put yourself in his place-第102部分

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First　one　day　was　appointed　for　the　enterprise；　then　another；　and；　at　last；　it　was　their　luck　to　settle　on　a　certain　night；　of　which　I　will　only　say　at　present；　that　it　was　a　night　Hillsborough　and　its　suburbs　will　not　soon　forget。

Midnight　was　the　hour　agreed　on。

Now　at　nine　o'clock　of　this　very　night　the　chief…constable　of　Hillsborough　was　drinking　tea　with　Little　scarcely　twenty　yards　from　the　scene　of　the　proposed　abduction。　　Not　that　either　he　or　Little　had　the　least　notion　of　the　conspiracy。　　The　fact　is；　Hillsborough　had　lately　been　deluged　with　false　coin；　neatly　executed；　and　passed　with　great　dexterity。　　The　police　had　received　many　complaints；　but　had　been　unable　to　trace　it。　　Lately；　however；　an　old　bachelor；　living　in　this　suburban　valley；　had　complained　to　the　police　that　his　neighbors　kept　such　enormous　fires　all　night；　as　to　make　his　wall　red…hot　and　blister　his　paint。

This；　and　one　or　two　other　indications；　made　Ransome　suspect　the　existence　of　a　furnace；　and　he　had　got　a　search…warrant　in　his　pocket；　on　which；　however；　he　did　not　think　it　safe　to　act　till　he　had　watched　the　suspected　house　late　at　night；　and　made　certain　observations　for　himself。　　So　he　had　invited　himself　to　tea　with　his　friend　Littlefor　he　was　sure　of　a　hearty　welcome　at　any　hourand；　over　their　tea；　he　now　told　him　his　suspicions；　and　invited　him　to　come　in　and　take　a　look　at　the　suspected　house　with　him。

Little　consented。　　But　there　was　no　hurry；　the　later　they　went　to　the　house　in　question　the　better。　　So　they　talked　of　other　matters；　and　the　conversation　soon　fell　on　that　which　was　far　more　interesting　to　Little　than　the　capture　of　all　the　coiners　in　creation。

He　asked　Ransome　how　long　he　was　to　go　on　like　this；　contenting　himself　with　the　mere　sight　of　her。

〃Why；〃　said　Ransome；　〃even　that　has　made　another　man　of　you。　　Your　eye　is　twice　as　bright　as　it　was　a　month　ago；　and　your　color　is　coming　back。　　That　is　a　wise　proverb；　'Let　well　alone。'　　I　hear　she　visits　the　sick；　and　some　of　them　swear　by　her。　　If　think　I'd　give　her　time　to　take　root　here；　and　then　she　will　not　be　so　ready　to　fly　off　in　a　tangent。〃

Little　objected　that　it　was　more　than　flesh　and　blood　could　bear。

〃Well；　then；〃　said　Ransome；　〃promise　me　just　one　thing：　that；　if　you　speak　to　her；　it　shall　be　in　Hillsborough；　and　not　down　here。〃

Little　saw　the　wisdom　of　this；　and　consented；　but　said　he　was　resolved　to　catch　her　at　his　own　window　the　next　time　she　came。

He　was　about　to　give　his　reasons；　but　they　were　interrupted　by　a　man　and　horse　clattering　up　to　the　door。

〃That　will　be　for　me；〃　said　Ransome。　　〃I　thought　I　should　not　get　leave　to　drink　my　tea　in　peace。〃

He　was　right；　a　mounted　policeman　brought　him　a　note　from　the　mayor；　telling　him　word　had　come　into　the　town　that　there　was　something　wrong　with　Ousely　dam。　　He　was　to　take　the　mayor's　horse；　and　ride　up　at　once　to　the　reservoir；　and；　if　there　was　any　danger；　to　warn　the　valley。

〃This　looks　serious；〃　said　Ransome。　　〃I　must　wish　you　good…by。〃

〃Take　a　piece　of　advice　with　you。　　I　hear　that　dam　is　too　full；　if　so；　don't　listen　to　advice　from　anybody；　but　open　the　sluices　of　the　waste…pipes；　and　relieve　the　pressure；　but　if　you　find　a　flaw　in　the　embankment；　don't　trifle；　blow　up　the　waste…wear　at　once　with　gunpowder。　　I　wish　I　had　a　horse；　I'd　go　with　you。　　By　the　way；　if　there　is　the　least　danger　of　that　dam　bursting；　of　course　you　will　give　me　warning　in　time；　and　I'll　get　her　out　of　the　house　at　once。〃

