the wandering jew, volume 1-第7节

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went　away　I　have　to　do　all　the　work；　and　that　makes　our　meals　very　late。〃

〃Did　the　old　man　remain　with　the　young　girls？〃　asked　Morok。

Goliath；　amazed　that；　notwithstanding　his　importunities；　his　master
should　still　appear　to　neglect　the　animals'　supper；　regarded　the　Prophet
with　an　increase　of　stupid　astonishment。

〃Answer；　you　brute！〃

〃If　I　am　a　brute；　I　have　a　brute's　strength；〃　said　Goliath；　in　a　surly
tone；　〃and　brute　against　brute；　I　have　not　always　come　the　worst　off。〃

〃I　ask　if　the　old　man　remained　with　the　girls；〃　repeated　Morok。

〃Well；　thenno！〃　　returned　the　giant。　　〃The　old　man；　after　leading　his
horse　to　the　stable；　asked　for　a　tub　and　some　water；　took　his　stand　under
the　porchand　thereby　the　light　of　a　lanternhe　is　washing　out
clothes。　　A　man　with　a　gray　moustache！paddling　in　soap…suds　like　a
washerwomanit's　as　if　I　were　to　feed　canaries！〃　added　Goliath；
shrugging　his　shoulders　with　disdain。　　〃But　now　I've　answered　you；
master；　let　me　attend　to　the　beasts'　supper；〃and；　looking　round　for
something；　he　added；　〃where　is　the　cleaver？〃

After　a　moment　of　thoughtful　silence；　the　Prophet　said　to　Goliath；　〃You
will　give　no　food　to　the　beasts　this　evening。〃

At　first　the　giant　could　not　understand　these　words；　the　idea　was　so
incomprehensible　to　him。

〃What　is　your　pleasure；　master？〃　said　he。

〃I　forbid　you　to　give　any　food　to　the　beasts　this　evening。〃

Goliath　did　not　answer；　but　he　opened　wide　his　squinting　eyes；　folded　his
hands；　and　drew　back　a　couple　of　steps。

〃Well；　dost　hear　me？〃　said　Morok；　with　impatience。　　〃Is　it　plain　enough？〃

〃Not　feed？　when　our　meat　is　there；　and　supper　is　already　three　hours
after　time！〃　cried　Goliath；　with　ever…increasing　amazement。

〃Obey；　and　hold　your　tongue。〃

〃You　must　wish　something　bad　to　happen　this　evening。　　Hunger　makes　the
beasts　furiousand　me　also。〃

〃So　much　the　better！〃

〃It'll　drive　'em　mad。〃

〃So　much　the　better！〃

〃How；　so　much　the　better？But〃

〃It　is　enough！〃

〃But；　devil　take　me；　I　am　as　hungry　as　the　beasts！〃

〃Eat　thenwho　prevents　it？　　Your　supper　is　ready；　as　you　devour　it　raw。〃

〃I　never　eat　without　my　beasts；　nor　they　without　me。〃

〃I　tell　you　again；　that；　if　you　dare　give　any　food　to　the　beastsI　will
turn　you　away。〃

Goliath　uttered　a　low　growl　as　hoarse　as　a　bear's；　and　looked　at　the
Prophet　with　a　mixture　of　anger　and　stupefaction。

Morok；　having　given　his　orders；　walked　up　and　down　the　loft；　appearing　to
reflect。　　Then；　addressing　himself　to　Goliath；　who　was　still　plunged　in
deep　perplexity；　he　said　to　him。

〃Do　you　remember　the　burgomaster's；　where　I　went　to　get　my　passport
signed？To…day　his　wife　bought　some　books　and　a　chaplet。〃

〃Yes；〃　answered　the　giant　shortly。

〃Go　and　ask　his　servant　if　I　may　be　sure　to　find　the　burgomaster　early
to…morrow　morning。〃

〃What　for？〃

〃I　may；　perhaps；　have　something　important　to　communicate；　at　all　events；
say　that　I　beg　him　not　to　leave　home　without　seeing　me。〃

