in the tules-第5部分

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stupid；　the　ignorant；　the　inexperienced；　the　nonseekerthe　irony

of　the　gods！



But　the　simple；　bucolic　nature　that　had　sustained　itself　against

temptation　with　patient　industry　and　lonely　self…concentration

succumbed　to　rapidly　acquired　wealth。　　So　it　chanced　that　one　day；

with　a　crowd　of　excitement…loving　spendthrifts　and　companions；　he

found　himself　on　the　outskirts　of　a　lawless　mountain　town。　　An

eager；　frantic　crowd　had　already　assembled　therea　desperado　was

to　be　lynched！　　Pushing　his　way　through　the　crowd　for　a　nearer　view

of　the　exciting　spectacle；　the　changed　and　reckless　Morse　was

stopped　by　armed　men　only　at　the　foot　of　a　cart；　which　upheld　a

quiet；　determined　man；　who；　with　a　rope　around　his　neck；　was

scornfully　surveying　the　mob；　that　held　the　other　end　of　the　rope

drawn　across　the　limb　of　a　tree　above　him。　　The　eyes　of　the　doomed

man　caught　those　of　Morsehis　expression　changeda　kindly　smile

lit　his　facehe　bowed　his　proud　head　for　the　first　time；　with　an

easy　gesture　of　farewell。



And　then；　with　a　cry；　Morse　threw　himself　upon　the　nearest　armed

guard；　and　a　fierce　struggle　began。　　He　had　overpowered　one

adversary　and　seized　another　in　his　hopeless　fight　toward　the　cart

when　the　half…astonished　crowd　felt　that　something　must　be　done。

It　was　done　with　a　sharp　report；　the　upward　curl　of　smoke　and　the

falling　back　of　the　guard　as　Morse　staggered　forward　FREEwith　a

bullet　in　his　heart。　　Yet　even　then　he　did　not　fall　until　he

reached　the　cart；　when　he　lapsed　forward；　dead；　with　his　arms

outstretched　and　his　head　at　the　doomed　man's　feet。



There　was　something　so　supreme　and　all…powerful　in　this　hopeless

act　of　devotion　that　the　heart　of　the　multitude　thrilled　and　then

recoiled　aghast　at　its　work；　and　a　single　word　or　a　gesture　from

the　doomed　man　himself　would　have　set　him　free。　　But　they　sayand

it　is　credibly　recordedthat　as　Captain　Jack　Despard　looked　down

upon　the　hopeless　sacrifice　at　his　feet　his　eyes　blazed；　and　he

flung　upon　the　crowd　a　curse　so　awful　and　sweeping　that；　hardened

as　they　were；　their　blood　ran　cold；　and　then　leaped　furiously　to

their　cheeks。



〃And　now；〃　he　said；　coolly　tightening　the　rope　around　his　neck　with

a　jerk　of　his　head〃Go　on；　and　be　damned　to　you！　　I'm　ready。〃



They　did　not　hesitate　this　time。　　And　Martin　Morse　and　Captain　Jack

Despard　were　buried　in　the　same　grave。