wild wales-第102节

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about　twenty　years　younger；　she　had　dark　features；　was　dressed　like　
the　other；　but　had　no　hat。　　I　saluted　the　first　in　English；　and　
asked　her　the　way　to　the　Bridge；　whereupon　she　uttered　a　deep　
guttural　〃augh〃　and　turned　away　her　head；　seemingly　in　abhorrence。　　
I　then　spoke　to　her　in　Welsh；　saying　I　was　a　foreign　man　…　I　did　
not　say　a　Saxon　…　was　bound　to　the　Devil's　Bridge；　and　wanted　to　
know　the　way。　　The　old　woman　surveyed　me　sternly　for　some　time；　
then　turned　to　the　other　and　said　something；　and　the　two　began　to　
talk　to　each　other；　but　in　a　low；　buzzing　tone；　so　that　I　could　not　
distinguish　a　word。　　In　about　half　a　minute　the　eldest　turned　to　
me；　and　extending　her　arm　and　spreading　out　her　five　fingers　wide；　
motioned　to　the　side　of　the　hill　in　the　direction　which　I　had　been　
following。

〃If　I　go　that　way　shall　I　get　to　the　bridge　of　the　evil　man？〃　said　
I；　but　got　no　other　answer　than　a　furious　grimace　and　violent　
agitations　of　the　arm　and　fingers　in　the　same　direction。　　I　turned　
away；　and　scarcely　had　I　done　so　when　the　door　was　slammed　to　
behind　me　with　great　force；　and　I　heard　two　〃aughs；〃　one　not　quite　
so　deep　and　abhorrent　as　the　other；　probably　proceeding　from　the　
throat　of　the　younger　female。

〃Two　regular　Saxon…hating　Welsh　women；〃　said　I；　philosophically；　
〃just　of　the　same　sort　no　doubt　as　those　who　played　such　pranks　on　
the　slain　bodies　of　the　English　soldiers；　after　the　victory　
achieved　by　Glendower　over　Mortimer　on　the　Severn's　side。〃

I　proceeded　in　the　direction　indicated；　winding　round　the　side　of　
the　hill；　the　same　mountain　which　the　old　man　had　pointed　out　to　me　
some　time　before。　　At　length；　on　making　a　turn　I　saw　a　very　lofty　
mountain　in　the　far　distance　to　the　south…west；　a　hill　right　before　
me　to　the　south；　and；　on　my　left；　a　meadow　overhung　by　the　southern　
hill；　in　the　middle　of　which　stood　a　house　from　which　proceeded　a　
violent　barking　of　dogs。　　I　would　fain　have　made　immediately　up　to　
it　for　the　purpose　of　inquiring　my　way；　but　saw　no　means　of　doing　
so；　a　high　precipitous　bank　lying　between　it　and　me。　　I　went　
forward　and　ascended　the　side　of　the　hill　before　me；　and　presently　
came　to　a　path　running　east　and　west。　　I　followed　it　a　little　way　
towards　the　east。　　I　was　now　just　above　the　house；　and　saw　some　
children　and　some　dogs　standing　beside　it。　　Suddenly　I　found　myself　
close　to　a　man　who　stood　in　a　hollow　part　of　the　road；　from　which　a　
narrow　path　led　down　to　the　house；　a　donkey　with　panniers　stood　
beside　him。　　He　was　about　fifty　years　of　age；　with　a　carbuncled　
countenance；　high　but　narrow　forehead；　grey　eyebrows；　and　small；　
malignant　grey　eyes。　　He　had　a　white　hat；　with　narrow　eaves　and　the　
crown　partly　knocked　out；　a　torn　blue　coat；　corduroy　breeches；　long　
stockings　and　highlows。　　He　was　sucking　a　cutty　pipe；　but　seemed　
unable　to　extract　any　smoke　from　it。　　He　had　all　the　appearance　of　
a　vagabond；　and　of　a　rather　dangerous　vagabond。　　I　nodded　to　him；　
and　asked　him　in　Welsh　the　name　of　the　place。　　He　glared　at　me　
malignantly；　then；　taking　the　pipe　out　of　his　mouth；　said　that　he　
did　not　know；　that　he　had　been　down　below　to　inquire　and　light　his　
pipe；　but　could　get　neither　light　nor　answer　from　the　children。　　I　
asked　him　where　he　came　from；　but　he　evaded　the　question　by　asking　
where　I　was　going　to。

