Part 5 (1/2)
CHAPTER IX
_My flight: Desponding thoughts: Adventure with a stranger on the road: I aes me in doubt and anxiety: I reveal les of passion_
The anih I felt my shi+rt collar drenched in the blood that flowed from my wounds, I continued to run for at least four th slackened into a walk I still hurried eagerly forward The dread of again falling into his power, after an attempt so audacious as this, deprived th, and et the completely desolate state to which I had reduced myself
I had no money, no food, no friend in the world I durst not return to my mother; she was the first person of whom the tyrant would enquire after ht of, and thus i as I was acquainted with the country through which I travelled, I went on without hesitation; but as soon as I found an to look about ? What a fears, which the joy of retted the rash haste hich I had parted withto sell, nothing to eat, no soul to give hed field; I had been hard at work fro, had since travelled at least twelve or fourteen an to feelafter food Where I had got the notion, whether from father, ht that to beg was an indelible disgrace; and to steal every body had told ; that is the law If I even asked for work, anted ive me any? Who would not enquire where I caed?
These andideas were forced upon me by the situation in which I found ue that I sat down to debate whether it were not best, or rather whether I should not be absolutely forced, to turn back
Still, however, when I caers I had escaped, and the horrible punishment that awaited me if I returned, any expedient seemed better than that terrific project The distance too, exhausted as I thought myself, was an additional fear, and for a moment I doubted whether I should not lie down and die
Young ht inspired returning energy Aotten the rector: he was obdurate, hard hearted, and even cruel But was he so cruel as the fiend from who, I had e lay; and was, as I supposed, within four or five ain his protection came upon me, and I rose with some alacrity to put it in practice He kept horses, a coacharden; he farmed a little, for his amusement In any of these capacities I could be useful, and, if he would but give me bread, I would do whatever he would put me to He could not surely be so stony hearted as to refuse
I was inexperienced, and knew not the force of rancour
I pursuedon these hopes, fears, and disasters, toward a village that I saw at a distance, where I intended to inquire the road I e, over a rivulet of soh the water
Just as I had passed it, Iforith e, till I suddenly heard a cry of distress, and looking behind e overturned in the water I ran with all speed back to the brook: the body of the carriage was almost covered, the horses were both down, and the postillion, entangled between them, called aloud for help! or his ed into the water without fear, having, as I have elsewhere noticed, long ago learned to swie, I struck directly toward the door, which I opened and relieved him, or confined as he was he must have been alreat, and as soon as he was fairly on his feet, he exclaiood boy; you have saved my life!'--The pallidness of his countenance expressed very strongly the danger of perishi+ng in which he had felt himself
We then both waded out of the water, he sat down on the side of the bridge, and I called to so field to coentleue fit I asked if I should run and get him help, for he seemed very ill? 'You are a co more earnestly at me, exclaimed, 'I hope you are not hurt; how came you so bloody?' I knew not what to say, and returned no answer 'You do not speak, child?' said he 'Let et you some help, Sir,' replied I--'Nay, nay, but are you hurt?'--'Not more than I was before this accident'--'Where do you come from?'--I was silent--'Who are you?'--'A poor friendless boy'--'Have you not a father?'--'No'--'A mother?'--'Yes: but she is forsaken by her father, and cannot get bread for herself?'--'How came you in this condition?'--'My master knocked me down and trod on me'--'Knocked you down and trod on you?'--'Yes: he was very cruel to me'--'Cruel indeed!
