The sound of her voice sets them running just as if she were one of the mountain spirits, of whom we hear so much talk. [But where the deuce can Rip be all this while? [Rip sings without.] But talk of the devil and his imps appear.][2]
Enter Rip Van Winkle, with gun, game-bag, &c.
Rip.
Rip, Rip, wass is dis for a business. You are a mix nootze unt dat is a fact. Now, I started for de mountains dis mornin', determined to fill my bag mit game, but I met Von Brunt, de one-eyed sergeant—[comma see hah, unt brandy-wine hapben my neiber friend];[3] well, I couldn't refuse to take a glass mit him, unt den I tooks anoder glass, unt den I took so much as a dozen, [do][4] I drink no more as a bottle; he drink no more as I—he got so top heavy, I rolled him in de hedge to sleep a leetle, for his one eye got so crooked, he never could have seed his way straight; den I goes to de mountain, [do][5] I see double, [d——d][6] a bird could I shooted. But I stops now, I drinks no more; if anybody ask me to drink, I'll say to dem—[Vedder comes down, and offers cup to him.]—here is your [go-to-hell],[7] and your family's [go-to-hell], and may you all live long and [prosper].[8] [Drinks.
Vedder.
Why, neighbour Rip, where have you been all day? [pg 043] We feared some of the [Elfin][9] goblins of the Catskill had caught you.
Rip.
Ha, ha! I never see no ghosts, though I've fought mit spirits in my time, ha, ha!
Vedder.
And they always throw you, eh? ha, ha!