the lazy tour of two idle apprentices(两个闲荡徒弟的旅行)-第6章
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rugged and stony banks of the stream； and here again Thomas lost ground
sadly； and fell far behind his travelling companions。 Not much more than
six weeks had elapsed since he had sprained one of his ankles； and he
began to feel this same ankle getting rather weak when he found himself
among the stones that were strewn about the running water。 Goodchild
and the landlord were getting farther and farther ahead of him。 He saw
them cross the stream and disappear round a projection on its banks。 He
heard them shout the moment after as a signal that they had halted and
were waiting for him。 Answering the shout； he mended his pace； crossed
the stream where they had crossed it； and was within one step of the
opposite bank； when his foot slipped on a wet stone； his weak ankle gave a
twist outwards； a hot； rending； tearing pain ran through it at the same
moment； and down fell the idlest of the Two Idle Apprentices； crippled in
an instant。
The situation was now； in plain terms； one of absolute danger。 There
lay Mr。 Idle writhing with pain； there was the mist as thick as ever； there
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was the landlord as completely lost as the strangers whom he was
conducting； and there was the compass broken in Goodchild's pocket。 To
leave the wretched Thomas on unknown ground was plainly impossible；
and to get him to walk with a badly sprained ankle seemed equally out of
the question。 However； Goodchild （brought back by his cry for help）
bandaged the ankle with a pocket…handkerchief； and assisted by the
landlord； raised the crippled Apprentice to his legs； offered him a shoulder
to lean on； and exhorted him for the sake of the whole party to try if he
could walk。 Thomas； assisted by the shoulder on one side； and a stick on
the other； did try； with what pain and difficulty those only can imagine
who have sprained an ankle and have had to tread on it afterwards。 At a
pace adapted to the feeble hobbling of a newly…lamed man； the lost party
moved on； perfectly ignorant whether they were on the right side of the
mountain or the wrong； and equally uncertain how long Idle would be able
to contend with the pain in his ankle； before he gave in altogether and fell
down again； unable to stir another step。
Slowly and more slowly； as the clog of crippled Thomas weighed
heavily and more heavily on the march of the expedition； the lost
travellers followed the windings of the stream； till they came to a faintly…
marked cart…track； branching off nearly at right angles； to the left。 After a
little consultation it was resolved to follow this dim vestige of a road in the
hope that it might lead to some farm or cottage； at which Idle could be left
in safety。 It was now getting on towards the afternoon； and it was fast
becoming more than doubtful whether the party； delayed in their progress
as they now were； might not be overtaken by the darkness before the right
route was found； and be condemned to pass the night on the mountain；
without bit or drop to comfort them； in their wet clothes。
The cart…track grew fainter and fainter； until it was washed out
altogether by another little stream； dark； turbulent； and rapid。 The landlord
suggested； judging by the colour of the water； that it must be flowing from
one of the lead mines in the neighbourhood of Carrock； and the travellers
accordingly kept by the stream for a little while； in the hope of possibly
wandering towards help in that way。 After walking forward about two
hundred yards； they came upon a mine indeed； but a mine； exhausted and
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abandoned； a dismal； ruinous place； with nothing but the wreck of its
works and buildings left to speak for it。 Here； there were a few sheep
feeding。 The landlord looked at them earnestly； thought he recognised
the marks on them … then thought he did not … finally gave up the sheep in
despair … and walked on just as ignorant of the whereabouts of the party as
ever。
The march in the dark； literally as well as metaphorically in the dark；
had now been continued for three…quarters of an hour from the time when
the crippled Apprentice had met with his accident。 Mr。 Idle； with all the
will to conquer the pain in his ankle； and to hobble on； found the power
rapidly failing him； and felt that another ten minutes at most would find
him at the end of his last physical resources。 He had just made up his
mind on this point； and was about to communicate the dismal result of his
reflections to his companions； when the mist suddenly brightened； and
begun to lift straight ahead。 In another minute； the landlord； who was in
advance； proclaimed that he saw a tree。 Before long； other trees
appeared … then a cottage … then a house beyond the cottage； and a familiar
line of road rising behind it。 Last of all； Carrock itself loomed darkly
into view； far away to the right hand。 The party had not only got down
the mountain without knowing how； but had wandered away from it in the
mist； without knowing why … away； far down on the very moor by which
they had approached the base of Carrock that morning。
The happy lifting of the mist； and the still happier discovery that the
travellers had groped their way； though by a very roundabout direction； to
within a mile or so of the part of the valley in which the farm…house was
situated； restored Mr。 Idle's sinking spirits and reanimated his failing
strength。 While the landlord ran off to get the dog…cart； Thomas was
assisted by Goodchild to the cottage which had been the first building seen
when the darkness brightened； and was propped up against the garden wall；
like an artist's lay figure waiting to be forwarded； until the dog… cart
should arrive from the farm…house below。 In due time … and a very long
time it seemed to Mr。 Idle … the rattle of wheels was heard； and the
crippled Apprentice was lifted into the seat。 As the dog…cart was driven
back to the inn； the landlord related an anecdote which he had just heard at
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the farm…house； of an unhappy man who had been lost； like his two guests
and himself； on Carrock； who had passed the night there alone； who had
been found the next morning； 'scared and starved；' and who never went out
afterwards； except on his way to the grave。 Mr。 Idle heard this sad story；
and derived at least one useful impression from it。 Bad as the pain in his
ankle was； he contrived to bear it patiently； for he felt grateful that a worse
accident had not befallen him in the wilds of Carrock。
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THE LAZY TOUR OF TWO IDLE APPRENTICES
CHAPTER II
The dog…cart； with Mr。 Thomas Idle and his ankle on the hanging seat
behind；
