Volume I Part 6 (1/2)

I AM BRED UP IN VERY BAD COMPANY, AND (TO MY SHAME) HELP TO KILL THE KING'S DEER

I LAY all that night in a little Hole by the side of a Bank, just as though I had been a Fox-cub I was not in much better case than that Vermin, and I only marvel that my Schoolmaster did not come out next day to Hunt me with horses and hounds Hounds!--the Black Fever to him!--he had used me like a Hound any tiue under his Double Thonging Happily the weather are, too, what Hardshi+ps and Hazards of Climate and Excess we can bear in our Youth, whereas in ives us a Surfeit, and another cup turns our Liver to Touchwood; whilst in age (as I know to my sorroe dare scarcely venture our shoe in a Puddle for fear of the Chills and Sciatica In theI laved my face in a Brook that hurtled hard by; but waited very fearfully until Noon ere I dared venture forth from my covert I had filled my pockets with Fruit and Bread (which I am afraid I did not come very honestly by, and indeed admit that Gnawbit's Larder and Orchard found me in Provender), and was so able to break ed I had a dim kind of impression that I was bound to Charlwood Chase, to join the Blacks of whom the Old Gentleet to hts of Independence You whose pleasures lie in Bowers, and Beds, and Cards, and Wine, can little judge of the Ease felt by hiar and pursued, but is at Liberty I re once with a Gentleman Robber, who had, by the aid of a File and a Friend, contrived to give the Galleys leg-bail, and who for days afterwards was never tired of patting and salled ue! he was soon afterwards laid by the heels and swung; for there is no Neck Verse in France to save a Gentlerate someith the sense of mine own utter loneliness; and for a o Forward, and a slavish pro to return to my Tyrant, and suffer all the torments his cruelty could visit ht I would creep back to my kennel and die there; but I was happily dissuaded froh the all-unknowing agency of a Bull, that, spyingacross two fields and through a shallow streae, and chased overnable Beast (that would have Tossed, and perchance Gored ot at me), and seldo in the pursuit of a profitable purpose, have I failed to remember the Bull, and how he chased me out of Disteun to welk in the west by the tih Road, which I had an uncertain idea stretched away fro the Danger of travelling by the Highhere Ipersons sent in quest of me,--for it did not enter my mind that I was too worthless a scholar to be Pursued, and that Gnaas, 'tis likely enough, more Pleased than sorry to be Rid of , as it seery No more Bread or Apples remained in my pouch; but I still had my Guinea, so I deemed, and resolved that if I came upon any House of Entertainment, I would sup

For indeed, while all Nature roundsome kind of Sustenance, it was hard that I, a Christian, should go to bed (or into another Fox-hole, for bed I had none, and yet had slept in rand chainning to drink up the dews, like an insatiate toper as she is I passed a flock of sheep biting their hasty supper fronats buzzing around it, that with feeble stings, poor insects, were trying for their supper too And 'tis effect we have upon another The birds had taken home their wor their after-supper songs, very sweetly but drowsily 'Twas too late in the year for the Nightingale,--that I knew,--but the jolly Blackbird was in full feather and voice; and presently there swept byhome to feast, I will be bound, in his hollow tree, and with nothing less than a Field Mouse for his supper, the rascal 'Twas a wicked i, as I heard the birds carolling so merrily,--and how they keep so plump upon so little to eat is always tocare Heaven daily spreads their table from Nature's infinite ordinary,--how choice a Refection a dish of birds' eggs, so often idly stolen and blown hollow by us boys, wouldfolk; and 'tis not unlikely that the Children in the Wood had often gone birds'-nesting: but when they were dead, the kindly Red Jerkins forgave all their little h the children had strewn theht them worms from January to December

Gnaas a wretch who used to kill the Robins, and for that, if for naught else, he will surely howl

By and by, when darkness was cooner up yonder--how often have I watched hi his seven cart-mares to the steadfast star, I came upon a Man--the first I had seen since the Old Gentleone withor running, nay nor sitting nor lying as Lazars do in hedges But he tumbled out of the quicket as it were, and cah he would Devour h about Claude Duval and the Golden Farhwayman; so doent Plump on my knees and Roared for mercy, as I ont to do to Gnawbit, till I learnt that no Roaring would make him desist froh fancied the Man was indeed my wicked Master, for he had an uplifted weapon in his hand; but when he ca, but a Great Flail, which he whirled over his head, and then brought down on the ground with a Thwack, ht Flies dance

”You Imp of mischief,” said the hly, ”what are you doing here, spying on honest folks?

Speak, or I'll brain you with this Flail”

I thought it best to tell this terrible man the Truth

”If you please, sir,” I answered, tre?”

”From Gnawbit's, sir”

”And who the pest is Gnawbit, you heood,” the Man replied, loosening his hold somewhat on my collar ”And what did you run away for?”

I told his at School, at least, but never saying a word abouta little Gentleman, and the son of a Lady of Quality in Hanover Square

”And where are you going?” the Man asked, when I had finished

I told him that I was on my way to Charlwood Chase to join the Blacks

And then he asked me whether I had any Money, whereto I answered that I had a Guinea; and little doubting inHeart but that he would presently Wrench it from me, if haply he were not minded to have Meal as well as Malt, and brain me as he had threatened But he forbore to offerhis hold, said--

”I suppose you'd like some supper”

I said that I had not broken ered

”And wouldn'twith the Blacks in Charlwood Chase, eh?” he continued

I rather gave him to understand that such was not onlyto the Blacks, then,” said the Man ”_I'arht from the slide, passed it over, and up and down, his Face and Figure Then did I see with Horror and Amazement that both his Countenance and his Raiment were all smirched and bewrayed with dabs and patches of what seerease It was a once white Smock or Gaberdine that made the chief part of his apparel; and this, with the black patches on it, gave him a Pied appearance fearful to behold There was on his head what looked like a great bundle of black rags; and tufts of hair that rew out from either side of his face, and wreathed its lower half

”Co,” repeated the Man; ”we'll blacken you bravely in tirasped my hand in his,--and when I came to look at it afterwards, I found it ser-marks upon it,--and led me away We journeyed on in the Dark--for he had put up his Lantern--for another good half-hour, he singing to hi reference to some ”Billy Boys” that I conjectured were his companions And so we struck from by-lane into by-lane, and presently into a Plantation, and then through a gap in a Hedge, and through a Ditch full of Bras sorely I was half asleep by this tiht to full wakefulness by the deep baying as of a Dog soht gleaain; and in the circle of Clear it made I could see ere surrounded by tall Trees that with their long crooked Arh they would entwine me in deadly embraces