〃To　the　Pont　y　Gwr　Drwg；〃　said　I。

He　then　asked　me　if　I　was　an　Englishman。

〃Oh　yes；〃　said　I；　〃I　am　Carn　Sais；〃　whereupon；　with　a　strange　
mixture　in　his　face　of　malignity　and　contempt；　he　answered　in　
English　that　he　didn't　understand　me。

〃You　understood　me　very　well；〃　said　I；　without　changing　my　
language；　〃till　I　told　you　I　was　an　Englishman。　　Harkee；　man　with　
the　broken　hat；　you　are　one　of　the　bad　Welsh　who　don't　like　the　
English　to　know　the　language；　lest　they　should　discover　your　lies　
and　rogueries。〃　　He　evidently　understood　what　I　said；　for　he　
gnashed　his　teeth；　though　he　said　nothing。　　〃Well；〃　said　I；　〃I　
shall　go　down　to　those　children　and　inquire　the　name　of　the　house；〃　
and　I　forthwith　began　to　descend　the　path；　the　fellow　uttering　a　
contemptuous　〃humph〃　behind　me；　as　much　as　to　say；　〃Much　you'll　
make　out　down　there。〃　　I　soon　reached　the　bottom　and　advanced　
towards　the　house。　　The　dogs　had　all　along　been　barking　violently；　
as　I　drew　near　to　them；　however；　they　ceased；　and　two　of　the　
largest　came　forward　wagging　their　tails。　　〃The　dogs　were　not　
barking　at　me；〃　said　I；　〃but　at　that　vagabond　above。〃　　I　went　up　to　
the　children；　they　were　four　in　number；　two　boys　and　two　girls；　all　
red…haired；　but　tolerably　good…looking。　　They　had　neither　shoes　nor　
stockings。　　〃What　is　the　name　of　this　house？〃　said　I　to　the　eldest；　
a　boy　about　seven　years　old。　　He　looked　at　me；　but　made　no　answer。　　
I　repeated　my　question；　still　there　was　no　answer；　but　methought　I　
heard　a　humph　of　triumph　from　the　hill。　　〃Don't　crow　quite　yet；　old　
chap；〃　thought　I　to　myself；　and　putting　my　hand　into　my　pocket；　I　
took　out　a　penny；　and　offering　it　to　the　child　said：　　〃Now；　small　
man；　Peth　yw　y　enw　y　lle　hwn？〃　　Instantly　the　boy's　face　became　
intelligent；　and　putting　out　a　fat　little　hand；　he　took　the　ceiniog　
and　said　in　an　audible　whisper；　〃Waen　y　Bwlch。〃　　〃I　am　all　right；〃　
said　I　to　myself；　〃that　is　one　of　the　names　of　the　places　which　the　
old　ostler　said　I　must　go　through。〃　　Then　addressing　myself　to　the　
child　I　said：　　〃Where's　your　father　and　mother？〃

