how to tell children stories(如何给孩子讲故事)-第30章
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he rushed； over the head of the queen； killing her dead； where you
wouldn't know day by night or night by day； over high hills； low hills；
sheep walks and bullock traces； the Cove o' Cork； and old Tom Fox with
his bugle horn。
When at last he stopped he said； 〃Now； Billy； my boy； you and I must
undergo great scenery； there's a mighty great bull of the forest I must fight；
here； and he'll be hard to fight； but I'll be able for him。 But first we must
have dinner。 Put your hand in my left ear and pull out the napkin you'll
find there； and when you've spread it； it will be covered with eating and
drinking fit for a king。〃
So Billy put his hand in the bull's left ear； and drew out the napkin； and
spread it； and； sure enough； it was spread with all kinds of eating and
drinking； fit for a king。 And Billy Beg ate well。
But just as he finished he heard a great roar； and out of the forest came
a mighty bull； snorting and running。
And the two bulls at it and fought。 They knocked the hard ground into
soft； the soft into hard； the rocks into spring wells； and the spring wells
into rocks。 It was a terrible fight。 But in the end； Billy Beg's bull was too
much for the other bull； and he killed him； and drank his blood。
Then Billy jumped on the bull's back； and the bull off and away； where
you wouldn't know day from night or night from day； over high hills； low
hills； sheep walks and bullock traces； the Cove o' Cork； and old Tom Fox
with his bugle horn。 And when he stopped he told Billy to put his hand in
his left ear and pull out the napkin； because he'd to fight another great bull
of the forest。 So Billy pulled out the napkin and spread it； and it was
covered with all kinds of eating and drinking； fit for a king。
And； sure enough； just as Billy finished eating； there was a frightful
roar； and a mighty great bull； greater than the first； rushed out of the forest。
And the two bulls at it and fought。 It was a terrible fight！ They knocked
the hard ground into soft； the soft into hard； the rocks into spring wells；
and the spring wells into rocks。 But in the end； Billy Beg's bull killed the
other bull； and drank his blood。
Then he off and away； with Billy。
But when he came down； he told Billy Beg that he was to fight another
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bull； the brother of the other two； and that this time the other bull would be
too much for him； and would kill him and drink his blood。
〃When I am dead； Billy； my boy；〃 he said； 〃put your hand in my left
ear and draw out the napkin； and you'll never want for eating or drinking；
and put your hand in my right ear； and you'll find a stick there； that will
turn into a sword if you wave it three times round your head； and give you
the strength of a thousand men beside your own。 Keep that； then cut a strip
of my hide； for a belt； for when you buckle it on； there's nothing can kill
you。〃
Billy Beg was very sad to hear that his friend must die。 And very soon
he heard a more dreadful roar than ever he heard； and a tremendous bull
rushed out of the forest。 Then came the worst fight of all。 In the end； the
other bull was too much for Billy Beg's bull； and he killed him and drank
his blood。
Billy Beg sat down and cried for three days and three nights。 After that
he was hungry； so he put his hand in the bull's left ear； and drew out the
napkin； and ate all kinds of eating and drinking。 Then he put his hand in
the right ear and pulled out the stick which was to turn into a sword if
waved round his head three times； and to give him the strength of a
thousand men beside his own。 And he cut a strip of the hide for a belt； and
started off on his adventures。
Presently he came to a fine place； an old gentleman lived there。 So
Billy went up and knocked； and the old gentleman came to the door。
〃Are you wanting a boy？〃 says Billy。
〃I am wanting a herd…boy；〃 says the gentleman； 〃to take my six cows；
six horses； six donkeys； and six goats to pasture every morning； and bring
them back at night。 Maybe you'd do。〃
〃What are the wages？〃 says Billy。
〃Oh； well；〃 says the gentleman； 〃it's no use to talk of that now； there's
three giants live in the wood by the pasture； and every day they drink up
all the milk and kill the boy that looks after the cattle； so we'll wait to talk
about wages till we see if you come back alive。〃
〃All right；〃 says Billy； and he entered service with the old gentleman。
The first day； he drove the six cows； six horses； six donkeys； and six
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goats to pasture； and sat down by them。 About noon he heard a kind of
roaring from the wood； and out rushed a giant with two heads； spitting fire
out of his two mouths。
〃Oh！ my fine fellow；〃 says he to Billy； 〃you are too big for one
