put yourself in his place-第107部分

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ounded　in　nature：

〃Let　the　water　take　meit　has　taken　all　I　had。〃

When　they　asked　after　his　neighbors；　he　said　he　believed　they　were　all　drowned。　　Unluckily　for　HIM；　he　had　been　out　when　the　flood　came。

Little　clambered　into　the　other　cottage；　and　found　a　little　boy　and　girl　placidly　asleep　in　a　cupboard　upstairs。

Little　yelled　with　delight；　and　kissed　them；　and　cuddled　them；　as　if　they　had　been　his　own；　so　sweet　was　it　to　see　their　pretty　innocent　faces；　spared　by　death。　　The　boy　kissed　him　in　return；　and　told　him　the　room　had　been　full　of　water；　and　dada　and　mamma　had　gone　out　at　the　window；　and　they　themselves　had　floated　in　the　bed　so　high　he　had　put　his　little　sister　on　the　top　shelf；　and　got　on　it　himself；　and　then　they　had　both　felt　very　sleepy。

〃You　are　a　dear　good　boy；　and　I　take　you　into　custody；〃　said　Ransome；　in　a　broken　voice。

Judge　if　this　pair　were　petted；　up　at　the　Town　Hall。

At　Poma　Bridge　the　devastation　was　horrible。　　The　flood　had　bombarded　a　row　of　fifty　houses；　and　demolished　them　so　utterly　that　only　one　arch　of　one　cellar　remained；　the　very　foundations　were　torn　up；　and　huge　holes　of　incredible　breadth　and　depth　bored　by　the　furious　eddies。

Where　were　the　inhabitants？

Ransome　stood　and　looked　and　shook　like　a　man　in　an　ague。

〃Little；〃　said　he；　〃this　is　awful。　　Nobody　in　Hillsborough　dreams　the　extent　of　this　calamity。　　I　DREAD　THE　DAWN　OF　DAY。　　There　must　be　scores　of　dead　bodies　hidden　in　this　thick　mud；　or　perhaps　swept　through　Hillsborough　into　the　very　sea。〃

A　little　further；　and　they　came　to　the　〃Reindeer；〃　where　he　had　heard　the　boon…companions　singingover　their　graves；　for　that　night；　long　before　the　〃cock　did　craw；　or　the　day　daw；〃　their　mouths　were　full　of　water　and　mud；　and　not　the　〃barley　bree。〃

To　know　their　fate　needed　but　a　glance　at　the　miserable；　shattered；　gutted　fragment　of　the　inn　that　stood。　　There　was　a　chimney；　a　triangular　piece　of　roof；　a　quarter　of　the　inside　of　one　second…　floor　room；　with　all　the　boards　gone　and　half　the　joists　gone；　and　the　others　either　hanging　down　perpendicular　or　sticking　up　at　an　angle　of　forty…five。　　Even　on　the　side　furthest　from　the　flood　the　water　had　hacked　and　plowed　away　the　wall　so　deeply；　that　the　miserable　wreck　had　a　jagged　waist；　no　bigger　in　proportion　than　a　wasp's。

Not　far　from　this　amazing　ruin　was　a　little　two…storied　house；　whose　four　rooms　looked　exactly；　as　four　rooms　are　represented　in　section　on　the　stage；　the　front　wall　having　been　blown　clean　away；　and　the　furniture　and　inmates　swept　out；　the　very　fender　and　fire…irons　had　been　carried　away：　a　bird…cage；　a　clock；　and　a　grate　were　left　hanging　to　the　three　walls。

As　a　part　of　this　village　stood　on　high　ground；　the　survivors　were　within　reach　of　relief；　and　Little　gave　a　policeman　orders　to　buy　clothes　at　the　shop；　and　have　them　charged　to　him。

This　done；　he　begged　Ransome　to　cross　the　water；　and　relieve　the　poor　wretches　who　had　escaped　so　narrowly　with　him。　　Ransome　consented　at　once；　but　then　came　a　difficultythe　bridge；　like　every　bridge　that　the　flying　lake　had　struck；　was　swept　away。　However；　the　stream　was　narrow；　and；　as　they　were　already　muddy　to　the　knee；　they　found　a　place　where　the　miscellaneous　ruin　made　stepping…stones；　and　by　passing　first　on　to　a　piece　of　masonry；　and　from　that　to　a　broken　water…wheel；　and　then　on　to　a　rock；　they　got　across。