〃What；　do　you　think　the　water　would　get　as　far　as　this；　to　do　any　harm？　　It　is　six　miles。〃

〃It　might。　　Look　at　the　form　of　the　ground；　it　is　a　regular　trough　from　that　dam　to　Hillsborough。　　My　opinion　is；　it　would　sweep　everything　before　it；　and　flood　Hillsborough　itselfthe　lower　town。　I　shall　not　go　to　bed；　old　fellow；　till　you　come　back　and　tell　me　it　is　all　right。〃

With　this　understanding　Ransome　galloped　off。　　On　his　way　he　passed　by　the　house　where　he　suspected　coining。　　The　shutters　were　closed；　but　his　experienced　eye　detected　a　bright　light　behind　one　of　them；　and　a　peculiar　smoke　from　the　chimney。

Adding　this　to　his　other　evidence；　he　now　felt　sure　the　inmates　were　coiners；　and　he　felt　annoyed。　　〃Fine　I　look；〃　said　he；　〃walking　tamely　past　criminals　at　work；　and　going　to　a　mayor's　nest　six　miles　off。〃

However　he　touched　the　horse　with　his　heel；　and　cantered　forward　on　his　errand。

John　Ransome　rode　up　to　the　Ousely　Reservoir；　and　down　again　in　less　than　an　hour　and　a　half；　and　every　incident　of　those　two　rides　is　imprinted　on　his　memory　for　life。

He　first　crossed　the　water　at　Poma　bridge。　　The　village　of　that　name　lay　on　his　right；　toward　Hillsborough；　and　all　the　lights　were　out　except　in　the　two　public　houses。　　One　of　these；　〃The　Reindeer；〃　was　near　the　bridge；　and　from　it　a　ruddy　glare　shot　across　the　road；　and　some　boon　companions　were　singing；　in　very　good　harmony；　a　trite　Scotch　chorus：


　　　　　〃We　are　no　that　fou；　we　are　no　that　fou；　　　　　　　　But　just　a　drappie　in　our　ee；　　　　　　The　cock　may　craw；　the　day　may　daw；　　　　　　　　But　still　we'll　taste　the　barley　bree。〃


Ransome　could　hear　the　very　words；　he　listened；　he　laughed；　and　then　rode　up　the　valley　till　he　got　opposite　a　crinoline…wire　factory　called　the　〃Kildare　Wheel。〃　　Here　he　observed　a　single　candle　burning；　a　watcher；　no　doubt。

The　next　place　he　saw　was　also　on　the　other　side　the　stream；　Dolman's　farm…house；　the　prettiest　residence　in　the　valley。　　It　was　built　of　stone；　and　beautifully　situated　on　a　promontory　between　two　streams。　　It　had　a　lawn　in　front；　which　went　down　to　the　very　edge　of　the　water；　and　was　much　admired　for　its　close　turf　and　flowers。　The　farm　buildings　lay　behind　the　house。

There　was　no　light　whatever　in　Dolman's；　but　they　were　early　people。　The　house　and　lawn　slept　peacefully　in　the　night：　the　windows　were　now　shining；　now　dark；　for　small　fleecy　clouds　kept　drifting　at　short　intervals　across　the　crescent　moon。

Ransome　pushed　on　across　the　open　ground；　and　for　a　mile　or　two　saw　few　signs　of　life；　except　here　and　there　a　flickering　light　in　some　water…wheel；　for　now　one　picturesque　dam　and　wheel　succeeded　another　as　rapidly　as　Nature　permitted；　and　indeed　the　size　of　these　dams；　now　shining　in　the　fitful　moonlight；　seemed　remarkable；　compared　with　the　mere　thread　of　water　which　fed　them；　and　connected　them　together　for　miles　like　pearls　on　a　silver　string。

Ransome　pushed　rapidly　on；　up　hill　and　down　dale；　till　he　reached　the　high　hill；　at　whose　foot　lay　the　hamlet　of　Damflask；　distant　two　miles　from　Ousely　Reservoir。

He　looked　down　and　saw　a　few　lights　in　this　hamlet；　some　stationary；　but　two　moving。

〃Hum；〃　thought　Ransome；　〃they　don't　seem　to　be　quite　so　easy　in　their　minds　up　here。〃

He　dashed　into　the　place；　and　drew　up　at　the　house　where　several　persons　were　collected。

