gulliver of mars-第31章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


n　in　my　throat；　then　told　Si；　who　had　had　none　all　the　afternoon；　to　drink　half　and　leave　half　for　Heru。　　Poor　Si　put　her　aching　lips　to　the　cup　and　tilted　it　a　little；　then　passed　it　to　her　mistress。　　And　Heru　drank　it　all；　and　Si　cried　a　few　hot　tears　behind　her　hands；　FOR　SHE　HAD　TAKEN　NONE；　and　she　knew　it　was　her　life！

Again　picking　a　way　through　the　courtyard；　scarce　notic…　ing　how　the　beasts　lifted　their　heads　as　I　passed；　I　went　instinctively；　cup　in　hand；　to　the　well；　and　then　hesitated。　Was　I　a　coward　to　leave　Heru　so？　　Ought　I　not　to　stay　and　see　it　out　to　the　bitter　end？　　Well；　I　would　compound　with　Fate。　　I　would　give　the　malicious　gods　one　more　chance。　I　would　put　the　cup　down　again；　and　until　seven　drops　had　fallen　into　it　I　would　wait。　　That　there　might　be　no　mistake　about　it；　no　sooner　was　the　mug　in　place　under　the　nozzle　wherefrom　the　moisture　beads　collected　and　fell　with　infinite　slowness；　than　my　sword；　on　which　I　meant　to　throw　my…　self；　was　bared　and　the　hilt　forced　into　a　gaping　crack　in　the　ground；　and　sullenly　contented　to　leave　my　fate　so；　I　sat　down　beside　it。

I　turned　grimly　to　the　spout　and　saw　the　first　drop　fall；　then　another；　and　another　later　on；　but　still　no　help　came。　There　was　a　long　rift　in　the　clouds　now；　and　a　glare　like　that　from　an　open　furnace　door　was　upon　me。　　I　had　noticed　when　I　came　to　the　spring　how　the　comet　which　was　killing　us　hung　poised　exactly　upon　the　point　of　a　dis…　tant　hill。　　If　he　had　passed　his　horrible　meridian；　if　he　was　going　from　us；　if　he　sunk　but　a　hair's　breadth　before　that　seventh　drop　should　fall；　I　could　tell　it　would　mean　salvation。

But　the　fourth　drop　fell；　and　he　was　big　as　ever。　　The　fifth　drop　fell；　and　a　hot；　pleasing　nose　was　thrust　into　my　hand；　and　looking　down　I　saw　a　grey　wolf　had　dragged　herself　across　the　court　and　was　asking　with　eloquent　eyes　for　the　help　I　could　not　give。　　The　sixth　drop　gathered；　and　fell；　already　the　seventh　was　like　a　seedling　pearl　in　its　place。　The　dying　wolf　yanked　affectionately　at　my　hand；　but　I　put　her　by　and　undid　my　tunic。　　Big　and　bright　that　drop　hung　to　the　spout　lip；　another　minute　and　it　would　fall。　　A　beauti…　ful　drop；　I　laughed；　peering　closely　at　it；　many…coloured；　prismatic；　flushing　red　and　pink；　a　tiny　living　ruby；　hanging　by　a　touch　to　the　green　rim　above；　enough！　enough！　　The　quiver　of　an　eyelash　would　unhinge　it　now；　and　angry　with　the　life　I　already　felt　was　behind　me；　and　turning　in　defiant　expectation　to　the　new　to　come；　I　rose；　saw　the　red　gleam　of　my　sword　jutting　like　a　fiery　spear　from　the　cracking　soil　where　I　had　planted　it；　then　looked　once　more　at　the　drop　and　glanced　for　the　last　time　at　the　sullen　red　terror　on　the　hill。

Were　my　eyes　dazed；　my　senses　reeling？　　I　said　a　space　ago　that　the　meteor　stood　exactly　on　the　mountain…top　and　if　it　sunk　a　hair's　breadth　I　should　note　it；　and　now；　why；　there　WAS　a　flaw　in　its　lower　margin；　a　flattening　of　the　great　red　foot　that　before　had　been　round　and　perfect。　　I　turned　my　smarting　eyes　away　a　minute；saw　the　seventh　drop　fall　with　a　melodious　tingle　into　the　cup；　then　back　again；　there　was　no　mistakethe　truant　fire　was　a　fraction　less；　it　had　shrunk　a　fraction　behind　the　hill　even　since　I　looked；　and　thereon　all　my　life　ran　back　into　its　channels；　the　world　danced　before　me；　and　〃Heru！〃　I　shouted　hoarsely；　reeling　back　towards　the　palace；　〃Heru；　'tis　well；　the　worst　is　past！〃

But　the　little　princess　was　unconscious；　and　at　her　feet　was　poor　Si；　quite　dead；　still　reclining　with　her　head　in　her　hands　just　as　I　had　left　her。　　Then　my　own　senses　gave　out；　and　dropping　down　by　them　I　remembered　no　more。

