the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第13章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
form a small enclosure。 Materials lay around him in great plenty； but the
labour of carrying on the work was immense； from the size of most of the
stones； and it seemed astonishing that he should have succeeded in
moving several which he had already arranged for the foundation of his
edifice。 He was struggling to move a fragment of great size when the
two young men came up； and was so intent upon executing his purpose；
that he did not perceive them till they were close upon him。 In straining
and heaving at the stone； in order to place it according to his wish； he
displayed a degree of strength which seemed utterly inconsistent with his
size and apparent deformity。 Indeed； to judge from the difficulties he had
already surmounted； he must have been of Herculean powers； for some of
the stones he had succeeded in raising apparently required two men's
strength to have moved them。 Hobbie's suspicions began to revive； on
seeing the preternatural strength he exerted。
〃I am amaist persuaded it's the ghaist of a stane…masonsee siccan
band…statnes as he's laid iAn it be a man； after a'； I wonder what he wad
take by the rood to build a march dyke。 There's ane sair wanted between
Cringlehope and the Shaws。 Honest man〃 （raising his voice）； 〃ye make
good firm wark there？〃
The being whom he addressed raised his eyes with a ghastly stare； and；
getting up from his stooping posture； stood before them in all his native
and hideous deformity。 His head was of uncommon size； covered with a
38
… Page 39…
THE BLACK DWARF
fell of shaggy hair； partly grizzled with age； his eyebrows； shaggy and
prominent； overhung a pair of small dark； piercing eyes； set far back in
their sockets； that rolled with a portentous wildness； indicative of a partial
insanity。 The rest of his features were of the coarse； rough…hewn stamp；
with which a painter would equip a giant in romance； to which was added
the wild； irregular； and peculiar expression； so often seen in the
countenances of those whose persons are deformed。 His body； thick and
square； like that of a man of middle size； was mounted upon two large feet；
but nature seemed to have forgotten the legs and the thighs； or they were
so very short as to be hidden by the dress which he wore。 His arms were
long and brawny； furnished with two muscular hands； and； where
uncovered in the eagerness of his labour； were shagged with coarse black
hair。 It seemed as if nature had originally intended the separate parts of
his body to be the members of a giant； but had afterwards capriciously
assigned them to the person of a dwarf； so ill did the length of his arms
and the iron strength of his frame correspond with the shortness of his
stature。 His clothing was a sort of coarse brown tunic； like a monk's
frock； girt round him with a belt of seal…skin。 On his head he had a cap
made of badger's skin； or some other rough fur； which added considerably
to the grotesque effect of his whole appearance； and overshadowed
features； whose habitual expression seemed that of sullen malignant
misanthropy。
This remarkable Dwarf gazed on the two youths in silence； with a
dogged and irritated look； until Earnscliff； willing to soothe him into better
temper； observed； 〃You are hard tasked； my friend； allow us to assist you。〃
Elliot and he accordingly placed the stone； by their joint efforts； upon
the rising wall。 The Dwarf watched them with the eye of a taskmaster；
and testified； by peevish gestures； his impatience at the time which they
took in adjusting the stone。 He pointed to anotherthey raised it alsoto a
third； to a fourththey continued to humour him； though with some
trouble； for he assigned them； as if intentionally； the heaviest fragments
which lay near。
〃And now； friend；〃 said Elliot； as the unreasonable Dwarf indicated
another stone larger than any they had moved； 〃Earnscliff may do as he
39
… Page 40…
THE BLACK DWARF
likes； but be ye man or be ye waur； deil be in my fingers if I break my
back wi' heaving thae stanes ony langer like a barrow…man； without
getting sae muckle as thanks for my pains。〃
〃Thanks！〃 exclaimed the Dwarf； with a motion expressive of the
utmost contempt〃Theretake them； and fatten upon them！ Take them；
and may they thrive with you as they have done with meas they have
done with every mortal worm that ever heard the word spoken by his
fellow reptile！ Henceeither labour or begone！〃
〃This is a fine reward we have； Earnscliff； for building a tabernacle for
the devil； and prejudicing our ain souls into the bargain； for what we ken。〃
〃Our presence；〃 answered Earnscliff； 〃seems only to irritate his frenzy；
we had better leave him； and send some one to provide him with food and
necessaries。〃
They did so。 The servant dispatched for this purpose found the
Dwarf still labouring at his wall； but could not extract a word from him。
The lad； infected with the superstitions of the country； did not long persist
in an attempt to intrude questions or advice on so singular a figure； but
having placed the articles which he had brought for his use on a stone at
some distance； he left them at the misanthrope's disposal。
The Dwarf proceeded in his labours； day after day； with an assiduity so
incredible as to appear almost supernatural。 In one day he often seemed
to have done the work of two men； and his building soon assumed the
appearance of the walls of a hut； which； though very small； and
constructed only of stones and turf； without any mortar； exhibited； from
the unusual size of the stones employed； an appearance of solidity very
uncommon for a cottage of such narrow dimensions and rude construction。
Earnscliff； attentive to his motions； no sooner perceived to what they
tended； than he sent down a number of spars of wood suitable for forming
the roof； which he caused to be left in the neighbourhood of the spot；
resolving next day to send workmen to put them up。 But his purpose was
anticipated； for in the evening； during the night； and early in the morning；
the Dwarf had laboured so hard； and with such ingenuity； that he had
nearly completed the adjustment of the rafters。 His next labour was to
cut rushes and thatch his dwelling； a task which he performed with
40
… Page 41…
THE BLACK DWARF
singular dexterity。
As he seemed averse to receive any aid beyond the occasional
assistance of a passenger； materials suitable to his purpose； and tools； were
supplied to him； in the use of which he proved to be skilful。 He
constructed the door and window of his cot； he adjusted a rude
