the water-babies-第11章

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ted　to　frighten　poor　Tom）。　　Ha！　ha！　they　will　eat　you；　and　we　will　eat　them；〃　and　the　otter　laughed　such　a　wicked　cruel　laugh　…　as　you　may　hear　them　do　sometimes；　and　the　first　time　that　you　hear　it　you　will　probably　think　it　is　bogies。

〃What　are　salmon？〃　asked　Tom。

〃Fish；　you　eft；　great　fish；　nice　fish　to　eat。　　They　are　the　lords　of　the　fish；　and　we　are　lords　of　the　salmon；〃　and　she　laughed　again。　　〃We　hunt　them　up　and　down　the　pools；　and　drive　them　up　into　a　corner；　the　silly　things；　they　are　so　proud；　and　bully　the　little　trout；　and　the　minnows；　till　they　see　us　coming；　and　then　they　are　so　meek　all　at　once；　and　we　catch　them；　but　we　disdain　to　eat　them　all；　we　just　bite　out　their　soft　throats　and　suck　their　sweet　juice　…　Oh；　so　good！〃　…　（and　she　licked　her　wicked　lips）　…　〃and　then　throw　them　away；　and　go　and　catch　another。　　They　are　coming　soon；　children；　coming　soon；　I　can　smell　the　rain　coming　up　off　the　sea；　and　then　hurrah　for　a　fresh；　and　salmon；　and　plenty　of　eating　all　day　long。〃

And　the　otter　grew　so　proud　that　she　turned　head　over　heels　twice；　and　then　stood　upright　half　out　of　the　water；　grinning　like　a　Cheshire　cat。

〃And　where　do　they　come　from？〃　asked　Tom；　who　kept　himself　very　close；　for　he　was　considerably　frightened。

〃Out　of　the　sea；　eft；　the　great　wide　sea；　where　they　might　stay　and　be　safe　if　they　liked。　　But　out　of　the　sea　the　silly　things　come；　into　the　great　river　down　below；　and　we　come　up　to　watch　for　them；　and　when　they　go　down　again　we　go　down　and　follow　them。　　And　there　we　fish　for　the　bass　and　the　pollock；　and　have　jolly　days　along　the　shore；　and　toss　and　roll　in　the　breakers；　and　sleep　snug　in　the　warm　dry　crags。　　Ah；　that　is　a　merry　life　too；　children；　if　it　were　not　for　those　horrid　men。〃

〃What　are　men？〃　asked　Tom；　but　somehow　he　seemed　to　know　before　he　asked。

〃Two…legged　things；　eft：　　and；　now　I　come　to　look　at　you；　they　are　actually　something　like　you；　if　you　had　not　a　tail〃　（she　was　determined　that　Tom　should　have　a　tail）；　〃only　a　great　deal　bigger；　worse　luck　for　us；　and　they　catch　the　fish　with　hooks　and　lines；　which　get　into　our　feet　sometimes；　and　set　pots　along　the　rocks　to　catch　lobsters。　　They　speared　my　poor　dear　husband　as　he　went　out　to　find　something　for　me　to　eat。　　I　was　laid　up　among　the　crags　then；　and　we　were　very　low　in　the　world；　for　the　sea　was　so　rough　that　no　fish　would　come　in　shore。　　But　they　speared　him；　poor　fellow；　and　I　saw　them　carrying　him　away　upon　a　pole。　　All；　he　lost　his　life　for　your　sakes；　my　children；　poor　dear　obedient　creature　that　he　was。〃

And　the　otter　grew　so　sentimental　（for　otters　can　be　very　sentimental　when　they　choose；　like　a　good　many　people　who　are　both　cruel　and　greedy；　and　no　good　to　anybody　at　all）　that　she　sailed　solemnly　away　down　the　burn；　and　Tom　saw　her　no　more　for　that　time。　And　lucky　it　was　for　her　that　she　did　so；　for　no　sooner　was　she　gone；　than　down　the　bank　came　seven　little　rough　terrier　doors；　snuffing　and　yapping；　and　grubbing　and　splashing；　in　full　cry　after　the　otter。　　Tom　hid　among　the　water…lilies　till　they　were　gone；　for　he　could　not　guess　that　they　were　the　water…fairies　come　to　help　him。

But　he　could　not　help　thinking　of　what　the　otter　had　said　about　the　great　river　and　the　broad　sea。　　And；　as　he　thought；　he　longed　to　go　and　see　them。　　He　could　not　tell　why；　but　the　more　he　thought；　the　more　he　grew　discontented　with　the　narrow　little　stream　in　which　he　lived；　and　all　his　companions　there；　and　wanted　to　get　out　into　the　wide　wide　world；　and　enjoy　all　the　wonderful　sights　of　which　he　was　sure　it　was　full。

And　once　he　set　off　to　go　down　the　stream。　　But　the　stream　was　very　low；　and　when　he　came　to　the　shallows　he　could　not　keep　under　water；　for　there　was　no　water　left　to　keep　under。　　So　the　sun　burned　his　back　and　made　him　sick；　and　he　went　back　again　and　lay　quiet　in　the　pool　for　a　whole　week　more。

