made so many perquisitions before I ventured even to light a
fire； that I at length discovered a small barrel of gunpowder；
carefully hid beneath the furnace； with the purpose； no doubt；
that as soon as I should commence the grand work of the
transmutation of metals； the explosion should transmute the vault
and all in it into a heap of ruins； which might serve at once for
my slaughter…house and my grave。 This cured me of alchemy； and
fain would I have returned to the honest hammer and anvil； but
who would bring a horse to be shod by the Devil's post？
Meantime； I had won the regard of my honest Flibbertigibbet here；
he being then at Farringdon with his master； the sage Erasmus
Holiday； by teaching him a few secrets； such as please youth at
his age； and after much counsel together； we agreed that； since I
could get no practice in the ordinary way； I should try how I
could work out business among these ignorant boors； by practising
upon their silly fears； and； thanks to Flibbertigibbet； who hath
spread my renown； I have not wanted custom。 But it is won at too
great risk； and I fear I shall be at length taken up for a
wizard； so that I seek but an opportunity to leave this vault；
when I can have the protection of some worshipful person against
the fury of the populace； in case they chance to recognize me。〃
〃And art thou；〃 said Tressilian； 〃perfectly acquainted with the
roads in this country？〃
〃I could ride them every inch by midnight；〃 answered Wayland
Smith； which was the name this adept had assumed。
〃Thou hast no horse to ride upon；〃 said Tressilian。
〃Pardon me；〃 replied Wayland； 〃I have as good a tit as ever
yeoman bestrode； and I forgot to say it was the best part of the
mediciner's legacy to me； excepting one or two of the choicest of
his medical secrets； which I picked up without his knowledge and
against his will。〃
〃Get thyself washed and shaved； then；〃 said Tressilian； 〃reform
thy dress as well as thou canst； and fling away these grotesque
trappings； and； so thou wilt be secret and faithful； thou shalt
follow me for a short time； till thy pranks here are forgotten。
Thou hast； I think； both address and courage； and I have matter
to do that may require both。〃
Wayland Smith eagerly embraced the proposal； and protested his
devotion to his new master。 In a very few minutes he had made so
great an alteration in his original appearance； by change of
dress； trimming his beard and hair； and so forth； that Tressilian
could not help remarking that he thought he would stand in little
need of a protector； since none of his old acquaintance were
likely to recognize him。
〃My debtors would not pay me money；〃 said Wayland； shaking his
head； 〃but my creditors of every kind would be less easily
blinded。 And； in truth； I hold myself not safe； unless under the
protection of a gentleman of birth and character； as is your
worship。〃
So saying； he led the way out of the cavern。 He then called
loudly for Hobgoblin； who； after lingering for an instant；
appeared with the horse furniture； when Wayland closed and
sedulously covered up the trap…door； observing it might again
serve him at his need； besides that the tools were worth
somewhat。 A whistle from the owner brought to his side a nag
that fed quietly on the common； and was accustomed to the signal。
While he accoutred him for the journey； Tressilian drew his own
girths tighter； and in a few minutes both were ready to mount。
At this moment Sludge approached to bid them farewell。
〃You are going to leave me； then； my old playfellow；〃 said the
boy； 〃and there is an end of all our game at bo…peep with the
cowardly lubbards whom I brought hither to have their broad…
footed nags shed by the devil and his imps？〃
〃It is even so；〃 said Wayland Smith； 〃the best friends must part；
Flibbertigibbet； but thou； my boy； art the only thing in the Vale
of Whitehorse which I shall regret to leave behind me。〃
〃Well； I bid thee not farewell；〃 said Dickie Sludge； 〃for you
will be at these revels； I judge； and so shall I； for if Dominie
Holiday take me not thither； by the light of day； which we see
not in yonder dark hole； I will take myself there！〃
〃In good time；〃 said Wayland； 〃but I pray you to do nought
rashly。〃
〃Nay； now you would make a child； a common child of me； and tell
me of the risk of walking without leading…strings。 But before
you are a mile from these stones； you shall know by a sure token
that I have more of the hobgoblin about me than 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 Flibbertigibbet
