40-the blue mountains-第2节
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Irishman's coat without his noticing it； whereupon he fell sound
asleep。
Before long the Princess came with the carriage and four horses；
and asked the lad whether his master was awake。 He said that he
wasn't。 'It is bad for him；' said she； 'when the night is not
long enough for him to sleep。 Tell him that if he doesn't meet
me at this time to…morrow it is not likely that he will ever see
me again all his life。'
As soon as she was gone the lad took the pin out of his master's
coat； who instantly awoke。 The first word he said to the lad
was； 'Have you seen her？'
'Yes；' said he； 'and she bade me tell you that if you don't meet
her at nine o'clock to…morrow you will never see her again。'
He was very sorry when he heard this； and could not understand
why the sleep should have fallen upon him just when she was
coming。 He decided； however； to go early to bed that night； in
order to rise in time nest morning； and so he did。 When it was
getting near nine o'clock he went out to the garden to wait till
she came； and the fair…haired lad along with him； but as soon as
the lad got the chance he stuck the pin into his master's coat
again and he fell asleep as before。 Precisely at nine o'clock
came the Princess in the carriage with four horses； and asked the
lad if his master had got up yet； but he said 'No； he was asleep；
just as he was the day before。' 'Dear！ dear！' said the
Princess； 'I am sorry for him。 Was the sleep he had last night
not enough for him？ Tell him that he will never see me here
again； and here is a sword that you will give him in my name； and
my blessing along with it。'
With this she went off； and as soon as she had gone the lad took
the pin out of his master's coat。 He awoke instantly； and the
first word he said was； 'Have you seen her？' The lad said that he
had； and there was the sword she had left for him。 The Irishman
was ready to kill the lad out of sheer vexation； but when he gave
a glance over his shoulder not a trace of the fair…haired lad was
left。
Being thus left all alone； he thought of going into the room
where all the men were lying asleep； and there among the rest he
found his two comrades who had deserted along with him。 Then he
remembered what the Princess had told himthat he had only to
touch them with the rod she had given him and they would all
awake； and the first he touched were his own comrades。 They
started to their feet at once； and he gave them as much silver
and gold as they could carry when they went away。 There was
plenty to do before he got all the others wakened； for the two
doors of the castle were crowded with them all the day long。
The loss of the Princess； however； kept rankling in his mind day
and night； till finally he thought he would go about the world to
see if he could find anyone to give him news of her。 So he took
the best horse in the stable and set out。 Three years he spent
travelling through forests and wildernesses； but could find no
one able to tell him anything of the Princess。 At last he fell
into so great despair that he thought he would put an end to his
own life； and for this purpose laid hold of the sword that she
had given him by the hands of the fair…haired lad； but on drawing
it from its sheath he noticed that there was some writing on one
side of the blade。 He looked at this； and read there； 'You will
find me in the Blue Mountains。' This made him take heart again；
and he gave up the idea of killing himself； thinking that he
would go on in hope of meeting some one who could tell him where
the Blue Mountains were。 After he had gone a long way without
thinking where he was going； he saw at last a light far away； and
made straight for it。 On reaching it he found it came from a
little house； and as soon as the man inside heard the noise of
the horse's feet he came out to see who was there。 Seeing a
stranger on horseback； he asked what brought him there and where
he was going。
'I have lived here；' said he； 'for three hundred years； and all
that time I have not seen a single human being but yourself。'
'I have been going about for the last three years；' said the
Irishman； 'to see if I could find anyone who can tell me where
the Blue Mountains are。'
'Come in；' said the old man； 'and stay with me all night。 I have
a book which contains the history of the world； which I shall go
through to…night； and if there is such a place as the Blue
Mountains in it we shall find it out。'
The Irishman stayed there all night； and as soon as morning came
rose to go。 The old man said he had not gone to sleep all night
for going through the book； but there was not a word about the
Blue Mountains in it。 'But I'll tell you what；' he said； 'if
there is such a place on earth at all； I have a brother who lives
nine hundred miles from here； and he is sure to know where they
are； if anyone in this world does。' The Irishman answered that
he could never go these nine hundred miles； for his horse was
giving in already。 'That doesn't matter；' said the old man； 'I
can do better than that。 I have only to blow my whistle and you
will be at my brother's house before nightfall。'
So he blew the whistle； and the Irishman did not know where on
earth he was until he found himself at the other old man's door；
who also told him that it was three hundred years since he had
seen anyone； and asked him where he was going。
'I am going to see if I can find anyone that can tell me where
the Blue Mountains are；' he said。
'If you will stay with me to…night；' said the old man； 'I have a
book of the history of the world； and I shall know where they are
before daylight； if there is such a place in it at all。'
He stayed there all night； but there was not a word in the book
about the Blue Mountains。 Seeing that he was rather cast down；
the old man told him that he had a brother nine hundred miles
away； and that if information could be got about them from anyone
it would be from him； 'and I will enable you；' he said； 'to reach
the place where he lives before night。' So he blew his whistle；
and the Irishman landed at the brother's house before nightfall。
When the old man saw him he said he had not seen a single man for
three hundred years； and was very much surprised to see anyone
come to him now。
'Where are you going to？' he said。
'I am going about asking for the Blue Mountains；' said the
Irishman。
'The Blue Mountains？' said the old man。
'Yes；' said the Irishman。
'I never heard the name before； but if they do exist I shall find
them out。 I am master of all the birds in the world； and have
only to blow my whistle and every one will come to me。 I shall
then ask each of them to tell where it came from； and if there is
any way of finding out the Blue Mountains that is it。'
So he blew his whistle； and when he blew it then all the birds of
the world began to gather。 The old man questioned each of them
as to where they had come from； but there was not one of them
that had come from the Blue Mountains。 After he had run over
them all； however； he missed a big Eagle that was wanting； and
wondered that it had not come。 Soon afterwards he saw something
big coming towards him； darkening the sky。 It kept coming nearer
and growing bigger； and what was this after all but the Eagle？
When she arrived the old man scolded her； and asked what had kept
her so long behind。
'I couldn't help it；' she said； 'I had more than twenty times
further to come than any bird that has come here to…day。'
'Where have you come from； then？' said the old man。
'From the Blue Mountains；' said she。
'Indeed！' said the old man； and what are they doing there？'
'They are making ready this very day；' said the Eagle； 'for the
marriage of the daughter of the King of the Blue Mountains。 For
three years now she has refused to marry anyone whatsoever； until
she should give up all hope of the coming of the man who released
her from the spell。 Now she can wait no longer； for three years
is the time that she agreed with her father to remain without
marrying。'
The Irishman knew that it was for himself she had been waiting so
long； but he was unable to make any better of it； for he had no
hope of reaching the Blue Mountains all his life。 The old man
noticed how sad he grew； and asked the Eagle what she would take
for carrying this man on her back to the Blue Mountains。
'I must have threescore cattle killed；' said she； 'and cut up
into quarters； and every time I look over my shoulder he must
throw one of them into my mouth。'
As soon as the Irishman and the old man heard her demand they
went out hunting； and before evening they had killed three…score
cattle。 They made quarters of them； as the Eagle told them； and
then the old man asked her to lie down； till they would get it
all heaped up on her back。 F
