gulliver of mars-第17章

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　soft　under　foot。　　Mile　after　mile　I　went；　heeding　the　distance　lightly；　the　air　was　so　elastic。　　Now　pressing　forward　as　the　main　interest　of　my　errand　took　the　upper　hand；　and　remembrance　of　poor　Heru　like　a　crushed　white　flower　in　the　red　grip　of　those　cruel　ravishers　came　upon　me；　and　then　pausing　to　sigh　with　pleasure　or　stand　agapeforgetful　even　of　herin　wonder　of　the　unknown　loveliness　about　me。

And　well　might　I　stare！　　Everything　in　that　forest　was　wonderful！　　There　were　plants　which　turned　from　colour　to　colour　with　the　varying　hours　of　the　day。　　While　others　had　a　growth　so　swift　it　was　dangerous　to　sit　in　their　neighbour…　hood　since　the　long；　succulent　tendrils　clambering　from　the　parent　stem　would　weave　you　into　a　helpless　tangle　while　you　gazed；　fascinated；　upon　them。　　There　were　plants　that　climbed　and　walked；　sighing　plants　who　called　the　winged　things　of　the　air　to　them　with　a　noise　so　like　to　a　girl　sobbing　that　again　and　again　I　stopped　in　the　tangled　path　to　listen。　　There　were　green　bladder…mosses　which　swam　about　the　surface　of　the　still　pools　like　gigantic　frog…broods。　　There　were　on　the　ridges　warrior　trees　burning　in　the　vindictiveness　of　a　long　forgotten　causea　blaze　of　crimson　scimitar　thorns　from　root　to　topmost　twig；　and　down　again　in　the　cool　hollows　were　lady…bushes　making　twilight　of　the　green　gloom　with　their　cloudy　ivory　blos…　soms　and　filling　the　shadows　with　such　a　heavy　scent　that　head　and　heart　reeled　with　fatal　pleasure　as　one　pushed　aside　their　branches。　　Every　river…bed　was　full　of　mighty　reeds；　whose　stems　clattered　together　when　the　wind　blew　like　swords　on　shields；　and　every　now　and　then　a　bit　of　forest　was　woven　together　with　the　ropey　stems　of　giant　creepers　till　no　man　or　beast　could　have　passed　save　for　the　paths　which　constant　use　had　kept　open　through　the　mazes。

All　day　long　I　wandered　on　through　those　wonderful　woodlands；　and　in　fact　loitered　so　much　over　their　infinite　marvels　that　when　sundown　came　all　too　soon　there　was　still　undulating　forest　everywhere；　vistas　of　fairy　glades　on　every　hand；　peopled　with　incredible　things　and　echoing　with　sounds　that　excited　the　ears　as　much　as　other　things　fascinated　the　eyes；　but　no　sign　of　the　sea　or　my　fishing　village　anywhere。

It　did　not　matter；　a　little　of　the　Martian　leisureliness　was　getting　into　my　blood：　〃If　not　today；　why　then　tomorrow；〃　as　An　would　have　said；　and　with　this　for　comfort　I　selected　a　warm；　sandy　hollow　under　the　roots　of　a　big　tree；　made　my　brief　arrangements　for　the　night；　ate　some　honey　cakes；　and　was　soon　sleeping　blissfully。

I　woke　early　next　morning；　after　many　hours　of　interrupted　dreams；　and　having　nothing　to　do　till　the　white　haze　had　lifted　and　made　it　possible　to　start　again；　rested　idly　a　time　on　my　elbow　and　watched　the　sunshine　filter　into　the　recesses。

Very　pretty　it　was　to　see　the　thick　canopy　overhead；　by　star…light　so　impenetrable；　open　its　chinks　and　fissures　as　the　searching　sun　came　upon　it；　to　see　the　pin…hole　gaps　shine　like　spangles　presently；　the　spaces　broaden　into　lesser　suns；　and　even　the　thick　leafage　brighten　and　shine　down　on　me　with　a　soft　sea…green　radiance。　　The　sunward　sides　of　the　tree…stems　took　a　glow；　and　the　dew　that　ran　dripping　down　their　mossy　sides　trickled　blood…red　to　earth。　　Else…　where　the　shadows　were　still　black；　and　strange　things　began　to　move　in　themthings　we　in　our　middle…aged　world　have　never　seen　the　likeness　of：　beasts　half　birds；　birds　half　creeping　things；　and　creeping　things　which　it　seemed　to　me　passed　through　lesser　creations　down　to　the　basest　life　that　crawls　without　interruption　or　division。

