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distance the lordly Hudson； far； far below him； moving on its silent
but majestic course； with the reflection of a purple cloud； or the
sail of a lagging bark； here and there sleeping on its glassy bosom；
and at last losing itself in the blue highlands。
On the other side he looked down into a deep mountain glen； wild；
lonely； and shagged； the bottom filled with fragments from the
impending cliffs； and scarcely lighted by the reflected rays of the
setting sun。 For some time Rip lay musing on this scene； evening was
gradually advancing； the mountains began to throw their long blue
shadows over the valleys； he saw that it would be dark long before
he could reach the village； and he heaved a heavy sigh when he thought
of encountering the terrors of Dame Van Winkle。
As he was about to descend； he heard a voice from a distance；
hallooing； 〃Rip Van Winkle！ Rip Van Winkle！〃 He looked round； but
could see nothing but a crow winging its solitary flight across the
mountain。 He thought his fancy must have deceived him； and turned
again to descend； when he heard the same cry ring through the still
evening air； 〃Rip Van Winkle！ Rip Van Winkle！〃… at the same time
Wolf bristled up his back； and giving a low growl； skulked to his
master's side； looking fearfully down into the glen。 Rip now felt a
vague apprehension stealing over him； he looked anxiously in the
same direction； and perceived a strange figure slowly toiling up the
rocks； and bending under the weight of something he carried on his
back。 He was surprised to see any human being in this lonely and
unfrequented place； but supposing it to be some one of the
neighborhood in need of his assistance； he hastened down to yield it。
On nearer approach he was still more surprised at the singularity of
the stranger's appearance。 He was a short square…built old fellow；
with thick bushy hair； and a grizzled beard。 His dress was of the
antique Dutch fashion… a cloth jerkin strapped round the waist…
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