26-the headless dwarfs-第1节

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THE　HEADLESS　DWARFS

There　was　once　a　minister　who　spent　his　whole　time　in　trying　to
find　a　servant　who　would　undertake　to　ring　the　church　bells　at
midnight；　in　addition　to　all　his　other　duties。

Of　course　it　was　not　everyone　who　cared　to　get　up　in　the　middle
of　the　night；　when　he　had　been　working　hard　all　day；　still；　a
good　many　had　agreed　to　do　it。　　But　the　strange　thing　was　that　no
sooner　had　the　servant　set　forth　to　perform　his　task　than　he
disappeared；　as　if　the　earth　had　swallowed　him　up。　　No　bells　were
rung；　and　no　ringer　ever　came　back。　　The　minister　did　his　best　to
keep　the　matter　secret；　but　it　leaked　out　for　all　that；　and　the
end　of　it　was　that　no　one　would　enter　his　service。　　Indeed；　there
were　even　those　who　whispered　that　the　minister　himself　had
murdered　the　missing　men！

It　was　to　no　purpose　that　Sunday　after　Sunday　the　minister　gave
out　from　his　pulpit　that　double　wages　would　be　paid　to　anyone
that　would　fulfil　the　sacred　duty　of　ringing　the　bells　of　the
church。　　No　one　took　the　slightest　notice　of　any　offer　he　might
make；　and　the　poor　man　was　in　despair；　when　one　day；　as　he　was
standing　at　his　house　door；　a　youth　known　in　the　village　as
Clever　Hans　came　up　to　him。　　'I　am　tired　of　living　with　a　miser
who　will　not　give　me　enough　to　eat　and　drink；'　said　he；　'and　I　am
ready　to　do　all　you　want。'　　'Very　good；　my　son；'　replied　the
minister；　'you　shall　have　the　chance　of　proving　your　courage　this
very　night。　　To…morrow　we　will　settle　what　your　wages　are　to　be。'

Hans　was　quite　content　with　this　proposal；　and　went　straight　into
the　kitchen　to　begin　his　work；　not　knowing　that　his　new　master
was　quite　as　stingy　as　his　old　one。　　In　the　hope　that　his
presence　might　be　a　restraint　upon　them；　the　minister　used　to　sit
at　the　table　during　his　servants'　meals；　and　would　exhort　them　to
drink　much　and　often；　thinking　that　they　would　not　be　able　to　eat
as　well；　and　beef　was　dearer　than　beer。　　But　in　Hans　he　had　met
his　match；　and　the　minister　soon　found　to　his　cost　that　in　his
case　at　any　rate　a　full　cup　did　not　mean　an　empty　plate。

About　an　hour　before　midnight；　Hans　entered　the　church　and　locked
the　door　behind　him；　but　what　was　his　surprise　when；　in　place　of
the　darkness　and　silence　he　expected；　he　found　the　church
brilliantly　lighted；　and　a　crowd　of　people　sitting　round　a　table
playing　cards。　　Hans　felt　no　fear　at　this　strange　sight；　or　was
prudent　enough　to　hide　it　if　he　did；　and；　going　up　to　the　table；
sat　down　amongst　the　players。　　One　of　them　looked　up　and　asked；
'My　friend；　what　are　you　doing　here？'　and　Hans　gazed　at　him　for　a
moment；　then　laughed　and　answered；　'Well；　if　anybody　has　a　right
to　put　that　question；　it　is　I！　　And　if　_I_　do　not　put　it；　it　will
certainly　be　wiser　for　you　not　to　do　so！'

Then　he　picked　up　some　cards；　and　played　with　the　unknown　men　as
if　he　had　known　them　all　his　life。　　The　luck　was　on　his　side；　and
soon　the　money　of　the　other　gamblers　found　its　way　from　their
pockets　into　his。　　On　the　stroke　of　midnight　the　cock　crew；　and
in　an　instant　lights；　table；　cards；　and　people　all　had　vanished；
and　Hans　was　left　alone。

