the black dwarf-第7节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


。　　But　Willie's　lowland　bred；　poor　fallow；　and　soon　frighted　for　himsellAnd；　for　the　worricows；　were　we　to　meet　ane　on　this　very　bit〃

〃As　is　not　unlikely；〃　said　young　Earnscliff；　〃for　there　stands　your　old　witch；　Hobbie。〃

〃I　say；〃　continued　Elliot；　as　if　indignant　at　this　hint〃I　say；　if　the　auld　carline　hersell　was　to　get　up　out　o'　the　grund　just　before　us　here；　I　would　think　nae　mairBut；　gude　preserve　us；　Earnscliff；　what　can　yon；　be！〃



CHAPTER　III。

　Brown　Dwarf；　that　o'er　the　moorland　strays；　　Thy　name　to　Keeldar　tell！　　〃The　Brown　Man　of　the　Moor；　that　stays　　Beneath　the　heather…bell。〃　　　　　　　　　　　　　JOHN　LEYDEN

The　object　which　alarmed　the　young　farmer　in　the　middle　of　his　valorous　protestations；　startled　for　a　moment　even　his　less　prejudiced　companion。　　The　moon；　which　had　arisen　during　their　conversation；　was；　in　the　phrase　of　that　country；　wading　or　struggling　with　clouds；　and　shed　only　a　doubtful　and　occasional　light。　　By　one　of　her　beams；　which　streamed　upon　the　great　granite　column　to　which　they　now　approached；　they　discovered　a　form；　apparently　human；　but　of　a　size　much　less　than　ordinary；　which　moved　slowly　among　the　large　grey　stones；　not　like　a　person　intending　to　journey　onward；　but　with　the　slow；　irregular；　flitting　movement　of　a　being　who　hovers　around　some　spot　of　melancholy　recollection；　uttering　also；　from　time　to　time；　a　sort　of　indistinct　muttering　sound。　　This　so　much　resembled　his　idea　of　the　motions　of　an　apparition；　that　Hobbie　Elliot；　making　a　dead　pause；　while　his　hair　erected　itself　upon　his　scalp；　whispered　to　his　companion；　〃It's　Auld　Ailie　hersell！　　Shall　I　gie　her　a　shot；　in　the　name　of　God？〃

〃For　Heaven's　sake；　no；〃　said　his　companion；　holding　down　the　weapon　which　he　was　about　to　raise　to　the　aim〃for　Heaven's　sake；　no；　it's　some　poor　distracted　creature。〃

〃Ye're　distracted　yoursell；　for　thinking　of　going　so　near　to　her；〃　said　Elliot；　holding　his　companion　in　his　turn；　as　he　prepared　to　advance。　　〃We'll　aye　hae　time　to　pit　ower　a　bit　prayer　（an　I　could　but　mind　ane）　afore　she　comes　this　length　God！　　she's　in　nae　hurry；〃　continued　he；　growing　bolder　from　his　companion's　confidence；　and　the　little　notice　the　apparition　seemed　to　take　of　them。　　〃She　hirples　like　a　hen　on　a　het　girdle。　I　redd　ye；　Earnscliff〃　（this　he　added　in　a　gentle　whisper）；　〃let　us　take　a　cast　about；　as　if　to　draw　the　wind　on　a　buckthe　bog　is　no　abune　knee…deep；　and　better　a　saft　road　as　bad　company。〃　＇The　Scots　use　the　epithet　soft；　IN　MALAM　PARTEM；　in　two　cases；　at　least。　　A　SOFT　road　is　a　road　through　quagmire　and　bogs；　and　SOFT　weather　signifies　that　which　is　very　rainy。＇

Earnscliff；　however；　in　spite　of　his　companion's　resistance　and　remonstrances；　continued　to　advance　on　the　path　they　had　originally　pursued；　and　soon　confronted　the　object　of　their　investigation。

