gulliver of mars-第21章

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But　I　was　much　younger　than　he；　and　in　a　minute　was　in　chase　again。　　This　time　I　laid　hold　of　his　cloak；　and　the　moment　he　felt　my　grip　he　slipped　the　neck…thongs　and　left　me　with　only　the　mangy　garment　in　my　hands。　　Again　we　set　off；　dodging　and　scampering　with　all　our　might　upon　that　frozen　bit　of　beach。　　The　activity　of　that　old　fellow　was　marvellous；　but　I　could　not　and　would　not　lose　him。　I　made　a　rush　and　grappled　him；　but　he　tossed　his　head　round　and　slipped　away　once　more　under　my　arm；　as　though　he　had　been　brought　up　by　a　Chinese　wrestler。　　Then　he　got　on　one　side　of　a　flat　rock；　I　the　other；　and　for　three　or　four　minutes　we　waltzed　round　that　slab　in　the　most　insane　manner。

But　by　this　time　we　were　both　pretty　well　spenthe　with　age　and　I　with　faintness　from　my　long　fast；　and　we　came　presently　to　a　standstill。

After　glaring　at　me　for　a　time；　the　woodman　gasped　out　as　he　struggled　for　breath

〃Oh；　mighty　and　dreadful　spirit！　　Oh；　dweller　in　pri…　mordial　ice；　say　from　which　niche　of　the　cliffs　has　the　breath　of　chance　thawed　you？〃

〃Never　a　niche　at　all；　Mr。　Hunter…for…Haddocks'…Eyes；〃　I　　answered　as　soon　as　I　could　speak。　　〃I　am　just　a　castaway　wrecked　last　night　on　this　shore　of　yours；　and　very　grateful　indeed　will　I　be　if　you　can　show　me　the　way　to　some　breakfast　first；　and　afterwards　to　the　outside　world。〃

But　the　old　fellow　would　not　believe。　　〃Spirits　such　as　you；〃　he　said　sullenly；　〃need　no　food；　and　go　whither　they　will　by　wish　alone。〃

〃I　tell　you　I　am　not　a　spirit；　and　as　hungry　as　I　don't　particularly　want　to　be　again。　　Here；　look　at　the　back　of　my　trousers；　caked　three　inches　deep　in　mud。　　If　I　were　a　spirit；　do　you　think　I　would　slide　about　on　my　coat…tails　like　that？　Do　you　think　that　if　I　could　travel　by　volition　I　would　slip　down　these　infernal　cliffs　on　my　pants'　seat　as　I　have　just　done？　And　as　for　materialismlook　at　this　fist；　it　punched　you　just　now！　　Surely　there　was　nothing　spiritual　in　that　knock？''

〃No；〃　said　the　savage；　rubbing　his　head；　〃it　was　a　good；　honest　rap；　so　I　must　take　you　at　your　word。　　If　you　are　indeed　man；　and　hungry；　it　will　be　a　charity　to　feed　you；　if　you　are　a　spirit；　it　will　at　least　be　interesting　to　watch　you　eat；　so　sit　down；　and　let's　see　what　I　have　in　my　wallet。〃

So　cross…legged　we　squatted　opposite　each　other　on　the　table　rock；　and；　feeling　like　another　Sindbad　the　Sailor；　I　watched　my　new　friend　fumble　in　his　bag　and　lay　out　at　his　side　all　sorts　of　odds　and　ends　of　string；　fish…hooks；　chew…　ing…gum；　material　for　making　a　fire；　and　so　on；　until　at　last　he　came　to　a　package　（done　up；　I　noted　with　delight；　in　a　broad；　green　leaf　which　had　certainly　been　growing　that　morning）；　and　unrolling　it；　displayed　a　lump　of　dried　meat；　a　few　biscuits；　much　thicker　and　heavier　than　the　honey…　cakes　of　the　Hither　folk；　and　something　that　looked　and　smelt　like　strong；　white　cheese。

He　signed　to　me　to　eat；　and　you　may　depend　upon　it　I　was　not　slow　in　accepting　the　invitation。　　That　tough　biltong　tasted　to　me　like　the　tenderest　steak　that　ever　came　from　a　grill；　the　biscuits　were　ambrosial；　the　cheese　melted　in　my　mouth　as　butter　melts　in　that　of　the　virtuous；　but　when　the　old　man　finished　the　quaint　picnic　by　inviting　me　to　accompany　him　down　to　the　waterside　for　a　drink；　I　shook　my　head。　　I　had　a　great　respect　for　dead　queens　and　kings；　I　said；　but　there　were　too　many　of　them　up　above　to　make　me　thirsty　this　morning；　my　respect　did　not　go　to　making　me　desire　to　imbibe　them　in　solution！

Afterwards　I　chanced　to　ask　him　what　he　had　been　pick…　ing　up　just　now　along　the　margin；　and　after　looking　at　me　suspiciously　for　a　minute　he　asked

