the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第16章
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The Dwarf took his tablets from his pocket； marked a line on them；
and tore out the leaf。 〃There；〃 he said； giving the robber the leaf〃But；
mark me； thou knowest I am not to be fooled by thy treachery； if thou
darest to disobey my directions； thy wretched life； be sure； shall answer
it。〃
〃I know；〃 said the fellow； looking down； 〃that you have power on earth；
however you came by it； you can do what nae other man can do； baith by
physic and foresight； and the gold is shelled down when ye command； as
fast as I have seen the ash…keys fall in a frosty morning in October。 I will
not disobey you。〃
〃Begone； then； and relieve me of thy hateful presence。〃
The robber set spurs to his horse； and rode off without reply。
Hobbie Elliot had； in the meanwhile； pursued his journey rapidly；
harassed by those oppressive and indistinct fears that all was not right；
which men usually term a presentiment of misfortune。 Ere he reached the
top of the bank from which he could look down on his own habitation； he
was met by his nurse； a person then of great consequence in all families in
Scotland； whether of the higher or middling classes。 The connexion
between them and their foster…children was considered a tie far too dearly
intimate to be broken； and it usually happened； in the course of years； that
the nurse became a resident in the family of her foster…son； assisting in the
domestic duties； and receiving all marks of attention and regard from the
heads of the family。 So soon as Hobbie recognised the figure of Annaple；
in her red cloak and black hood； he could not help exclaiming to himself；
〃What ill luck can hae brought the auld nurse sae far frae hame； her that
never stirs a gun…shot frae the door…stane for ordinar？Hout； it will just be
to get crane…berries； or whortle…berries； or some such stuff； out of the moss；
to make the pies and tarts for the feast on Monday。I cannot get the words
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of that cankered auld cripple deil's…buckie out o' my headthe least thing
makes me dread some ill news。O； Killbuck； man！ were there nae deer
and goats in the country besides； but ye behoved to gang and worry his
creature； by a' other folk's？〃
By this time Annaple； with a brow like a tragic volume； had hobbled
towards him； and caught his horse by the bridle。 The despair in her look
was so evident as to deprive even him of the power of asking the cause。
〃O my bairn！〃 she cried； 〃gang na forwardgang na forwardit's a sight
to kill onybody； let alane thee。〃
〃In God's name； what's the matter？〃 said the astonished horseman；
endeavouring to extricate his bridle from the grasp of the old woman； 〃for
Heaven's sake； let me go and see what's the matter。〃
〃Ohon！ that I should have lived to see the day！The steading's a' in a
low； and the bonny stack…yard lying in the red ashes； and the gear a' driven
away。 But gang na forward ； it wad break your young heart； hinny； to see
what my auld een hae seen this morning。〃
〃And who has dared to do this？ let go my bridle； Annaplewhere is
my grandmothermy sisters？Where is Grace Armstrong？God！ the
words of the warlock are knelling in my ears！〃
He sprang from his horse to rid himself of Annaple's interruption； and；
ascending the hill with great speed； soon came in view of the spectacle
with which she had threatened him。 It was indeed a heart…breaking sight。
The habitation which he had left in its seclusion； beside the mountain…
stream； surrounded with every evidence of rustic plenty； was now a wasted
and blackened ruin。 From amongst the shattered and sable walls the
smoke continued to rise。 The turf…stack； the barn…yard； the offices
stocked with cattle； all the wealth of an upland cultivator of the period； of
which poor Elliot possessed no common share； had been laid waste or
carried off in a single night。 He stood a moment motionless； and then
exclaimed； 〃I am ruinedruined to the ground！But curse on the warld's
gearHad it not been the week before the bridalBut I am nae babe； to sit
down and greet about it。 If I can but find Grace； and my grandmother；
and my sisters weel； I can go to the wars in Flanders； as my gude…sire did；
under the Bellenden banner； wi' auld Buccleuch。 At ony rate； I will keep
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up a heart； or they will lose theirs a'thegither。〃
Manfully strode Hobbie down the hill； resolved to suppress his own
despair； and administer consolation which he did not feel。 The
neighbouring inhabitants of the dell； particularly those of his own name；
had already assembled。 The younger part were in arms and clamorous
