第 1 节
作者:人生几何      更新:2021-08-28 17:14      字数:9322
  Three Ghost Stories
  by Charles Dickens
  Contents:
  The Signal…Man
  The Haunted…House
  The Trial For Murder
  THE SIGNAL…MAN
  〃Halloa!  Below there!〃
  When he heard a voice thus calling to him; he was standing at the
  door of his box; with a flag in his hand; furled round its short
  pole。  One would have thought; considering the nature of the ground;
  that he could not have doubted from what quarter the voice came; but
  instead of looking up to where I stood on the top of the steep
  cutting nearly over his head; he turned himself about; and looked
  down the Line。  There was something remarkable in his manner of
  doing so; though I could not have said for my life what。  But I know
  it was remarkable enough to attract my notice; even though his
  figure was foreshortened and shadowed; down in the deep trench; and
  mine was high above him; so steeped in the glow of an angry sunset;
  that I had shaded my eyes with my hand before I saw him at all。
  〃Halloa!  Below!〃
  From looking down the Line; he turned himself about again; and;
  raising his eyes; saw my figure high above him。
  〃Is there any path by which I can come down and speak to you?〃
  He looked up at me without replying; and I looked down at him
  without pressing him too soon with a repetition of my idle question。
  Just then there came a vague vibration in the earth and air; quickly
  changing into a violent pulsation; and an oncoming rush that caused
  me to start back; as though it had force to draw me down。  When such
  vapour as rose to my height from this rapid train had passed me; and
  was skimming away over the landscape; I looked down again; and saw
  him refurling the flag he had shown while the train went by。
  I repeated my inquiry。  After a pause; during which he seemed to
  regard me with fixed attention; he motioned with his rolled…up flag
  towards a point on my level; some two or three hundred yards
  distant。  I called down to him; 〃All right!〃 and made for that
  point。  There; by dint of looking closely about me; I found a rough
  zigzag descending path notched out; which I followed。
  The cutting was extremely deep; and unusually precipitate。  It was
  made through a clammy stone; that became oozier and wetter as I went
  down。  For these reasons; I found the way long enough to give me
  time to recall a singular air of reluctance or compulsion with which
  he had pointed out the path。
  When I came down low enough upon the zigzag descent to see him
  again; I saw that he was standing between the rails on the way by
  which the train had lately passed; in an attitude as if he were
  waiting for me to appear。  He had his left hand at his chin; and
  that left elbow rested on his right hand; crossed over his breast。
  His attitude was one of such expectation and watchfulness that I
  stopped a moment; wondering at it。
  I resumed my downward way; and stepping out upon the level of the
  railroad; and drawing nearer to him; saw that he was a dark sallow
  man; with a dark beard and rather heavy eyebrows。  His post was in
  as solitary and dismal a place as ever I saw。  On either side; a
  dripping…wet wall of jagged stone; excluding all view but a strip of
  sky; the perspective one way only a crooked prolongation of this
  great dungeon; the shorter perspective in the other direction
  terminating in a gloomy red light; and the gloomier entrance to a
  black tunnel; in whose massive architecture there was a barbarous;
  depressing; and forbidding air。  So little sunlight ever found its
  way to this spot; that it had an earthy; deadly smell; and so much
  cold wind rushed through it; that it struck chill to me; as if I had
  left the natural world。
  Before he stirred; I was near enough to him to have touched him。
  Not even then removing his eyes from mine; he stepped back one step;
  and lifted his hand。
  This was a lonesome post to occupy (I said); and it had riveted my
  attention when I looked down from up yonder。  A visitor was a
  rarity; I should suppose; not an unwelcome rarity; I hoped?  In me;
  he merely saw a man who had been shut up within narrow limits all
  his life; and who; being at last set free; had a newly…awakened
  interest in these great works。  To such purpose I spoke to him; but
  I am far from sure of the terms I used; for; besides that I am not
  happy in opening any conversation; there was something in the man
  that daunted me。
  He directed a most curious look towards the red light near the
  tunnel's mouth; and looked all about it; as if something were
  missing from it; and then looked it me。
  That light was part of his charge?  Was it not?
