Longstaff, Pinepuller and Rockheaver

The Story of Three Friends

三人の友だちの話

Long ago there lived a blacksmith upon whose strong right arm there swelled great muscles and whose big hairy fist was capable of delivering so heavy a blow that all the men in the village and nearby countryside stood in awe of him. He had a hot temper as well as a strong right arm and his pretty young wife grew so afraid of him that she ran away into the forest, taking her baby son with her. The blacksmith had become crosser and crosser of late because the baby sometimes cried at night and disturbed his rest.

むかし、一人の鍛冶屋がいた。その力強い右腕には大きな筋肉が盛り上がり、毛むくじゃらの大きなこぶしはあまりに重い一撃を食らわせることができたので、村じゅうの男も近くの田舎の男もみな鍛冶屋を恐れていた。鍛冶屋は力強い右腕ばかりでなくかっとなりやすい気性も持っていたので、かわいい若い妻は鍛冶屋をひどく恐れて、赤ん坊の息子を連れて森へ逃げていった。赤ん坊がときどき夜泣きして眠りを妨げるので、鍛冶屋は近ごろますます不機嫌になっていたのである。

In the deep forest the young wife found nuts and herbs and wild fruits to eat. The baby boy thrived most marvelously. Soon he was big and strong, able to kill wild beasts to add to their food. At last his strength was so great that he could lift big rocks and pull up huge trees.

深い森で、若い妻は木の実や草や野の果物を見つけて食べた。赤ん坊の男の子は驚くほどすくすく育った。じきに男の子は大きく強くなり、野の獣を仕留めて食べ物に加えられるようになった。とうとうその力はあまりに強くなって、大きな岩を持ち上げたり、大木を引き抜いたりできるほどになった。

One day he said to his mother, "Dearest one, I'd like to leave you for a little while. I want to go back to the village where I was born. The stories you have told me about it keep ringing in my ears. I must see the place for myself. Do you mind, mother dear, if I take this journey?"

ある日、男の子は母親に言った。「母さん、しばらく母さんのそばを離れたいんだ。ぼくが生まれた村へ帰ってみたい。母さんが話してくれたその村の話が、ずっと耳に鳴っているんだ。自分の目でその場所を見なくちゃ。この旅に出てもかまわないかい、母さん」

His mother had long foreseen that a day would come when he would no longer be content to live alone with her in the deep forest. Her heart ached but she gave her consent to the expedition.

母親は、息子が深い森で自分と二人きりで暮らすのに満足しなくなる日がいつか来ると、ずっと前から見通していた。胸は痛んだが、母親はその旅を許した。

When the lad reached the village he went straight to the shop of the blacksmith. His mother had described it to him so often that he had no difficulty in finding it. He knew at once that the man at the forge was his father. He looked exactly as he had always imagined his father looked.

村に着くと、若者はまっすぐ鍛冶屋の店へ行った。母親がたびたびその店のことを話してくれていたので、見つけるのに何の苦労もなかった。若者には、炉のそばの男が自分の父親だとすぐにわかった。父親はいつも思い描いていた姿とそっくりだった。

"Good day," said he. "I'd like you to weld an iron bar for me, a bar as tall as the tallest tree in front of your shop."

「こんにちは」と若者は言った。「鉄の棒を一本こしらえてもらいたいんです。この店の前のいちばん高い木と同じくらいの高さの棒を」

The blacksmith glanced at the lad and then at the tree.

鍛冶屋は若者をちらりと見て、それから木を見た。

"You must have made a mistake in your measurements," he replied. "You don't know what you are talking about."

「寸法をまちがえているにちがいない」と鍛冶屋は答えた。「自分が何を言っているのかわかっていないんだろう」

The boy from the forest smiled quietly and stepped a trifle nearer to the blacksmith.

森から来た若者は静かにほほえんで、鍛冶屋に少し近寄った。

"You are quite right," he admitted. "Thank you for pointing out to me my mistake. I should have said that I want this iron bar made twice as tall as the tallest tree before your door. I want it to be of good thickness, too. I plan to use it as my staff."

