the black dwarf(黑侏儒)-第22部分
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contents； and then again addressing the Hermit； 〃Muckle obliged for your
goodwill； and I wad blithely gie you a bond for some o' the siller； or a
wadset ower the lands o' Wideopen。 But I dinna ken； Elshie； to be free
wi' you； I dinna like to use siller unless I kend it was decently come by；
and maybe it might turn into sclate…stanes； and cheat some poor man。〃
〃Ignorant idiot！〃 retorted the Dwarf； 〃the trash is as genuine poison
as ever was dug out of the bowels of the earth。 Take it use it； and may
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it thrive with you as it hath done with me！〃
〃But I tell you；〃 said Elliot； 〃it wasna about the gear that I was
consulting you；it was a braw barn…yard； doubtless； and thirty head of
finer cattle there werena on this side of the Catrail； but let the gear gang；
if ye could but gie me speerings o' puir Grace； I would be content to be
your slave for life； in onything that didna touch my salvation。 O； Elshie；
speak； man； speak！〃
〃Well； then；〃 answered the Dwarf； as if worn out by his importunity；
〃since thou hast not enough of woes of thine own； but must needs seek to
burden thyself with those of a partner； seek her whom thou hast lost in the
WEST。〃
〃In the WEST？ That's a wide word。〃
〃It is the last；〃 said the Dwarf； which I design to utter；〃 and he drew
the shutters of his window； leaving Hobbie to make the most of the hint he
had given。
The west！ the west！thought Elliot； the country is pretty quiet down
that way； unless it were Jock o' the Todholes； and he's ower auld now for
the like o' thae jobs。West！By My life； it must be Westburnflat。 〃Elshie；
just tell me one word。 Am I right？ Is it Westburnflat？ If I am wrang；
say sae。 I wadna like to wyte an innocent neighbour wi' violenceNo
answer？It must be the Red ReiverI didna think he wad hae ventured on
me； neither； and sae mony kin as there's o' usI am thinking he'll hae some
better backing than his Cumberland friends。Fareweel to you； Elshie； and
mony thanksI downa be fashed wi' the siller e'en now； for I maun awa' to
meet my friends at the Trysting…place Sae； if ye carena to open the
window； ye can fetch it in after I'm awa'。〃
Still there was no reply。
〃He's deaf； or he's daft； or he's baith； but I hae nae time to stay to
claver wi' him。〃
And off rode Hobbie Elliot towards the place of rendezvous which he
had named to his friends。
Four or five riders were already gathered at the Trysting pool。 They
stood in close consultation together； while their horses were permitted to
graze among the poplars which overhung the broad still pool。 A more
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numerous party were seen coming from the southward。 It proved to be
Earnscliff and his party； who had followed the track of the cattle as far as
the English border； but had halted on the information that a considerable
force was drawn together under some of the Jacobite gentlemen in that
district； and there were tidings of insurrection in different parts of Scotland。
This took away from the act which had been perpetrated the appearance of
private animosity； or love of plunder； and Earnscliff was now disposed to
regard it as a symptom of civil war。 The young gentleman greeted
Hobbie with the most sincere sympathy； and informed him of the news he
had received。
〃Then； may I never stir frae the bit；〃 said Elliot； 〃if auld Ellieslaw is
not at the bottom o' the haill villainy！ Ye see he's leagued wi' the
Cumberland Catholics； and that agrees weel wi' what Elshie hinted about
Westburnflat； for Ellieslaw aye protected him； and he will want to harry
and disarm the country about his ain hand before he breaks out。〃
Some now remembered that the party of ruffians had been heard to say
they were acting for James VIII。； and were charged to disarm all rebels。
Others had heard Westburnflat boast； in drinking parties； that Ellieslaw
would soon be in arms for the Jacobite cause； and that he himself was to
hold a command under him； and that they would be bad neighbours for
young Earnscliff； and all that stood out for the established government。
The result was a strong belief that Westburnflat had headed the party
under Ellieslaw's orders； and they resolved to proceed instantly to the
house of the former； and； if possible； to secure his person。 They were by
this time joined by so many of their dispersed friends； that their number
amounted to upwards of twenty horsemen； well mounted； and tolerably；
though variously； armed。
A brook； which issued from a narrow glen among the hills； entered； at
Westburnflat； upon the open marshy level； which； expanding about half a
mile in every direction； gives name to the spot。 In this place the
character of the stream becomes changed； and； from being a lively brisk…
running mountain…torrent； it stagnates； like a blue swollen snake； in dull
deep windings； through the swampy level。 On the side of the stream； and
nearly about the centre of the plain； arose the tower of Westburnflat； one
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of the few remaining strongholds formerly so numerous upon the Borders。
The ground upon which it stood was gently elevated above the marsh for
the space of about a hundred yards； affording an esplanade of dry turf；
which extended itself in the immediate neighbourhood of the tower； but；
beyond which； the surface presented to strangers was that of an impassable
and dangerous bog。 The owner of the tower and his inmates alone knew
the winding and intricate paths； which； leading over ground that was
comparatively sound； admitted visitors to his residence。 But among the
party which were assembled under Earnscliff's directions； there was more
than one person qualified to act as a guide。 For although the owner's
character and habits of life were generally known； yet the laxity of feeling
with respect to property prevented his being looked on with the
abhorrence with which he must have been regarded in a more civilized
country。 He was considered； among his more peaceable neighbours；
pretty much as a gambler； cock…fighter； or horse…jockey would be regarded
at the present day； a person； of course； whose habits were to be
condemned； and his society； in general； avoided； yet who could not be
considered as marked with the indelible infamy attached to his profession；
where laws have been habitually observed。 And their indignation was
awakened against him upon this occasion； not so much on account of the
general nature of the transaction； which was just such as was to be
expected from this marauder； as that the violence had been perpetrated
upon a neighbour against whom he had no cause of quarrel；against a
friend of their own； above all； against one of the name of Elliot； to which
clan most of them belonged。 It was not； therefore； wonderful； that there
should be several in the band pretty well acquainted with the locality of
his habitation； and capable of giving such directions and guidance as soon
placed the whole party on the open space of firm ground in front of the
Tower of Westburnflat。
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CHAPTER IX。
So spak the knicht； the geaunt sed； Lend forth with the； the sely
maid； And mak me quile of the and sche； For glaunsing ee； or brow so
brent； Or cheek with rose and lilye blent； Me lists not ficht with the。
ROMANCE OF THE FALCON。
The tower； before which the party now stood； was a small square
building； of the most gloomy aspect。 The walls were of great thickness；
and the windows； or sli
