the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第14章
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inauspicious outline of the horseman's physiognomy。 He had pistols in
his holsters； and another pair peeped from his belt； though he had taken
some pains to conceal them by buttoning his doublet。 He wore a rusted
steel head piece； a buff jacket of rather an antique cast； gloves； of which
that for the right hand was covered with small scales of iron； like an
ancient gauntlet； and a long broadsword completed his equipage。
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〃So；〃 said the Dwarf；〃 rapine and murder once more on horseback。〃
〃On horseback？〃 said the bandit； 〃ay； ay； Elshie； your leech… craft
has set me on the bonny bay again。〃
〃And all those promises of amendment which you made during your
illness forgotten？〃 continued Elshender。
〃All clear away； with the water…saps and panada；〃 returned the
unabashed convalescent。 〃Ye ken； Elshie； for they say ye are weel
acquent wi' the gentleman；
〃When the devil was sick； the devil a monk would be； When the
devil was well； the devil a monk was he。〃
〃Thou say'st true；〃 said the Solitary； 〃as well divide a wolf from his
appetite for carnage； or a raven from her scent of slaughter； as thee from
thy accursed propensities。〃
〃Why； what would you have me to do？ It's born with melies in my
very blude and bane。 Why； man； the lads of Westburnflat； for ten lang
descents； have been reivers and lifters。 They have all drunk hard； lived
high； taking deep revenge for light offence； and never wanted gear for the
winning。〃
〃Right； and thou art as thorough…bred a wolf；〃 said the Dwarf； 〃as ever
leapt a lamb…fold at night。 On what hell's errand art thou bound now？〃
〃Can your skill not guess？〃
〃Thus far I know；〃 said the Dwarf； 〃that thy purpose is bad； thy deed
will be worse；； and the issue worst of all。〃
〃And you like me the better for it； Father Elshie； eh？〃 said
Westburnflat； 〃you always said you did。〃
〃I have cause to like all；〃 answered the Solitary； 〃that are scourges to
their fellow…creatures； and thou art a bloody one。〃
〃NoI say not guilty to thatlever bluidy unless there's resistance； and
that sets a man's bristles up； ye ken。 And this is nae great matter； after a'；
just to cut the comb of a young cock that has been crawing a little ower
crousely。〃
〃Not young Earnscliff？〃 said the Solitary； with some emotion。
〃No； not young Earnscliffnot young Earnscliff YET； but his time
may come； if he will not take warning； and get him back to the burrow…
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town that he's fit for； and no keep skelping about here； destroying the few
deer that are left in the country； and pretending to act as a magistrate； and
writing letters to the great folk at Auld Reekie； about the disturbed state of
the land。 Let him take care o' himsell。〃
〃Then it must be Hobbie of the Heugh…foot；〃 said Elshie。 〃What harm
has the lad done you？〃
〃Harm！ nae great harm； but I hear he says I staid away from the
Ba'spiel on Fastern's E'en； for fear of him； and it was only for fear of the
Country Keeper； for there was a warrant against me。 I'll stand Hobbie's
feud； and a' his clan's。 But it's not so much for that； as to gie him a lesson
not to let his tongue gallop ower freely about his betters。 I trow he will
hae lost the best pen…feather o' his wing before to…morrow morning。
Farewell； Elshie； there's some canny boys waiting for me down amang the
shaws； owerby； I will see you as I come back； and bring ye a blithe tale in
return for your leech…craft。〃
Ere the Dwarf could collect himself to reply； the Reiver of
Westburnflat set spurs to his horse。 The animal； starting at one of the
stones which lay scattered about； flew from the path。 The rider exercised
his spurs without moderation or mercy。 The horse became furious； reared；
kicked； plunged； and bolted like a deer； with all his four feet off the
ground at once。 It was in vain； the unrelenting rider sate as if he had
been a part of the horse which he bestrode； and； after a short but furious
contest； compelled the subdued animal to proceed upon the path at a rate
which soon carried him out of sight of the Solitary。
〃That villain；〃 exclaimed the Dwarf；〃that cool…blooded； hardened；
