"Yes," cried Sperver, "I have got strange things to tell you."
He threw himself in a chair, seizing his head between his clenched7 hands, while dismal8 Sébalt calmly drew his horn over his head and laid it on the table.
"Now, Sébalt," cried Gideon, "speak out."
"The witch is hanging about the castle."
This piece of intelligence would have failed to interest me before seeing Marie Lagoutte, but now it struck more forcibly. There certainly was some mysterious connection between the lord of Nideck and that old woman. I knew nothing of the nature of this connection, and I felt that, at whatever cost, I must know it.
"Just wait a moment, friends," said I to Sperver and his comrade. "I want to know, first of all, where does this Black Pest come from?"
Sperver stared at me with astonishment9.
"Come from? Who can tell that?"
"Very well, you can't. But when does she come within sight of Nideck?"
"As I told you, ten days before Christmas, at the same time every year."
"And how long does she stay?"
"A fortnight or three weeks."
"Is she ever seen before? Not even on her way? Nor after?"
"No."
"Then we shall have to catch her, seize upon her," I cried. "This is contrary to nature. We must find out where she comes from, what she wants here, what she is."
"Lay hold of her!" exclaimed Sperver; "seize her! Do you mean it?" and he shook his head. "Fritz, your advice is good enough in its way, but it is easier said than done. I could very easily send a bullet after her, almost at any time; but the count won't consent to that measure; and as for catching10 in any other way than by powder and shot, why, you had better go first and catch a squirrel by the tail! Listen to Sébalt's story, and you shall judge for yourself."
The master of the hounds, sitting on the table with his long legs crossed, fixed11 his eyes mournfully upon me, and began his tale.
"This morning, as I was coming down from the Altenberg, I followed the hollow road to Nideck. The snow filled it up entirely12. I was going on my way, thinking of nothing particular, when I noticed a foot-track; it was deep down, and went across the road. The person had come down the bank and gone up on the other side. It was not a soft hare's foot, which hardly leaves an impression, it was not forked like a wild boar's track, it was not like a cloven hoof13, such as the wolf's—it was a deep hole. I stopped and stooped down, and cleared away the loose snow that fell round, and came upon the very track of the Black Pest!"
"Are you sure it was that?"
"Of course I am. I know the old woman by her foot better than by her figure, for I always go, sir, with my eyes on the ground. I know everybody by their tracks; and as for this one, a child might know it."
"What, then, distinguishes this foot so particularly?"
"It is so small that you could cover it with your hand; it is finely shaped, the heel is rather long, the outline clean, the great toe lies close to the other toes, and they are all as fine as if they were in a lady's slipper14. It is a lovely foot. Twenty years ago I should have fallen in love with a foot like that. Whenever I come across it, it has such an effect upon me! No one would believe that such a foot could belong to the Black Plague."
And the poor fellow, joining his hands together, contemplated15 the stone floor with doleful eyes.
"Well, Sébalt, what next?" asked Sperver impatiently.
"Ah, yes, to be sure! Well, I recognised that track and started off in pursuit. I was hoping to catch the creature in her lair16, but I will tell you the way she took me. I climbed up the bank by the roadside, only two gunshots from Nideck. I go along the hill, keeping the track on my right; it led along the side of the wood in the Rhéthal. All at once it jumps over the ditch into the wood. I stuck to it, but, happening to look a little to my left, I saw another track which had, been following the Black Plague. I stopped short: was it Sperver's? or Kasper Trumpfs? or whose? I came to it, and you may fancy how astounded17 I was when I saw that it was nobody from our place! I know every foot in the Schwartzwald from Fribourg to Nideck. That foot was like none of ours. It must have come from a distance. The boot—for it was a kind of well-made, soft gentleman's boot, with spurs, which leave a little print behind them—the boot was not round at the toes, but square. The sole was thin, and bent18 with every step, and it had no nails in it. The walk was rapid, and the short steps were like those of a young man of twenty to five-and-twenty. I noticed the stitches in the side leather at once, and I think I never saw finer."
"Who can this be?" Sperver exclaimed.
Sébalt raised his shoulders and extended his hands, but said nothing.
"Who can have any object in following the old woman?" I asked Sperver.
"No one on earth can tell," was the reply.
And so we sat a few minutes meditating19 over what we had heard.