swallow and not big enough for two； how would you like to die； then？ By
a cut with the sword； a blow with the fist or a swing by the back？〃
〃That is as may be；〃 says Billy； 〃but I'll fight you。〃 And he buckled on
his hide belt and swung his stick three times round his head； to give him
the strength of a thousand men besides his own； and went for the giant。
And at the first grapple Billy Beg lifted the giant up and sunk him in the
ground； to his armpits。
〃Oh； mercy！ mercy！ Spare my life！〃 cried the giant。
〃I think not；〃 said Billy； and he cut off his heads。
That night； when the cows and the goats were driven home； they gave
so much milk that all the dishes in the house were filled and the milk ran
over and made a little brook in the yard。
〃This is very queer；〃 said the old gentleman； 〃they never gave any
milk before。 Did you see nothing in the pasture？〃
〃Nothing worse than myself；〃 said Billy。 And next morning he drove
the six cows； six horses； six donkeys； and six goats to pasture again。
Just before noon he heard a terrific roar； and out of the wood came a
giant with six heads。
〃You killed my brother；〃 he roared； fire coming out of his six mouths；
〃and I'll very soon have your blood！ Will you die by a cut of the sword； or
a swing by the back？〃
〃I'll fight you；〃 said Billy。 And buckling on his belt and swinging his
stick three times round his head； he ran in and grappled the giant。 At the
first hold； he sunk the giant up to the shoulders in the ground。
〃Mercy； mercy； kind gentleman！〃 cried the giant。 〃Spare my life！〃
〃I think not；〃 said Billy； and cut off his heads。
That night the cattle gave so much milk that it ran out of the house and
made a stream； and turned a mill wheel which had not been turned for
seven years！
〃It's certainly very queer；〃 said the old gentleman； 〃did you see
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nothing in the pasture； Billy？〃
〃Nothing worse than myself；〃 said Billy。
And the next morning the gentleman said； 〃Billy； do you know； I only
heard one of the giants roaring in the night； and the night before only two。
What can ail them； at all？〃
〃Oh； maybe they are sick or something；〃 says Billy； and with that he
drove the six cows； six horses； six donkeys； and six goats to pasture。
At about ten o'clock there was a roar like a dozen bulls； and the brother
of the two giants came out of the wood； with twelve heads on him； and fire
spouting from every one of them。
〃I'll have you； my fine boy；〃 cries he； 〃how will you die； then？〃
〃We'll see；〃 says Billy； 〃come on！〃
And swinging his stick round his head； he made for the giant； and
drove him up to his twelve necks in the ground。 All twelve of the heads
began begging for mercy； but Billy soon out them short。 Then he drove the
beasts home。
And that night the milk overflowed the mill… stream and made a lake；
nine miles long； nine miles broad； and nine miles deep； and there are
salmon and whitefish there to this day。
〃You are a fine boy；〃 said the gentleman； 〃and I'll give you wages。〃
So Billy was herd。
The next day； his master told him to look after the house while he went
up to the king's town； to see a great sight。 〃What will it be？〃 said Billy。
〃The king's daughter is to be eaten by a fiery dragon；〃 said his master；
〃unless the champion fighter they've been feed… ing for six weeks on
purpose kills the dragon。〃 〃Oh；〃 said Billy。
After he was left alone； there were people passing on horses and afoot；
in coaches and chaises； in carriages and in wheelbarrows； all going to see
the great sight。 And all asked Billy why he was not on his way。 But Billy
said he didn't care about going。
When the last passer…by was out of sight； Billy ran and dressed himself
in his master's best suit of clothes； took the brown mare from the stable；
and was off to the king's town。
When he came there； he saw a big round place with great high seats
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built up around it； and all the people sitting there。 Down in the midst was
the champion； walking up and down proudly； with two men behind him to
carry his heavy sword。 And up in the centre of the seats was the princess；
with her maidens； she was looking very pretty； but nervous。
The fight was about to begin when Billy got there； and the herald was
crying out how the champion would fight the dragon for the princess's
sake； when suddenly there was heard a fearsome great roaring； and the
people shouted； 〃Here he is now； the dragon！〃
The dragon had more heads than the biggest of the giants； and fire and
smoke came from every one of them。 And when the champion saw the
creature； he never waited even to take his sword；he turned and ran； and
he never stopped till he came to a deep well； where he jumped in and hid
himself； up to the neck。
When the princess saw that her champion was gone； she began
wringing her hands； and