「おっしゃるとおりです」と若者は認めた。「まちがいを教えてくださってありがとうございます。この戸口の前のいちばん高い木の二倍の高さの鉄の棒をこしらえてほしい、と言うべきでした。太さもたっぷりほしいんです。杖にするつもりなんです」

The blacksmith looked the lad over more carefully. In truth he appeared as if he might be able to use the staff after all. The blacksmith hastily agreed to make it at once, and he didn't say a word about arranging the price in advance according to his custom.

鍛冶屋は若者をもっと念入りに眺めた。たしかに、この若者なら結局その杖を使いこなせそうに見えた。鍛冶屋は急いですぐにこしらえると承知し、いつもの習いのように前もって値段を決めることについてはひと言も言わなかった。

"Have my staff ready for me next week," commanded the boy as he bade the blacksmith good-by.

「来週までに杖を用意しておいてください」と若者は鍛冶屋に別れを告げながら命じた。

When at last the lad was once more with his mother in the deep forest he told her all that had passed. "When I return for my staff I want you to go with me, dear mother," were his words when he had ended his story.

とうとう深い森の母親のもとへ戻ると、若者は起こったことをすっかり話した。「杖を取りに戻るときは、母さんにも一緒に来てほしいんだ」というのが、話を終えたときの若者の言葉だった。

"I!" cried the woman in alarm. "I'd be afraid to go! From your description I am sure the blacksmith is in truth your father, and I fear that his disposition has not improved with the years."

「わたしが!」と女はうろたえて叫んだ。「行くのは怖いよ! お前の話からすると、その鍛冶屋はきっとお前の父さんだ。年がたってもあの人の気性はよくなっていないだろうと思うよ」

"Don't be afraid, dear heart," said the son. "I'll be there and I'll take care of you. I'll see that he does you no harm."

「怖がらないで、母さん」と息子は言った。「ぼくがついていて、母さんを守るから。あの人に母さんを傷つけさせたりしないよ」

They started out on their journey, and just a week from the day of the lad's first visit to the blacksmith shop he stood once more in the door. He had left his mother hidden behind the bushes and shrubs.

二人は旅に出た。そして若者が初めて鍛冶屋の店を訪ねた日からちょうど一週間目に、若者はふたたび戸口に立った。母親は藪や茂みの陰に隠れさせておいた。

"Good day," he said to the blacksmith. "Is my staff ready?"

「こんにちは」と若者は鍛冶屋に言った。「杖はできていますか」

"Yes, indeed. It is entirely completed," replied the blacksmith more politely than he was in the habit of speaking even to the parish priest himself. "I have just sent for two yokes of oxen and enough men to drag it out of my shop."

「ええ、できていますとも。すっかり仕上がっております」と鍛冶屋は、教区の司祭その人に対していつも話すよりもていねいに答えた。「ちょうど、店から引き出すのに牛二くびきと人手を呼びにやったところです」

"That is quite unnecessary," responded the boy. "I'm sorry indeed to hear that you have inconvenienced yourself."

「それには及びません」と若者は答えた。「ご面倒をおかけしたと聞いて、ほんとうに申しわけなく思います」

He picked up the staff and tossed it about as jauntily as if it had been a slender cane. The blacksmith stared at him in amazement, his mouth wide open and his eyes bulging out of his head.

若者は杖を拾い上げて、まるで細い籐の杖であるかのように、軽々と振りまわした。鍛冶屋は口をあんぐり開け、目を飛び出させて、あっけにとられて若者を見つめた。

"May I ask who you are?" he asked as soon as he could catch his breath.

「失礼ですが、あなたはどなたで」と鍛冶屋は、息がつけるようになるとすぐに尋ねた。

"My name from this day forth shall be Longstaff," replied the lad. "And it so happens that I am your own son."

「今日からぼくの名前は長杖です」と若者は答えた。「そしてぼくは、実はあなたの息子なのです」

The blacksmith listened in surprise while the boy told the story of the years he and his mother had lived in the deep forest. He embraced his son tenderly.

鍛冶屋は、若者が母親と一緒に深い森で暮らした年月の話をするのを驚いて聞いた。鍛冶屋は息子をやさしく抱きしめた。

"You are indeed a son to be proud of!" he cried. "Come and live with me. We shall have a happy life together."