At last he went on again with his narrative:—
"I kept following the track; it went up the next ridge20 through the pine-forest. When it doubled round the Koche Fendue I said to myself, 'Ah, you accursed plague! If there was much game of your sort there would not be much sport; it would be preferable to work like a nigger!' So we all three arrive—the two tracks and I—at the top of the Schnéeberg. There the wind had been blowing hard; the snow was knee-deep—but no matter! I must get on! I got to the edge of the torrent21 of the Steinbach, and there I lost the track. I halted, and I saw that, after trying up and down in several directions, the gentleman's boots had gone down the Tiefenbach. That was a bad sign. I looked along the other side of the torrent, but there was no appearance of a track there—none at all! The old hag had paddled up and down the stream to throw any one off the scent23 who should try to follow her. Where was I to go to?—right, or left, or straight on? Not knowing, I came back to Nideck."
"You haven't told us about her breakfast," said Sperver.
"No, I was forgetting. At the foot of Roche Fendue I saw there had been a fire; there was a black place; I laid my hand upon it, thinking it might be warm, which would have proved that the Black Plague had not gone far; but it was as cold as ice. Close by I saw a wire trap in the bushes. It seems the creature knows how to snare24 game. A hare had been caught in it; the print of its body was still plain, lying flat in the snow. The witch had lighted the fire to cook it; she had had a good breakfast, I'll be bound."
At this Sperver cried indignantly—
"Just fancy that old witch living on meat while so many honest folks in our villages have nothing better than potatoes to eat! That's what upsets me, Fritz! Ah! if I had but—"
But his thoughts remained untold25; he turned deadly pale, and all three of us, in a moment, stood rigid26 and motionless, staring with horror at each other's ghastly countenances27.
A yell—the howling cry of the wolf in the long, cold days of winter—the cry which none can imagine who has not heard the most fearful and harrowing of all bestial28 sounds—that fearful cry was echoing through the castle not far from us! It rose up the spiral staircase, it filled the massive building as if the hungry, savage29 beast was at our door!
Travellers speak of the deep roar of the lion troubling the silence of the night amidst the rocky deserts of Africa; but while the tropical regions, sultry and baked, resound30 with the vibrations31 of the mighty32 voice of the savage monarch33 of the desert, making the air tremble with the distant thunder of his awful cry, the vast snowy deserts of the North too have their characteristic cry—a strange, lamentable34 yell that seems to suit the character of the dreary35 winter scene. That voice of the Northern desert is the howl of the wolf!
The instant after this awful sound had broken upon the silence followed another formidable body of discordant36 sounds—the baying and yelling of sixty hounds—answering from the ramparts of Nideck. The whole pack gave voice at the same moment—the deep bay of the bloodhound, the sharp cry of the pointer, the plaintive37 yelpings of the spaniels, and the melancholy38 howl of the mastiffs, all mingling39 in confusion with the rattling40 of dog-chains, the shaking of the kennels41 under the struggles of the hounds to get loose; and, dominating over all, the long, dismal, prolonged note of the wolf's monotonous42 howl; his was the leading part in this horrible canine43 concert!
Sperver sprang from his seat and ran out upon the platform to see if a wolf had dropped into the moat. But no—the howling came from neither. Then turning to us he cried—
"Fritz! Sébalt!—come, come quickly!"
We flew down the steps four at a time and rushed into the fencing-school. Here we heard the cry of the wolf alone, prolonged beneath the echoing arches the distant barking and yelling of the pack became almost inaudible in the distance; the dogs were hoarse44 with rage and excitement, their chains were getting entangled45 together. Perhaps they were strangling each other.
Sperver drew the keen blade of his hunting-knife. Sébalt did the same; they preceded me down the gallery.
Then the fearful sounds became our guide to the sick man's room. Sperver spoke46 no more; he hurried forward. Sébalt stretched his long legs. I felt a shuddering47 horror creep through my whole frame—a horrible presentiment48 of something shocking and abominable49 came over us.
As we approached the apartments of the count we met the whole household afoot—the gamekeepers, the huntsmen, the kennel-keepers, the scullions were all mingled50 and jostling each other, asking—
"What is the matter? Where are those cries coming from?"
Without stopping we ran into the passage which led into the count's bedroom, where we met poor Marie Lagoutte, who alone had had the courage to penetrate51 thither52 before us. She was holding in her arms the young countess, who had fainted, her head falling back, her hair flowing down behind her; she was carrying her away as fast as she could.
We passed her so rapidly that we scarcely had time to witness this sad sight. But it has since returned to my memory, and the pale face of Odile lying on the ample shoulders of the good servant still makes a vivid impression upon my memory, resembling the poor lamb presenting its throat to the knife without a complaint, dying with fear before the stroke falls.
The howling came from behind his door.
