the vanished messenger-第4章
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of sillylike； but they aren't much hurt。 The guard's stone dead。〃
〃Where are we？〃
〃A few hundred yards from Wymondham。 Let's have a look for the
other gentleman。〃
Mr。 John P。 Dunster was lying quite still； his right leg doubled
up； and a huge block of telegraph post； which the saloon had carried
with it in its fall； still pressing against his forehead。 He
groaned as they dragged him out and laid him down upon a cushion
in the shelter of the wreckage。
〃He's alive all right；〃 the porter remarked。 〃There's a doctor on
the way。 Let's cover him up quick and wait。〃
〃Can't we carry him to shelter of some sort Gerald proposed。
The man shook his head。 Speech of any sort was difficult。 Even
with his lips close to the other's ears； he had almost to shout。
〃Couldn't be done；〃 he replied。 〃It's all one can do to walk alone
when you get out in the middle of the field； away from the shelter
of the embankment here。 There's bits of trees flying all down the
lane。 Never was such a night！ Folks is fair afraid of the morning
to see what's happened。 There's a mill blown right over on its side
in the next field； and the man in charge of it lying dead。 This
poor chap's bad enough。〃
Gerald； on all fours； had crept back into the compartment。 The
bottle of wine was smashed into atoms。 He came out； dragging the
small dressing…case which his companion had kept on the table before
him。 One side of it was dented in； but the lock； which was of great
strength； still held。
〃Perhaps there's a flask somewhere in this dressing…case；〃 Gerald
said。 〃 Lend me a knife。〃
Strong though it had been； the lock was already almost torn out
from its foundation。 They forced the spring and opened it。 The
porter turned his lantern on the widening space。 Just as Gerald
was raising the lid very slowly to save the contents from being
scattered by the wind； the man turned his head to answer an
approaching hail。 Gerald raised the lid a little higher and
suddenly closed it with a bang。
〃There's folks coming at last！〃 the porter exclaimed； turning around
excitedly。 〃They've been a time and no mistake。 The village isn't
a quarter of a mile away。 Did you find a flask； sir？〃
Gerald made no answer。 The dressing…case once more was closed； and
his hand pressed upon the lid。 The porter turned the light upon his
face and whistled softly。
〃You're about done yourself； sir；〃 he remarked。 〃Hold up。〃
He caught the young man in his arms。 There was another roar in
Gerald's ears besides the roar of the wind。 He had never fainted
in his life； but the feeling was upon him now … a deadly sickness；
a swaying of the earth。 The porter suddenly gave a little cry。
〃If I'm not a born idiot！〃 he exclaimed； drawing a bottle from the
pocket of his coat with his disengaged hand。 〃There's whisky here。
I was taking it home to the missis for her rheumatism。 Now； then。〃
He drew the cork from the bottle with his teeth and forced some of
the liquid between the lips of the young man。 The voices now were
coming nearer and nearer。 Gerald made a desperate effort。
〃I am all right；〃 he declared。 〃Let's look after him。〃
They groped their way towards the unconscious man； Gerald still
gripping the dressing…case with both hands。 There were no signs
of any change in his condition； but he was still breathing heavily。
Then they heard a shout behind； almost in their ears。 The porter
staggered to his feet。
〃It's all right now； sir！〃 he exclaimed。 〃They've brought blankets
and a stretcher and brandy。 Here's a doctor； sir。〃
A powerful…looking man； hatless； and wrapped in a great ulster；
moved towards them。
〃How many are there of you？〃 he asked； as he bent over Mr。 Dunster。
〃Only we two；〃 Gerald replied。 〃Is my friend badly hurt？〃
〃Concussion；〃 the doctor announced。 〃We'll take him to the village。
What about you； young man？ Your face is bleeding； I see。〃
〃Just a cut；〃 Gerald faltered； 〃nothing else。〃
〃Lucky chap；〃 the doctor remarked。 〃Let's get him to shelter of