「お前はまったく自慢の息子だ!」と鍛冶屋は叫んだ。「わしと一緒に暮らしに来い。二人で幸せに暮らそう」

The blacksmith was thinking that a strong young man like this would be a great help around the shop.

鍛冶屋は、こんな強い若者がいたら店のたいそうな助けになるだろうと考えていたのである。

Longstaff shook his head. "Thank you, but I cannot tarry here," he said. "I must go away and see the world a bit. My mother, however, is waiting behind the bushes. I fear she will be very lonely while I am away."

長杖は首を振った。「ありがとう、でもここにとどまってはいられません」と長杖は言った。「少し世の中を見に行かなければならないのです。けれども母が藪の陰で待っています。ぼくが留守のあいだ、母はたいそう寂しいだろうと思います」

When Longstaff's mother came in response to his call her husband embraced her lovingly and kissed her. "I've really missed you about the house while you have been away," he told her.

長杖の母親が息子に呼ばれてやって来ると、夫は妻をいとおしそうに抱きしめて口づけした。「お前がいなくなってから、家でほんとうに寂しかったよ」と夫は妻に言った。

"If you are not good to her you'll hear from me," said, his son as he looked him straight in the eye.

「母さんにやさしくしなかったら、ぼくが黙っていませんよ」と息子は父親の目をまっすぐ見て言った。

Longstaff then set out to see the world, travelling from one country to another. After a time he came to a place where there was a man pulling up pine trees by the roots as easily as if they were the weeds in your garden.

それから長杖は世の中を見に出かけ、国から国へと旅をした。しばらくすると、一人の男が、まるで庭の雑草でも抜くようにたやすく松の木を根こそぎ引き抜いている場所に来た。

"Good day," said Longstaff. "What is your name?"

「こんにちは」と長杖は言った。「あなたの名前は何というのですか」

"I am called PINEPULLER," was the reply. "I'm very strong, as you can see for yourself, but I've heard that there is somebody stronger than I am. His name is LONGSTAFF, I am told."

「松抜きと呼ばれている」という答えだった。「見てのとおりたいそう力が強いが、おれより強い者がいると聞いた。その名は長杖というそうだ」

Longstaff gave his iron staff a gay toss into the air and caught it again in his hand.

長杖は鉄の杖を陽気に空へ放り上げて、また手で受け止めた。

"That happens to be my name," he said. "I like you. Won't you join me in my travels about the country? We two would have a jolly time together."

「それはたまたまぼくの名前です」と長杖は言った。「あなたが気に入りました。ぼくと一緒に国じゅうを旅しませんか。二人ならきっと愉快に過ごせますよ」

Pinepuller accepted the invitation and together they journeyed on. Soon they came to a place where there was a man picking up great rocks and tossing them about as lightly as if they had been rubber balls.

松抜きは誘いを受け、二人は一緒に旅を続けた。じきに二人は、一人の男が大きな岩を拾い上げて、まるでゴムまりのように軽々と放り投げている場所に来た。

"Good day," said Longstaff. "What is your name?"

「こんにちは」と長杖は言った。「あなたの名前は何というのですか」

"My name is ROCKHEAVER," replied the other. "You can see for yourself that I am very strong. I've heard, however, that there is somebody stronger than I am. His name is LONGSTAFF, I am told."

「おれの名は岩投げだ」ともう一人は答えた。「見てのとおり、おれはたいそう力が強い。けれども、おれより強い者がいると聞いた。その名は長杖というそうだ」

"That happens to be my name," said Longstaff, "and this is my friend Pinepuller. You are just the man to complete our little party. Won't you join us as we travel about the country?"

「それはたまたまぼくの名前です」と長杖は言った。「そしてこちらはぼくの友だちの松抜きです。あなたこそ、ぼくらの小さな一行を仕上げるのにうってつけの人です。一緒に国じゅうを旅しませんか」

Rockheaver accepted the invitation with glee and the three friends journeyed on together from that hour. Everywhere they went they had everything their own way because of their great strength.

