gulliver of mars-第16章

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Slowly　morning　came；　and　the　black　wall　of　forest　around　became　full　of　purple　interstices　as　the　east　brightened。　　Those　glimmers　of　light　between　bough　and　trunk　turned　to　yellow　and　red；　the　day…shine　presently　stretched　like　a　canopy　from　point　to　point　of　the　treetops　on　either　side　of　my　sleeping…place；　and　I　arose。

All　my　limbs　were　stiff　with　cold；　my　veins　emptied　by　hunger　and　wounds；　and　for　a　space　I　had　not　even　strength　to　move。　　But　a　little　rubbing　softened　my　cramped　muscles　presently　and　limping　painfully　down　to　the　place　of　combat；　I　surveyed　the　traces　of　that　midnight　fight。　　I　will　not　dwell　upon　it。　　It　was　ugly　and　grim；　the　trampled　grass；　the　giant　footmarks；　each　enringing　its　pool　of　cur…　dled　blood；　the　broken　bushes；　the　grooved　mud…slides　where　the　unknown　brutes　had　slid　in　deadly　embrace；　the　hollows；　the　splintered　boughs；　their　ragged　points　tufted　with　skin　and　hairall　was　sickening　to　me。　　Yet　so　hungry　was　I　that　when　I　turned　towards　the　odious　remnants　of　the　vanquisheda　shapeless　mass　of　abominationmy　thou…　ghts　flew　at　once　to　breakfasting！　　I　went　down　and　in…　spected　the　victim　cautiouslya　huge　rat…like　beast　as　far　as　might　be　judged　from　the　bare　uprising　ribsall　that　was　left　of　him　looking　like　the　framework　of　a　schooner　yacht。　　His　heart　lay　amongst　the　offal；　and　my　knife　came　out　to　cut　a　meal　from　it；　but　I　could　not　do　it。　　Three　times　I　essayed　the　task；　hunger　and　disgust　contending　for　mastery；　three　times　turned　back　in　loathing。　　At　last　I　could　stand　the　sight　no　more；　and；　slamming　the　knife　up　again；　turned　on　my　heels；　and　fairly　ran　for　fresh　air　and　the　shore；　where　the　sea　was　beginning　to　glimmer　in　the　light　a　few　score　yards　through　the　forest　stems。　　There；　once　more　out　on　the　open；　on　a　pebbly　beach；　I　stripped；　spreading　my　things　out　to　dry　on　the　stones；　and　laying　myself　down　with　the　lapping　of　the　waves　in　my　ears；　and　the　first　yellow　sunshine　thawing　my　limbs；　tried　to　piece　together　the　hurrying　events　of　the　last　few　days。

What　were　my　gay　Martians　doing？　　Lazy　dogs　to　let　me；　a　stranger；　be　the　only　one　to　draw　sword　in　defence　of　their　own　princess！　　Where　was　poor　Heru；　that　sweet　maiden　wife？　　The　thought　of　her　in　the　hands　of　the　ape…men　was　odious。　　And　yet　was　I　not　mad　to　try　to　rescue；　or　even　to　follow　her　alone？　　If　by　any　chance　I　could　get　off　this　beast…haunted　place　and　catch　up　with　the　ravishers；　what　had　I　to　look　for　from　them　except　speedy　extinction；　and　that　likely　enough　by　the　most　painful　process　they　were　acquainted　with？

The　other　alternative　of　going　back　empty　handed　was　terribly　ignominious。　　I　had　lectured　the　amiable　young　manhood　of　Seth　so　soundly　on　the　subject　of　gallantry；　and　set　them　such　a　good　example　on　two　occasions；　that　it　would　be　bathos　to　saunter　back；　hands　in　pockets；　and　con…　fess　I　knew　nothing　of　the　lady's　fate　and　had　been　daunted　by　the　first　night　alone　in　the　forest。　　Besides；　how　dull　it　would　be　in　that　beautiful；　tumble…down　old　city　without　Heru；　with　no　expectation　day　by　day　of　seeing　her　sylph…like　form　and　hearing　the　merry　tinkle　of　her　fairy　laughter　as　she　scoffed　at　the　unknown　learning　col…　lected　by　her　ancestors　in　a　thousand　laborious　years。　　No！　I　would　go　on　for　certain。　　I　was　young；　in　love；　and　angry；　and　before　those　qualifications　difficulties　became　light。

Meanwhile；　the　first　essential　was　breakfast　of　some　kind。　I　arose；　stretched；　put　on　my　half…dried　clothes；　and　mount…　ing　a　low　hummock　on　the　forest　edge　looked　around。　The　sun　was　riding　up　finely　into　the　sky；　and　the　sea　to　the　eastward　shone　for　leagues　and　leagues　in　the　loveliest　azure。　Where　it　rippled　on　my　own　beach　and　those　of　the　low　islands　noted　over　night；　a　wonderful　fire　of　blue　and　red　played　on　the　sands　as　though　the　broken　water　were　full　of　living　gems。　　The　sky　was　full　of　strange　gulls　with　long；　forked　tails；　and　a　lovely　little　flying　lizard　with　transparent　wings　of　the　palest　greenlike　those　of　a　grass…　hopperwas　flitting　about　picking　up　insect　stragglers。