Did he often treat you ill?'--'I do not knohat other poor boys suffer, but he was so passionate that I was never safe'--'And you have run away from him?'--'I was afraid he would murder me'--'Poor creature! Your eye is black, your forehead cut, and your hair quite clotted with blood'--'I have a bad gash in my head; but I can bear it You shake worse and worse; let e is not far off'--'I feel I aood fellow'
I ran, and the e on its wheels, but it was entirely wet, and not fit to ride in The gentleman therefore leaned on one of thee, and desired ladly obeyed the order He had pitied me, I had saved his life; if I could not an to hope that I had now found one
The best accoe afforded were quickly procured At first the gentleman ordered a post-chaise, to return hoht be got ready, and in the mean time sent to the nearest medical man, both for himself and to examine my wounds What was still better, he ordered the people of the house to give me whatever I chose to eat and drink, and told them he had certainly been a dead man at that etas he lived
This was joyful news indeed; or rather so much more exquisite than joyful My heart melted when I heard hily die to serve hi came on the fever hich he was attacked increased
The anxiety I felt was excessive, and I was so earnest in my intreaties to sit and watch by hirant ine the apothecary gave him the coer operated he fell into a sound sleep, about eleven o'clock, and when he awoke the nextfound himself much refreshed and free from fever
In the interim my wounds had been dressed, and to make the truth of my story evident, I took care to shew the bruises, and black and blue marks, hich my body was plentifully covered Every favourable circumstance, every precaution, every effort was now indeed beco, I accidentally learned a secret of thenature My all was at stake, my very existence seemed to depend on the person who it is true had promised to be my protector, but who, perhaps, when he should hear who I was, ain become my persecutor The man to whom I had attached myself, whose life I had saved, and who had avowed a sense of the obligation, was no other than randfather!
The ence, it chilled and animated me alternately; and, as soon as I could recollect ht No persuasions could prevail on me; and when the chambermaid, who sat up with him, attempted to use force, I was so violent in my resistance that she desisted, and sufferedI trembled at the sound of his voice I remembered the oath he had sworn, which my mother had often affired, in entleman whose life I had saved the day before There had not indeed been any thing particularly winning in his aspect; but then there was a strong sense of danger, and of obligation to the instru theunfortunate
But an oath, soleht was dreadful!
His curtains were drawn, and ood boy,' said he, 'are you up and here already?' 'He has never been in bed,' answered the chaet him out of the room' I replied in a faint voice, such as my fears inspired, 'I hoped he was better' 'Yes, yes,' said he, 'I have had a good sleep, and feel as if I wanted ot ready'
The chambero to bed, child?'--'It did not become me to leave you'--'How so?' 'I hope I know my duty better'--'Your duty!'--'Yes, Sir'--'You seereat spirit, and talk with ood sense than I should expect froh I aht up better than most poor boys'--'Ay indeed!'
The apothecary entered, and, after having paid all necessary attention to his patient, informed him of the state in which he had found me; talked of my wounds and bruises, and the cruelty of the man that could inflict them; repeated several of the anecdotes of his tyranny, which I had told hi found so kind a protector
'The boy has saved randfather, 'and he shall not want a friend' 'Are you quite sure of that, Sir?' answered I, with emphatical anxiety 'Never, while I live,' replied the rector 'Nay, but are you quite quite positive?' 'Do you doubtof you indeed, child,' said the apothecary--A thought suddenly struck me If he would but take an oath, said I to myself?
The oath, the oath! that hat I dreaded! An opposite oath seeuard I continued--'I swear, Sir, while I have life never to forsake you, but to be dutiful and true to you'--'Swear boy?'--'Yes, Sir, reat fervor--'You are an unaccountable boy'--'Oh that _you_ would never forsake _me_'--'I tell you I will not'--'Oh that you never would!'--'Won't you believe me?'--'Oh that you never never would!'--'The boy I believe wants me to swear too'--'Ay; do, Sir; take an oath not to disown ly to deserve your favour'--'Disown you'--'Nay, Sir, but take an oath You say I saved your life; I would lay down ain to save it Do not deny me, do not turn me to starve, or send me back to be murdered by my barbarous master'--'I tell you I will not'--'Nay but'--'Well then I swear, boy, I will not'--'Do you indeed duly and truly swear?'--'Soleuilty of so very wicked, while I live I will provide for you'--I fell on ht hold of his hand, burst into tears, and exclairandfather! He has forgiven h Trevor'