岩投げは大喜びで誘いを受け、三人の友だちはその時から一緒に旅を続けた。どこへ行っても、三人はそのたいそうな力のおかげで何でも思いどおりにした。

One day Longstaff, Pinepuller and Rockheaver sat on a rock by the sea. Suddenly they spied two pretty girls tossing glass balls back and forth and catching them. They had not stood there on the sand a moment before when the three friends had passed that way. Possibly they had been bathing and had only just come out of the water. Longstaff ran to speak to them. He put out his hand and caught their two glass balls at once. Then a strange thing happened. The two beautiful maidens disappeared the very minute Longstaff put their two glass balls into his pocket, and he was left standing alone on the sand by the sea.

ある日、長杖と松抜きと岩投げは海辺の岩に座っていた。突然、三人は、かわいい娘が二人、ガラスの玉を投げ合っては受け止めているのを見つけた。三人の友だちがそこを通りかかったときには、二人は砂の上にいなかった。たぶん水浴びをしていて、水から上がったばかりだったのだろう。長杖は二人に話しかけに走っていった。長杖は手を伸ばして、二人のガラスの玉を二つとも一度に受け止めた。すると不思議なことが起こった。長杖が二人のガラスの玉をポケットに入れたとたんに、二人の美しい娘は消えてしまい、長杖は海辺の砂の上に一人取り残されたのである。

"That is queer," he complained as he told Pinepuller and Rockheaver what had happened.

「妙だな」と長杖は、起こったことを松抜きと岩投げに話しながらこぼした。

Not far away there was a little house. There were no signs of life about the place and consequently the three friends entered. Inside the house there were beds, beautiful furniture and a kitchen completely furnished with pots and pans.

遠くないところに小さな家があった。その家には人の気配がなかったので、三人の友だちはなかに入った。家のなかには寝台と美しい家具があり、鍋や釜のすっかりそろった台所があった。

"I like this house," said Longstaff, as he seated himself in the largest chair. "I'm going to rest a bit and you two can go hunting. When you return I'll have the dinner cooked for you."

「この家は気に入った」と長杖は、いちばん大きな椅子に腰を下ろしながら言った。「ぼくは少し休むから、きみたち二人は狩りに行ってくれ。戻ってきたら夕食を作っておくよ」

Accordingly, Pinepuller and Rockheaver went away to hunt for game. Longstaff rested for a while in the big chair and then he went into the kitchen to light the fire. Soon the fire was burning merrily and the water in the kettle was bubbling away cozily. Longstaff cooked the dinner exactly as his mother had taught him long ago in the deep forest. Just for a minute he turned his back to hunt for the salt. When he turned around the pots and the frying pan were gone from the fire. There was a tiny dwarf with red boots disappearing through the kitchen floor with Longstaff's good dinner.

そこで、松抜きと岩投げは獲物を狩りに出かけた。長杖は大きな椅子でしばらく休み、それから火をおこしに台所へ行った。じきに火は楽しげに燃え、やかんの湯は心地よくぐつぐつ煮え立った。長杖は、ずっと昔深い森で母親に教わったとおりに夕食を作った。塩を探しに、ほんの一瞬背を向けた。振り向くと、鍋とフライパンが火の上から消えていた。赤い長靴をはいた小さな小人が、長杖のおいしい夕食を持って台所の床のなかへ消えていくところだった。

Longstaff gasped. He was not at all accustomed to having his dinner stolen from under his very nose, as it were.

長杖は息をのんだ。いわば鼻先から夕食を盗まれるなどということには、まったく慣れていなかったのである。

Soon Pinepuller and Rockheaver came back with the hares they had killed in the hunt. They looked at the dying fire, at the empty pots and frying pan, and at the dazed expression on Longstaff's face.

じきに松抜きと岩投げが、狩りで仕留めた野ウサギを持って帰ってきた。二人は消えかけた火と、空の鍋とフライパンと、長杖のぼうぜんとした顔を見た。

"Where's the dinner?" asked Pinepuller. "I'm as hungry as a bear. You said you'd have it ready when we got back."

「夕食はどこだ」と松抜きが尋ねた。「おれは熊みたいに腹ぺこなんだ。戻ってきたら用意しておくと言ったじゃないか」

"I know what he's done!" cried Rockheaver. "He has eaten all the dinner and hasn't left a single mouthful for us!"

