Chapter 53

IT was a dark night, though the full moon rose as I left the enclosed lands, and passed out upon the marshes. Beyond their dark line there was a ribbon of clear sky, hardly broad enough to hold the red large moon. In a few minutes she had ascended out of that clear field, in among the piled mountains of cloud.
There was a melancholy wind, and the marshes were very dismal. A stranger would have found them insupportable, and even to me they were so oppressive that I hesitated, half inclined to go back. But, I knew them well, and could have found my way on a far darker night, and had no excuse for returning, being there. So, having come there against my inclination, I went on against it.

The direction that I took, was not that in which my old home lay, nor that in which we had pursued the convicts. My back was turned towards the distant Hulks as I walked on, and, though I could see the old lights away on the spits of sand, I saw them over my shoulder. I knew the limekiln as well as I knew the old Battery, but they were miles apart; so that if a light had been burning at each point that night, there would have been a long strip of the blank horizon between the two bright specks.

At first, I had to shut some gates after me, and now and then to stand still while the cattle that were lying in the banked-up pathway, arose and blundered down among the grass and reeds. But after a little while, I seemed to have the whole flats to myself.

It was another half-hour before I drew near to the kiln. The lime was burning with a sluggish stifling smell, but the fires were made up and left, and no workmen were visible. Hard by, was a small stone-quarry. It lay directly in my way, and had been worked that day, as I saw by the tools and barrows that were lying about.

Coming up again to the marsh level out of this excavation - for the rude path lay through it - I saw a light in the old sluice-house. I quickened my pace, and knocked at the door with my hand. Waiting for some reply, I looked about me, noticing how the sluice was abandoned and broken, and how the house - of wood with a tiled roof - would not be proof against the weather much longer, if it were so even now, and how the mud and ooze were coated with lime, and how the choking vapour of the kiln crept in a ghostly way towards me. Still there was no answer, and I knocked again. No answer still, and I tried the latch.

It rose under my hand, and the door yielded. Looking in, I saw a lighted candle on a table, a bench, and a mattress on a truckle bedstead. As there was a loft above, I called, `Is there any one here?' but no voice answered. Then, I looked at my watch, and, finding that it was past nine, called again, `Is there any one here?' There being still no answer, I went out at the door, irresolute what to do.

It was beginning to rain fast. Seeing nothing save what I had seen already, I turned back into the house, and stood just within the shelter of the doorway, looking out into the night. While I was considering that some one must have been there lately and must soon be coming back, or the candle would not be burning, it came into my head to look if the wick were long. I turned round to do so, and had taken up the candle in my hand, when it was extinguished by some violent shock, and the next thing I comprehended, was, that I had been caught in a strong running noose, thrown over my head from behind.

`Now,' said a suppressed voice with an oath, `I've got you!'

`What is this?' I cried, struggling. `Who is it? Help, help, help!'

Not only were my arms pulled close to my sides, but the pressure on my bad arm caused me exquisite pain. Sometimes, a strong man's hand, sometimes a strong man's breast, was set against my mouth to deaden my cries, and with a hot breath always close to me, I struggled ineffectually in the dark, while I was fastened tight to the wall. `And now,' said the suppressed voice with another oath, `call out again, and I'll make short work of you!'

Faint and sick with the pain of my injured arm, bewildered by the surprise, and yet conscious how easily this threat could be put in execution, I desisted, and tried to ease my arm were it ever so little. But, it was bound too tight for that. I felt as if, having been burnt before, it were now being boiled.

The sudden exclusion of the night and the substitution of black darkness in its place, warned me that the man had closed a shutter. After groping about for a little, he found the flint and steel he wanted, and began to strike a light. I strained my sight upon the sparks that fell among the tinder, and upon which he breathed and breathed, match in hand, but I could only see his lips, and the blue point of the match; even those, but fitfully. The tinder was damp - no wonder there - and one after another the sparks died out.

The man was in no hurry, and struck again with the flint and steel. As the sparks fell thick and bright about him, I could see his hands, and touches of his face, and could make out that he was seated and bending over the table; but nothing more. Presently I saw his blue lips again, breathing on the tinder, and then a flare of light flashed up, and showed me Orlick.

Whom I had looked for, I don't know. I had not looked for him. Seeing him, I felt that I was in a dangerous strait indeed, and I kept my eyes upon him.

He lighted the candle from the flaring match with great deliberation, and dropped the match, and trod it out. Then, he put the candle away from him on the table, so that he could see me, and sat with his arms folded on the table and looked at me. I made out that I was fastened to a stout perpendicular ladder a few inches from the wall - a fixture there - the means of ascent to the loft above.

`Now,' said he, when we had surveyed one another for some time, `I've got you.'

`Unbind me. Let me go!'

`Ah!' he returned, `I'll let you go. I'll let you go to the moon, I'll let you go to the stars. All in good time.'

`Why have you lured me here?'

`Don't you know?' said he, with a deadly look

`Why have you set upon me in the dark?'

`Because I mean to do it all myself. One keeps a secret better than two. Oh you enemy, you enemy!'

His enjoyment of the spectacle I furnished, as he sat with his arms folded on the table, shaking his head at me and hugging himself, had a malignity in it that made me tremble. As I watched him in silence, he put his hand into the corner at his side, and took up a gun with a brass-bound stock.

`Do you know this?' said he, making as if he would take aim at me. `Do you know where you saw it afore? Speak, wolf!'

`Yes,' I answered.

`You cost me that place. You did. Speak!'

`What else could I do?'

`You did that, and that would be enough, without more. How dared you to come betwixt me and a young woman I liked?'

`When did I?'

`When didn't you? It was you as always give Old Orlick a bad name to her.'

`You gave it to yourself; you gained it for yourself. I could have done you no harm, if you had done yourself none.'

`You're a liar. And you'll take any pains, and spend any money, to drive me out of this country, will you?' said he, repeating my words to Biddy in the last interview I had with her. `Now, I'll tell you a piece of information. It was never so well worth your while to get me out of this country as it is to-night. Ah! If it was all your money twenty times told, to the last brass farden!' As he shook his heavy hand at me, with his mouth snarling like a tiger's, I felt that it was true.

`What are you going to do to me?'

`I'm going,' said he, bringing his first down upon the table with a heavy blow, and rising as the blow fell, to give it greater force, `I'm a going to have your life!'

He leaned forward staring at me, slowly unclenched his hand and drew it across his mouth as if his mouth watered for me, and sat down again.

`You was always in Old Orlick's way since ever you was a child. You goes out of his way, this present night. He'll have no more on you. You're dead.'