He　groped　about　for　some　time；　till　he　found　the　staircase　in　the
tower；　and　then　began　to　feel　his　way　up　the　steps。

On　the　first　landing　a　glimmer　of　light　came　through　a　slit　in
the　wall；　and　he　saw　a　tiny　man　sitting　there；　without　a　head。　
'Ho！　　ho！　　my　little　fellow；　what　are　you　doing　there？'　asked
Hans；　and；　without　waiting　for　an　answer；　gave　him　a　kick　which
sent　him　flying　down　the　stairs。　　Then　he　climbed　higher　still；
and　finding　as　he　went　dumb　watchers　sitting　on　every　landing；
treated　them　as　he　had　done　the　first。

At　last　he　reached　the　top；　and　as　he　paused　for　a　moment　to　look
round　him　he　saw　another　headless　man　cowering　in　the　very　bell
itself；　waiting　till　Hans　should　seize　the　bell…pull　in　order　to
strike　him　a　blow　with　the　clapper；　which　would　soon　have　made　an
end　of　him。

'Stop；　my　little　friend！'　cried　Hans。　　'That　is　not　part　of　the
bargain！　　Perhaps　you　saw　how　your　comrades　walked　down　stairs；
and　you　are　going　after　them。　　But　as　you　are　in　the　highest
place　you　shall　make　a　more　dignified　exit；　and　follow　them
through　the　window！'

With　these　words　he　began　to　climb　the　ladder；　in　order　to　take
the　little　man　from　the　bell　and　carry　out　his　threat。

At　this　the　dwarf　cried　out　imploringly；　'Oh；　brother！　　spare　my
life；　and　I　promise　that　neither　I　nor　my　comrades　will　ever
trouble　you　any　more。　　I　am　small　and　weak；　but　who　knows　whether
some　day　I　shall　not　be　able　to　reward　you。'

'You　wretched　little　shrimp；'　replied　Hans；　'a　great　deal　of　good
your　gratitude　is　likely　to　do　me！　　But　as　I　happen　to　be　feeling
in　a　cheerful　mood　to…night　I　will　let　you　have　your　life。　　But
take　care　how　you　come　across　me　again；　or　you　may　not　escape　so
easily！'

The　headless　man　thanked　him　humbly；　slid　hastily　down　the　bell
rope；　and　ran　down　the　steps　of　the　tower　as　if　he　had　left　a
fire　behind　him。　　Then　Hans　began　to　ring　lustily。

When　the　minister　heard　the　sound　of　the　midnight　bells　he
wondered　greatly；　but　rejoiced　that　he　had　at　last　found　some　one
to　whom　he　could　trust　this　duty。　　Hans　rang　the　bells　for　some
time；　then　went　to　the　hay…loft；　and　fell　fast　asleep。

Now　it　was　the　custom　of　the　minister　to　get　up　very　early；　and
to　go　round　to　make　sure　that　the　men　were　all　at　their　work。　
This　morning　everyone　was　in　his　place　except　Hans；　and　no　one
knew　anything　about　him。　　Nine　o'clock　came；　and　no　Hans；　but
when　eleven　struck　the　minister　began　to　fear　that　he　had
vanished　like　the　ringers　who　had　gone　before　him。　　When；
however；　the　servants　all　gathered　round　the　table　for　dinner；
Hans　at　last　made　his　appearance　stretching　himself　and　yawning。

'Where　have　you　been　all　this　time？'　asked　the　minister。

'Asleep；'　said　Hans。

'Asleep！'　exclaimed　the　minister　in　astonishment。　　'You　don't
mean　to　tell　me　that　you　can　go　on　sleeping　till　mid…day？'