And　then；　on　the　evening　of　a　very　hot　day；　he　saw　a　sight。

He　had　been　very　stupid　all　day；　and　so　had　the　trout；　for　they　would　not　move　an　inch　to　take　a　fly；　though　there　were　thousands　on　the　water；　but　lay　dozing　at　the　bottom　under　the　shade　of　the　stones；　and　Tom　lay　dozing　too；　and　was　glad　to　cuddle　their　smooth　cool　sides；　for　the　water　was　quite　warm　and　unpleasant。

But　toward　evening　it　grew　suddenly　dark；　and　Tom　looked　up　and　saw　a　blanket　of　black　clouds　lying　right　across　the　valley　above　his　head；　resting　on　the　crags　right　and　left。　　He　felt　not　quite　frightened；　but　very　still；　for　everything　was　still。　　There　was　not　a　whisper　of　wind；　nor　a　chirp　of　a　bird　to　be　heard；　and　next　a　few　great　drops　of　rain　fell　plop　into　the　water；　and　one　hit　Tom　on　the　nose；　and　made　him　pop　his　head　down　quickly　enough。

And　then　the　thunder　roared；　and　the　lightning　flashed；　and　leapt　across　Vendale　and　back　again；　from　cloud　to　cloud；　and　cliff　to　cliff；　till　the　very　rocks　in　the　stream　seemed　to　shake：　　and　Tom　looked　up　at　it　through　the　water；　and　thought　it　the　finest　thing　he　ever　saw　in　his　life。

But　out　of　the　water　he　dared　not　put　his　head；　for　the　rain　came　down　by　bucketsful；　and　the　hail　hammered　like　shot　on　the　stream；　and　churned　it　into　foam；　and　soon　the　stream　rose；　and　rushed　down；　higher　and　higher；　and　fouler　and　fouler；　full　of　beetles；　and　sticks；　and　straws；　and　worms；　and　addle…eggs；　and　wood…lice；　and　leeches；　and　odds　and　ends；　and　omnium…gatherums；　and　this；　that；　and　the　other；　enough　to　fill　nine　museums。

Tom　could　hardly　stand　against　the　stream；　and　hid　behind　a　rock。　But　the　trout　did　not；　for　out　they　rushed　from　among　the　stones；　and　began　gobbling　the　beetles　and　leeches　in　the　most　greedy　and　quarrelsome　way；　and　swimming　about　with　great　worms　hanging　out　of　their　mouths；　tugging　and　kicking　to　get　them　away　from　each　other。

And　now；　by　the　flashes　of　the　lightning；　Tom　saw　a　new　sight　…　all　the　bottom　of　the　stream　alive　with　great　eels；　turning　and　twisting　along；　all　down　stream　and　away。　　They　had　been　hiding　for　weeks　past　in　the　cracks　of　the　rocks；　and　in　burrows　in　the　mud；　and　Tom　had　hardly　ever　seen　them；　except　now　and　then　at　night：　but　now　they　were　all　out；　and　went　hurrying　past　him　so　fiercely　and　wildly　that　he　was　quite　frightened。　　And　as　they　hurried　past　he　could　hear　them　say　to　each　other；　〃We　must　run；　we　must　run。　What　a　jolly　thunderstorm！　　Down　to　the　sea；　down　to　the　sea！〃

And　then　the　otter　came　by　with　all　her　brood；　twining　and　sweeping　along　as　fast　as　the　eels　themselves；　and　she　spied　Tom　as　she　came　by；　and　said　〃Now　is　your　time；　eft；　if　you　want　to　see　the　world。　Come　along；　children；　never　mind　those　nasty　eels：　　we　shall　breakfast　on　salmon　to…morrow。　　Down　to　the　sea；　down　to　the　sea！〃

Then　came　a　flash　brighter　than　all　the　rest；　and　by　the　light　of　it　…　in　the　thousandth　part　of　a　second　they　were　gone　again　…　but　he　had　seen　them；　he　was　certain　of　it　…　Three　beautiful　little　white　girls；　with　their　arms　twined　round　each　other's　necks；　floating　down　the　torrent；　as　they　sang；　〃Down　to　the　sea；　down　to　the　sea！〃

〃Oh　stay！　　Wait　for　me！〃　cried　Tom；　but　they　were　gone：　　yet　he　could　hear　their　voices　clear　and　sweet　through　the　roar　of　thunder　and　water　and　wind；　singing　as　they　died　away；　〃Down　to　the　sea！〃

〃Down　to　the　sea？〃　said　Tom；　〃everything　is　going　to　the　sea；　and　I　will　go　too。　　Good…bye；　trout。〃　　But　the　trout　were　so　busy　gobbling　worms　that　they　never　turned　to　answer　him；　so　that　Tom　was　spared　the　pain　of　bidding　them　farewell。

