This time, as before, when he found his attendant
not to be shaken off, Bradley suddenly turned back.
This time, as before, Riderhood turned back along
with him. But, not this time, as before, did they
go into the Lock House, for Bradley came to a stand
on the snow-covered turf by the Lock, looking up the
river and down the river. Navigation was impeded
by the frost, and the scene was a mere white and yellow
desert.
‘Come, come, Master,’ urged Riderhood,
at his side. ’This is a dry game.
And where’s the good of it? You can’t
get rid of me, except by coming to a settlement.
I am a going along with you wherever you go.’
Without a word of reply, Bradley passed quickly from
him over the wooden bridge on the lock gates.
’Why, there’s even less sense in this move
than t’other,’ said Riderhood, following.
’The Weir’s there, and you’ll have
to come back, you know.’
Without taking the least notice, Bradley leaned his
body against a post, in a resting attitude, and there
rested with his eyes cast down. ’Being
brought here,’ said Riderhood, gruffly, ’I’ll
turn it to some use by changing my gates.’
With a rattle and a rush of water, he then swung-to
the lock gates that were standing open, before opening
the others. So, both sets of gates were, for
the moment, closed.
‘You’d better by far be reasonable, Bradley
Headstone, Master,’ said Riderhood, passing
him, ’or I’ll drain you all the dryer for
it, when we do settle.—Ah! Would you!’
Bradley had caught him round the body. He seemed
to be girdled with an iron ring. They were on
the brink of the Lock, about midway between the two
sets of gates.
‘Let go!’ said Riderhood, ’or I’ll
get my knife out and slash you wherever I can cut
you. Let go!’
Bradley was drawing to the Lock-edge. Riderhood
was drawing away from it. It was a strong grapple,
and a fierce struggle, arm and leg. Bradley got
him round, with his back to the Lock, and still worked
him backward.
‘Let go!’ said Riderhood. ’Stop!
What are you trying at? You can’t drown
Me. Ain’t I told you that the man as has
come through drowning can never be drowned? I
can’t be drowned.’
‘I can be!’ returned Bradley, in a desperate,
clenched voice. ’I am resolved to be.
I’ll hold you living, and I’ll hold you
dead. Come down!’
Riderhood went over into the smooth pit, backward,
and Bradley Headstone upon him. When the two
were found, lying under the ooze and scum behind one
of the rotting gates, Riderhood’s hold had relaxed,
probably in falling, and his eyes were staring upward.
But, he was girdled still with Bradley’s iron
ring, and the rivets of the iron ring held tight.
PERSONS AND THINGS IN GENERAL