  He answered in a low voice;〃Don't you know it is?〃
  The monstrous thought came into my mind; as I perused the fixed eyes
  and the saturnine face; that this was a spirit; not a man。  I have
  speculated since; whether there may have been infection in his mind。
  In my turn; I stepped back。  But in making the action; I detected in
  his eyes some latent fear of me。  This put the monstrous thought to
  flight。
  〃You look at me;〃 I said; forcing a smile; 〃as if you had a dread of
  me。〃
  〃I was doubtful;〃 he returned; 〃whether I had seen you before。〃
  〃Where?〃
  He pointed to the red light he had looked at。
  〃There?〃 I said。
  Intently watchful of me; he replied (but without sound); 〃Yes。〃
  〃My good fellow; what should I do there?  However; be that as it
  may; I never was there; you may swear。〃
  〃I think I may;〃 he rejoined。  〃Yes; I am sure I may。〃
  His manner cleared; like my own。  He replied to my remarks with
  readiness; and in well…chosen words。  Had he much to do there?  Yes;
  that was to say; he had enough responsibility to bear; but exactness
  and watchfulness were what was required of him; and of actual work
  manual labourhe had next to none。  To change that signal; to trim
  those lights; and to turn this iron handle now and then; was all he
  had to do under that head。  Regarding those many long and lonely
  hours of which I seemed to make so much; he could only say that the
  routine of his life had shaped itself into that form; and he had
  grown used to it。  He had taught himself a language down here;if
  only to know it by sight; and to have formed his own crude ideas of
  its pronunciation; could be called learning it。  He had also worked
  at fractions and decimals; and tried a little algebra; but he was;
  and had been as a boy; a poor hand at figures。  Was it necessary for
  him when on duty always to remain in that channel of damp air; and
  could he never rise into the sunshine from between those high stone
  walls?  Why; that depended upon times and circumstances。  Under some
  conditions there would be less upon the Line than under others; and
  the same held good as to certain hours of the day and night。  In
  bright weather; he did choose occasions for getting a little above
  these lower shadows; but; being at all times liable to be called by
  his electric bell; and at such times listening for it with redoubled
  anxiety; the relief was less than I would suppose。
  He took me into his box; where there was a fire; a desk for an
  official book in which he had to make certain entries; a telegraphic
  instrument with its dial; face; and needles; and the little bell of
  which he had spoken。  On my trusting that he would excuse the remark
  that he had been well educated; and (I hoped I might say without
  offence) perhaps educated above that station; he observed that
  instances of slight incongruity in such wise would rarely be found
  wanting among large bodies of men; that he had heard it was so in
  workhouses; in the police force; even in that last desperate
  resource; the army; and that he knew it was so; more or less; in any
  great railway staff。  He had been; when young (if I could believe
  it; sitting in that hut;he scarcely could); a student of natural
  philosophy; and had attended lectures; but he had run wild; misused
  his opportunities; gone down; and never risen again。  He had no
  complaint to offer about that。  He had made his bed; and he lay upon
  it。  It was far too late to make another。
  All that I have here condensed he said in a quiet manner; with his
  grave dark regards divided between me and the fire。  He threw in the
  word; 〃Sir;〃 from time to time; and especially when he referred to
  his youth;as though to request me to understand that he claimed to
  be nothing but what I found him。  He was several times interrupted
  by the little bell; and had to read off messages; and send replies。
  Once he had to stand without the door; and display a flag as a train
  passed; and make some verbal communication to the driver。  In the
  discharge of his duties; I observed him to be remarkably exact and
  vigilant; breaking off his discourse at a syllable; and remaining
  silent until what he had to do was done。
  In a word; I should have set this man down as one of the safest of
  men to be employ