put yourself in his place-第43部分

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But　he　found　an　ill…looking　fellow　standing　by　the　man's　side；　and　close　at　his　ear。　　This　was　no　other　than　Dan　Tucker；　who　by　a　neat　coincidence　was　tempting　him　to　DO　Little。

Yesterday's　conversation　had　unsettled　Simmons；　and　he　did　not　come　to　work　till　twelve　o'clock。　　He　then　fixed　a　small　pulley…wheel　to　his　grindstone；　to　make　up　for　lost　time。

He　was　still　resisting　the　tempter；　but　more　faintly　than　yesterday；　when　Little　came　in；　and　spoke　to　him。　　Both　he　and　Dan　were　amazed　at　his　appearance　on　the　scene　at　that　particular　moment。　　They　glared　stupidly　but　said　nothing。

〃Look　here；　Simmons；〃　said　Little。　　〃I　have　been　to　your　friend　Grotait；　and　asked　him　to　pay　you　for　what　you　call　time　lost　in　hanging　and　racing　a　new　stone。　　He　won't　do　it。　　That's　your　FRIEND。　　Now　I'm　your　ENEMY；　so　the　Union　says。　　Well；　enemy　or　not；　I'll　do　what　Grotait　won't。　　I'll　pay　you　the　four　shillings　for　lost　time；　if　you　will　stop　that　stone　at　once；　and　hang　another。〃

〃Why；　what's　wrong　with　the　stone？〃

〃The　best　judge　in　Hillsborough　condemned　it；　and　now；　if　you　are　not　running　it　with　an　undersized　pulley…wheel；　to　try　it　worse！〃

Simmons　got　stupid　and　irritated　between　the　two。　　His　bit　of　manhood　revolted　against　Little's　offer；　made　whilst　he　was　half　lending　his　ear　to　Tucker's　proposal；　and；　on　the　other　hand；　that　very　offer　irritated　him　with　Tucker；　for　coming　and　tempting　him　to　DO　this　very　Little；　who　was　a　good　sort。

〃　you　both！〃　said　the　rough　fellow。　　〃I　wish　you'd　let　me　alone。　Here　I've　lost　my　morning's　work　already。〃　　Then　to　Little；　〃Mind　thyself；　old　lad。　　Happen　thou's　in　more　danger　than　I　am。〃

〃What　d'ye　mean　by　that？〃　said　Little；　very　sharply。

But　Simmons　saw　he　had　gone　too　far；　and　now　maintained　a　sullen　silence。

Henry　turned　to　Tucker。　　〃I　don't　know　who　you　are；　but　I　call　you　witness　that　I　have　done　all　I　can　for　this　idiot。　　Now；　if　he　comes　to　harm；　his　blood　be　upon　his　own　head。〃

Then　Henry　went　off　in　dudgeon；　and；　meeting　Bayne　in　the　yard；　had　a　long　discussion　with　him　on　the　subject。

The　tempter　took　advantage　of　Little's　angry　departure；　and　steadily　resumed　his　temptation。

But　he　was　interrupted　in　his　turn。

The　defect　in　this　grindstone　was　not　so　serious　but　that　the　stone　might　perhaps　have　been　ground　out　with　fair　treatment：　but；　by　fixing　a　small　pulley…wheel；　Simmons　had　caused　it　to　rotate　at　furious　speed。　　This　tried　it　too　hard；　and　it　flew　in　two　pieces；　just　as　the　grinder　was　pressing　down　a　heavy　saw　on　it　with　all　his　force。

One　piece；　weighing　about　five　hundredweight；　tore　the　horsing　chains　out　of　the　floor；　and　went　clean　through　the　window　（smashing　the　wood…work）；　out　into　the　yard；　and　was　descending　on　Little's　head；　but　he　heard　the　crash　and　saw　it　coming；　he　ran　yelling　out　of　the　way；　and　dragged　Bayne　with　him。　　The　other　fragment　went　straight　up　to　the　ceiling；　and　broke　a　heavy　joist　as　if　it　had　been　a　cane；　then　fell　down　again　plump；　and　would　have　destroyed　the　grinder　on　the　spot；　had　he　been　there；　but　the　tremendous　shock　had　sent　him　flying　clean　over　the　squatter　board；　and　he　fell　on　his　stomach　on　the　wheel…band　of　the　next　grindstone；　and　so　close　to　the　drum；　that；　before　any　one　could　recover　the　shock　and　seize　him；　the　band　drew　him　on　to　the　drum；　and　the　drum；　which　was　drawing　away　from　the　window；　pounded　him　against　the　wall　with　cruel　thuds。