All　this　was　very　charming；　but　what　I　kept　saying　to　myself　was　〃Streaky　rashers　and　hot　coffee：　rashers　and　coffee　and　rolls；〃　and；　indeed；　had　the　gates　of　Paradise　themselves　opened　at　that　moment　I　fear　my　first　look　down　the　celestial　streets　within　would　have　been　for　a　restaurant。　They　did　not；　and　I　was　just　turning　away　disconsolate　when　my　eye　caught；　ascending　from　behind　the　next　bluff　down　the　beach；　a　thin　strand　of　smoke　rising　into　the　morning　air。

It　was　nothing　so　much　in　itselfa　thin　spiral　creeping　upwards　mast…high；　then　flattening　out　into　a　mushroom　headbut　it　meant　everything　to　me。　　Where　there　was　fire　there　must　be　humanity；　and　where　there　was　human…　ityay；　to　the　very　outlayers　of　the　universethere　must　be　breakfast。　　It　was　a　splendid　thought；　I　rushed　down　the　hillock　and　went　gaily　for　that　blue　thread　amongst　the　reeds。　　It　was　not　two　hundred　yards　away；　and　soon　below　me　was　a　tiny　bay　with　bluest　water　frilling　a　silver　beach；　and　in　the　midst　of　it　a　fire　on　a　hearth　dancing　round　a　pot　that　simmered　gloriously。　　But　of　an　owner　there　was　nothing　to　be　seen。　　I　peered　here　and　there　on　the　shore；　but　nothing　moved；　while　out　to　sea　the　water　was　shining　like　molten　metal　with　not　a　dot　upon　it！what　did　it　matter？　　I　laughed　as；　pleased　and　hungry；　I　slipped　down　the　bank　and　strode　across　the　sands；　it　pleased　Fate　to　play　bandy　with　me；　and　if　it　sent　me　supperless　to　bed；　why；　here　was　restitution　in　the　way　of　breakfast。　I　took　up　a　morsel　of　the　stuff　in　the　kettle　on　a　handy　stick　and　found　it　goodindeed；　I　knew　it　at　once　as　a　very　dainty　mess　made　from　the　roots　of　a　herb　the　Martians　great…　ly　liked；　An　had　piled　my　platter　with　it　when　we　supped　that　night　in　the　market…place　of　Seth；　and　the　sweet　white　stuff　had　melted　into　my　corporal　essence；　it　seemed；　with…　out　any　gross　intermediate　process　of　digestion。　　And　here　I　was　again；　hungry；　sniffing　the　fragrant　breath　of　a　full　meal　and　not　a　soul　in　sightI　should　have　been　a　fool　not　to　have　eaten。　　So　thinking；　down　I　sat；　taking　the　pot　from　its　place；　and　when　it　was　a　little　cool　plunging　my　hands　into　it　and　feasting　with　as　good　an　appetite　as　ever　a　man　had　before。

It　was　gloriously　ambrosial；　and　deeper　and　deeper　I　went；　with　the　tall　stalk　of　the　smoke　in　front　growing　from　the　hearth…stones　like　some　strange　new　plant；　the　plea…　sant　sunshine　on　my　back；　and　never　a　thought　for　any…　thing　but　the　task　in　hand。　　Deeper　and　deeper；　oblivious　of　all　else；　until　to　get　the　very　last　drops　I　lifted　the　pipkin　up　and　putting　back　my　head　drank　in　that　fashion。

It　was　only　when　with　a　sigh　of　pleasure　I　lowered　it　slowly　again　that　over　the　rim　as　it　sank　there　dawned　upon　me　the　vision　of　a　Martian　standing　by　an　empty　canoe　on　the　edge　of　the　water　and　regarding　me　with　calm　amaze…　ment。　　I　was；　in　fact；　so　astonished　that　for　a　minute　the　empty　pot　stood　still　before　my　face；　and　over　its　edge　we　stared　at　each　other　in　mute　surprise；　then　with　all　the　dig…　nity　that　might　be　I　laid　the　vessel　down　between　my　feet　and　waited　for　the　newcomer　to　speak。　　She　was　a　girl　by　her　yellow　garb；　a　fisherwoman；　it　seemed；　for　in　the　prow　of　her　craft　was　piled　a　net　upon　which　the　scales　of　fishes　were　twinklinga　Martian；　obviously；　but　something　more　ro…　bust　than　most　of　them；　a　savour　of　honest　work　about　her　sunburnt　face　which　my　pallid　friends　away　yonder　were　lacking　in；　and　when　we　had　stared　at　each　other　for　a　few　moments　in　silence　she　came　forward　a　step　or　two　and　said　without　a　trace　of　fear　or　shyness；　〃Are　you　a　spirit；　sir？

