a book of scoundrels(流浪之书)-第33章
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was at Portobello Races that their brilliant partnership began。 Hitherto
Haggart had worked by stealth； he had tracked his booty under the cloud
of night。 Now was the moment to prove his prowess in the eye of day； to
break with a past which he already deemed ignoble。 His heart leaped
with the occasion： he tackled his adventure with the hot…head energy of a
new member； big with his maiden speech。 The victim was chosen in an
instant： a backer； whose good fortune had broken the bookmakers。 There
was no thief on the course who did not wait； in hungry appetence； the
sportsman's descent from the stand； yet the novice outstripped them all。
‘I got the first dive at his keek…cloy；' he writes in his simple； heroic style；
‘and was so eager on my prey； that I pulled out the pocket along with the
money； and nearly upset the gentleman。' A steady brain saved him from
the consequence of an o'erbuoyant enthusiasm。 The notes were passed to
Barney in a flash； and when the sportsman turned upon his assailant；
Haggart's hands were empty。
Thereupon followed an infinite series of brilliant exploits。 With
Barney to aid； he plundered the Border like a reiver。 He stripped the
yeomen of Tweedside with a ferocity which should have avenged the
disgrace of Flodden。 More than once he ransacked Ecclefechan； though
it is unlikely that he emptied the lean pocket of Thomas Carlyle。 There
was not a gaff from Newcastle to the Tay which he did not haunt with
sedulous perseverance； nor was he confronted with failure； until his figure
became a universal terror。 His common method was to price a horse； and
while the dealer showed Barney the animal's teeth； Haggart would slip
under the uplifted arm； and ease the blockhead of his blunt。 Arrogant in
his skill； delighted with his manifold triumphs； Haggart led a life of
unbroken prosperity under the brisk air of heaven； and； despite the risk of
his profession； he remained two years a stranger to poverty and
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imprisonment。 His worst mishap was to slip his forks into an empty
pocket； or to encounter in his cups a milvadering horse… dealer； but his
joys were free and frank； while he exulted in his success with a boyish
glee。 ‘I was never happier in all my life than when I fingered all this
money；' he exclaims when he had captured the comfortable prize of two
hundred pounds。 And then he would make merry at Newcastle or York；
forgetting the knowing ones for a while； going abroad in white cape and
tops； and flicking his leg like a gentleman with a dandy whip。 But at last
Barney and a wayward ambition persuaded him to desert his proper craft
for the greater hazard of cracking a crib； and thus he was involved in his
ultimate ruin。 He incurred and he deserved the untoward fate of those
who overlook their talents' limitation； and when this master of pickpockets
followed Barney through the window of a secluded house upon the York
Road； he might already have felt the noose tightening at his neck。 The
immediate reward of this bungled attack was thirty pounds； but two days
later he was committed with Barney to the Durham Assizes； where he
exchanged the obscurity of the perfect craftsman for the notoriety of the
dangerous gaol…bird。
For the moment； however； he recovered his freedom： breaking prison；
he straightway conveyed a fiddlestick to his comrade； and in a twinkling
was at Newcastle again； picking up purses well lined with gold； and
robbing the bumpkins of their scouts and chats。 But the time of security
was overpast。 Marked and suspicious； he began to fear the solitude of
the country； he left the horse…fair for the city； and sought in the budging…
kens of Edinburgh the secrecy impossible on the hill…side。 A clumsy
experiment in shop…lifting doubled his danger； and more than once he saw
the inside of the police…office。 Henceforth； he was free of the family； he
loafed in the Shirra…Brae； he knew the flash houses of Leith and the
Grassmarket。 With Jean Johnston； the blowen of his choice； he smeared
his hands with the squalor of petty theft； and the drunken recklessness
wherewith he swaggered it abroad hastened his approaching downfall。
With a perpetual anxiety to avoid the nippers his artistry dwindled。
The left hand； invincible on the Cheviots； seemed no better than a bunch
of thumbs in the narrow ways of Edinburgh； and after innumerable
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misadventures Haggart was safely lodged in Dumfries gaol。 No sooner
was he locked within his cell than his restless brain planned a generous
escape。 He would win liberty for his fellows as well as for himself； and
after a brief council a murderous plot was framed and executed。 A stone
slung in a handkerchief sent Morrin； the gaoler； to sleep； the keys found on
him opened the massy doors； and Haggart was free with a reward set upon
his head。 The shock of the enterprise restored his magnanimity。 Never
did he display a finer bravery than in this spirited race for his life； and
though three counties were aroused he doubled and ducked to such
purpose that he outstripped John Richardson himself with all his
bloodhounds； and two days later marched into Carlisle disguised in the
stolen rags of a potato…bogle。
During the few months that remained to him of life he embarked upon
a veritable Odyssey： he scoured Scotland from the Border to St。 Andrews；
and finally contrived a journey oversea to Ireland； where he made the
name of Daniel O'Brien a terror to well…doers。 Insolent and careless； he
lurched from prison to prison； now it was Armagh that held him； now
Downpatrick； until at last he was thrust on a general charge of
vagabondage and ill…company into Kilmainham； which has since
harboured many a less valiant adventurer than David Haggart。 Here the
culminating disgrace overtook him： he was detected in the prison yard by
his ancient enemy； John Richardson； of Dumfries； who dragged him back
to Scotland heavily shackled and charged with murder。 So nimble had he
proved himself in extrication； that his captors secured him with pitiless
severity； round his waist he carried an iron belt； whereto were padlocked
the chains； clanking at his wrists and ankles。 Thus tortured and helpless；
he was fed ‘like a sucking turkey in Bedlam'； but his sorrows vanished；
and his dying courage revived at sight of the torchlight procession； which
set forth from Dumfries to greet his return。
His coach was hustled by a mob； thousands strong； eager to catch sight
of Haggart the Murderer； and though the spot where he slew Morrin was
like fire beneath his passing feet； he carried to his cell a heart and a brain
aflame with gratified vanity。 His guilt being patent； reprieve was as
hopeless as acquittal； and after the assured condemnation he spent his last
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few days with what profit he might in religious and literary exercises。 He
composed a memoir； which is a model of its kind； so diligently did he
make his soul； that he could appear on the scaffold in a chastened spirit of
prayerful gratitude； and； being an eminent scoundrel； he seemed a proper
subject for the ministrations of Mr。 George Combe。 ‘That is the one
thing I did not know before；' he confessed with an engaging modesty；
when his bumps were squeezed； and yet he was more than a match for the
amiable phrenologist； whose ignorance of mankind persuaded him to
believe that an illiterate felon could know himself and analyse his
character。
His character escaped his critics as it escaped himself。 Time was
when George Borrow； that other picaroon； surprised the youthful David；
thinking of Willie Wallace upon the Castle Rock； and Lavengro's romantic
memory transformed the raw…boned p
