lavengro-第17章

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but　it　might　be　a　village　of　the　dead　for　what　I　knew；　no　sound　

issued　from　it；　no　smoke　was　rising　from　its　roofs；　neither　man　nor　

beast　was　visible；　no　life；　no　motion　…　it　looked　as　desolate　as　

the　castle　itself。　　Yet　I　was　bent　on　the　adventure；　and　moved　on　

towards　the　castle　across　the　green　plain；　occasionally　casting　a　

startled　glance　around　me；　and　now　I　was　close　to　it。



It　was　surrounded　by　a　quadrangular　wall；　about　ten　feet　in　height；　

with　a　square　tower　at　each　corner。　　At　first　I　could　discover　no　

entrance；　walking　round；　however；　to　the　northern　side；　I　found　a　

wide　and　lofty　gateway　with　a　tower　above　it；　similar　to　those　at　

the　angles　of　the　wall；　on　this　side　the　ground　sloped　gently　down　

towards　the　bog；　which　was　here　skirted　by　an　abundant　growth　of　

copse…wood　and　a　few　evergreen　oaks。　　I　passed　through　the　gateway；　

and　found　myself　within　a　square　inclosure　of　about　two　acres。　　On　

one　side　rose　a　round　and　lofty　keep；　or　donjon；　with　a　conical　

roof；　part　of　which　had　fallen　down；　strewing　the　square　with　its　

ruins。　　Close　to　the　keep；　on　the　other　side；　stood　the　remains　of　

an　oblong　house；　built　something　in　the　modern　style；　with　various　

window…holes；　nothing　remained　but　the　bare　walls　and　a　few　

projecting　stumps　of　beams；　which　seemed　to　have　been　half　burnt。　　

The　interior　of　the　walls　was　blackened；　as　if　by　fire；　fire　also　

appeared　at　one　time　to　have　raged　out　of　the　window…holes；　for　the　

outside　about　them　was　black；　portentously　so。　　'I　wonder　what　has　

been　going　on　here？'　I　exclaimed。



There　were　echoes　among　the　walls　as　I　walked　about　the　court。　　I　

entered　the　keep　by　a　low　and　frowning　doorway：　　the　lower　floor　

consisted　of　a　large　dungeon…like　room；　with　a　vaulted　roof；　on　the　

left　hand　was　a　winding　staircase　in　the　thickness　of　the　wall；　it　

looked　anything　but　inviting；　yet　I　stole　softly　up；　my　heart　

beating。　　On　the　top　of　the　first　flight　of　stairs　was　an　arched　

doorway；　to　the　left　was　a　dark　passage；　to　the　right；　stairs　

leading　still　higher。　　I　stepped　under　the　arch　and　found　myself　in　

an　apartment　somewhat　similar　to　the　one　below；　but　higher。　　There　

was　an　object　at　the　farther　end。



An　old　woman；　at　least　eighty；　was　seated　on　a　stone；　cowering　over　

a　few　sticks　burning　feebly　on　what　had　once　been　a　right　noble　and　

cheerful　hearth；　her　side…glance　was　towards　the　doorway　as　I　

entered；　for　she　had　heard　my　foot…steps。　　I　stood　suddenly　still；　

and　her　haggard　glance　rested　on　my　face。



'Is　this　your　house；　mother？'　I　at　length　demanded；　in　the　language　

which　I　thought　she　would　best　understand。



'Yes；　my　house；　my　own　house；　the　house　of　the　broken…hearted。'



'Any　other　person's　house？'　I　demanded。



'My　own　house；　the　beggar's　house　…　the　accursed　house　of　

Cromwell！'