I felt that I had come to the brink of my grave. For a moment I looked wildly round my trap for any chance of escape; but there was none.

`More than that,' said he, folding his arms on the table again, `I won't have a rag of you, I won't have a bone of you, left on earth. I'll put your body in the kiln - I'd carry two such to it, on my shoulders - and, let people suppose what they may of you, they shall never know nothing.'

My mind, with inconceivable rapidity, followed out all the consequences of such a death. Estella's father would believe I had deserted him, would be taken, would die accusing me; even Herbert would doubt me, when he compared the letter I had left for him, with the fact that I had called at Miss Havisham's gate for only a moment; Joe and Biddy would never know how sorry I had been that night; none would ever know what I had suffered, how true I had meant to be, what an agony I had passed through. The death close before me was terrible, but far more terrible than death was the dread of being misremembered after death. And so quick were my thoughts, that I saw myself despised by unborn generations - Estella's children, and their children - while the wretch's words were yet on his lips.

`Now, wolf,' said he, `afore I kill you like any other beast - which is wot I mean to do and wot I have tied you up for - I'll have a good look at you and a good goad at you. Oh, you enemy!'

It had passed through my thoughts to cry out for help again; though few could know better than I, the solitary nature of the spot, and the hopelessness of aid. But as he sat gloating over me, I was supported by a scornful detestation of him that sealed my lips. Above all things, I resolved that I would not entreat him, and that I would die making some last poor resistance to him. Softened as my thoughts of all the rest of men were in that dire extremity; humbly beseeching pardon, as I did, of Heaven; melted at heart, as I was, by the thought that I had taken no farewell, and never never now could take farewell, of those who were dear to me, or could explain myself to them, or ask for their compassion on my miserable errors; still, if I could have killed him, even in dying, I would have done it.

He had been drinking, and his eyes were red and bloodshot. Around his neck was slung a tin bottle, as I had often seen his meat and drink slung about him in other days. He brought the bottle to his lips, and took a fiery drink from it; and I smelt the strong spirits that I saw flash into his face.

`Wolf!' said he, folding his arms again, `Old Orlick's a going to tell you somethink. It was you as did for your shrew sister.'

Again my mind, with its former inconceivable rapidity, had exhausted the whole subject of the attack upon my sister, her illness, and her death, before his slow and hesitating speech had formed these words.

`It was you, villain,' said I.

`I tell you it was your doing - I tell you it was done through you,' he retorted, catching up the gun, and making a blow with the stock at the vacant air between us. `I come upon her from behind, as I come upon you to-night. I giv' it her! I left her for dead, and if there had been a limekiln as nigh her as there is now nigh you, she shouldn't have come to life again. But it warn't Old Orlick as did it; it was you. You was favoured, and he was bullied and beat. Old Orlick bullied and beat, eh? Now you pays for it. You done it; now you pays for it.'

He drank again, and became more ferocious. I saw by his tilting of the bottle that there was no great quantity left in it. I distinctly understood that he was working himself up with its contents, to make an end of me. I knew that every drop it held, was a drop of my life. I knew that when I was changed into a part of the vapour that had crept towards me but a little while before, like my own warning ghost, he would do as he had done in my sister's case - make all haste to the town, and be seen slouching about there, drinking at the ale-houses. My rapid mind pursued him to the town, made a picture of the street with him in it, and contrasted its lights and life with the lonely marsh and the white vapour creeping over it, into which I should have dissolved.

It was not only that I could have summed up years and years and years while he said a dozen words, but that what he did say presented pictures to me, and not mere words. In the excited and exalted state of my brain, I could not think of a place without seeing it, or of persons without seeing them. It is impossible to over-state the vividness of these images, and yet I was so intent, all the time, upon him himself - who would not be intent on the tiger crouching to spring! - that I knew of the slightest action of his fingers.

When he had drunk this second time, he rose from the bench on which he sat, and pushed the table aside. Then, he took up the candle, and shading it with his murderous hand so as to throw its light on me, stood before me, looking at me and enjoying the sight.

`Wolf, I'll tell you something more. It was Old Orlick as you tumbled over on your stairs that night.'

I saw the staircase with its extinguished lamps. I saw the shadows of the heavy stair-rails, thrown by the watchman's lantern on the wall. I saw the rooms that I was never to see again; here, a door half open; there, a door closed; all the articles of furniture around.

`And why was Old Orlick there? I'll tell you something more, wolf. You and her have pretty well hunted me out of this country, so far as getting a easy living in it goes, and I've took up with new companions, and new masters. Some of 'em writes my letters when I wants 'em wrote - do you mind? - writes my letters, wolf! They writes fifty hands; they're not like sneaking you, as writes but one. I've had a firm mind and a firm will to have your life, since you was down here at your sister's burying. I han't seen a way to get you safe, and I've looked arter you to know your ins and outs. For, says Old Orlick to himself, ""Somehow or another I'll have him!"" What! When I looks for you, I finds your uncle Provis, eh?'

Mill Pond Bank, and Chinks's Basin, and the Old Green Copper Rope-Walk, all so clear and plain! Provis in his rooms, the signal whose use was over, pretty Clara, the good motherly woman, old Bill Barley on his back, all drifting by, as on the swift stream of my life fast running out to sea!

`You with a uncle too! Why, I know'd you at Gargery's when you was so small a wolf that I could have took your weazen betwixt this finger and thumb and chucked you away dead (as I'd thoughts o' doing, odd times, when I see you loitering amongst the pollards on a Sunday), and you hadn't found no uncles then. No, not you! But when Old Orlick come for to hear that your uncle Provis had mostlike wore the leg-iron wot Old Orlick had picked up, filed asunder, on these meshes ever so many year ago, and wot he kep by him till he dropped your sister with it, like a bullock, as he means to drop you - hey? - when he come for to hear that - hey?--'

In his savage taunting, he flared the candle so close at me, that I turned my face aside, to save it from the flame.

`Ah!' he cried, laughing, after doing it again, `the burnt child dreads the fire! Old Orlick knowed you was burnt, Old Orlick knowed you was smuggling your uncle Provis away, Old Orlick's a match for you and know'd you'd come to-night! Now I'll tell you something more, wolf, and this ends it. There's them that's as good a match for your uncle Provis as Old Orlick has been for you. Let him 'ware them, when he's lost his nevvy! Let him 'ware them, when no man can't find a rag of his dear relation's clothes, nor yet a bone of his body. There's them that can't and that won't have Magwitch - yes, I know the name! - alive in the same land with them, and that's had such sure information of him when he was alive in another land, as that he couldn't and shouldn't leave it unbeknown and put them in danger. P'raps it's them that writes fifty hands, and that's not like sneaking you as writes but one. 'Ware Compeyson, Magwitch, and the gallows!'