They　passed　the　coiner's　house。　　It　stood　on　rather　high　ground；　and　had　got　off　cheap。　　The　water　had　merely　carried　away　the　door　and　windows；　and　washed　every　movable　out　of　it。

Ransome　sighed。　　〃Poor　Shifty！〃　said　he；　〃you'll　never　play　us　another　trick。　　What　an　end　for　a　man　of　your　abilities！〃

And　now　the　day　began　to　dawn；　and　that　was　fortunate；　for　otherwise　they　could　hardly　have　found　the　house　they　were　going　to。

On　the　way　to　it　they　came　on　two　dead　bodies；　an　old　man　of　eighty　and　a　child　scarce　a　week　old。　　One　fate　had　united　these　extremes　of　human　life；　the　ripe　sheaf　and　the　spring　bud。　　It　transpired　afterward　that　they　had　been　drowned　in　different　parishes。　　Death；　that　brought　these　together；　disunited　hundreds。　　Poor　Dolman's　body　was　found　scarce　a　mile　from　his　house；　but　his　wife's　eleven　miles　on　the　other　side　of　Hillsborough；　and　this　wide　separation　of　those　who　died　in　one　place　by　one　death；　was　constant；　and　a　pitiable　feature　of　the　tragedy。

At　last　they　got　to　the　house；　and　Little　shuddered　at　the　sight　of　it；　here　not　only　was　the　whole　front　wall　taken　out；　but　a　part　of　the　back　wall；　the　jagged　chimneys　of　the　next　house　still　clung　to　this　miserable　shell；　whose　upper　floors　were　slanting　sieves；　and　on　its　lower　was　a　deep　layer　of　mud；　with　the　carcass　of　a　huge　sow　lying　on　it；　washed　in　there　all　the　way　from　Hatfield　village。

The　people　had　all　run　away　from　the　house；　and　no　wonder；　for　it　seemed　incredible　that　it　could　stand　a　single　moment　longer；　never　had　ruin　come　so　close　to　demolition　and　then　stopped。

There　was　nothing　to　be　done　here；　and　Ransome　went　back　to　Hillsborough；　keeping　this　side　the　water。

Daybreak　realized　his　worst　fears：　between　Poma　Bridge　and　the　first　suburb　of　Hillsborough　the　place　was　like　a　battle…field；　not　that　many　had　been　drowned　on　the　spot；　but　that；　drowned　all　up　the　valley　by　the　flood　at　its　highest；　they　had　been　brought　down　and　deposited　in　the　thick　layer　of　mud　left　by　the　abating　waters。　Some　were　cruelly　gashed　and　mangled　by　the　hard　objects　with　which　they　had　come　in　contact。　　Others　wore　a　peaceful　expression　and　had　color　in　their　cheeks。　　One　drew　tears　from　both　these　valiant　men。　It　was　a　lovely　little　girl；　with　her　little　hands　before　her　face　to　keep　out　the　sight　of　death。

Here　and　there；　a　hand　or　a　ghastly　face　appearing　above　the　mud　showed　how　many　must　be　hidden　altogether；　and　Ransome　hurried　home　to　get　more　assistance　to　disinter　the　dead。

Just　before　the　suburb　of　Allerton　the　ground　is　a　dead　flat；　and　here　the　flying　lake　had　covered　a　space　a　mile　broad；　doing　frightful　damage　to　property　but　not　much　to　life；　because　wherever　it　expanded　it　shallowed　in　proportion。

In　part　of　this　flat　a　gentleman　had　a　beautiful　garden　and　pleasure…grounds　overnight：　they　were　now　under　water；　and　their　appearance　was　incredible；　the　flood　expanding　here　and　then　contracting；　had　grounded　large　objects　and　left　small　ones　floating。　　In　one　part　of　the　garden　it　had　landed　a　large　wheat…　rick；　which　now　stood　as　if　it　belonged　there；　though　it　had　been　built　five　miles　off。

In　another　part　was　an　inverted　summer…house　and　a　huge　water…wheel；　both　of　them　great　travelers　that　night。

In　the　large　fish…pond；　now　much　fuller　than　usual；　floated　a　wheel…　barrow；　a　hair　mattress；　an　old　wooden　cradle；　and　an　enormous　box　or　chest。

