madam how and lady why(豪夫人和怀女士)-第38章
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must see about getting on board now； and under way。
* * *
Well； and what have you been doing？
Oh； I looked all over the yacht； at the ropes and curious things； and
then I looked at the mountains； till I was tired； and then I heard you and
some gentleman talking about the land sinking； and I listened。 There was
no harm in that？
None at all。 But what did you hear him say？
That the land must be sinking here； because there were peat…bogs
everywhere below high…water mark。 Is that true？
Quite true； and that peat would never have been formed where the salt
water could get at it； as it does now every tide。
But what was it he said about that cliff over there？
He said that cliff on our right； a hundred feet high； was plainly once
joined on to that low island on our left。
What； that long bank of stones； with a house on it？
That is no house。 That is a square lump of mud； the last remaining
bit of earth which was once the moraine of a glacier。 Every year it
crumbles into the sea more and more； and in a few years it will be all gone；
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and nothing left but the great round boulder…stones which the ice brought
down from the glaciers behind us。
But how does he know that it was once joined to the cliff？
Because that cliff； and the down behind it； where the cows are fed； is
made up； like the island； of nothing but loose earth and stones； and that is
why it is bright and green beside the gray rocks and brown heather of the
moors at its foot。 He knows that it must be an old glacier moraine； and
he has reason to think that moraine once stretched right across the bay to
the low island； and perhaps on to the other shore； and was eaten out by the
sea as the land sank down。
But how does he know that the land sank？
Of that； he says； he is quite certain； and this is what he says。 Suppose
there was a glacier here； where we are sailing now： it would end in an
ice cliff； such as you have seen a picture of in Captain Cook's Voyages； of
which you are so fond。 You recollect the pictures of Christmas Sound
and Possession Bay？ Oh yes； and pictures of Greenland and Spitzbergen
too； with glaciers in the sea。
Then icebergs would break off from that cliff； and carry all the dirt and
stones out to sea； perhaps hundreds of miles away； instead of letting it
drop here in a heap； and what did fall in a heap here the sea would wash
down at once； and smooth it over the sea…bottom； and never let it pile up in
a huge bank like that。 Do you understand？
I think I do。
Therefore； he says； that great moraine must have been built upon dry
land； in the open air； and must have sunk since into the sea； which is
gnawing at it day and night； and will some day eat it all up； as it would eat
up all the dry land in the world； if Madam How was not continually lifting
up fresh land； to make up for what the sea has carried off。
Oh； look there！ some one has caught a fish； and is hauling it up。 What
a strange creature！ It is not a mackerel； nor a gurnet； nor a pollock。
How do you know that？
Why； it is running along the top of the water like a snake； and they
never do that。 Here it comes。 It has got a long beak； like a snipe。 Oh；
let me see。
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
See if you like： but don't get in the way。 Remember you are but a
little boy。
What is it？ a snake with a bird's head？
No： a snake has no fins； and look at its beak： it is full of little teeth；
which no bird has。 But a very curious fellow he is； nevertheless： and
his name is Gar…fish。 Some call him Green… bone； because his bones are
green。
But what kind of fish is he？ He is like nothing I ever saw。
I believe he is nearest to a pike； though his backbone is different from
a pike； and from all other known fishes。
But is he not very rare？
Oh no： he comes to Devonshire and Cornwall with the mackerel； as
he has come here； and in calm weather he will swim on the top of the
water； and play about； and catch flies； and stand bolt upright with his long
nose in the air； and when the fisher…boys throw him a stick； he will jump
over it again and again； and play with it in the most ridiculous way。
And what will they do with him？
Cut him up for bait； I suppose； for he is not very good to eat。
Certainly； he does smell very nasty。
Have you only just found out that？ Sometimes when I have caught
one； he has made the boat smell so that I was glad to throw him overboard；
and so he saved his life by his nastiness。 But they will catch plenty of
mackerel now； for where he is they are； and where they are； perhaps the
