the wandering jew, volume 1-第6部分

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as　a　guide；　enter　the　inn…yard　together。

The　night　had　set　in；　dark　and　cloudy；　a　high　wind　made　the　lights
flicker　in　the　lanterns　which　were　used　to　receive　the　new　guests。　　But
the　description　given　to　Morok　had　been　so　exact；　that　it　was　impossible
to　mistake　them。　　Sure　of　his　prey；　he　closed　the　window。　　Having
remained　in　meditation　for　another　quarter　of　an　hourfor　the　purpose；
no　doubt；　of　thoroughly　digesting　his　projectshe　leaned　over　the
aperture；　from　which　projected　the　ladder；　and　called；　〃Goliath！〃

〃Master！〃　replied　a　hoarse　voice。

〃Come　up　to　me。〃

〃Here　I　amjust　come　from　the　slaughter…house　with　the　meat。〃

The　steps　of　the　ladder　creaked　as　an　enormous　head　appeared　on　a　level
with　the　floor。　　The　new…comer；　who　was　more　than　six　feet　high；　and
gifted　with　herculean　proportions；　had　been　well…named　Goliath。　　He　was
hideous。　　His　squinting　eyes　were　deep　set　beneath　a　low　and　projecting
forehead；　his　reddish　hair　and　beard；　thick　and　coarse　as　horse…hair；
gave　his　features　a　stamp　of　bestial　ferocity；　between　his　broad　jaws；
armed　with　teeth　which　resembled　fangs；　he　held　by　one　corner　a　piece　of
raw　beef　weighing　ten　or　twelve　pounds；　finding　it；　no　doubt；　easier　to
carry　in　that　fashion；　whilst　he　used　his　hands　to　ascend　the　ladder；
which　bent　beneath　his　weight。

At　length　the　whole　of　this　tall　and　huge　body　issued　from　the　aperture。
Judging　by　his　bull…neck；　the　astonishing　breadth　of　his　chest　and
shoulders；　and　the　vast　bulk　of　his　arms　and　legs；　this　giant　need　not
have　feared　to　wrestle　single…handed　with　a　bear。　　He　wore　an　old　pair
of　blue　trousers　with　red　stripes；　faced　with　tanned　sheep's…skin；　and　a
vest；　or　rather　cuirass；　of　thick　leather；　which　was　here　and　there
slashed　by　the　sharp　claws　of　the　animals。

When　he　was　fairly　on　the　floor；　Goliath　unclasped　his　fangs；　opened　his
mouth；　and　let　fall　the　great　piece　of　beef；　licking　his　blood…stained
lips　with　greediness。　　Like　many　other　mountebanks；　this　species　of
monster　had　began　by　eating　raw　meat　at　the　fairs　for　the　amusement　of
the　public。　　Thence　having　gradually　acquired　a　taste　for　this　barbarous
food；　and　uniting　pleasure　with　profit；　he　engaged　himself　to　perform　the
prelude　to　the　exercises　of　Morok；　by　devouring；　in　the　presence　of　the
crowd；　several　pounds　of　raw　flesh。

〃My　share　and　Death's　are　below　stairs；　and　here　are　those　of　Cain　and
Judas；〃　said　Goliath；　pointing　to　the　chunk　of　beef。　　〃Where　is　the
cleaver；　that　I　may　cut　it　in　two？No　preference　herebeast　or　man
every　gullet　must　have　it's　own。〃

Then；　rolling　up　one　of　the　sleeves　of　his　vest；　he　exhibited　a　fore…arm
hairy　as　skin　of　a　wolf；　and　knotted　with　veins　as　large　as　one's　thumb。

〃I　say；　master；　where's　the　cleaver？〃He　again　began；　as　he　cast　round
his　eyes　in　search　of　that　instrument。　　But　instead　of　replying　to　this
inquiry；　the　Prophet　put　many　questions　to　his　disciple。

〃Were　you　below　when　just　now　some　new　travellers　arrived　at　the　inn？〃

〃Yes；　master；　I　was　coming　from　the　slaughter…house。〃

〃Who　are　these　travellers？〃

〃Two　young　lasses　mounted　on　a　white　horse；　and　an　old　fellow　with　a　big
moustache。　　But　the　cleaver？my　beasts　are　hungry　and　so　am　Ithe
cleaver！〃

