the black dwarf-第16节

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or　the　temporary　accommodation　of　the　old　lady　and　her　daughters；　with　such　articles　as　had　been　contributed　by　the　neighbours；　for　very　little　was　saved　from　the　wreck。

〃Are　we　to　stand　here　a'　day；　sirs；〃　exclaimed　one　tall　young　man；　〃and　look　at　the　burnt　wa's　of　our　kinsman's　house？　　Every　wreath　of　the　reek　is　a　blast　of　shame　upon　us！　　Let　us　to　horse；　and　take　the　chase。Who　has　the　nearest　bloodhound？〃

〃It's　young　Earnscliff；〃　answered　another；　〃and　he's　been　on　and　away　wi'　six　horse　lang　syne；　to　see　if　he　can　track　them。〃

〃Let　us　follow　him　then；　and　raise　the　country；　and　mak　mair　help　as　we　ride；　and　then　have　at　the　Cumberland　reivers！　　Take；　burn；　and　slaythey　that　lie　nearest　us　shall　smart　first。〃

〃Whisht！　haud　your　tongues；　daft　callants；〃　said　an　old　man；　〃ye　dinna　ken　what　ye　speak　about。　　What！　wad　ye　raise　war　atween　two　pacificated　countries？〃

〃And　what　signifies　deaving　us　wi'　tales　about　our　fathers；〃　retorted　the　young；　man；　〃if　we're　to　sit　and　see　our　friends'　houses　burnt　ower　their　heads；　and　no　put　out　hand　to　revenge　them？　　Our　fathers　did　not　do　that；　I　trow？〃

〃I　am　no　saying　onything　against　revenging　Hobbie's　wrang；　puir　chield；　but　we　maun　take　the　law　wi'　us　in　thae　days；　Simon；〃　answered　the　more　prudent　elder。

〃And　besides；〃　said　another　old　man；　〃I　dinna　believe　there's　ane　now　living　that　kens　the　lawful　mode　of　following　a　fray　across　the　Border。　　Tam　o'　Whittram　kend　a'　about　it；　but　he　died　in　the　hard　winter。〃

〃Ay；〃　said　a　third；　〃he　was　at　the　great　gathering；　when　they　chased　as　far　as　Thirlwall；　it　was　the　year　after　the　fight　of　Philiphaugh。〃

〃Hout；〃　exclaimed　another　of　these　discording　counsellors；　〃there's　nae　great　skill　needed；　just　put　a　lighted　peat　on　the　end　of　a　spear；　or　hayfork；　or　siclike；　and　blaw　a　horn；　and　cry　the　gathering…word；　and　then　it's　lawful　to　follow　gear　into　England；　and　recover　it　by　the　strong　hand；　or　to　take　gear　frae　some　other　Englishman；　providing　ye　lift　nae　mair　than's　been　lifted　frae　you。　　That's　the　auld　Border　law；　made　at　Dundrennan；　in　the　days　of　the　Black　Douglas；　Deil　ane　need　doubt　it。　　It's　as　clear　as　the　sun。〃

〃Come　away；　then；　lads；〃　cried　Simon；　〃get　to　your　geldings；　and　we'll　take　auld　Cuddie　the　muckle　tasker　wi'　us；　he　kens　the　value　o'　the　stock　and　plenishing　that's　been　lost。　　Hobbie's　stalls　and　stakes　shall　be　fou　again　or　night；　and　if　we　canna　big　up　the　auld　house　sae　soon；　we'se　lay　an　English　ane　as　low　as　Heugh…foot　isand　that's　fair　play；　a'　the　warld　ower。〃

This　animating　proposal　was　received　with　great　applause　by　the　younger　part　of　the　assemblage；　when　a　whisper　ran　among　them；　〃There's　Hobbie　himsell；　puir　fallow！　　we'll　be　guided　by　him。〃