unrelenting ruffian；that wretch； whose every thought is infected with
crimes；has thewes and sinews； limbs； strength； and activity enough； to
compel a nobler animal than himself to carry him to the place where he is
to perpetrate his wickedness； while I； had I the weakness to wish to put his
wretched victim on his guard； and to save the helpless family； would see
my good intentions frustrated by the decrepitude which chains me to the
spot。Why should I wish it were otherwise？ What have my screech…owl
voice； my hideous form； and my mis…shapen features； to do with the fairer
workmanship of nature？ Do not men receive even my benefits with
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shrinking horror and ill…suppressed disgust？ And why should I interest
myself in a race which accounts me a prodigy and an outcast； and which
has treated me as such？ No； by all the ingratitude which I have reaped
by all the wrongs which I have sustainedby my imprisonment； my stripes；
my chains； I will wrestle down my feelings of rebellious humanity！ I will
not be the fool I have been； to swerve from my principles whenever there
was an appeal； forsooth； to my feelings； as if I； towards whom none show
sympathy； ought to have sympathy with any one。 Let Destiny drive forth
her scythed car through the overwhelmed and trembling mass of humanity！
Shall I be the idiot to throw this decrepit form； this mis…shapen lump of
mortality； under her wheels； that the Dwarf； the Wizard； the Hunchback；
may save from destruction some fair form or some active frame； and all
the world clap their hands at the exchange？ No； never！And yet this
Elliotthis Hobbie； so young and gallant； so frank； so I will think of it no
longer。 I cannot aid him if I would； and I am resolvedfirmly resolved；
that I would not aid him； if a wish were the pledge of his safety！〃
Having thus ended his soliloquy； he retreated into his hut for shelter
from the storm which was fast approaching； and now began to burst in
large and heavy drops of rain。 The last rays of the sun now disappeared
entirely； and two or three claps of distant thunder followed each other at
brief intervals； echoing and re…echoing among the range of heathy fells
like the sound of a distant engagement。
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CHAPTER VII。
Proud bird of the mountain； thy plume shall be torn！ 。 。 。 。
Return to thy dwelling； all lonely； return； For the blackness of ashes
shall mark where it stood； And a wild mother scream o'er her famishing
brood。 CAMPBELL。
The night continued sullen and stormy； but morning rose as if
refreshed by the rains。 Even the Mucklestane…Moor； with its broad bleak
swells of barren grounds； interspersed with marshy pools of water； seemed
to smile under the serene influence of the sky； just as good…humour can
spread a certain inexpressible charm over the plainest human countenance。
The heath was in its thickest and deepest bloom。 The bees； which the
Solitary had added to his rural establishment； were abroad and on the wing；
and filled the air with the murmurs of their industry。 As the old man
crept out of his little hut； his two she…goats came to meet him； and licked
his hands in gratitude for the vegetables with which he supplied them from
his garden。 〃You； at least；〃 he said〃you； at least； see no differences in
form which can alter your feelings to a benefactorto you； the finest shape
that ever statuary moulded would be an object of indifference or of alarm；
should it present itself instead of the mis…shapen trunk to whose services
you are accustomed。 While I was in the world； did I ever meet with such
a return of gratitude？ No； the domestic whom I had bred from infancy
made mouths at me as he stood behind my chair； the friend whom I had
supported with my fortune； and for whose sake I had even stained（he
stopped with a strong convulsive shudder）； even he thought me more fit
for the society of lunaticsfor their disgraceful restraintsfor their cruel
privations； than for communication with the rest of humanity。 Hubert
aloneand Hubert too will one day abandon me。 All are of a piece； one
mass of wickedness； selfishness； and ingratitude wretches； who sin even
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
h
