登陆注册
15301700000030

第30章 CHAPTER XIV(2)

This bwlch, or hollow way, was a regular pass, which put me wonderfully in mind of the passes of Spain. It took us a long time to get to the top. After resting a minute on the summit we began to descend. My guide pointed out to me some slate-works, at some distance on our left. "There is a great deal of work going on there, sir," said he: "all the slates that you see descending the canal at Llangollen came from there." The next moment we heard a blast, and then a thundering sound: "Llais craig yn syrthiaw; the voice of the rock in falling, sir," said John Jones; "blasting is dangerous and awful work." We reached the bottom of the descent, and proceeded for two or three miles up and down a rough and narrow road; I then turned round and looked at the hills which we had passed over. They looked bulky and huge.

We continued our way, and presently saw marks of a fire in some grass by the side of the road. "Have the Gipsiaid been there?"said I to my guide.

"Hardly, sir; I should rather think that the Gwyddelaid (Irish)have been camping there lately."

"The Gwyddeliad?"

"Yes, sir, the vagabond Gwyddeliad, who at present infest these parts much, and do much more harm than the Gipsiaid ever did.""What do you mean by the Gipsiaid?"

"Dark, handsome people, sir, who occasionally used to come about in vans and carts, the men buying and selling horses, and sometimes tinkering, whilst the women told fortunes.""And they have ceased to come about?"

"Nearly so, sir; I believe they have been frightened away by the Gwyddelod.""What kind of people are these Gwyddelod?

"Savage, brutish people, sir; in general without shoes and stockings, with coarse features and heads of hair like mops.""How do they live?"

"The men tinker a little, sir, but more frequently plunder. The women tell fortunes, and steal whenever they can.""They live something like the Gipsiaid."

"Something, sir; but the hen Gipsiaid were gentlefolks in comparison.""You think the Gipsiaid have been frightened away by the Gwyddelians?""I do, sir; the Gwyddelod made their appearance in these parts about twenty years ago, and since then the Gipsiaid have been rarely seen.""Are these Gwyddelod poor?"

"By no means, sir; they make large sums by plundering and other means, with which, 'tis said, they retire at last to their own country or America, where they buy land and settle down.""What language do they speak?"

"English, sir; they pride themselves on speaking good English, that is to the Welsh. Amongst themselves they discourse in their own Paddy Gwyddel.""Have they no Welsh?"

"Only a few words, sir; I never heard one of them speaking Welsh, save a young girl - she fell sick by the roadside as she was wandering by herself - some people at a farmhouse took her in, and tended her till she was well. During her sickness she took a fancy to their quiet way of life, and when she was recovered she begged to stay with them and serve them. They consented; she became a very good servant, and hearing nothing but Welsh spoken, soon picked up the tongue.""Do you know what became of her?"

"I do, sir; her own people found her out, and wished to take her away with them, but she refused to let them, for by that time she was perfectly reclaimed, had been to chapel, renounced her heathen crefydd, and formed an acquaintance with a young Methodist who had a great gift of prayer, whom she afterwards married - she and her husband live at present not far from Mineira.""I almost wonder that her own people did not kill her.""They threatened to do so, sir, and would doubtless have put their threat into execution, had they not been prevented by the Man on High."And here my guide pointed with his finger reverently upward.

"Is it a long time since you have seen any of these Gwyddeliaid?""About two months, sir, and then a terrible fright they caused me.""How was that?"

"I will tell you, sir; I had been across the Berwyn to carry home a piece of weaving work to a person who employs me. It was night as I returned, and when I was about halfway down the hill, at a place which is called Allt Paddy, because the Gwyddelod are in the habit of taking up their quarters there, I came upon a gang of them, who had come there and camped and lighted their fire, whilst I was on the other side of the hill. There were nearly twenty of them, men and women, and amongst the rest was a man standing naked in a tub of water with two women stroking him down with clouts. He was a large fierce-looking fellow and his body, on which the flame of the fire glittered, was nearly covered with red hair. I never saw such a sight. As I passed they glared at me and talked violently in their Paddy Gwyddel, but did not offer to molest me. I hastened down the hill, and right glad I was when I found myself safe and sound at my house in Llangollen, with my money in my pocket, for Ihad several shillings there, which the man across the hill had paid me for the work which I had done."