He flared the candle at me again, smoking my face and hair, and for an instant blinding me, and turned his powerful back as he replaced the light on the table. I had thought a prayer, and had been with Joe and Biddy and Herbert, before he turned towards me again.

There was a clear space of a few feet between the table and the opposite wall. Within this space, he now slouched backwards and forwards. His great strength seemed to sit stronger upon him than ever before, as he did this with his hands hanging loose and heavy at his sides, and with his eyes scowling at me. I had no grain of hope left. Wild as my inward hurry was, and wonderful the force of the pictures that rushed by me instead of thoughts, I could yet clearly understand that unless he had resolved that I was within a few moments of surely perishing out of all human knowledge, he would never have told me what he had told.

Of a sudden, he stopped, took the cork out of his bottle, and tossed it away. Light as it was, I heard it fall like a plummet. He swallowed slowly, tilting up the bottle by little and little, and now he looked at me no more. The last few drops of liquor he poured into the palm of his hand, and licked up. Then, with a sudden hurry of violence and swearing horribly, he threw the bottle from him, and stooped; and I saw in his hand a stone-hammer with a long heavy handle.

The resolution I had made did not desert me, for, without uttering one vain word of appeal to him, I shouted out with all my might, and struggled with all my might. It was only my head and my legs that I could move, but to that extent I struggled with all the force, until then unknown, that was within me. In the same instant I heard responsive shouts, saw figures and a gleam of light dash in at the door, heard voices and tumult, and saw Orlick emerge from a struggle of men, as if it were tumbling water, clear the table at a leap, and fly out into the night.

After a blank, I found that I was lying unbound, on the floor, in the same place, with my head on some one's knee. My eyes were fixed on the ladder against the wall, when I came to myself - had opened on it before my mind saw it - and thus as I recovered consciousness, I knew that I was in the place where I had lost it.

Too indifferent at first, even to look round and ascertain who supported me, I was lying looking at the ladder, when there came between me and it, a face. The face of Trabb's boy!

`I think he's all right!' said Trabb's boy, in a sober voice; `but ain't he just pale though!'

At these words, the face of him who supported me looked over into mine, and I saw my supporter to be--

`Herbert! Great Heaven!'

`Softly,' said Herbert. `Gently, Handel. Don't be too eager.'

`And our old comrade, Startop!' I cried, as he too bent over me.

`Remember what he is going to assist us in,' said Herbert, `and be calm.'

The allusion made me spring up; though I dropped again from the pain in my arm. `The time has not gone by, Herbert, has it? What night is to-night? How long have I been here?' For, I had a strange and strong misgiving that I had been lying there a long time - a day and a night - two days and nights - more.

`The time has not gone by. It is still Monday night.'

`Thank God!'

`And you have all to-morrow, Tuesday, to rest in,' said Herbert. `But you can't help groaning, my dear Handel. What hurt have you got? Can you stand?'

`Yes, yes,' said I, `I can walk. I have no hurt but in this throbbing arm.'

They laid it bare, and did what they could. It was violently swollen and inflamed, and I could scarcely endure to have it touched. But, they tore up their handkerchiefs to make fresh bandages, and carefully replaced it in the sling, until we could get to the town and obtain some cooling lotion to put upon it. In a little while we had shut the door of the dark and empty sluice-house, and were passing through the quarry on our way back. Trabb's boy - Trabb's overgrown young man now - went before us with a lantern, which was the light I had seen come in at the door. But, the moon was a good two hours higher than when I had last seen the sky, and the night though rainy was much lighter. The white vapour of the kiln was passing from us as we went by, and, as I had thought a prayer before, I thought a thanksgiving now.

Entreating Herbert to tell me how he had come to my rescue - which at first he had flatly refused to do, but had insisted on my remaining quiet - I learnt that I had in my hurry dropped the letter, open, in our chambers, where he, coming home to bring with him Startop whom he had met in the street on his way to me, found it, very soon after I was gone. Its tone made him uneasy, and the more so because of the inconsistency between it and the hasty letter I had left for him. His uneasiness increasing instead of subsiding after a quarter of an hour's consideration, he set off for the coach-office, with Startop, who volunteered his company, to make inquiry when the next coach went down. Finding that the afternoon coach was gone, and finding that his uneasiness grew into positive alarm, as obstacles came in his way, he resolved to follow in a post-chaise. So, he and Startop arrived at the Blue Boar, fully expecting there to find me, or tidings of me; but, finding neither, went on to Miss Havisham's, where they lost me. Hereupon they went back to the hotel (doubtless at about the time when I was hearing the popular local version of my own story), to refresh themselves and to get some one to guide them out upon the marshes. Among the loungers under the Boar's archway, happened to be Trabb's boy - true to his ancient habit of happening to be everywhere where he had no business - and Trabb's boy had seen me passing from Miss Havisham's in the direction of my dining-place. Thus, Trabb's boy became their guide, and with him they went out to the sluice-house: though by the town way to the marshes, which I had avoided. Now, as they went along, Herbert reflected, that I might, after all, have been brought there on some genuine and serviceable errand tending to Provis's safety, and, bethinking himself that in that case interruption must be mischievous, left his guide and Startop on the edge of the quarry, and went on by himself, and stole round the house two or three times, endeavouring to ascertain whether all was right within. As he could hear nothing but indistinct sounds of one deep rough voice (this was while my mind was so busy), he even at last began to doubt whether I was there, when suddenly I cried out loudly, and he answered the cries, and rushed in, closely followed by the other two.

When I told Herbert what had passed within the house, he was for our immediately going before a magistrate in the town, late at night as it was, and getting out a warrant. But, I had already considered that such a course, by detaining us there, or binding us to come back, might be fatal to Provis. There was no gainsaying this difficulty, and we relinquished all thoughts of pursuing Orlick at that time. For the present, under the circumstances, we deemed it prudent to make rather light of the matter to Trabb's boy; who I am convinced would have been much affected by disappointment, if he had known that his intervention saved me from the limekiln. Not that Trabb's boy was of a malignant nature, but that he had too much spare vivacity, and that it was in his constitution to want variety and excitement at anybody's expense. When we parted, I presented him with two guineas (which seemed to meet his views), and told him that I was sorry ever to have had an ill opinion of him (which made no impression on him at all).