〃Do　you　know　where　they　have　lodged　these　travellers？〃

〃The　host　took　them　to　the　far　end　of　the　court…yard。〃

〃The　building；　which　overlooks　the　fields？〃

〃Yes；　masterbut　the　cleaver〃

A　burst　of　frightful　roaring　shook　the　loft；　and　interrupted　Goliath。

〃Hark　to　them！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃hunger　has　driven　the　beasts　wild。　　If　I
could　roar；　I　should　do　as　they　do。　　I　have　never　seen　Judas　and　Cain　as
they　are　to…night；　they　leap　in　their　cages　as　if　they'd　knock　all　to
pieces。　　As　for　Death；　her　eyes　shine　more　than　usual　like　candlespoor
Death！〃

〃So　these　girls　are　lodged　in　the　building　at　the　end　of　the　court…yard；〃
resumed　Morok；　without　attending　to　the　observations　of　Goliath。

〃Yes；　yesbut　in　the　devil's　name；　where　is　the　cleaver？　　Since　Karl
went　away　I　have　to　do　all　the　work；　and　that　makes　our　meals　very　late。〃

〃Did　the　old　man　remain　with　the　young　girls？〃　asked　Morok。

Goliath；　amazed　that；　notwithstanding　his　importunities；　his　master
should　still　appear　to　neglect　the　animals'　supper；　regarded　the　Prophet
with　an　increase　of　stupid　astonishment。

〃Answer；　you　brute！〃

〃If　I　am　a　brute；　I　have　a　brute's　strength；〃　said　Goliath；　in　a　surly
tone；　〃and　brute　against　brute；　I　have　not　always　come　the　worst　off。〃

〃I　ask　if　the　old　man　remained　with　the　girls；〃　repeated　Morok。

〃Well；　thenno！〃　　returned　the　giant。　　〃The　old　man；　after　leading　his
horse　to　the　stable；　asked　for　a　tub　and　some　water；　took　his　stand　under
the　porchand　thereby　the　light　of　a　lanternhe　is　washing　out
clothes。　　A　man　with　a　gray　moustache！paddling　in　soap…suds　like　a
washerwomanit's　as　if　I　were　to　feed　canaries！〃　added　Goliath；
shrugging　his　shoulders　with　disdain。　　〃But　now　I've　answered　you；
master；　let　me　attend　to　the　beasts'　supper；〃and；　looking　round　for
something；　he　added；　〃where　is　the　cleaver？〃

After　a　moment　of　thoughtful　silence；　the　Prophet　said　to　Goliath；　〃You
will　give　no　food　to　the　beasts　this　evening。〃

At　first　the　giant　could　not　understand　these　words；　the　idea　was　so
incomprehensible　to　him。

〃What　is　your　pleasure；　master？〃　said　he。

〃I　forbid　you　to　give　any　food　to　the　beasts　this　evening。〃

Goliath　did　not　answer；　but　he　opened　wide　his　squinting　eyes；　folded　his
hands；　and　drew　back　a　couple　of　steps。

〃Well；　dost　hear　me？〃　said　Morok；　with　impatience。　　〃Is　it　plain　enough？〃

〃Not　feed？　when　our　meat　is　there；　and　supper　is　already　three　hours
after　time！〃　cried　Goliath；　with　ever…increasing　amazement。

〃Obey；　and　hold　your　tongue。〃

〃You　must　wish　something　bad　to　happen　this　evening。　　Hunger　makes　the
beasts　furiousand　me　also。〃

〃So　much　the　better！〃

〃It'll　drive　'em　mad。〃

〃So　much　the　better！〃

〃How；　so　much　the　better？But〃

〃It　is　enough！〃

〃But；　devil　take　me；　I　am　as　hungry　as　the　beasts！〃

〃Eat　thenwho　prevents　it？　　Your　supper　is　ready；　as　you　devour　it　raw。〃

〃I　never　eat　without　my　beasts；　nor　they　without　me。〃

〃I　tell　you　again；　that；　if　you　dare　give　any　food　to　the　beastsI　will
turn　you　away。〃

Goliath　uttered　a　low　growl　as　hoarse　as　a　bear's；　and　looked　at　the
Prophet　with　a　mixture　of　anger　and　stupefaction。

Morok；　having　given　his　orders；　walked　up　and　down　the　loft；　appearing　to
reflect。　　Then；　addressing　himself　to　Goliath；　who　was　still　plunged　in
deep　perplexity；　he　said　to　him。

〃Do　you　remember　the　burgomaster's；　where　I　went　to　get　my　passport
signed？To…day　his　wife　bought　some　books　and　a　chaplet。〃

〃Yes；〃　answered　the　giant　shortly。

〃Go　and　ask　his　servant　if　I　may　be　sure　to　find　the　burgomaster　early
to…morrow　morning。〃

