the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第6章
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encumbered； with many large fragments of stone of the same consistence
with the column； which； from their appearance as they lay scattered on the
waste； were popularly called the Grey Geese of Mucklestane…Moor。 The
legend accounted for this name and appearance by the catastrophe of a
noted and most formidable witch who frequented these hills in former
days； causing the ewes to KEB； and the kine to cast their calves； and
performing all the feats of mischief ascribed to these evil beings。 On this
moor she used to hold her revels with her sister hags； and rings were still
pointed out on which no grass nor heath ever grew； the turf being； as it
were； calcined by the scorching hoofs of their diabolical partners。
Once upon a time this old hag is said to have crossed the moor； driving
before her a flock of geese； which she proposed to sell to advantage at a
neighbouring fair；for it is well known that the fiend； however liberal in
imparting his powers of doing mischief； ungenerously leaves his allies
under the necessity of performing the meanest rustic labours for
subsistence。 The day was far advanced； and her chance of obtaining a
good price depended on her being first at the market。 But the geese；
which had hitherto preceded her in a pretty orderly manner； when they
came to this wide common； interspersed with marshes and pools of water；
scattered in every direction； to plunge into the element in which they
delighted。 Incensed at the obstinacy with which they defied all her
efforts to collect them； and not remembering the precise terms of the
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contract by which the fiend was bound to obey her commands for a certain
space； the sorceress exclaimed； 〃Deevil； that neither I nor they ever stir
from this spot more！〃 The words were hardly uttered； when； by a
metamorphosis as sudden as any in Ovid； the hag and her refractory flock
were converted into stone； the angel whom she served； being a strict
formalist； grasping eagerly at an opportunity of completing the ruin of her
body and soul by a literal obedience to her orders。 It is said； that when
she perceived and felt the transformation which was about to take place；
she exclaimed to the treacherous fiend； 〃Ah； thou false thief！ lang hast
thou promised me a grey gown； and now I am getting ane that will last for
ever。〃 The dimensions of the pillar； and of the stones； were often
appealed to； as a proof of the superior stature and size of old women and
geese in the days of other years； by those praisers of the past who held the
comfortable opinion of the gradual degeneracy of mankind。
All particulars of this legend Hobbie called to mind as he passed along
the moor。 He also remembered； that； since the catastrophe had taken
place； the scene of it had been avoided； at least after night…fall； by all
human beings； as being the ordinary resort of kelpies； spunkies； and other
demons； once the companions of the witch's diabolical revels； and now
continuing to rendezvous upon the same spot； as if still in attendance on
their transformed mistress。 Hobbie's natural hardihood； however；
manfully combated with these intrusive sensations of awe。 He
summoned to his side the brace of large greyhounds； who were the
companions of his sports； and who were wont； in his own phrase； to fear
neither dog nor devil； he looked at the priming of his piece； and； like the
clown in Hallowe'en； whistled up the warlike ditty of Jock of the Side； as a
general causes his drums be beat to inspirit the doubtful courage of his
soldiers。
In this state of mind； he was very glad to hear a friendly voice shout in
his rear； and propose to him a partner on the road。 He slackened his pace；
and was quickly joined by a youth well known to him； a gentleman of
some fortune in that remote country； and who had been abroad on the
same errand with himself。 Young Earnscliff； 〃of that ilk；〃 had lately
come of age； and succeeded to a moderate fortune； a good deal dilapidated；
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from the share his family had taken in the disturbances of the period。
They were much and generally respected in the country； a reputation
which this young gentleman seemed likely to sustain； as he was well
educated； and of excellent dispositions。
〃Now； Earnscliff；〃 exclaimed Hobbie； 〃I am glad to meet your honour
ony gate； and company's blithe on a bare moor like this it's an unco
bogilly bitWhere hae ye been sporting？〃
