barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第102章
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utmost。 Many of those who were banded together to support the
religion of their country； even unto death； had never heard a hymn
or psalm in all their lives。 But these fellows having for the most
part strong lungs； and being naturally fond of singing； chanted any
ribaldry or nonsense that occurred to them； feeling pretty certain
that it would not be detected in the general chorus； and not caring
much if it were。 Many of these voluntaries were sung under the
very nose of Lord George Gordon； who； quite unconscious of their
burden； passed on with his usual stiff and solemn deportment；
very much edified and delighted by the pious conduct of his
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followers。
So they went on and on； up this line； down that； round the
exterior of this circle； and on every side of that hollow square； and
still there were lines； and squares； and circles out of number to
review。 The day being now intensely hot； and the sun striking
down his fiercest rays upon the field； those who carried heavy
banners began to grow faint and weary； most of the number
assembled were fain to pull off their neckcloths； and throw their
coats and waistcoats open； and some； towards the centre； quite
overpowered by the excessive heat； which was of course rendered
more unendurable by the multitude around them； lay down upon
the grass； and offered all they had about them for a drink of water。
Still； no man left the ground； not even of those who were so
distressed； still Lord George； streaming from every pore； went on
with Gashford； and still Barnaby and his mother followed close
behind them。
They had arrived at the top of a long line of some eight hundred
men in single file； and Lord George had turned his head to look
back； when a loud cry of recognition—in that peculiar and half…
stifled tone which a voice has； when it is raised in the open air and
in the midst of a great concourse of persons—was heard； and a
man stepped with a shout of laughter from the rank； and smote
Barnaby on the shoulders with his heavy hand。
‘How now！’ he cried。 ‘Barnaby Rudge！ Why； where have you
been hiding for these hundred years？’
Barnaby had been thinking within himself that the smell of the
trodden grass brought back his old days at cricket； when he was a
young boy and played on Chigwell Green。 Confused by this
sudden and boisterous address； he stared in a bewildered manner
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at the man； and could scarcely say ‘What！ Hugh！’
‘Hugh！’ echoed the other； ‘ay； Hugh—Maypole Hugh！ You
remember my dog？ He’s alive now； and will know you； I warrant。
What； you wear the colour； do you？ Well done！ Ha ha ha！’
‘You know this young man； I see；’ said Lord George。
‘Know him； my lord！ as well as I know my own right hand。 My
captain knows him。 We all know him。’
‘Will you take him into your division？’
‘It hasn’t in it a better； nor a nimbler； nor a more active man；
than Barnaby Rudge；’ said Hugh。 ‘Show me the man who says it
has！ Fall in； Barnaby。 He shall march； my lord； between me and
Dennis； and he shall carry；’ he added； taking a flag from the hand
of a tired man who tendered it； ‘the gayest silken streamer in this
valiant army。’
‘In the name of God； no！’ shrieked the widow； darting forward。
‘Barnaby—my lord—see—he’ll come back—Barnaby—Barnaby！’
‘Women in the field！’ cried Hugh； stepping between them； and
holding her off。 ‘Holloa！ My captain there！’
‘What’s the matter here？’ cried Simon Tappertit； bustling up in
a great heat。 ‘Do you call this order？’
‘Nothing like it； captain；’ answered Hugh； still holding her back
with his outstretched hand。 ‘It’s against all orders。 Ladies are
carrying off our gallant soldiers from their duty。 The word of
command； captain！ They’re filing off the ground。 Quick！’
‘Close！’ cried Simon； with the whole power of his lungs。 ‘Form！
March！’
She was thrown to the ground； the whole field was in motion；
Barnaby was whirled away into the heart of a dense mass of men；
and she saw him no more。
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Chapter 49
he mob had been divided from its first assemblage into
four divisions； the London； the Westminster； the
T