CHAPTER　XII







A　visit　…　Figure　of　a　man　…　The　dog　of　peace　…　The　raw　wound　…　The　

guardroom　…　Boy　soldier　…　Person　in　authority　…　Never　solitary　…　

Clergyman　and　family　…　Still…hunting　…　Fairy　man　…　Near　sunset　…　

Bagg　…　Left…handed　hitter　…　Irish　and　supernatural　…　At　Swanton　

Morley。



ONE　morning　I　set　out；　designing　to　pay　a　visit　to　my　brother　at　

the　place　where　he　was　detached；　the　distance　was　rather　

considerable；　yet　I　hoped　to　be　back　by　evening　fall；　for　I　was　now　

a　shrewd　walker；　thanks　to　constant　practice。　　I　set　out　early；　

and；　directing　my　course　towards　the　north；　I　had　in　less　than　two　

hours　accomplished　considerably　more　than　half　of　the　journey。　　The　

weather　had　at　first　been　propitious：　　a　slight　frost　had　rendered　

the　ground　firm　to　the　tread；　and　the　skies　were　clear；　but　now　a　

change　came　over　the　scene；　the　skies　darkened；　and　a　heavy　

snowstorm　came　on；　the　road　then　lay　straight　through　a　bog；　and　

was　bounded　by　a　deep　trench　on　both　sides；　I　was　making　the　best　

of　my　way；　keeping　as　nearly　as　I　could　in　the　middle　of　the　road；　

lest；　blinded　by　the　snow　which　was　frequently　borne　into　my　eyes　

by　the　wind；　I　might　fall　into　the　dyke；　when　all　at　once　I　heard　a　

shout　to　windward；　and　turning　my　eyes　I　saw　the　figure　of　a　man；　

and　what　appeared　to　be　an　animal　of　some　kind；　coming　across　the　

bog　with　great　speed；　in　the　direction　of　myself；　the　nature　of　the　

ground　seemed　to　offer　but　little　impediment　to　these　beings；　both　

clearing　the　holes　and　abysses　which　lay　in　their　way　with　

surprising　agility；　the　animal　was；　however；　some　slight　way　in　

advance；　and；　bounding　over　the　dyke；　appeared　on　the　road　just　

before　me。　　It　was　a　dog；　of　what　species　I　cannot　tell；　never　

having　seen　the　like　before　or　since；　the　head　was　large　and　round；　

the　ears　so　tiny　as　scarcely　to　be　discernible；　the　eyes　of　a　fiery　

red：　　in　size　it　was　rather　small　than　large；　and　the　coat；　which　

was　remarkably　smooth；　as　white　as　the　falling　flakes。　　It　placed　

itself　directly　in　my　path；　and　showing　its　teeth；　and　bristling　

its　coat；　appeared　determined　to　prevent　my　progress。　　I　had　an　

ashen　stick　in　my　hand；　with　which　I　threatened　it；　this；　however；　

only　served　to　increase　its　fury；　it　rushed　upon　me；　and　I　had　the　

utmost　difficulty　to　preserve　myself　from　its　fangs。



'What　are　you　doing　with　the　dog；　the　fairy　dog？'　said　a　man；　who　

at　this　time　likewise　cleared　the　dyke　at　a　bound。



He　was　a　very　tall　man；　rather　well　dressed　as　it　should　seem；　his　

garments；　however；　were；　like　my　own；　so　covered　with　snow　that　I　

could　scarcely　discern　their　quality。



'What　are　ye　doing　with　the　dog　of　peace？'



'I　wish　he　would　show　himself　one；'　said　I；　'I　said　nothing　to　him；　

but　he　placed　himself　in　my　road；　and　would　not　let　me　pass。'



'Of　course　he　would　not　be　letting　you　till　he　knew　where　ye　were　

going。'



'He's　not　much　of　a　fairy；'　said　I；　'or　he　would　know　that　without　

asking；　tell　him　that　I　am　going　to　see　my　brother。'



'And　who　is　your　brother；　little　Sas？'



'What　my　father　is；　a　royal　soldier。'



'Oh；　ye　are　going　then　to　the　detachment　at　…　；　by　my　shoul；　I　have　

a　good　mind　to　be　spoiling　your　journey。'



'You　are　doing　that　already；'　said　I；　'keeping　me　here　talking　

about　dogs　and　fairies；　you　had　better　go　home　and　get　some　salve　

to　cure　that　place　over　your　eye；　it's　catching　cold　you'll　be；　in　

so　much　snow。'



On　one　side　of　the　man's　forehead　there　was　a　raw　and　staring　

wound；　as　if　from　a　recent　and　terrible　blow。



'Faith；　then　I'll　be　going；　but　it's　taking　you　wid　me　I　will　be。'



'And　where　will　you　take　me？'



'Why；　then；　to　Ryan's　Castle；　little　Sas。'



'You　do　not　speak　the　language　very　correctly；'　said　I；　'it　is　not　

Sas　you　should　call　me　…　'tis　Sassannach；'　and　forthwith　I　

accompanied　the　word　with　a　speech　full　of　flowers　of　Irish　

rhetoric。



The　man　looked　upon　me　for　a　moment；　fixedly；　then；　bending　his　

head　towards　his　breast；　he　appeared　to　be　undergoing　a　kind　of　

convulsion；　which　was　accompanied　by　a　sound　something　resembling　

laughter；　presently　he　looked　at　me；　and　there　was　a　broad　grin　on　

his　features。



'By　my　shoul；　it's　a　thing　of　peace　I'm　thinking　ye。'