only answered with a grin and a caper； and bidding both of them
farewell； and； at the same time； exhorting them to make the best
of their way from the place； he set them the example by running
homeward with the same uncommon velocity with which he had
baffled Tressilian's former attempts to get hold of him。
〃It is in vain to chase him；〃 said Wayland Smith； 〃for unless
your worship is expert in lark…hunting； we should never catch
hold of himand besides； what would it avail？ Better make the
best of our way hence； as he advises。〃
They mounted their horses accordingly； and began to proceed at a
round pace； as soon as Tressilian had explained to his guide the
direction in which he desired to travel。
After they had trotted nearly a mile； Tressilian could not help
observing to his companion that his horse felt more lively under
him than even when he mounted in the morning。
〃Are you avised of that？〃 said Wayland Smith； smiling。 〃That is
owing to a little secret of mine。 I mixed that with an handful
of oats which shall save your worship's heels the trouble of
spurring these six hours at least。 Nay； I have not studied
medicine and pharmacy for nought。〃
〃I trust；〃 said Tressilian； 〃your drugs will do my horse no
harm？〃
〃No more than the mare's milk； which foaled him；〃 answered the
artist； and was proceeding to dilate on the excellence of his
recipe when he was interrupted by an explosion as loud and
tremendous as the mine which blows up the rampart of a
beleaguered city。 The horses started； and the riders were
equally surprised。 They turned to gaze in the direction from
which the thunder…clap was heard； and beheld； just over the spot
they had left so recently； a huge pillar of dark smoke rising
high into the clear； blue atmosphere。 〃My habitation is gone to
wreck；〃 said Wayland； immediately conjecturing the cause of the
explosion。 〃I was a fool to mention the doctor's kind intentions
towards my mansion before that limb of mischief； Flibbertigibbet；
I might have guessed he would long to put so rare a frolic into
execution。 But let us hasten on； for the sound will collect the
country to the spot。〃
So saying； he spurred his horse； and Tressilian also quickening
his speed； they rode briskly forward。
〃This； then； was the meaning of the little imp's token which he
promised us？〃 said Tressilian。 〃Had we lingered near the spot；
we had found it a love…token with a vengeance。〃
〃He would have given us warning；〃 said the smith。 〃I saw him
look back more than once to see if we were off'tis a very
devil for mischief； yet not an ill…natured devil either。 It were
long to tell your honour how I became first acquainted with him；
and how many tricks he played me。 Many a good turn he did me
too； especially in bringing me customers； for his great delight
was to see them sit shivering behind the bushes when they heard
the click of my hammer。 I think Dame Nature； when she lodged a
double quantity of brains in that misshapen head of his； gave him
the power of enjoying other people's distresses； as she gave them
the pleasure of laughing at his ugliness。〃
〃It may be so；〃 said Tressilian； 〃those who find themselves
severed from society by peculiarities of form； if they do not
hate the common bulk of mankind； are at least not altogether
indisposed to enjoy their mishaps and calamities。〃
〃But Flibbertigibbet；〃 answered Wayland； 〃hath that about him
which may redeem his turn for mischievous frolic； for he is as
faithful when attached as he is tricky and malignant to
strangers； and； as I said before； I have cause to say so。〃
Tressilian pursued the conversation no further； and they
continued their journey towards Devonshire without further
adventure； until they alighted at an inn in the town of
Marlborough； since celebrated for having given title to the
greatest general （excepting one） whom Britain ever produced。
Here the travellers received； in the same breath； an example of
the truth of two old proverbsnamely； that ILL NEWS FLY FAST；
and that LISTENERS SELDOM HEAR A GOOD TALE OF THEMSELVES。
The inn…yard was in a sort of combustion when they alighted；
insomuch； that they could scarce get man or boy to take care of
their horses； so full were the whole household of some news which
flew from tongue to tongue； the import of which they were for
some time unable to discover。 At length； indeed； they found it
respected matters which touched them nearly。
〃What is the matter； say you； master？〃 answered； at length； the
head hostler； in reply to Tre