Wednesday being so close upon us, we determined to go back to London that night, three in the post-chaise; the rather, as we should then be clear away, before the night's adventure began to be talked of. Herbert got a large bottle of stuff for my arm, and by dint of having this stuff dropped over it all the night through, I was just able to bear its pain on the journey. It was daylight when we reached the Temple, and I went at once to bed, and lay in bed all day.

My terror, as I lay there, of falling ill and being unfitted for tomorrow, was so besetting, that I wonder it did not disable me of itself. It would have done so, pretty surely, in conjunction with the mental wear and tear I had suffered, but for the unnatural strain upon me that to-morrow was. So anxiously looked forward to, charged with such consequences, its results so impenetrably hidden though so near.

No precaution could have been more obvious than our refraining from communication with him that day; yet this again increased my restlessness. I started at every footstep and every sound, believing that he was discovered and taken, and this was the messenger to tell me so. I persuaded myself that I knew he was taken; that there was something more upon my mind than a fear or a presentiment; that the fact had occurred, and I had a mysterious knowledge of it. As the day wore on and no ill news came, as the day closed in and darkness fell, my overshadowing dread of being disabled by illness before to-morrow morning, altogether mastered me. My burning arm throbbed, and my burning head throbbed, and I fancied I was beginning to wander. I counted up to high numbers, to make sure of myself, and repeated passages that I knew in prose and verse. It happened sometimes that in the mere escape of a fatigued mind, I dozed for some moments or forgot; then I would say to myself with a start, `Now it has come, and I am turning delirious!'

They kept me very quiet all day, and kept my arm constantly dressed, and gave me cooling drinks. Whenever I fell asleep, I awoke with the notion I had had in the sluice-house, that a long time had elapsed and the opportunity to save him was gone. About midnight I got out of bed and went to Herbert, with the conviction that I had been asleep for four-and-twenty hours, and that Wednesday was past. It was the last self-exhausting effort of my fretfulness, for, after that, I slept soundly.

Wednesday morning was dawning when I looked out of window. The winking lights upon the bridges were already pale, the coming sun was like a marsh of fire on the horizon. The river, still dark and mysterious, was spanned by bridges that were turning coldly grey, with here and there at top a warm touch from the burning in the sky. As I looked along the clustered roofs, with Church towers and spires shooting into the unusually clear air, the sun rose up, and a veil seemed to be drawn from the river, and millions of sparkles burst out upon its waters. From me too, a veil seemed to be drawn, and I felt strong and well.

Herbert lay asleep in his bed, and our old fellow-student lay asleep on the sofa. I could not dress myself without help, but I made up the fire, which was still burning, and got some coffee ready for them. In good time they too started up strong and well, and we admitted the sharp morning air at the windows, and looked at the tide that was still flowing towards us.

`When it turns at nine o'clock,' said Herbert, cheerfully, `look out for us, and stand ready, you over there at Mill Pond Bank!'

 

这是一个黑黑的夜，我离开围堤一直走上沼泽地时，一轮圆圆的月亮正冉冉升起。远远的一道黑色水平线之外是一条清澈天空的长带，狭得连这轮红色圆月也容纳不下。月儿正从那清澈的长带中向上攀登，没有几分钟便隐没于高山云海之中。

这里的风在幽怨地倾诉，这里的沼泽无限凄凉。没有来过这里的人肯定受不了，即使是我，在这里土生土长的人也深感压力沉重，竟然也犹豫起来，甚至想掉头回去。不过，我对这一带十分了解，即使在漆黑之夜也能分辨出要走的路；既来之，就无须再寻找理由返回。于是我什么也不顾地向前走去，不顾一切地走下去。

我行走的方向并不是朝着我昔日所住的老屋，也不是朝着当年追捕逃犯的那个方向。我行走时背正对着远远的监狱船，那远处沙滩三角地带的古老灯塔仍然可以辨别得出，只须一掉头便可以看到。我既熟悉古炮台的所在，也熟悉石灰窑，不过这两处都相隔几英里之远。如果在夜里这两处都燃起灯光，于是在这两个光点之间便形成了一条又长又窄的黑色水平线。

起初，我还不得不在走过有栅门的地方把栅门再关上，在遇到躺在防护堤上的牛儿时，还得静静地站在那里等待它从地上爬起来，冲进草丛和芦苇中，然后再走，可过了一会儿，留在我面前的似乎就只是一片沼泽地了。

我又花了半个小时才走到石灰窑的附近。石灰还在燃烧着，发出一股滞重而令人窒息的气味。火还在那里烧着，石灰工人却一个也看不见。附近有一个小采石坑，就在我前面，看来今天这里有人干过活，因为我看到坑的四周堆放着各种工具和手推车。

这条凹凸不平的路要通过采石坑，我爬过了坑才又回到沼泽地面上，看到那间古老破旧的水闸小屋里正点着灯，我便加快步伐走了过去，抬手敲门。我在等待开门时，打量了一下四周，注意到这座水间已经废弃，而且破损不堪。这所房屋从其木结构和砖瓦顶的情况来看，也是遮不住几天的风雨了，甚至现在就已经不能遮风雨了。外面的泥泞地上积了一层白灰，窑里飘出一股令人窒息的白烟，就像幽灵一般地向我袭来。我没有听到有人应答，便又一次敲门。仍然没有人应答，我便伸手去拨门闩。

我用手一拨门闩，门就开了。我向里面望去，看到在一张桌上燃着一支蜡烛，桌旁有一张长凳，还有一张帆布床，床上铺着席子。抬头看，上面还有一间小阁楼，于是我喊道：“里面有人吗？”可是没有听到有人回答。然后，我看了一下表，现在的时间已过了九点。我又喊道：“里面有人吗？”仍然没有听到有人回答，我便走出门来，真不知道怎么办是好。

这时外面开始下起雨来。我看看外面还是和刚才一样，于是又转身进屋，站在门道中躲雨，眼睛注视着门外的黑夜。我想，一会儿之前一定有人来过这里，而且很快此人就要回来，否则，这里的蜡烛怎么会是点着的呢。于是我想，我得去看一看烛芯是否很长了。我转过身子去拿蜡烛，刚把蜡烛取到手上，突然有什么东西猛地把我一撞，蜡烛光也就熄了，等我意识到什么时，事情已经发生，从我的背后套来一个活结，结结实实地把我套住了。

有一个人压低了自己的嗓音骂道：“好家伙，这回可捉住你了！”