I　must　have　lain　there　an　hour　or　two；　for　when　con…　sciousness　came　again　it　was　nightblack；　cool；　profound　night；　with　an　inky　sky　low　down　upon　the　tree…tops；　and　out　of　it　such　a　glorious　deluge　of　rain　descending　swiftly　and　silently　as　filled　my　veins　even　to　listen　to。　　Eagerly　I　shuffled　away　to　the　porch　steps；　down　them　into　the　swimming　courtyard；　and　ankle…deep　in　the　glorious　flood；　set　to　work　lapping　furiously　at　the　first　puddle；　drinking　with　gasps　of　pleasure；　gasping　and　drinking　again；　feeling　my　body　filling　out　like　the　thirsty　steaming　earth　below　me。　　Then；　as　I　still　drank　insatiably；　there　came　a　gleam　of　lightning　out　of　the　gloom　overhead；　a　brilliant　yellow　blaze；　and　by　it　I　saw　a　few　yards　away　a　panther　drinking　at　the　same　pool　as　myself；　his　gleaming　eyes　low　down　like　mine　upon　the　water；　and　by　his　side　two　apes；　the　black　water　running　in　at　their　gaping　mouths；　while　out　beyond　were　more　pools；　more　drinking　animals。　　Everything　was　drinking。　　I　saw　their　outlined　forms；　the　gleam　shining　on　wet　skins　as　though　they　were　cut　out　in　silver　against　the　darkness；　each　beast　steaming　like　a　volcano　as　the　Heaven…sent　rain　smoked　from　his　fevered　hide；　all　drinking　for　their　lives；　heedless　of　aught　elseand　then　came　the　thunder。

It　ran　across　the　cloudy　vault　as　though　the　very　sky　were　being　ripped　apart；　rolling　in　mighty　echoes　here　and　there　before　it　died　away。　　As　it　stopped；　the　rain　also　fell　less　heavily　for　a　minute；　and　as　I　lay　with　my　face　low　down　I　heard　the　low；　contented　lapping　of　numberless　tongues　unceasing；　insatiable。　　Then　came　the　lightning　again；　lighting　up　everything　as　though　it　were　daytime。　　The　twin　black　apes　were　still　drinking；　but　the　panther　across　the　puddle　had　had　enough；　I　saw　him　lift　his　grateful　head　up　to　the　flare；　saw　the　limp　red　tongue　licking　the　black　nose；　the　green　eyes　shining　like　opals；　the　water　dripping　in　threads　of　diamonds　from　the　hairy　tag　under　his　chin　and　every　tuft　upon　his　chestthen　darkness　again。

To　and　fro　the　green　blaze　rocked　between　the　thunder　crashes。　　It　struck　a　house　a　hundred　yards　away；　stripping　every　shingle　from　the　roof　better　than　a　master　builder　could　in　a　week。　　It　fell　a　minute　after　on　a　tall　tree　by　the　courtyard　gate；　and　as　the　trunk　burst　into　white　splin…　ters　I　saw　every　leaf　upon　the　feathery　top　turn　light　side　up　against　the　violet　reflection　in　the　sky　beyond；　and　then　the　whole　mass　came　down　to　earth　with　a　thud　that　crushed　the　courtyard　palings　into　nothing　for　twenty　yards　and　shook　me　even　across　the　square。

Another　time　I　might　have　stopped　to　marvel　or　to　watch；　as　I　have　often　watched　with　sympathetic　pleasure；　the　gods　thus　at　play；　but　tonight　there　were　other　things　on　hand。　When　I　had　drunk；　I　picked　up　an　earthen　crock；　filled　it；　and　went　to　Heru。　　It　was　a　rough　drinking…vessel　for　those　dainty　lips；　and　an　indifferent　draught；　being　as　much　mud　as　aught　else；　but　its　effect　was　wonderful。　　At　the　first　touch　of　that　turgid　stuff　a　shiver　of　delight　passed　through　the　drowsy　lady。　　At　the　second　she　gave　a　sigh；　and　her　hand　tightened　on　my　arm。　　I　fetched　another　crockful；　and　by　the　flickering　light　rocking　to　and　fro　in　the　sky；　took　her　head　upon　my　shoulder；　like　a　prodigal　new　come　into　riches；　squandering　the　stuff；　giving　her　to　drink　and　bathing　face　and　neck　till　presently；　to　my　delight；　the　princess's　eyes　opened。　　Then　she　sat　up；　and　taking　the　basin　from　me　drank　as　never　lady　drank　before；　and　soon　was　almost　her…　self　again。

