Immediately on his smelling the cold air of this world the child sneezed, which was naturally taken to be a good sign of his having a clear head; and the subsequent rapidity of his learning was truly amazing, for on the very first day a primer was put into his hands he tore out the A, B, C page and destroyed it, as a thing quite beneath his notice. No wonder, then, that both father and mother were proud of their heir, who gave such indisputable proofs of genius, or, as they called it in that part of the world, "genus."
One morning, however, Master Phil, who was then just [Pg 261] seven years old, was missing, and no one could tell what had become of him: servants were sent in all directions to seek him, on horseback and on foot, but they returned without any tidings of the boy, whose disappearance5 altogether was most unaccountable. A large reward was offered, but it produced them no intelligence, and years rolled away without Mr. and Mrs. Ronayne having obtained any satisfactory account of the fate of their lost child.
There lived at this time, near Carrigaline, one Robert Kelly, a blacksmith by trade. He was what is termed a handy man, and his abilities were held in much estimation by the lads and the lasses of the neighbourhood; for, independent of shoeing horses, which he did to great perfection, and making plough-irons, he interpreted dreams for the young women, sung "Arthur O'Bradley" at their weddings, and was so good-natured a fellow at a christening, that he was gossip to half the country round.
Now it happened that Robin6 had a dream himself, and young Philip Ronayne appeared to him in it, at the dead hour of the night. Robin thought he saw the boy mounted upon a beautiful white horse, and that he told him how he was made a page to the giant Mahon MacMahon, who had carried him off, and who held his court in the hard heart of the rock. "The seven years—my time of service—are clean out, Robin," said he, "and if you release me this night I will be the making of you for ever after."
"And how will I know," said Robin—cunning enough, even in his sleep—"but this is all a dream?"
"Take that," said the boy, "for a token"—and at the word the white horse struck out with one of his hind7 legs, and gave poor Robin such a kick in the forehead that, thinking he was a dead man, he roared as loud as he could after his brains, and woke up, calling a thousand murders. He found himself in bed, but he had the mark of the blow, the regular print of a horse-shoe, upon his forehead as red as blood; and Robin Kelly, who never before found himself puzzled at the dream of any other person, did not know what to think of his own.
[Pg 262] Robin was well acquainted with the Giant's Stairs—as, indeed, who is not that knows the harbour? They consist of great masses of rock, which, piled one above another, rise like a flight of steps from very deep water, against the bold cliff of Carrigmahon. Nor are they badly suited for stairs to those who have legs of sufficient length to stride over a moderate-sized house, or to enable them to clear the space of a mile in a hop8, step, and jump. Both these feats9 the giant MacMahon was said to have performed in the days of Finnian glory; and the common tradition of the country placed his dwelling10 within the cliff up whose side the stairs led.
Such was the impression which the dream made on Robin, that he determined11 to put its truth to the test. It occurred to him, however, before setting out on this adventure, that a plough-iron may be no bad companion, as, from experience, he knew it was an excellent knock-down argument, having on more occasions than one settled a little disagreement very quietly: so, putting one on his shoulder, off he marched, in the cool of the evening, through Glaun a Thowk (the Hawk's Glen) to Monkstown. Here an old gossip of his (Tom Clancey by name) lived, who, on hearing Robin's dream, promised him the use of his skiff, and, moreover, offered to assist in rowing it to the Giant's Stairs.
After a supper, which was of the best, they embarked12. It was a beautiful still night, and the little boat glided13 swiftly along. The regular dip of the oars14, the distant song of the sailor, and sometimes the voice of a belated traveller at the ferry of Carrigaloe, alone broke the quietness of the land and sea and sky. The tide was in their favour, and in a few minutes Robin and his gossip rested on their oars under the dark shadow of the Giant's Stairs. Robin looked anxiously for the entrance to the Giant's palace, which, it was said, may be found by any one seeking it at midnight; but no such entrance could he see. His impatience15 had hurried him there before that time, and after waiting a considerable space in a state of suspense16 not to be described, [Pg 263] Robin, with pure vexation, could not help exclaiming to his companion, "'Tis a pair of fools we are, Tom Clancey, for coming here at all on the strength of a dream."
"And whose doing is it," said Tom, "but your own?"
At the moment he spoke17 they perceived a faint glimmering18 of light to proceed from the cliff, which gradually increased until a porch big enough for a king's palace unfolded itself almost on a level with the water. They pulled the skiff directly towards the opening, and Robin Kelly, seizing his plough-iron, boldly entered with a strong hand and a stout19 heart. Wild and strange was that entrance, the whole of which appeared formed of grim and grotesque20 faces, blending so strangely each with the other that it was impossible to define any: the chin of one formed the nose of another; what appeared to be a fixed21 and stern eye, if dwelt upon, changed to a gaping22 mouth; and the lines of the lofty forehead grew into a majestic23 and flowing beard. The more Robin allowed himself to contemplate24 the forms around him, the more terrific they became; and the stoney expression of this crowd of faces assumed a savage25 ferocity as his imagination converted feature after feature into a different shape and character. Losing the twilight26 in which these indefinite forms were visible, he advanced through a dark and devious27 passage, whilst a deep and rumbling28 noise sounded as if the rock was about to close upon him, and swallow him up alive for ever. Now, indeed, poor Robin felt afraid.
