rip van winkle-第3章
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several pair of breeches； the outer one of ample volume； decorated
with rows of buttons down the sides； and bunches at the knees。 He bore
on his shoulder a stout keg； that seemed full of liquor； and made
signs for Rip to approach and assist him with the load。 Though
rather shy and distrustful of this new acquaintance； Rip complied with
his usual alacrity； and mutually relieving one another； they clambered
up a narrow gully； apparently the dry bed of a mountain torrent。 As
they ascended； Rip every now and then heard long rolling peals； like
distant thunder； that seemed to issue out of a deep ravine； or
rather cleft； between lofty rocks； toward which their rugged path
conducted。 He paused for an instant； but supposing it to be the
muttering of one of those transient thunder…showers which often take
place in mountain heights； he proceeded。 Passing through the ravine；
they came to a hollow； like a small amphitheatre； surrounded by
perpendicular precipices； over the brinks of which impending trees
shot their branches； so that you only caught glimpses of the azure sky
and the bright evening cloud。 During the whole time Rip and his
companion had labored on in silence； for though the former marvelled
greatly what could be the object of carrying a keg of liquor up this
wild mountain； yet there was something strange and incomprehensible
about the unknown； that inspired awe and checked familiarity。
On entering the amphitheatre； new objects of wonder presented
themselves。 On a level spot in the centre was a company of odd…looking
personages playing at nine…pins。 They were dressed in a quaint
outlandish fashion； some wore short doublets； others jerkins； with
long knives in their belts； and most of them had enormous breeches； of
similar style with that of the guide's。 Their visages； too； were
peculiar： one had a large beard； broad face； and small piggish eyes：
the face of another seemed to consist entirely of nose； and was
surmounted by a white sugar…loaf hat； set off with a little red cock's
tail。 They all had beards； of various shapes and colors。 There was one
who seemed to be the commander。 He was a stout old gentleman； with a
weather…beaten countenance； he wore a laced doublet； broad belt and
hanger； high crowned hat and feather； red stockings； and high…heeled
shoes； with roses in them。 The whole group reminded Rip of the figures
in an old Flemish painting； in the parlor of Dominie Van Shaick； the
village parson； and which had been brought over from Holland at the
time of the settlement。
What seemed particularly odd to Rip was； that though these folks
were evidently amusing themselves； yet they maintained the gravest
faces； the most mysterious silence； and were； withal； the most
melancholy party of pleasure he had ever witnessed。 Nothing
interrupted the stillness of the scene but the noise of the balls；
which； whenever they were rolled； echoed along the mountains like
rumbling peals of thunder。
As Rip and his companion approached them； they suddenly desisted
from their play； and stared at him with such fixed statue…like gaze；
and such strange； uncouth； lack…lustre countenances； that his heart
turned within him； and his knees smote together。 His companion now
emptied the contents of the keg into large flagons； and made signs
to him to wait upon the company。 He obeyed with fear and trembling；
they quaffed the liquor in profound silence； and then returned to
their game。
By degrees Rip's awe and apprehension subsided。 He even ventured；
when no eye was fixed upon him； to taste the beverage； which he
found had much of the flavor of excellent Hollands。 He was naturally a
thirsty soul； and was soon tempted to repeat the draught。 One taste
provoked another； and he reiterated his visits to the flagon so
often that at length his senses were overpowered； his eyes swam in his
head； his head gradually declined； and he fell into a deep sleep。
On waking； he found himself on the green knoll whence he had first
seen the old man of the glen。 He rubbed his eyes… it was a bright
sunny morning。 The birds were hopping and twittering among the bushes；
and the eagle was wheeling aloft； and breasting the pure mountain
breeze。 〃Surely；〃 thought Rip； 〃I have not slept here all night。〃 He
recalled the occurrences before he fell asleep。 The strange man with a
keg of liquor… the mountain ravine… the wild retreat among the
rocks… the wobegone party at nine…pins… the flagon… 〃Oh！ that
flagon！ that wicked flagon！〃 thought Rip… 〃what excuse shall I make to
Dame Van Winkle！〃
He looked round for his gun； but in place of the clean well…oiled
fowling…piece； he found an old firelock lying by him； the barrel
incrusted with rust； the lock falling off； and the stock worm…eaten。
He now suspected that the grave roysterers of the mountain had put a
trick upon him； and； having dosed him with liquor； had robbed him of
his gun。 Wolf； too； had disappeared； but he might have strayed away
after a squirrel or partridge。 He whistled after him and shouted his
name； but all in vain； the echoes repeated his whistle and shout；
but no dog was to be seen。
He determined to revisit the scene of the last evening's gambol； and
if he met with any of the party； to demand his dog and gun。 As he rose
to walk； he found himself stiff in the joints； and wanting in his
usual activity。 〃These mountain beds do not agree with me；〃 thought
Rip； 〃and if this frolic should lay me up with a fit of the
rheumatism； I shall have a blessed time with Dame Van Winkle。〃 With
some difficulty he got down into the glen： he found the gully up which
he and his companion had ascended the preceding evening； but to his
astonishment a mountain stream was now foaming down it； leaping from
rock to rock； and filling the glen with babbling murmurs。 He； however；
made shift to scramble up its sides； working his toilsome way
through thickets of birch； sassafras； and witch…hazel； and sometimes
tripped up or entangled by the wild grapevines that twisted their
coils or tendrils from tree to tree； and spread a kind of network in
his path。
At length he reached to where the ravine had opened through the
cliffs to the amphitheatre； but no traces of such opening remained。
The rocks presented a high impenetrable wall over which the torrent
came tumbling in a sheet of feathery foam； and fell into a broad
deep basin； black from the shadows of the surrounding forest。 Here；
then； poor Rip was brought to a stand。 He again called and whistled
after his dog； he was only answered by the cawing of a flock of idle
crows； sporting high in air about a dry tree that overhung a sunny
precipice； and who； secure in their elevation； seemed to look down and
scoff at the poor man's perplexities。 What was to be done？ the morning
was passing away； and Rip felt famished for want of his breakfast。
He grieved to give up his dog and gun； he dreaded to meet his wife；
but it would not do to starve among the mountains。 He shook his
head； shouldered the rusty firelock； and； with a heart full of trouble
and anxiety； turned his steps homeward。
As he approached the village he met a number of people； but none
whom he knew； which somewhat surprised him； for he had thought himself
acquainted with every one in the country round。 Their dress； too；
was of a different fashion from that to which he was accustomed。
They all stared at him with equal marks of surprise； and whenever they
cast their eyes upon him； invariably stroked their chins。 The constant
recurrence of this gesture induced Rip； involuntarily； to do the same；
when； to his astonishment； he found his beard had grown a foot long！
He had now entered the skirts of the village。 A troop of strange
children ran at his heels； hooting after him； and pointing at his gray
beard。 The dogs； too； not one of which he recognized for an old
acquaintance； barked at him as he passed。 The very village was
altered； it was larger and more populous。 There were rows of houses
which he had never seen before； and those which had been his
familiar haunts had disappeared。 Strange names were over
