wild wales-第89章
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whereabouts； and threatened to arrest him。 Tom； after trying in
vain to arrange matters with him； fled into South Wales； to
Carmarthenshire； where he carried wood for a timber…merchant； and
kept a turnpike gate； which belonged to the same individual。 But
the 〃old cancer〃 still followed him； and his horses were seized for
the debt。 His neighbours； however； assisted him； and bought the
horses in at a low price when they were put up for sale； and
restored them to him for what they had given。 Even then the matter
was not satisfactorily settled； for； years afterwards； on the
decease of Tom's father； the lawyer seized upon the property； which
by law descended to Tom O'r Nant； and turned his poor old mother
out upon the cold mountain's side。
Many strange adventures occurred to Tom in South Wales； but those
which befell him whilst officiating as a turnpike…keeper were
certainly the most extraordinary。 If what he says be true； as of
course it is … for who shall presume to doubt Tom O' the Dingle's
veracity？ … whosoever fills the office of turnpike…keeper in Wild
Wales should be a person of very considerable nerve。
〃We were in the habit of seeing；〃 says Tom； 〃plenty of passengers
going through the gate without paying toll； I mean such things as
are called phantoms or illusions … sometimes there were hearses and
mourning coaches； sometimes funeral processions on foot； the whole
to be seen as distinctly as anything could be seen； especially at
night…time。 I saw myself on a certain night a hearse go through
the gate whilst it was shut； I saw the horses and the harness； the
postillion； and the coachman； and the tufts of hair such as are
seen on the tops of hearses； and I saw the wheels scattering the
stones in the road； just as other wheels would have done。 Then I
saw a funeral of the same character； for all the world like a real
funeral； there was the bier and the black drapery。 I have seen
more than one。 If a young man was to be buried there would be a
white sheet； or something that looked like one … and sometimes I
have seen a flaring candle going past。
〃Once a traveller passing through the gate called out to me：
'Look！ yonder is a corpse candle coming through the fields beside
the highway。' So we paid attention to it as it moved； making
apparently towards the church from the other side。 Sometimes it
would be quite near the road； another time some way into the
fields。 And sure enough after the lapse of a little time a body
was brought by exactly the same route by which the candle had come；
owing to the proper road being blocked up with snow。
〃Another time there happened a great wonder connected with an old
man of Carmarthen； who was in the habit of carrying fish to Brecon；
Menny； and Monmouth； and returning with the poorer kind of
Gloucester cheese： my people knew he was on the road and had made
ready for him； the weather being dreadful； wind blowing and snow
drifting。 Well； in the middle of the night； my daughters heard the
voice of the old man at the gate； and their mother called to them
to open it quick； and invite the old man to come in to the fire！
One of the girls got up forthwith； but when she went out there was
nobody to be seen。 On the morrow； lo and behold！ the body of the
old man was brought past on a couch； he having perished in the snow
on the mountain of Tre 'r Castell。 Now this is the truth of the
matter。〃
Many wonderful feats did Tom perform connected with loading and
carrying； which acquired for him the reputation of being the best
wood carter of the south。 His dexterity at moving huge bodies was
probably never equalled。 Robinson Crusoe was not half so handy。
Only see how he moved a ship into the water； which a multitude of
people were unable to do。
〃After keeping the gate for two or three years；〃 says he； 〃I took
the lease of a piece of ground in Llandeilo Fawr and built a house
upon it； which I got licensed as a tavern for my daughters to keep。
I myself went on carrying wood as usual。 Now it happened that my
employer； the merchant at Abermarlais； had built a small ship of
about thirty or forty tons in the wood about a mile and a quarter
from the river Towy； which is capable of floating small vessels as
far as Carmarthen。 He had resolved that the people should draw it
to the river by way of sport； and had caused proclamation to be
made in four parish churches； that on such a day a ship would be
launched at Abermarlais； and that food and drink would be given to
any one who would come and lend a hand at the work。 Four hogsheads
of ale were broached； a great oven full of bread was baked； plenty
of cheese and butter bought； and meat cooked for the more
respectable people。 The ship was provided with four wheels； or
rather four great rolling stocks； fenced about with iron； with
great big axle…trees in them； well greased against the appointed
day。 I had been loading in the wood that day； and sending the team
forward； I went to see the business … and a pretty piece of
business it turned out。 All the food was eaten； the drink
swallowed to the last drop； the ship drawn about three roods； and
then left in a deep ditch。 By this time night was coming on； and
the multitude went away； some drunk； some hungry for want of food；
but the greater part laughing as if they would split their sides。
The merchant cried like a child； bitterly lamenting his folly； and
told me that he should have to take the ship to pieces before he
could ever get it out of the ditch。
〃I told him that I could take it to the river； provided I could but
get three or four men to help me； whereupon he said that if I could
but get the vessel to the water he would give me anything I asked；
and earnestly begged me to come the next morning； if possible。 I
did come with the lad and four horses。 I went before the team； and
set the men to work to break a hole through a great old wall； which
stood as it were before the ship。 We then laid a piece of timber
across the hole from which was a chain； to which the tackle； that
is the rope and pulleys； was hooked。 We then hooked one end of the
rope to the ship； and set the horses to pull at the other。 The
ship came out of the hole prosperously enough； and then we had to
hook the tackle to a tree； which was growing near； and by this
means we got the ship forward； but when we came to soft ground we
were obliged to put planks under the wheels to prevent their
sinking under the immense weight； when we came to the end of the
foremost planks we put the hinder ones before； and so on； when
there was no tree at hand to which we could hook the tackle； we
were obliged to drive a post down to hook it to。 So from tree to
post it got down to the river in a few days。 I was promised noble
wages by the merchant； but I never got anything from him but
promises and praises。 Some people came to look at us； and gave us
money to get ale； and that was all。〃
The merchant subsequently turned out a very great knave； cheating
Tom on various occasions； and finally broke very much in his debt。
Tom was obliged to sell off everything； and left South Wales
without horses or waggon； his old friend the Muse； however； stood
him in good stead。
〃Before I left；〃 says he； 〃I went to Brecon； and printed the
'Interlude of the King； the Justice； the Bishop； and the
Husbandman；' and got an old acquaintance of mine to play it with
me； and help me to sell the books。 I likewise busied myself in
getting subscribers to a book of songs called the 'Garden of
Minstrelsy。' It was printed at Trefecca。 The expense attending
the printing amounted to fifty…two pounds； but I was fortunate
enough to dispose of two thousand copies。 I subsequently composed
an interlude called 'Pleasure and Care；' and printed it； and after
that I made an interlude called the 'Three Powerful Ones of the
World： Poverty； Love； and Death。'〃
The poet's daughters were not successful in the tavern speculation
at Llandeilo； and followed their father into North Wales。 The
second he apprenticed to a milliner； the other two li