“这是干什么？”我高叫着，挣扎着，“你是谁？救命啊！救命啊！救命啊！”

我的两只手臂不仅被紧紧地按在腰部，而且那条重伤的手臂被紧接着，使我痛苦到了极点。有时是一只强有力的手，有时是一个强有力的胸部，总会顶住我的嘴巴，想堵住我的叫喊，甚至还有一股呼出的热气总是冲着我。在黑暗中我无效地挣扎着，最后被结结实实地绑在了墙上。那个压低了嗓音的人又骂了一句：“好了，你再叫，我就结果你的性命！”

烧伤的那只胳膊疼得使我头晕恶心，这场惊吓又使我迷惑不解，同时心中也意识到这恐吓不是开玩笑，很可能是真的，我便不再叫喊，并尽量使绑着的手臂松动一下，哪怕松动一点儿也好。但是手臂被绑得太紧，毫无动弹的可能。我这只重伤的胳膊本来已经被烧伤，现在却又像被放在滚水中煮一样。

屋里的夜色突然消失了，出现一片全然的黑暗。经验告诉我，这个人已经把窗户关了起来。摸索了一会儿之后，他找到了火石火刀，便开始敲打出火星。打出来的火星落在火绒上面，他拿着一根火柴对着火星直吹气。我尽力地注意着这一切，却只能看到他的双唇和那根火柴的蓝色火柴头，随着火光一隐一现。火绒受潮了，这并不奇怪，火花一个接一个地熄灭了。

这个人一点也不慌忙，一次又一次地打着他的火石人刀。火星散落在他的四周，渐渐多了起来，亮了起来，因此我可以看到他的手，看到他面部的特征，并且辨别出他正坐着，正俯身在桌子上，其他便看不见了。不久，我又看到他的青紫嘴唇，继续吹着火绒，接着倏地亮起了一道火光，我才看出他是奥立克。

我来寻找的人究竟是谁，我弄不清楚，但我决不是来找他的。我一看到是他，就意识到自己确实处境危险。我紧紧地盯住他。

他十分小心谨慎地用点着了的火柴点亮了蜡烛，然后把火柴丢在地上用脚踩熄，然后他把蜡烛放在桌子上，这样他便能看清我了。他坐在那里，两只手臂交叉地搁在桌子上，仔细地瞧着我。我这时也弄清我是被绑在一条直梯上的，离墙只有几英寸远。这梯子是固定地竖在那里的，直通上面的阁楼。

“你看，”我们相互对望了一会儿，他才说道，“这回我可捉住你了。”

“快替我松绑。放我走！”

“噢！”他答道，“我就会放你走。我会把你放到月宫里去，我会把你放到九霄云外去。我会选个好时间让你走的。”

“你为什么把我骗到这里来？”

“难道你不知道？”他狠狠地望着我说道。

“你为什么在黑暗中暗算我？”

“因为我想我一个人独自干。要严守秘密嘛，与其两个人干，不如一个人干。哦，你这个死对头，你是我的死对头！”

他坐在那里，两条胳膊交叉着放在桌上，得意洋洋地欣赏着我，对着我摇头晃脑，沾沾自喜，所表现出来的那副狠毒样子使我全身颤抖。我默默无言地注视看他，见他伸手到身边的角落里取出一支枪，枪托上包了铜皮。

“你认识这个玩艺儿吧？”他摆弄着枪，像在瞄准我的样子，说道，“你想想你过去在什么地方见过这玩艺儿？你说，你这条狼！”

“记得。”我答道。

“你把我那个地方的差使给搞掉了。你说，是你吧？”

“我还能怎么做呢？”

“你干了这件事，就这一件，用不着别的，你就该死。你怎么还敢插足进我和我喜欢的姑娘的好事？”

“我什么时候插足了？”

“你还要问我什么时候？你总是在她面前讲我的坏话，就是你总是败坏我老奥立克的名誉。”

“是你说你自己的坏话，你也是自食其果，如果你不自己造成你的坏名声，我怎么能损害了你的名声呢？”

“你在说谎。你不管要费多大的力气，你不管要付多少的钱，就想把我从这个乡下赶走，那么你快赶我走啊？”他重复了我和毕蒂最后一次见面时我说的话。“现在我就再提供你一点信息吧。我看你就在今天晚上把我从这个乡下赶走吧，否则你就来不及了。我看你就是花上你所有家当二十倍的钱也是值得的！”他对着我摇着那只厉害的手，嘴里咆哮着像一头猛虎。我感到他说的这话倒是真的。

“你准备对我怎样？”

“我准备嘛，”他说着捏起拳头在桌子上狠狠地击了一下，随着拳头的下落他的身子忽地站了起来，这一下可助长了他的威势，“我准备结果你的性命！”

他探过身子狠狠地盯住我，慢慢地松开了拳头，伸开手掌抹着嘴巴，仿佛抹着因为想吃我而流下的口水。接着他又坐了下来。

“你从小开始就一直对我老奥立克碍手碍脚，今天晚上你就不会再碍我的事了，我也不会再找你的麻烦了，因为我要把你送到鬼门关去。”

我这才感到我已经踏进坟墓的边缘。我慌忙地向四周张望，看是否能找一个机会逃出这张罗网；然而什么机会也找不到。

“杀死你还出不了我这口气，”他又把双臂交叉地搁在桌上，说道，“一不做，二不休，你身上的每一块布片，你身上的每一块骨头都不会留在这个世上。我要把你整个人都丢进石灰窑，像你这种人，我一次可以背两个摔进去，烧得什么也不剩。让人们爱怎么猜就怎么猜吧，反正谁也不会知道真相。”

这时我的思路却十分快速敏捷，大脑中出现了一幕幕我死后的结果：埃斯苔娜的父亲一定以为我抛弃了他，他会被捕，即使死他也不会瞑目，在阴间也会谴责我；连赫伯特也会怀疑我，因为我留给他的条子说是探望郝维仙小姐，其实我只在她家门口逗留了片刻，他一打听就会发现问题；乔和毕蒂永远也不会知道这天夜里我心中涌出的对他们的内疚，任何人都不会知道我内心承受的痛苦，不知道我的心是如何怀有诚意，以及我所经受的痛苦历程。死期临近固然可怕，然而担心死后被别人误解就更为可怕。我的思维如此迅速，万千想象一闪而过，甚至看到了未来的一代又一代都在轻视我，如埃斯苔娜的孩子们，这些孩子们的孩子们。这时，那个恶棍又开始说话了。

