christie johnstone-第32章
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They carried on till all on shore thought they would run over him； or
past him； but no； at ten yards distant they were all at the sail； and had
it down like lightning； and then Flucker sprang to the bows； the other
boy to the helm。
Unfortunately； there were but two Johnstones in the boat； and this boy；
in his hurry； actually put the helm to port； instead of to starboard。
Christie； who stood amidships； saw the error； she sprang aft； flung the
boy from the helm and jammed it hard…a…starboard with her foot。 The boat
answered the helm； but too late for Flucker； the man was four yards from
him as the boat drifted by。
〃He's a deed mon！〃 cried Liston； on shore。
The boat's length gave one more little chance； the after…part must drift
nearer himthanks to Christie。 Flucker flew aft； flung himself on his
back； and seized his sister's petticoats。
〃Fling yourself ower the gunwale；〃 screamed he。 〃Ye'll no hurt； I'se haud
ye。〃
She flung herself boldly over the gunwale； the man was sinking； her nails
touched his hair； her fingers entangled themselves in it； she gave him a
powerful wrench and brought him alongside； the boys pinned him like
wild…cats。
Christie darted away forward to the mast； passed a rope round it； threw
it the boys； in a moment it was under his shoulders。 Christie hauled on
it from the fore thwart； the boys lifted him； and they tumbled him；
gasping and gurgling like a dying salmon； into the bottom of the boat；
and flung net and jackets and sail over him to keep the life in him。
Ah！ draw your breath all hands at sea and ashore； and don't try it again；
young gentleman； for there was nothing to spare； when you were missed at
the bow two stout hearts quivered for you； Lord Ipsden hid his face in
his two hands； Sandy Liston gave a groan； and； when you were grabbed
astern； jumped out of his boat and cried：
〃A gill o' whisky for ony favor； for it's turned me as seeck as a doeg。〃
He added： 〃He may bless yon lassie's fowr banes； for she's ta'en him oot
o' Death's maw； as sure as Gude's in heaven！〃
Lady Barbara； who had all her life been longing to see perilous
adventures； prayed and trembled and cried most piteously； and Lord
Ipsden's back was to her； and he paid no attention to her voice； but when
the battle was won； and Lord Ipsden turned and saw her； she clung to his
arm and dried her tears； and then the Old Town cheered the boat； and the
New Town cheered the boat； and the towns cheered each other； and the
Johnstones； lad and lass； set their sail； and swept back in triumph to
the pier； so then Lady Barbara's blood mounted and tingled in her veins
like fire。 〃Oh； how noble！〃 cried she。
〃Yes； dearest；〃 said Ipsden。 〃You have seen something great done at last；
and by a woman； too！〃
〃Yes；〃 said Barbara； 〃how beautiful！ oh！ how beautiful it all is； only
the next one I see I should like the danger to be over first； that is
all。〃
The boys and Christie； the moment they had saved Gatty； up sail again for
Newhaven； they landed in about three minutes at the pier。
TIME。 From Newhaven town to pier on foot： 1 m。 30 sec。 First tack： 5 m。
30 sec。 Second tack； and getting him on board： 4 m。 0 sec。 Back to the
pier； going free： 3 m。 30 sec。
Total： 14 m。 30 sec。
They came in to the pier； Christie sitting quietly on the thwart after
her work； the boy steering； and Flucker standing against the mast； hands
in his pockets； the deportment this young gentleman thought fit to assume
on this occasion was 〃complete apathy〃； he came into port with the air of
one bringing home the ordinary results of his day's fishing； this was； I
suppose； to impress the spectators with the notion that saving lives was
an every…day affair with La Famille Johnstone； as for Gatty； he came to
himself under his heap of nets and jackets and spoke once between Death's
jaw and the pier。
〃Beautiful！〃 murmured he； and was silent。 The meaning of this observation
never transpired； and never will in this world。 Six months afterward；
being subjected to a searching interrogatory； he stated that he had
