"It's born under a caul was I," he told them. "An' minny a mystery has been cleared up in ould Ireland be meself, I'm tellin' ye."
At which some laughed and some scoffed6. Deacon Ringold had sternly advised the old man to return to the country where black magic was still countenanced7, as there was no place for it in an enlightened and Christian8 community such as Scotia, a suggestion that old Harry took in seeming good humor. But the fact that the deacon lost two milk cows and four hogs9, through sickness during the fortnight which followed, had caused considerable discussion throughout the settlement.
O'Dule had cut a window in the cabin, installed an old stove, table and chairs, and succeeded in making the place home-like enough to suit his simple taste. To-night he stood by the stove, frying potatoes and humming an Irish song. On the table lay a loaf of bread and some butter in a saucer, while close beside it a coal oil lamp gave a smoky light to the room. In the center of the table reposed11 a huge blue-grey cat, its amber12 eyes on Harry and its forepaws curled contentedly13 beneath its furry14 breast. All about the room hung the skins of wild animals—deer, bear, lynx and coon. A pile of skins lay in one corner. This was O'Dule's bed.
"Och! Billy O'Shune can't ye whistle t' me,
Shure it's weary I am av that drear, sorry song
So stop liltin', through tears, wid a visage so long—
Come, it's me ears a glad ditty would hear—
Av love 'neath th' skies av ould Ireland, dear—
Come, let us be glad—both togither, me lad—
There's good fish in the sea as has iver been had—
—Och, Billy O'Shune—
That's not much av a chune."
So hummed old Harry as he stirred the potatoes and wet his vocal16 chords, occasionally, from the jug17 at his feet.
Suddenly a knock fell on the door.
"In ye come," invited the Irishman and there entered Billy and Maurice.
"Sit ye down, lads, sit ye down," cried the hospitable18 Harry. "Begobs, but it's a fine brace19 av byes ye are, an' no mistake. Wull ye be afther suppin' a bit wid me? The repast is all but spread an' it's full welcome ye are, both."
"We've had our supper," said Billy. "Thought we'd like to see you fer a minute er two, Harry," he added gravely, as he and his chum seated themselves.
"Alone," said Maurice, significantly.
"Faith an' ain't I alone enough to suit ye?" laughed Harry. "Would ye have me put the cat out, thin? Now, phwat is ut?"
The boys glanced at each other. "You tell him," whispered Billy, but Maurice shook his head. "No, you," he whispered back.
Billy braced20 himself and took a long breath. "We've made up our minds t' find old man Scroggie's will," he said.
"An' money," said Maurice. "We want you to help us, Harry."
"God love us!" ejaculated Harry, dropping the knife with which he was stirring the potatoes and reaching for the demijohn. "An' fer why should ye be out on that wild goose chase, now?"
"'Cause we want Teacher Stanhope to have what belongs to him," said Billy warmly.
"Do ye now? God love him but that was a hard slap in th' face he got fer playin' the man's part, so ut was. Only this night did I say as much to Caleb Spencer. Ut's meself would like t' see him get what was his by rights, byes."
"We knew that," cried Billy, eagerly; "that's why we come to you, Harry. You say you've found buried treasure in Ireland; won't you help us find the lost will an' money?"
O'Dule transferred the potatoes from the frying pan to a cracked plate. He sat down at the table and ate his supper without so much as another word. The boys watched him, fear in their hearts that the eccentric old Irishman would refuse their request.
After a time Harry pushed his stool back from the table. "Byes," he said, producing a short black pipe from his pocket. "It's lend ye a spade and lantern I'll do an' gladly; but it's yerselves would surely not be axin' me t' test me powers ag'in a spirrut. Listen now. Old Scroggie's ghost do be guardin' his money, wheriver it lies. That you know as well as me. It's frank I'll be wid ye, an' tell ye that ag'in spirruts me powers are as nuthin'. An' go widin the unholy circle av the ha'nted grove21 to do favor t' aither man 'er divil I'll not."
"But think of what it means to him," urged Billy. "Besides, Harry, I've got a charm that'll keep ol' Scroggie's ghost away," he added, eagerly.
"An' phwat is ut?" Old Harry's interest was real. He laid his pipe down on the table and leaned towards Billy.
