the black dwarf-第19部分

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nly　exclaimed；　〃And　what　for　no　do　as　our　fathers　did　lang　syne？Put　hand　to　the　wark；　lads。　　Let　us　cut　up　bushes　and　briers；　pile　them　before　the　door　and　set　fire　to　them；　and　smoke　that　auld　devil's　dam　as　if　she　were　to　be　reested　for　bacon。〃

All　immediately　closed　with　this　proposal；　and　some　went　to　work　with　swords　and　knives　to　cut　down　the　alder　and　hawthorn　bushes　which　grew　by　the　side　of　the　sluggish　stream；　many　of　which　were　sufficiently　decayed　and　dried　for　their　purpose；　while　others　began　to　collect　them　in　a　large　stack；　properly　disposed　for　burning；　as　close　to　the　iron…grate　as　they　could　be　piled。　　Fire　was　speedily　obtained　from　one　of　their　guns；　and　Hobbie　was　already　advancing　to　the　pile　with　a　kindled　brand；　when　the　surly　face　of　the　robber；　and　the　muzzle　of　a　musquetoon；　were　partially　shown　at　a　shot…hole　which　flanked　the　entrance。　　〃Mony　thanks　to　ye；〃　he　said；　scoffingly；　〃for　collecting　sae　muckle　winter　eilding　for　us；　but　if　ye　step　a　foot　nearer　it　wi'　that　lunt；　it's　be　the　dearest　step　ye　ever　made　in　your　days。〃

〃We'll　sune　see　that；〃　said　Hobbie；　advancing　fearlessly　with　the　torch。

The　marauder　snapped　his　piece　at　him；　which；　fortunately　for　our　honest　friend；　did　not　go　off；　while　Earnscliff；　firing　at　the　same　moment　at　the　narrow　aperture　and　slight　mark　afforded　by　the　robber's　face；　grazed　the　side　of　his　head　with　a　bullet。　　He　had　apparently　calculated　upon　his　post　affording　him　more　security；　for　he　no　sooner　felt　the　wound；　though　a　very　slight　one；　than　he　requested　a　parley；　and　demanded　to　know　what　they　meant　by　attacking　in　this　fashion　a　peaceable　and　honest　man；　and　shedding　his　blood　in　that　lawless　manner？

〃We　want　your　prisoner；〃　said　Earnscliff；　〃to　be　delivered　up　to　us　in　safety；〃

〃And　what　concern　have　you　with　her？〃　　replied　the　marauder。

〃That；〃　retorted　Earnscliff；　〃you；　who　are　detaining　her　by　force；　have　no　right　to　enquire。〃

〃Aweel；　I　think　I　can　gie　a　guess；〃　said　the　robber。　　〃Weel；　sirs；　I　am　laith　to　enter　into　deadly　feud　with　you　by　spilling　ony　of　your　bluid；　though　Earnscliff　hasna　stopped　to　shed　mine　and　he　can　hit　a　mark　to　a　groat's　breadthso；　to　prevent　mair　skaith；　I　am　willing　to　deliver　up　the　prisoner；　since　nae　less　will　please　you。〃

〃And　Hobbie's　gear？〃　　cried　Simon　of　Hackburn。　　〃D'ye　think　you're　to　be　free　to　plunder　the　faulds　and　byres　of　a　gentle　Elliot；　as　if　they　were　an　auld　wife's　hens'…cavey？〃

〃As　I　live　by　bread；〃　replied　Willie　of　Westburnflat　〃As　I　live　by　bread；　I　have　not　a　single　cloot　o'　them！　　They're　a'　ower　the　march　lang　syne；　there's　no　a　horn　o'　them　about　the　tower。　　But　I'll　see　what　o'　them　can　be　gotten　back；　and　I'll　take　this　day　twa　days　to　meet　Hobbie　at　the　Castleton　wi'　twa　friends　on　ilka　side；　and　see　to　make　an　agreement　about　a'　the　wrang　he　can　wyte　me　wi'。〃

〃Ay；　ay；〃　said　Elliot；　〃that　will　do　weel　eneugh。〃And　then　aside　to　his　kinsman；　〃Murrain　on　the　gear！　　Lordsake；　man！　　say　nought　about　them。　　Let　us　but　get　puir　Grace　out　o'　that　auld　hellicat's　clutches。〃

