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lavengro-第28部分

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handsomest; caught my arm and pointed to her forehead。'



'And what does your duty consist of?  Have you nothing else to do 

than pay visits and receive them?'



'We do what is required of us; we guard this edifice; perform our 

evolutions; and help the excise; I am frequently called up in the 

dead of night to go to some wild place or other in quest of an 

illicit still; this last part of our duty is poor mean work; I 

don't like it; nor more does Bagg; though without it we should not 

see much active service; for the neighbourhood is quiet; save the 

poor creatures with their stills; not a soul is stirring。  'Tis 

true there's Jerry Grant。'



'And who is Jerry Grant?'



'Did you never hear of him? that's strange; the whole country is 

talking about him; he is a kind of outlaw; rebel; or robber; all 

three I daresay; there's a hundred pounds offered for his head。'



'And where does he live?'



'His proper home; they say; is in the Queen's County; where he has 

a band; but he is a strange fellow; fond of wandering about by 

himself amidst the bogs and mountains; and living in the old 

castles; occasionally he quarters himself in the peasants' houses; 

who let him do just what he pleases; he is free of his money; and 

often does them good turns; and can be good…humoured enough; so 

they don't dislike him。  Then he is what they call a fairy man; a 

person in league with fairies and spirits; and able to work much 

harm by supernatural means; on which account they hold him in great 

awe; he is; moreover; a mighty strong and tall fellow。  Bagg has 

seen him。'



'Has he?'



'Yes! and felt him; he too is a strange one。  A few days ago he was 

told that Grant had been seen hovering about an old castle some two 

miles off in the bog; so one afternoon what does he do but; without 

saying a word to me … for which; by the bye; I ought to put him 

under arrest; though what I should do without Bagg I have no idea 

whatever … what does he do but walk off to the castle; intending; 

as I suppose; to pay a visit to Jerry。  He had some difficulty in 

getting there on account of the turf…holes in the bog; which he was 

not accustomed to; however; thither at last he got and went in。  It 

was a strange lonesome place; he says; and he did not much like the 

look of it; however; in he went; and searched about from the bottom 

to the top and down again; but could find no one; he shouted and 

hallooed; but nobody answered; save the rooks and choughs; which 

started up in great numbers。  〃I have lost my trouble;〃 said Bagg; 

and left the castle。  It was now late in the afternoon; near 

sunset; when about half…way over the bog he met a man … '



'And that man was … '



'Jerry Grant! there's no doubt of it。  Bagg says it was the most 

sudden thing in the world。  He was moving along; making the best of 

his way; thinking of nothing at all save a public…house at Swanton 

Morley; which he intends to take when he gets home; and the 

regiment is disbanded … though I hope that will not be for some 

time yet:  he had just leaped a turf…hole; and was moving on; when; 

at the distance of about six yards before him; he saw a fellow 

coming straight towards him。  Bagg says that he stopped short; as 

suddenly as if he had heard the word halt; when marching at double 

quick time。  It was quite a surprise; he says; and he can't imagine 

how the fellow was so close upon him before he was aware。  He was 

an immense tall fellow … Bagg thinks at least two inches taller 

than himself … very well dressed in a blue coat and buff breeches; 

for all the world like a squire when going out hunting。  Bagg; 

however; saw at once that he had a roguish air; and he was on his 

guard in a moment。  〃Good…evening to ye; sodger;〃 says the fellow; 

stepping close up to Bagg; and staring him in the face。  〃Good…

evening to you; sir!  I hope you are well;〃 says Bagg。  〃You are 

looking after some one?〃 says the fellow。  〃Just so; sir;〃 says 

Bagg; and forthwith seized him by the collar; the man laughed; Bagg 

says it was such a strange awkward laugh。  〃Do you know whom you 

have got hold of; sodger?〃 said he。  〃I believe I do; sir;〃 said 

Bagg; 〃and in that belief will hold you fast in the name of King 

George and the quarter sessions〃; the next moment he was sprawling 

with his heels in the air。  Bagg says there was nothing remarkable 

in that; he was only flung by a kind of wrestling trick; which he 

could easily have baffled had he been aware of it。  〃You will not 

do that again; sir;〃 said he; as he got up and put himself on his 

guard。  The fellow laughed again more strangely and awkwardly than 

before; then; bending his body and moving his head from one side to 

the other as a cat does before she springs; and crying out; 〃Here's 

for ye; sodger!〃 he made a dart at Bagg; rushing in with his head 

foremost。  〃That will do; sir;〃 says Bagg; and; drawing himself 

back; he put in a left…handed blow with all the force of his body 

and arm; just over the fellow's right eye … Bagg is a left…handed 

hitter; you must know … and it was a blow of that kind which won 

him his famous battle at Edinburgh with the big Highland sergeant。  

Bagg says that he was quite satisfied with the blow; more 

especially when he saw the fellow reel; fling out his arms; and 

fall to the ground。  〃And now; sir;〃 said he; 〃I'll make bold to 

hand you over to the quarter sessions; and; if there is a hundred 

pounds for taking you; who has more right to it than myself?〃  So 

he went forward; but ere he could lay hold of his man the other was 

again on his legs; and was prepared to renew the combat。  They 

grappled each other … Bagg says he had not much fear of the result; 

as he now felt himself the best man; the other seeming half…stunned 

with the blow … but just then there came on a blast; a horrible 

roaring wind bearing night upon its wings; snow; and sleet; and 

hail。  Bagg says he had the fellow by the throat quite fast; as he 

thought; but suddenly he became bewildered; and knew not where he 

was; and the man seemed to melt away from his grasp; and the wind 

howled more and more; and the night poured down darker and darker; 

the snow and the sleet thicker and more blinding。  〃Lord have mercy 

upon us!〃 said Bagg。'



MYSELF。  A strange adventure that; it is well that Bagg got home 

alive。



JOHN。  He says that the fight was a fair fight; and that the fling 

he got was a fair fling; the result of a common enough wrestling 

trick。  But with respect to the storm; which rose up just in time 

to save the fellow; he is of opinion that it was not fair; but 

something Irish and supernatural。



MYSELF。  I daresay he's right。  I have read of witchcraft in the 

Bible。



JOHN。  He wishes much to have one more encounter with the fellow; 

he says that on fair ground; and in fine weather; he has no doubt 

that he could master him; and hand him over to the quarter 

sessions。  
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