whale will be； for we are now well outside the harbour； and running across
the open bay； and lucky for you that there are no rollers coming in from
the Atlantic； and spouting up those cliffs in columns of white foam。
* * *
〃Hoch！〃
Ah！ Who was that coughed just behind the ship？
Who； indeed？ look round and see。
There is nobody。 There could not be in the sea。
Lookthere； a quarter of a mile away。
Oh！ What is that turning over in the water； like a great black wheel？
And a great tooth on it； andoh！ it is gone！
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
Never mind。 It will soon show itself again。
But what was it？
The whale： one of them； at least； for the men say there are two
different ones about the bay。 That black wheel was part of his back； as he
turned down； and the tooth on it was his back…fin。
But the noise； like a giant's cough？
Rather like the blast of a locomotive just starting。 That was his
breath。
What？ as loud as that？
Why not？ He is a very big fellow； and has big lungs。
How big is he？
I cannot say： perhaps thirty or forty feet long。 We shall be able to
see better soon。 He will come up again； and very likely nearer us； where
those birds are。
I don't want him to come any nearer。
You really need not be afraid。 He is quite harmless。
But he might run against the yacht。
He might： and so might a hundred things happen which never do。
But I never heard of one of these whales running against a vessel； so I
suppose he has sense enough to know that the yacht is no concern of his；
and to keep out of its way。
But why does he make that tremendous noise only once； and then go
under water again？
You must remember that he is not a fish。 A fish takes the water in
through his mouth continually； and it runs over his gills； and out behind
through his gill…covers。 So the gills suck…up the air out of the water； and
send it into the fish's blood； just as they do in the newt…larva。
Yes； I know。
But the whale breathes with lungs like you and me； and when he goes
under water he has to hold his breath； as you and I have。
What a long time he can hold it。
Yes。 He is a wonderful diver。 Some whales； they say； will keep
under for an hour。 But while he is under； mind； the air in his lungs is
getting foul； and full of carbonic acid； just as it would in your lungs； if you
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held your breath。 So he is forced to come up at last： and then out of his
blowers； which are on the top of his head； he blasts out all the foul breath；
and with it the water which has got into his mouth； in a cloud of spray。
Then he sucks in fresh air； as much as he wants； and dives again； as you
saw him do just now。
And what does he do under water？
Lookand you will see。 Look at those birds。 We will sail up to
them； for Mr。 Whale will probably rise among them soon。
Oh； what a screaming and what a fighting！ How many sorts there are！
What are those beautiful little ones； like great white swallows； with
crested heads and forked tails； who hover； and then dip down and pick up
something？
Ternssea…swallows。 And there are gulls in hundreds； you see； large
and small； gray…backed and black…backed； and over them all two or three
great gannets swooping round and round。
Oh！ one has fallen into the sea！
Yes； with a splash just like a cannon ball。 And here he comes up
again； with a fish in his beak。 If he had fallen on your head； with that
beak of his； he would have split it open。 I have heard of men catching
gannets by tying a fish on a board； and letting it float； and when the gannet
strikes at it he drives his bill into the board； and cannot get it out。
But is not that cruel？
I think so。 Gannets are of no use； for eating； or anything else。
What a noise！ It is quite deafening。 And what are those black birds
about； who croak like crows； or parrots？
Look at them。 Some have broad bills； with a white stripe on it； and
cry something like the moor…hens at home。 Those are razor… bills。
And what are those who say 〃marrock；〃 something like a parrot？
The ones with thin bills？ they are guillemots； 〃murres〃 as we call them
in Devon： but in some places they call them 〃marrocks；〃 from what they
say。
And each has a little baby bird swimming behind it。 Oh！ there： the
mother has cocked up her tail and dived； and the little one is swimming
about looking for her！ How it cries！ It is afraid of the yacht。
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
And there she comes up again； and cries 〃marrock〃 to call it。
Look at it swimming up to her； and cuddling to her； quite happy。
Quite happy。 And do you not think that any one who took a gun and
shot either that mother or tha
