第 27 节
作者:怀疑一切      更新:2021-02-24 23:08      字数:9322
  fellows on that engine recapture me; it will be chains and bread…and…water
  and straw and misery once more for poor; unhappy; innocent Toad!'
  The engine…driver looked down upon him very sternly; and said; ‘Now
  tell the truth; what were you put in prison for?'
  ‘It was nothing very much;' said poor Toad; colouring deeply。 ‘I only
  borrowed a motorcar while the owners were at lunch; they had no need of
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  it   at  the  time。   I  didn't   mean    to  steal   it;  really;  but  peopleespecially
  magistratestake        such    harsh    views     of   thoughtless      and   high…spirited
  actions。'
  The   engine…driver   looked   very   grave   and   said;   ‘I   fear   that   you   have
  been   indeed   a   wicked       toad;   and   by   rights   I   ought   to  give   you   up  to
  offended justice。  But   you   are evidently  in   sore trouble and   distress;  so   I
  will not desert you。 I don't hold with motor… cars; for one thing; and I don't
  hold with being ordered about by policemen when I'm on my own engine;
  for   another。  And   the   sight   of   an   animal   in   tears   always   makes   me   feel
  queer and softhearted。 So cheer up; Toad! I'll do my best; and we may beat
  them yet!'
  They piled on more coals; shovelling furiously; the furnace roared; the
  sparks   flew;   the   engine   leapt   and   swung   but   still   their   pursuers   slowly
  gained。 The engine…driver; with a sigh; wiped his brow with a handful of
  cotton…waste;   and   said;   ‘I'm   afraid   it's   no   good;   Toad。 You   see;   they   are
  running light; and they have the better engine。 There's just one thing left
  for us to do; and it's your only chance; so attend very carefully to what I
  tell you。 A short way ahead of us is a long tunnel; and on the other side of
  that the line passes through a thick wood。 Now; I will put on all the speed I
  can   while   we   are   running   through   the   tunnel;   but   the   other   fellows   will
  slow down a bit; naturally; for fear of an accident。 When we are through; I
  will shut off steam and put on brakes as hard as I can; and the moment it's
  safe to do so you must jump and hide in the wood; before they get through
  the tunnel and see you。 Then I will go full speed ahead again; and they can
  chase me if they like; for as long as they like; and as far as they like。 Now
  mind and be ready to jump when I tell you!'
  They piled on more coals; and the train shot into the tunnel; and the
  engine rushed and roared and rattled; till at last they shot out at the other
  end into fresh air and the peaceful moonlight; and saw the wood lying dark
  and helpful upon either side of the line。 The driver shut off steam and put
  on brakes; the Toad got down on the step; and as the train slowed down to
  almost a walking pace he heard the driver call out; ‘Now; jump!'
