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he said or did was sure to produce a torrent of household eloquence。
Rip had but one way of replying to all lectures of the kind； and that；
by frequent use； had grown into a habit。 He shrugged his shoulders；
shook his head； cast up his eyes； but said nothing。 This； however；
always provoked a fresh volley from his wife； so that he was fain to
draw off his forces； and take to the outside of the house… the only
side which； in truth； belongs to a hen…pecked husband。
Rip's sole domestic adherent was his dog Wolf； who was as much
hen…pecked as his master； for Dame Van Winkle regarded them as
companions in idleness； and even looked upon Wolf with an evil eye； as
the cause of his master's going so often astray。 True it is； in all
points of spirit befitting an honorable dog； he was as courageous an
animal as ever scoured the woods… but what courage can withstand the
ever…during and all…besetting terrors of a woman's tongue？ The
moment Wolf entered the house his crest fell； his tail drooped to
the ground； or curled between his legs； he sneaked about with a
gallows air； casting many a sidelong glance at Dame Van Winkle； and at
the least flourish of a broomstick or ladle； he would fly to the
door with yelping precipitation。
Times grew worse and worse with Rip Van Winkle as years of matrimony
rolled on； a tart temper never mellows with age； and a sharp tongue is
the only edged tool that grows keener with constant use。 For a long
while he used to console himself； when driven from home； by
frequenting a kind of perpetual club of the sages； philosophers； and
other idle personages of the village； which held its sessions on a
bench before a small inn； designated by a rubicund portrait of His
Majesty George the Third。 Here they used to sit in the shade through a
long lazy summer's day； talking listlessly over village gossip； or
telling endless sleepy stories about nothing。 But it would have been
worth any statesman's money to have heard the profound discussions
that sometimes took place； when by chance an old newspaper fell into
their hands from some passing traveller。 How solemnly they would
listen to the contents； as drawled out by Derrick Van Bummel； the
schoolmaster； a dapper learned little man； who was not to be daunted
by the most gigantic word in the dictionary； and how sagely they would
deliberate upon public events some months after they had taken place。
The opinions of this junto were completely controlled by Nicholas
Vedder； a patriarch of the village； and landlord of the inn； at the
door of which he took his seat from morning till night just moving
sufficiently to avoid the sun and keep in the shade of a large tree；
so that the neighbors could tell the hour by his movements as
accurately as by a sun…dial。 It is true he was rarely heard to
speak； but smoked his pipe incessantly。 His adherents； however （for
every great man has his adherents）； perfectly understood him； and knew
how to gather his opinions。 When any thing that was read or related
displeased him； he was observed to smoke his pipe vehemently； and to
send forth short； frequent and angry puffs； but when pleased； he would
inhale the smoke slowly and tranquilly； and emit it in light and
placid clouds； and sometimes； taking the pipe from his mouth； and
letting the fragrant vapor curl about his nose； would gravely nod
his head in token of perfect approbation。
From even this stronghold the unlucky Rip was at length routed by
his termagant wife； who would suddenly break in upon the
tranquillity of the assemblage and call the members all to naught； nor
was that august personage； Nicholas Vedder himself； sacred from the
daring tongue of this terrible virago； who charged him outright with
encouraging her husband in habits of idleness。
Poor Rip was at last reduced almost to despair； and his only
alternative； to escape from the labor of the farm and clamor of his
wife； was to take gun in hand and stroll away into the woods。 Here
he would sometimes seat himself at the foot of a tree； and share the
contents of his wallet with Wolf； with whom he sympathized as a
fellow…sufferer in persecution。 〃Poor Wolf；〃 he would say； 〃thy
mistress leads thee a dog's life of it； but never mind； my lad； whilst
I live thou shalt never want a friend to stand by thee！〃 Wolf would
wag his tail； look wistfully in his master's face； and if dogs can
feel pity I verily believe he reciprocated the sentiment with all
his heart。
In a long ramble of the kind on a fine autumnal day； Rip had
