KENILWORTH - Penn State University

Sir Walter ScottSo saying, he led the way out of the cavern. He then calledloudly for Hobgoblin, who, after lingering for an instant, appearedwith the horse furniture, when Wayland closed and sedulouslycovered up the trap-door, observing it might again servehim at his need, besides that the tools were worth somewhat.A whistle from the owner brought to his side a nag that fedquietly on the common, and was accustomed to the signal.While he accoutred him for the journey, Tressilian drew hisown girths tighter, and in a few minutes both were ready tomount.At this moment Sludge approached to bid them farewell.“You are going to leave me, then, my old playfellow,” saidthe boy; “and there is an end of all our game at bo-peep withthe cowardly lubbards whom I brought hither to have theirbroad-footed nags shed by the devil and his imps?”“It is even so,” said Wayland Smith, “the best friends mustpart, Flibbertigibbet; but thou, my boy, art the only thing in theVale of Whitehorse which I shall regret to leave behind me.”“Well, I bid thee not farewell,” said Dickie Sludge, “for youwill be at these revels, I judge, and so shall I; for if DominieHoliday take me not thither, by the light of day, which wesee not in yonder dark hole, I will take myself there!”“In good time,” said Wayland; “but I pray you to do noughtrashly.”“Nay, now you would make a child, a common child ofme, and tell me of the risk of walking without leading-strings.But before you are a mile from these stones, you shall knowby a sure token that I have more of the hobgoblin about methan you credit; and I will so manage that, if you take advantage,you may profit by my prank.”“What dost thou mean, boy?” said Tressilian; but Flibbertigibbetonly answered with a grin and a caper, and biddingboth of them farewell, and, at the same time, exhorting themto make the best of their way from the place, he set them theexample by running homeward with the same uncommonvelocity with which he had baffled Tressilian’s former attemptsto get hold of him.“It is in vain to chase him,” said Wayland Smith; “for unlessyour worship is expert in lark-hunting, we should never catchhold of him—and besides, what would it avail? Better makethe best of our way hence, as he advises.”They mounted their horses accordingly, and began to pro-133