I　went　out　into　the　portico；　there　snuffing　the　deep；　strong　breath　of　the　fragrant　black　earth　receiving　back　into　its　gaping　self　what　the　last　few　days　had　taken　from　it；　while　quick　succeeding　thoughts　of　escape　and　flight　passed　across　my　brain。　　All　through　the　fiery　time　we　had　just　had　the　chance　of　escaping　with　the　fair　booty　yonder　had　been　present。　　Without　her；　flight　would　have　been　easy　enough；　but　that　was　not　worth　considering　for　a　moment。　　With　her　it　was　more　difficult；　yet；　as　I　had　watched　the　wood…　men；　accustomed　to　cool　forest　shades；　faint　under　the　fiery　glare　of　the　world　above；　to　make　a　dash　for　liberty　seemed　each　hour　more　easy。　　I　had　seen　the　men　in　the　streets　drop　one　by　one；　and　the　spears　fall　from　the　hands　of　guards　about　the　pallisades；　I　had　seen　messengers　who　came　to　and　fro　collapse　before　their　errands　were　accomplished；　and　the　forest　women；　who　were　Heru's　gaolers；　groan　and　drop　across　the　thresholds　of　her　prison；　until　at　length　the　way　was　cleara　babe　might　have　taken　what　he　would　from　that　half…scorched　town　and　asked　no　man's　leave。　Yet　what　did　it　avail　me？　　Heru　was　helpless；　my　own　spirit　burnt　in　a　nerveless　frame；　and　so　we　stayed。

But　with　rain　strength　came　back　to　both　of　us。　　The　guards；　lying　about　like　black　logs；　were　only　slowly　re…　turning　to　consciousness；　the　town　still　slept；　and　darkness　favoured；　before　they　missed　us　in　the　morning　light　we　might　be　far　on　the　way　back　to　Setha　dangerous　way　truly；　but　we　were　like　to　tread　a　rougher　one　if　we　stayed。　In　fact；　directly　my　strength　returned　with　the　cooler　air；　I　made　up　my　mind　to　the　venture　and　went　to　Heru；　who　by　this　time　was　much　recovered。　　To　her　I　whispered　my　plot；　and　that　gentle　lady；　as　was　only　natural；　trembled　at　its　dangers。　　But　I　put　it　to　her　that　no　time　could　be　better　than　the　present：　the　storm　was　going　over；　morning　would　〃line　the　black　mantle　of　the　night　with　a　pink　dawn　of　promise〃；　before　any　one　stirred　we　might　be　far　off；　shaping　a　course　by　our　luck　and　the　stars　for　her　kindred；　at　whose　name　she　sighed。　　If　we　stayed；　I　argued；　and　the　king　changed　his　mind；　then　death　for　me；　and　for　Heru　the　arms　of　that　surly　monarch；　and　all　the　rest　of　her　life　caged　in　these　pallisades　amongst　the　uncouth　forms　about　us。

The　lady　gave　a　frightened　little　shiver　at　the　picture；　but　after　a　moment；　laying　her　head　upon　my　shoulder；　an…　swered；　〃Oh；　my　guardian　spirit　and　helper　in　adversity；　I　too　have　thought　of　tomorrow；　and　doubt　whether　that　horror；　that　great　swine　who　has　me；　will　not　invent　an　excuse　for　keeping　me。　　Therefore；　though　the　forest　roads　are　dread…　ful；　and　Seth　very　far　away；　I　will　come；　I　give　myself　into　your　hands。　　Do　what　you　will　with　me。〃

〃Then　the　sooner　the　better；　princess。　　How　soon　can　you　be　prepared？〃

She　smiled；　and　stooping　picked　up　her　slippers；　saying　as　she　did　so；　〃I　am　ready！〃

There　were　no　arrangements　to　be　made。　　Every　instant　was　of　value。　　So；　to　be　brief；　I　threw　a　dark　cloak　over　the　damsel's　shoulders；　for　indeed　she　was　clad　in　little　more　than　her　loveliness　and　the　gauziest　filaments　of　a　Hither　girl's　underwear；　and　hand　in　hand　led　her　down　the　log　steps；　over　the　splashing；　ankle…deep　courtyard；　and　into　the　shadows　of　the　gateway　beyond。

Down　the　slope　we　went；　along　towards　the　harbour；　through　a　score　of　deserted　lanes　where　nothing　was　to　be　heard　but　the　roar　of　rain　and　the　lapping　of　men　and　beasts；　drinking　in　the　shadows　as　though　they　never　would　stop；　and　so　we　came　at　last　unmolested　to　the　wharf。　　There　I　hid　royal　Seth　between　two　piles　of　merchandise；　and　went　to　look　for　a　boat　suitable　to　our　needs。　　There　were　plenty　of　small　craft　moored　to　rings　along　the　quay；　and　selecting　a　canoeit　was　no　time　to　stand　on　niceties　of　property　easily　managed　by　a　single　paddle；　I　brought　it　round　to　the　steps；　put　in　a　fresh　water…pot；　and　went　for　the　princess。

With　her　safely　stowed　in　the　prow；　a　helpless；　sodden　little　morsel　of　feminine　loveliness；　things　began　to　appear　more　hopeful　and　an　escape　down　to　blue　water；　my