unconsciously scrambled to one of the highest parts of the Kaatskill
mountains。 He was after his favorite sport of squirrel shooting； and
the still solitudes had echoed and re…echoed with the reports of his
gun。 Panting and fatigued； he threw himself； late in the afternoon； on
a green knoll； covered with mountain herbage； that crowned the brow of
a precipice。 From an opening between the trees he could overlook all
the lower country for many a mile of rich woodland。 He saw at a
distance the lordly Hudson； far； far below him； moving on its silent
but majestic course； with the reflection of a purple cloud； or the
sail of a lagging bark； here and there sleeping on its glassy bosom；
and at last losing itself in the blue highlands。
On the other side he looked down into a deep mountain glen； wild；
lonely； and shagged； the bottom filled with fragments from the
impending cliffs； and scarcely lighted by the reflected rays of the
setting sun。 For some time Rip lay musing on this scene； evening was
gradually advancing； the mountains began to throw their long blue
shadows over the valleys； he saw that it would be dark long before
he could reach the village； and he heaved a heavy sigh when he thought
of encountering the terrors of Dame Van Winkle。
As he was about to descend； he heard a voice from a distance；
hallooing； 〃Rip Van Winkle！ Rip Van Winkle！〃 He looked round； but
could see nothing but a crow winging its solitary flight across the
mountain。 He thought his fancy must have deceived him； and turned
again to descend； when he heard the same cry ring through the still
evening air； 〃Rip Van Winkle！ Rip Van Winkle！〃… at the same time
Wolf bristled up his back； and giving a low growl； skulked to his
master's side； looking fearfully down into the glen。 Rip now felt a
vague apprehension stealing over him； he looked anxiously in the
same direction； and perceived a strange figure slowly toiling up the
rocks； and bending under the weight of something he carried on his
back。 He was surprised to see any human being in this lonely and
unfrequented place； but supposing it to be some one of the
neighborhood in need of his assistance； he hastened down to yield it。
On nearer approach he was still more surprised at the singularity of
the stranger's appearance。 He was a short square…built old fellow；
with thick bushy hair； and a grizzled beard。 His dress was of the
antique Dutch fashion… a cloth jerkin strapped round the waist…
several pair of breeches； the outer one of ample volume； decorated
with rows of buttons down the sides； and bunches at the knees。 He bore
on his shoulder a stout keg； that seemed full of liquor； and made
signs for Rip to approach and assist him with the load。 Though
rather shy and distrustful of this new acquaintance； Rip complied with
his usual alacrity； and mutually relieving one another； they clambered
up a narrow gully； apparently the dry bed of a mountain torrent。 As
they ascended； Rip every now and then heard long rolling peals； like
distant thunder； that seemed to issue out of a deep ravine； or
rather cleft； between lofty rocks； toward which their rugged path
conducted。 He paused for an instant； but supposing it to be the
muttering of one of those transient thunder…showers which often take
place in mountain heights； he proceeded。 Passing through the ravine；
they came to a hollow； like a small amphitheatre； surrounded by
perpendicular precipices； over the brinks of which impending trees
shot their branches； so that you only caught glimpses of the azure sky
and the bright evening cloud。 During the whole time Rip and his
companion had labored on in silence； for though the former marvelled
greatly what could be the object of carrying a keg of liquor up this
wild mountain； yet there was something strange and incomprehensible
about the unknown； that inspired awe and checked familiarity。
On entering the amphitheatre； new objects of wonder presented
themselves。 On a level spot in the centre was a company of odd…looking
personages playing at nine…pins。 They were dressed in a quaint
outlandish fashion； some wore short doublets； others jerkins； with
long knives in their belts； and most of them had enormous breeches； of
similar style with that of the guide's。 Their visages； too； were
peculiar： one had a large beard； broad face； and small piggish eyes：
the face of another seemed to consist entirely of nose； and was
surmounted by a white sugar…loaf hat； set off with a little red cock's
tail。 They all had beards； of various shapes and colors。 There was one
who seemed