  Toad   jumped;   rolled   down   a   short   embankment;   picked   himself   up
  unhurt; scrambled into the wood and hid。
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  Peeping   out;   he   saw   his   train   get   up   speed   again   and   disappear   at   a
  great pace。 Then out of the tunnel burst the pursuing engine; roaring and
  whistling;   her   motley   crew   waving   their   various   weapons   and   shouting;
  ‘Stop! stop! stop!' When they were past; the Toad had a hearty laughfor
  the first time since he was thrown into prison。
  But he soon   stopped laughing   when he   came   to   consider  that   it   was
  now very late and dark and cold; and he was in an unknown wood; with no
  money and no chance of supper; and still far from friends and home; and
  the dead   silence   of everything;   after the roar   and   rattle of   the train;   was
  something of   a   shock。  He dared   not leave   the shelter of   the   trees;  so   he
  struck into the wood; with the idea of leaving the railway as far as possible
  behind him。
  After   so   many   weeks   within   walls;   he   found   the   wood   strange   and
  unfriendly      and   inclined;   he   thought;    to  make    fun   of  him。   Night…jars;
  sounding their mechanical rattle; made him think that the wood was full of
  searching      warders;    closing    in  on   him。   An    owl;   swooping     noiselessly
  towards him; brushed his shoulder with its wing; making him jump with
  the horrid certainty that it was a hand; then flitted off; moth…like; laughing
  its low ho! ho! ho; which Toad thought in very poor taste。 Once he met a
  fox; who stopped; looked him up and down in a sarcastic sort of way; and
  said; ‘Hullo; washerwoman! Half a pair of socks and a pillow… case short
  this   week!   Mind   it   doesn't   occur   again!'   and   swaggered   off;   sniggering。
  Toad looked about for a stone to throw at him; but could not succeed in
  finding one; which vexed him more than anything。 At last; cold; hungry;
  and tired out; he sought the shelter of a hollow tree; where with branches
  and dead leaves he made himself as comfortable a bed as he could; and
  slept soundly till the morning。
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  CHAPTER IX
  WAYFARERS ALL
  The Water Rat was restless; and he did not exactly know why。 To all
  appearance the summer's pomp was still at fullest height; and although in
  the    tilled  acres   green    had   given    way    to  gold;   though    rowans     were
  reddening;      and   the  woods     were   dashed     here   and   there  with   a  tawny
  fierceness;     yet   light   and    warmth     and    colour    were    still  present    in
  undiminished   measure;   clean   of   any   chilly   premonitions   of   the   passing
  year。 But the constant chorus of the orchards and hedges had shrunk to a
  casual   evensong   from   a   few   yet   unwearied   performers;   the   robin   was
  beginning to assert himself once more; and there was a feeling in the air of
  change   and   departure。   The   cuckoo;   of   course;   had   long   been   silent;   but
  many another feathered friend; for months a part of the familiar landscape
  and its small society; was missing too and it seemed that the ranks thinned
  steadily day by day。 Rat; ever observant of all winged movement; saw that
  it was taking daily a southing tendency; and even as he lay in bed at night
  he thought he could make out; passing in the darkness overhead; the beat
  and quiver of impatient pinions; obedient to the peremptory call。
  Nature's Grand Hotel has its Season; like the others。 As the guests one
  by   one   pack;   pay;   and   depart;   and   the   seats   at   the   table…d'hote   shrink
  pitifully  at   each   succeeding   meal;   as   suites   of   rooms   are   closed;   carpets
  taken   up;   and   waiters   sent   away;   those   boarders   who   are   staying   on;   en
  pension; until the next year's full re…opening; cannot help being somewhat
  affected by all these flittings and farewells; this eager discussion of plans;
  routes;     and    fresh   quarters;    this   daily   shrinkage     in   the   stream    of
  comradeship。 One gets unsettled; depressed; and inclined to be querulous。
  Why this craving for change? Why not stay on quietly here; like us; and be
  jolly? You don't know this hotel out of the season; and what fun we have
  among   ourselves;   we   fellows   who   remain   and   see   the   whole   interesting
  year out。 All very true; no doubt the others always reply; we quite envy
  youand some other year perhapsbut just now we have   engagements
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  and there's the bus at the doorour time is up! So they depart; with a smile
  and   a   nod;   and   we   miss   them;   and   feel   resentful。   The   Rat   was   a   self…
  sufficing sort of animal; rooted to the land; and; whoever went; he stayed;
  still; he could not help noticing what was in the air; and feeling some of its
  influence in his bones。
  It   was   difficult   to  settle   down    to  anything     seriously;    with   all  this
  flitting going on。 Leaving the water…side; where rushes stood thick and tall
  in   a   stream   that   was   becoming   sluggish   and   low;   he   wandered   country…
  wards;   crossed   a   field   or   two   of   pasturage   already   looking        dusty   and
  parched;      and   thrust    into  the   great    sea   of  wheat;     yellow;    wavy;    and
  murmurous;   full   of   quiet   motion   and   small   whisperings。   Here   he   often
  loved to wander; through the forest