CHAPTER X
WE ARE BESET BY A HEAVY MISFORTUNE
It was about sundown now. We had not so much as a penny to purchase aloaf of bread. Night was coming on; there were no friends to whom wemight recommend ourselves; and at least two parties of persons wereengaged in hunting us down in that vicinity. To set against theseinconveniences we had only our liberty and our comradeship; andalthough our bellies were like to go empty, and our heads unpillowedthat night, and for full many a weary one to come, we did not railagainst our lot. We were as free as the air and could defy the politeconventions. Lest we should fall in again with Mr. Waring and ourpapa, or less dangerously with Mr. Jeremy, we decided to forsake thehigh road and its publicity, and take to the fields. All ways werealike to us; north, south, east, and west, it did not matter.
We had not gone far across the country when the twilight overtook us.We did not view it with the least apprehension, however. The nightpromised to be so mild, and we were so warmly found against it with ourcloaks and thick clothes, that another evening couch in a barn or acowhouse would not greatly daunt us. Indeed we had already made up ourminds to this, unless Providence should throw a more luxurious one inour path. In the event this proved to be the case, for after awhileour wanderings brought us to a kind of common, across which smoke wasseen to be rising. It came from a fire of sticks as we presentlyfound, and on coming to it, we discovered ourselves in the midst of agypsy encampment.
Four or five persons of a dirty, ragged and uncouth sort, were busyingthemselves about the fire in various ways. One was tending it withfuel, another was adjusting a great cooking-pot that sat in the midstof the embers, a third was cleaning a clasp-knife with a piece of ragand a tuft of grass, a fourth had two parts of a flute in his hand andwas striving to fix them together; an old woman sat staring into theblaze with her hands on her knees, smoking a pipe; and a young woman,by no means destitute of a swarthy beauty, sat beside her with a childat her breast.
The reception we met with at the hands of these simple strange peoplewas at first reserved and suspicious to a degree. One of the menaddressed us in a barbarous tongue, the like of which I have neitherheard before nor since. I could not make a word out of it. Showingplainly that we were at a loss in this language, the man translated itinto good if a trifle rustic English:
"What do you want?" says he roughly.
"Leave to sit down by your cheerful fire a little," I replied. Theywere in no hurry to extend this permission to us, but by the time thatCynthia with excellent tact had greatly admired the babe in itsmother's arms, and I, who amongst my accomplishments pride myself asbeing somewhat of an amateur of the flute, had pieced that instrumenttogether, for its owner did not appear to understand much about it, andhad been at pains to make ourselves agreeable to our company in severalways, their gruff reserve grew sensibly less. And shortly, so much didour addresses have their effect, that we found ourselves seated aroundthe fire, with a pleasant odour of cookery tickling our noses. Forafter all bread and cheese and ale, although excellent in themselves tobe sure, do not form a very enduring diet.
By the time the meal was ready the moon had risen. Sitting in themidst of these strange gypsy people, beside a bright fire that threw upits flames to the open fields, and clothed trees and hedges and the skyitself with a vagueness and mystery that we had never noticed in thembefore, we became possessed with a sense of the weirdness of the shapesabout us. They made the folk we had come amongst seem more singularthan they might otherwise have appeared. However, the meal wepresently partook of in their company did much to alleviate thisfeeling of strangeness. When the lid was taken off the hissingcauldron, and platters, spoons and knives were produced, the circleabout the fire was increased by the arrival of other gypsies of variousages and both sexes.
As their guests, they had the courtesy to serve us first. From the potwas produced a hot and grateful mess, that to persons with appetitessharpened to the degree that ours were, was deliriously palatable. Itappeared to consist of fowls, mutton, hares, onions, and potatoes, andprobably other meats and vegetables not so easy to detect. We werealso given some excellent ale in a great horn tumbler, and a hunch ofbarley bread apiece. We feasted indeed on the liberal fare, and werefain to pay a second visit to the cauldron.
