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ith that rushed into the water。 in a moment he returned。 the woman had vanished； and though he had thrust his sword into air and water he had found nothing。
the five troopers remounted； and set their horses at the ford； but all to no purpose。 they tried again and again； and went plunging hither and thither； the horses foaming and rearing。 let us； said the old trooper； ride back a little into the wood； and strike the river higher up。 they rode in under the boughs； the ground？ivy crackling under the hoofs； and the branches striking against their steel caps。 after about twenty minutes riding they came out again upon the river； and after another ten minutes found a place where it was possible to cross without sinking below the stirrups。 the wood upon the other side was very thin； and broke the moonlight into long streams。 the wind had arisen； and had begun to drive the clouds rapidly across the face of the moon； so that thin streams of light seemed to be dancing a grotesque dance among the scattered bushes and small fir？trees。 the tops of the trees began also to moan； and the sound of it was like the voice of the dead in the wind； and the troopers remembered the belief that tells how the dead in purgatory are spitted upon the points of the trees and upon the points of the rocks。 they turned a little to the south； in the hope that they might strike the beaten path again； but they could find no trace of it。
meanwhile； the moaning grew louder and louder； and the dance of the white moon？fires more and more rapid。 gradually they began to be aware of a sound of distant music。 it was the sound of a bagpipe； and they rode towards it with great joy。 it came from the bottom of a deep； cup？like hollow。 in the midst of the hollow was an old man with a red cap and withered face。 he sat beside a fire of sticks； and had a burning torch thrust into the earth at his feet； and played an old bagpipe furiously。 his red hair dripped over his face like the iron rust upon a rock。 did you see my wife？ he cried； looking up a moment； she was washing！ she was washing！
i am afraid of him； said the young trooper； i fear he is one of the sidhe。 no； said the old trooper； he is a man； for i can see the sun？freckles upon his face。 we will pel him to be our guide； and at that he drew his sword； and the others did the same。 they stood in a ring round the piper； and pointed their swords at him； and the old trooper then told him that they must kill two rebels； who had taken the road between ben bulben and the great mountain spur that is called cashel？ na？gael； and that he must get up before one of them and be their guide； for they had lost their way。 the piper turned； and pointed to a neighbouring tree； and they saw an old white horse ready bitted； bridled； and saddled。 he slung the pipe across his back； and； taking the torch in his hand； got upon the horse； and started off before them； as hard as he could go。
the wood grew thinner and thinner； and the ground began to slope up toward the mountain。 the moon had already set； and the little white flames of the stars had e out everywhere。 the ground sloped more and more until at last they rode far above the woods upon the wide top of the mountain。 the woods lay spread out mile after mile below； and away to the south shot up the red glare of the burning town。 but before and above them were the little white flames。 the guide drew rein suddenly； and pointing upwards with the hand that did not hold the torch； shrieked out； look； look at the holy candles！ and then plunged forward at a gallop； waving the torch hither and thither。 do you hear the hoofs of the messengers？ cried the guide。 quick； quick！ or they will be gone out of your hands！ and he laughed as with delight of the chase。 the troopers thought they could hear far off； and as if below them； rattle of hoofs； but now the ground began to slope more and more； and the speed grew more headlong moment by moment。 they tried to pull up； but in vain； for the horses seemed to have gone mad。 the guide had thrown the reins on to the neck of the old white horse； and was waving his arms and singing a wild gaelic song。 suddenly they saw the thin gleam of a river； at an immense distance below； and knew that they were upon the brink of the abyss that is now called lug？na？gael； or in english the strangers leap。 the six horses sprang forward； and five screams went up into the air； a moment later five men and horses fell with a dull crash upon the green slopes at the foot of the rocks。
。。！
THE OLD MEN OF THE TWILIGHT
小说
at the place； close to the dead mans point； at the rosses； where the disused pilot？house looks out to sea through two round windows like eyes； a mud cottage stood in the last century。 it also was a watchhouse； for a certain old michael bruen； who had been a smuggler in his day； and was still the father and grandfather of smugglers； lived there； and when； after nightfall； a tall schooner crept over the bay from roughley； it was his business to hang a horn lanthorn in the southern window； that the news might travel to dorrens island； and from thence； by another horn lanthorn； to the village of the rosses。 but for this glimmering of messages； he had little munion with mankind； for he was very old； and had no thought for anything but for the making of his soul； at the foot of the spanish crucifix of carved oak that hung by his chimney； or bent double over the rosary of stone beads brought to him a cargo of silks and laces out of france。 one night he had watched hour after hour； because a gentle and favourable wind was blowing； and la mere de misericorde was much overdue； and he was about to lie down upon his heap of straw； seeing that the dawn was whitening the east； and that the schooner would not dare to round roughley and e to an anchor after daybreak； when he saw a long line of herons flying slowly from dorrens island and towards the pools which lie； half choked with reeds； behind what is called the second rosses。 he had never before seen herons flying over the sea； for they are shore？keeping birds； and partly because this had startled him out of his drowsiness； and more because the long delay of the schooner kept his cupboard empty； he took