〃Up the Carla Cleugh； Hobbie；〃 answered Earnscliff； returning his
greeting。 〃But will our dogs keep the peace； think you？〃
〃Deil a fear o' mine；〃 said Hobbie； 〃they hae scarce a leg to stand on。
Odd！ the deer's fled the country； I think！ I have been as far as Inger…
fell…foot； and deil a horn has Hobbie seen； excepting three red…wud raes；
that never let me within shot of them； though I gaed a mile round to get up
the wind to them； an' a'。 Deil o' me wad care muckle； only I wanted
some venison to our auld gude…dame。 The carline； she sits in the neuk
yonder； upbye； and cracks about the grand shooters and hunters lang syne
Odd； I think they hae killed a' the deer in the country； for my part。〃
〃Well； Hobbie； I have shot a fat buck； and sent him to Earnscliff this
morningyou shall have half of him for your grandmother。〃
〃Mony thanks to ye； Mr。 Patrick； ye're kend to a' the country for a kind
heart。 It will do the auld wife's heart gudemair by token； when she kens
it comes frae youand maist of a' gin ye'll come up and take your share；
for I reckon ye are lonesome now in the auld tower； and a' your folk at that
weary Edinburgh。 I wonder what they can find to do amang a wheen
ranks o' stane… houses wi' slate on the tap o' them； that might live on their
ain bonny green hills。〃
〃My education and my sisters' has kept my mother much in Edinburgh
for several years；〃 said Earnscliff； 〃but I promise you I propose to make
up for lost time。〃
〃And ye'll rig out the auld tower a bit；〃 said Hobbie； 〃and live hearty
and neighbour…like wi' the auld family friends； as the Laird o' Earnscliff
should？ I can tell ye； my mothermy grandmother I meanbut； since we
lost our ain mother； we ca' her sometimes the tane； and sometimes the
totherbut； ony gate； she conceits hersell no that distant connected wi'
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you。〃
〃Very true； Hobbie； and I will come to the Heugh…foot to dinner to…
morrow with all my heart。〃
〃Weel； that's kindly said！ We are auld neighbours； an we were nae
kinand my gude…dame's fain to see youshe clavers about your father
that was killed lang syne。〃
〃Hush； hush； Hobbienot a word about thatit's a story better
forgotten。〃
〃I dinna kenif it had chanced amang our folk； we wad hae keepit it in
mind mony a day till we got some mends for'tbut ye ken your ain ways
best； you lairdsI have heard say that Ellieslaw's friend stickit your sire
after the laird himsell had mastered his sword。〃
〃Fie； fie； Hobbie； it was a foolish brawl； occasioned by wine and
politicsmany swords were drawnit is impossible to say who struck the
blow。〃
〃At ony rate； auld Ellieslaw was aiding and abetting； and I am sure if
ye were sae disposed as to take amends on him； naebody could say it was
wrang； for your father's blood is beneath his nailsand besides there's
naebody else left that was concerned to take amends upon； and he's a
prelatist and a jacobite into the bargainI can tell ye the country folk look
for something atween ye。〃
〃O for shame； Hobbie！〃 replied the young Laird； 〃you； that profess
religion； to stir your friend up to break the law； and take vengeance at his
own hand； and in such a bogilly bit too； where we know not what beings
may be listening to us！〃
〃Hush； hush！〃 said Hobbie； drawing nearer to his companion； 〃I was
nae thinking o' the like o' themBut I can guess a wee bit what keeps your
hand up； Mr。 Patrick； we a' ken it's no lack o' courage； but the twa grey een
of a bonny lass； Miss Isabel Vere； that keeps you sae sober。〃
〃I assure you； Hobbie；〃 said his companion； rather angrily； 〃I assure
you you are mistaken； and it is extremely wrong of you； either to think of；
or to utter； such an idea； I have no idea of permitting freedoms to be
carried so far as to connect my name with that of any young lady。〃
〃Why； there nowthere now！〃 retorted Elliot； 〃did I not say it was
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nae want o' spunk that made ye sae mim？Weel； weel； I meant nae
offence； but there's just ae thing ye may notice frae a friend。 The auld
Laird of Ellieslaw has the auld riding blood far hetter at his heart than ye
haetroth； he kens naething about thae newfangled notions o' peace and
quietnesshe's a' for the auld…warld doings o' lifting and laying on； and he
has a wheen stout lads at his back too； and keeps them weel up in heart；
and as fu' o' mischief as young colts。 Where he gets the gear to do't nane
can say； he lives high； and far abune his rents here； however； he pays his
waySae； if there's ony out…break in the country； he's likely to break out
wi' the firstand weel does he mind the auld quarrels between ye； I'm