〃Will　ye　gie　me　your　word；　Earnscliff；〃　said　the　marauder；　who　still　lingered　at　the　shot…hole；　〃your　faith　and　troth；　with　hand　and　glove；　that　I　am　free　to　come　and　free　to　gae；　with　five　minutes　to　open　the　grate；　and　five　minutes　to　steek　it　and　to　draw　the　bolts？　　less　winna　do；　for　they　want　creishing　sairly。　Will　ye　do　this？〃

〃You　shall　have　full　time；〃　said　Earnscliff；　〃I　plight　my　faith　and　troth；　my　hand　and　my　glove。〃

〃Wait　there　a　moment；　then；〃　said　Westburnflat；　〃or　hear　ye；　I　wad　rather　ye　wad　fa'　back　a　pistol…shot　from　the　door。　　It's　no　that　I　mistrust　your　word；　Earnscliff；　but　it's　best　to　be　sure。〃

O；　friend；　thought　Hobbie　to　himself；　as　he　drew　back；　an　I　had　you　but　on　Turner's…holm；　＇There　is　a　level　meadow；　on　the　very　margin　of　the　two　kingdoms；　called　Turner's…holm；　just　where　the　brook　called　Crissop　joins　the　Liddel。　　It　is　said　to　have　derived　its　name　as　being　a　place　frequently　assigned　for　tourneys；　during　the　ancient　Border　times。＇　and　naebody　by　but　twa　honest　lads　to　see　fair　play；　I　wad　make　ye　wish　ye　had　broken　your　leg　ere　ye　had　touched　beast　or　body　that　belanged　to　me！

〃He　has　a　white　feather　in　his　wing　this　same　Westburnflat；　after　a'；〃　said　Simon　of　Hackburn；　somewhat　scandalized　by　his　ready　surrender。〃He'll　ne'er　fill　his　father's　boots。〃

In　the　meanwhile；　the　inner　door　of　the　tower　was　opened；　and　the　mother　of　the　freebooter　appeared　in　the　space　betwixt　that　and　the　outer　grate。　　Willie　himself　was　next　seen；　leading　forth　a　female；　and　the　old　woman；　carefully　bolting　the　grate　behind　them；　remained　on　the　post　as　a　sort　of　sentinel。

〃Ony　ane　or　twa　o'　ye　come　forward；〃　said　the　outlaw；　〃and　take　her　frae　my　hand　haill　and　sound。〃

Hobbie　advanced　eagerly；　to　meet　his　betrothed　bride。　　Earnscliff　followed　more　slowly；　to　guard　against　treachery。　　Suddenly　Hobbie　slackened　his　pace　in　the　deepest　mortification；　while　that　of　Earnscliff　was　hastened　by　impatient　surprise。　　It　was　not　Grace　Armstrong；　but　Miss　Isabella　Vere；　whose　liberation　had　been　effected　by　their　appearance　before　the　tower。

〃Where　is　Grace？　　where　is　Grace　Armstrong？〃　　exclaimed　Hobbie；　in　the　extremity　of　wrath　and　indignation。

〃Not　in　my　hands；〃　answered　Westburnflat；　〃ye　may　search　the　tower；　if　ye　misdoubt　me。〃

〃You　false　villain；　you　shall　account　for　her；　or　die　on　the　spot；〃　said　Elliot；　presenting　his　gun。

But　his　companions；　who　now　came　up；　instantly　disarmed　him　of　his　weapon；　exclaiming；　all　at　once；　〃Hand　and　glove！　faith　and　troth！　　Haud　a　care；　Hobbie　we　maun　keep　our　faith　wi'　Westburnflat；　were　he　the　greatest　rogue　ever　rode。〃

Thus　protected；　the　outlaw　recovered　his　audacity；　which　had　been　somewhat　daunted　by　the　menacing　gesture　of　Elliot。

〃I　have　kept　my　word；　sirs；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　look　to　have　nae　wrang　amang　ye。　　If　this　is　no　the　prisoner　ye　sought；〃　he　said；　addressing　Earnscliff；　〃ye'll　render　her　back　to　me　again。　　I　am　answerable　for　her　to　those　that　aught　her。〃