But　now　with　a　whisking　sound　came　running　down　the　road　a　hare；　it　

was　nearly　upon　us　before　it　perceived　us；　suddenly　stopping　short；　

however；　it　sprang　into　the　bog　on　the　right…hand　side；　after　it　

amain　bounded　the　dog　of　peace；　followed　by　the　man；　but　not　until　

he　had　nodded　to　me　a　farewell　salutation。　　In　a　few　moments　I　lost　

sight　of　him　amidst　the　snowflakes。



The　weather　was　again　clear　and　fine　before　I　reached　the　place　of　

detachment。　　It　was　a　little　wooden　barrack；　surrounded　by　a　wall　

of　the　same　material；　a　sentinel　stood　at　the　gate；　I　passed　by　

him；　and；　entering　the　building；　found　myself　in　a　rude　kind　of　

guardroom；　several　soldiers　were　lying　asleep　on　a　wooden　couch　at　

one　end；　others　lounged　on　benches　by　the　side　of　a　turf　fire。　　The　

tall　sergeant　stood　before　the　fire；　holding　a　cooking　utensil　in　

his　left　hand；　on　seeing　me；　he　made　the　military　salutation。



'Is　my　brother　here？'　said　I；　rather　timidly；　dreading　to　hear　that　

he　was　out；　perhaps　for　the　day。



'The　ensign　is　in　his　room；　sir；'　said　Bagg；　'I　am　now　preparing　

his　meal；　which　will　presently　be　ready；　you　will　find　the　ensign　

above　stairs；'　and　he　pointed　to　a　broken　ladder　which　led　to　some　

place　above。



And　there　I　found　him　…　the　boy　soldier　…　in　a　kind　of　upper　loft；　

so　low　that　I　could　touch　with　my　hands　the　sooty　rafters；　the　

floor　was　of　rough　boards；　through　the　joints　of　which　you　could　

see　the　gleam　of　the　soldiers'　fire；　and　occasionally　discern　their　

figures　as　they　moved　about；　in　one　corner　was　a　camp　bedstead；　by　

the　side　of　which　hung　the　child's　sword；　gorget；　and　sash；　a　deal　

table　stood　in　the　proximity　of　the　rusty　grate；　where　smoked　and　

smouldered　a　pile　of　black　turf　from　the　bog；　…　a　deal　table　

without　a　piece　of　baize　to　cover　it；　yet　fraught　with　things　not　

devoid　of　interest：　　a　Bible；　given　by　a　mother；　the　ODYSSEY；　the　

Greek　ODYSSEY；　a　flute；　with　broad　silver　keys；　crayons；　moreover；　

and　water…colours；　and　a　sketch　of　a　wild　prospect　near；　which；　

though　but　half　finished；　afforded　ample　proof　of　the　excellence　

and　skill　of　the　boyish　hand　now　occupied　upon　it。



Ah！　he　was　a　sweet　being；　that　boy　soldier；　a　plant　of　early　

promise；　bidding　fair　to　become　in　after　time　all　that　is　great；　

good；　and　admirable。　　I　have　read　of　a　remarkable　Welshman；　of　whom　

it　was　said；　when　the　grave　closed　over　him；　that　he　could　frame　a　

harp；　and　play　it；　build　a　ship；　and　sail　it；　compose　an　ode；　and　

set　it　to　music。　　A　brave　fellow　that　son　of　Wales　…　but　I　had　once　

a　brother　who　could　do　more　and　better　than　this；　but　the　grave　has　

closed　over　him；　as　over　the　gallant　Welshman　of　yore；　there　are　

now　but　two　that　remember　him　…　the　one　who　bore　him；　and　the　being　

who　was　nurtured　at　the　same　breast。　　He　was　taken；　and　I　was　left！　

…　Truly；　the　ways　of　Providence　are　inscrutable。



'You　seem　to　be　very　comfortable；　John；'　said　I；　looking　around　the　

room　and　at　the　various　objects　which　I　have　described　above：　　'you　

have　a　good　roof　over　your　head；　and　have　all　your　things　about　

you。'



'Yes；　I　am　very　comfortable；　George；　in　many　respects；　I　am；　

moreover；　independent；　and　feel　myself　a　man　for　the　first　time　in　

my　life　…　independent　did　I　say？　…　that's　not　the　word；　I　am　

something　much　higher　than　that；　here　am　I；　not　sixteen　yet；　a　

person　in　authority；　like　the　centurion　in　the　book　there；　with　

twenty　Englishmen　under　me；　worth　a　whole　legion　of　his　men；　and　

that　fine　fellow　Bagg　to　wait　upon　me；　and　take　my　orders。　　Oh！　

these　last　six　weeks　have　passed　like　hours　of　heaven。'



'But　your　time　must　frequently　hang　heavy　on　your　hands；　this　is　a　

strange　wild　place；　and　you　must　be　very　solitary？'



'I