some sort。 Come along。 There's an inn at the corner of the lane
there。〃
They all staggered along； Gerald still clutching the dressing…case；
and supported on the other side by an excited and somewhat
incoherent villager。
〃Such a storm as never was；〃 the latter volunteered。 〃The telegraph
wires are all down for miles and miles。 There won't be no trains
running along this line come many a week； and as for trees … why；
it's as though some one had been playing ninepins in Squire
Fellowes's park。 When the morning do come； for sure there will be
things to be seen。 This way； sir。 Be careful of the gate。〃
They staggered along down the lane； climbing once over a tree
which lay across the lane and far into the adjoining field。 Soon
they were joined by more of the villagers； roused from their beds
by rumours of terrible happenings。 The little； single…storey；
ivy…covered inn was all lit up and the door held firmly open。 They
passed through the narrow entrance and into the stone…flagged
barroom； where the men laid down their stretcher。 As many of the
villagers as could crowd in filled the passage。 Gerald sank into
a chair。 The sudden absence of wind was almost disconcerting。 He
felt himself once more in danger of fainting。 He was only vaguely
conscious of drinking hot milk； poured from a jug by a red…faced
and sympathetic woman。 Its restorative effect； however； was
immediate and wonderful。 The mist cleared from before his eyes；
his brain began to work。 Always in the background the horror and
the shame were there； the shame which kept his hand pressed with
unnatural strength upon the broken lock of that dressing…case。
He sat a little apart from the others and listened。 Above the
confused murmur of voices he could hear the doctor's comment and
brief orders； as he rose to his feet after examining the unconscious
man。
〃An ordinary concussion；〃 he declared。 〃I must get round and see
the engine…driver now。 They have got him in a shed by the embankment。
I'll call in again later on。 Let's have one more look at you；
young man。〃
He glanced at the cut on Gerald's forehead； noted the access of
colour in his cheeks； and nodded。
〃Born to be hanged； you were；〃 he pronounced。 〃You've had a
marvellous escape。 I'll be in again presently。 No need to worry
about your friend。 He looks as though he'd got a mighty constitution。
Light my lantern； Brown。 Two of you had better come with me to the
shed。 It's no night for a man to be wandering about alone。〃
He departed； and many of the villagers with him。 The landlady sat
down and began to weep。
〃Such a night！ Such a night！〃 she exclaimed； wringing her hands。
〃And there's the doctor talks about putting the poor gentleman to
bed！ Why； the roof's off the back part of the house； and not a
bedroom in the place but mine and John's； and the rain coming in
there in torrents。 Such a night！ It's the judgment of the Lord
upon us！ That's what it is … the judgment of the Lord！〃
〃Judgment of the fiddlesticks！〃 her husband growled。 〃Can't you
light the fire； woman？ What's the good of sitting there whining？〃
〃Light the fire；〃 she repeated bitterly； 〃and the chimney lying out
in the road！ Do you want to suffocate us all； or is the beer still
in your head？ It's your evil doings； Richard Budden； and others
like you； that have brought this upon us。 If Mr。 Wembley would
but come in and pray！〃
Her husband scoffed。 He was dressed only in his shirt and trousers；
his hair rough； his braces hanging down behind。
〃Come in and pray！〃 he repeated。 〃Not he！ Not Mr。 Wembley！ He's
safe tucked up in his bed； shivering with fear； I'll bet you。 He's
not getting his feet wet to save a body or lend a hand here。 Souls
are his job。 You let the preacher alone； mother； and tell us what
we're going to do with this gentleman。〃
〃The Lord only knows！〃 she cried； wringing her hands。
〃Can I hire a motor…car from anywhere near？〃 Gerald asked。
〃There's motor…cars； right enough；〃 the innkeeper replied； 〃but not
many as would be fools enough to take one out。 You couldn't see
the road； and I doubt if one of them plaguey thin
