the golden age(金色时代)-第10章
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reconnoitre！〃
〃Harold's asleep；〃 I said； 〃it seems rather a shame〃
〃Oh； rot！〃 said my brother； 〃he's the youngest； and he's got to do as
he's told！〃
So the luckless Harold was hauled out of bed and given his sailing…
orders。 He was naturally rather vexed at being stood up suddenly on the
cold floor； and the job had no particular interest for him； but he was both
staunch and well disciplined。 The means of exit were simple enough。
A porch of iron trellis came up to within easy reach of the window； and
was habitually used by all three of us； when modestly anxious to avoid
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public notice。 Harold climbed deftly down the porch like a white rat； and
his night gown glimmered a moment on the gravel walk ere he was lost to
sight in the darkness of the shrubbery。 A brief interval of silence ensued；
broken suddenly by a sound of scuffle； and then a shrill； long…drawn
squeal； as of metallic surfaces in friction。 Our scout had fallen into the
hands of the enemy！
Indolence alone had made us devolve the task of investigation on our
younger brother。 Now that danger had declared itself； there was no
hesitation。 In a second we were down the side of the porch； and crawling
Cherokee…wise through the laurels to the back of the garden…seat。 Piteous
was the sight that greeted us。 Aunt Maria was on the seat； in a white
evening frock； lookingfor an auntreally quite nice。 On the lawn stood
an incensed curate； grasping our small brother by a large ear； which
judging from the row he was makingseemed on the point of parting
company with the head it adorned。 The gruesome noise he was emitting
did not really affect us otherwise than aesthetically。 To one who has tried
both； the wail of genuine physical anguish is easy distinguishable from the
pumped…up ad misericordiam blubber。 Harold's could clearly be
recognised as belonging to the latter class。 〃Now； you young〃 （whelp；
_I_ think it was； but Edward stoutly maintains it was devil）； said the curate；
sternly； 〃tell us what you mean by it！〃
〃Well； leggo of my ear then！〃 shrilled Harold； 〃and I'll tell you the
solemn truth！〃
〃Very well；〃 agreed the curate； releasing him； 〃now go ahead； and
don't lie more than you can help。〃
We abode the promised disclosure without the least misgiving； but
even we had hardly given Harold due credit for his fertility of resource
and powers of imagination。
〃I had just finished saying my prayers；〃 began that young gentleman；
slowly； 〃when I happened to look out of the window； and on the lawn I
saw a sight which froze the marrow in my veins！
A burglar was approaching the house with snake…like tread！ He had a
scowl and a dark lantern； and he was armed to the teeth！〃
We listened with interest。 The style； though unlike Harold's native
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notes； seemed strangely familiar。
〃Go on；〃 said the curate； grimly。
〃Pausing in his stealthy career；〃 continued Harold； 〃he gave a low
whistle。 Instantly the signal was responded to； and from the adjacent
shadows two more figures glided forth。 The miscreants were both armed
to the teeth。〃
〃Excellent；〃 said the curate； 〃proceed。〃
〃The robber chief；〃 pursued Harold； warming to his work； 〃joined his
nefarious comrades； and conversed with them in silent tones。 His
expression was truly ferocious； and I ought to have said that he was armed
to the t〃
〃There； never mind his teeth；〃 interrupted the curate； rudely； 〃there's
too much jaw about you altogether。 Hurry up and have done。〃
〃I was in a frightful funk；〃 continued the narrator； warily guarding his
ear with his hand； 〃but just then the drawing…room window opened； and
you and Aunt Maria came outI mean emerged。 The burglars vanished
silently into the laurels； with horrid implications！〃
The curate looked slightly puzzled。 The tale was well sustained； and
certainly circumstantial。 After all； the boy might have really seen
something。 How was the poor man to knowthough the chaste and lofty
diction might have supplied a hintthat the whole yarn was a free
adaptation from the last Penny Dreadful lent us by the knife…and…boot
boy？
〃Why did you not alarm the house？〃 he asked。
〃'Cos I was afraid；〃 said Harold； sweetly； 〃that p'raps they mightn't
believe me！〃
〃But how did you get down here； you naughty little boy？〃 put in Aunt
Maria。
Harold was hard pressedby his own flesh and blood； too！
At that moment Edward touched me on the shoulder and glided off