Southwark； and the Scotch。 Each of these divisions being
subdivided into various bodies； and these bodies being drawn up
in various forms and figures； the general arrangement was； except
to the few chiefs and leaders； as unintelligible as the plan of a
great battle to the meanest soldier in the field。 It was not without
its method； however； for； in a very short space of time after being
put in motion； the crowd had resolved itself into three great
parties； and were prepared； as had been arranged； to cross the
river by different bridges； and make for the House of Commons in
separate detachments。
At the head of that division which had Westminster Bridge for
its approach to the scene of action； Lord George Gordon took his
post； with Gashford at his right hand； and sundry ruffians； of most
unpromising appearance； forming a kind of staff about him。 The
conduct of a second party； whose route lay by Blackfriars； was
entrusted to a committee of management； including perhaps a
dozen men： while the third； which was to go by London Bridge；
and through the main streets； in order that their numbers and
their serious intentions might be the better known and
appreciated by the citizens； were led by Simon Tappertit （assisted
by a few subalterns； selected from the Brotherhood of United
Bulldogs）； Dennis the hangman； Hugh； and some others。
The word of command being given； each of these great bodies
took the road assigned to it； and departed on its way； in perfect
order and profound silence。 That which went through the City
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greatly exceeded the others in number； and was of such
prodigious extent that when the rear began to move； the front was
nearly four miles in advance； notwithstanding that the men
marched three abreast and followed very close upon each other。
At the head of this party； in the place where Hugh； in the
madness of his humour； had stationed him； and walking between
that dangerous companion and the hangman； went Barnaby； as
many a man among the thousands who looked on that day
afterwards remembered well。 Forgetful of all other things in the
ecstasy of the moment； his face flushed and his eyes sparkling with
delight； heedless of the weight of the great banner he carried； and
mindful only of its flashing in the sun and rustling in the summer
breeze； on he went； proud； happy； elated past all telling：—the only
light…hearted； undesigning creature； in the whole assembly。
‘What do you think of this？’ asked Hugh； as they passed
through the crowded streets； and looked up at the windows which
were thronged with spectators。 ‘They have all turned out to see
our flags and streamers？ Eh； Barnaby？ Why； Barnaby’s the
greatest man of all the pack！ His flag’s the largest of the lot； the
brightest too。 There’s nothing in the show； like Barnaby。 All eyes
are turned on him。 Ha ha ha！’
‘Don’t make that din； brother；’ growled the hangman； glancing
with no very approving eyes at Barnaby as he spoke： ‘I hope he
don’t think there’s nothing to be done； but carrying that there
piece of blue rag； like a boy at a breaking up。 You’re ready for
action I hope； eh？ You； I mean；’ he added； nudging Barnaby
roughly with his elbow。 ‘What are you staring at？ Why don’t you
speak？’
Barnaby had been gazing at his flag； and looked vacantly from
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his questioner to Hugh。
‘He don’t understand your way；’ said the latter。 ‘Here； I’ll
explain it to him。 Barnaby old boy； attend to me。’
‘I’ll attend；’ said Barnaby； looking anxiously round； ‘but I wish I
could see her somewhere。’
‘See who？’ demanded Dennis in a gruff tone。 ‘You an’t in love I
hope； brother？ That an’t the sort of thing for us； you know。 We
mustn’t have no love here。’
‘She would be proud indeed to see me now； eh Hugh？’ said
Barnaby。 ‘Wouldn’t it make her glad to see me at the head of this
large show？ She’d cry for joy； I know she would。 Where can she
be？ She never sees me at my best； and what do I care to be gay
and fine if she’s not by？’
‘Why； what palaver’s this？’ asked Mr Dennis with supreme
disdain。 ‘We an’t got no sentimental members among us； I hope。’
‘Don’t be uneasy； brother；’ cried Hugh； ‘he’s only talking of his
mother。’
‘Of his what？’ said Mr Dennis with a strong oath。
‘His mother。’
‘And have I combined
