the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第5章
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who makes considerable use of him in the ballad called the Cowt of
Keeldar； 〃a fairy of the most malignant orderthe genuine Northern
Duergar。〃 The best and most authentic account of this dangerous and
mysterious being occurs in a tale communicated to the author by that
eminent antiquary； Richard Surtees； Esq。 of Mainsforth； author of the
HISTORY OF THE BISHOPRIC OF DURHAM。
According to this well…attested legend； two young Northumbrians were
out on a shooting party； and had plunged deep among the mountainous
moorlands which border on Cumberland。 They stopped for refreshment
in a little secluded dell by the side of a rivulet。 There； after they had
partaken of such food as they brought with them； one of the party fell
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asleep； the other； unwilling to disturb his friend's repose； stole silently out
of the dell with the purpose of looking around him； when he was
astonished to find himself close to a being who seemed not to belong to
this world； as he was the most hideous dwarf that the sun had ever shone
on。 His head was of full human size； forming a frightful contrast with his
height； which was considerably under four feet。 It was thatched with no
other covering than long matted red hair； like that of the felt of a badger in
consistence； and in colour a reddish brown； like the hue of the heather…
blossom。 His limbs seemed of great strength； nor was he otherwise
deformed than from their undue proportion in thickness to his diminutive
height。 The terrified sportsman stood gazing on this horrible apparition；
until； with an angry countenance； the being demanded by what right he
intruded himself on those hills； and destroyed their harmless inhabitants。
The perplexed stranger endeavoured to propitiate the incensed dwarf； by
offering to surrender his game； as he would to an earthly Lord of the
Manor。 The proposal only redoubled the offence already taken by the
dwarf； who alleged that he was the lord of those mountains； and the
protector of the wild creatures who found a retreat in their solitary recesses；
and that all spoils derived from their death； or misery； were abhorrent to
him。 The hunter humbled himself before the angry goblin； and by
protestations of his ignorance； and of his resolution to abstain from such
intrusion in future； at last succeeded in pacifying him。 The gnome now
became more communicative； and spoke of himself as belonging to a
species of beings something between the angelic race and humanity。 He
added； moreover； which could hardly have been anticipated； that he had
hopes of sharing in the redemption of the race of Adam。 He pressed the
sportsman to visit his dwelling； which he said was hard by； and plighted
his faith for his safe return。 But at this moment； the shout of the
sportsman's companion was heard calling for his friend； and the dwarf； as
if unwilling that more than one person should be cognisant of his presence；
disappeared as the young man emerged from the dell to join his comrade。
It was the universal opinion of those most experienced in such matters；
that if the shooter had accompanied the spirit； he would； notwithstanding
the dwarf's fair pretences； have been either torn to pieces； or immured for
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years in the recesses of some fairy hill。
Such is the last and most authentic account of the apparition of the
Black Dwarf。＇
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THE BLACK DWARF
CHAPTER II。
Will none but Hearne the Hunter serve your turn？ MERRY WIVES
OF WINDSOR。
In one of the most remote districts of the south of Scotland； where an
ideal line； drawn along the tops of lofty and bleak mountains； separates
that land from her sister kingdom； a young man； called Halbert； or Hobbie
Elliot； a substantial farmer； who boasted his descent from old Martin Elliot
of the Preakin…tower； noted in Border story and song； was on his return
from deer… stalking。 The deer； once so numerous among these solitary
wastes； were now reduced to a very few herds； which； sheltering
themselves in the most remote and inaccessible recesses； rendered the task
of pursuing them equally toilsome and precarious。 There were； however；
found many youth of the country ardently attached to this sport； with all its
dangers and fatigues。 The sword had been sheathed upon the Borders for
more than a hundred years； by the peaceful union of the crowns in the
reign of James the First of Great Britain。 Still the country retained traces
of what it had been in former days； the inhabitants； their more peaceful
avocations having been repeatedly interrupted by the civil wars of the
preceding century； were scarce yet broken in to the habits of regular
industry； sheep…farming had not been introduced upon any considerable
scale； and the feeding of black cattle was the chief purpose to which the
hills and valleys were applied。 Near to the farmer's house； the tenant
usually contrived to raise such a crop of oats or barley； as afforded meal
for his family； and the whole of this slovenly and imperfect mode of
cultivation left much time upon his own hands； and those of his domestics。
This was usually employed by the young men in hunting and fishing； and
the spirit of adventure； which formerly led to raids and forays in the same
districts； was still to be discovered in the eagerness with which they
pursued those rural sports。
The more high…spirited among the youth were； about the time that our
narrative begins； expecting； rather with hope than apprehension； an
opportunity of emulating their fathers in their military achievements； the
recital of which formed the chief part of their amusement within doors。
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The passing of the Scottish act of security had given the alarm of England；
as it seemed to point at a separation of the two British kingdoms； after the
decease of Queen Anne； the reigning sovereign。 Godolphin； then at the
head of the English administration； foresaw that there was no other mode
of avoiding the probable extremity of a civil war； but by carrying through
an incorporating union。 How that treaty was managed； and how little it
seemed for some time to promise the beneficial results which have since
taken place to such extent； may be learned from the history of the period。
It is enough for our purpose to say； that all Scotland was indignant at the
terms on which their legislature had surrendered their national
independence。 The general resentment led to the strangest leagues and to
the wildest plans。 The Cameronians were about to take arms for the
restoration of the house of Stewart； whom they regarded； with justice； as
their oppressors； and the intrigues of the period presented the strange
picture of papists； prelatists； and presbyterians； caballing among
themselves against the English government； out of a common feeling that
their country had been treated with injustice。 The fermentation was
universal； and； as the population of Scotland had been generally trained to
arms； under the act of security； they were not indifferently prepared for
war； and waited but the declaration of some of the nobility to break out
into open hostility。 It was at this period of public confusion that our story
opens。
The cleugh； or wild ravine； into which Hobbie Elliot had followed the
game； was already far behind him； and he was considerably advanced on
his return homeward； when the night began to close upon him。 This
would have been a circumstance of great indifference to the experienced
sportsman； who could have walked blindfold over every inch of his native
heaths； had it not happened near a spot； which； according to the traditions
of the country； was in extremely bad fame； as haunted by supernatural
appearances。 To tales of this kind Hobbie had； from his childhood； lent
an attentive ear； and as no part of the country afforded such a variety of
legends； so no man was more deeply read in their fearful lore than Hobbie
of the Heugh…foot； for so our gallant was called； to distinguish him from a
round dozen of Elliots who bore the same Christian name。 It cost him no
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efforts； therefore； to call to memory the terrific incidents connected with
the extensive waste upon which he was now entering。 In fact； they
presented themselves with a readiness which he felt to be somewhat
dismaying。
This dreary common was called Mucklestane…Moor； from a huge
column of unhewn granite； which raised its massy head on a knell near the
centre of the heath； perhaps to tell of the mighty dead who slept beneath；
or to preserve the memory of some bloody skirmish。 The real cause of
its existence had； however； passed away； and tradition； which is as
frequently an inventor of fiction as a preserver of truth； had supplied its
place with a supplementary legend of her own； which now came full upon
Hobbie's memory。 The ground about the pillar was strewed； or rather
encumbered； with many large fragments of stone of the same consistence
with the column