The　height　of　the　figure；　which　appeared　even　to　decrease　as　they　approached　it；　seemed　to　be　under　four　feet；　and　its　form；　as　far　as　the　imperfect　light　afforded　them　the　means　of　discerning；　was　very　nearly　as　broad　as　long；　or　rather　of　a　spherical　shape；　which　could　only　be　occasioned　by　some　strange　personal　deformity。　　The　young　sportsman　hailed　this　extraordinary　appearance　twice；　without　receiving　any　answer；　or　attending　to　the　pinches　by　which　his　companion　endeavoured　to　intimate　that　their　best　course　was　to　walk　on；　without　giving　farther　disturbance　to　a　being　of　such　singular　and　preternatural　exterior。　　To　the　third　repeated　demand　of　〃Who　are　you？　　What　do　you　here　at　this　hour　of　night？〃a　voice　replied；　whose　shrill；　uncouth；　and　dissonant　tones　made　Elliot　step　two　paces　back；　and　startled　even　his　companion；　〃Pass　on　your　way；　and　ask　nought　at　them　that　ask　nought　at　you。〃

〃What　do　you　do　here　so　far　from　shelter？　　Are　you　benighted　on　your　journey？　　Will　you　follow　us　home　（'God　forbid！'　ejaculated　Hobbie　Elliot；　involuntarily）；　and　I　will　give　you　a　lodging？〃

〃I　would　sooner　lodge　by　mysell　in　the　deepest　of　the　Tarras…　flow；〃　again　whispered　Hobbie。

〃Pass　on　your　way；〃　rejoined　the　figure；　the　harsh　tones　of　his　voice　still　more　exalted　by　passion。　　〃I　want　not　your　guidance　I　want　not　your　lodgingit　is　five　years　since　my　head　was　under　a　human　roof；　and　I　trust　it　was　for　the　last　time。〃

〃He　is　mad；〃　said　Earnscliff。

〃He　has　a　look　of　auld　Humphrey　Ettercap；　the　tinkler；　that　perished　in　this　very　moss　about　five　years　syne；〃　answered　his　superstitious　companion；　〃but　Humphrey　wasna　that　awfu'　big　in　the　bouk。〃

〃Pass　on　your　way；〃　reiterated　the　object　of　their　curiosity；　〃the　breath　of　your　human　bodies　poisons　the　air　around　methe　sound　of　pour　human　voices　goes　through　my　ears　like　sharp　bodkins〃

〃Lord　safe　us！〃　　whispered　Hobbie；　〃that　the　dead　should　bear　sie　fearfu'　ill…will　to　the　living！his　saul　maun　be　in　a　puir　way；　I'm　jealous。〃

〃Come；　my　friend；〃　said　Earnscliff；　〃you　seem　to　suffer　under　some　strong　affliction；　common　humanity　will　not　allow　us　to　leave　you　here。〃

〃Common　humanity！〃　　exclaimed　the　being；　with　a　scornful　laugh　that　sounded　like　a　shriek；　〃where　got　ye　that　catch…wordthat　noose　for　woodcocksthat　common　disguise　for　man…trapsthat　bait　which　the　wretched　idiot　who　swallows；　will　soon　find　covers　a　hook　with　barbs　ten　times　sharper　than　those　you　lay　for　the　animals　which　you　murder　for　your　luxury！〃

〃I　tell　you；　my　friend；〃　again　replied　Earnscliff；　〃you　are　incapable　of　judging　of　your　own　situationyou　will　perish　in　this　wilderness；　and　we　must；　in　compassion；　force　you　along　with　us。〃

〃I'll　hae　neither　hand　nor　foot　in't；〃　said　Hobbie；　〃let　the　ghaist　take　his　ain　way；　for　God's　sake！〃

〃My　blood　be　on　my　own　head；　if　I　perish　here；〃　said　the　figure；　and；　observing　Earnscliff　meditating　to　lay　hold　on　him；　he　added；　〃And　your　blood　be　upon　yours；　if　you　touch　but　the　skirt　of　my　garments；　to　infect　me　with　the　taint　of　mortality！〃