through the laurels。 When some ten yards away he gave a low whistle。
I replied by another。 The effect was magical。 Aunt Maria started up
with a shriek。 Harold gave one startled glance around； and then fled like
a hare； made straight for the back door； burst in upon the servants at
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supper； and buried himself in the broad bosom of the cook； his special ally。
The curate faced the laurelshesitatingly。 But Aunt Maria flung herself
on him。 〃O Mr。 Hodgitts！〃 I heard her cry； 〃you are brave！ for my sake
do not be rash！〃 He was not rash。 When I peeped out a second later；
the coast was entirely clear。
By this time there were sounds of a household timidly emerging； and
Edward remarked to me that perhaps we had better be off。 Retreat was
an easy matter。 A stunted laurel gave a leg up on to the garden wall；
which led in its turn to the roof of an out… house； up which； at a dubious
angle； we could crawl to the window of the box…room。 This overland
route had been revealed to us one day by the domestic cat； when hard
pressed in the course of an otter…hunt； in which the catsomewhat
unwillinglywas filling the title role； and it had proved distinctly useful
on occasions like the present。 We were snug in bedminus some cuticle
from knees and elbowsand Harold； sleepily chewing something sticky；
had been carried up in the arms of the friendly cook； ere the clamour of the
burglar…hunters had died away。
The curate's undaunted demeanour； as reported by Aunt Maria； was
generally supposed to have terrified the burglars into flight； and much
kudos accrued to him thereby。 Some days later； however； when he hid
dropped in to afternoon tea； and was making a mild curatorial joke about
the moral courage required for taking the last piece of bread…and…butter； I
felt constrained to remark dreamily； and as it were to the universe at large；
〃Mr。 Hodgitts！ you are brave！ for my sake； do not be rash！〃
Fortunately for me； the vicar was also a caller on that day； and it was
always a comparatively easy matter to dodge my long…coated friend in the
open。
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A HARVESTING
The year was in its yellowing time； and the face of Nature a study in
old gold。 〃A field or； semee； with garbs of the same：〃 it may be false
HeraldryNature's generally isbut it correctly blazons the display that
Edward and I considered from the rickyard gate； Harold was not on in this
scene； being stretched upon the couch of pain； the special disorder
stomachic； as usual。
The evening before； Edward； in a fit of unwonted amiability； had
deigned to carve me out a turnip lantern； an art…and…craft he was peculiarly
deft in； and Harold； as the interior of the turnip flew out in scented
fragments under the hollowing knife； had eaten largely thereof： regarding
all such jetsam as his special perquisite。 Now he was dreeing his weird；
with such assistance as the chemist could afford。 But Edward and I；
knowing that this particular field was to be carried to…day； were revelling
in the privilege of riding in the empty waggons from the rickyard back to
the sheaves； whence we returned toilfully on foot； to career it again over
the billowy acres in these great galleys of a stubble sea。 It was the
nearest approach to sailing that we inland urchins might compass： and
hence it ensued； that such stirring scenes as Sir Richard Grenville on the
Revenge； the smoke…wreathed Battle of the Nile； and the Death of Nelson；
had all been enacted in turn on these dusty quarter decks； as they swayed
and bumped afield。
Another waggon had shot its load； and was jolting out through the
rickyard gate； as we swung ourselves in； shouting； over its tail。
Edward was the first up； and； as I gained my feet； he clutched me in a
death…grapple。 I was a privateersman； he proclaimed； and he the captain
of the British frigate Terpsichore； ofI forget the precise number of guns。
Edward always collared the best parts to himself； but I was holding my
own gallantly； when I suddenly discovered that the floor we battled on was
swarming with earwigs。 Shrieking； I hurled free of him； and rolled over
the tail…board on to the stubble。 Edward executed a war…dance of
triumph on the deck of the retreating galleon； but I cared little for that。 I
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knew HE knew that I wasn't afraid of him； but that I wasand terriblyof
earwigs； 〃those mortal bugs o' the field。〃 So I let him
