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tremendous as the mine which blows up the rampart of a
beleaguered city。 The horses started； and the riders were
equally surprised。 They turned to gaze in the direction from
which the thunder…clap was heard； and beheld； just over the spot
they had left so recently； a huge pillar of dark smoke rising
high into the clear； blue atmosphere。 〃My habitation is gone to
wreck；〃 said Wayland； immediately conjecturing the cause of the
explosion。 〃I was a fool to mention the doctor's kind intentions
towards my mansion before that limb of mischief； Flibbertigibbet；
I might have guessed he would long to put so rare a frolic into
execution。 But let us hasten on； for the sound will collect the
country to the spot。〃
So saying； he spurred his horse； and Tressilian also quickening
his speed； they rode briskly forward。
〃This； then； was the meaning of the little imp's token which he
promised us？〃 said Tressilian。 〃Had we lingered near the spot；
we had found it a love…token with a vengeance。〃
〃He would have given us warning；〃 said the smith。 〃I saw him
look back more than once to see if we were off'tis a very
devil for mischief； yet not an ill…natured devil either。 It were
long to tell your honour how I became first acquainted with him；
and how many tricks he played me。 Many a good turn he did me
too； especially in bringing me customers； for his great delight
was to see them sit shivering behind the bushes when they heard
the click of my hammer。 I think Dame Nature； when she lodged a
double quantity of brains in that misshapen head of his； gave him
the power of enjoying other people's distresses； as she gave them
the pleasure of laughing at his ugliness。〃
〃It may be so；〃 said Tressilian； 〃those who find themselves
severed from society by peculiarities of form； if they do not
hate the common bulk of mankind； are at least not altogether
indisposed to enjoy their mishaps and calamities。〃
〃But Flibbertigibbet；〃 answered Wayland； 〃hath that about him
which may redeem his turn for mischievous frolic； for he is as
faithful when attached as he is tricky and malignant to
strangers； and； as I said before； I have cause to say so。〃
Tressilian pursued the conversation no further； and they
continued their journey towards Devonshire without further
adventure； until they alighted at an inn in the town of
Marlborough； since celebrated for having given title to the
greatest general （excepting one） whom Britain ever produced。
Here the travellers received； in the same breath； an example of
the truth of two old proverbsnamely； that ILL NEWS FLY FAST；
and that LISTENERS SELDOM HEAR A GOOD TALE OF THEMSELVES。
The inn…yard was in a sort of combustion when they alighted；
insomuch； that they could scarce get man or boy to take care of
their horses； so full were the whole household of some news which
flew from tongue to tongue； the import of which they were for
some time unable to discover。 At length； indeed； they found it
respected matters which touched them nearly。
〃What is the matter； say you； master？〃 answered； at length； the
head hostler； in reply to Tressilian's repeated questions。〃Why；
truly； I scarce know myself。 But here was a rider but now； who
says that the devil hath flown away with him they called Wayland
Smith； that won'd about three miles from the Whitehorse of
Berkshire； this very blessed morning； in a flash of fire and a
pillar of smoke； and rooted up the place he dwelt in； near that
old cockpit of upright stones； as cleanly as if it had all been
delved up for a cropping。〃
〃Why； then；〃 said an old farmer； 〃the more is the pity； for that
Wayland Smith （whether he was the devil's crony or no I skill
not） had a good notion of horses' diseases； and it's to be
thought the bots will spread in the country far and near； an
Satan has not gien un time to leave his secret behind un。〃
〃You may say that； Gaffer Grimesby；〃 said the hostler in return；
〃I have carried a horse to Wayland Smith myself； for he passed
all farriers in this country。〃
〃Did you see him？〃 said Dame Alison Crane； mistress of the inn
bearing that sign； and deigning to term HUSBAND the owner
thereof； a mean…looking hop…o'…my…thumb sort or person； whose
halting gait； and long neck； and meddling； henpecked
insignificance are supposed to have given origin to the
celebrated old English tune of 〃My name hath a lame tame Crane。〃
On this occasion he chirped out a repetition of his wife's
question； 〃Didst see the devil； Jack Hostler； I say？〃
〃And what if I did see un； Master Crane？〃 replied Jack Hostler；
for； like all the rest of the household； he paid as little
respect to his master as his mistress herself did。
〃Nay； nought； Jack Hostler；〃 replied the pacific Master Crane；
〃only if you saw the devil； methinks I would like to know what
un's like？〃
〃You will know that one day； Master Crane；〃 said his helpmate；
〃an ye mend not your manners； and mind your business； leaving off
such idle palabras。But truly； Jack Hostler； I should be glad to
know myself what like the fellow was。〃
〃Why； dame；〃 said the hostler； more respectfully； 〃as for what he
was like I cannot tell； nor no man else； for why I never saw un。〃
〃And how didst thou get thine errand done；〃 said Gaffer Grimesby；
〃if thou seedst him not？〃
〃Why； I had schoolmaster to write down ailment o' nag；〃 said Jack
Hostler； 〃and I went wi' the ugliest slip of a boy for my guide
as ever man cut out o' lime…tree root to please a child withal。〃
〃And what was it？and did it cure your nag； Jack Hostler？〃 was
uttered and echoed by all who stood around。
〃Why； how can I tell you what it was？〃 said the hostler； 〃simply
it smelled and tastedfor I did make bold to put a pea's
substance into my mouthlike hartshorn and savin mixed with
vinegar； but then no hartshorn and savin ever wrought so speedy a
cure。 And I am dreading that if Wayland Smith be gone； the bots
will have more power over horse and cattle。〃
The pride of art； which is certainly not inferior in its
influence to any other pride whatever； here so far operated on
Wayland Smith； that； notwithstanding the obvious danger of his
being recognized； he could not help winking to Tressilian； and
smiling mysteriously； as if triumphing in the undoubted evidence
of his veterinary skill。 In the meanwhile； the discourse
continued。
〃E'en let it be so；〃 said a grave man in black； the companion of
Gaffer Grimesby； 〃e'en let us perish under the evil God sends us；
rather than the devil be our doctor。〃
〃Very true；〃 said Dame Crane； 〃and I marvel at Jack Hostler that
he would peril his own soul to cure the bowels of a nag。〃
〃Very true； mistress；〃 said Jack Hostler； 〃but the nag was my
master's； and had it been yours； I think ye would ha' held me
cheap enow an I had feared the devil when the poor beast was in
such a taking。 For the rest； let the clergy look to it。 Every
man to his craft； says the proverbthe parson to the prayer…
book； and the groom to his curry…comb。
〃I vow；〃 said Dame Crane； 〃I think Jack Hostler speaks like a
good Christian and a faithful servant； who will spare neither
body nor soul in his master's service。 However； the devil has
li