"Robin, Robin," said he, "if you were a fool for coming here, what in the name of fortune are you now?" But, as before, he had scarcely spoken, when he saw a small light twinkling through the darkness of the distance, like a star in the midnight sky. To retreat was out of the question; for so many turnings and windings29 were in the passage, that he considered he had but little chance of making his way back. He, therefore, proceeded towards the bit of light, and came at last into a spacious30 chamber31, from the roof of which hung the solitary32 lamp that had guided him. Emerging from such profound gloom, the single lamp afforded Robin [Pg 264] abundant light to discover several gigantic figures seated round a massive stone table, as if in serious deliberation, but no word disturbed the breathless silence which prevailed. At the head of this table sat Mahon MacMahon himself, whose majestic beard had taken root, and in the course of ages grown into the stone slab33. He was the first who perceived Robin; and instantly starting up, drew his long beard from out the huge piece of rock in such haste and with so sudden a jerk that it was shattered into a thousand pieces.
"What seek you?" he demanded in a voice of thunder.
"I come," answered Robin, with as much boldness as he could put on, for his heart was almost fainting within him; "I come," said he, "to claim Philip Ronayne, whose time of service is out this night."
"And who sent you here?" said the giant.
"'Twas of my own accord I came," said Robin.
"Then you must single him out from among my pages," said the giant; "and if you fix on the wrong one, your life is the forfeit34. Follow me." He led Robin into a hall of vast extent, and filled with lights; along either side of which were rows of beautiful children, all apparently35 seven years old, and none beyond that age, dressed in green, and every one exactly dressed alike.
"Here," said Mahon, "you are free to take Philip Ronayne, if you will; but, remember, I give but one choice."
Robin was sadly perplexed36; for there were hundreds upon hundreds of children; and he had no very clear recollection of the boy he sought. But he walked along the hall, by the side of Mahon, as if nothing was the matter, although his great iron dress clanked fearfully at every step, sounding louder than Robin's own sledge37 battering38 on his anvil39.
They had nearly reached the end without speaking, when Robin, seeing that the only means he had was to make friends with the giant, determined to try what effect a few soft words might have.
[Pg 265] "'Tis a fine wholesome40 appearance the poor children carry," remarked Robin, "although they have been here so long shut out from the fresh air and the blessed light of heaven. 'Tis tenderly your honour must have reared them!"
"Ay," said the giant, "that is true for you; so give me your hand; for you are, I believe, a very honest fellow for a blacksmith."
Robin at the first look did not much like the huge size of the hand, and, therefore, presented his plough-iron, which the giant seizing, twisted in his grasp round and round again as if it had been a potato stalk. On seeing this all the children set up a shout of laughter. In the midst of their mirth Robin thought he heard his name called; and all ear and eye, he put his hand on the boy who he fancied had spoken, crying out at the same time, "Let me live or die for it, but this is young Phil Ronayne."
"It is Philip Ronayne—happy Philip Ronayne," said his young companions; and in an instant the hall became dark. Crashing noises were heard, and all was in strange confusion; but Robin held fast his prize, and found himself lying in the grey dawn of the morning at the head of the Giant's Stairs with the boy clasped in his arms.
Robin had plenty of gossips to spread the story of his wonderful adventure: Passage, Monkstown, Carrigaline—the whole barony of Kerricurrihy rung with it.
"Are you quite sure, Robin, it is young Phil Ronayne you have brought back with you?" was the regular question; for although the boy had been seven years away, his appearance now was just the same as on the day he was missed. He had neither grown taller nor older in look, and he spoke of things which had happened before he was carried off as one awakened41 from sleep, or as if they had occurred yesterday.
"Am I sure? Well, that's a queer question," was Robin's reply; "seeing the boy has the blue eye of the mother, with the foxy hair of the father; to say nothing of the purty wart42 on the right side of his little nose."
[Pg 266] However Robin Kelly may have been questioned, the worthy couple of Ronayne's Court doubted not that he was the deliverer of their child from the power of the giant MacMahon; and the reward they bestowed43 on him equalled their gratitude44.
Philip Ronayne lived to be an old man; and he was remarkable45 to the day of his death for his skill in working brass46 and iron, which it was believed he had learned during his seven years' apprenticeship47 to the giant Mahon MacMahon.
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1
cork
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| n.软木，软木塞 | |
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mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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robin
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| n.知更鸟，红襟鸟 | |
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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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hop
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| n.单脚跳，跳跃；vi.单脚跳，跳跃；着手做某事；vt.跳跃，跃过 | |
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9
feats
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| 功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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glimmering
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| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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devious
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| adj.不坦率的，狡猾的；迂回的，曲折的 | |
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rumbling
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| n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词 | |
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windings
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| （道路、河流等）蜿蜒的，弯曲的( winding的名词复数 )； 缠绕( wind的现在分词 )； 卷绕； 转动（把手） | |
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spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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slab
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| n.平板，厚的切片；v.切成厚板，以平板盖上 | |
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forfeit
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| vt.丧失；n.罚金，罚款，没收物 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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sledge
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| n.雪橇，大锤；v.用雪橇搬运，坐雪橇往 | |
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38
battering
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| n.用坏，损坏v.连续猛击( batter的现在分词 ) | |
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39
anvil
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| n.铁钻 | |
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wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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41
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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42
wart
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| n.疣，肉赘；瑕疵 | |
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43
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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45
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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46
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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47
apprenticeship
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| n.学徒身份；学徒期 | |
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