第 6 节
作者:中国必胜      更新:2021-02-20 05:34      字数:9321
  I pressed this home to him with so many arguments; and
  answered all his own passionate objections so effectually that
  he embraced me; and told me I treated him with such sincerity
  and affection as overcame him; that he would take my advice;
  and would strive to submit to his fate in hope of having the
  comfort of my assistance; and of so faithful a counsellor and
  such a companion in his misery。  But still he put me in mind
  of what I had mentioned before; namely; that there might be
  some way to get off before he went; and that it might be
  possible to avoid going at all; which he said would be much
  better。  I told him he should see; and be fully satisfied; that I
  would do my utmost in that part too; and if it did not succeed;
  yet that I would make good the rest。
  We parted after this long conference with such testimonies of
  kindness and affection as I thought were equal; if not superior;
  to that at our parting at Dunstable; and now I saw more plainly
  than before; the reason why he declined coming at that time
  any farther with me toward London than Dunstable; and why;
  when we parted there; he told me it was not convenient for
  him to come part of the way to London to bring me going; as
  he would otherwise have done。  I have observed that the
  account of his life would have made a much more pleasing
  history than this of mine; and; indeed; nothing in it was more
  strange than this part; viz。 that he carried on that desperate
  trade full five…and…twenty years and had never been taken;
  the success he had met with had been so very uncommon; and
  such that sometimes he had lived handsomely; and retired in
  place for a year or two at a time; keeping himself and a
  man…servant to wait on him; and had often sat in the
  coffee…houses and heard the very people whom he had robbed
  give accounts of their being robbed; and of the place and
  circumstances; so that he could easily remember that it was
  the same。
  In this manner; it seems; he lived near Liverpool at the time
  he unluckily married me for a fortune。  Had I been the fortune
  he expected; I verily believe; as he said; that he would have
  taken up and lived honestly all his days。
  He had with the rest of his misfortunes the good luck not to
  be actually upon the spot when the robbery was done which
  he was committed for; and so none of the persons robbed
  could swear to him; or had anything to charge upon him。  But
  it seems as he was taken with the gang; one hard…mouthed
  countryman swore home to him; and they were like to have
  others come in according to the publication they had made;
  so that they expected more evidence against him; and for that
  reason he was kept in hold。
  However; the offer which was made to him of admitting him to
  transportation was made; as I understood; upon the intercession
  of some great person who pressed him hard to accept of it before
  a trial; and indeed; as he knew there were several that might
  come in against him; I thought his friend was in the right; and
  I lay at him night and day to delay it no longer。
  At last; with much difficulty; he gave his consent; and as he
  was not therefore admitted to transportation in court; and on
  his petition; as I was; so he found himself under a difficulty
  to avoid embarking himself as I had said he might have done;
  his great friend; who was his intercessor for the favour of that
  grant; having given security for him that he should transport
  himself; and not return within the term。
  This hardship broke all my measures; for the steps I took
  afterwards for my own deliverance were hereby rendered
  wholly ineffectual; unless I would abandon him; and leave
  him to go to America by himself; than which he protested he
  would much rather venture; although he were certain to go
  directly to the gallows。
  I must now return to my case。  The time of my being transported
  according to my sentence was near at hand; my governess; who
  continued my fast friend; had tried to obtain a pardon; but it
  could not be done unless with an expense too heavy for my
  purse; considering that to be left naked and empty; unless I had
  resolved to return to my old trade again; had been worse than
  my transportation; because there I knew I could live; here I
  could not。  The good minister stood very hard on another
  account to prevent my being transported also; but he was
  answered; that indeed my life had been given me at his first
  solicitations; and therefore he ought to ask no more。 He was
  sensibly grieved at my going; because; as he said; he feared I
  should lose the good impressions which a prospect of death
  had at first made on me; and which were since increased by
  his instructions; and the pious gentleman was exceedingly
  concerned about me on that account。
  On the other hand; I really was not so solicitous about it as I
  was before; but I industriously concealed my reasons for it
  from the minister; and to the last he did not know but that I
  went with the utmost reluctance and affliction。
  It was in the month of February that I was; with seven other
  convicts; as they called us; delivered to a merchant that traded
  to Virginia; on board a ship; riding; as they called it; in
  Deptford Reach。  The officer of the prison delivered us on
  board; and the master of the vessel gave a discharge for us。
  We were for that night clapped under hatches; and kept so
  close that I thought I should have been suffocated for want
  of air; and the next morning the ship weighed; and fell down
  the river to a place they call Bugby's Hole; which was done;
  as they told us; by the agreement of the merchant; that all
  opportunity of escape should be taken from us。  However;
  when the ship came thither and cast anchor; we were allowed
  more liberty; and particularly were permitted to come up on
  the deck; but not up on the quarter…deck; that being kept
  particularly for the captain and for passengers。
  When by the noise of the men over my head; and the motion
  of the ship; I perceived that they were under sail; I was at first
  greatly surprised; fearing we should go away directly; and that
  our friends would not be admitted to see us any more; but I
  was easy soon after; when I found they had come to an anchor
  again; and soon after that we had notice given by some of the
  men where we were; that the next morning we should have
  the liberty to come up on deck; and to have our friends come
  and see us if we had any。
  All that night I lay upon the hard boards of the deck; as the
  passengers did; but we had afterwards the liberty of little
  cabins for such of us as had any bedding to lay in them; and
  room to stow any box or trunk for clothes and linen; if we
  had it (which might well be put in); for some of them had
  neither shirt nor shift or a rag of linen or woollen; but what
  was on their backs; or a farthing of money to help themselves;
  and yet I did not find but they fared well enough in the ship;
  especially the women; who got money from the seamen for
  washing their clothes; sufficient to  purchase any common
  things that they wanted。
  When the next morning we had the liberty to come up on the
  deck; I asked one of the officers of the ship; whether I might
  not have the liberty to send a letter on shore; to let my friends
  know where the ship lay; and to get some necessary things
  sent to me。  This was; it seems; the boatswain; a very civil;
  courteous sort of man; who told me I should have that; or any
  other liberty that I desired; that he could allow me with safety。
  I told him I desired no other; and he answered that the ship's
  boat would go up to London the next tide; and he would order
  my letter to be carried。
  Accordingly; when the boat went off; the boatswain came to
  me and told me the boat was going off; and that he went in it
  himself; and asked me if my letter was ready he would take
  care of it。  I had prepared myself; you may be sure; pen; ink;
  and paper beforehand; and I had gotten a letter ready directed
  to my governess; and enclosed another for my fellow…prisoner;
  which; however; I did not let her know was my husband; not
  to the last。  In that to my governess; I let her know where the
  ship lay; and pressed her earnestly to send me what things I
  knew she had got ready for me for my voyage。
  When I gave the boatswain the letter; I gave him a shilling
  with it; which I told him was for the charge of a messenger
  or porter; which I entreated him to send with the letter as
  soon as he came on shore; that if possible I might have an
  answer brought back by the same hand; that I might know
  what was become of my things; 'for sir;' says I; 'if the ship
  should go away before I have them on board; I am undone。'
  I took care; when I gave him the shilling; to let him see that
  I had a little better furniture about me than the ordinary