gulliver of mars-第30部分

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if　not　so　pleasant。　　So　the　offer　was　gladly　closed　with；　and　curling　myself　in　a　rug　of　foxskins；　for　I　was　tired　with　much　walking；　sailors　never　being　good　foot…　gangers；　I　slept　soundly　fill　they　came　to　tell　me　it　was　time　to　go　on　board。

The　vessel　was　more　like　a　canal　barge　than　anything　else；　lean　and　long；　with　the　cargo　piled　in　a　ridge　down　the　centre　as　farmers　store　their　winter　turnips；　the　rowers　sitting　on　either　side　of　this　plying　oars　like　dessert…spoons　with　long　handles；　while　they　chanted　a　monotonous　cadence　of　monosyllables：


　　　　　Oh；　ho；　oh；

　　　　　Oh；　ho；　oh；

　　　　　　　　　　How　high；　how　high。

and　then　again　after　a　pause


　　　　　　　　　　How　high；　how　high　

　　　　　Oh；　ho；　oh；

　　　　　Oh；　ho；　oh。

the　which　was　infinitely　sleep…provoking　if　not　a　refrain　of　a　high　intellectual　order。

I　shut　my　eyes　as　we　pulled　away　from　the　wharfs　of　that　nameless　emporium　and　picked　a　passage　through　a　crowd　of　quaint　shipping；　wondering　where　I　was；　and　asking　myself　whether　I　was　mentally　rising　equal　to　my　extraordinary　surroundings；　whether　I　adequately　appreci…　ated　the　immensity　of　my　remove　from　those　other　seas　on　which　I　had　last　travelled；　tiller…ropes　in　hand；　piloting　a　captain's　galley　from　a　wharf。　　Good　heavens；　what　would　my　comrades　on　my　ship　say　if　they　could　see　me　now　steer…　ing　a　load　of　hairy　savages　up　one　of　those　waterways　which　our　biggest　telescopes　magnify　but　to　the　thickness　of　an　indication？　　No；　I　was　not　rising　equal　to　the　oc…　casion；　and　could　not。　　The　human　mind　is　of　but　limited　capacity　after　all；　and　such　freaks　of　fortune　are　beyond　its　conception。　　I　knew　I　was　where　I　was；　but　I　knew　I　should　probably　never　get　the　chance　of　telling　of　it；　and　that　no　one　would　ever　believe　me　if　I　did；　and　I　re…　signed　myself　to　the　inevitable　with　sullen　acquiescence；　smothering　the　wonder　that　might　have　been　overwhelming　in　passing　interests　of　the　moment。

There　is　little　to　record　of　that　voyage。　　We　passed　through　a　fleet　of　Ar…hap's　warships；　empty　and　at　anchor　in　double　line；　serviceable　half…decked　cutters；　built　of　solid　timber；　not　pumpkin　rind　it　was　pleasant　to　notice；　and　then　the　town　dropped　away　as　we　proceeded　up　a　stream　about　as　broad　as　the　Hudson　at　its　widest；　and　profusely　studded　with　islands。　　This　water　was　bitterly　salt　and　joined　an…　other　sea　on　the　other　side　of　the　Martian　continent。　　Yet　it　had　a　pronounced　flow　against　us　eastward；　this　tide　running　for　three　spring　months　and　being　followed；　I　learned；　as　ocean　temperatures　varied；　by　a　flow　in　the　opposite　direction　throughout　the　summer。

Just　at　present　the　current　was　so　strong　eastwards；　the　moisture　beaded　upon　my　rowers'　tawny　hides　as　they　strug…　gled　against　it；　and　their　melancholy　song　dawdled　in　〃linked　sweetness　long　drawn　out；〃　while　the　swing　of　their　oars　grew　longer　and　longer。　　Truly　it　was　very　hot；　far　hotter　than　was　usual　for　the　season；　these　men　declared；　and　pos…　sibly　this　robbed　me　of　my　wonted　energy；　and　you；　gentle　reader；　of　a　description　of　all　the　strange　things　we　passed　upon　that　highway。