〃You　are　not　a　thief？〃　　On　being　reassured　on　that　point　he　continued：　〃And　you　will　not　attempt　to　rob　me　of　the　harvest　for　which　I　venture　into　this　ghost…haunted　glen；　which　you　and　I　alone　of　living　men　have　seen？〃

〃No。〃　　Whatever　they　were；　I　said；　I　would　respect　his　earnings。

〃Very　well；　then；〃　said　the　old　man；　〃look　here！　　I　come　hither　to　pick　up　those　pretty　trifles　which　yonder　lords　and　ladies　have　done　with；〃　and　plunging　his　hand　into　an…　other　bag　he　brought　out　a　perfect　fistful　of　splendid　gems　and　jewels；　some　set　and　some　unset。　　〃They　wash　from　the　hands　and　wrists　of　those　who　have　lodgings　in　the　crevices　of　the　falls　above；〃　he　explained。　　〃After　a　time　the　beach　here　will　be　thick　with　them。　　Could　I　get　up　whence　you　came　down；　they　might　be　gathered　by　the　sackful。　　Come！　there　is　an　eddy　still　unsearched；　and　I　will　show　you　how　they　lie。〃

It　was　very　fascinating；　and　I　and　that　old　man　set　to　work　amongst　the　gravels；　and；　to　be　brief；　in　half　an　hour　found　enough　glittering　stuff　to　set　up　a　Fifth　Avenue　jewel…　ler's　shop。　　But　to　tell　the　truth；　now　that　I　had　breakfasted；　and　felt　manhood　in　my　veins　again；　I　was　eager　to　be　off；　and　out　of　the　close；　death…tainted　atmosphere　of　that　valley。　　Consequently　I　presently　stood　up　and　said

〃Look　here；　old　man；　this　is　fine　sport　no　doubt；　but　just　at　present　I　have　a　big　job　on　handone　which　will　not　wait；　and　I　must　be　going。　　See；　luck　and　young　eyes　have　favoured　me；　here　is　twice　as　much　gold　and　stones　as　you　have　got　togetherit　is　all　yours　without　a　question　if　you　will　show　me　the　way　out　of　this　den　and　afterwards　put　me　on　the　road　to　your　big　city；　for　thither　I　am　bound　with　an　errand　to　your　king；　Ar…hap。〃

The　sight　of　my　gems；　backed；　perhaps；　with　the　men…　tion　of　Ar…hap's　name；　appealed　to　the　old　fellow；　and　af…　ter　a　grunt　or　two　about　〃losing　a　tide〃　just　when　spoil　was　so　abundant；　he　accepted　the　bargain；　shouldered　his　be…　longings；　and　led　me　towards　the　far　corner　of　the　beach。

It　looked　as　if　we　were　walking　right　against　the　tower…　ing　ice　wall；　but　when　we　were　within　a　yard　or　two　of　it　a　narrow　cleft；　only　eighteen　inches　wide；　and　wonderfully　masked　by　an　ice　column；　showed　to　the　left；　and　into　this　we　squeezed　ourselves；　the　entrance　by　which　we　had　come　appearing　to　close　up　instantly　we　had　gone　a　pace　or　two；　so　perfectly　did　the　ice　walls　match　each　other。

It　was　the　most　uncanny　thoroughfare　conceivablea　sheer；　sharp　crack　in　the　blue　ice　cliffs　extending　from　where　the　sunlight　shone　in　a　dazzling　golden　band　five　hundred　feet　overhead　to　where　bottom　was　touched　in　blue　ob…　scurity　of　the　ice…foot。　　It　was　so　narrow　we　had　to　travel　sideways　for　the　most　part；　a　fact　which　brought　my　face　close　against　the　clear　blue　glass　walls；　and　enabled　me　from　time　to　time　to　see；　far　back　in　those　translucent　depths；　more　and　more　and　evermore　frozen　Martians　waiting　in　stony　silence　for　their　release。

But　the　fact　of　facts　was　that　slowly　the　floor　of　the　cleft　trended　upwards；　whilst　the　sky　strip　appeared　to　come　downwards　to　meet　it。　　A　mile；　perhaps；　we　growled　and　squeezed　up　that　wonderful　gully；　then　with　a　feeling　of　incredible　joy　I　felt　the　clear；　outer　air　smiting　upon　me。


In　my　hurry　and　delight　I　put　my　head　into　the　small　of　the　back　of　the　puffing　old　man　who　blocked　the　way　in　front　and　forced　him　forward；　until　at　lastbefore　we　expected　itthe　cleft　suddenly　ended；　and　he　and　I　tumbled　headlong　over　each　other　on　to　a　glittering；　frozen　snowslope；　the　sky　azure　overhead；　the　sunshine　warm　as　a　tepid　bath；　and　a　wide　prospect　of　mountain　and　plain　extending　all　around。