It　was　not　for　me；　a　sailor；　to　know　much　of　such　things；　yet　some　I　could　not　fail　to　notice。　　On　one　grey　branch　overhead；　jutting　from　a　tree…stem　where　a　patch　of　velvet　moss　made　in　the　morning　glint　a　fairy　bed；　a　won…　derful　flower　unfolded。　　It　was　a　splendid　bud；　ivory　white；　cushioned　in　leaves；　and　secured　to　its　place　by　naked　white　roots　that　clipped　the　branch　like　fingers　of　a　lady's　hand。　Even　as　I　looked　it　opened；　a　pale　white　star；　and　hung　pensive　and　inviting　on　its　mossy　cushion。　　From　it　came　such　a　ravishing　odour　that　even　I；　at　the　further　end　of　the　great　scale　of　life；　felt　my　pulses　quicken　and　my　eyes　brighten　with　cupidity。　　I　was　in　the　very　act　of　climbing　the　tree；　but　before　I　could　move　hand　or　foot　two　things　happened；　whether　you　take　my　word　for　them　or　no。

Firstly；　up　through　a　glade　in　the　underwood；　attracted　by　the　odour；　came　an　ugly　brown　bird　with　a　capacious　beak　and　shining　claws。　　He　perched　near　by；　and　peeped　and　peered　until　he　made　out　the　flower　pining　on　her　virgin　stem；　whereat　off　he　hopped　to　her　branch　and　there；　with　a　cynical　chuckle；　strutted　to　and　fro　between　her　and　the　main　stem　like　an　ill　genius　guarding　a　fairy　princess。

Surely　Heaven　would　not　allow　him　to　tamper　with　so　chaste　a　bud！　　My　hand　reached　for　a　stone　to　throw　at　him　when　happened　the　second　thing。　　There　came　a　gentle　pat　upon　the　woodland　floor；　and　from　a　tree　overhead　dropped　down　another　living　plant　like　to　the　one　above　yet　not　exactly　similar；　a　male；　my　instincts　told　me；　in　full　sol…　itary　blossom　like　her　above；　cinctured　with　leaves；　and　supported　by　half　a　score　of　thick　white　roots　that　worked；　as　I　looked；　like　the　limbs　of　a　crab。　　In　a　twinkling　that　parti…coloured　gentleman　vegetable　near　me　was　off　to　the　stem　upon　which　grew　his　lady　love；　running　and　scram…　bling；　dragging　the　finery　of　his　tasselled　petals　behind；　it　was　laughable　to　watch　his　eagerness。　　He　got　a　grip　of　the　tree　and　up　he　went；　〃hand　over　hand；〃　root　over　root。　　I　had　just　time　to　note　others　of　his　species　had　dropped　here　and　there　upon　the　ground；　and　were　hurry…　ing　with　frantic　haste　to　the　same　destination　when　he　reached　the　fatal　branch；　and　was　straddling　victoriously　down　it；　blind　to　all　but　love　and　longing。　　That　ill…omened　bird　who　stood　above　the　maiden…flower　let　him　come　within　a　stalk's　length；　so　near　that　the　white　splendour　of　his　sleeping　lady　gleamed　within　arms'　reach；　then　the　great　beak　was　opened；　the　great　claws　made　a　clutch；　the　gal…　lant's　head　was　yanked　from　his　neck；　and　as　it　went　tumbling　down　the　maw　of　the　feathered　thing　his　white　legs　fell　spinning　through　space；　and　lay　knotting　them…　selves　in　agony　upon　the　ground　for　a　minute　or　two　before　they　relaxed　and　became　flaccid　in　the　repose　of　death。　　An…　other　and　another　vegetable　suitor　made　for　that　fatal　tryst；　and　as　each　came　up　the　snap　of　the　brown　bird's　beak　was　all　their　obsequies。　　At　last　no　more　came；　and　then　that　Nemesis　of　claws　and　quills　walked　over　to　the　girl…flower；　his　stomach　feathers　ruffled　with　repletion；　the　green　blood　of　her　lovers　dripping　from　his　claws；　and　pulled　her　golden　heart　out；　tore　her　white　limbs　one　from　the　other；　and　swallowed　her　piecemeal　before　my　very　eyes！　　Then　up　in　wrath　I　jumped　and　yelled　at　him　till　the　woods　echoed；　but　too　late　to　stay　his　sacrilege。

By　this　time　the　sun　was　bathing　everything　in　splendour；　and　turning　away　from　the　wonders　about　me；　I　set　off　at　best　pace　along　the　well…trodden　path　which　led　without　turning　to　the　west　coast　village　where　the　canoes　were。

It　proved　far　closer　than　expected。　　As　a　matter　of　fact　the　forest　in　this　direction　grew　right　down　to　the　water's　edge；　the　salt…loving　trees　actually　overhanging　the　wavesone　of　the　pleasantest　sights　in　natureand　thus　I　came　right　out　on　top　of　the　hamlet　before　there　had　been　an　indication　of　its　presence。　　It　occupied　two　sides　of　a　pretty　little　bay；　the　third　side　being　flat　land　given　over　to　the　cultivation　of　an　enormous　species　of　gourd　whose　characteristic　yellow　flowers　and　green；　succulent　leaves　were　discernible　even　at　this　distance。