〃Good！　but　may　I　feed　the　beasts　before　I　go　to　the　burgomaster's？only
the　panther；　who　is　most　hungry？　　Come；　master；　only　poor　Death？　just　a
little　morsel　to　satisfy　her；　Cain　and　I　and　Judas　can　wait。〃

〃It　is　the　panther；　above　all；　that　I　forbid　you　to　feed。　　Yes；　her；
above　all　the　rest。〃

〃By　the　horns　of　the　devil！〃　cried　Goliath；　〃what　is　the　matter　with　you
to…day？　　I　can　make　nothing　of　it。　　It　is　a　pity　that　Karl's　not　here；
he；　being　cunning；　would　help　me　to　understand　why　you　prevent　the　beasts
from　eating　when　they　are　hungry。〃

〃You　have　no　need　to　understand　it。〃

〃Will　not　Karl　soon　come　back？〃

〃He　has　already　come　back。〃

〃Where　is　he；　then？〃

〃Off　again。〃

〃What　can　be　going　on　here？　　There　is　something　in　the　wind。　　Karl　goes；
and　returns；　and　goes　again；　and〃

〃We　are　not　talking　of　Karl；　but　of　you；　though　hungry　as　a　wolf　you　are
cunning　as　a　fox；　and；　when　it　suits　you；　as　cunning　as　Karl。〃　　And；
changing　on　the　sudden　his　tone　and　manner；　Morok　slapped　the　giant
cordially　on　the　shoulder。

〃What！　am　I　cunning？〃

〃The　proof　is；　that　there　are　ten　florins　to　earn　to…nightand　you　will
be　keen　enough　to　earn　them；　I　am　sure。〃

〃Why；　on　those　terms；　yesI　am　awake；〃　said　the　giant；　smiling　with　a
stupid；　self…satisfied　air。　　〃What　must　I　do　for　ten　florins？〃

〃You　shall　see。〃

〃Is　it　hard　work？〃

〃You　shall　see。　　Begin　by　going　to　the　burgomaster'sbut　first　light　the
fire　in　that　stove。〃　　He　pointed　to　it　with　his　finger。

〃Yes；　master；〃　said　Goliath；　somewhat　consoled　for　the　delay　of　his
supper　by　the　hope　of　gaining　ten　florins。

〃Put　that　iron　bar　in　the　stove；〃　added　the　Prophet；　〃to　make　it
red…hot。〃

〃Yes；　master。〃

〃You　will　leave　it　there；　go　to　the　burgomaster's；　and　return　here　to
wait　for　me。〃

〃Yes；　master。

〃You　will　keep　the　fire　up　in　the　stove。〃

〃Yes；　master。〃

Morok　took　a　step　away；　but　recollecting　himself；　he　resumed：　〃You　say
the　old　man　is　busy　washing　under　the　porch？〃

〃Yes；　master。〃

〃Forget　nothing：　the　iron　bar　in　the　firethe　burgomasterand　return
here　to　wait　my　orders。〃　　So　saying；　Morok　descended　by　the　trap…door　and
disappeared。




CHAPTER　IV。

MOROK　and　DAGOBERT

Goliath　had　not　been　mistaken；　for　Dagobert　was　washing　with　that
imperturbable　gravity　with　which　he　did　everything　else。

When　we　remember　the　habits　of　a　soldier　a…field；　we　need　not　be
astonished　at　this　apparent　eccentricity。　　Dagobert　only　thought　of
sparing　the　scanty　purse　of　the　orphans；　and　of　saving　them　all　care　and
trouble；　so　every　evening　when　they　came　to　a　halt　he　devoted　himself　to
all　sorts　of　feminine　occupations。　　But　he　was　not　now　serving　his
apprenticeship　in　these　matters；　many　times；　during　his　campaigns；　he　had
industriously　repaired　the　damage　and　disorder　which　a　day　of　battle
always　brings　to　the　garments　of　the　soldier；　for　it　is　not　enough　to
receive　a　sabre…cutthe　soldier　has　also　to　mend　his　uniform；　for　the
stroke　which　grazes　the　skin　makes　likewise　a　corresponding　fissure　in
the　cloth。