'That　is　exactly　what　I　do　mean；'　replied　Hans。　　'If　one　works　in
the　night　one　must　sleep　in　the　day；　just　as　if　one　works　in　the
day　one　sleeps　in　the　night。　　If　you　can　find　somebody　else　to
ring　the　bells　at　midnight　I　am　ready　to　begin　work　at　dawn；　but
if　you　want　me　to　ring　them　I　must　go　on　sleeping　till　noon　at
the　very　earliest。'

The　minister　tried　to　argue　the　point　with　him；　but　at　length　the
following　agreement　was　come　to。　　Hans　was　to　give　up　the
ringing；　and　was　to　work　like　the　rest　from　sunrise　to　sunset；
with　the　exception　of　an　hour　after　breakfast　and　an　hour　after
dinner；　when　he　might　go　to　sleep。　　'But；　of　course；'　added　the
minister　carelessly；　'it　may　happen　now　and　then；　especially　in
winter；　when　the　days　are　short；　that　you　will　have　to　work　a
little　longer；　to　get　something　finished。'

'Not　at　all！'　answered　Hans。　　'Unless　I　were　to　leave　off　work
earlier　in　summer；　I　will　not　do　a　stroke　more　than　I　have
promised；　and　that　is　from　dawn　to　dark；　so　you　know　what　you
have　to　expect。'

A　few　weeks　later　the　minister　was　asked　to　attend　a　christening
in　the　neighbouring　town。　　He　bade　Hans　come　with　him；　but；　as
the　town　was　only　a　few　hours'　ride　from　where　he　lived；　the
minister　was　much　surprised　to　see　Hans　come　forth　laden　with　a
bag　containing　food。

'What　are　you　taking　that　for？'　asked　the　minister。　　'We　shall　be
there　before　dark。'

'Who　knows？'　replied　Hans。　　'Many　things　may　happen　to　delay　our
journey；　and　I　need　not　remind　you　of　our　contract　that　the
moment　the　sun　sets　I　cease　to　be　your　servant。　　If　we　don't
reach　the　town　while　it　is　still　daylight　I　shall　leave　you　to
shift　for　yourself。'

The　minister　thought　he　was　joking；　and　made　no　further　remark。　
But　when　they　had　left　the　village　behind　them；　and　had　ridden　a
few　miles；　they　found　that　snow　had　fallen　during　the　night；　and
had　been　blown　by　the　wind　into　drifts。　　This　hindered　their
progress；　and　by　the　time　they　had　entered　the　thick　wood　which
lay　between　them　and　their　destination　the　sun　was　already
touching　the　tops　of　the　trees。　　The　horses　ploughed　their　way
slowly　through　the　deep　soft　snow　and　as　they　went　Hans　kept
turning　to　look　at　the　sun；　which　lay　at　their　backs。

'Is　there　anything　behind　you？'　asked　the　minister。　　'Or　what　is
it　you　are　always　turning　round　for？'

'I　turn　round　because　I　have　no　eyes　in　the　back　of　my　neck；'
said　Hans。

'Cease　talking　nonsense；'　replied　the　minister；　'and　give　all
your　mind　to　getting　us　to　the　town　before　nightfall。'

Hans　did　not　answer；　but　rode　on　steadily；　though　every　now　and
then　he　cast　a　glance　over　his　shoulder。

When　they　arrived　in　the　middle　of　the　wood　the　sun　sank
altogether。　　Then　Hans　reined　up　his　horse；　took　his　knapsack；
and　jumped　out　of　the　sledge。

'What　are　you　doing？　　Are　you　mad？'　asked　the　minister；　but
Hans　answered　quietly；　'The　sun　is　set　and　my　work　is　over；　and　I
am　going　to　camp　here　for　the　night。'

In　vain　the　master　prayed　and　threatened；　and　promised　Hans　a
large　reward　if　he　would　only　drive　him　on。　　The　young　man　was
not　to　be　moved。

'Are　you　not　ashamed　to　urge　me　to　break　my　word？'　said　he。　　'If
you　want　to　reach　the　town　to…nig