alluded to the majesty and freedom of a certain _pose_ Christie had
adopted while hailing him from the boat； but； reader； if he had wanted
you and me to believe it was this； he should not have been half a year
finding it out_increduli odimus！_ They landed； and Christie sprang on
shore； while she was wending her way through the crowd； impeded by
greetings and acclamations； with every now and then a lass waving her
kerchief or a lad his bonnet over the heroine's head； poor Mrs。 Gatty was
receiving the attention of the New Town； they brought her to； they told
her the good newsshe thanked God。
The whole story had spread like wildfire； they expostulated with her；
they told her now was the time to show she had a heart； and bless the
young people。
She rewarded them with a valuable precept。
〃Mind your own business！〃 said she。
〃Hech！ y' are a dour wife！〃 cried Newhaven。
The dour wife bent her eyes on the ground。
The people were still collected at the foot of the street； but they were
now in knots； when in dashed Flucker； arriving by a short cut； and
crying： 〃She does na ken； she does na ken； she was ower moedest to look；
I daur say； and ye'll no tell her； for he's a blackguard； an' he's just
making a fule o' the puir lass； and if she kens what she has done for
him； she'll be fonder o' him than a coow o' her cauf。〃
〃Oh； Flucker！ we maun tell her； it's her lad； her ain lad； she saved；〃
expostulated a woman。
〃Did ever my feyther do a good turn till ye？〃 cried Flucker。 〃Awel； then；
ye'll no tell the lassie； she's weel as she is； he's gaun t' Enngland the
day。 I cannie gie ye a' a hidin'；〃 said he； with an eye that flashed
volumes of good intention on a hundred and fifty people； 〃but I am
feytherless and motherless； an' I can fa' on my knees an' curse ye a' if
ye do us sic an ill turn； an' then ye'll see whether ye'll thrive。〃
〃We'll no tell； Flucker； ye need na curse us ony way。〃
His lordship； with all the sharp authority of a skipper； ordered Master
Flucker to the pier； with a message to the yacht； Flucker _qua_ yachtsman
was a machine； and went as a matter of course。 〃I am determined to tell
her；〃 said Lord Ipsden to Lady Barbara。
〃But；〃 remonstrated Lady Barbara； 〃the poor boy says he will curse us if
we do。〃
〃He won't curse me。〃
〃How do you know that？〃
〃Because the little blackguard's grog would be stopped on board the yacht
if he did。〃
Flucker had not been gone many minutes before loud cheering was heard；
and Christie Johnstone appeared convoyed by a large detachment of the Old
Town； she had tried to slip away； but they would not let her。 They
convoyed her in triumph till they saw the New Town people； and then they
turned and left her。
She came in among the groups； a changed womanher pallor and her
listlessness were gonethe old light was in her eye； and the bright
color in her cheek； and she seemed hardly to touch the earth。
〃I'm just droukit； lasses；〃 cried she； gayly； wringing her sleeve。 Every
eye was upon her； did she know； or did she not know； what she had done？
Lord Ipsden stepped forward； the people tacitly accepted him as the
vehicle of their curiosity。
〃Who was it； Christie？〃
〃I dinna ken； for my pairt！〃
Mrs。 Gatty came out of the house。
〃A handsome young fellow； I hope； Christie？〃 resumed Lord Ipsden。
〃Ye maun ask Flucker；〃 was the reply。 〃I could no tak muckle notice； ye
ken；〃 putting her hand before her eye； and half smiling。
〃Well！ I hear he is very good…looking； and I hear you think so； too。〃
She glided to him and looked in his face。 He gave a meaning smile。 The
poor girl looked quite perplexed。 Suddenly she gave a violent start。
〃Christie！ where is Christie？〃 had cried a well…known voice。 He had
learned on the pier who had saved himhe had slipped up among the boats
to find herhe could not find his hathe could not wait for ithis
dripping hair showed where he had beenit was her love whom she had just
saved out of Death's very jaws。
She gave a cry of love that went through every heart； high or low； young
or old； that heard it。 And she went to him； through the air it seemed；
bu
