put yourself in his place-第23部分

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〃It　soon　takes　hold　of　boys；〃　said　he。　　〃I've　got　what　I　shall　never　get　shut　on。〃

Another；　who　looked　ill；　but　not　dying；　received　Henry's　sympathy　with　a　terrible　apathy。　　〃I'm　twenty…eight；〃　said　he；　〃and　a　fork…　grinder　is　an　old　cock　at　thirty。　　I　must　look　to　drop　off　my　perch　in　a　year　or　two；　like　the　rest。〃

Only　one；　of　all　these　victims；　seemed　to　trouble　his　head　about　whether　death　and　disease　could　be　averted。　　This　one　complained　that　some　employers　provided　fans　to　drive　the　dust　from　the　grinder；　but　Cheetham　would　not　go　to　the　expense。

The　rest　that　Henry　spoke　to　accepted　their　fate　doggedly。　　They　were　ready　to　complain；　but　not　to　move　a　finger　in　self…defense。　Their　fathers　had　been　ground　out　young；　and　why　not　they？

Indifferent　to　life；　health；　and　happiness；　they　could　nevertheless　be　inflamed　about　sixpence　a　week。　　In　other　words；　the　money…price　of　their　labor　was　every　thing　to　them；　the　blood…price　nothing。

Henry　found　this　out；　and　it　gave　him　a　glimpse　into　the　mind　of　Amboyne。

He　felt　quite　confused；　and　began　to　waver　between　hate；　contempt；　and　pity。　　Was　it　really　these　poor　doomed　wretches　who　had　robbed　him　of　his　livelihood？　　Could　men　so　miscalculate　the　size　of　things；　as　to　strike　because　an　inoffensive　individual　was　making　complete　caring…tools　all　by　himself；　and　yet　not　strike；　nor　even　stipulate　for　fans；　to　carry　disease　and　death　away　from　their　own　vitals？　　Why　it　seemed　wasting　hate；　to　bestow　it　on　these　blind　idiots。

He　went　on　to　the　wet…grinders；　and　he　found　their　trade　much　healthier　than　dry…grinding：　yet　there　were　drawbacks。　　They　suffered　from　the　grit　whenever　a　new　stone　was　hung　and　raced。　They　were　also　subject　to　a　canker　of　the　hands；　and　to　colds；　coughs；　and　inflammations；　from　perspiration　checked　by　cold　draughts　and　drenched　floors。　　These　floors　were　often　of　mud；　and　so　the　wet　stagnated　and　chilled　their　feet；　while　their　bodies　were　very　hot。　　Excellent　recipe　for　filling　graves。

Here　Bayne　retired　to　his　books；　and　Henry　proceeded　to　the　saw…　grinders；　and　entered　their　rooms　with　no　little　interest；　for　they　were　an　envied　trade。　　They　had　been　for　many　years　governed　by　Grotait；　than　whom　no　man　in　England　saw　clearer；　though　such　men　as　Amboyne　saw　further。　　Grotait；　by　a　system　of　Machiavellian　policy；　ingeniously　devised　and　carried　out；　nobly；　basely；　craftily；　forcibly；　benevolently；　ruthlessly；　whichever　way　best　suited　the　particular　occasion；　had　built　a　model　Union；　and　still；　with　unremitting　zeal　and　vigilance；　contrived　to　keep　numbers　down　and　prices　upwhich　is　the　great　Union　problem。

The　work　was　hard；　but　it　was　done　in　a　position　favorable　to　the　lungs；　and　the　men　were　healthy；　brawny　fellows；　one　or　two　were　of　remarkable　stature。

Up　to　this　moment　Silly　Billy　had　fully　justified　that　title。　　He　had　stuck　to　Henry's　side　like　a　dog；　but　with　no　more　interest　in　the　inquiry　than　a　calf；　indeed；　his　wandering　eye　and　vacant　face　had　indicated　that　his　scanty　wits　were　wool…gathering　miles　from　the　place　that　contained　his　body。

But；　as　soon　as　he　entered　the　saw…grinders'　room；　his　features　lighted　up；　and　his　eye　kindled。　　He　now　took　up　a　commanding　position　in　the　center；　and　appeared　to　be　listening　keenly。　　And　he　had　not　listened　many　seconds　before　he　cried　out；　〃There's　the　bad　music！　there！　there！〃　　And　he　pointed　to　a　grindstone　that　was　turning　and　doing　its　work　exactly　like　the　others。　　〃Oh；　the　bad　music！〃　cried　Billy。　　〃It　is　out　of　tune。　　It　says；　'Murder！　murder！　Out　of　tune！'〃