“你这头狼，”他说道，“我杀掉你不过是杀一头野兽，我把你捆起来，就是为了杀掉你。不过在杀你之前，我得好好瞧你一瞧，还得好好气你一下，你这个死对头！”

我的思想千头万绪，甚至出现了想呼救的念头；然而我现在比谁都清楚，在如此荒凉的所在，再喊破了喉咙也是无济于事的。他坐在那里用嘲笑的眼神打量着我，而我只有对他表示轻蔑，表示仇恨，紧闭双唇，一语不发。终究我下定决心，绝对不哀求他，只要一息尚存，也要和他抗争到底。我想在如此悲惨的情况下，想到其他所有的人我都会心软；我宁愿低声下气地对上天祈求；我想到对那些曾经善待我的人我没有说声再见，我也无法再说再见，无法向他们表明我的心意，请求他们谅解我可怜的错误，并为此感到深深的歉意。而对于这个家伙，即使我是走在黄泉路上，只要我能够杀他，我下手是不会留情的。

他正在喝着酒，双眼红红的，露出血丝。他脖子上吊了一只锡制的酒瓶，这是他的老习惯，他总是把吃的肉啊喝的酒啊吊在脖子上。他把酒瓶移到嘴边，狠命地从瓶里喝了一口；我问到一股强烈的酒精味，看到他脸上泛起一阵红色。

“你这条狼！”他又一次叉起双臂，说道，“老奥立克再来告诉你一件事吧，是你自己害死了你那个凶悍的姐姐。”

他那慢慢吞吞结结巴巴的话还没有讲完，一幕幕情景就在我大脑中一闪而过了：他是如何攻击我的姐姐，我姐姐如何身遭不测，以及如何死亡等等。

“你这个无赖，她是你害死的。”我说道。

“我告诉你这是你干的，我告诉你这都是由你造成的。”他一把抓住了枪，对着我们两人之间的空中猛地用枪托一击，说道，“我那天从背后悄悄地走向她，就像今夜悄悄地从背后走向你一样。我猛击了她一下！我以为她死了才离开她。要是那里附近有一个石灰坑，像离着你这么近，她也不会再活过来的，不过杀死她不能怪我老奥立克，这完全怪你。你看你走运，而我倒霉，受欺侮，被人打。你看老奥立克是受欺侮被人打的人么？现在冤有头，债有主，你来偿命。你既然敢做，你就该来偿命。”

他又一次捧起瓶子喝酒，凶相也就更加暴露无遗了。我看他把酒瓶倒竖着喝，知道瓶里的酒已经不多。我非常有数，他喝酒不过是为了壮壮自己的胆量，好倚仗胆子来结果我的性命。我知道，瓶中的每一滴酒都是我的一滴生命。我知道，我就会变成一股白烟，和刚才袭击我的白烟一样，似幽灵般地与它合二为一，然后他就会像谋杀我的姐姐之后一样，匆匆地走到镇上，让大家都看到他慢吞吞地在四处(足留)来(足留)去，在酒店里喝酒。我的思绪又起伏万千，跟着他仿佛走到镇里，一片街景出现在眼前，遍处灯火、人群；而这里是荒凉的沼泽地和升起的白烟，而我自己也融进了茫茫的烟气。

尽管他说了不过那么十来个字，却唤醒了我多少年的往事，一幕幕都历历在目；他说的根本不是单个儿的词，而是一幅幅图画。我的大脑激动起来，处于高度亢奋的状态，一想到某个地方，立刻便身临其境；一想到某人，他立刻便出现在眼前。一切都那么栩栩如生，毫不夸大；同时我一刻不停地在紧盯着他，谁会不紧紧盯住那只蹲在自己面前随时准备扑向自己的老虎呢？随便他哪一只手指的轻轻一动，我都看得清清楚楚。

他第二次喝了酒后，忽地从他所坐的长凳上站了起来，把桌子推开一些。接着，他端起了蜡烛，用他那只染有血腥气味的手遮住光，好让烛光照亮我。他站在我的面前，望着我，欣赏着我。

“你这条狼，我还得告诉你一件事，让你听听。那天晚上你在楼梯上被人绊倒，绊倒你的那个人正是我老奥立克。”

我立刻仿佛又看见那悬吊着熄灭了的灯火的楼梯，看见那守在人灯笼的光投在墙上的笨重楼梯栏杆的阴影；我仿佛又看见了那些我今后再也见不到的房间，看，这扇门半开着，那扇门紧闭着，房中的全部家具都呈现在眼前。

“老奥立克为什么要到你那里去？我再让你知道些新东西，你这头狼。你和她把我从乡下赶出来，逼得我无路可走，连一碗闲饭也吃不到，我便交上了新朋友，认了新主人。我要写信的时候，他们就会帮助我写，你不见怪吗？你这条狼，他们会帮我写信！他们能写五十种字体，他们可不像你这个鬼鬼祟祟的东西，你只能写一种字体。自从那一次你回乡来参加你姐姐的葬礼，我就作了决定，一心一意要结果你的性命。当时我找不到办法来结果你，便打探你的行踪，我这个老奥立克在心中总是盘算着，‘无论如何我要把你除掉！’你看发生了什么，我居然在找你时碰上了你的伯父普鲁威斯，有这回事吗？”

这一来，我眼前又出现了磨坊河滨、凹湾以及老青铜制索走道，一切都形象鲜明地历历在目！坐在屋子里的普鲁威斯，已经用过了的信号，那位慈母般的好女人，可爱的克拉娜，成天躺在床上的比尔·巴莱老头，一切一切都在眼前飘浮而去，仿佛借助了我生命的急流飞速奔腾，直入大海。

“你居然也有个伯父！我在葛奇里铁匠铺子时就认识你，那时你不过是这么大的小狼崽子，我本来可以用大拇指和食指抓住你一掐就致你于死地。那时每逢星期天我看到你无所事事地在新发芽的树林里闲逛，我就想干掉你；那个时候你根本就没有什么伯父。你没有，你根本就没有！可是我这个老奥立克后来却听说你的普鲁威斯伯父最喜欢戴脚镣，偏偏这副锉开的脚镣被我在沼泽地上捡到了，当然这是许多年前的事了。于是我就把它收起来，后来我就用这东西砸了你姐姐，好像一头小公牛一样凶猛，现在我又要用它来砸你了，听着，嗳？当我听说了这件事——嗳？”

