rip van winkle-第2章

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that　sometimes　took　place；　when　by　chance　an　old　newspaper　fell　into

their　hands　from　some　passing　traveller。　How　solemnly　they　would

listen　to　the　contents；　as　drawled　out　by　Derrick　Van　Bummel；　the

schoolmaster；　a　dapper　learned　little　man；　who　was　not　to　be　daunted

by　the　most　gigantic　word　in　the　dictionary；　and　how　sagely　they　would

deliberate　upon　public　events　some　months　after　they　had　taken　place。

　　The　opinions　of　this　junto　were　completely　controlled　by　Nicholas

Vedder；　a　patriarch　of　the　village；　and　landlord　of　the　inn；　at　the

door　of　which　he　took　his　seat　from　morning　till　night　just　moving

sufficiently　to　avoid　the　sun　and　keep　in　the　shade　of　a　large　tree；

so　that　the　neighbors　could　tell　the　hour　by　his　movements　as

accurately　as　by　a　sun…dial。　It　is　true　he　was　rarely　heard　to

speak；　but　smoked　his　pipe　incessantly。　His　adherents；　however　（for

every　great　man　has　his　adherents）；　perfectly　understood　him；　and　knew

how　to　gather　his　opinions。　When　any　thing　that　was　read　or　related

displeased　him；　he　was　observed　to　smoke　his　pipe　vehemently；　and　to

send　forth　short；　frequent　and　angry　puffs；　but　when　pleased；　he　would

inhale　the　smoke　slowly　and　tranquilly；　and　emit　it　in　light　and

placid　clouds；　and　sometimes；　taking　the　pipe　from　his　mouth；　and

letting　the　fragrant　vapor　curl　about　his　nose；　would　gravely　nod

his　head　in　token　of　perfect　approbation。

　　From　even　this　stronghold　the　unlucky　Rip　was　at　length　routed　by

his　termagant　wife；　who　would　suddenly　break　in　upon　the

tranquillity　of　the　assemblage　and　call　the　members　all　to　naught；　nor

was　that　august　personage；　Nicholas　Vedder　himself；　sacred　from　the

daring　tongue　of　this　terrible　virago；　who　charged　him　outright　with

encouraging　her　husband　in　habits　of　idleness。

　　Poor　Rip　was　at　last　reduced　almost　to　despair；　and　his　only

alternative；　to　escape　from　the　labor　of　the　farm　and　clamor　of　his

wife；　was　to　take　gun　in　hand　and　stroll　away　into　the　woods。　Here

he　would　sometimes　seat　himself　at　the　foot　of　a　tree；　and　share　the

contents　of　his　wallet　with　Wolf；　with　whom　he　sympathized　as　a

fellow…sufferer　in　persecution。　〃Poor　Wolf；〃　he　would　say；　〃thy

mistress　leads　thee　a　dog's　life　of　it；　but　never　mind；　my　lad；　whilst

I　live　thou　shalt　never　want　a　friend　to　stand　by　thee！〃　Wolf　would

wag　his　tail；　look　wistfully　in　his　master's　face；　and　if　dogs　can

feel　pity　I　verily　believe　he　reciprocated　the　sentiment　with　all

his　heart。

　　In　a　long　ramble　of　the　kind　on　a　fine　autumnal　day；　Rip　had

unconsciously　scrambled　to　one　of　the　highest　parts　of　the　Kaatskill

mountains。　He　was　after　his　favorite　sport　of　squirrel　shooting；　and

the　still　solitudes　had　echoed　and　re…echoed　with　the　reports　of　his

gun。　Panting　and　fatigued；　he　threw　himself；　late　in　the　afternoon；　on

a　green　knoll；　covered　with　mountain　herbage；　that　crowned　the　brow　of

a　precipice。　From　an　opening　between　the　trees　he　could　overlook　all

the　lower　country　for　many　a　mile　of　rich　woodland。　He　saw　at　a

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　be　seen。

　　He　determined　to　revisit　the　scene　of　the　last　evening's　gambol；　and

if　he　met　with　any　of　the　party；　to　demand　his　dog　and　gun。　As　he　rose

to　walk；　he　found　himself　stiff　in　the　joints；　and　wanting　in　his

usual　activity。　〃These　mountain　beds　do　not　agree　with　me；〃　thought

Rip；　〃and　if　this　frolic　should　lay　me　up　with　a　fit　of　the

rheumatism；　I　shall　have　a　blessed　time　with　Dame　Van　Winkle。〃　With

some　difficulty　he　got　down　into　the　glen：　he　found　the　gully　up　which

he　and　his　companion　had　ascended　the　preceding　evening；　but　to　his

astonishment　a　mountain　stream　was　now　foaming　down　it；　leaping　from

rock　to　rock；　and　filling　the　glen　with　babbling　murmurs。　He；　however；

made　shift　to　scramble　up　its　sides；　working　his　toilsome　way

through　thickets　of　birch；　sassafras；　and　witch…hazel；　and　sometimes

tripped　up　or　entangled　by　the　wild　grapevines　that　twisted　their

coils　or　tendrils　from　tree　to　tree；　and　spread　a　kind　of　network　in

his　path。

　　At　le