Henry　thought　it　his　duty　to　inspect　the　grindstone　so　vigorously　denounced；　and；　naturally　enough；　went　in　front　of　the　grinder。　　But　Billy　pulled　him　violently　to　the　side。　　〃You　musn't　stand　there；〃　said　he。　　〃That　is　the　way　they　fly　when　they　break；　and　kill　the　poor　father；　and　then　the　mother　lets　down　her　hair；　and　the　boy　goes　crazed。〃

By　this　time　the　men　were　attracted　by　the　Anomaly's　gestures　and　exclamations；　and　several　left　their　work；　and　came　round　him。　〃What　is　amiss；　Billy？　a　flawed　stone；　eh？　which　is　it？〃

〃Here！　here！〃　said　the　boy。　　〃This　is　the　wheel　of　death。　　Kill　it；　break　it；　smash　it；　before　it　kills　another　father。〃

Henry　spoke　to　the　grinder；　and　asked　him　if　there　was　anything　amiss　with　the　stone。

The　man　seemed　singularly　uneasy　at　being　spoken　to：　however　he　made　answer　sullenly　that　he　had　seen　better　ones；　and　worse　ones；　and　all。

Henry　was；　however；　aware；　that　the　breaking　of　a　large　grindstone；　while　revolving　by　steam　power；　was　a　serious；　and　often　a　fatal　thing；　he　therefore　made　a　private　mark　upon　the　wall　opposite　the　grindstone；　and　took　his　excited　companion　to　Bayne。　　〃This　poor　lad　says　he　has　found　a　defective　grindstone。　　It　is　impossible　for　me　to　test　it　while　it　is　running。　　Will　you　let　us　into　the　works　when　the　saw…grinders　have　left？〃

Bayne　hem'd　and　haw'd　a　little；　but　consented。　　He　would　remain　behind　half　an…hour　to　oblige　Little。

Henry　gave　the　Anomaly　his　dinner；　and　then　inspected　the　file…　cutters　in　two　great　works。　　Here　he　found　suicide　reduced　to　a　system。　　Whereof　anon。

Returning；　to　keep　his　appointment　with　Bayne　he　met　a　well…dressed　man；　who　stopped　Billy；　and　accosted　him　kindly。

Henry　strolled　on。

He　heard　their　voices　behind　him　all　the　way；　and　the　man　stopped　at　Cheetham's　gate；　which　rather　surprised　him。　　〃Has　Billy　told　you　what　we　are　at？〃　said　he。

〃Yes。　　But　the　very　look　of　him　was　enough。　　I　know　Billy　and　his　ways；　better　than　you　do。〃

〃Very　likely。　　What；　are　you　coming　in　with　us？〃

〃If　you　have　no　objection。〃

The　door　was　opened　by　Bayne　in　person。　　He　started　at　the　sight　of　the　companion　his　friend　had　picked　up；　and　asked　him；　with　marked　civility；　if　there　was　anything　amiss。　　〃Not　that　I　know　of；〃　was　the　reply。　　〃I　merely　thought　that　my　experience　might　be　of　some　little　service　to　you　in　an　inquiry　of　this　kind。〃

〃Not　a　doubt　of　it；　sir；〃　said　Bayne；　and　led　the　way　with　his　lantern；　for　it　was　past　sunset。　　On　the　road；　the　visitor　asked　if　anybody　had　marked　the　accused　stone。　　Henry　said　he　should　know　it　again。　　〃That　is　right；〃　said　the　other。

On　entering　the　room；　this　personage　took　Billy　by　the　arm；　and　held　him。　　〃Let　us　have　no　false　alarms；〃　he　said；　and　blindfolded　the　boy　with　his　handkerchief　in　a　moment。

And　now　an　examination　commenced；　which　the　time　and　the　place　rendered　curious　and　striking。

It　was　a　long；　lofty　room；　the　back　part　mainly　occupied　by　the　drums　that　were　turned　by　the　driving…power。　　The　power　was　on　the　floor　above；　and　acted　by　means　of　huge　bands　that　came　down　through　holes　in　the　ceiling　and　turned　the　drums。　　From　each　of　these　drums　came　two　leather　bands；　each　of　which　turned　a　pulley…wheel；　and　each　pulley…wheel　a　grindstone；　to　whose　axle　it　was　attached；　but　now　the　grindstones　rested　in　the　troughs；　and　the　great　wheel…bands　hung　limp；　and　the　other　bands　lay　along　loose　and　serpentine。　　In　the　dim　light　of　a　single　lamp；　it　all　looked　like　a　gigantic　polypus　with　its　limbs　extended　lazily；　and　its　fingers　holding　semi…circular　claws：　for　of　the　grindstones　less　than　half　is　visible。

