20-the underground workers-第1章

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THE　UNDERGROUND　WORKERS

On　a　bitter　night　somewhere　between　Christmas　and　the　New　Year；　a
man　set　out　to　walk　to　the　neighbouring　village。　　It　was　not　many
miles　off；　but　the　snow　was　so　thick　that　there　were　no　roads；　or
walls；　or　hedges　left　to　guide　him；　and　very　soon　he　lost　his　way
altogether；　and　was　glad　to　get　shelter　from　the　wind　behind　a
thick　juniper　tree。　　Here　he　resolved　to　spend　the　night；
thinking　that　when　the　sun　rose　he　would　be　able　to　see　his　path
again。

So　he　tucked　his　legs　snugly　under　him　like　a　hedgehog；　rolled
himself　up　in　his　sheepskin；　and　went　to　sleep。　　How　long　he
slept；　I　cannot　tell　you；　but　after　awhile　he　became　aware　that
some　one　was　gently　shaking　him；　while　a　stranger　whispered；　'My
good　man；　get　up！　　If　you　lie　there　any　more；　you　will　be　buried
in　the　snow；　and　no　one　will　ever　know　what　became　of　you。'

The　sleeper　slowly　raised　his　head　from　his　furs；　and　opened　his
heavy　eyes。　　Near　him　stood　a　long　thin　man；　holding　in　his　hand
a　young　fir　tree　taller　than　himself。　　'Come　with　me；'　said　the
man；　'a　little　way　off　we　have　made　a　large　fire；　and　you　will
rest　far　better　there　than　out　upon　this　moor。'　　The　sleeper　did
not　wait　to　be　asked　twice；　but　rose　at　once　and　followed　the
stranger。　　The　snow　was　falling　so　fast　that　he　could　not　see
three　steps　in　front　of　him；　till　the　stranger　waved　his　staff；
when　the　drifts　parted　before　them。　　Very　soon　they　reached　a
wood；　and　saw　the　friendly　glow　of　a　fire。

'What　is　your　name？'　asked　the　stranger；　suddenly　turning　round。

'I　am　called　Hans；　the　son　of　Long　Hans；'　said　the　peasant。

In　front　of　the　fire　three　men　were　sitting　clothed　in　white；
just　as　if　it　was　summer；　and　for　about　thirty　feet　all　round
winter　had　been　banished。　　The　moss　was　dry　and　the　plants　green；
while　the　grass　seemed　all　alive　with　the　hum　of　bees　and
cockchafers。　　But　above　the　noise　the　son　of　Long　Hans　could　hear
the　whistling　of　the　wind　and　the　crackling　of　the　branches　as
they　fell　beneath　the　weight　of　the　snow。

'Well！　　you　son　of　Long　Hans；　isn't　this　more　comfortable　than
your　juniper　bush？'　laughed　the　stranger；　and　for　answer　Hans
replied　he　could　not　thank　his　friend　enough　for　having　brought
him　here；　and；　throwing　off　his　sheepskin；　rolled　it　up　as　a
pillow。　　Then；　after　a　hot　drink　which　warmed　both　their　hearts；
they　lay　down　on　the　ground。　　The　stranger　talked　for　a　little　to
the　other　men　in　a　language　Hans　did　not　understand；　and　after
listening　for　a　short　time　he　once　more　fell　asleep。

When　he　awoke；　neither　wood　nor　fire　was　to　be　seen；　and　he　did
not　know　where　he　was。　　He　rubbed　his　eyes；　and　began　to　recall
the　events　of　the　night；　thinking　he　must　have　been　dreaming；　but
for　all　that；　he　could　not　make　out　how　he　came　to　be　in　this
place。

Suddenly　a　loud　noise　struck　on　his　ear；　and　he　felt　the　earth
tremble　beneath　his　feet。　　Hans　listened　for　a　moment；　then
resolved　to　go　towards　the　place　where　the　sound　came　from；
hoping　he　might　come　across　some　human　being。　　He　found　himself
at　length　at　the　mouth　of　a　rocky　cave　in　which　a　fire　seemed
burning。　　He　entered；　and　saw　a　huge　forge；　and　a　crowd　of　men　in
front　of　it；　blowing　bellows　and　wielding　hammers；　and　to　each
anvil　were　seven　men；　and　a　set　of　more　comical　smiths　could　not
be　found　if　you　searched　all　the　world　through！　　Their　heads　were
bigger　than　their　little　bodies；　and　their　hammers　twice　the　size
of　themselves；　but　the　strongest　men　on　earth　could　not　have
handled　their　iron　clubs　more　stoutly　or　given　lustier　blows。

The　little　blacksmiths　were　clad　in　leather　aprons；　which　covered
them　from　their　necks　to　their　feet　in　front；　and　left　their
backs　naked。　　On　a　high　stool　against　the　wall　sat　the　man　with
the　pinewood　staff；　watching　sharply　the　way　the　little　fellows
did　their　work；　and　near　him　stood　a　large　can；　from　which　every
now　and　then　the　workers　would　come　and　take　a　drink。　　The　master
no　longer　wore　the　white　garments　of　the　day　before；　but　a　black
jerkin；　held　in　its　place　by　a　leathern　girdle　with　huge　clasps。

