第22章 THE BLACK THIEF(3)

`I was, sir,' says he, `a very wild boy in my youth, and came through many distresses; once in particular, as I was on my rambling, I was benighted and could find no lodging.At length Icame to an old kiln, and being much fatigued I went up and lay on the ribs.I had not been long there when I saw three witches coming in with three bags of gold.Each put their bags of gold under their heads, as if to sleep.I heard one of them say to the other that if the Black Thief came on them while they slept, he would not leave them a penny.I found by their discourse that everybody had got my name into their mouth, though I kept silent as death during their discourse.At length they fell fast asleep, and then I stole softly down, and seeing some turf convenient, I placed one under each of their heads, and off I went, with their gold, as fast as I could.

`I had not gone far,' continued the Thief of Sloan, `until I saw a grey-hound, a hare, and a hawk in pursuit of me, and began to think it must be the witches that had taken the shapes in order that I might not escape them unseen either by land or water.Seeing they did not appear in any formidable shape, I was more than once resolved to attack them, thinking that with my broad sword I could easily destroy them.But considering again that it was perhaps still in their power to become alive again, Igave over the attempt and climbed with difficulty up a tree, bringing my sword in my hand and all the gold along with me.However, when they came to the tree they found what I had done, and making further use of their hellish art, one of them was changed into a smith's anvil and another into a piece of iron, of which the third soon made a hatchet.Having the hatchet made, she fell to cutting down the tree, and in the course of an hour it began to shake with me.At length it began to bend, and I found that one or two blows at the most would put it down.I then began to think that my death was inevitable, considering that those who were capable of doing so much would soon end my life; but just as she had the stroke drawn that would terminate my fate, the cock crew, and the witches disappeared, having resumed their natural shapes for fear of being known, and I got safe off with my bags of gold.

`Now, sir,' says he to the Knight of the Glen, `if that be not as great an adventure as ever you heard, to be within one blow of a hatchet of my end, and that blow even drawn, and after all to escape, I leave it to yourself.'

`Well, I cannot say but it is very extraordinary,' says the Knight of the Glen, `and on that account pardon this young man his crime;so stir up the fire, till I boil this second one.'

`Indeed,' says the Black Thief, `I would fain think he would not die this time either.'

`How so?' says the knight; `it is impossible for him to escape.'

`I escaped death more wonderfully myself,' says the Thief of Sloan, `than if you had him ready to throw into the furnace, and Ihope it will be the case with him likewise.'

`Why, have you been in another great danger?' says the knight.

`I would be glad to hear the story too, and if it be as wonderful as the last, I will pardon this young man as I did the other.'