One　ran　and　screamed　to　stop　the　power；　another　to　cut　the　big　wheel…bands。　　All　this　took　several　seconds；　and　here　seconds　were　torn　flesh　and　broken　bones。　　Just　as　Little　darted　into　the　room；　pale　with　his　own　narrow　escape；　and　awe…stricken　at　the　cries　of　horror　within；　the　other　grinders　succeeded　in　dragging　out；　from　between　the　wall　and　the　drum；　a　bag　of　broken　bones　and　blood　and　grease；　which　a　minute　before　was　Ned　Simmons；　and　was　talking　over　a　deed　of　violence　to　be　done。

The　others　carried　him　and　laid　him　on　a　horsing；　and　there　they　still　supported　his　head　and　his　broken　limbs；　sick　with　horror。

The　man's　face　was　white；　and　his　eyes　stared；　and　his　body　quivered。　　They　sprinkled　him　with　water。

Then　he　muttered；　〃All　right。　　I　am　not　much　hurt。Ay；　but　I　am　though。　　I'm　done　for。〃

After　the　first　terror　of　the　scene　had　passed；　the　men　were　for　taking　him　to　the　infirmary。　　But　Little　interposed；　eagerly；　〃No；　no。　　I'll　pay　the　doctor　myself　sooner。　　He　shall　be　nursed　at　home；　and　have　all　that　skill　can　do　to　save　him。　　Oh；　why；　why　would　he　not　listen　to　me？〃

A　stretcher　was　got；　and　a　mattress　put　on　it；　and　they　carried　him　through　the　streets；　while　one　ran　before　to　tell　the　unhappy　wife；　and　Little　took　her　address；　and　ran　to　Dr。　Amboyne。　　The　doctor　went　instantly　to　the　sufferer。

Tucker　assisted　to　carry　the　victim　home。　　He　then　returned　to　Grotait；　and　told　him　the　news。　　Dan　was　not　so　hardened　but　what　he　blubbered　in　telling　it；　and　Grotait's　eyes　were　moist　with　sympathy。

They　neither　of　them　spoke　out；　and　said；　〃This　upsets　our　design　on　Little。〃　　Each　waited　to　see　whether　that　job　was　to　go　on。　　Each　was　ashamed　to　mention　it　now。　　So　it　came　to　a　standstill。

As　for　Little；　he　was　so　shocked　by　this　tragedy　and　so　anxious　about　its　victim；　that　he　would　not　go　out　to　Cairnhope。　　He　came；　in　the　evening　to　Dr。　Amboyne；　to　inquire；　〃Can　he　live？〃

〃I　can't　say　yet。　　He　will　never　work　again。〃

Then；　after　a　silence；　he　fixed　his　eyes　on　young　Little；　and　said；　〃I　am　going　to　make　a　trial　of　your　disposition。　　This　is　the　man　I　suspected　of　blowing　you　up；　and　I'm　of　the　same　opinion　still。〃

〃Then　he　has　got　his　deserts；〃　were　Henry's　first　words；　after　a　pause　of　astonishment。

〃Does　that　mean　you　forgive　him；　or　you　don't　forgive　him？〃

〃I　dare　say　I　should　forgive　the　poor　wretch；　if　he　was　to　ask　me。〃

〃And　not　without？〃

〃No。　　I　might　try　and　put　it　out　of　my　head；　but　that　is　all　I　could　do。〃

〃Is　it　true　that　you　are　the　cause　of　his　not　being　taken　to　the　infirmary？〃

〃Yes；　I　said　I'd　pay　out　of　my　own　pocket　sooner；　and　I'm　not　the　sort　to　go　from　my　word。　　The　man　shall　want　for　nothing；　sir。　　But　please　don't　ask　me　to　love　my　enemies；　and　all　that　Rot。　　I　scorn　hypocrisy。　　Every　man　hates　his　enemies；　he　may　hate　'em　out　like　a　man；　or　palaver　'em；　and　beg　God　to　forgive　'em　（and　that　means　damn　'em）；　and　hate　'em　like　a　sneak；　but　he　always　hates　'em。〃

The　doctor　laughed　heartily。　　〃Oh；　how　refreshing　a　thing　it　is　to　fall　in　with　a　fellow　who　speaks　his　real　mind。　　However；　I　am　not　your　enemy；　am　I？〃

〃No。　　You　are　the　best　friend　I　ever　hadexcept　my　mother。〃

〃I　am　glad　you　think　so；　because　I　have　a　favor　to　ask　you。〃

〃Granted；　before　ever　you　speak。〃

〃I　want　to　know；　for　certain；　whether　Simmons　was　the　man　who　blew　you　up；　and　I　see　but　one　way　of　learning　it。　　You　must　visit　him　and　be　kind　to　him；　and　then　my　art　tells　me；　he　won't　leave　the　world　without　telling　you。　　Oblige　me　by　taking　him　this　bottle　of　wine；　at　once；　and　also　this　sedative；　which　you　can　administer　if　he　is　in　violent　pain；　but　not　otherwise。〃