〃For　God's　sake；　Mr。　Earnscliff；　protect　me！〃　　said　Miss　Vere；　clinging　to　her　deliverer；　〃do　not　you　abandon　one　whom　the　whole　world　seems　to　have　abandoned。〃

〃Fear　nothing；〃　whispered　Earnscliff；　〃I　will　protect　you　with　my　life。〃　　Then　turning　to　Westburnflat；　〃Villain！〃　　he　said；　〃how　dared　you　to　insult　this　lady？〃

〃For　that　matter；　Earnscliff；〃　answered　the　freebooter；　〃I　can　answer　to　them　that　has　better　right　to　ask　me　than　you　have；　but　if　you　come　with　an　armed　force；　and　take　her　awa'　from　them　that　her　friends　lodged　her　wi'；　how　will　you　answer　THATBut　it's　your　ain　affairNae　single　man　can　keep　a　tower　against　twenty　A'　the　men　o'　the　Mearns　downa　do　mair　than　they　dow。〃

〃He　lies　most　falsely；〃　said　Isabella；　〃he　carried　me　off　by　violence　from　my　father。〃

〃Maybe　he　only　wanted　ye　to　think　sae；　hinny；〃　replied　the　robber；　〃but　it's　nae　business　o'　mine；　let　it　be　as　it　may。So　ye　winna　resign　her　back　to　me？〃

〃Back　to　you；　fellow？　　Surely　no；〃　answered　Earnscliff；　〃I　will　protect　Miss　Vere；　and　escort　her　safely　wherever　she　is　pleased　to　be　conveyed。〃

〃Ay；　ay；　maybe　you　and　her　hae　settled　that　already；〃　said　Willie　of　Westburnflat。

〃And　Grace？〃　　interrupted　Hobbie；　shaking　himself　loose　from　the　friends　who　had　been　preaching　to　him　the　sanctity　of　the　safe…　conduct；　upon　the　faith　of　which　the　freebooter　had　ventured　from　his　tower；〃Where's　Grace〃　and　he　rushed　on　the　marauder；　sword　in　hand。

Westburnflat；　thus　pressed；　after　calling　out；　〃Godsake；　Hobbie；　hear　me　a　gliff！〃　　fairly　turned　his　back　and　fled。　　His　mother　stood　ready　to　open　and　shut　the　grate；　but　Hobbie　struck　at　the　freebooter　as　he　entered　with　so　much　force；　that　the　sword　made　a　considerable　cleft　in　the　lintel　of　the　vaulted　door；　which　is　still　shown　as　a　memorial　of　the　superior　strength　of　those　who　lived　in　the　days　of　yore。　　Ere　Hobbie　could　repeat　the　blow；　the　door　was　shut　and　secured；　and　he　was　compelled　to　retreat　to　his　companions；　who　were　now　preparing　to　break　up　the　siege　of　Westburnflat。　　They　insisted　upon　his　accompanying　them　in　their　return。

〃Ye　hae　broken　truce　already；〃　said　old　Dick　of　the　Dingle；　〃an　we　takena　the　better　care；　ye'll　play　mair　gowk's　tricks；　and　make　yoursell　the　laughing…stock　of　the　haill　country；　besides　having　your　friends　charged　with　slaughter　under　trust。　　Bide　till　the　meeting　at　Castleton；　as　ye　hae　greed；　and　if　he　disna　make　ye　amends；　then　we'll　hae　it　out　o'　his　heart's　blood。　　But　let　us　gang　reasonably　to　wark　and　keep　our　tryst；　and　I'se　warrant　we　get　back　Grace；　and　the　kye　an'　a'。〃

This　cold…blooded　reasoning　went　ill　down　with　the　unfortunate　lover；　but；　as　he　could　only　obtain　the　assistance　of　his　neighbours　and　kinsmen　on　their　own　terms；　he　was　compelled　to　acquiesce　in　their　notions　of　good　faith　and　regular　procedure。

Earnscliff　now　requested　the　assistance　of　a　few　of　the　party　to　convey　Miss　Vere　to　her　father's　castle　of　Ellieslaw；　to　which　she　was　peremptory　in　desiring　to　be　conducted。　This　was　readily　granted；　and　five　or　six　young　men　agreed　to　attend　him　as　an　escort。　　Hobbie　was　not　of　the　number。　　Almost　heart…broken　by　the　events　of　the　day；　and　his　final　disappointm