the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第12节
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his body to be the members of a giant； but had afterwards capriciously
assigned them to the person of a dwarf； so ill did the length of his arms
and the iron strength of his frame correspond with the shortness of his
stature。 His clothing was a sort of coarse brown tunic； like a monk's
frock； girt round him with a belt of seal…skin。 On his head he had a cap
made of badger's skin； or some other rough fur； which added considerably
to the grotesque effect of his whole appearance； and overshadowed
features； whose habitual expression seemed that of sullen malignant
misanthropy。
This remarkable Dwarf gazed on the two youths in silence； with a
dogged and irritated look； until Earnscliff； willing to soothe him into better
temper； observed； 〃You are hard tasked； my friend； allow us to assist you。〃
Elliot and he accordingly placed the stone； by their joint efforts； upon
the rising wall。 The Dwarf watched them with the eye of a taskmaster；
and testified； by peevish gestures； his impatience at the time which they
took in adjusting the stone。 He pointed to anotherthey raised it alsoto a
third； to a fourththey continued to humour him； though with some
trouble； for he assigned them； as if intentionally； the heaviest fragments
which lay near。
〃And now； friend；〃 said Elliot； as the unreasonable Dwarf indicated
another stone larger than any they had moved； 〃Earnscliff may do as he
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THE BLACK DWARF
likes； but be ye man or be ye waur； deil be in my fingers if I break my
back wi' heaving thae stanes ony langer like a barrow…man； without
getting sae muckle as thanks for my pains。〃
〃Thanks！〃 exclaimed the Dwarf； with a motion expressive of the
utmost contempt〃Theretake them； and fatten upon them！ Take them；
and may they thrive with you as they have done with meas they have
done with every mortal worm that ever heard the word spoken by his
fellow reptile！ Henceeither labour or begone！〃
〃This is a fine reward we have； Earnscliff； for building a tabernacle for
the devil； and prejudicing our ain souls into the bargain； for what we ken。〃
〃Our presence；〃 answered Earnscliff； 〃seems only to irritate his frenzy；
we had better leave him； and send some one to provide him with food and
necessaries。〃
They did so。 The servant dispatched for this purpose found the
Dwarf still labouring at his wall； but could not extract a word from him。
The lad； infected with the superstitions of the country； did not long persist
in an attempt to intrude questions or advice on so singular a figure； but
having placed the articles which he had brought for his use on a stone at
some distance； he left them at the misanthrope's disposal。
The Dwarf proceeded in his labours； day after day； with an assiduity so
incredible as to appear almost supernatural。 In one day he often seemed
to have done the work of two men； and his building soon assumed the
appearance of the walls of a hut； which； though very small； and
constructed only of stones and turf； without any mortar； exhibited； from
the unusual size of the stones employed； an appearance of solidity very
uncommon for a cottage of such narrow dimensions and rude construction。
Earnscliff； attentive to his motions； no sooner perceived to what they
tended； than he sent down a number of spars of wood suitable for forming
the roof； which he caused to be left in the neighbourhood of the spot；
resolving next day to send workmen to put them up。 But his purpose was
anticipated； for in the evening； during the night； and early in the morning；
the Dwarf had laboured so hard； and with such ingenuity； that he had
nearly completed the adjustment of the rafters。 His next labour was to
cut rushes and thatch his dwelling； a task which he performed with
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THE BLACK DWARF
singular dexterity。
As he seemed averse to receive any aid beyond the occasional
assistance of a passenger； materials suitable to his purpose； and tools； were
supplied to him； in the use of which he proved to be skilful。 He
constructed the door and window of his cot； he adjusted a rude bedstead；
and a few shelves； and appeared to become somewhat soothed in his
temper as his accommodations increased。
His next task was to form a strong enclosure； and to cultivate the land
within it to the best of his power； until； by transporting mould； and
working up what was upon the spot； he formed a patch of garden…ground。
It must be naturally supposed； that； as above hinted； this solitary being
received assistance occasionally from such travellers as crossed the moor
by chance； as well as from several who went from curiosity to visit his
works。 It was； indeed； impossible to see a human creature； so unfitted； at
first sight； for hard labour； toiling with such unremitting assiduity； without
stopping a few minutes to aid him in his task； and； as no one of his
occasional assistants was acquainted with the degree of help which the
Dwarf had received from others； the celerity of his progress lost none of
its marvels in their eyes。 The strong and compact appearance of the
cottage； formed in so very short a space； and by such a being； and the
superior skill which he displayed in mechanics； and in other arts； gave
suspicion to the surrounding neighbours。 They insisted； that； if he was
not a phantom；an opinion which was now abandoned； since he plainly
appeared a being of blood and bone with themselves；yet he must be in
close league with the invisible world； and have chosen that sequestered
spot to carry on his communication with them undisturbed。 They insisted；
though in a different sense from the philosopher's application of the phrase；
that he was never less alone than when alone； and that from the heights
which commanded the moor at a distance； passengers often discovered a
person at work along with this dweller of the desert； who regularly
disappeared as soon as they approached closer to the cottage。 Such a
figure was also occasionally seen sitting beside him at the door； walking
with him in the moor； or assisting him in fetching water from his fountain。
Earnscliff explained this phenomenon by supposing it to be the Dwarf's
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shadow。
〃Deil a shadow has he；〃 replied Hobbie Elliot； who was a strenuous
defender of the general opinion； 〃he's ower far in wi' the Auld Ane to have
a shadow。 Besides；〃 he argued more logically； 〃wha ever heard of a
shadow that cam between a body and the sun？ and this thing； be it what
it will； is thinner and taller than the body himsell； and has been seen to
come between him and the sun mair than anes or twice either。〃
These suspicions； which； in any other part of the country； might have
been attended with investigations a little inconvenient to the supposed
wizard； were here only productive of respect and awe。 The recluse being
seemed somewhat gratified by the marks of timid veneration with which
an occasional passenger approached his dwelling； the look of startled
surprise with which he surveyed his person and his premises； and the
hurried step with which he pressed his retreat as he passed the awful spot。
The boldest only stopped to gratify their curiosity by a hasty glance at the
walls of his cottage and garden； and to apologize for it by a courteous
salutation； which the inmate sometimes deigned to return by a word or a
nod。 E
