preliminary chapter-第2章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


into　the　river　Gander；　were　dimly　seen　contending　with　the　tide　like
the　relics　of　neas's　shipwreck；…

Rari　apparent　mantes　in　gurgite　vasto。

　　I　applied　my　poor　exertions　where　they　seemed　to　be　most　needed；
and　with　the　assistance　of　one　or　two　of　the　company　who　had　escaped
unhurt；　easily　succeeded　in　fishing　out　two　of　the　unfortunate
passengers；　who　were　stout　active　young　fellows；　and；　but　for　the
preposterous　length　of　their　greatcoats；　and　the　equally　fashionable
latitude　and　longitude　of　their　Wellington　trousers；　would　have　required
little　assistance　from　any　one。　The　third　was　sickly　and
elderly；　and　might　have　perished　but　for　the　efforts　used　to　preserve
him。

　　When　the　two　greatcoated　gentlemen　had　extricated　themselves　from
the　river；　and　shaken　their　ears　like　huge　water…dogs；　a　violent　altercation
ensued　betwixt　them　and　the　coachman　and　guard；　concerning
the　cause　of　their　overthrow。　In　the　course　of　the　squabble；　I　observed
that　both　my　new　acquaintances　belonged　to　the　law；　and　that　their
professional　sharpness　was　likely　to　prove　an　overmatch　for　the　surly
and　official　tone　of　the　guardians　of　the　vehicle。　The　dispute　ended
in　the　guard　assuring　the　passengers　that　they　should　have　seats　in　a
heavy　coach　which　would　pass　that　spot　in　less　than　half…an…hour；
provided　it　were　not　full。　Chance　seemed　to　favour　this　arrangement；
for　when　the　expected　vehicle；　arrived；　there　were　only　two　places
occupied　in　a　carriage　which　professed　to　carry　six。　The　two　ladies
who　had　been　disinterred　out　of　the　fallen　vehicle　were　readily　admitted；
but　positive　objections　were　stated　by　those　previously　in
possession　to　the　admittance　of　the　two　lawyers；　whose　wetted　garments
being　much　of　the　nature　of　well…soaked　sponges；　there　was　every
reason　to　believe　they　would　refund　a　considerable　part　of　the　water
they　had　collected；　to　the　inconvenience　of　their　fellow…passengers。　On
the　other　hand；　the　lawyers　rejected　a　seat　on　the　roof；　alleging　that
they　had　only　taken　that　station　for　pleasure　for　one　stage；　but　were
entitled　in　all　respects　to　free　egress　and　regress　from　the　interior；　to
which　their　contract　positively　referred。　After　some　altercation；　in
which　something　was　said　upon　the　edict　_Naut　caupones　stabularii；_
the　coach　went　off；　leaving　the　learned　gentlemen　to　abide　by　their
action　of　damages。

　　They　immediately　applied　to　me　to　guide　them　to　the　next　village
and　the　best　inn；　and　from　the　account　I　gave　them　of　the　Wallace
Head；　declared　they　were　much　better　pleased　to　stop　there　than　to　go
forward　upon　the　terms　of　that　impudent　scoundrel　the　guard　of　the
Somerset。　All　that　they　now　wanted　was　a　lad　to　carry　their
travelling　bags；　who　was　easily　procured　from　an　adjoining　cottage；
and　they　prepared　to　walk　forward；　when　they　found　there　was
another　passenger　in　the　same　deserted　situation　with　themselves。
This　was　the　elderly　and　sickly…looking　person；　who　had　been　precipitated
into　the　river　along　with　the　two　young　lawyers。　He；　it
seems；　had　been　too　modest　to　push　his　own　plea　against　the　coachman
when　he　saw　that　of　his　betters　rejected；　and　now　remained
behind　with　a　look　of　timid　anxiety；　plainly　intimating　that　he　was
deficient　in　those　means　of　recommendation　which　are　necessary　passports
to　the　hospitality　of　an　inn。

　　I　ventured　to　call　the　attention　of　the　two　dashing　young　blades；
for　such　they　seemed；　to　the　desolate　condition　of　their　fellow…traveller。
They　took　the　hint　with　ready　good…nature。

　　‘‘O；　true；　Mr。　Dunover；''　said　one　of　the　youngsters；　‘‘you　must
not　remain　on　the　pav