〃Why；〃　I　answered；　〃about　as　much；　no　more　and　no　less；　than　most　of　us。〃

〃Aye；〃　she　said。　　〃I　thought　you　were；　for　none　but　spirits　live　here　upon　this　island；　are　you　for　good　or　evil？〃

〃Far　better　for　the　breakfast　of　which　I　fear　I　have　robbed　you；　but　wandering　along　the　shore　and　finding　this　pot　boiling　with　no　owner；　I　ventured　to　sample　it；　and　it　was　so　good　my　appetite　got　the　better　of　manners。〃

The　girl　bowed；　and　standing　at　a　respectful　distance　asked　if　I　would　like　some　fish　as　well；　she　had　some；　but　not　many；　and　if　I　would　eat　she　would　cook　them　for　me　in　a　minuteit　was　not　often；　she　added　lightly；　she　had　met　one　of　my　kind　before。　　In　fact；　it　was　obvious　that　simple　person　did　actually　take　me　for　a　being　of　another　world；　and　was　it　for　me　to　say　she　was　wrong？　　So　adopt…　ing　a　dignity　worthy　of　my　reputation　I　nodded　gravely　to　her　offer。　　She　fetched　from　the　boat　four　little　fishes　of　the　daintiest　kind　imaginable。　　They　were　each　about　as　big　as　a　hand　and　pale　blue　when　you　looked　down　upon　them；　but　so　clear　against　the　light　that　every　bone　and　vein　in　their　bodies　could　be　traced。　　These　were　wrapped　just　as　they　were　in　a　broad；　green　leaf　and　then　the　Martian；　taking　a　pointed　stick；　made　a　hollow　in　the　white　ashes；　laid　them　in　side　by　side；　and　drew　the　hot　dust　over　again。

While　they　cooked　we　chatted　as　though　the　acquaintance　were　the　most　casual　thing　in　the　world；　and　I　found　it　was　indeed　an　island　we　were　on　and　not　the　mainland；　as　I　had　hoped　at　first。　　Seth；　she　told　me；　was　far　away　to　the　eastward；　and　if　the　woodmen　had　gone　by　in　their　ships　they　would　have　passed　round　to　the　north…west　of　where　we　were。

I　spent　an　hour　or　two　with　that　amiable　individual；　and；　it　is　to　be　hoped；　sustained　the　character　of　a　spiritual　visitant　with　considerable　dignity。　　In　one　particular　at　least；　that；　namely；　of　appetite；　I　did　honour　to　my　supposed　source；　and　as　my　entertainer　would　not　hear　of　payment　in　material　kind；　all　I　could　do　was　to　show　her　some　conjuring　tricks；　which　greatly　increased　her　belief　in　my　supernatural　origin；　and　to　teach　her　some　new　hitches　and　knots；　using　her　fishing…line　as　a　means　of　illustration；　a　demonstration　which　called　from　her　the　natural　observation　that　we　must　be　good　sailors　〃up　aloft〃　since　we　knew　so　much　about　cordage；　then　we　parted。

She　had　seen　nothing　of　the　woodmen；　though　she　had　heard　they　had　been　to　Seth　and　thought；　from　some　niceties　of　geographical　calculation　which　I　could　not　follow；　they　would　have　crossed　to　the　north；　as　just　stated；　of　her　island。　There　she　told　me；　with　much　surprise　at　my　desire　for　the　information；　how　I　might；　by　following　the　forest　track　to　the　westward　coast；　make　my　way　to　a　fishing　village；　where　they　would　give　me　a　canoe　and　direct　me；　since　such　was　my　extraordinary　wish；　to　the　place　where；　if　anywhere；　the　wild　men　had　touched　on　their　way　home。

She　filled　my　wallet　with　dried　honey…cakes　and　my　mouth　with　sugar　plums　from　her　little　store；　then　down　on　her　knees　went　that　poor　waif　of　a　worn…out　civilisation　and　kissed　my　hands　in　humble　farewell；　and　I；　blushing　to　be　so　saluted；　and　after　all　but　a　sailor；　got　her　by　the　rosy　fingers　and　lifted　her　up　shoulder　high；　and　getting　one　hand　under　her　chin　and　the　other　behind　her　head　kissed　her　twice　upon　her　pretty　cheeks；　and　so；　I　say；　we　parted。




CHAPTER　X

Off　into　the　forest　I　went；　feeling　a　boyish　elation　to　be　so　free　nor　taking　heed　or　count　of　the　reckless　adventure　before　me。　　The　Martian　weather　for　the　moment　was　lovely　and　the　many…coloured　grass　lush　and　s