Billy　was　a　timid　creature；　and　this　blindfolding　business　rather　scared　him：　he　had　almost　to　be　dragged　within　reach　of　these　gaunt　antennae。　　But　each　time　they　got　him　to　touch　a　grindstone；　his　body　changed　its　character　from　shrinking　and　doubtful；　to　erect　and　energetic；　and　he　applied　his　test。　　This　boy　carried　with　him；　night　and　day；　a　little　wooden　hammer；　like　an　auctioneer's；　and　with　this　he　now　tapped　each　stone　several　times；　searching　for　the　one　he　had　denounced：　and；　at　each　experiment；　he　begged　the　others　to　keep　away　from　him　and　leave　him　alone　with　the　subject　of　his　experiment；　which　they　did；　and　held　up　the　lamp　and　threw　the　light　on　him。

Six　heavy　grindstones　he　tapped；　and　approved；　three　he　even　praised　and　called　〃good　music。〃

〃The　seventh　he　struck　twice；　first　gently；　then　hard　and　drew　back　from　it；　screaming　〃Oh；　the　bad　music！　　Oh；　the　wheel　of　death！〃　and　tried　to　tear　the　handkerchief　from　his　eyes。

〃Be　quiet；　Billy；〃　said　the　visitor；　calmly；　and；　putting　his　arm　round　the　boy's　neck；　drew　him　to　his　side；　and　detached　the　handkerchief；　all　in　a　certain　paternal　way　that　seemed　to　betoken　a　kindly　disposition。　　But；　whilst　he　was　doing　this；　he　said　to　Henry；　〃Nowyou　marked　a　stone　in　daylight；　which　was　it？〃

〃No；　no；　I　didn't　mark　the　stone；　but　I　wrote　on　the　wall　just　opposite。　　Lend　us　the　light；　Bayne。　　By　George！　here　is　my　mark　right　opposite　this　stone。〃

〃Then　Billy's　right。　　Well　done；　Billy。〃　　He　put　his　hand　in　his　pocket　and　gave　him　a　new　shilling。　　He　then　inquired　of　Bayne；　with　the　air　of　a　pupil　seeking　advice　from　a　master；　whether　this　discovery　ought　not　to　be　acted　upon。

〃What　would　you　suggest；　sir？〃　asked　Bayne；　with　equal　deference。

〃Oh；　if　I　was　sure　I　should　not　be　considered　presumptuous　in　offering　my　advice；　I　would　say；　Turn　the　stone　into　the　yard；　and　bang　a　new　one。　　You　have　got　three　excellent　ones　outside；　from　Buckhurst　quarry；　by　the　look　of　them。〃

〃It　shall　be　done；　sir。〃

This　effective　co…operation；　on　the　part　of　a　stranger；　was　naturally　gratifying　to　Henry；　and　he　said　to　him：　〃I　should　be　glad　to　ask　you　a　question。　　You　seem　to　know　a　good　deal　about　this　trade〃

A　low　chuckle　burst　out　of　Bayne；　but　he　instantly　suppressed　it；　for　fear　of　giving　offense〃

〃Are　serious　accidents　really　common　with　these　grindstones？〃

〃No；　no；〃　said　Bayne；　〃not　common。　　Heaven　forbid。〃

〃They　are　not　commonin　the　newspapers；〃　replied　the　other。　　〃But〃　（to　Bayne）；　〃will　you　permit　me　to　light　these　two　gaslights　for　a　moment？〃

〃Well；　sir；　it　is　contrary　to　our　rules；but〃

〃All　the　more　obliging　of　you；〃　said　the　visitor；　coolly；　and　lighted　them；　with　his　own　match；　in　a　twinkling。　　He　then　drew　out　of　his　waistcoat　pocket　a　double　eyeglass；　gold…mounted；　and　examining　the　ceiling　with　it；　soon　directed　Henry's　attention　to　two　deep　dents　and　a　brown　splash。　　〃Every　one　of　those　marks；〃　said　he；　〃is　a　history；　and　was　written　by　a　flying　grindstone。　　Where　you　see　the　dents　the　stone　struck　the　ceiling；〃　he　added　very　gravely；　〃and；　when