the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第18节
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in their devotions； and of such hardness of heart； that they do not； without
hypocrisy； even thank the Deity himself for his warm sun and pure air。〃
As he was plunged in these gloomy soliloquies； he heard the tramp of
a horse on the other side of his enclosure； and a strong clear bass voice
singing with the liveliness inspired by a light heart；
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Canny Hobbie Elliot； canny Hobbie now； Canny Hobbie Elliot； I'se
gang alang wi' you。
At the same moment； a large deer greyhound sprung over the hermit's
fence。 It is well known to the sportsmen in these wilds； that the
appearance and scent of the goat so much resemble those of their usual
objects of chase； that the best…broke greyhounds will sometimes fly upon
them。 The dog in question instantly pulled down and throttled one of the
hermit's she… goats； while Hobbie Elliot； who came up； and jumped from
his horse for the purpose； was unable to extricate the harmless animal
from the fangs of his attendant until it was expiring。 The Dwarf eyed； for a
few moments； the convulsive starts of his dying favourite； until the poor
goat stretched out her limbs with the twitches and shivering fit of the last
agony。 He then started into an access of frenzy； and unsheathing a long
sharp knife； or dagger； which he wore under his coat； he was about to
launch it at the dog； when Hobbie； perceiving his purpose； interposed； and
caught hold of his hand； exclaiming； 〃Let a be the hound； manlet a be the
hound！Na； na； Killbuck maunna be guided that gate； neither。〃
The Dwarf turned his rage on the young farmer； and； by a sudden
effort； far more powerful than Hobbie expected from such a person； freed
his wrist from his grasp； and offered the dagger at his heart。 All this was
done in the twinkling of an eye； and the incensed Recluse might have
completed his vengeance by plunging the weapon in Elliot's bosom； had
he not been checked by an internal impulse which made him hurl the knife
to a distance。
〃No；〃 he exclaimed； as he thus voluntarily deprived himself of the
means of gratifying his rage； 〃not againnot again！〃
Hobbie retreated a step or two in great surprise； discomposure； and
disdain； at having been placed in such danger by an object apparently so
contemptible。
〃The deil's in the body for strength and bitterness！〃 were the first
words that escaped him； which he followed up with an apology for the
accident that had given rise to their disagreement。 〃I am no justifying
Killbuck a'thegither neither； and I am sure it is as vexing to me as to you；
Elshie； that the mischance should hae happened； but I'll send you twa
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goats and twa fat gimmers； man； to make a' straight again。 A wise man
like you shouldna bear malice against a poor dumb thing； ye see that a
goat's like first…cousin to a deer； sae he acted but according to his nature
after a'。 Had it been a pet…lamb； there wad hae been mair to be said。 Ye
suld keep sheep； Elshie； and no goats； where there's sae mony deerhounds
aboutbut I'll send ye baith。〃
〃Wretch！〃 said the Hermit； 〃your cruelty has destroyed one of the
only creatures in existence that would look on me with kindness！〃
〃Dear Elshie；〃 answered Hobbie； 〃I'm wae ye suld hae cause to say sae；
I'm sure it wasna wi' my will。 And yet； it's true； I should hae minded
your goats； and coupled up the dogs。 I'm sure I would rather they had
worried the primest wether in my faulds。Come； man； forget and forgie。
I'm e'en as vexed as ye can beBut I am a bridegroom； ye see； and that
puts a' things out o' my head； I think。 There's the marriage…dinner； or
gude part o't； that my twa brithers are bringing on a sled round by the
Riders' Slack； three goodly bucks as ever ran on Dallomlea； as the sang
says； they couldna come the straight road for the saft grund。 I wad send
ye a bit venison； but ye wadna take it weel maybe； for Killbuck catched
it。〃
During this long speech； in which the good…natured Borderer
endeavoured to propitiate the offended Dwarf by every argument he could
think of； he heard him with his eyes bent on the ground； as if in the
deepest meditation； and at length broke forth 〃Nature？yes！ it is
indeed in the usual beaten path of Nature。 The strong gripe and throttle
the weak； the rich depress and despoil the needy； the happy （those who are
idiots enough to think themselves happy） insult the misery and diminish
the consolation of the wretched。Go hence； thou who hast contrived to
give an additional pang to the most miserable of human beings thou who
hast deprived me of what I half considered as a source of comfort。 Go
hence； and enjoy the happiness prepared for thee at home！〃
〃Never stir；〃 said Hobbie； 〃if I wadna take you wi' me； man； if ye wad
but say it wad divert ye to be at the bridal on Monday。 There will be a
hundred strapping Elliots to ride the brouzethe like's no been seen sin'
the days of auld Martin of the Preakin… towerI wad send the sled for ye
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wi' a canny powny。〃
〃Is it to me you propose once more to mix in the society of the
common herd？〃 said the Recluse； with an air of deep disgust。
〃Commons！〃 retorted Hobbie； 〃nae siccan commons neither； the
Elliots hae been lang kend a gentle race。〃
〃Hence！ begone！〃 reiterated the Dwarf； 〃may the same evil luck
attend thee that thou hast left behind with me！ If I go not with you
myself； see if you can escape what my attendants； Wrath and Misery； have
brought to thy threshold before thee。〃
〃I wish ye wadna speak that gate；〃 said Hobbie。 〃Ye ken yoursell；
Elshie； naebody judges you to be ower canny； now； I'll tell ye just ae word
for a'ye hae spoken as muckle as wussing ill to me and mine； now； if ony
mischance happen to Grace； which God forbid； or to mysell； or to the poor
dumb tyke； or if I be skaithed and injured in body； gudes； or gear； I'll no
forget wha it is that it's owing to。〃
〃Out； hind！〃 exclaimed the Dwarf； 〃home！ home to your dwelling；
and think on me when you find what has befallen there。〃
〃Aweel； aweel；〃 said Hobbie； mounting his horse； 〃it serves naething
to strive wi' cripples；they are aye cankered； but I'll just tell ye ae thing；
neighbour； that if things be otherwise than weel wi' Grace Armstrong； I'se
gie you a scouther if there be a tar…barrel in the five parishes。〃
So saying； he rode off； and Elshie； after looking at him with a scornful
and indignant laugh； took spade and mattock； and occupied himself in
digging a grave for his deceased favourite。
A low whistle； and the words； 〃Hisht； Elshie； hisht！〃 disturbed him in
this melancholy occupation。 He looked up； and the Red Reiver of
Westburnflat was before him。 Like Banquo's murderer； there was blood
on his face； as well as upon the rowels of his spurs and the sides of his
over…ridden horse。
〃How now； ruffian！〃 demanded the Dwarf； 〃is thy job chared？〃
〃Ay； ay； doubt not that； Elshie；〃 answered the freebooter； 〃When I ride；
my foes may moan。 They have had mair light than comfort at the
Heugh…foot this morning； there's a toom byre and a wide； and a wail and a
cry for the bonny bride。〃
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〃The bride？〃
〃Ay； Charlie Cheat…the…Woodie； as we ca' him； that's Charlie Foster of
Tinning Beck； has promised to keep her in Cumberland till the blast blaw
by。 She saw me； and kend me in the splore； for the mask fell frae my
face for a blink。 I am thinking
