the black dwarf-第24章

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　aside　the　beast；　and　be　on　and　awa'　to　Mucklestane　wi'　the　first　skreigh　o'　morning。〃

〃And　what　for　no　the　night；　Hobbie；〃　said　Harry；　〃and　I　will　ride　wi'　ye？〃

〃My　naig　is　tired；〃　said　Hobbie。

〃Ye　may　take　mine；　then；〃　said　John。

〃But　I　am　a　wee　thing　wearied　mysell。〃

〃You　wearied？〃　　said　Harry；　〃shame　on　ye！　　I　have　kend　ye　keep　the　saddle　four…and…twenty　hours　thegither；　and　ne'er　sic　a　word　as　weariness　in　your　wame。〃

〃The　night's　very　dark；〃　said　Hobbie；　rising　and　looking　through　the　casement　of　the　cottage；　〃and；　to　speak　truth；　and　shame　the　deil；　though　Elshie's　a　real　honest　fallow；　yet　somegate　I　would　rather　take　daylight　wi'　me　when　I　gang　to　visit　him。〃

This　frank　avowal　put　a　stop　to　further　argument；　and　Hobbie；　having　thus　compromised　matters　between　the　rashness　of　his　brother's　counsel；　and　the　timid　cautions　which　he　received　from　his　grandmother；　refreshed　himself　with　such　food　as　the　cottage　afforded；　and；　after　a　cordial　salutation　all　round；　retired　to　the　shed；　and　stretched　himself　beside　his　trusty　palfrey。　　His　brothers　shared　between　them　some　trusses　of　clean　straw；　disposed　in　the　stall　usually　occupied　by　old　Annaple's　cow；　and　the　females　arranged　themselves　for　repose　as　well　as　the　accommodations　of　the　cottage　would　permit。

With　the　first　dawn　of　morning；　Hobbie　arose；　and；　having　rubbed　down　and　saddled　his　horse；　he　set　forth　to　Mucklestane…Moor。　　He　avoided　the　company　of　either　of　his　brothers；　from　an　idea　that　the　Dwarf　was　most　propitious　to　those　who　visited　him　alone。

〃The　creature；〃　said　he　to　himself；　as　he　went　along；　〃is　no　neighbourly；　ae　body　at　a　time　is　fully　mair　than　he　weel　can　abide。　　I　wonder　if　he's　looked　out　o'　the　crib　o'　him　to　gather　up　the　bag　o'　siller。　　If　he　hasna　done　that；　it　will　hae　been　a　braw　windfa'　for　somebody；　and　I'll　be　finely　flung。Come；　Tarras；〃　said　he　to　his　horse；　striking　him　at　the　same　time　with　his　spur；　〃make　mair　fit；　man；　we　maun　be　first　on　the　field　if　we　can。〃

He　was　now　on　the　heath；　which　began　to　be　illuminated　by　the　beams　of　the　rising　sun；　the　gentle　declivity　which　he　was　descending　presented　him　a　distinct；　though　distant　view；　of　the　Dwarf's　dwelling。　　The　door　opened；　and　Hobbie　witnessed　with　his　own　eyes　that　phenomenon　which　he　had　frequently　heard　mentioned。　Two　human　figures　（if　that　of　the　Dwarf　could　be　termed　such）　issued　from　the　solitary　abode　of　the　Recluse；　and　stood　as　if　in　converse　together　in　the　open　air。　　The　taller　form　then　stooped；　as　if　taking　something　up　which　lay　beside　the　door　of　the　hut；　then　both　moved　forward　a　little　way；　and　again　halted；　as　in　deep　conference。　　All　Hobbie's　superstitious　terrors　revived　on　witnessing　this'spectacle。　　That　the　Dwarf　would　open　his　dwelling　to　a　mortal　guest；　was　as　improbable　as　that　any　one　would　choose　voluntarily　to　be　his　nocturnal　visitor；　and；　under　full　conviction　that　he　beheld　a　wizard　holding　intercourse　with　his　familiar　spirit；　Hobbie　pulled　in　at　once　his　breath　and　his　bridle；　resolved　not　to　incur　the　indignation　of　either　by　a　hasty　intrusion　on　their　conference。　　They　were　probably　aware　of　his　approach；　for　he　had　not　halted　for　a　moment　before　the　Dwarf　returned　to　his　cottage；　and　the　taller　figure　who　had　accompanied　him；　glided　round　the　enclosure　of　the　garden；　and　seemed　to　disappear　from　the　eyes　of　the　admiring　Hobbie。

〃Saw　ever　mortal　the　like　o'　that！〃　　said　Elliot；　〃but　my　case　is　desperate；　sae；　if　he　were　Beelzebub　himsell；　I'se　venture　down　the　brae　on　him。〃

Yet；　notwithstanding　his　assumed　courage；　he　slackened　his　pace；　when；　nearly　upon　the　very　spot　where　he　had　last　seen　the　tall　figure；　he　discerned；　as　if　lurking　among　the　long　heather；　a　small　black　rough…looking　object；　like　a　terrier　dog。

〃He　has　nae　dog　that　ever　I　heard　of；〃　said　Hobbie；　〃but　mony　a　deil　about　his　handlord　forgie　me　for　saying　sic　a　word！It　keeps　its　grund；　be　what　it　likeI'm　judging　it's　a　badger；　but　whae　kens　what　shapes　thae　bogies　will　take　to　fright　a　body？　　it　will　maybe　start　up　like　a　lion　or　a　crocodile　when　I　come　nearer。　　I'se　e'en　drive　a　stage　at　it；　for　if　it　change　its　shape　when　I'm　ower　near；　Tarras　will　never　stand　it；　and　it　will　be　ower　muckle　to　hae　him　and　the　deil　to　fight　wi'　baith　at　ance。〃