The　principal　sufferer；　having　now　reached　the　bottom　of　the　hill；　pushed　on　through　the　crowd；　unable；　from　the　tumultuous　state　of　his　feelings；　to　do　more　than　receive　and　return　the　grasps　of　the　friendly　hands　by　which　his　neighbours　and　kinsmen　mutely　expressed　their　sympathy　in　his　misfortune。　　While　he　pressed　Simon　of　Hackburn's　hand；　his　anxiety　at　length　found　words。　　〃Thank　ye；　Simonthank　ye；　neighboursI　ken　what　ye　wad　a'　say。　　But　where　are　they？Where　are〃　He　stopped；　as　if　afraid　even　to　name　the　objects　of　his　enquiry；　and　with　a　similar　feeling；　his　kinsmen；　without　reply；　pointed　to　the　hut；　into　which　Hobbie　precipitated　himself　with　the　desperate　air　of　one　who　is　resolved　to　know　the　worst　at　once。　　A　general　and　powerful　expression　of　sympathy　accompanied　him。　　〃Ah；　puir　fallowpuir　Hobbie！〃

〃He'll　learn　the　warst　o't　now！〃

〃But　I　trust　Earnscliff　will　get　some　speerings　o'　the　puir　lassie。〃

Such　were　the　exclamations　of　the　group；　who；　having　no　acknowledged　leader　to　direct　their　motions；　passively　awaited　the　return　of　the　sufferer；　and　determined　to　be　guided　by　his　directions。

The　meeting　between　Hobbie　and　his　family　was　in　the　highest　degree　affecting。　　His　sisters　threw　themselves　upon　him；　and　almost　stifled　him　with　their　caresses；　as　if　to　prevent　his　looking　round　to　distinguish　the　absence　of　one　yet　more　beloved。

〃God　help　thee；　my　son！　　He　can　help　when　worldly　trust　is　a　broken　reed。〃Such　was　the　welcome　of　the　matron　to　her　unfortunate　grandson。　　He　looked　eagerly　round；　holding　two　of　his　sisters　by　the　hand；　while　the　third　hung　about　his　neck〃I　see　youI　count　youmy　grandmother；　Lilias；　Jean；　and　Annot；　but　where　is〃　（he　hesitated；　and　then　continued；　as　if　with　an　effort）；　〃Where　is　Grace？　Surely　this　is　not　a　time　to　hide　hersell　frae　methere's　nae　time　for　daffing　now。〃

〃O；　brother！〃　　and　〃Our　poor　Grace！〃　　was　the　only　answer　his　questions　could　procure；　till　his　grandmother　rose　up；　and　gently　disengaged　him　from　the　weeping　girls；　led　him　to　a　seat；　and　with　the　affecting　serenity　which　sincere　piety；　like　oil　sprinkled　on　the　waves；　can　throw　over　the　most　acute　feelings；　she　said；　〃My　bairn；　when　thy　grandfather　was　killed　in　the　wars；　and　left　me　with　six　orphans　around　me；　with　scarce　bread　to　eat；　or　a　roof　to　cover　us；　I　had　strength；not　of　mine　ownbut　I　had　strength　given　me　to　say；　The　Lord's　will　be　done！My　son；　our　peaceful　house　was　last　night　broken　into　by　moss…troopers；　armed　and　masked；　they　have　taken　and　destroyed　all；　and　carried　off　our　dear　Grace。　　Pray　for　strength　to　say；　His　will　be　done！〃

〃Mother！　　mother！　　urge　me　notI　cannotnot　now　I　am　a　sinful　man；　and　of　a　hardened　race。　　Masked　armedGrace　carried　off！　Gie　me　my　sword；　and　my　father's　knapsackI　will　have　vengeance；　if　I　should　go　to　the　pit　of　darkness　to　seek　it！〃

〃O　my　bairn；　my　bairn！　　be　patient　under　the　rod。　　Who　knows　when　He　may　lift　His　hand　off　from　us？　　Young　Earnscliff；　Heaven　bless　him；　has　taen　the　chase；　with　Davie　of　Stenhouse；　and　the　first　comers。　　I　cried　to　let　house　and　plenishing　burn；　and　follow　the　reivers　to　recover　Grace；　and　Earnscliff　and　his　men　were　ower　the　Fell　within　three　hours　after　the　deed。　　God　bless　him！　he's　a　real　Earnscliff；　he's　his　father's　true　sona　leal　friend。〃

〃A　true　friend　indeed；　God　bless　him！〃　　exclaimed　Hobbie；　〃let's　on　and　away；　and　take　the　chase　after　him。〃

〃O；　my　child；　before　you　run　on　danger；　let　me　hear　you　but　say；　HIS　will　be　done！〃