「こいつが何をしたかわかったぞ!」と岩投げが叫んだ。「夕食をみんな食っちまって、おれたちにはひと口も残さなかったんだ!」

When Longstaff told them the story of the dwarf with red boots who had stolen the dinner it was difficult to make them believe it.

長杖が、夕食を盗んだ赤い長靴の小人の話をしても、二人に信じさせるのは難しかった。

"Very well," said he, "if you won't take my word for it, why doesn't Pinepuller stay in the kitchen and cook these hares? Rockheaver and I will go away and you can see what happens."

「わかった」と長杖は言った。「ぼくの言うことが信じられないなら、松抜きが台所に残ってこの野ウサギを料理したらどうだ。岩投げとぼくは出かけるから、何が起こるか見てみるといい」

Accordingly, Longstaff and Rockheaver went away and Pinepuller made a stew of the hares. While he was hunting for the salt the little dwarf with red boots came out from under the table and stole the stew. Pinepuller turned around just in time to catch him at it. He raised his big arm to seize him, but the dwarf, in the twinkling of an eye, vanished into the floor, taking the stew with him.

そこで、長杖と岩投げは出かけ、松抜きは野ウサギでシチューを作った。松抜きが塩を探しているあいだに、赤い長靴の小さな小人がテーブルの下から出てきて、シチューを盗んだ。松抜きはちょうど間に合って振り向き、小人が盗むところを見つけた。松抜きは小人をつかまえようと大きな腕を上げたが、小人はまたたく間にシチューを持って床のなかへ消えてしまった。

When Longstaff and Rockheaver returned Pinepuller told what had happened. "I believe you now," said he to Longstaff. "I ask your pardon for doubting your word."

長杖と岩投げが戻ってくると、松抜きは起こったことを話した。「今はきみの言うことを信じるよ」と松抜きは長杖に言った。「きみの言葉を疑って悪かった」

However, Rockheaver was not convinced. "I know what has happened," said he. "You were so hungry you couldn't wait for us and you ate up the stew. You and Longstaff have plotted that I shall go with an empty stomach this day."

けれども岩投げは納得しなかった。「何が起こったかわかっているぞ」と岩投げは言った。「お前は腹がへりすぎておれたちを待てなくて、シチューを食っちまったんだ。お前と長杖は、今日おれを腹ぺこにさせようとたくらんでいるんだ」

"Let Rockheaver, then, be the one to stay in the kitchen," suggested Longstaff. "We have brought back other hares from the hunt. Let him cook them and see what happens."

「それなら、岩投げに台所に残ってもらおう」と長杖は提案した。「狩りでほかの野ウサギも獲ってきたんだ。岩投げにそれを料理してもらって、何が起こるか見てもらおう」

Longstaff and Pinepuller went away, leaving Rockheaver to cook the hares. Again the dwarf with red boots jumped out from under the table and stole the dinner. When his two friends returned Rockheaver begged their pardon for his moments of distrust.

長杖と松抜きは、野ウサギの料理を岩投げに任せて出かけた。またしても赤い長靴の小人がテーブルの下から飛び出して、夕食を盗んだ。二人の友だちが戻ってくると、岩投げは疑った自分を許してくれと頼んだ。

"These are surely queer doings," said Longstaff. "I'm going to make an investigation. I'll not rest in peace until I find out where this red-booted dwarf lives and where these three dinners have gone. Come and help me dig up the ground under the kitchen."

「まったく妙なことが起こるものだ」と長杖は言った。「ぼくは調べてみるよ。この赤い長靴の小人がどこに住んでいて、三回の夕食がどこへ行ったのか突き止めるまでは、安心して休めない。台所の下の地面を掘るのを手伝ってくれ」

At once Rockheaver dug up the floor of the kitchen and Pinepuller pulled out the earth beneath. Soon they had a deep well-like hole reaching down into the ground. While they had been digging, Longstaff had made a ladder out of the branches of the trees, a ladder so long that it could reach very far into the earth.