Little　went　splashing　through　the　water　to　examine　the　cradle：　he　was　richly　rewarded。　　He　found　a　little　child　in　it　awake　but　perfectly　happy；　and　enjoying　the　fluttering　birds　above　and　the　buoyant　bed　below；　whose　treacherous　nature　was　unknown　to　him。　This　incident　the　genius　of　my　friend　Mr。　Millais　is　about　to　render　immortal。

Little's　shout　of　delight　brought　Ransome　splashing　over　directly。　They　took　up　the　cradle　and　contents　to　carry　it　home；　when　all　of　a　sudden　Ransome's　eye　detected　a　finger　protruding　through　a　hole　in　the　box。

〃Hallo！〃　said　he。　　〃Why；　there's　a　body　inside　that　box。〃

〃Good　heavens！〃　said　Little；　〃he　may　be　alive。〃

With　that　he　made　a　rush　and　went　in　over　head　and　ears。

〃Confound　it〃　said　he　as　soon　as　he　got　his　breath。　　But；　being　in　for　it　now；　he　swam　to　the　box；　and　getting　behind　it；　shoved　it　before　him　to　Ransome's　feet。

Ransome　tried　to　open　it；　but　it　shut　with　a　spring。　　However；　there　were　air…holes；　and　still　this　finger　sticking　out　of　onefor　a　signal　no　doubt。

〃Are　ye　alive　or　dead？〃　shouted　Ransome　to　the　box。　　〃Let　me　out　and　you'll　see；〃　replied　the　box；　and　the　sound　seemed　to　issue　from　the　bowels　of　the　earth。

Little　had　his　hatchet　in　his　pocket　and　set　to　work　to　try　and　open　it。　　The　occupant　assisted　him　with　advice　how　to　proceed；　all　of　which　sounded　subterraneous。

〃Hold　your　jaw！〃　said　Little。　　〃Do　you　think　you　can　teach　me？〃

By　a　considerable　exertion　of　strength　as　well　as　skill；　he　at　last　got　the　box　open；　and　discovered　the　occupant　seated　pale　and　chattering；　with　knees　tucked　up。

The　two　men　lent　him　a　hand　to　help　him　up；　Ransome　gave　a　slight　start；　and　then　expressed　the　warmest　satisfaction。

〃Thank　Heaven！〃　said　he。　　〃Shake　hands；　old　fellow。　　I'm　downright　glad。　　I've　been　groaning　over　you：　but　I　might　have　known　you'd　find　some　way　to　slip　out　of　trouble。　　Mr。　Little；　this　is　Shifty　himself。　　Please　put　your　arm　under　his；　he　is　as　strong　as　iron；　and　as　slippery　as　an　eel。〃

The　Shifty；　hearing　this　account　given　of　himself；　instantly　collapsed；　and　made　himself　weak　as　water；　and　tottered　from　one　of　his　guards　to　the　other　in　turn。

〃I　was　all　that　once；　Mr。　Ransome；〃　said　he；　in　a　voice　that　became　suddenly　as　feeble　as　his　body；　〃but　this　fearful　night　has　changed　me。　　Miraculously　preserved　from　destruction；　I　have　renounced　my　errors；　and　vowed　to　lead　a　new　life。　　Conduct　me　at　once　to　a　clergyman；　that　I　may　confess　and　repent；　and　disown　my　past　life　with　horror；　then　swear　me　in　a　special　constable；　and　let　me　have　the　honor　of　acting　under　your　orders；　and　of　co…operating　with　you；　sir〃　（to　Little）；　〃in　your　Christian　and　charitable　acts。　　Let　me　go　about　with　you；　gentlemen；　and　relieve　the　sufferings　of　others；　as　you　have　relieved　mine。〃

〃There；〃　said　Ransome；　proudly；　〃there's　a　man　for　you。　　He　knows　every　move　of　the　gamecan　patter　like　an　archbishop。〃　　So　saying；　he　handcuffed　the　Shifty　with　such　enthusiasm　that　the　convert　swore　a　horrible　oath　at　him。

Ransome　apologized；　and　beckoning　a　constable；　handed　him　the　Shifty。

〃Take　him　to　the　Town　Hall；　and　give　him　every　comfort。　　He　is　Number　One。〃

This　man's　escape　was　not　so　strange　as　it　appeared。　　The　flood　never　bombarded　his　househe　was　only　on　the　hem　of　it。　　It　rose　and　filled　his　house；　whereupon　he　bored　three　holes　in　his　great　chest；　and　got　in。　　He　washed　about　the　room　till　the　abating　flood　contracted；　and　then　it　sucked　him　a