〃Urge　me　not；　mothernot　now。〃　　He　was　rushing　out；　when；　looking　back；　he　observed　his　grandmother　make　a　mute　attitude　of　affliction。　　He　returned　hastily；　threw　himself　into　her　arms；　and　said；　〃Yes；　mother；　I　CAN　say；　HIS　will　be　done；　since　it　will　comfort　you。〃

〃May　He　go　forthmay　He　go　forth　with　you；　my　dear　bairn；　and　O；　may　He　give　you　cause　to　say　on　your　return；　HIS　name　be　praised！〃

〃Farewell；　mother！farewell；　my　dear　sisters！〃　　exclaimed　Elliot；　and　rushed　out　of　the　house。



CHAPTER　VIII。

　Now　horse　and　hattock；　cried　the　Laird；　　Now　horse　and　hattock；　speedilie；　　They　that　winna　ride　for　Telfer's　kye；　　Let　them　never　look　in　the　face　o'　me。　　　Border　Ballad。

〃Horse！　　horse！　　and　spear！〃　　exclaimed　Hobbie　to　his　kinsmen。　Many　a　ready　foot　was　in　the　stirrup；　and；　while　Elliot　hastily　collected　arms　and　accoutrements；　no　easy　matter　in　such　a　confusion；　the　glen　resounded　with　the　approbation　of　his　younger　friends。

〃Ay；　ay！〃　　exclaimed　Simon　of　Hackburn；　〃that's　the　gate　to　take　it；　Hobbie。　　Let　women　sit　and　greet　at　hame；　men　must　do　as　they　have　been　done　by；　it's　the　Scripture　says't。〃

〃Haud　your　tongue；　sir；〃　said　one　of　the　seniors；　sternly；　〃dinna　abuse　the　Word　that　gate；　ye　dinna　ken　what　ye　speak　about。〃

〃Hae　ye　ony　tidings？Hae　ye　ony　speerings；　Hobbie？O；　callants；　dinna　be　ower　hasty；〃　said　old　Dick　of　the　Dingle。

〃What　signifies　preaching　to　us；　e'enow？〃　　said　Simon；　〃if　ye　canna　make　help　yoursell；　dinna　keep　back　them　that　can。〃

〃Whisht；　sir；　wad　ye　take　vengeance　or　ye　ken　wha　has　wrang'd　ye？〃

〃D'ye　think　we　dinna　ken　the　road　to　England　as　weel　as　our　fathers　before　us？All　evil　comes　out　o'　thereawayit's　an　auld　saying　and　a　true；　and　we'll　e'en　away　there；　as　if　the　devil　was　blawing　us　south。〃

〃We'll　follow　the　track　o'　Earnscliff's　horses　ower　the　waste；〃　cried　one　Elliot。

〃I'll　prick　them　out　through　the　blindest　moor　in　the　Border；　an　there　had　been　a　fair　held　there　the　day　before；〃　said　Hugh；　the　blacksmith　of　Ringleburn；　〃for　I　aye　shoe　his　horse　wi'　my　ain　hand。〃

〃Lay　on　the　deer…hounds；〃　cried　another　〃where　are　they？〃

〃Hout；　man；　the　sun's　been　lang　up；　and　the　dew　is　aff　the　grund　the　scent　will　never　lie。〃

Hobbie　instantly　whistled　on　his　hounds；　which　were　roving　about　the　ruins　of　their　old　habitation；　and　filling　the　air　with　their　doleful　howls。

〃Now；　Killbuck；〃　said　Hobbie；　〃try　thy　skill　this　day〃　and　then；　as　if　a　light　had　suddenly　broke　on　him；〃that　ill…faur'd　goblin　spak　something　o'　this！　　He　may　ken　mair　o't；　either　by　villains　on　earth；　or　devils　belowI'll　hae　it　frae　him；　if　I　should　cut　it　out　o'　his　mis…shapen　bouk　wi'　my　whinger。〃　　He　then　hastily　gave　directions　to　his　comrades：　〃Four　o'　ye；　wi'　Simon；　haud　right　forward　to　Graeme's…gap。　　If　they're　English；　they'll　be　for　being　back　that　way。　　The　rest　disperse　by　twasome　and　threesome　through　the　waste；　and　meet　me　at　the　Trysting…pool。　Tell　my　brothers；　when　they　come　up；　to　follow　and　meet　us　there。　Poor　lads；　they　will　hae　hearts　we