And　now；　down　the　rushing　stream；　guided　by　the　bright　flashes　of　the　storm；　past　tall　birch…fringed　rocks；　which　shone　out　one　moment　as　clear　as　day；　and　the　next　were　dark　as　night；　past　dark　hovers　under　swirling　banks；　from　which　great　trout　rushed　out　on　Tom；　thinking　him　to　be　good　to　eat；　and　turned　back　sulkily；　for　the　fairies　sent　them　home　again　with　a　tremendous　scolding；　for　daring　to　meddle　with　a　water…baby；　on　through　narrow　strids　and　roaring　cataracts；　where　Tom　was　deafened　and　blinded　for　a　moment　by　the　rushing　waters；　along　deep　reaches；　where　the　white　water…　lilies　tossed　and　flapped　beneath　the　wind　and　hail；　past　sleeping　villages；　under　dark　bridge…arches；　and　away　and　away　to　the　sea。　And　Tom　could　not　stop；　and　did　not　care　to　stop；　he　would　see　the　great　world　below；　and　the　salmon；　and　the　breakers；　and　the　wide　wide　sea。

And　when　the　daylight　came；　Tom　found　himself　out　in　the　salmon　river。

And　what　sort　of　a　river　was　it？　　Was　it　like　an　Irish　stream；　winding　through　the　brown　bogs；　where　the　wild　ducks　squatter　up　from　among　the　white　water…lilies；　and　the　curlews　flit　to　and　fro；　crying　〃Tullie…wheep；　mind　your　sheep；〃　and　Dennis　tells　you　strange　stories　of　the　Peishtamore；　the　great　bogy…snake　which　lies　in　the　black　peat　pools；　among　the　old　pine…stems；　and　puts　his　head　out　at　night　to　snap　at　the　cattle　as　they　come　down　to　drink？　…　But　you　must　not　believe　all　that　Dennis　tells　you；　mind；　for　if　you　ask　him：

〃Is　there　a　salmon　here；　do　you　think；　Dennis？〃

〃Is　it　salmon；　thin；　your　honour　manes？　　Salmon？　　Cartloads　it　is　of　thim；　thin；　an'　ridgmens；　shouldthering　ache　out　of　water；　av'　ye'd　but　the　luck　to　see　thim。〃

Then　you　fish　the　pool　all　over；　and　never　get　a　rise。

〃But　there　can't　be　a　salmon　here；　Dennis！　and；　if　you'll　but　think；　if　one　had　come　up　last　tide；　he'd　be　gone　to　the　higher　pools　by　now。〃

〃Shure　thin；　and　your　honour's　the　thrue　fisherman；　and　understands　it　all　like　a　book。　　Why；　ye　spake　as　if　ye'd　known　the　wather　a　thousand　years！　　As　I　said；　how　could　there　be　a　fish　here　at　all；　just　now？〃

〃But　you　said　just　now　they　were　shouldering　each　other　out　of　water？〃

And　then　Dennis　will　look　up　at　you　with　his　handsome；　sly；　soft；　sleepy；　good…natured；　untrustable；　Irish　gray　eye；　and　answer　with　the　prettiest　smile：

〃Shure；　and　didn't　I　think　your　honour　would　like　a　pleasant　answer？〃

So　you　must　not　trust　Dennis；　because　he　is　in　the　habit　of　giving　pleasant　answers：　　but；　instead　of　being　angry　with　him；　you　must　remember　that　he　is　a　poor　Paddy；　and　knows　no　better；　so　you　must　just　burst　out　laughing；　and　then　he　will　burst　out　laughing　too；　and　slave　for　you；　and　trot　about　after　you；　and　show　you　good　sport　if　he　can　…　for　he　is　an　affectionate　fellow；　and　as　fond　of　sport　as　you　are　…　and　if　he　can't；　tell　you　fibs　instead；　a　hundred　an　hour；　and　wonder　all　the　while　why　poor　ould　Ireland　does　not　prosper　like　England　and　Scotland；　and　some　other　places；　where　folk　have　taken　up　a　ridiculous　fancy　that　honesty　is　the　best　policy。

Or　was　it　like　a　Welsh　salmon　river；　which　is　remarkable　chiefly　（at　least；　till　this　last　year）　for　containing　no　salmon；　as　they　have　been　all　poached　out　by　the　enlightened　peasantry；　to　prevent　the　CYTHRAWL　SASSENACH　（which　means　you；　my　little　dear；　your　kith　and　kin；　and　signifies　much　the　same　as　the　Chinese　FAN　QUEI）　from　coming　bothering　into　Wales；　with　good　tackle；　and　ready　money；　and　civilisation；　and　common　honesty；　and　other　like　things　of　which　the　Cymry　stand　in　no　need　whatsoever？

Or　was　it　such　a　salmon　stream　as　I　trust　you　will　see　among　the　Hampshire　water…meadows　before　your　hairs　are　gray；　under　the　wise　new　fishing…laws？　…　when　Winchester　apprentices　shall　covenant；　as　they　did　three　hundred　years　ago；