the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第17章
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He looked eagerly round； holding two of his sisters by the hand； while the
third hung about his neck〃I see youI count youmy grandmother；
Lilias； Jean； and Annot； but where is〃 （he hesitated； and then continued；
as if with an effort）； 〃Where is Grace？ Surely this is not a time to hide
hersell frae methere's nae time for daffing now。〃
〃O； brother！〃 and 〃Our poor Grace！〃 was the only answer his
questions could procure； till his grandmother rose up； and gently
disengaged him from the weeping girls； led him to a seat； and with the
affecting serenity which sincere piety； like oil sprinkled on the waves； can
throw over the most acute feelings； she said； 〃My bairn； when thy
grandfather was killed in the wars； and left me with six orphans around me；
with scarce bread to eat； or a roof to cover us； I had strength；not of mine
ownbut I had strength given me to say； The Lord's will be done！My son；
our peaceful house was last night broken into by moss…troopers； armed and
masked； they have taken and destroyed all； and carried off our dear Grace。
Pray for strength to say； His will be done！〃
〃Mother！ mother！ urge me notI cannotnot now I am a sinful
man； and of a hardened race。 Masked armedGrace carried off！ Gie me
my sword； and my father's knapsackI will have vengeance； if I should go
to the pit of darkness to seek it！〃
〃O my bairn； my bairn！ be patient under the rod。 Who knows when
He may lift His hand off from us？ Young Earnscliff； Heaven bless him；
has taen the chase； with Davie of Stenhouse； and the first comers。 I cried
to let house and plenishing burn； and follow the reivers to recover Grace；
and Earnscliff and his men were ower the Fell within three hours after the
deed。 God bless him！ he's a real Earnscliff； he's his father's true sona
leal friend。〃
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〃A true friend indeed； God bless him！〃 exclaimed Hobbie； 〃let's on
and away； and take the chase after him。〃
〃O； my child； before you run on danger； let me hear you but say； HIS
will be done！〃
〃Urge me not； mothernot now。〃 He was rushing out； when； looking
back； he observed his grandmother make a mute attitude of affliction。 He
returned hastily； threw himself into her arms； and said； 〃Yes； mother； I
CAN say； HIS will be done； since it will comfort you。〃
〃May He go forthmay He go forth with you； my dear bairn； and O；
may He give you cause to say on your return； HIS name be praised！〃
〃Farewell； mother！farewell； my dear sisters！〃 exclaimed Elliot； and
rushed out of the house。
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CHAPTER VIII。
Now horse and hattock； cried the Laird； Now horse and hattock；
speedilie； They that winna ride for Telfer's kye； Let them never look in
the face o' me。 Border Ballad。
〃Horse！ horse！ and spear！〃 exclaimed Hobbie to his kinsmen。
Many a ready foot was in the stirrup； and； while Elliot hastily collected
arms and accoutrements； no easy matter in such a confusion； the glen
resounded with the approbation of his younger friends。
〃Ay； ay！〃 exclaimed Simon of Hackburn； 〃that's the gate to take it；
Hobbie。 Let women sit and greet at hame； men must do as they have
been done by； it's the Scripture says't。〃
〃Haud your tongue； sir；〃 said one of the seniors； sternly； 〃dinna abuse
the Word that gate； ye dinna ken what ye speak about。〃
〃Hae ye ony tidings？Hae ye ony speerings； Hobbie？O； callants；
dinna be ower hasty；〃 said old Dick of the Dingle。
〃What signifies preaching to us； e'enow？〃 said Simon； 〃if ye canna
make help yoursell； dinna keep back them that can。〃
〃Whisht； sir； wad ye take vengeance or ye ken wha has wrang'd ye？〃
〃D'ye think we dinna ken the road to England as weel as our fathers
before us？All evil comes out o' thereawayit's an auld saying and a true；
and we'll e'en away there； as if the devil was blawing us south。〃
〃We'll follow the track o' Earnscliff's horses ower the waste；〃 cried one
Elliot。
〃I'll prick them out through the blindest moor in the Border； an there
had been a fair held there the day before；〃 said Hugh； the blacksmith of
Ringleburn； 〃for I aye shoe his horse wi' my ain hand。〃
〃Lay on the deer…hounds；〃 cried another 〃where are they？〃
〃Hout； man； the sun's been lang up； and the dew is aff the grund the
scent will never lie。〃
Hobbie instantly whistled on his hounds； which were roving about the
ruins of their old habitation； and filling the air with their doleful howls。
〃Now； Killbuck；〃 said Hobbie； 〃try thy skill this day〃 and then； as if a
light had suddenly broke on him；〃that ill…faur'd goblin spak something o'