Therefore；　in　the　evening　or　on　the　morrow　of　a　hard…fought　engagement；
you　will　see　the　best　soldiers　（always　distinguished　by　their　fine
military　appearance）　take　from　their　cartridge…box　or　knapsack　a
housewife；　furnished　with　needles；　thread；　scissors；　buttons；　and　other
such　gear；　and　apply　themselves　to　all　kinds　of　mending　and　darning；　with
a　zeal　that　the　most　industrious　workwoman　might　envy。

We　could　not　find　a　better　opportunity　to　explain　the　name　of　Dagobert；
given　to　Francis　Baudoin　（the　guide　of　the　orphans）　at　a　time　when　he　was
considered　one　of　the　handsomest　and　bravest　horse…grenadiers　of　the
Imperial　Guard。

They　had　been　fighting　hard　all　day；　without　any　decisive　advantage。　　In
the　evening；　the　company　to　which　our　hero　belonged　was　sent　as　outliers
to　occupy　the　ruins　of　a　deserted　village。　　Videttes　being　posted；　half
the　troopers　remained　in　saddle；　whilst　the　others；　having　picketed　their
horses；　were　able　to　take　a　little　rest。　　Our　hero　had　charged　valiantly
that　day　without　receiving　any　woundfor　he　counted　as　a　mere　memento
the　deep　scratch　on　his　thigh；　which　a　kaiserlitz　had　inflicted　in
awkwardly　attempting　an　upward　thrust　with　the　bayonet。

〃You　donkey！　my　new　breeches！〃　the　grenadier　had　exclaimed；　when　he　saw
the　wide　yawning　rent；　which　he　instantly　avenged　by　running　the　Austrian
through；　with　a　thrust　scientifically　administered。　　For；　if　he　showed　a
stoical　indifference　on　the　subject　of　injury　to　his　skin；　it　was　not　so
with　regard　to　the　ripping　up　of　his　best　parade　uniform。

He　undertook；　therefore；　the　same　evening；　at　the　bivouac；　to　repair　this
accident。　　Selecting　his　best　needle　and　thread　from　the　stores　of　his
housewife；　and　arming　his　finger　with　a　thimble；　he　began　to　play　the
tailor　by　the　light　of　the　watch…fire；　having　first　drawn　off　his
cavalry…boots；　and　also　（if　it　must　be　confessed）　the　injured　garment
itself；　which　he　turned　the　wrong　side　out　the　better　to　conceal　the
stitches。

This　partial　undress　was　certainly　a　breach　of　discipline：　but　the
captain；　as　he　went　his　round；　could　not　forbear　laughing　at　the　sight　of
the　veteran　soldier；　who；　gravely　seated；　in　a　squatting　position；　with
his　grenadier　cap　on；　his　regimental　coat　on　his　back；　his　boots　by　his
side；　and　his　galligaskins　in　his　lap；　was　sewing　with　all　the　coolness
of　a　tailor　upon　his　own　shop…board。

Suddenly；　a　musket…shot　is　heard；　and　the　videttes　fall　back　upon　the
detachment；　calling　to　arms。　　〃To　horse！〃　cries　the　captain；　in　a　voice
of　thunder。

In　a　moment；　the　troopers　are　in　their　saddles；　the　unfortunate　clothes…
mender　having　to　lead　the　first　rank；　there　is　no　time　to　turn　the
unlucky　garment；　so　he　slips　it　on；　as　well　as　he　can；　wrong　side　out；
and　leaps　upon　his　horse；　without　even　stopping　to　put　on　his　boots。

A　party　of　Cossacks；　profiting　by　the　cover　of　a　neighboring　wood；　had
attempted　to　surprise　the　detachment：　the　fight　was　bloody；　and　our　hero
foamed　with　rage；　for　he　set　much　value　on　his　equipments；　and　the　day
had　been　fatal　to　him。　　Thinking　of　his　torn　clothes　and　lost　boots；　he
hacked　away　with　more　fury　than　ever；　a　bright　moon　illumined　the　scene
o