他蛮横地奚落我，又把蜡烛移近我晃动着，我只有把脸转向一边，免得蜡烛的火烧着我。

“噢！”他又用蜡烛的火靠近我的面孔晃动着，又是大叫，又是大笑，“一次被火伤，终生怕见火！老奥立克知道你被烧伤了，老奥立克知道你正想把你的普鲁威斯偷渡到国外去，老奥立克可算是你的对手，早就预料到今晚你一定来！好吧，我再让你知道一件事，你这条狼，这是最后的一件事了。要说老奥立克是你的对手，你的普鲁威斯伯父也有对手呢。如今侄儿丢掉了，他该注意注意那个人了。如今他那亲侄儿的衣服一片也找不到了，尸骨也找不到一根，他该警惕一下那个人了。至于那个人嘛，他是不可能，也不会容忍马格韦契和他住在同一个国度里的。是的，我知道马格韦契这个名字。甚至当马格韦契还住在海外时，那个人就打探他的消息了，所以他不可能回来而不让那个人知道。他不可能找那个人的麻烦。那个人能写五十种字体，和你不同，你这个鬼鬼祟祟的东西只能写一种字体。噢马格韦契，可得留神那个康佩生啊，他会把你送上绞刑架！”

他把蜡烛的火又一次靠近我晃动着，熏着我的面孔和头发，使我一时像瞎了一般睁不开眼睛。然后他转过那副粗大结实的身子，把蜡烛放到桌子上。趁他的身子还没有转过来时，我祷告着，思念着乔、毕蒂和赫伯特。

在桌子和正对面的墙之间是一块几英尺见方的空地，就在这块空间里他懒洋洋地前后踱着步子。看上去他浑身都是劲，比以往更加有力，但见他的两只手分开，沉重地垂在两边腰间，一双眼睛对我怒目而视。我知道这次我是定死无疑，毫无一线生机。我内心忧愁焦急万分，然而愁绪中出现的都不是词句，而是一幅幅图画。我十分明白，他之所以告诉我他刚才说的那些话，目的就是为了在一会儿之后把我杀死，并毁尸灭迹，做到人不知鬼不觉。

这时他停下了脚步，突然拔下了酒瓶塞子，并随手抛开。瓶塞虽然很轻，在我听来却好像发出了一只铅锤落地一样的巨响。他举瓶喝酒，慢慢地，一点一点地，他的口就着瓶口，瓶底越来越高，使他再不能瞪着我了。他把瓶中的最后几滴酒滴在手掌心，然后把它舐干净。一舐干净他就像疯了一样，发出可怕的咒骂声，把酒瓶丢掉，蹲下身。我看到他用手拿起了一把石槌，槌柄又长又笨重。

我已经下了决心，决不改变。我决不用虚假的话向他求饶，而是用尽全身力气，大声叫喊，并且拼命地挣扎着。虽然当时我只有头和腿可以动动，但是我知道我当时所用出的力气大得连我自己也感到惊奇。就在这顷刻之间，我听到有人回答的声音，又看到有几个人影和一线火光冲进门来。我听到人们的嘈杂声和慌乱的脚步声；我着到奥立克从扭打的人群中挣扎出来，好像那是汹涌的水流，然后从桌子上一跃而下，消失在门外的黑暗之中。

迷迷糊糊过了一会儿，我发现身上的绳子已经解开，我躺在了原来的地上，头好像枕在一个什么人的膝上。我睁开眼望着靠在墙上的梯子。我在没有苏醒时，其实也是睁着服望着同一个地方，现在一苏醒过来，我便意识到我还是躺在我晕过去的地方。

一开始由于我失去了知觉，根本不知道转动头去观望四周，看究竟是谁扶住了我，只是呆呆地躺在那里望着梯子。一直等到在我和扶梯之间出现了一张面孔时，我才意识到这是特拉布裁缝店里的那个伙计。

“我看他没有问题！”特拉布裁缝店的小伙计说，语气十分认真，“不过他的脸色是不是有些苍白？”

这几句话说毕，扶住我的人将他的脸低下来注视着我，我看到这个人是——

“赫伯特！老天啊！”

“轻点，”赫伯特说道，“汉德尔，轻点。不要太激动了。”

这时斯塔特普也俯下身子看着我，看到他时我也大声叫喊道：“噢，斯塔特普，我们的老朋友也来了！”

赫伯特说道：“你忘掉他是要帮助我们办事的了吗？你现在可得安静些。”

他这一提示使我从地上站了起来，不过由于我臂膀的疼痛，不得不又跌坐在地上。“赫伯特，现在还没有误时吧，是不是？今天是哪一天啦？我在这里有多长时间了？”因为我顾虑重重，而且又很奇怪，我是不是在这里躺了好长时间，比如说有一天一夜，或有两天两夜，或许更长。

“还没有误时，现在还是星期一晚上。”

“谢谢苍天！”

“明天星期二，你可以休息一整天，”赫伯特说道，“不过你一直在呻吟，亲爱的汉德尔，你伤到哪里没有？你能不能站起来？”

“可以，可以，”我说道，“我能走路。我没有伤到哪里，只是这条胳膊一抽一抽地痛得厉害。”

他们把我手臂上的绷带松开，尽其所能解除着我的痛苦。只见这条胳膊又肿又发炎，只要一碰就疼痛不堪。他们把自己的手帕撕开当绷带用，把伤臂包扎好并吊了起来，这样可以支撑到回镇后再用清凉涂剂解痛。没有一会儿我们便出了门，关上这所又黑又空的水闸小屋的门，经过了路上的采石坑，便踏着步子向回去的路上走去。特拉布裁缝店里的小伙计，如今已长成一个翩翩少年。他举着灯笼在前面领路，这一灯光就是刚才我见到直冲进门的灯光。从那高高的月亮来看，以它现在和刚才来时的高度差计算，我在这里已待了两个小时。虽然月亮下洒下一些小雨，而天空却很明亮，只见石灰窑中的白色烟雾从我们身旁袅袅升起。我又默默地祈祷，内心中充满了感恩的情绪。