I　branched　off　along　the　edge　of　the　surf　and　down　a　dainty　little　flowery　path；　noticing　meanwhile　how　the　whole　bay　was　filled　by　hundreds　of　empty　canoes；　while　scores　of　others　were　drawn　up　on　the　strand；　and　then　the　first　thing　I　chanced　upon　was　a　group　of　peopleyouthful；　of　course；　with　the　eternal　Martian　bloomand　in　the　splendid　simplicity　of　almost　complete　nakedness。　　My　first　idea　was　that　they　were　bathing；　and　fixing　my　eyes　on　the　tree…tops　with　great　propriety；　I　gave　a　warning　cough。　　At　that　sound　instead　of　getting　to　cover；　or　clothes；　all　started　up　and　stood　staring　for　a　time　like　a　herd　of　startled　cattle。　It　was　highly　embarrassing；　they　were　right　in　the　path；　a　round　dozen　of　them；　naked　and　so　little　ashamed　that　when　I　edged　away　modestly　they　began　to　run　after　me。　And　the　farther　they　came　forward　the　more　I　retired；　till　we　were　playing　a　kind　of　game　of　hide…and…seek　round　the　tree…stems。　　In　the　middle　of　it　my　heel　caught　in　a　root　and　down　I　went　very　hard　and　very　ignominiously；　whereon　those　laughing；　light…hearted　folk　rushed　in；　and　with　smiles　and　jests　helped　me　to　my　feet。

〃Was　I　the　traveller　who　had　come　from　Seth？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Oh；　then　that　was　well。　　They　had　heard　such　a　traveller　was　on　the　road；　and　had　come　a　little　way　down　the　path；　as　far　as　might　be　without　fatigue；　to　meet　him。〃

〃Would　I　eat　with　them？〃　these　amiable　strangers　asked；　pushing　their　soft　warm　fingers　into　mine　and　ringing　me　round　with　a　circle。　　〃But　firstly　might　they　help　me　out　of　my　clothes？　　It　was　hot；　and　these　things　were　cumber…　some。〃　　As　to　the　eating；　I　was　agreeable　enough　seeing　how　casual　meals　had　been　with　me　lately；　but　my　clothes；　though　Heaven　knows　they　were　getting　horribly　ragged　and　travel…stained；　I　clung　to　desperately。

My　new　friends　shrugged　their　dimpled　shoulders　and；　arguments　being　tedious；　at　once　squatted　round　me　in　the　dappled　shade　of　a　big　tree　and　produced　their　stores　of　never　failing　provisions。　　After　a　pleasant　little　meal　taken　thus　in　the　open　and　with　all　the　simplicity　Martians　de…　light　in；　we　got　to　talking　about　those　yellow　canoes　which　were　bobbing　about　on　the　blue　waters　of　the　bay。

〃Would　you　like　to　see　where　they　are　grown？〃　asked　an　individual　basking　by　my　side。

〃Grown！〃　I　answered　with　incredulity。　　〃Built；　you　mean。　Never　in　my　life　did　I　hear　of　growing　boats。〃

〃But　then；　sir；〃　observed　the　girl　as　she　sucked　the　honey　out　of　the　stalk　of　an　azure　convolvulus　flower　and　threw　the　remains　at　a　butterfly　that　sailed　across　the　sunshine；　〃you　know　so　little！　　You　have　come　from　afar；　from　some　barbarous　and　barren　district。　　Here　we　undoubtedly　grow　our　boats；　and　though　we　know　the　Thither　folk　and　such　uncultivated　races　make　their　craft　by　cumbrous　methods　of　flat　planks；　yet　we　prefer　our　own　way；　for　one　thing　be…　cause　it　saves　trouble；〃　and　as　she　murmured　that　all…　sufficient　reason　the　gentle　damsel　nodded　reflectively。

But　one　of　her　companions；　more　lively　for　the　moment；　tickled　her　with　a　straw　until　she　roused；　and　then　said；　〃Let　us　take　the　stranger　to　the　boat　garden　now。　　The　cur…　rent　will　drift　us　round　the　bay；　and　we　can　come　back　when　it　turns。　　If　we　wait　we　shall　have　to　row　in　both　directions；　or　even　walk；〃　and　again　planetary　slothfulness　carried　the　day。

So　down　to　the　beach　we　strolled　and　launched　one　of　the　golden…hued　skiffs　upon　the　pretty　dancing　wavelets　just　where　they　ran；　lipped　with　jewelled　spray；　on　the　shore；　and　then　on