As　he　came　up；　a　singular　group　issued　forth：　a　man　with　a　pig…whip；　driving　four　childrenthe　eldest　not　above　seven　years　oldand　carrying　an　infant　in　his　arms。　　The　little　imps　were　clad　in　shoes；　night…gowns；　night…caps；　and　a　blanket　apiece；　and　were　shivering　and　whining　at　being　turned　out　of　bed　into　the　night　air。

Ransome　asked　the　man　what　was　the　matter

One　of　the　by…standers　laughed；　and　said；　satirically；　Ousely　dam　was　to　burst　that　night；　so　all　the　pigs　and　children　were　making　for　the　hill。

The　man　himself；　whose　name　was　Joseph　Galton；　explained　more　fully。

〃Sir；〃　said　he；　〃my　wife　is　groaning；　and　I　am　bound　to　obey　her。　She　had　a　dream　last　night　she　was　in　a　flood；　and　had　to　cross　a　plank　or　summut。　　I　quieted　her　till　supper；　but　then　landlord　came　round　and　warned　all　of　us　of　a　crack　or　summut　up　at　dam。　　And　so　now　I　am　taking　this　little　lot　up　to　my　brother's。　　It's　the　foolishest　job　I　ever　done：　but　needs　must　when　the　devil　drives；　and　it　is　better　so　than　to　have　my　old　gal　sour　her　milk；　and　pine　her　suckling；　and　maybe　fret　herself　to　death　into　the　bargain。〃

Ransome　seized　on　the　information；　and　rode　on　directly　to　the　village　inn。　　He　called　the　landlord　out；　and　asked　him　what　he　had　been　telling　the　villagers。　　Was　there　any　thing　seriously　amiss　up　at　the　reservoir？

〃Nay；　I　hope　not；〃　said　the　man；　〃but　we　got　a　bit　of　a　fright　this　afternoon。　　A　young　man　rode　through；　going　down　to　Hillsborough；　and　stopped　here　to　have　his　girth　mended；　he　had　broke　it　coming　down　our　hill。　　While　he　was　taking　a　glass　he　let　out　his　errand；　they　had　found　a　crack　in　the　embankment；　and　sent　him　down　to　Hillsborough　to　tell　Mr。　Tucker；　the　engineer。　　Bless　your　heart；　we　should　never　have　known　aught　about　it　if　his　girth　hadn't　broke。〃　He　added；　as　a　reason　for　thinking　it　was　not　serious　that　Mr。　Tucker　had　himself　inspected　the　dam　just　before　tea…time；　and　hadn't　even　seen　the　crack。　　It　was　a　laboring　man　who　had　discovered　it；　through　crossing　the　embankment　lower　down　than　usual。　　〃But　you　see；　sir；〃　said　he；　in　conclusion；　〃we　lie　very　low　here；　and　right　in　the　track；　and　so　we　mustn't　make　light　of　a　warning。　　And；　of　course；　many　of　the　workmen　stop　here　and　have　their　say；　and；　to　tell　you　the　truth；　one　or　two　of　them　have　always　misliked　the　foundation　that　embankment　is　built　on：　too　many　old　landslips　to　be　seen　about。　　But；　after　all；　I　suppose　they　can　empty　the　dam；　if　need　be；　and；　of　course；　they　will；　if　there　is　any　danger。　　I　expect　Mr。　Tucker　up　every　minute。〃

Ransome　thanked　him　for　his　information　and　pushed　on　to　Lower　Hatfield：　there　he　found　lights　in　the　houses　and　the　inhabitants　astir；　but　he　passed　through　the　village　in　silence；　and　came　to　the　great　corn…mill；　a　massive　stone　structure　with　granite　pillars；　the　pride　of　the　place。　　The　building　was　full　of　lights；　and　the　cranes　were　all　at　work　hoisting　the　sacks　of　flour　from　the　lower　floors　to　the　top　story。　　The　faces　of　the　men　reflected　in　the　flaring　gas；　and　the　black　cranes　with　their　gaunt　arms；　and　the　dark　bodies　rising　by　the　snake…like　cords；　formed　a　curious　picture　in　the　fluctuating　moonlight；　and　an　interesting　one　too；　for　it　showed　the　miller　did　not　feel　his　flour　quite　safe。

The　next　place　Ransome　came　to　was　Fox　Farm。

Farmer　Emden　was　standing　at　the　door　of　his　house；　and；　in　reply　to　Ransome；　told　him　he　had　just　come　down　from