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！
three times； and lay me down your silver groat on that other flat
stone； walk out of the circle； sit down on the west side of that
little thicket of bushes； and take heed you look neither to right
nor to left for ten minutes； or so long as you shall hear the
hammer clink； and whenever it ceases； say your prayers for the
space you could tell a hundredor count over a hundred； which
will do as welland then come into the circle； you will find
your money gone and your horse shod。〃
〃My money gone to a certainty！〃 said Tressilian； 〃but as for the
restHark ye； my lad； I am not your school…master； but if you
play off your waggery on me； I will take a part of his task off
his hands； and punish you to purpose。〃
〃Ay； when you catch me！〃 said the boy； and presently took to his
heels across the heath； with a velocity which baffled every
attempt of Tressilian to overtake him； loaded as he was with his
heavy boots。 Nor was it the least provoking part of the urchin's
conduct； that he did not exert his utmost speed； like one who
finds himself in danger； or who is frightened； but preserved just
such a rate as to encourage Tressilian to continue the chase； and
then darted away from him with the swiftness of the wind； when
his pursuer supposed he had nearly run him down； doubling at the
same time； and winding； so as always to keep near the place from
which he started。
This lasted until Tressilian； from very weariness； stood still；
and was about to abandon the pursuit with a hearty curse on the
ill…favoured urchin； who had engaged him in an exercise so
ridiculous。 But the boy； who had； as formerly； planted himself
on the top of a hillock close in front； began to clap his long；
thin hands； point with his skinny fingers； and twist his wild and
ugly features into such an extravagant expression of laughter and
derision； that Tressilian began half to doubt whether he had not
in view an actual hobgoblin。
Provoked extremely； yet at the same time feeling an irresistible
desire to laugh； so very odd were the boy's grimaces and
gesticulations； the Cornishman returned to his horse； and mounted
him with the purpose of pursuing Dickie at more advantage。
The boy no sooner saw him mount his horse； than he holloed out to
him that； rather than he should spoil his white…footed nag； he
would come to him； on condition he would keep his fingers to
himself。
〃I will make no conditions with thee； thou ugly varlet！〃 said
Tressilian； 〃I will have thee at my mercy in a moment。〃
〃Aha； Master Traveller；〃 said the boy； 〃there is a marsh hard by
would swallow all the horses of the Queen's guard。 I will into
it； and see where you will go then。 You shall hear the bittern
bump； and the wild…drake quack； ere you get hold of me without my
consent； I promise you。〃
Tressilian looked out； and； from the appearance of the ground
behind the hillock； believed it might be as the boy said； and
accordingly determined to strike up a peace with so light…footed
and ready…witted an enemy。 〃Come down；〃 he said； 〃thou
mischievous brat！ Leave thy mopping and mowing； and； come
hither。
I will do thee no harm； as I am a gentleman。〃
The boy answered his invitation with the utmost confidence； and
danced down from his stance with a galliard sort of step； keeping
his eye at the same time fixed on Tressilian's； who； once more
dismounted； stood with his horse's bridle in his hand；
breathless； and half exhausted with his fruitless exercise；
though not one drop of moisture appeared on the freckled forehead
of the urchin； which looked like a piece of dry and discoloured
parchment； drawn tight across the brow of a fleshless skull。
〃And tell me；〃 said Tressilian； 〃why you use me thus； thou
mischievous imp？ or what your meaning is by telling me so absurd
a legend as you wished but now to put on me？ Or rather show me；
in good earnest； this smith's forge； and I will give thee what
will buy thee apples through the whole winter。〃
〃Were you to give me an orchard of apples；〃 said Dickie Sludge；
〃I can guide thee no better than I have done。 Lay down the
silver token on the flat stonewhistle three timesthen come
sit down on the western side of the thicket of gorse。 I will sit
by you； and give you free leave to wring my head off； unless you
hear the smith at work within two minutes after we are seated。〃
〃I may be tempted to take thee at thy word；〃 said Tressilian； 〃if
you make me do aught half so ridiculous for your own mischievous
sport； however； I will prove your spell。 Here； then； I tie my
horse to this upright stone。 I must lay my silver groat here；
and whistle three times； sayest thou？〃
〃Ay； but thou must whistle louder than an unfledged ousel；〃 said
the boy； as Tressilian； having laid down his money； and half
ashamed of the folly he practised； made a careless whistle〃you
must whistle louder than that； for who knows where the smith is
that you call for？ He may be in the King of France's stables for
what I know。〃
〃Why； you said but now he was no devil；〃 replied Tressilian。
〃Man or devil；〃 said Dickie； 〃I see that I must summon him for
you；〃 and therewithal he whistled sharp and shrill； with an
acuteness of sound that almost thrilled through Tressilian's
brain。 〃That is what I call whistling；〃 said he； after he had
repeated the signal thrice； 〃and now to cover； to cover； or
Whitefoot will not be shod this day。〃
Tressilian； musing what the upshot of this mummery was to be； yet
satisfied there was to be some serious result； by the confidence
with which the boy had put himself in his power； suffered himself
to be conducted to that side of the little thicket of gorse and
brushwood which was farthest from the circle of stones； and there
sat down； and as it occurred to him that； after all； this might
be a trick for stealing his horse； he kept his hand on the boy's
collar； determined to make him hostage for its safety。
〃Now； hush and listen；〃 said Dickie； in a low whisper； 〃you will
soon hear the tack of a hammer that was never forged of earthly
iron； for the stone it was made of was shot from the moon。〃 And
in effect Tressilian did immediately hear the light stroke of a
hammer； as when a farrier is at work。 The singularity of such a
sound； in so very lonely a place； made him involuntarily start；
but looking at the boy； and discovering； by the arch malicious
expression of his countenance； that the urchin saw and enjoyed
his slight tremor； he became convinced that the whole was a
concerted stratagem； and determined to know by whom； or for what
purpose； the trick was played off。
Accordingly； he remained perfectly quiet all the time that the
hammer continued to sound； being about the space usually employed
in fixing a horse…shoe。 But the instant the sound ceased；
Tressilian； instead of interposing the space of time which his
guide had required； started up with his sword in his hand； ran
round the thicket； and confronted a man in a farrier's leathern
apron； but otherwise fantastically attired in a bear…skin dressed
with the fur on； and a cap of the same； which almost hid the
sooty and begrimed features of the wearer。 〃Come back； come
back！〃 cried the boy to Tr