We stole fearful glances at one another without attempting to account for the hideous54 noise, or explaining the presence of such a wild guest in the house. Indeed, we had no time; our ideas were in dire22 and utter confusion.
Sperver hastily pushed the door open, and, knife in hand, was darting55 into the room; but he stood arrested on the threshold motionless as a stone.
Never have I seen such a picture of horror as he displayed standing56 rooted there, with his eyes starting from his head, and his mouth wide open and gasping57 for breath.
I gazed over his shoulder, and the sight that met my eyes made the blood run chill as snow in my veins58.
The lord of Nideck, crouching59 on all fours upon his bed, with his arms bending forward, his head carried low, his eyes glaring with fierce fires, was uttering loud, protracted60 howlings!
He was the wolf!
That low receding61 forehead, that sharp-pointed62 face, that foxy-looking beard, bristling63 off both cheeks; the long meagre figure, the sinewy64 limbs, the face, the cry. The attitude, declared the presence of the wild beast half-hidden, half-revealed under a human mask!
At times he would stop for a second and listen attentively65 with head awry66, and then the crimson67 hangings would tremble with the quivering of his limbs, like foliage68 shaken by the wind; then the melancholy wail69 would open afresh.
Suddenly the count stopped. As a wild beast scents71 the wind, he lifted his head and listened again.
There, there, far away, down among the thick fir forests, whitened with dense72 patches of snow, a cry was heard in reply—weak at first; then the sound rose and swelled73 in a long protracted howl, drowning the feebler efforts of the hounds: it was the she-wolf answering the wolf!
Sperver, turning round awe-stricken, his countenance pale as ashes, pointed to the mountain, and murmured low—
"Listen—there's the witch!"
And the count still crouching motionless, but with his head now raised in the attitude of attention, his neck outstretched, his eyes burning, seemed to understand the meaning of that distant voice, lost amidst the passes and peaks of the Schwartzwald, and a kind of fearful joy gleamed in his savage features.
At this moment, Sperver, unable or unwilling74 to restrain himself any longer, cried in a voice broken with emotion—
"Count of Nideck—what are you doing?"
The count fell back thunderstruck. We rushed into the room to his help. It was time. The third attack had commenced, and it was terrible to witness!
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1
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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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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plume
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| n.羽毛；v.整理羽毛，骚首弄姿，用羽毛装饰 | |
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6
buckle
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| n.扣子，带扣；v.把...扣住，由于压力而弯曲 | |
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clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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9
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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11
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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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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13
hoof
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| n.(马，牛等的)蹄 | |
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14
slipper
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| n.拖鞋 | |
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contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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lair
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| n.野兽的巢穴；躲藏处 | |
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astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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18
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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19
meditating
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| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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snare
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| n.陷阱，诱惑，圈套；（去除息肉或者肿瘤的）勒除器；响弦，小军鼓；vt.以陷阱捕获，诱惑 | |
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untold
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| adj.数不清的，无数的 | |
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rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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27
countenances
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| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
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bestial
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| adj.残忍的；野蛮的 | |
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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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resound
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| v.回响 | |
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vibrations
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| n.摆动( vibration的名词复数 )；震动；感受；（偏离平衡位置的）一次性往复振动 | |
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32
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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lamentable
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| adj.令人惋惜的，悔恨的 | |
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dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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discordant
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| adj.不调和的 | |
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plaintive
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| adj.可怜的，伤心的 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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39
mingling
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| adj.混合的 | |
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rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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41
kennels
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| n.主人外出时的小动物寄养处，养狗场；狗窝( kennel的名词复数 )；养狗场 | |
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monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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canine
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| adj.犬的，犬科的 | |
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44
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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45
entangled
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| adj.卷入的；陷入的；被缠住的；缠在一起的v.使某人（某物/自己）缠绕，纠缠于（某物中），使某人（自己）陷入（困难或复杂的环境中）( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
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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47
shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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48
presentiment
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| n.预感，预觉 | |
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49
abominable
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| adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的 | |
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50
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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51
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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52
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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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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54
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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55
darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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58
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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59
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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protracted
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| adj.拖延的；延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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receding
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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62
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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63
bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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sinewy
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| adj.多腱的，强壮有力的 | |
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65
attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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awry
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| adj.扭曲的，错的 | |
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67
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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68
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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69
wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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70
petrified
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| adj.惊呆的；目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆，使惊呆；变僵硬；使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词) | |
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71
scents
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| n.香水( scent的名词复数 )；气味；（动物的）臭迹；（尤指狗的）嗅觉 | |
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72
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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