〃Out　on　the　hill；〃　whispered　the　child。

〃What's　your　father？〃

〃A　shepherd。〃

〃Good；〃　said　I。　　〃Now　can　you　tell　me　the　way　to　the　bridge　of　the　
evil　man？〃　　But　the　features　became　blank；　the　finger　was　put　to　
the　mouth；　and　the　head　was　hung　down。　　That　question　was　evidently　
beyond　the　child's　capacity。　　〃Thank　you！〃　said　I；　and　turning　
round　I　regained　the　path　on　the　top　of　the　bank。　　The　fellow　and　
his　donkey　were　still　there。　　〃I　had　no　difficulty；〃　said　I；　〃in　
obtaining　information；　the　place's　name　is　Waen　y　Bwlch。　　But　oes　
genoch　dim　Cumraeg　…　you　have　no　Welsh。〃　　Thereupon　I　proceeded　
along　the　path　in　the　direction　of　the　east。　　Forthwith　the　fellow　
said　something　to　his　animal；　and　both　came　following　fast　behind。　　
I　quickened　my　pace；　but　the　fellow　and　his　beast　were　close　in　my　
rear。　　Presently　I　came　to　a　place　where　another　path　branched　off　
to　the　south。　　I　stopped；　looked　at　it；　and　then　went　on；　but　
scarcely　had　done　so　when　I　heard　another　exulting　〃humph〃　behind。　　
〃I　am　going　wrong；〃　said　I　to　myself；　〃that　other　path　is　the　way　
to　the　Devil's　Bridge；　and　the　scamp　knows　it　or　he　would　not　have　
grunted。〃　　Forthwith　I　faced　round；　and　brushing　past　the　fellow　
without　a　word　turned　into　the　other　path　and　hurried　along　it。　　By　
a　side　glance　which　I　cast　I　could　see　him　staring　after　me；　
presently；　however；　he　uttered　a　sound　very　much　like　a　Welsh　
curse；　and；　kicking　his　beast；　proceeded　on　his　way；　and　I　saw　no　
more　of　him。　　In　a　little　time　I　came　to　a　slough　which　crossed　the　
path。　　I　did　not　like　the　look　of　it　at　all；　and　to　avoid　it　
ventured　upon　some　green　mossy…looking　ground　to　the　left；　and　had　
scarcely　done　so　when　I　found　myself　immersed　to　the　knees　in　a　
bog。　　I；　however；　pushed　forward；　and　with　some　difficulty　got　to　
the　path　on　the　other　side　of　the　slough。　　I　followed　the　path；　and　
in　about　half…an…hour　saw　what　appeared　to　be　houses　at　a　distance。　　
〃God　grant　that　I　maybe　drawing　near　some　inhabited　place！〃　said　I。　　
The　path　now　grew　very　miry；　and　there　were　pools　of　water　on　
either　side。　　I　moved　along　slowly。　　At　length　I　came　to　a　place　
where　some　men　were　busy　in　erecting　a　kind　of　building。　　I　went　up　
to　the　nearest　and　asked　him　the　name　of　the　place。　　He　had　a　
crowbar　in　his　hand；　was　half　naked；　had　a　wry　mouth　and　only　one　
eye。　　He　made　me　no　answer；　but　mowed　and　gibbered　at　me。

〃For　God's　sake；〃　said　I；　〃don't　do　so；　but　tell　me　where　I　am！〃　　
He　still　uttered　no　word；　but　mowed　and　gibbered　yet　more　
frightfully　than　before。　　As　I　stood　staring　at　him　another　man　
came　to　me　and　said　in　broken　English：　　〃It　is　of　no　use　speaking　
to　him；　sir；　he　is　deaf　and　dumb。〃

〃I　am　glad　he　is　no　worse；〃　said　I；　〃for　I　really　thought　he　was　
possessed　with　the　evil　one。　　My　good　person；　can　you　tell　me　the　
name　of　this　place？〃

〃Esgyrn　Hirion；　sir；〃　said　he。

〃Esgyrn　Hirion；〃　said　I　to　myself；　〃Esgyrn　means　'bones；'　and　
Hirion　means　'long。'　　I　am　doubtless　at　the　place　which　the　old　
ostler　called　Long　Bones。　　I　shouldn't　wonder　if　I　get　to　the　
Devil's　Bridge　to…night　after　all。〃　　I　then　asked　the　man　if　he　
could　tell　me　the　way　to　the　bridge　of　the　evil　man；　but　he　shook　
his　head　and　said　that　he　had　never　heard　of　such　a　place；　adding；　
however；　that　he　would　go　with　me　to　one　of　the　overseers；　who　
could　perhaps　direct　me。　　He　then　proceeded　towards　a　row　of　
buildings；　which　were；　in　fact；　those　objects　which　I　had　guessed　
to　be　houses　in　the　distance。　　He　led　me　to　a　corner　house；　at　the　
door　of　which　stood　a　middle…aged　man；　dressed　in　a　grey　coat；　and　
saying　to　me；　〃This　person　is　an　overseer；〃　returned　to　his　labour。　　
I　went　up　to　the　man；　and；　saluting　him　in　English；　asked　whet