第 35 节
作者:青涩春天      更新:2024-04-09 19:50      字数:9322
  duel; as the public most likely knows。  Poor Greg! a very trivial
  dispute was the cause of our quarrel; which never would have
  originated but for the similarity of our names。  The circumstance
  was this: I had been lucky enough to render the Nawaub of Lucknow
  some trifling service (in the notorious affair of Choprasjee
  Muckjee); and his Highness sent down a gold toothpick…case directed
  to Captain G。 Gahagan; which I of course thought was for me: my
  brother madly claimed it; we fought; and the consequence was; that
  in about three minutes he received a slash in the right side (cut
  6); which effectually did his business:he was a good swordsman
  enoughI was THE BEST in the universe。  The most ridiculous part
  of the affair is; that the toothpick…case was his; after allhe
  had left it on the Nawaub's table at tiffin。  I can't conceive what
  madness prompted him to fight about such a paltry bauble; he had
  much better have yielded it at once; when he saw I was determined
  to have it。  From this slight specimen of my adventures; the reader
  will perceive that my life has been one of no ordinary interest;
  and; in fact; I may say that I have led a more remarkable life than
  any man in the serviceI have been at more pitched battles; led
  more forlorn hopes; had more success among the fair sex; drunk
  harder; read more; and been a handsomer man than any officer now
  serving her Majesty。
  When I at first went to India in 1802; I was a raw cornet of
  seventeen; with blazing red hair; six feet four in height; athletic
  at all kinds of exercises; owing money to my tailor and everybody
  else who would trust me; possessing an Irish brogue; and my full
  pay of 120L。 a year。  I need not say that with all these advantages
  I did that which a number of clever fellows have done before meI
  fell in love; and proposed to marry immediately。
  But how to overcome the difficulty?It is true that I loved Julia
  Jowlerloved her to madness; but her father intended her for a
  Member of Council at least; and not for a beggarly Irish ensign。
  It was; however; my fate to make the passage to India (on board of
  the 〃Samuel Snob〃 East Indiaman; Captain Duffy;) with this lovely
  creature; and my misfortune instantaneously to fall in love with
  her。  We were not out of the Channel before I adored her;
  worshipped the deck which she trod upon; kissed a thousand times
  the cuddy…chair on which she used to sit。  The same madness fell on
  every man in the ship。  The two mates fought about her at the Cape;
  the surgeon; a sober; pious Scotchman; from disappointed affection;
  took so dreadfully to drinking as to threaten spontaneous
  combustion; and old Colonel Lilywhite; carrying his wife and seven
  daughters to Bengal; swore that he would have a divorce from Mrs。
  L。; and made an attempt at suicide; the captain himself told me;
  with tears in his eyes; that he hated his hitherto…adored Mrs。
  Duffy; although he had had nineteen children by her。
  We used to call her the witchthere was magic in her beauty and in
  her voice。  I was spell…bound when I looked at her; and stark
  staring mad when she looked at me!  O lustrous black eyes!O
  glossy night…black ringlets!O lips!O dainty frocks of white
  muslin!O tiny kid slippers!though old and gouty; Gahagan sees
  you still!  I recollect; off Ascension; she looked at me in her
  particular way one day at dinner; just as I happened to be blowing
  on a piece of scalding hot green fat。  I was stupefied at onceI
  thrust the entire morsel (about half a pound) into my mouth。  I
  made no attempt to swallow; or to masticate it; but left it there
  for many minutes; burning; burning!  I had no skin to my palate for
  seven weeks after; and lived on rice…water during the rest of the
  voyage。  The anecdote is trivial; but it shows the power of Julia
  Jowler over me。
  The writers of marine novels have so exhausted the subject of
  storms; shipwrecks; mutinies; engagements; sea…sickness; and so
  forth; that (although I have experienced each of these in many
  varieties) I think it quite unnecessary to recount such trifling
  adventures; suffice it to say; that during our five months' trajet;
  my mad passion for Julia daily increased; so did the captain's and
  the surgeon's; so did Colonel Lilywhite's; so did the doctor's; the
  mate'sthat of most part of the passengers; and a considerable
  number of the crew。  For myself; I sworeensign as I wasI would
  win her for my wife; I vowed that I would make her glorious with my
