Лучшие сказки загадочной Шотландии. Уровень 1 / The Best Tales of Enchanted Scotland

He threw it over his head and shoulders. He wanted to hide his ungainly form. Then he hurried away to the stable. Then he saddled and bridled the horse that stood there.

After that he led it to the door and scrambled on its back.

“Now, go!” he said.

The horse understood him. It darted out into the darkness like an arrow from the bow. Soon the Brownie drew rein at the old woman's cottage.

She was in bed. She was asleep. He rapped sharply on the window. She rose and asked who was there. He bent forward and told her his errand.

“You must come with me, Goodwife, quickly!” he commanded, in his deep, harsh voice. “It's necessary to save the Lady of Ferne-Den's life. There is no one to nurse her at the farm there. She had a lot of empty-headed servant wenches.”

“But how to get there? I don't have a cart,” said the old woman anxiously.

She saw there was nothing at the door save a horse and its rider.

“You must just climb up behind me on the saddle,” replied the Brownie, shortly, “and hang on tight to my waist.

His voice was masterful. The old woman dare not refuse. She dressed herself. When she was ready she unlocked her door, and mounted the horse.

Without a word, they approached the dreaded glen. Then the old woman was very afraid.

“Do you think that we can meet the Brownie there?” she asked timidly. “Folk say that he is a terrible creature.

Her companion laughed.

“Don't be afraid,” he said, “I promise you'll see nobody uglier this night than the man whom you ride behind.”

“Oh, then, I'm fine,” replied the old woman, with a sigh of relief.

She relapsed into silence again. They passed the glen. The horse turned into the farmyard. Then the horseman slid to the ground. He lifted the old woman carefully down in his long, strong arms. As he did so the cloak slipped off him.

“Who are you?” the woman asked. “What makes your eyes so big? And what did you do to your feet?”

The queer little man laughed again.

“Waste no time, good Dame,” he replied. “Go into the house. If anyone asks you who brought you hither so quickly, tell them that there was nobody near your house, so you rode behind the Brownie Of Ferne-Den!”

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