按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Beg ate well。
But just as he finished he heard a great roar；
and out of the forest came a mighty bull； snorting
and running。
And the two bulls at it and fought。 They
knocked the hard ground into soft； the soft into
hard； the rocks into spring wells； and the spring
wells into rocks。 It was a terrible fight。 But
in the end； Billy Beg's bull was too much for
the other bull； and he killed him； and drank his
blood。
Then Billy jumped on the bull's back； and the
bull off and away； where you wouldn't know day
from night or night from day； over high hills；
low hills； sheep walks and bullock traces； the
Cove o' Cork； and old Tom Fox with his bugle
horn。 And when he stopped he told Billy to
put his hand in his left ear and pull out the
napkin； because he'd to fight another great bull
of the forest。 So Billy pulled out the napkin
and spread it； and it was covered with all kinds
of eating and drinking； fit for a king。
And； sure enough； just as Billy finished eating；
there was a frightful roar； and a mighty great
bull； greater than the first； rushed out of the
forest。 And the two bulls at it and fought。
It was a terrible fight！ They knocked the hard
ground into soft； the soft into hard； the rocks
into spring wells； and the spring wells into rocks。
But in the end； Billy Beg's bull killed the other
bull； and drank his blood。
Then he off and away； with Billy。
But when he came down； he told Billy Beg
that he was to fight another bull； the brother of
the other two； and that this time the other bull
would be too much for him； and would kill him
and drink his blood。
〃When I am dead； Billy； my boy；〃 he said；
〃put your hand in my left ear and draw out the
napkin； and you'll never want for eating or
drinking； and put your hand in my right ear；
and you'll find a stick there； that will turn into
a sword if you wave it three times round your
head； and give you the strength of a thousand
men beside your own。 Keep that； then cut a
strip of my hide； for a belt； for when you buckle
it on； there's nothing can kill you。〃
Billy Beg was very sad to hear that his friend
must die。 And very soon he heard a more
dreadful roar than ever he heard； and a tremendous
bull rushed out of the forest。 Then came
the worst fight of all。 In the end； the other
bull was too much for Billy Beg's bull； and he
killed him and drank his blood。
Billy Beg sat down and cried for three days
and three nights。 After that he was hungry；
so he put his hand in the bull's left ear； and
drew out the napkin； and ate all kinds of eating
and drinking。 Then he put his hand in the
right ear and pulled out the stick which was to
turn into a sword if waved round his head three
times； and to give him the strength of a thousand
men beside his own。 And he cut a strip of the
hide for a belt； and started off on his adventures。
Presently he came to a fine place； an old
gentleman lived there。 So Billy went up and
knocked； and the old gentleman came to the
door。
〃Are you wanting a boy？〃 says Billy。
〃I am wanting a herd…boy；〃 says the gentleman；
〃to take my six cows； six horses； six
donkeys； and six goats to pasture every morning；
and bring them back at night。 Maybe you'd do。〃
〃What are the wages？〃 says Billy。
〃Oh； well；〃 says the gentleman； 〃it's no use
to talk of that now； there's three giants live
in the wood by the pasture； and every day they
drink up all the milk and kill the boy that looks
after the cattle； so we'll wait to talk about
wages till we see if you come back alive。〃
〃All right；〃 says Billy； and he entered service
with the old gentleman。
The first day； he drove the six cows； six
horses； six donkeys； and six goats to pasture；
and sat down by them。 About noon he heard
a kind of roaring from the wood； and out
rushed a giant with two heads； spitting fire
out of his two mouths。
〃Oh！ my fine fellow；〃 says he to Billy； 〃you
are too big for one swallow and not big enough
for two； how would you like to die； then？
By a cut with the sword； a blow with the fist
or a swing by the back？〃
〃That is as may be；〃 says Billy； 〃but I'll
fight you。〃 And he buckled on his hide belt
and swung his stick three times round his
head； to give him the strength of a thousand
men besides his own； and went for the giant。
And at the first grapple Billy Beg lifted the giant
up and sunk him in the ground； to his armpits。
〃Oh； mercy！ mercy！ Spare my life！〃 cried
the giant。
〃I think not；〃 said Billy； and he cut off his
heads。
That night； when the cows and the goats
were driven home； they gave so much milk
that all the dishes in the house were filled
and the milk ran over and made a little brook
in the yard。
〃This is very queer；〃 said the old gentleman；
〃they never gave any milk before。 Did you see
nothing in the pasture？〃
〃Nothing worse than myself；〃 said Billy。
And next morning he drove the six cows； six
horses； six donkeys； and six goats to pasture
again。
Just before noon he heard a terrific roar； and
out of the wood came a giant with six heads。
〃You killed my brother；〃 he roared； fire
coming out of his six mouths； 〃and I'll very
soon have your blood！ Will you die by a cut
of the sword； or a swing by the back？〃
〃I'll fight you；〃 said Billy。 And buckling
on his belt and swinging his stick three times
round his head； he ran in and grappled the
giant。 At the first hold； he sunk the giant up
to the shoulders in the ground。
〃Mercy； mercy； kind gentleman！〃 cried the
giant。 〃Spare my life！〃
〃I think not；〃 said Billy； and cut off his heads。
That night the cattle gave so much milk that
it ran out of the house and made a stream； and
turned a mill wheel which had not been turned
for seven years！
〃It's certainly very queer；〃 said the old
gentleman； 〃did you see nothing in the
pasture； Billy？〃
〃Nothing worse than myself；〃 said Billy。
And the next morning the gentleman said；
〃Billy； do you know； I only heard one of the
giants roaring in the night； and the night before
only two。 What can ail them； at all？〃
〃Oh； maybe they are sick or something；〃
says Billy； and with that he drove the six
cows； six horses； six donkeys； and six goats
to pasture。
At about ten o'clock there was a roar like a
dozen bulls； and the brother of the two giants
came out of the wood； with twelve heads on
him； and fire spouting from every one of them。
〃I'll have you； my fine boy；〃 cries he； 〃how
will you die； then？〃
〃We'll see；〃 says Billy； 〃come on！〃
And swinging his stick round his head； he
made for the giant； and drove him up to his
twelve necks in the ground。 All twelve of the
heads began begging for mercy； but Billy soon
out them short。 Then he drove the beasts
home。
And that night the milk overflowed the mill…
stream and made a lake； nine miles long； nine
miles broad； and nine miles deep； and there are
salmon and whitefish there to this day。
〃You are a fine boy；〃 said the gentleman；
〃and I'll give you wages。〃
So Billy was herd。
The next day； his master told him to look
after the house while he went up to the king's
town； to see a great sight。 〃What will it
be？〃 said Billy。 〃The king's daughter is to
be eaten by a fiery dragon；〃 said his master；
〃unless the champion fighter they've been feed…
ing for six weeks on purpose kills the dragon。〃
〃Oh；〃 said Billy。
After he was left alone； there were people
passing on horses and afoot； in coaches and
chaises； in carriages and in wheelbarrows； all
going to see the great sight。 And all asked
Billy why he was not on his way。 But Billy
said he didn't care about going。
When the last passer…by was out of sight；
Billy ran and dressed himself in his master's
best suit of clothes； took the brown mare from