He　therefore　cautiously　threw　a　stone　at　the　object；　which　continued　motionless。　　〃It's　nae　living　thing；　after　a'；〃　said　Hobbie；　approaching；　〃but　the　very　bag　o'　siller　he　flung　out　o'　the　window　yesterday！　　and　that　other　queer　lang　creature　has　just　brought　it　sae　muckle　farther　on　the　way　to　me。　　He　then　advanced　and　lifted　the　heavy　fur　pouch；　which　was　quite　full　of　gold。　　〃Mercy　on　us！〃　　said　Hobbie；　whose　heart　fluttered　between　glee　at　the　revival　of　his　hopes　and　prospects　in　life；　and　suspicion　of　the　purpose　for　which　this　assistance　was　afforded　him…〃Mercy　on　us！　　it's　an　awfu'　thing　to　touch　what　has　been　sae　lately　in　the　claws　of　something　no　canny；　I　canna　shake　mysell　loose　o'　the　belief　that　there　has　been　some　jookery…　paukery　of　Satan's　in　a'　this；　but　I　am　determined　to　conduct　mysell　like　an　honest　man　and　a　good　Christian；　come　o't　what　will。〃

He　advanced　accordingly　to　the　cottage　door；　and　having　knocked　repeatedly　without　receiving　any　answer；　he　at　length　elevated　his　voice　and　addressed　the　inmate　of　the　hut。　　〃Elshie！　　Father　Elshie！　　I　ken　ye're　within　doors；　and　wauking；　for　I　saw　ye　at　the　door…cheek　as　I　cam　ower　the　bent；　will　ye　come　out　and　speak　just　a　gliff　to　ane　that　has　mony　thanks　to　gie　ye？It　was　a'　true　ye　tell'd　me　about　Westburnflat；　but　he's　sent　back　Grace　safe　and　skaithless；　sae　there's　nae　ill　happened　yet　but　what　may　be　suffered　or　sustained；Wad　ye　but　come　out　a　gliff；　man；　or　but　say　ye're　listening？Aweel；　since　ye　winna　answer；　I'se　e'en　proceed　wi'　my　tale。　　Ye　see　I　hae　been　thinking　it　wad　be　a　sair　thing　on　twa　young　folk；　like　Grace　and　me；　to　put　aff　our　marriage　for　mony　years　till　I　was　abroad　and　came　back　again　wi'　some　gear；　and　they　say　folk　maunna　take　booty　in　the　wars　as　they　did　lang　syne；　and　the　queen's　pay　is　a　sma'　matter；　there's　nae　gathering　gear　on　thatand　then　my　grandame's　auldand　my　sisters　wad　sit　peengin'　at　the　ingle…side　for　want　o'　me　to　ding　them　aboutand　Earnscliff；　or　the　neighbourhood；　or　maybe　your　ainsell；　Elshie；　might　want　some　good　turn　that　Hob　Elliot　could　do　yeand　it's　a　pity　that　the　auld　house　o'　the　Heugh…foot　should　be　wrecked　a'thegither。　　Sae　I　was　thinkingbut　deil　hae　me；　that　I　should　say　sae；〃　continued　he；　checking　himself；　〃if　I　can　bring　mysell　to　ask　a　favour　of　ane　that　winna　sae　muckle　as　ware　a　word　on　me；　to　tell　me　if　he　hears　me　speaking　till　him。〃

〃Say　what　thou　wiltdo　what　thou　wilt；〃　answered　the　Dwarf　from　his　cabin；　〃but　begone；　and　leave　me　at　peace。〃

〃Weel；　weel；〃　replied　Elliot；　〃since　ye　are　willing　to　hear　me；　I'se　make　my　tale　short。　　Since　ye　are　sae　kind　as　to　say　ye　are　content　to　lend　me　as　muckle　siller　as　will　stock　and　plenish　the　Heugh…foot；　I　am　content；　on　my　part；　to　accept　the　courtesy　wi'　mony　kind　thanks；　and　troth；　I　think　it　will　be　as　safe　in　my　hands　as　yours；　if　ye　leave　it　flung　about　in　that　gate　for　the　first　loon　body　to　lift；　forbye　the　risk　o'　bad　neighbours　that　can　win　through　steekit　doors　and　lockfast　places；　as　I　can　tell　to　my　cost。　　I　say；　since　ye　hae　sae　muckle　consideration　for　me；　I'se　be　blithe　to　accept　your　kindness；　and　my　mother　and　me　（she's　a　life…renter；　and　I　am　fiar；　o'　the　lands　o'　Wideopen）　would　grant　you　a　wadset；　or　an　heritable　bond；　for　the　siller；　and　to　pay　the　annual　rent　half…yearly；　and　Saunders　Wyliecoat　to　draw　the　bond；　and　you　to　be　at　nae　charge　wi'　the　writings。〃

〃Cut　short　thy　jargon；　and　begone；〃　said　the　Dwarf；　〃thy　loquacious　bull…headed　honesty　makes　thee　a　more　intolerable　plague　than　the　light…fingered　courtier　who　would　take　a　man's　all　without　troubling　him　with　either　thanks；　explanation；　or　apology。　　Hence；　I　say！　　thou　art　one　of　those　tame　slaves　whose　word　is　as　good　as　their　bond。　　Keep　the　money；　principal　and　interest；　until　I　demand　it　of　thee。〃

〃But；〃　continued　the　pertinacious　Borderer；　〃we　are　a'　life…like　and　death…like；　Elshie；　and　there　really　should　be　some　black　and　whi