(原版)澳大利亞語文第五冊 LESSON 6

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LESSON 6 THE TROLL

THE TROLL

Ⅱ

THE two boys soon became tired of walking quietly, and began to run and chase one another.

It is such a fine day, said Christian, "and I am so glad to be going to see father, that I could dance for joy."

Suiting the action to the word, he began to jump, stamping his little boots on the ground, now with the toe, now with the heel; and, tossing his cap in the air, he sang to keep time with his dance:

How I'd like to see the cap of the troll, The cap, the cap, The cap, the cap, I'd like to see the cap of the troll.

Be quiet, now, can't you, whispered Ivan in terror; "the troll will hear you, and come and kill us."

The troll! replied Christian; "that is all very fine in a song, but there is not such a thing as a troll. Is not that what father always says?"

All right, said Ivan. "But it grows very dark in the forest."

It is easily seen that you have been wicked this morning, said Christian; "I am not at all afraid, and even if trolls did exist, I should be very glad to meet one of them. Do you know what I should do then?"

You would run away as fast as you could, I suppose.

Not at all. I should lift my cap to him, and say politely, ‘Good day, Mr. Troll. I am not wicked, and I am not afraid of you. Would you be so good as tell me what you get to do in this dark wood? Will you teach me your dances and your songs?’ Seeing me so polite, he would not do me any harm: we should play together, and he would show me the good spots where the big mushrooms grow, which I should pull and sell to buy some nice things for poor father. He never gets nice things, because he works so hard, all for our sakes."

Ivan listened to his brother with terror in his looks.

They passed by a cottage, and their comrade, Sigfrid, saw them from the window.

Ho, boys! he cried, "if you are going to the wood, wait for me: I shall be glad to go with you."

Catch us if you can, answered Christian, dragging his brother with him along the pathway at full speed. Quickly they ran, to get a little start, for Sigfrid had long legs.

They followed the path deep into the wood, under the dark green of the firs, and lo! just at this moment a great cloud came across the bright face of the sun, making the forest darker than ever.

Sigfrid will not find us in a hurry, said Christian to himself. The thought made him smile, and he began to hum his favourite tune, "I should like to see the cap of the troll."

Suddenly, while he sang, he felt some one tugging at his sleeve. He thought it was Sigfrid who had overtaken them. But no; turning round, he saw that it was Ivan, pale and ghastly ［1］ , who clung to him.

His eyes were rolling in his head, and he was muttering: "Down there, down there, I see the troll, I see the troll's cap. Oh, dear! oh, dear! what shall I do?"

What a silly boy you are, said Christian; "you know very well that there are no trolls."

Behind the hedge, don't you see him? Ah, I am lost. I have been wicked to-day: the troll is going to devour me. Let us run, let us run.

And now Christian did in fact see a creature, oddly dressed and with a strange cap: but no fear entered into his brave little heart.

He was about to speak to this dweller of the woods, but suddenly he changed his mind, and a burst of laughter escaped from his lips. He turned to comfort his brother, but Ivan was no longer at his side. He was running away like a hare, leaping over ditches and brushwood ［2］ , whilst behind him the young trees, thrust aside in his mad career ［3］ , sprang back again with a loud swish.

Alas! alas! thought poor Ivan, as he fled,"my last day has come; the troll is after me. I see more dwarfs on the branches, peeping at me, and grinning as I run. Now they are all joining the first one: there's a whole pack of them chasing me!"

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［1 ］ ghastly: Frightful; deathlike in looks.

［2 ］ brushwood: Small trees or shrubs growing together.

［3 ］ career: Course, race.