すぐに岩投げが台所の床を掘り返し、松抜きがその下の土をかき出した。じきに二人は、地面の奥深くまで届く井戸のような深い穴を掘った。二人が掘っているあいだに、長杖は木の枝ではしごをこしらえた。地面のずっと奥まで届くほど長いはしごである。

"I'm going to be the one to descend into this hole," remarked Longstaff when he thought that it was quite deep enough.

「この穴を降りていくのはぼくだ」と長杖は、穴がもう十分に深くなったと思ったときに言った。

Indeed his two friends were entirely willing that he should.

実際、二人の友だちは、長杖が降りていくことにまったく異存がなかった。

He lowered the ladder he had made and very cautiously he crept down into the earth. At the foot of the ladder he came to what looked like a heavy barred door. He had brought his big iron staff with him, of course, and with this he knocked hard at the door.

長杖はこしらえたはしごを下ろし、たいそう用心深く地面のなかへ降りていった。はしごの下まで来ると、重い閂のかかった戸のようなものがあった。もちろん長杖は大きな鉄の杖を持ってきていたので、それで戸を強く叩いた。

"Who is there?" called out a voice from within.

「誰だ」となかから声が呼びかけた。

"I am Longstaff." "Open."

「長杖だ」「開けろ」

"Go away as fast as you can," said the voice. "This is the home of the seven-headed serpent. If he catches you it will be serious. You'll be enchanted and can never get away."

「できるだけ速く立ち去れ」とその声は言った。「ここは七つの頭の大蛇のすみかだ。大蛇につかまったらただではすまないぞ。魔法をかけられて、二度と逃げられなくなる」

"I'd like to meet this serpent for a minute or two," said Longstaff.

「その大蛇にちょっと会ってみたいものだ」と長杖は言った。

The heavy door swung open and Longstaff stepped inside. Immediately he heard a rushing like a great wind. With his big iron staff he struck a mighty blow at the seven-headed serpent. He hit him just in time to avoid being enchanted. The huge seven-headed serpent fell to the ground completely stunned by Longstaff's blow.

重い戸がさっと開き、長杖はなかに足を踏み入れた。たちまち、大風のようなごうごうという音が聞こえた。長杖は大きな鉄の杖で、七つの頭の大蛇に力いっぱいの一撃を食らわせた。長杖は、魔法をかけられるちょうど間一髪のところで大蛇を打ったのである。巨大な七つの頭の大蛇は、長杖の一撃ですっかり気を失って地面に倒れた。

At the first drop of blood which fell from the wounded monster a beautiful maiden appeared near the door. Longstaff recognized her at once as one of the two girls he had seen on the seashore tossing and catching the two glass balls. He took the balls out of his pocket.

傷ついた怪物から最初の血のしずくが落ちると、戸口の近くに美しい娘が現れた。長杖にはすぐに、それが海辺でガラスの玉を投げ合っては受け止めていた二人の娘の一人だとわかった。長杖はポケットから玉を取り出した。

"Do you recognize these?" he asked the maiden.

「これに見覚えはありませんか」と長杖は娘に尋ねた。

"Indeed I do," she replied. "One of these glass balls belongs to me and the other belongs to my sister. She, too, has been enchanted and is behind the next door you see ahead of you."

「ほんとうにありますとも」と娘は答えた。「このガラスの玉の一つはわたしのもので、もう一つは妹のものです。妹もまた魔法をかけられていて、この先に見える次の戸の向こうにいるのです」

"I'll get you away from this evil place," said Longstaff, "and then I'll see what I can do to help your sister."

「あなたをこの悪い場所から連れ出して」と長杖は言った。「それから妹さんを助けるために何ができるか考えましょう」

He lifted her in his arms and started to carry her up the ladder.

長杖は娘を腕に抱き上げて、はしごを登りはじめた。

"Wait just a minute," she said. "I think I'd better give you back this glass ball. I'll not be able to speak a word while you have it, but I think you need it more than I."

「ちょっと待ってください」と娘は言った。「このガラスの玉はあなたにお返ししたほうがいいと思います。あなたがそれを持っているあいだ、わたしはひと言も話せなくなりますけれど、わたしよりあなたのほうがそれを必要としていると思うのです」

She gave him back the glass ball and then they hastened up the long ladder. When Pinepuller and Rockheaver saw the lovely maiden in Longstaff's arms they were filled with amazement.