〃Doctor；〃　said　the　young　man；　〃you　always　get　your　own　way　with　me。　And　so　you　ought。〃

Little　stood　by　Simmons's　bedside。

The　man's　eye　was　set；　his　cheek　streaked　with　red；　and　his　head　was　bandaged。　　He　labored　in　breathing。

Young　Little　looked　at　him　gravely；　and　wondered　whether　this　battered　figure　was　really　the　man　who　had　so　nearly　destroyed　him。

After　some　minutes　of　this　contemplation；　he　said　gravely　〃Simmons；　I　have　brought　you　some　wine。〃

The　man　stared　at　him；　and　seemed　confused。　　He　made　no　reply。

〃Give　me　a　spoon；〃　said　Henry。

Mrs。　Simmons　sat　by　the　bedside　rocking　herself；　she　was　stupefied　with　grief；　but　her　sister；　a　handy　girl；　had　come　to　her　in　her　trouble：　she　brought　Henry　a　spoon　directly。

He　poured　out　a　little　wine；　and　put　it　to　the　sufferer's　lips。　　He　drank　it；　and　said　it　was　rare　good　stuff。　　Henry　gave　him　a　little　more。

Simmons　then　looked　at　him　more　intelligently　and　attentively；　and　gave　a　sort　of　shiver。　　〃Who　be　you？〃

〃Henry　Little；　who　advised　you　not　to　run　that　stone。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　Simmons；　〃I　thought　it　was　you。〃　　He　seemed　puzzled。　But；　after　a　while；　he　said；　〃I　wish　I　had　hearkened　thee；　lad。　Give　me　some　more　of　yonder　stuff。　　What　is　it？〃

〃Port　wine。〃　　Then　he　turned　to　the　girl；　and　gave　her　a　sovereign；　and　sent　her　out　for　some　mutton…chops。　　〃Meat　and　wine　are　all　the　physic　you　are　to　have；　my　poor　fellow。〃

〃It　won't　be　for　long；　lad。　　And　a　good　job　too。　　For　I'm　a　bad　'un。　I'm　a　bad　'un。〃

Henry　then　turned　to　the　poor　woman；　and　tried　to　say　something　to　console　her；　but　the　words　stuck　in　his　throat。　　She　was　evidently　near　her　confinement；　and　there　lay　her　husband；　worse　than　in　his　grave。　　Little　broke　down　himself；　while　trying　to　comfort　her。

The　sufferer　heard　him；　and　said；　all　of　a　sudden；　〃Hold　a　light　here。〃

Henry　took　the　candle；　and　held　it　over　him。

〃Nay；　nay；　it　is　thy　face　I　want　to　see。〃

Henry　was　puzzled　at　the　request；　but　did　as　he　was　asked。

Simmons　gave　a　groan。　　〃Ay；〃　said　he；　〃thou'st　all　right。　　And　I　lie　here。　　That　seems　queer。〃

The　sister　now　returned；　and　Henry　wrote　her　his　address；　and　conversed　with　her；　and　told　her　the　whole　story　of　the　grindstone；　and　said　that；　as　he　had　hindered　Simmons　from　being　taken　to　the　infirmary；　he　felt　bound　to　see　he　did　not　suffer　by　that　interference。　　He　gave　her　his　address；　and　said；　if　anything　was　wanted；　she　must　come　to　him；　or　to　his　mother　if　he　should　be　out。

No　doubt　the　women　talked　of　his　kindness　by　the　sick　bed；　and　Simmons　heard　it。

Early　in　the　morning　Eliza　Watney　called　at　Little's　house；　with　her　eyes　very　red；　and　said　her　brother…in…law　wanted　to　speak　to　him。

He　went　with　her　directly；　and；　on　the　road；　asked　her　what　it　was　about。

〃I'm　ashamed　to　tell　you；〃　said　she；　and　burst　out　crying。　　〃But　I　hope　God　will　reward　you；　and　forgive　him：　he　is　a　very　ignorant　man。〃

〃Here　I　am；　Simmons。〃

〃So　I　see。〃

〃Anything　I　can　do　for　you？〃

〃No。〃

〃You　sent　for　me。〃

〃Did　I？　　Well；　I　dare　say　I　did。　　But　gi'　me　time。　　Gi'　me　time。　It's　noane　so　easy　to　look　a　man　in　the　face；　and　tell　him　what　I'm　to　tell　thee。