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