count bunker-第13章
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〃I wish ze piper vould play；〃 whispered the Baron。
〃Mebbe he'll begin nearer the time；〃 his companion suggested。
The Baron shivered。 For the first time he had been persuaded to wear the full panoply of a Highland chief； and though he had exhibited himself to the ladies with much pride； and even in the course of dinner had promised Eva Gallosh that he would never again don anything less romantic； he now began to think that a travelling…rug of the Tulliwuddle tartan would prove a useful addition to the outfit on the occasion of a midnight vigil。 Also the stern prohibition against talking aloud （corroborated by the piper with many guttural warnings） grew more and more irksome as the night advanced。
〃It's an awesome place；〃 whispered Mr。 Gallosh。
〃I hardly thought it would have been as lonesome… like。〃
There was a tremor in his voice that irritated the Baron。
〃Pooh！〃 he answered； 〃it is jost vun old piece of hombog！ I do not believe in soch things myself。〃
〃Neither do I； my lord； oh； neither do I； but would you fancy a dram？〃
〃Not for me； I zank you；〃 said his lordship stiffly。
Blessing the foresight of Mr。 Rentoul； his host unscrewed his flask and had a generous swig。 As he was screwing on the top again； the Baron； in a less haughty voice； whispered
〃Perhaps jost vun leetle taste。〃
They felt now for a few minutes more aggressively disposed。
〃Ve need not have ze curtain shut；〃 said the Baron。 〃Soppose you do draw him？〃
Through the gloom Mr。 Gallosh took one or two faltering steps。
〃Man； it's awful hard to see one's way；〃 he said nervously。
The Baron took the candle； and with a martial stride escorted him to the window。 They pulled aside one corner of the heavy curtain； and then let it fall again and hurried back。 So far north there was indeed a gleam of daylight left； but it was such a pale and ghostly ray； and the wreaths of mist swept so eerily and silently across the pane； that candle…light and shadows seemed vastly preferable。
〃How much more time will there be？〃 whispered Mr。 Gallosh presently。
〃It is twenty…five minutes to twelve。〃
〃Your lordship！ Can we leave at twelve？〃
The Baron started。
〃Oh； Himmel！〃 he exclaimed。 〃Vy did I not realize before？ If nozing comesand nozing vill comeve most stay till one； I soppose。〃
Mr。 Gallosh emitted something like a groan。
〃Oh my； and that candle will not last more than half an hour at the most！〃
〃Teufel！〃 said the Baron。 〃It vas Bonker did give him to me。 He might have made a more proper calculation。〃
The prospect was now gloomy indeed。 An hour of candle…light had been bad； but an hour of pitch darkness or of mist wreaths would be many times worse。
〃A wee tastie more； my lord？〃 Mr。 Gallosh suggested； in a voice whose vibrations he made an effort to conceal。
〃Jost a vee；〃 said his lordship； hardly more firmly。
With a dismal disregard for their suspense the minutes dragged infinitely slowly。 The flask was finished； the candle guttered and flickered ominously； the very shadows grew restless。
〃There's a lot of secret doors and such like in this part of the houselet's hope there'll be nothing coming through one of them；〃 said Mr。 Gallosh in a breaking voice。
The Baron muttered an inaudible reply； and then with a start their shoulders bumped together。
〃Damn it； what's yon！〃 whispered Mr。 Gallosh。
〃Ze pipes！ Gallosh； how beastly he does play！〃
In point of fact the air seemed to consist of only one wailing note。
〃Bong！〃they heard the first stroke of midnight on the big clock on the Castle Tower； and so unfortunately had Count Bunker timed the candle that on the instant its flame expired。
〃Vithdraw ze curtains！〃 gasped the Baron。
〃I canna； my lord！ Oh； I canna！〃 wailed Mr。 Gallosh； breaking out into his broadest native Scotch。
This time the Baron made no movement； and in the palpitating silence the two sat through one long dark minute after another； till some ten of them had passed。