O'Dule's shaggy brows met in a frown. "Ut's no good a'tall, a'tall," he said, contemptuously. "Ut's not aven a snake-bite that trinket wud save ye from, let alone a ghost."
Billy felt his back-bone stiffen24 in resentment25. Then he noted26 that the milk snake, which he had thought snugly27 asleep in his coat pocket, had awakened28 in the warmth of the little cabin and slipped from the pocket and now lay, soiled and happy, beneath the rusty29 stove. He saw his opportunity to get back at O'Dule for his scoffing30.
"All right, Harry," he said airily, "if that's all you know about charms, I guess you haven't any that 'ud help us much. But let me tell you that rabbit-foot charm kin10 do wonders. It'll not only keep you from bein' bit by snakes but by sayin' certain words to it you kin bring a snake right in to your feet with it, an' you kin pick it up an' handle it without bein' bit, too."
"Och, it's a brave lad ye are, Billy bye," Harry wheezed31, "an' a brave liar32, too. Go on wid yer nonsense, now."
"It's a fact, Harry," backed Maurice.
"Fact," cried O'Dule, angrily now. "Don't ye be comin' to me, a siventh son av a siventh son, wid such nonsinse. Faith, if yon worthless rabbit-fut kin do phwat ye claim, why not prove ut t' me now?"
"An' if we do," asked Billy eagerly, "will you agree to use your power to help us find the money an' will?"
"That I'll do," assented33 Harry, unhesitatingly. "Call up yer snake an' handle ut widout bein' bit, an' I'll help ye."
"All right, I'll do it," said Billy. "Jest turn the lamp down a little, Harry."
"Me hands are a bit unsteady," said Harry, quickly. "We'll l'ave the light be as ut is, Billy."
"It ought'a be dark," protested Billy, "but I'll try it anyway." He lifted the rabbit foot to his face and breathed some words upon it. Then in measured tones he recited:
"Hokey-pokey Bamboo Brake—
Go an' gather in a snake—'
Slowly Billy lowered the charm and looked at Harry. The old man sat, puffing34 his short pipe, a derisive35 grin on his unshaven lips.
"It's failed ye have, as I knowed ye wud," he chuckled36. "Ye best be lavin' now, both av ye, wid yer pranks37."
"But," said Billy quickly, "the charm did work. It brought the snake, jest as I said it would."
"Brought ut? Where is ut, thin?" Harry sat up straight, his little eyes flashing in fright.
"It's under the stove. See it?"
Harry bent38 and peered beneath the stove. "Be the scales av the divil!" he shivered, "is ut a big, mottled snake I see, or have I got what always I feared I might get some day. Is ut the D.T.'s I've got, I wonder? How come the reptile39 here, anyhow, byes?"
"You told me to bring it in, didn't you?" Billy inquired, mildly.
"Yis, yis, Billy. But hivins! ut's little did I think that cat-paw av a charm had such power," groaned40 the wretched Irishman. "Ut's yourself said ut would let you handle reptiles41 widout bein' bit. Thin fer the love ov hivin pluck yon serpent from beneath the stove an' hurl42 ut outside into the blackness where ut belongs."
Billy arose and moving softly to the stove picked up the harmless milk snake, squirming and protesting, from the warm floor. O'Dule watched him with fascinated eyes. The big cat had risen and with back fur and tail afluff spit vindictively43 as Billy passed out through the door.
When he returned O'Dule was seated on the edge of the table, his feet on a stool. He was taking a long sup from the demijohn.
"Well, do you believe in my charm now?" Billy asked.
"I do," said Harry unhesitatingly.
"An' you'll help us, as you promised?"
"Did ye iver hear av Harry O'Dule goin' back on a promise?" said the old man, reproachfully. "Help you wull I shurely, an' I'll be tellin' ye how. Go ye over t' the corner, Billy, an' pull up the loose board av the flure. Ye'll be findin' a box there. Yis, that's right. Now fetch ut here. Look ye both, byes."
Harry lifted the little tin box to his knees and opened it. From it he brought forth44 a conglomeration45 of articles. There were queer little disks of hammered brass46 and copper47, an egg-shaped object that sparkled like crystal in the lamplight, a crotch-shaped branch of a tree. As he handled those objects tenderly the old man's face was tense and he mumbled48 something entirely49 meaningless to the watchers. Finally, with an exclamation50 of triumph, he brought forth a piece of metal the size and shape of an ordinary lead pencil.