for revenge； although they knew not upon whom； the elder were taking
measures for the relief of the distressed family。 Annaple's cottage； which
was situated down the brook； at some distance from the scene of mischief；
had been hastily adapted for the temporary accommodation of the old lady
and her daughters； with such articles as had been contributed by the
neighbours； for very little was saved from the wreck。
〃Are we to stand here a' day； sirs；〃 exclaimed one tall young man； 〃and
look at the burnt wa's of our kinsman's house？ Every wreath of the reek
is a blast of shame upon us！ Let us to horse； and take the chase。Who
has the nearest bloodhound？〃
〃It's young Earnscliff；〃 answered another； 〃and he's been on and away
wi' six horse lang syne； to see if he can track them。〃
〃Let us follow him then； and raise the country； and mak mair help as
we ride； and then have at the Cumberland reivers！ Take； burn； and slay
they that lie nearest us shall smart first。〃
〃Whisht！ haud your tongues； daft callants；〃 said an old man； 〃ye dinna
ken what ye speak about。 What！ wad ye raise war atween two
pacificated countries？〃
〃And what signifies deaving us wi' tales about our fathers；〃 retorted
the young； man； 〃if we're to sit and see our friends' houses burnt ower
their heads； and no put out hand to revenge them？ Our fathers did not do
that； I trow？〃
〃I am no saying onything against revenging Hobbie's wrang； puir
chield； but we maun take the law wi' us in thae days； Simon；〃 answered
the more prudent elder。
〃And besides；〃 said another old man； 〃I dinna believe there's ane now
living that kens the lawful mode of following a fray across the Border。
Tam o' Whittram kend a' about it； but he died in the hard winter。〃
〃Ay；〃 said a third； 〃he was at the great gathering； when they chased as
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far as Thirlwall； it was the year after the fight of Philiphaugh。〃
〃Hout；〃 exclaimed another of these discording counsellors； 〃there's nae
great skill needed； just put a lighted peat on the end of a spear； or hayfork；
or siclike； and blaw a horn； and cry the gathering…word； and then it's
lawful to follow gear into England； and recover it by the strong hand； or to
take gear frae some other Englishman； providing ye lift nae mair than's
been lifted frae you。 That's the auld Border law； made at Dundrennan； in
the days of the Black Douglas； Deil ane need doubt it。 It's as clear as the
sun。〃
〃Come away； then； lads；〃 cried Simon； 〃get to your geldings； and we'll
take auld Cuddie the muckle tasker wi' us； he kens the value o' the stock
and plenishing that's been lost。 Hobbie's stalls and stakes shall be fou
again or night； and if we canna big up the auld house sae soon； we'se lay
an English ane as low as Heugh…foot isand that's fair play； a' the warld
ower。〃
This animating proposal was received with great applause by the
younger part of the assemblage； when a whisper ran among them； 〃There's
Hobbie himsell； puir fallow！ we'll be guided by him。〃
The principal sufferer； having now reached the bottom of the hill；
pushed on through the crowd； unable； from the tumultuous state of his
feelings； to do more than receive and return the grasps of the friendly
hands by which his neighbours and kinsmen mutely expressed their
sympathy in his misfortune。 While he pressed Simon of Hackburn's hand；
his anxiety at length found words。 〃Thank ye； Simonthank ye；
neighboursI ken what ye wad a' say。 But where are they？Where are〃
He stopped； as if afraid even to name the objects of his enquiry； and with a
similar feeling； his kinsmen； without reply； pointed to the hut； into which
Hobbie precipitated himself with the desperate air of one who is resolved
to know the worst at once。 A general and powerful expression of
sympathy accompanied him。 〃Ah； puir fallowpuir Hobbie！〃
〃He'll learn the warst o't now！〃
〃But I trust Earnscliff will get some speerings o' the puir lassie。〃
Such were the exclamations of the group； who； having no
acknowledged leader to direct their motions； passively awaited the return
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of the sufferer； and determined to be guided by his directions。
The meeting between Hobbie and his family was in the highest degree
affecting。 His sisters threw themselves upon him； and almost stifled him
with their caresses； as if to prevent his looking round to distinguish the
absence of one yet more beloved。
〃God help thee； my son！ He can help when worldly trust is a broken
reed。〃Such was the welcome of the matron to her unfortunate grandson。
He looked eagerly round； holding two of his sisters by the hand； while the
third hung about