The　moon　shone　more　brightly　as　he　spoke　thus；　and　Earnscliff　observed　that　he　held　out　his　right　hand　armed　with　some　weapon　of　offence；　which　glittered　in　the　cold　ray　like　the　blade　of　a　long　knife；　or　the　barrel　of　a　pistol。　　It　would　have　been　madness　to　persevere　in　his　attempt　upon　a　being　thus　armed；　and　holding　such　desperate　language；　especially　as　it　was　plain　he　would　have　little　aid　from　his　companion；　who　had　fairly　left　him　to　settle　matters　with　the　apparition　as　he　could；　and　had　proceeded　a　few　paces　on　his　way　homeward。　　Earnscliff；　however；　turned　and　followed　Hobbie；　after　looking　back　towards　the　supposed　maniac；　who；　as　if　raised　to　frenzy　by　the　interview；　roamed　wildly　around　the　great　stone；　exhausting　his　voice　in　shrieks　and　imprecations；　that　thrilled　wildly　along　the　waste　heath。

The　two　sportsmen　moved　on　some　time　in　silence；　until　they　were　out　of　hearing　of　these　uncouth　sounds；　which　was　not　ere　they　had　gained　a　considerable　distance　from　the　pillar　that　gave　name　to　the　moor。　　Each　made　his　private　comments　on　the　scene　they　had　witnessed；　until　Hobbie　Elliot　suddenly　exclaimed；　〃Weel；　I'll　uphaud　that　yon　ghaist；　if　it　be　a　ghaist；　has　baith　done　and　suffered　muckle　evil　in　the　flesh；　that　gars　him　rampauge　in　that　way　after　he　is　dead　and　gane。〃

〃It　seems　to　me　the　very　madness　of　misanthropy；〃　said　Earnscliff；　following　his　own　current　of　thought。

〃And　ye　didna　think　it　was　a　spiritual　creature；　then？〃　asked　Hobbie　at　his　companion。

〃Who；　I？No；　surely。〃

〃Weel；　I　am　partly　of　the　mind　mysell　that　it　may　be　a　live　thingand　yet　I　dinna　ken；　I　wadna　wish　to　see　ony　thing　look　liker　a　bogle。〃

〃At　any　rate；〃　said　Earnscliff；　〃I　will　ride　over　to…morrow　and　see　what　has　become　of　the　unhappy　being。〃

〃In　fair　daylight？〃　　queried　the　yeoman；　〃then；　grace　o'　God；　I'se　be　wi'　ye。　　But　here　we　are　nearer　to　Heugh…foot　than　to　your　house　by　twa　mile；hadna　ye　better　e'en　gae　hame　wi'　me；　and　we'll　send　the　callant　on　the　powny　to　tell　them　that　you　are　wi'　us；　though　I　believe　there's　naebody　at　hame　to　wait　for　you　but　the　servants　and　the　cat。〃

〃Have　with　you　then；　friend　Hobbie；〃　said　the　young　hunter；　〃and　as　I　would　not　willingly　have　either　the　servants　be　anxious；　or　puss　forfeit　her　supper；　in　my　absence；　I'll　be　obliged　to　you　to　send　the　boy　as　you　propose。〃

〃Aweel；　that　IS　kind；　I　must　say。　　And　ye'll　gae　hame　to　Heugh…　foot？　　They'll　be　right　blithe　to　see　you；　that　will　they。〃

This　affair　settled；　they　walked　briskly　on　a　little　farther；　when；　coming　to　the　ridge　of　a　pretty　steep　hill；　Hobbie　Elliot　exclaimed；　〃Now；　Earnscliff；　I　am　aye　glad　when　I　come　to　this　very　bitYe　see　the　light　below；　that's　in　the　ha'　window；　where　grannie；　the　gash　auld　carline；　is　sitting　birling　at　her　wheel　and　ye　see　yon　other　light　that's　gaun　whiddin'　back　and　forrit　through　amang　the　windows？　　that's　my　cousin；　Grace　Armstrong；　she's　twice　as　clever　about　the　house　as　my　sisters；　and　sae　they　say　themsells；　for　they're　good…natured　lasses　as　ever　trode　on　heather；　but　they　confess　themsells；　and　sae　does　grannie；　that　she　has　far　maist　action；　and　is　the　best　goer　about　the　toun；　now　that　grannie　is　off　the　foot　hersell。My　brothers；　ane　o'　them's　away　to　wait　upon　the　chamberlain；　and　ane's　at　Moss…　phadraig；　that's　our　led　farmhe　can　see　after　the　stock　just　as　weel　as　I　can　do