〃What　for？〃

〃I　may；　perhaps；　have　something　important　to　communicate；　at　all　events；
say　that　I　beg　him　not　to　leave　home　without　seeing　me。〃

〃Good！　but　may　I　feed　the　beasts　before　I　go　to　the　burgomaster's？only
the　panther；　who　is　most　hungry？　　Come；　master；　only　poor　Death？　just　a
little　morsel　to　satisfy　her；　Cain　and　I　and　Judas　can　wait。〃

〃It　is　the　panther；　above　all；　that　I　forbid　you　to　feed。　　Yes；　her；
above　all　the　rest。〃

〃By　the　horns　of　the　devil！〃　cried　Goliath；　〃what　is　the　matter　with　you
to…day？　　I　can　make　nothing　of　it。　　It　is　a　pity　that　Karl's　not　here；
he；　being　cunning；　would　help　me　to　understand　why　you　prevent　the　beasts
from　eating　when　they　are　hungry。〃

〃You　have　no　need　to　understand　it。〃

〃Will　not　Karl　soon　come　back？〃

〃He　has　already　come　back。〃

〃Where　is　he；　then？〃

〃Off　again。〃

〃What　can　be　going　on　here？　　There　is　something　in　the　wind。　　Karl　goes；
and　returns；　and　goes　again；　and〃

〃We　are　not　talking　of　Karl；　but　of　you；　though　hungry　as　a　wolf　you　are
cunning　as　a　fox；　and；　when　it　suits　you；　as　cunning　as　Karl。〃　　And；
changing　on　the　sudden　his　tone　and　manner；　Morok　slapped　the　giant
cordially　on　the　shoulder。

〃What！　am　I　cunning？〃

〃The　proof　is；　that　there　are　ten　florins　to　earn　to…nightand　you　will
be　keen　enough　to　earn　them；　I　am　sure。〃

〃Why；　on　those　terms；　yesI　am　awake；〃　said　the　giant；　smiling　with　a
stupid；　self…satisfied　air。　　〃What　must　I　do　for　ten　florins？〃

〃You　shall　see。〃

〃Is　it　hard　work？〃

〃You　shall　see。　　Begin　by　going　to　the　burgomaster'sbut　first　light　the
fire　in　that　stove。〃　　He　pointed　to　it　with　his　finger。

〃Yes；　master；〃　said　Goliath；　somewhat　consoled　for　the　delay　of　his
supper　by　the　hope　of　gaining　ten　florins。

〃Put　that　iron　bar　in　the　stove；〃　added　the　Prophet；　〃to　make　it
red…hot。〃

〃Yes；　master。〃

〃You　will　leave　it　there；　go　to　the　burgomaster's；　and　return　here　to
wait　for　me。〃

〃Yes；　master。

〃You　will　keep　the　fire　up　in　the　stove。〃

〃Yes；　master。〃

Morok　took　a　step　away；　but　recollecting　himself；　he　resumed：　〃You　say
the　old　man　is　busy　washing　under　the　porch？〃

〃Yes；　master。〃

〃Forget　nothing：　the　iron　bar　in　the　firethe　burgomasterand　return
here　to　wait　my　orders。〃　　So　saying；　Morok　descended　by　the　trap…door　and
disappeared。




CHAPTER　IV。

MOROK　and　DAGOBERT

Goliath　had　not　been　mistaken；　for　Dagobert　was　washing　with　that
imperturbable　gravity　with　which　he　did　everything　else。

When　we　remember　the　habits　of　a　soldier　a…field；　we　need　not　be
astonished　at　this　apparent　eccentricity。　　Dagobert　only　thought　of
sparing　the　scanty　purse　of　the　orphans；　and　of　saving　them　all　care　and
trouble；　so　every　evening　when　they　came　to　a　halt　he　devoted　himself　to
all　sorts　of　feminine　occupations。　　But　he　was　not　now　serving　his
apprenticeship　in　these　matters；　many　times；　during　his　campaigns；　he　had
industriously　repaired　the　damage　and　disorder　which　a　day　of　battle
always　brings　to　the　garments　of　the　soldier；　for　it　is　not　enough　to
receive　a　sabre…cutthe　soldier　has　also　to　mend　his　uniform；　for　the
stroke　which　grazes　the　skin　makes　likewise　a　corresponding　fissure　in
the　cloth。

Therefore；　in　the　evening　or　on　the　morrow　of　a　hard…fought　engagement；
you　will　see　the　best　soldiers　（always　distinguished　by　their　fine
military　appearance）　take　from　their　cartridge…box　or　k