"What treasure, thou greedy gled?"
"Why they say 'tis a mine royal, and"--
"How! knowest thou our secret?"
"Ay, a body may quess. I've not found the road to the silver mine for
nought. If I get my grip on't, the king may whistle for his share
belike."
"The king! what knowest thou of the king?" said the maiden sharply.
"Eh! lady, I know not on him forsooth. Marry it would be hard to say who
that be now-a-days; for the clerk towed me"--
"Peace! whom sawest thou?"
"Why the ugliest brute, saving your presence, lady, that my two een ever
lippened on."
"None else?"
"No, no; I warrant ye, the miners wouldna care to let me get a glint o'
the gowd. I only had a look at the hobgoblin, who they have set, I
guess, to watch the treasure."
"Oh! I see,--ay, truly," said the maiden thoughtfully; "the mine is
guarded, therefore be wary, and reveal not the secret, lest he crush
thee. Remember," said she at parting, "remember the demon of the cave.
One word, and he will grind thy bones to grist."
Gregory did remember the power of this mysterious being, who, he began
to fancy, partook more of the supernatural than he had formerly
imagined.
Pages:
894
895
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912
913
914
915
916
917
918