrorhis knees
trembling； his hand shaking so violently that the door…latch by
which he supported himself rattled audibly： his white lips were
parted； and his eyes fixed on the merry officer of justice in the
middle of the room。 A moment more and he had turned； closed the
door； and fled。
'What a man can it be？' said the shepherd。
The rest； between the awfulness of their late discovery and the odd
conduct of this third visitor； looked as if they knew not what to
think； and said nothing。 Instinctively they withdrew further and
further from the grim gentleman in their midst； whom some of them
seemed to take for the Prince of Darkness himself； till they formed
a remote circle； an empty space of floor being left between them and
him …
' 。 。 。 circulus； cujus centrum diabolus。'
The room was so silentthough there were more than twenty people in
itthat nothing could be heard but the patter of the rain against
the window…shutters； accompanied by the occasional hiss of a stray
drop that fell down the chimney into the fire； and the steady
puffing of the man in the corner； who had now resumed his pipe of
long clay。
The stillness was unexpectedly broken。 The distant sound of a gun
reverberated through the airapparently from the direction of the
county…town。
'Be jiggered！' cried the stranger who had sung the song； jumping up。
'What does that mean？' asked several。
'A prisoner escaped from the jailthat's what it means。'
All listened。 The sound was repeated； and none of them spoke but
the man in the chimney…corner； who said quietly； 'I've often been
told that in this county they fire a gun at such times； but I never
heard it till now。'
'I wonder if it is MY man？' murmured the personage in cinder…gray。
'Surely it is！' said the shepherd involuntarily。 'And surely we've
zeed him！ That little man who looked in at the door by now； and
quivered like a leaf when he zeed ye and heard your song！'
'His teeth chattered； and the breath went out of his body；' said the
dairyman。
'And his heart seemed to sink within him like a stone；' said Oliver
Giles。
'And he bolted as if he'd been shot at；' said the hedge…carpenter。
'Truehis teeth chattered； and his heart seemed to sink； and he
bolted as if he'd been shot at；' slowly summed up the man in the
chimney…corner。
'I didn't notice it；' remarked the hangman。
'We were all a…wondering what made him run off in such a fright；'
faltered one of the women against the wall； 'and now 'tis
explained！'
The firing of the alarm…gun went on at intervals； low and sullenly；
and their suspicions became a certainty。 The sinister gentleman in
cinder…gray roused himself。 'Is there a constable here？' he asked；
in thick tones。 'If so； let him step forward。'
The engaged man of fifty stepped quavering out from the wall； his
betrothed beginning to sob on the back of the chair。
'You are a sworn constable？'
'I be； sir。'
'Then pursue the criminal at once； with assistance； and bring him
back here。 He can't have gone far。'
'I will； sir； I willwhen I've got my staff。 I'll go home and get
it； and come sharp here； and start in a body。'
'Staff！never mind your staff； the man'll be gone！'
'But I can't do nothing without my staffcan I； William； and John；
and Charles Jake？ No； for there's the king's royal crown a painted
on en in yaller and gold； and the lion and the unicorn； so as when I
raise en up and hit my prisoner； 'tis made a lawful blow thereby。 I
wouldn't 'tempt to take up a man without my staffno； not I。 If I
hadn't the law to gie me courage； why； instead o' my taking up him
he might take up me！'
'Now； I'm a king's man myself； and can give you authority enough for
this；' said the formidable officer in gray。 'Now then； all of ye；
be ready。 Have ye any lanterns？'
'Yeshave ye any lanterns？I demand it！' said the constable。
'And the rest of you able…bodied'
'Able…bodied menyesthe rest of ye！' said the constable。
'Have you some good stout staves and pitch…forks'
'Staves and pitchforksin the name o' the law！ And take 'em in yer
hands and go in quest； and