It was to be remarked that our entertainers were much better disposedtoward us after supper than before. Their suspicion and reserve meltedmore and more, and instead of using the Romany language, ordered theirconversation in ours, that we might take some profit of theirintercourse. They all showed this amenable disposition with theexception of the old crone, who had supped only on tobacco, preferringher pipe to the lustier fare of the cauldron. She would have none ofus. We could clearly see the expression of her lowering, tawny face,since she sat opposite to us, full in the glare of the fire. Thisindifference to us was more than passive. We discerned with someuneasiness that it amounted to positive dislike. She would stare at uswhole minutes together, while a concentrated malignity came into heralready sufficiently ugly face. She would then mutter incoherentlyunder her breath. Once she spat venomously into the fire. At last,after staring at us longer and more resentfully than usual, sheclutched a fellow who sat beside her fiercely by the arm. She talkedto him with great energy, and ended with something that sounded of thenature of an imprecation. As she did so she shook her finger at ourfaces. Whatever her communication was, the man was much discomposed byit. He nodded, infused a certain malignity too in the look with whichhe regarded us, and then addressed several of his companions very muchin the manner that the old woman had addressed him.
Cynthia, who had observed these signs as keenly as I had, grew alarmed.Nor was this unreasonable in her, for such were the weight of the oldcrone's objections to us, whatever their nature, that before long theyhad spread to the whole community. Thus we soon found ourselves in theunpleasant position of being the cynosure of all their eyes, theobjects at which their fingers were wagged, and against whom theirpassionate talk was directed. But we suffered from the additionalmisfortune of being unable to understand a single word, and were thusquite at a loss to know wherein we had offended. It was the man withthe flute who presently enlightened us. Probably his devotion tomusic, one of the liberal arts, gave him a more humane cast than hisbrethren. Indeed at this moment he alone seemed friendly towards us.
"Old Goody does not like the set o' ye," says he. "You will bringill-luck upon us wandering folk, she thinks."
"What does she object to in us?"
"Nay," says he, "that is more than I can say. She is as full ofprediction, whimsies, and foreboding as a dog-fox is of cunning. Shehas lived a long while, d'ye see, and can read the signs. She hasforseen many a corpse, by looking at the moon. Many's the man-childshe's brought into the world. And only last year when she heard thewind soughing through the branches, she told not only the day but thevery hour that Jerry Boswell came to be hanged."
This sinister reference did nothing to ease us. Looking around, thecunning and superstition that was everywhere about us took a dirersignificance. As their resentment in no wise abated, it struck us thatwe should do well to resume our way. But the man with the fluteassured us that we were under no necessity, for since we had sat atmeat with them, the mischief, if any, was already done. He saidbesides that his people were the civillest in the world, and whatevertheir fear of us, they would be the last to visit their dislike uponus. As the fire was so bright and genial, and our present position,despite any little inconveniences that might arise therefrom, was somuch more to be desired than any other we were likely to lie in thatnight, we were seduced to remain. It may have been against our betterjudgment that we took this course, or like the gypsies themselves, wemay have had an instinct of something impending, for in the end we wereto rue it bitterly.
Our friend with the flute, doubtless to compose the minds of his morenervous brethren, began a strange sort of melody. It was played notvery well to be sure, but they gave an alert
attention to it thatfurnished an instance of the power of music on untutored minds.Presently one of the women broke into a song to match the air. It wasin the gypsy language, and though sung in a low crooning voice and aprimitive fashion, it was by no means unpleasing, whilst its weirdcharacter was highly appropriate to the place in which it wasperformed. The rude audience was vastly soothed by it too; theirfierce looks grew softer; and soon they fell to regarding the musicentirely instead of Cynthia and myself.