娘はガラスの玉を長杖に返し、それから二人は長いはしごを急いで登った。松抜きと岩投げは、長杖の腕に抱かれた愛らしい娘を見て、すっかり驚いた。

"She is a princess who has been enchanted," explained Longstaff. "Take good care of her while I return for her sister. Then we will restore these fair damsels to their father, the king, who has long mourned them as dead."

「魔法をかけられた王女さまだ」と長杖は説明した。「ぼくが妹さんを迎えに戻るあいだ、よく面倒を見てくれ。それから、この美しい姫君たちを、二人をとうに死んだものと嘆いている父親の王さまのところへ返そう」

Once more Longstaff crept down the ladder into the depths of the earth. The seven-headed serpent was still lying where he had fallen and Longstaff stepped past him and knocked at the door which barred his way.

長杖はもう一度はしごを伝って地面の奥深くへ降りていった。七つの頭の大蛇はまだ倒れたところに横たわっていたので、長杖はそのそばを通り過ぎて、行く手をふさいでいる戸を叩いた。

"Who is there?" called out a voice from within.

「誰だ」となかから声が呼びかけた。

"This is Longstaff! Open!"

「長杖だ! 開けろ!」

"Hurry away as fast as you can. This is the home of the dwarf with red boots," said the voice.

「できるだけ急いで立ち去れ。ここは赤い長靴の小人のすみかだ」とその声は言った。

"That red-booted dwarf is exactly the person I want to see," answered Longstaff, holding fast to his heavy iron bar which his father had made him long ago in the blacksmith's shop.

「その赤い長靴の小人こそ、ぼくが会いたいやつだ」と長杖は、ずっと昔父親が鍛冶屋の店でこしらえてくれた重い鉄の棒をしっかり握りしめながら答えた。

The door slowly swung open and Longstaff stepped inside. At once he heard the footsteps of the red-booted dwarf. The tiny dwarf looked up at him in surprise.

戸がゆっくり開き、長杖はなかに足を踏み入れた。すぐに赤い長靴の小人の足音が聞こえた。小さな小人は驚いて長杖を見上げた。

"We'll fight and see who is the best man," stormed he. "You fight with the black sword and I'll use the white one."

「どっちが強いか戦って決めよう」と小人はわめいた。「お前は黒い剣で戦え。おれは白い剣を使う」

"No indeed," said Longstaff. "I'll use the white sword and you the black. Otherwise I'll not wait to fight with swords but will choose my own weapon which happens to be this iron staff of mine."

「いや、だめだ」と長杖は言った。「ぼくが白い剣を使って、お前が黒い剣だ。そうでなければ、剣で戦うのなんか待たずに、ぼく自身の武器を選ぶ。それはこの鉄の杖だ」

The little red-booted dwarf looked up at the heavy iron staff in Longstaff's hand. It could crush him very easily indeed.

赤い長靴の小さな小人は、長杖の手の重い鉄の杖を見上げた。それなら自分などたやすく押しつぶされてしまう。

"Very well!" said he. "Just as you like!"

「わかった!」と小人は言った。「好きなようにしろ!」

Longstaff fought with the white sword and the dwarf with the black one, and soon the dwarf had fallen, though his great agility made up for his lack of size. With the first drop of blood which fell from the red-booted dwarf the beautiful princess was disenchanted.

長杖は白い剣で、小人は黒い剣で戦った。小人はたいそう身軽で、体の小ささを補っていたが、じきに倒れた。赤い長靴の小人から最初の血のしずくが落ちると、美しい王女の魔法が解けた。

She gave her glass ball back to Longstaff after she had recognized it as her own; and, safe in his arms, she was borne up the long ladder to the place where her sister was awaiting her with Pinepuller and Rockheaver.

王女はガラスの玉が自分のものだとわかると、それを長杖に返した。そして長杖の腕に無事に抱かれて、姉が松抜きと岩投げと一緒に待っているところまで、長いはしごを運び上げられた。

"I've left my staff behind!" cried Longstaff in alarm. "I must go down once more and get it."