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this！ He may ken mair o't； either by villains on earth； or devils below
I'll hae it frae him； if I should cut it out o' his mis…shapen bouk wi' my
whinger。〃 He then hastily gave directions to his comrades： 〃Four o' ye；
wi' Simon； haud right forward to Graeme's…gap。 If they're English； they'll
be for being back that way。 The rest disperse by twasome and threesome
through the waste； and meet me at the Trysting…pool。 Tell my brothers；
when they come up； to follow and meet us there。 Poor lads； they will hae
hearts weelnigh as sair as mine； little think they what a sorrowful house
they are bringing their venison to！ I'll ride ower Mucklestane…Moor
mysell。〃
〃And if I were you；〃 said Dick of the Dingle； 〃I would speak to Canny
Elshie。 He can tell you whatever betides in this land； if he's sae minded。〃
〃He SHALL tell me；〃 said Hobbie； who was busy putting his arms in
order； 〃what he kens o' this night's job； or I shall right weel ken wherefore
he does not。〃
〃Ay； but speak him fair； my bonny manspeak him fair Hobbie； the
like o' him will no bear thrawing。 They converse sae muckle wi' thae
fractious ghaists and evil spirits； that it clean spoils their temper。〃
〃Let me alane to guide him；〃 answered Hobbie； 〃there's that in my
breast this day； that would ower…maister a' the warlocks on earth； and a' the
devils in hell。〃
And being now fully equipped； he threw himself on his horse； and
spurred him at a rapid pace against the steep ascent。
Elliot speedily surmounted the hill； rode down the other side at the
same rate； crossed a wood； and traversed a long glen； ere he at length
regained Mucklestane…Moor。 As he was obliged； in the course of his
journey； to relax his speed in consideration of the labour which his horse
might still have to undergo； he had time to consider maturely in what
manner he should address the Dwarf； in order to extract from him the
knowledge which he supposed him to be in possession of concerning the
authors of his misfortunes。 Hobbie； though blunt； plain of speech； and hot
of disposition； like most of his countrymen； was by no means deficient in
the shrewdness which is also their characteristic。 He reflected； that from
what he had observed on the memorable night when the Dwarf was first
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seen； and from the conduct of that mysterious being ever since； he was
likely to be rendered even more obstinate in his sullenness by threats and
violence。
〃I'll speak him fair；〃 he said； 〃as auld Dickon advised me。 Though folk
say he has a league wi' Satan； he canna be sic an incarnate devil as no to
take some pity in a case like mine； and folk threep he'll whiles do good；
charitable sort o' things。 I'll keep my heart doun as weel as I can； and
stroke him wi' the hair； and if the warst come to the warst； it's but
wringing the head o' him about at last。〃
In this disposition of accommodation he approached the hut of the
Solitary。
The old man was not upon his seat of audience； nor could Hobbie
perceive him in his garden； or enclosures。
〃He's gotten into his very keep；〃 said Hobbie； 〃maybe to be out o' the
gate； but I'se pu' it doun about his lugs； if I canna win at him otherwise。〃
Having thus communed with himself； he raised his voice； and invoked
Elshie in a tone as supplicating as his conflicting feelings would permit。
〃Elshie； my gude friend！〃 No reply。 〃Elshie； canny Father Elshie！〃 The
Dwarf remained mute。 〃Sorrow be in the crooked carcass of thee！〃
said the Borderer between his teeth； and then again attempting a soothing
tone；〃Good Father Elshie； a most miserable creature desires some
counsel of your wisdom。〃
〃The better！〃 answered the shrill and discordant voice of the Dwarf
through a very small window； resembling an arrow slit； which he had
constructed near the door of his dwelling； and through which he could see
any one who approached it； without the possibility of their looking in upon
him。
〃The better！〃 said Hobbie impatiently； 〃what is the better； Elshie？
Do you not hear me tell you I am the most miserable wretch living？〃
〃And do you not hear me tell you it is so much the better！ and did I
not tell you this morning； when you thought yourself so happy； what an
evening was coming upon you？〃
〃That ye did e'en；〃 replied Hobbie； 〃and that gars me come to you for
advice now； they that foresaw the trouble maun ken the cure。〃
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〃I know no cure for earthly trouble；〃 returned the Dwarf 〃or； if I did；
why should I help others； when none hath aided me？ Hav