我恳求赫伯特告诉我他们是如何救我脱险的，起初他总是不想告诉我，一再说我应该保持安静。后来他才说，原来是这么一回事。因为我离开家时匆匆忙忙，忘掉拿着那封信，竟将它打开着留在了房间里。赫伯特在回家的路上遇到斯塔特普，便带着他一起回来。我刚离开不久他们就到了，一进门就看到了那封信，使他颇为不安，特别是又见到了我的留条，他把两者一比较，发现两者的不一致，就更为不安。由于内心的不安，他默默地考虑了一刻钟的光景，于是便同斯塔特普一起到驿站去，因为斯塔特普自愿和他同往。到了驿站打听下一班驿车开出的时间，结果下午的驿车业已出发，这一来他更为不安，乃至于不安到惊慌。既然没有驿车，便决定雇马车前往。就这样，他和斯塔特普到达了蓝野猪饭店，充满了期望在那里能找到我，或者能知道我的下落。结果两者都落空。他们又转而去到郝维仙小姐的家，同样落空。他们只有又回到蓝野猪饭店。无疑，那个时候我正在我吃饭的那家饭店中听老店主谈我自己流传在这一带的身世情况。他们在蓝野猪饭店休息了一会儿，准备找一个人带他们到沼泽地去。在蓝野猪饭店大门过道中有一些闲荡的人，他们遇上了特拉布裁缝店的小伙计。他的老习惯总改不掉，无事可做、东闯西荡。他说他刚才看到我从郝维仙小姐家出来，向着我用餐所在地的那个方向走去。这个特拉布裁缝店的伙计就成了他们的向导，陪他们走出饭店，向水闸小屋走去。他们是从大路走的，而我是避开大道从小路绕过去的。他们一路走着，赫伯特一路思索着我是被什么人招到那里去的，也许是真有什么事，对普鲁威斯的安全会有影响，所以他自己闯进去也许成事不足，败事有余，所以他让向导和斯塔特普留在采石坑旁，自己单独一人走过去，蹑手蹑足地围着屋子走了两三圈，以确定屋里的情况是否没有问题。可是他听不清，只能听到模模糊糊深沉粗哑的声音，这就是我心情最紧张的一霎时，而他还疑心我究竟在不在屋子里。就这时他突然听到我大声叫喊，于是连忙响应，一头冲了进去，其余的两个人也紧跟着跑了进去。

我把屋子中发生的详情告诉了赫伯特，他主张立刻到镇公所去报告发案的情况，尽管现在已经是深夜，让镇里立即开出拘捕令。但是，我对这件事早就有了考虑，要是这么一做，我们就被阻在这里，延误了回去的时间，说不定会对普鲁威斯造成致命的后果。这种麻烦是不可否定的，所以我们暂时不考虑追逐奥立克的事。我们处于当时的情况下，大家都要小心谨慎，特别是特拉布裁缝店的伙计万万不能泄露这件事。我深深相信，如果他知道了由于他的无意插人却救了我的性命，没有使我死在石灰窑中，他一定会大为失望的。这当然不是说特拉布裁缝店里的伙计心肠狠毒，而是他精力旺盛过了头，生性多变，喜欢刺激，拿别人的笑话作为自己的消遣。我们在和他分别时，我给了他两块金币，看来他还满意。我还向他表示了歉意，说过去不该把他看得很坏，对于这一点，他没有任何反应。

星期三就在眼前，我们决定在当夜赶回伦敦，于是三人乘那辆雇来的马车而回。这样，当夜里发生的事于镇上流传时，我们早就离开了那里。赫伯特为我受伤的胳膊买来了一大瓶药水，整个夜里不停地使用，才使我在路上忍住疼痛。我们抵达寺区时，天空已亮，我立刻躺到床上，并且整天没有下床。

我躺在床上，考虑着自己的病体对明天的行动不太适合，因此内心的恐惧使我万分苦恼，可是如此的折腾并没有把我完全弄倒，我倒感到十分奇怪。说实在的，一想到心灵的疲惫和忍受的莫大痛苦，如果不是因为明天的事情使整个神经拉紧，只怕我早就被弄倒了。我如此焦急地在盼望着，在思虑着会发生的情况。时间迫近，可结果却仍隐藏着，令人难以捉摸。

非常明显，为了预防不测，今天我们和普鲁威斯不再进行任何接触；可是这一来又增加了我在另外方面的不安。每一个脚步声或其他声音都会惊动我，会使我想到他一定被发现了，他一定被逮捕了，这一定是派来给我送信人的声音。我甚至那么肯定地认为他被捕了。这不是我的恐惧，不是我的预感，而是我心灵的知觉。只要他一被捕，我的心灵就会神秘地知道。随着白日的消逝，不见有噩耗传来；接着夜幕降临，恐怖的阴影又开始在我身边徘徊，担心明天早晨我的病体是否会恶化，等等，这些都占据着我的心灵。我被烧伤的臂膀隐隐地抽疼，我迷迷糊糊的头也隐隐地抽疼，我想我是不是神经开始错乱了。于是我顺序数数，发觉我并没有迷糊，头脑清醒如常；我又背诵了几段我学过的散文和诗歌。有时我感到心灵疲倦，不知不觉地睡上一会，或忘记了疼痛，可过一会儿又惊醒过来，我会自言自语：“现在开始了，我开始神志不清了！”

他们两人让我整天保持安静，不断地过来为我换绷带，让我喝清凉饮料。每逢睡着后，我都会因梦中水闸小屋的一幕而醒来，以为时间已经过去，失去了搭救普鲁威斯的机会。当天半夜，我从床上起来，摸到赫伯特那里，非常坚信这一觉已睡了二十四个小时，星期三已经过去。这一次半夜起身是该夜我最后一次在焦躁不安中消耗自我的精力，再后来，我便香甜地睡去了。

一觉醒来，凝望窗外，发现星期三的拂晓已徐徐来临。桥上闪烁着的灯光衬托在晓光之中已变得苍白，初升的太阳就像天边的一把燃烧着烈火的火炬。泰晤士河显得幽暗而神秘，架在河上的一座座桥梁泛出淡灰色和丝丝寒意，拂晓天空中燃烧般的红霞点缀着桥顶，并抹上了一片温暖。我顺着远处一连串的屋顶望去，那教堂的钟楼和尖塔一直伸向清澈明亮的天空，太阳正冉冉升起，一层纱幕似乎正从河上揭开，水面上闪耀着千百万燃烧般的光点。一层纱幕似乎也从我的身上被揭开，我突然感到精神抖擞、脑筋清爽。

赫伯特睡在他自己的床上，我们的老同学则躺在沙发上。虽然，由于他们未醒，没有得到他们的帮忙我无法穿衣，但是我却把尚未熄火的壁炉烧旺，并且为他们两人煮了咖啡。过了一会儿他们也一跃而起，精神抖擞，毫无倦色。于是，我们把窗户打开，让刺骨的早晨寒气进来，眺望着远远向我们奔流而来的潮水。

赫伯特兴高采烈地说道：“当河水到九点改变流向时，你就在磨坊河滨做好准备，等候我们吧！”