So　delightful　was　the　sudden　change　of　circumstances　that　I　became　quite　boyish；　and　seizing　the　old　man　in　my　exub…　erance　by　the　hands；　dragged　him　to　his　feet；　and　danced　him　round　and　round　in　a　circle；　while　his　ancient　hair　flapped　about　his　head；　his　skin　cloak　waved　from　his　shoulders　like　a　pair　of　dusky　wings　and　half…eaten　cakes；　dried　flesh；　glittering　jewels；　broken　diadems；　and　golden　finger…rings　were　flung　in　an　arc　about　us。　　We　capered　till　fairly　out　of　breath；　and　then；　slapping　him　on　the　back　shoulder；　I　asked　whose　land　all　this　was　about　us。

He　replied　that　it　was　no　one's；　all　waste　from　verge　to　verge。

〃What！〃　was　my　exclamation。　　〃All　ownerless；　and　with　so　much　treasure　hidden　hereabout！　　Why；　I　shall　annex　it　to　my　country；　and　you　and　I　will　peg　out　original　settlers'　claims！〃　　And；　still　excited　by　the　mountain　air；　I　whipped　out　my　sword；　and　in　default　of　a　star…spangled　banner　to　plant　on　the　newly…acquired　territory；　traced　in　gigantic　letters　on　the　snow…crustU。S。A。

〃And　now；〃　I　added；　wiping　the　rime　off　my　blade　with　the　lappet　of　my　coat；　〃let　us　stop　capering　about　here　and　get　to　business。　　You　have　promised　to　put　me　on　the　way　to　your　big　city。〃

〃Come　on　then；〃　said　the　little　man；　gathering　up　his　property。　　〃This　white　hillside　leads　to　nowhere；　we　must　get　into　the　valley　first；　and　then　you　shall　see　your　road。〃　And　right　well　that　quaint　barbarian　kept　his　promise。




CHAPTER　XIII

It　was　half　a　day's　march　from　those　glittering　snow…　fields　into　the　low　country；　and　when　that　was　reached　I　found　myself　amongst　quite　another　people。

The　land　was　no　longer　fat　and　flowery；　giving　every　kind　of　produce　for　the　asking；　but　stony　for　the　most　part；　and；　where　we　first　came　on　vegetation；　overgrown　by　firs；　with　a　pine　which　looked　to　me　like　a　species　which　went　to　make　the　coal　measures　in　my　dear　but　distant　planet。　　More　than　this　I　cannot　say；　for　there　are　no　places　in　the　world　like　mess…room　and　quarter…deck　for　forgetting　school　learn…　ing。　　Instead　of　the　glorious　wealth　of　parti…coloured　vege…　tation　my　eyes　had　been　accustomed　to　lately；　here　they　rested　on　infertile　stretches　of　marshland　intersected　by　moss…covered　gravel　shoots；　looking　as　though　they　had　been　pushed　into　the　plains　in　front　of　extinct　glaciers　coming　down　from　the　region　behind　us。　　On　the　low　hills　away　from　the　sea　those　sombre　evergreen　forests　with　an　undergrowth　of　moss　and　red　lichens　were　more　variegated　with　light　foliage；　and　indeed　the　pines　proved　to　be　but　a　fringe　to　the　Arctic　ice；　giving　way　rapidly　to　more　typical　Martian　vegetation　each　mile　we　marched　to　the　southward。

As　for　the　inhabitants；　they　seemed；　like　my　guide；　rough；　uncouth　fellows；　but　honest　enough　when　you　came　to　know　them。　　An　introduction；　however；　was　highly　desirable。　　I　chanced　upon　the　first　native　as　he　was　gathering　reindeer…　moss。　　My　companion　was　some　little　way　behind　at　the　moment；　and　when　the　gentle　aborigine　saw　the　stranger　he　stared　hard　for　a　moment；　then；　turning　on　his　heels；　with　extraordinary　swiftness　flung　at　me　half　a　pound　of　hard　flint　stone。　　Had　his　aim　been　a　little　more　careful　this　humble　narrative　had　never　appeared　on　the　Broadway　bookstalls。　　As　it　was；　the　pebble；　missing　my　head　by　an　inch　or　two；　splintered　into　a　hundred　fragments　on　a　rock　behind；　and　while　I　was　debating　whether　a　revengeful　rush　at　the　slinger　or　a　strategic　advance　to　the　rear　were　more　advisable；　my　guide　called　out　to　his　countryman

〃Ho！　you　base　prowler　in　the　morasses；　you　eater　of　un…　clean　vegetation；　do　you　not　see　this　is　a　ghost　I　am　con…　ducting；　a　dweller　in　the　ice　cliffs；　a　spirit　ten　thousand　years　old？　Put　by　your　sling　lest　he　wither　you　with　a　glance。〃　　And；　very　reasonably；　surprised；　the　aborigine　did　as　he　was　bid　and　cautiously　advanced　to　inspect　me。

The　news　soon　spread　over　the　countryside　that　my　jewel…　hunter　was　bringing　a　live　〃spook〃　along　with　him；　c