The louder he roared, the louder roared I, until the place fairly
rang with the din, in so much that, chancing to look through the
open doorway, I saw the Ancient, with Simon, Job, and several
others, on the opposite side of the way, staring, open-mouthed,
as well they might. But still the smith and I continued to howl
at each other with unabated vigor until he stopped, all at once,
and threw down his hammer with a clang.
"Dang me if I like that voice o' yourn!" he exclaimed.
"Why, to be sure, I don't sing very often," I answered.
"Which, I mean to say, is a very good thing; ah! a very good
thing!"
"Nor do I pretend to sing--"
"Then why do 'ee try now?"
"For company's sake."
"Well, I don't like it; I've 'ad enough of it."
"Then," said I, "suppose you listen to what I have to say?"
"Not by no manner o' means."
"Then what do you propose to do?"
"Why," said the smith, rising and stretching himself, "since you
ax me, I'm a-goin' to pitch you out o' yon door."
"You may try, of course," said I, measuring the distance between
us with my eye, "but if you do, seeing you are so much the bigger
and stronger man, I shall certainly fetch you a knock with this
staff of mine which I think you will remember for many a day."
So saying, I rose and stepped out into the middle of the floor.
Black George eyed me slowly up from the soles of my boots to the
crown of my hat and down again, picked up his hammer in an
undecided fashion, looked it over as if he had never seen such a
thing before, tossed it into a corner, and, seating himself on
the anvil, folded his arms. All at once a merry twinkle leapt
into the blue depths of his eyes, and I saw the swift gleam of a
smile.
"What do 'ee want--man?" said he.
Now hereupon, with a sudden gesture, I pitched my staff out
through the open doorway into the road, and folded my arms across
my chest, even as he.
"Why did 'ee do that?" he inquired, staring.
"Because I don't think I shall need it, after all."
"But suppose I was to come for 'ee now?"
"But you won't."
"You be a strange sort o' chap!" said he, shaking his head.