「杖を置いてきてしまった!」と長杖はうろたえて叫んだ。「もう一度降りて取ってこなくちゃ」

He had never been without his staff near at hand even when he was asleep. Hastily he again descended the ladder. There was his staff lying where he had dropped it when he took the white sword. When he turned around to go up the ladder again, it had disappeared. His friends had forgotten all about him, so interested had they become in the two beautiful maidens. Even at that moment they were on their way to the king's palace. They had pulled up the ladder, never giving another thought as to how Longstaff was going to get out of the hole.

長杖は、眠っているときでさえ、杖をそばから離したことがなかったのである。長杖は急いでまたはしごを降りた。杖は、白い剣を取ったときに落としたところに転がっていた。長杖がはしごをまた登ろうと振り向くと、はしごは消えていた。友だちは二人の美しい娘にすっかり夢中になって、長杖のことをすっかり忘れてしまったのである。ちょうどそのとき、二人はもう王の宮殿へ向かっていた。二人ははしごを引き上げてしまい、長杖がどうやって穴から出るかなど考えもしなかった。

Longstaff shouted in vain. Then he remembered how the dwarf had appeared in the kitchen. Evidently the red-booted dwarf knew how to get up to the surface of the earth. A drink from Longstaff's flask quickly revived him. He reached for the white sword ready to fight again.

長杖は叫んだが無駄だった。そのとき長杖は、小人がどうやって台所に現れたかを思い出した。どうやら赤い長靴の小人は、地面の上に出る方法を知っているらしい。長杖の水筒から一口飲ませると、小人はたちまち息を吹き返した。小人はまた戦おうと白い剣に手を伸ばした。

"Wait a minute, my friend," said Longstaff. "You are now my prisoner. I'll let you go as soon as you perform a little service for me. Just take me up to the surface of the earth."

「ちょっと待て、友よ」と長杖は言った。「今やお前はぼくの捕虜だ。ちょっと役に立ってくれたら、すぐに放してやる。ぼくを地面の上まで連れていってくれ」

"That is easy," answered the dwarf. "Take hold of my hand."

「たやすいことだ」と小人は答えた。「おれの手につかまれ」

As soon as Longstaff had taken the hand of the red-booted dwarf he felt himself rise. In a moment he was safe outside the hole.

長杖が赤い長靴の小人の手を取ったとたん、体が浮き上がるのを感じた。あっという間に、長杖は穴の外に無事に出ていた。

"There's another thing I want you to do for me before I let you go," he said. "Take me to the king's palace."

「放してやる前に、もうひとつしてほしいことがある」と長杖は言った。「王の宮殿へ連れていってくれ」

Longstaff took hold of the dwarf's hand and in a moment more they were at the palace. It was only a minute after the king's daughters had been restored to him. The royal palace was wild with joy. Even the fact that the two lovely maidens were dumb was almost overlooked.

長杖が小人の手を取ると、あっという間に二人は宮殿に着いていた。それは、王の娘たちが王のもとに返されたほんの一分後のことだった。王宮は喜びに沸き返っていた。二人の愛らしい娘が口がきけないということさえ、ほとんど見過ごされていた。

When Pinepuller and Rockheaver saw Longstaff's angry eyes they ran away as fast as they could. They were never seen near the royal palace again.

松抜きと岩投げは長杖の怒った目を見ると、できるかぎりの速さで逃げていった。二人が王宮の近くで見かけられることは二度となかった。

Longstaff drew the two glass balls from his pocket and gave one to each of the two beautiful princesses. At once they could speak, and together they told their story to their father, the king.

長杖はポケットから二つのガラスの玉を取り出し、二人の美しい王女に一つずつ渡した。たちまち二人は口がきけるようになり、一緒に父親の王に身の上を話した。

"You may wed whichever princess you prefer," said the king to Longstaff when he had heard how he had made the bold rescue.

「どちらでも好きなほうの王女と結婚してよい」と、長杖がどうやって大胆に救い出したかを聞くと、王は長杖に言った。

Longstaff wedded the princess who was more beautiful than her sister, and when the king died he reigned over the whole kingdom.

長杖は姉妹のうちもう一人より美しいほうの王女と結婚し、王が死ぬと、王国全体を治めた。