From　time　to　time　he　would　give　his　workmen　a　sign　with　his
staff；　for　it　was　useless　to　speak　amid　such　a　noise。

If　any　of　them　had　noticed　that　there　was　a　stranger　present　they
took　no　heed　of　him；　but　went　on　with　what　they　were　doing。　
After　some　hours'　hard　labour　came　the　time　for　rest；　and　they
all　flung　their　hammers　to　the　ground　and　trooped　out　of　the
cave。

Then　the　master　got　down　from　his　seat　and　said　to　Hans：

'I　saw　you　come　in；　but　the　work　was　pressing；　and　I　could　not
stop　to　speak　to　you。　　To…day　you　must　be　my　guest；　and　I　will
show　you　something　of　the　way　in　which　I　live。　　Wait　here　for　a
moment；　while　I　lay　aside　these　dirty　clothes。'　　With　these　words
he　unlocked　a　door　in　the　cave；　and　bade　Hans　pass　in　before　him。

Oh；　what　riches　and　treasures　met　Hans'　astonished　eyes！　　Gold
and　silver　bars　lay　piled　on　the　floor；　and　glittered　so　that　you
could　not　look　at　them！　　Hans　thought　he　would　count　them　for
fun；　and　had　already　reached　the　five　hundred　and　seventieth　when
his　host　returned　and　cried；　laughing：

'Do　not　try　to　count　them；　it　would　take　too　long；　choose　some　of
the　bars　from　the　heap；　as　I　should　like　to　make　you　a　present　of
them。'

Hans　did　not　wait　to　be　asked　twice；　and　stooped　to　pick　up　a　bar
of　gold；　but　though　he　put　forth　all　his　strength　he　could　not
even　move　it　with　both　hands；　still　less　lift　it　off　the　ground。

'Why；　you　have　no　more　power　than　a　flea；'　laughed　the　host；　'you
will　have　to　content　yourself　with　feasting　your　eyes　upon　them！'

So　he　bade　Hans　follow　him　through　other　rooms；　till　they　entered
one　bigger　than　a　church；　filled；　like　the　rest；　with　gold　and
silver。　　Hans　wondered　to　see　these　vast　riches；　which　might　have
bought　all　the　kingdoms　of　the　world；　and　lay　buried；　useless；　he
thought；　to　anyone。

'What　is　the　reason；'　he　asked　of　his　guide；　'that　you　gather　up
these　treasures　here；　where　they　can　do　good　to　nobody？　　　If　they
fell　into　the　hands　of　men；　everyone　would　be　rich；　and　none　need
work　or　suffer　hunger。'

'And　it　is　exactly　for　that　reason；'　answered　he；　'that　I　must
keep　these　riches　out　of　their　way。　　The　whole　world　would　sink
to　idleness　if　men　were　not　forced　to　earn　their　daily　bread。　　It
is　only　through　work　and　care　that　man　can　ever　hope　to　be　good
for　anything。'

Hans　stared　at　these　words；　and　at　last　he　begged　that　his　host
would　tell　him　what　use　it　was　to　anybody　that　this　gold　and
silver　should　lie　mouldering　there；　and　the　owner　of　it　be
continually　trying　to　increase　his　treasure；　which　already
overflowed　his　store　rooms。

'I　am　not　really　a　man；'　replied　his　guide；　'though　I　have　the
outward　form　of　one；　but　one　of　those　beings　to　whom　is　given　the
care　of　the　world。　　It　is　my　task　and　that　of　my　workmen　to
prepare　under　the　earth　the　gold　and　silver；　a　small　portion　of
which　finds　its　way　every　year　to　the　upper　world；　but　only　just
enough　to　help　them　carry　on　their　business。　　To　none　comes
wealth　without　trouble：　　we　must　first　dig　out　the　gold　and　mix
the　grains　with　earth；　clay；　and　sand。　　Then；　after　long　and　hard
seeking；　it　will　be　found　in　this　state；　by　those　who　have　good
luck　or　much　patience。　　But；　my　friend；　the　hour　of　dinner　is　at
hand。　　If　you　wish　to　remain　in　this　place；　and　feast　your　eyes
on　this　gold；　then　stay　till　I　call　you。'

In　his　absence　Hans　wandered　from　one　treasure　chamber　to
another；　sometimes　trying　to　break　off　a　little　lump　of　gold；　but
never　able　to　do　it。　　After　awhile　his　host　came　back；　but　so
changed　that　Hans　could　not　believe　it　was　really　he。　　His　silken
clothes　were　of　the　brightest　flame　colour；　richly　trimmed　with
gold　fringes　and　lace；　a　golden　girdle　was　round　his　waist；　while
his　head　was　encircled　with　a　crown　of　gold；　and　precious　stones
twinkled　about　him　like　stars　in　a　winter's　night；　and　in　place
of　his　wooden　stick　he　held　a　finely　worked　golden　staff。

The　lord　of　all　this　treasure　locked　the　doors　and　put　the　keys
in　his　pocket；　then　led　Hans　into　another　room；　where　dinner　was
laid　for　them。　　Table　and　seats　were　all　of　silver