〃I shall stand it no more！〃 muttered the Baron。 〃Ve vill creep for ze door。〃
〃My lord； my lord！ For maircy's sake gie's a hold of you！〃 stammered Mr。 Gallosh； falling on his hands and knees and feeling for the skirt of his lordship's kilt。
But their flight was arrested by a portent so remarkable that had there been only a single witness one would suppose it to be a figment of his imagination。 Fortunately； however； both the Baron and Mr。 Gallosh can corroborate each detail。 About the middle； apparently； of the wall opposite； an oblong of light appeared in the thickest of the gloom。
〃Mein Gott！〃 cried the Baron。
〃It's filled wi' reek！〃 gasped Mr。 Gallosh。
And indeed the space seemed filled with a slowly rising cloud of pungent blue smoke。 Then their horrified eyes beheld the figure of an undoubted Being hazily outlined behind the cloud； and at the same time the piper； as if sympathetically aware of the crisis； burst into his most dreadful discords。 A yell rang through the gloom； followed by the sounds of a heavy body alternately scuffling across the floor and falling prostrate over unseen furniture。 The Baron felt for his host； and realized that this was the escaping Gallosh。
〃Tulliwuddle！ Speak！〃 a hollow voice muttered out of the smoke。
The Baron has never ceased to exult over the hardihood he displayed in this unnerving crisis。 Rising to his feet and drawing his claymore； he actually managed to stammer out
〃Whowho are you？〃
The Being （he could now perceive dimly that it was clad in tartan） answered in the same deep； measured voice
〃Your senses to confound and fuddle； Behold the Wraith of Tulliwuddle！〃
This was sufficiently terrifying； one would think； to excuse the Baron for following the example of his host。 But； though he found afterwards that he must have perspired freely； he courageously stood his ground。
〃Vy have you gomed here？〃 he demanded in a voice nearly as hollow as the Wraith'
As solemnly as before the spirit replied
〃From Pit that's bottomless and dark Methinks I hear it shriekingHark！〃
（The Baron certainly did hear a tumult that might well be termed infernal； though whether it emanated from Mr。 Gallosh； fiends； or the piper； he could not at the moment feel certain。）
〃I came o'er many leagues of heather To carry back the answer whether The noble chieftain of my clan Conducts him like a gentleman。〃
After this warning； to put the third question required an effort of the most supreme resolution。 The Baron was equal to it； however。
〃Vat instroction do you give me？〃 he managed to utter。
In the gravest accents the Wraith chanted
〃Hang ever kilt above the knee； With Usquebaugh be not too free； When toasts and sic'like games be mooted See that your dram be well diluted； And oh； if you'd escape from Hades； Lord Tulliwuddle； 'ware the ladies！〃
The spirit vanished as magically as he had appeared； and with this solemn warning ringing in his ears； the Baron found himself in inky darkness again。 This time he did not hesitate to grope madly for the door； but hardly had he reached it； when； with a fresh sensation of horror； he stumbled upon a writhing form that seemed to be pawing the panels。 He was； fortunately； as quickly reassured by hearing the voice of Mr。 Gallosh exclaim in terrified accents
〃I canna find the haundle！ Oh； Gosh； where's the haundle？〃
Being the less frenzied of the two； the Baron did succeed in finding the handle； and with a gasp of relief burst into the lighted anteroom。 The piper had already departed； and evidently in haste； since he had left some portion of a bottle of whisky unfinished。 This fortunate circumstance enabled them to recover something of their color； though； even when he felt his blood warming again； Mr。 Gallosh could scarcely speak coherently of his terrible ordeal。
〃What an awfu' night！ what an awfu' night！〃 he murmured。 〃Oh； my lord； let's get out of this！〃
He was making for the door when the Baron seized his arm。
〃Vait！〃 he cried。 〃Ze danger is past！ Ach； vas I not brave？ Did you not hear me speak to