  swordthat as soon as I had made a favorable impression on my
  commanding officer (which I did not doubt to create); I would lay
  open to him the state of my affections; and demand his daughter's
  hand。  With such sentimental outpourings did our voyage continue
  and conclude。
  We landed at the Sunderbunds on a grilling hot day in December;
  1802; and then for the moment Julia and I separated。  She was
  carried off to her papa's arms in a palanquin; surrounded by at
  least forty hookahbadars; whilst the poor cornet; attended but by
  two dandies and a solitary beasty (by which unnatural name these
  blackamoors are called); made his way humbly to join the regiment
  at head…quarters。
  The th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry; then under the command of
  Lieut。…Colonel Julius Jowler; C。B。; was known throughout Asia and
  Europe by the proud title of the Bundelcund Invinciblesso great
  was its character for bravery; so remarkable were its services in
  that delightful district of India。  Major Sir George Gutch was next
  in command; and Tom Thrupp; as kind a fellow as ever ran a Mahratta
  through the body; was second Major。  We were on the eve of that
  remarkable war which was speedily to spread throughout the whole of
  India; to call forth the valor of a Wellesley; and the indomitable
  gallantry of a Gahagan; which was illustrated by our victories at
  Ahmednuggar (where I was the first over the barricade at the
  storming of the Pettah); at Argaum; where I slew with my own sword
  twenty…three matchlock…men; and cut a dromedary in two; and by that
  terrible day of Assaye; where Wellesley would have been beaten but
  for meme alone: I headed nineteen charges of cavalry; took (aided
  by only four men of my own troop) seventeen field…pieces; killing
  the scoundrelly French artillerymen; on that day I had eleven
  elephants shot under me; and carried away Scindiah's nose…ring with
  a pistol…ball。  Wellesley is a Duke and a Marshal; I but a simple
  Major of Irregulars。  Such is fortune and war!  But my feelings
  carry me away from my narrative; which had better proceed with more
  order。
  On arriving; I say; at our barracks at Dum Dum; I for the first
  time put on the beautiful uniform of the Invincibles: a light blue
  swallow…tailed jacket with silver lace and wings; ornamented
  with about 3;000 sugar…loaf buttons; rhubarb…colored leather
  inexpressibles (tights); and red morocco boots with silver spurs
  and tassels; set off to admiration the handsome persons of the
  officers of our corps。  We wore powder in those days; and a
  regulation pigtail of seventeen inches; a brass helmet surrounded
  by leopard…skin with a bearskin top and a horsetail feather; gave
  the head a fierce and chivalrous appearance; which is far more
  easily imagined than described。
  Attired in this magnificent costume; I first presented myself
  before Colonel Jowler。  He was habited in a manner precisely
  similar; but not being more than five feet in height; and weighing
  at least fifteen stone; the dress he wore did not become him quite
  so much as slimmer and taller men。  Flanked by his tall Majors;
  Thrupp and Gutch; he looked like a stumpy skittle…ball between two
  attenuated skittles。  The plump little Colonel received me with
  vast cordiality; and I speedily became a prime favorite with
  himself and the other officers of the corps。  Jowler was the most
  hospitable of men; and gratifying my appetite and my love together;
  I continually partook of his dinners; and feasted on the sweet
  presence of Julia。
  I can see now; what I would not and could not perceive in those
  early days; that this Miss Jowleron whom I had lavished my first
  and warmest love; whom I had endowed with all perfection and
  puritywas no better than a little impudent flirt; who played with
  my feelings; because during the monotony of a sea…voyage she had no
  other toy to play with; and who deserted others for me; and me for
  others; just as her whim or her interest might guide her。  She had
  not been three weeks at head…quarters when half the regiment was in
  love with her。  Each and all of the candidates had some favor to
  boast of; or some encouraging hopes on which to build。  It was the
  scene of the 〃Samuel Snob〃 over again; only heightened in interest
  by a number of duels。  The following list will give the reader a
  notion of some of them:
  1。  Cornet Gahagan 。 。 Ensign Hicks; of the Sappers and Miners。
  Hicks received a ball in his jaw; and was half choked by a quantity
  of carroty whiske