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小说: 05-the black thief 字数: 每页4000字

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

was the Black Thief; and; presenting his piece; fired at the man; at

which I let him fall; and crept into a little dark corner myself; that

was at the entrance of the place。 When they saw the man fall;

they ran all into the vault; and never stopped until they were at the

end of it; for fear; as I thought; that there might be some others

along with him that was killed。 But while they were busy

inspecting the corpse and the vault to see what they could miss; I

slipped out; and; once away; and still away; but they never had the

Black Thief in their power since。'



‘Well; my brave fellow;' says the Knight of the Glen; ‘I see you

have come through many dangers: you have freed these two princes

by your stories; but I am sorry myself that this young prince has

to suffer for all。 Now; if you could tell me something as wonderful

as you have told already; I would pardon him likewise; I pity this

youth and do not want to put him to death if I could help it。'



‘That happens well;' says the Thief of Sloan; ‘for I like him

best myself; and have reserved the most curious passage for the last

on his account。'



‘Well; then;' says the knight; ‘let us hear it。'



‘I was one day on my travels;' says the Black Thief; ‘and I

came into a large forest; where I wandered a long time; and could

not get out of it。 At length I came to a large castle; and fatigue

obliged me to call in the same; where I found a young woman and

a child sitting on her knee; and she crying。 I asked her what

made her cry; and where the lord of the castle was; for I wondered

greatly that I saw no stir of servants or any person about the

place。



‘ ‘‘It is well for you;'' says the young woman; ‘‘that the lord of

this castle is not at home at present; for he is a monstrous giant;

with but one eye on his forehead; who lives on human flesh。 He

brought me this child;'' says she; ‘‘I do not know where he got it;

and ordered me to make it into a pie; and I cannot help crying at

the command。''



‘I told her that if she knew of any place convenient that I

could leave the child safely I would do it; rather than it should be

killed by such a monster。



‘She told me of a house a distance off where I would get a

woman who would take care of it。 ‘‘But what will I do in regard

of the pie?''



‘ ‘‘Cut a finger off it;'' said I; ‘‘and I will bring you in a young

wild pig out of the forest; which you may dress as if it was the

child; and put the finger in a certain place; that if the giant doubts

anything about it you may know where to turn it over at the first;

and when he sees it he will be fully satisfied that the pie is made of

the child。''



‘She agreed to the scheme I proposed; and; cutting off the child's

finger; by her direction I soon had it at the house she told me of;

and brought her the little pig in the place of it。 She then made

ready the pie; and after eating and drinking heartily myself; I was

just taking my leave of the young woman when we observed the giant

coming through the castle gates。



‘ ‘‘Bless me;'' said she; ‘‘what will you do now? Run away and

lie down among the dead bodies that he has in the room (showing

me the place); and strip off your clothes that he may not know you

from the rest if he has occasion to go that way。''



‘I took her advice; and laid myself down among the rest; as if

dead; to see how he would behave。 The first thing I heard was

him calling for his pie。 When she set it down before him he swore

it smelled like swine's flesh; but knowing where to find the finger;

she immediately turned it up; which fairly convinced him of the

contrary。 The pie only served to sharpen his appetite; and I heard

him sharpening his knife and saying he must have a collop or two; for

he was not near satisfied。 But what was my terror when I heard

the giant groping among the bodies; and; fancying myself; cut the

half of my hip off; and took it with him to be roasted。 You may be

certain I was in great pain; but the fear of being killed prevented

me from making any complaint。 However; when he had eaten all

he began to drink hot liquors in great abundance; so that in a short

time he could not hold up his head; but threw himself on a large creel

he had made for the purpose; and fell fast asleep。 When I heard

him snoring; as I was I went up and caused the woman to bind my

wound with a handkerchief; and; taking the giant's spit; reddened it

in the fire; and ran it through the eye; but was not able to kill him。



‘However; I left the spit sticking in his head; and took to my

heels; but I soon found he was in pursuit of me; although blind;

and having an enchanted ring he threw it at me; and it fell on my

big toe and remained fastened to it。



‘The giant then called to the ring; where it was; and to my great

surprise it made him answer on my foot; and he; guided by the

same; made a leap at me which I had the good luck to observe; and

fortunately escaped the danger。 However; I found running was of

no use in saving me; as long as I had the ring on my foot; so I

took my sword and cut off the toe it was fastened on; and threw

both into a large fish…pond that was convenient。 The giant called

again to the ring; which by the power of enchantment always made

him answer; but he; not knowing what I had done; imagined it was

still on some part of me; and made a violent leap to seize me; when

he went into the pond; over head and ears; and was drowned。 Now;

sir knight;' says the Thief of Sloan; ‘you see what dangers I came

through and always escaped; but; indeed; I am lame for the want

of my toe ever since。'



‘My lord and master;' says an old woman that was listening all

the time; ‘that story is but too true; as I well know; for I am the

very woman that was in the giant's castle; and you; my lord; the

child that I was to make into a pie; and this is the very man that

saved your life; which you may know by the want of your finger

that was taken off; as you have heard; to deceive the giant。'



The Knight of the Glen; greatly surprised at what he had heard

the old woman tell; and knowing he wanted his finger from his

childhood; began to understand that the story was true enough。



‘And is this my deliverer?' says he。 ‘O brave fellow; I not

only pardon you all; but will keep you with myself while you live;

where you shall feast like princes; and have every attendance that

I have myself。'



They all returned thanks on their knees; and the Black Thief

told him the reason they attempted to steal the Steed of Bells; and

the necessity they were under in going home。



‘Well;' says the Knight of the Glen; ‘if that's the case I bestow

you my steed rather than this brave fellow should die; so you may

go when you please; only remember to call and see me betimes;

that we may know each other well。'



They promised they would; and with great joy they set off for

the King their father's palace; and the Black Thief along with

them。



The wicked Queen was standing all this time on the tower; and;

hearing the bells ringing at a great distance off; knew very well it

was the princes coming home; and the steed with them; and through

spite and vexation precipitated herself from the tower and was

shattered to pieces。



The three princes lived happy and well during their father's

reign; and always keeping the Black Thief along with them; but

how they did after the old King's death is not known。'4'





'4' The Hibernian Tales。


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