When the flute-player had given his melody, he politely handed theinstrument to me, with the request that if I had any skill in the art Ishould give one also. Being as I have said an amateur of the flute,and being like all other amateurs as I have observed, never in anysituation averse to display my poor aptitude, I struck up a ranting airfrom the _Beggar's Opera_. I was surprised to find how excellent theinstrument was, and was therefore able to enter into the performance asmuch for my own gratification as for theirs. When I had finished I wasagreeably surprised to find how warmly my efforts were received. Theformer player wrung my hand, and, strange as it may appear, many eyesshone about me with pleasure and admiration. Nothing would contentthem but I must play again. Mightily pleased with my success, as everyperson who seeks the approbation of the public invariably is, I neededno second invitation, but ventured on a more ambitious piece. Withmany a spring and trill and roulade I ranted it into their ears. Theyfollowed me with rapt attention, and again and again would have meplay. How long I continued to do so I do not know. For seeing thesingular pleasure they took from it, I should have been a churl indeednot to gratify such hospitable and simple people. Therefore I pouredout all the tunes I knew for their behoof.
Little did we reck however of the calamity that was about to befall us.The old woman, it is true, had had a premonition of somethingimpending. Had it been concerned with the effect as well as the causemuch might have been spared us. As it was, no catastrophe could havecome more swiftly, unexpectedly, or completely. I was still in theheight of my music, and the group around the fire were absorbed in itwholly, when this unhappy interruption came. Without a sound ofwarning a dozen forms or more suddenly sprang into being out of a ditchhard by, and rushed into our midst. By the light of the moon we couldobserve enough of them as they came to see that they were armed withformidable staves, and clearly meant mischief.
We had only just time to spring to our feet before they were upon us.What their business was we did not stay to inquire; indeed, it was soonevident that my friends, the gypsies, were only too intimatelyacquainted with it. Without passing a word they resisted thisonslaught with all the vigour they could summon. One or two ran intothe tents close at hand to procure weapons of defence; others producedtheir knives; whilst the old crone, who along among the gypsy women wasnot barefooted snatched off one of her boots and brandished itfiercely. As for Cynthia and I, we were so taken aback by this strangesituation that we did not know what course to pursue. We had neitherart nor part in this quarrel whatever its nature. Besides, we wereweaponless and utterly at a loss to understand whether submission orresistance might serve us the better.
The aggressors, whatever their impetuosity, stopped short at first ofactual violence. Seeing the uncompromising attitude of the gypsies,the foremost man, a fine strapping fellow as ever I saw, halted a fewyards off, put up his hand to speak, and said with a great air ofauthority:
"Now, you Egyptians, let me give you a word of advice before we come toblows. You have no chance at all. You are outnumbered by three toone, and whatever blood is shed, will be to your hurt. Whatever pollsare broken will not save any man Jack of you a hanging. I summon youto put down your weapons, and the women shall go free. But I arrestevery man of you in the name of the High Sheriff for stealing sheep."
The reply of the sheep-stealers was brief enough in all conscience.
"Take that!" cried the old woman, flinging her boot at the speaker'shead.
It was the signal for the battle to begin. My friend the flute-playerfollowed up the boot by hitting the spokesman of the law full in theface with his fist. Thereon blows fell thick and fast and furious onevery side. The Sheriff's men closed up, nor did the gypsies budge aninch. Without a weapon of any sort, as I was, I had to bear my partperforce, since there was no opportunity to explain that I was neithera gypsy nor a stealer of sheep. But even had it offered, I could neverhave embraced it. Just as a man may be known by the company he keeps,he is at the same time laid under the obligation to defend his friends.
My first care, of course, was for Cynthia. As the Sheriff's men werenot likely to molest her should she run away out of reach of harm, Iinsisted on her doing so. I had to be firm with her too, since she wasby no means disposed to separate from me in this pass. She wouldeither have me come with her or she would stay where she was. Thefirst alternative was impracticable even had I wished to embrace it.The enemy were all about us by now, and I should not have beenpermitted to go; and the second put her personal safety into such ajeopardy that I had to be very stern. Thereon she unwillingly complied.