"Look ye," he cried, holding it aloft. "The fairies' magic arrer, ut is, an' ut niver fails t' fall on the spot where the treasure lies hidden. Foind Scroggie's buried money ut would have long ago if ut wasn't fer the ould man's spirrut that roams the grove. As I told ye afore, ut's no charm ag'in the spirruts av the departed, as yon grave-yard rabbit's fut is."
"But with the two of 'em," cried Billy eagerly, "we kin surely find the will, Harry."
"It's right true ye spake," nodded Harry. "An' mebbe sooner than we think. An' ut's the young t'acher wid the blindness that gets it all, ye say?"
"Ol' Scroggie left it all to him," said Billy.
"Begobs, so I've heard before." Harry scratched his head reflectively.
"Well, God love his gentle heart, ut's himself now'll hardly be carin' phwat becomes o' the money, let alone he gets possession av the thousand acre hardwoods, I'm thinkin'," he said, fastening his eyes on Billy's face. "I'd be wishin' the young t'acher to be ginerous, byes."
"He will," cried Billy, "I know he will."
"Thin God bless him," cried Harry. "Now grasp tight t' yer rabbit fut, an' we'll be afther goin' on our way t' tempt23 Satan, over beyant in the evil cedars51."
Five minutes later the trio were out on the forest path, passing in Indian file towards the haunted grove. The wind had risen and now swept through the great trees with ghostly sound. A black cloud, creeping up out of the west, was wiping out the stars. Throughout the forest the notes of the night-prowlers were strangely hushed. No word was spoken between the treasure-seekers until the elm-bridged creek was reached. Then old Harry paused, with labored52 breath, his head bent as though listening.
"Hist," he whispered and Billy and Maurice felt their flesh creep. "Ut's hear that swishin' av feet above, ye do? Ut's the Black troup houldin' their course 'twixt the seared earth an' the storm. The witches of Ballyclue, ut is, an' whin they be out on their mad run the ghoste av dead min hould wild carnival53. Ut'll be needin' that rabbit-fut sure we wull, if the ha'nted grove we enter this night."
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1
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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crumbling
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| adj.摇摇欲坠的 | |
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creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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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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6
scoffed
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| 嘲笑，嘲弄( scoff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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7
countenanced
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| v.支持，赞同，批准( countenance的过去式 ) | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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hogs
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| n.（尤指喂肥供食用的）猪( hog的名词复数 )；（供食用的）阉公猪；彻底地做某事；自私的或贪婪的人 | |
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kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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reposed
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| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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13
contentedly
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| adv.心满意足地 | |
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furry
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| adj.毛皮的；似毛皮的；毛皮制的 | |
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isle
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| n.小岛，岛 | |
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vocal
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| adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目 | |
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jug
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| n.(有柄，小口，可盛水等的)大壶，罐，盂 | |
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hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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stiffen
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| v.(使)硬，(使)变挺，(使)变僵硬 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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snugly
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| adv.紧贴地；贴身地；暖和舒适地；安适地 | |
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28
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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rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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30
scoffing
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| n. 嘲笑, 笑柄, 愚弄 v. 嘲笑, 嘲弄, 愚弄, 狼吞虎咽 | |
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31
wheezed
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| v.喘息，发出呼哧呼哧的喘息声( wheeze的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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liar
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| n.说谎的人 | |
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assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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puffing
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| v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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derisive
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| adj.嘲弄的 | |
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chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pranks
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| n.玩笑，恶作剧( prank的名词复数 ) | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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reptile
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| n.爬行动物；两栖动物 | |
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groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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reptiles
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| n.爬行动物，爬虫( reptile的名词复数 ) | |
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hurl
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| vt.猛投，力掷，声叫骂 | |
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vindictively
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| adv.恶毒地；报复地 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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conglomeration
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| n.团块，聚集，混合物 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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48
mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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50
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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51
cedars
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| 雪松，西洋杉( cedar的名词复数 ) | |
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52
labored
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| adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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53
carnival
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| n.嘉年华会，狂欢，狂欢节，巡回表演 | |
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