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小说: 05-the black thief 字数: 每页4000字

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on him in the stable; with sixty bells fixed to it; and whenever you

approach the place he quickly observes it and shakes himself;

which; by the sound of the bells; not only alarms the prince and his

guards; but the whole country round; so that it is impossible ever

to get him; and those that are so unfortunate as to be taken by the

Knight of the Glen are boiled in a red…hot fiery furnace。'



‘Bless me;' says the young prince; ‘what will we do? If we

return without the steed we will lose our heads; so I see we are ill

fixed on both sides。'



‘Well;' says the Thief of Sloan; ‘if it were my case I would

rather die by the Knight than by the wicked Queen; besides; I will

go with you myself and show you the road; and whatever fortune

you will have; I will take chance of the same。'



They returned him sincere thanks for his kindness; and he;

being well acquainted with the road; in a short time brought them

within view of the knight's castle。



‘Now;' says he; ‘we must stay here till night comes; for I know

all the ways of the place; and if there be any chance for it; it is

when they are all at rest; for the steed is all the watch the knight

keeps there。'



Accordingly; in the dead hour of the night; the King's three sons

and the Thief of Sloan attempted the Steed of Bells in order to

carry him away; but before they could reach the stables the steed

neighed most terribly and shook himself so; and the bells rung with

such noise; that the knight and all his men were up in a moment。



The Black Thief and the King's sons thought to make their

escape; but they were suddenly surrounded by the knight's guards

and taken prisoners; where they were brought into that dismal

part of the palace where the knight kept a furnace always boiling;

in which he threw all offenders that ever came in his way; which

in a few moments would entirely consume them。



‘Audacious villains!' says the Knight of the Glen; ‘how dare

you attempt so bold an action as to steal my steed? See; now; the

reward of your folly; for your greater punishment I will not boil

you all together; but one after the other; so that he that survives

may witness the dire afflictions of his unfortunate companions。'



So saying he ordered his servants to stir up the fire: ‘We will

boil the eldest…looking of these young men first;' said he; ‘and so on

to the last; which will be this old champion with the black cap。 He

seems to be the captain; and looks as if he had come through many

toils。'



‘I was as near death once as the prince is yet;' says the Black

Thief; ‘and escaped; and so will he too。'



‘No; you never were;' said the knight; ‘for he is within two or

three minutes of his latter end。'



‘But;' says the Black Thief; ‘I was within one moment of my

death; and I am here yet。'



‘How was that?' says the knight; ‘I would be glad to hear it;

for it seems impossible。'



‘If you think; sir knight;' says the Black Thief; ‘that the danger

I was in surpasses that of this young man; will you pardon him his

crime?'



‘I will;' says the knight; ‘so go on with your story。'



‘I was; sir;' says he; ‘a very wild boy in my youth; and came

through many distresses; once in particular; as I was on my

rambling; I was benighted and could find no lodging。 At length I

came to an old kiln; and being much fatigued I went up and lay on

the ribs。 I had not been long there when I saw three witches

coming in with three bags of gold。 Each put their bags of gold

under their heads; as if to sleep。 I heard one of them say to the

other that if the Black Thief came on them while they slept; he

would not leave them a penny。 I found by their discourse that

everybody had got my name into their mouth; though I kept silent

as death during their discourse。 At length they fell fast asleep; and

then I stole softly down; and seeing some turf convenient;

I placed one under each of their heads; and off I went; with their gold;

as fast as I could。



‘I had not gone far;' continued the Thief of Sloan; ‘until I saw a grey…

hound; a hare; and a hawk in pursuit of me; and began to think it must be the

witches that had taken the shapes in order that I might not escape them

unseen either by land or water。 Seeing they did not appear in any formidable

shape; I was more than once resolved to attack them; thinking that with

my broad sword I could easily destroy them。 But considering again

that it was perhaps still in their power to become alive again; I

gave over the attempt and climbed with difficulty up a tree; bringing

my sword in my hand and all the gold along with me。 However;

when they came to the tree they found what I had done; and making

further use of their hellish art; one of them was changed into a

smith's anvil and another into a piece of iron; of which the third

soon made a hatchet。 Having the hatchet made; she fell to cutting

down the tree; and in the course of an hour it began to shake

with me。 At length it began to bend; and I found that one or

two blows at the most would put it down。 I then began to think

that my death was inevitable; considering that those who were

capable of doing so much would soon end my life; but just

as she had the stroke drawn that would terminate my fate; the

cock crew; and the witches disappeared; having resumed their

natural shapes for fear of being known; and I got safe off with my

bags of gold。



‘Now; sir;' says he to the Knight of the Glen; ‘if that be not as

great an adventure as ever you heard; to be within one blow of a

hatchet of my end; and that blow even drawn; and after all to

escape; I leave it to yourself。'



‘Well; I cannot say but it is very extraordinary;' says the Knight

of the Glen; ‘and on that account pardon this young man his crime;

so stir up the fire; till I boil this second one。'



‘Indeed;' says the Black Thief; ‘I would fain think he would not

die this time either。'



‘How so?' says the knight; ‘it is impossible for him to escape。'



‘I escaped death more wonderfully myself;' says the Thief of

Sloan; ‘than if you had him ready to throw into the furnace; and I

hope it will be the case with him likewise。'



‘Why; have you been in another great danger?' says the knight。

‘I would be glad to hear the story too; and if it be as wonderful as

the last; I will pardon this young man as I did the other。'



‘My way of living; sir;' says the Black Thief; ‘was not good;

as I told you before; and being at a certain time fairly run out of

cash; and meeting with no enterprise worthy of notice; I was reduced

to great straits。 At length a rich bishop died in the neighbourhood I

was then in; and I heard he was interred with a great deal of jewels

and rich robes upon him; all which I intended in a short time

to be master of。 Accordingly that very night I set about it; and

coming to the place; I understood he was placed at the further end

of a long dark vault; which I slowly entered。 I had not gone in

far until I heard a foot coming towards me with a quick pace; and

although naturally bold and daring; yet; thinking of the deceased

bishop and the crime I was engaged in; I lost courage; and ran

towards the entrance of the vault。 I had retreated but a few paces

when I observed; between me and the light; the figure of a tall

black man standing in the entrance。 Being in great fear and not

knowing how to pass; I fired a pistol at him; and he immediately

fell across the entrance。 Perceiving he still retained the figure of

a mortal man; I began to imagine that it could not be the bishop's

ghost; recovering myself therefore from the fear I was in; I

ventured to the upper end of the vault; where I found a large

bundle; and upon further examination I found that the corpse was

already rifled; and that which I had taken to be a ghost was no

more than one of his own clergy。 I was then very sorry that I had

the misfortune to kill him; but it then could not be helped。 I took

up the bundle that contained everything belonging to the corpse

that was valuable; intending to take my departure from this

melancholy abode; but just as I came to the mouth of the entrance

I saw the guards of the place coming towards me; and distinctly

heard them saying that they would look in the vault; for that the

Black Thief would think little of robbing the corpse if he was

anywhere in the place。 I did not then know in what manner to act;

for if I was seen I would surely lose my life; as everybody had a

look…out at that time; and because there was no person bold enough

to come in on me。 I knew very well on the first sight of me that

could be got; I would be shot like a dog。 However; I had not time to

lose。 I took and raised up the man which I had killed; as if he was

standing on his feet; and I; crouching behind him; bore him up as

well as I could; so that the guards readily saw him as they came up

to the vault。 Seeing the man in black; one of the men cried that

was the Bl

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