No sooner had she gone than I slipped the flute in my pocket andprepared to take a hand in the defence. As I had no other weapons Ihad to employ my hands. Had the conditions been equal I could havewished no better. But they were little likely to prevail againstsuperior numbers, armed with staves. Indeed, from the first,submission would have been the wiser course for us all, as the gypsieswere at such a disadvantage that they had no chance. Yet blows weredealt with mighty goodwill on both sides; sometimes the upholders ofthe law went down, but more often the breakers of it. Presently twofellows with cudgels in their hands made lo seize me by the collar,whereon I dealt the most assiduous of the twain so shrewd a crack onthe point of the jawbone as laid him low. The other fellow came at mefuriously with his stave, and I had barely time to whisk my head asideand so get it clear of the blow that was aimed at it. I was hasteningto follow up this delicate attention with a few of my own, when a thirdadversary unseen came behind me, and gave me such a tap at the side ofthe head as brought me to the ground bleeding and half insensible.
Before I could make any attempt to gather myself again, a pair of kneeswere in the middle of my chest, and a strong hand half choked the lifeout of my throat. I was in no condition to kick or struggle much; butwhatever the philosophy of my temper in the piping times of peace,devil a bit did I exercise of it now. Bleeding and breathless as Iwas, I resisted with what was in the circumstances an absurd tenacity;and it was some little time, after a great display of energy on bothsides that two or three of my enemies ultimately secured me, bound myhands and raised me to my feet. And I hope the reader will observethat I again insist that it took two or three persons to conclude thisunfortunate business, as it did to inaugurate it. I know not what vainglory it is in a man that makes him so punctilious in matters of thissort.
By the time I had been overcome and raised on to my feet in fetters,the affair was almost decided. There could be but one ending; and verysoon the unfortunate gypsies were all of them captive too, with cordsround their wrists, and most of them bloody of bearing. No time waslost in marching us away to the nearest magistrate. There seemed abouta score of armed men to take the custody of us. In the haste withwhich everything was carried out, in the uncertain moonlight, and inthe dull vague condition of mind that the shock of events, to name onlyone cause, had induced, I had not the smallest opportunity of takingfarewell of Cynthia. Nor had she any means of approaching me, seeinghow sedulously we were guarded, and how promptly we were marched away.
The whole thing was begun and ended so swiftly that this verygrandiloquent and self-important quill-pen hath made, I find, anincomparably greater business of it than ever it was in itself. It cannever bring its dignity down to the subordinate office of the relationof a plain piece of history, but is all for the frills and thetrimmings. Do not be deceived into thinking, therefore, that thiscountry brawl was as great as the battle of Marathon. But at least, atthe time the conseq
uences were to me very poignant. As we were draggedalong over the stubble and through the moonlight, we knew not whither,I was more stunned by my evil fortune than by the blow I had come by inthe argument, notwithstanding that as I walked the blood trickled in athin warm stream on to my coat. For a person in my circumstances tofall into the hands of the law in a hedge scuffle in an alien quarrel,was about as scurvy an accident as could possibly happen. I was trulybetween the devil and the deep sea. To clear myself of the charge ofbeing a gypsy and a sheep-stealer, I should be compelled to expose myidentity, and in doing so should but fall out of the frying-pan intothe fire.
There was another side to the matter, equally black. Whatever wouldhappen to Cynthia? Was she not left utterly destitute, without afriend, in a foreign country? Even in the extreme unlikelihood of myregaining my freedom, neither of us would know where to seek the other,and thus at a time when it was so imperative that we should betogether, we should be wrenched apart. Look at the case as I might, Icould derive no crumb of comfort from it.
It was in a great depression of spirit then that I was haled, weak,bleeding, and encumbered along the country lanes to meet my fate. Whatit was likely to be I did not exactly know, but look at the matter howI would, there seemed to be but one natural ending to it. I was partedfrom my poor little wife, doubtless for ever; and if I did not come tothe gallows for murder or stealing sheep, I must perforce end my daysin a debtor's prison.