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 心灵迷宫

    心灵迷宫

    人性震撼的故事。刑侦天才沈渊在一次案发现场进行推理,断定为熟人作案,谁知队友却告诉他,死的是他女友一家,而凶手,就是他自己……人的心灵是一座迷宫,我们相逢,是为了彼此治愈!精神分析与探案相结合,心理悬疑,催眠探案,爱与救赎,想要震颤心灵就来吧!
  • 仙域神机

    仙域神机

    杀手之王凌凡被一块奇异琉璃带到充满玄气的天玄大陆!拥有特殊体质神体……却无法修炼到处被人奚落!天不绝人,一次在琉璃的作用下沉睡多年的神体得以觉醒,进入传说中的修真世界,光怪陆离的圣地!以为羽化成仙,却不料才迈开仙路一步。仙域之中有五行术法,五大禁术,六大仙术,奇异的幻术,奥妙的封印术,神秘的巫术等等下至低级仙术,上至远古毁灭天地之术等诸多术法!看凌凡最终能否窥破神机……
  • 问题恋人

    问题恋人

    她,拥有着多重性格的清秀女子,看似温婉动人却又泼辣成性;他,以不同的面目示人,忽而冷酷霸气忽而温和谦逊;两个骨子里相似的人,在上海这个繁华的城市相遇,会是“难逢知己”的惺惺相惜?抑或是“一山容不得二虎”的争锋相对?呵呵,还是请你自己去见证属于他们的岁月吧!话说,那一年……
  • 昏天黑地

    昏天黑地

    在这个血肉模糊的世界,生物已经分不开善恶,只有杀戮,杀戮得永生,杀戮成就主宰!
  • 独宠小狐仙

    独宠小狐仙

    她,绝色小狐仙,调皮捣蛋,惹是生非,让仙界的众神头痛不已。一次意外,她拔了月老的胡子,被怒火冲天的月老一脚踢到了人间,还好死不死的砸到了正在运动的某人身上,从此就霉运连连,这个霸道的男人,不但对自己动手动脚,还想让自己给她生宝宝。哼,她可不是好欺负的,当然是跑路了,可这个男人居然追来了,惨了,难道他真是自己的劫数?他,是大公司的总裁,风流花心,御女无数,可是某个该死的女人居然敢对他视若无睹,是可忍孰不可忍,不好好教训她,他的面子何在?只是这个小女人真是个闯祸精,让他一天到晚帮她收拾烂摊子,可他怎么会越来越离不开她了呢,这个该死的女人居然还敢偷跑,看他不把她抓回来打她屁股,管她是仙还是妖,她这辈子注定只能是他的妻,他孩子的妈!本文轻松诙谐,绝不虐女主,男主绝对深情,绝对1V1。
  • 侧妃不发威,你当我是病公主!

    侧妃不发威,你当我是病公主!

    出身名门,大家闺秀,沉鱼落雁,闭月羞花,能歌善舞,书画双绝,回眸一笑,天下失色,父母捧在手,夫君宠上天......要是真是这样,也不枉她一番意外穿越了。可是——出身名门,的确,皇家公主,可是她在宫中连一个上等宫女都比不上;能歌善舞,不假,贵妃娘娘一声令下她就得穿上舞衣当陪衬;没来得及回眸一笑她就被派往邻国,成了王爷侧妃。父母捧她?她的父皇从未正眼看过她!夫君宠她?某王根本不记得府上有她这号人!
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 穿越奇情:落魄皇子高能妃

    穿越奇情:落魄皇子高能妃

    “不!不!不!我不要穿越!我马上就要嫁给高富帅了,老天爷你不可以这么对我!”一朝穿越,即将嫁与良人的地质学女教授成了有名绣娘的女儿,却在战场上遇见了遭亲兄弟暗害的落魄皇子。她身怀绝世武功,她有着现代人的高能大脑,她怀着赤诚钟情之心,却被迫卷入各国纷争。他武艺超群,他智谋卓略,他心怀大义,却偏生不得父皇喜爱。他的家国一日日变小,她便找来千万黄金以充兵力;他只身涉险独闯修罗,她便出手相助与他并肩。“兄弟?那是何物!规矩?莫要与我论规矩!你暮云朝,此生若是胆敢再有半点挣脱我的念头,纵是黄泉碧落,我也绝不会放过你!我南宫未昌,定护你一生,守你一世。”当她来到异世,身处战场。一个眼神,便是万年。
  • 使孩子人格健全的108个好故事(中华少年成长必读书)

    使孩子人格健全的108个好故事(中华少年成长必读书)

    好的故事就像遗落在大海中的珍珠,虽小却珍贵无比。读故事,学道理,一直以来就是教育孩子的最佳方式之一,也是帮助孩子塑造优秀品质、早日成才的一条捷径。在人格形成过程中,好的故事对于形成正确的人生观,价值观具有重要的作用。希望这本书能启迪青少年追求真善美,帮助他们在成长过程中塑造和完善自我,以优秀的品质成就卓越的人生。
  • 九天情缘:命运难割

    九天情缘:命运难割

    九天之上,我们相爱相杀;乱世之中,我们再一次重逢,这一次的重逢,我们的命运又是如何?