Suffice　it　to　say　we　spent　a　scorching　afternoon；　the　greater　part　of　a　stifling　night　moored　under　a　mud…bank　with　a　grove　of　trees　on　top　from　which　gigantic　fire…flies　hung　as　though　the　place　were　illuminated　for　a　garden　fete；　and　then；　rowing　on　again　in　the　comparatively　cool　hours　before　dawn；　turned　into　a　backwater　at　cock…crow。

The　skipper　of　our　cargo　boat　roused　me　just　as　we　turned；　putting　under　my　sleepy　nostrils　a　handful　of　toasted　beans　on　a　leaf；　and　a　small　cup　full　of　something　that　was　not　coffee；　but　smelt　as　good　as　that　matutinal　beverage　always　does　to　the　tired　traveller。

Over　our　prow　was　an　immense　arch　of　foliage；　and　under…　neath　a　long　arcade　of　cool　black　shadows；　sheltering　still　water；　till　water　and　shadow　suddenly　ended　a　quarter　of　a　mile　down　in　a　patch　of　brilliant　colour。　　It　was　as　peaceful　as　could　be　in　the　first　morning　light；　and　to　me　over　all　there　was　the　inexpressible　attraction　of　the　unknown。

As　our　boat　slipped　silently　forward　up　this　leafy　lane；　a　thin　white　〃feather〃　in　her　mouth　alone　breaking　the　steely　surface　of　the　stream；　the　men　rested　from　their　work　and　began；　as　sailors　will；　to　put　on　their　shore…going　clothes；　the　while　they　chatted　in　low　tones　over　the　profits　of　the　voyage。　　Overhead　flying　squirrels　were　flitting　to　and　fro　like　bats；　or　shelling　fruit　whereof　the　husks　fell　with　a　pleasant　splash　about　us；　and　on　one　bank　a　couple　of　early　mothers　were　washing　their　babies；　whose　smothered　protests　were　almost　the　only　sound　in　this　morning　world。

Another　silent　dip　or　two　of　the　oars　and　the　colour　ahead　crystallised　into　a　town。　　If　I　said　it　was　like　an　African　village　on　a　large　scale；　I　should　probably　give　you　the　best　description　in　the　fewest　words。　　From　the　very　water's　edge　up　to　the　crown　of　a　low　hill　inland；　extended　a　mass　of　huts　and　wooden　buildings；　embowered　and　partly　hidden　in　bright　green　foliage；　with　here　and　there　patches　of　millet；　or　some　such　food　plant；　and　the　flowers　that　grow　everywhere　so　abundantly　in　this　country。　　It　was　all　Arcadian　and　peaceful　enough　at　the　moment；　and　as　we　drew　near　the　men　were　just　coming　out　to　the　quays　along　the　har…　bour　front；　the　streets　filling　and　the　town　waking　to　busy　life。

A　turn　to　the　left　through　a　watergate　defended　by　towers　of　wood　and　mud；　and　we　were　in　the　city　harbour　itself；　boats　of　many　kinds　moored　on　every　side；　quaint　craft　from　the　gulfs　and　bays　of　Nowhere；　full　of　unheard…of　merch…　andise；　and　manned　by　strange…faced　crews；　every　vessel　a　romance　of　nameless　seas；　an　epitome　of　an　undiscovered　world；　and　every　moment　the　scene　grew　busier　as　the　breakfast　smoke　arose；　and　wharf　and　gangway　set　to　work　upon　the　day's　labours。

Our　boatloaded；　as　it　turned　out；　with　spoil　from　Seth　was　run　to　a　place　of　honour　at　the　bottom　of　the　town　square；　and　was　an　object　of　much　curiosity　to　a　small　crowd　which　speedily　collected　and　lent　a　hand　with　the　mooring　ropes；　the　while　chatting　excitedly　with　the　crew　about　further　tribute　and　the　latest　news　from　overseas。　　At　the　same　time　a　swarthy　barbarian；　whose　trappings　showed　him　to　be　some　sort　of　functionary；　came　down　to　our　〃captain；〃　much　wagging　of　heads　and　counting　of　notched　sticks　taking　place　between　them。

I；　indeed；　was　apparently　the　least　interesting　item　of　the　cargo；　and　this　was　embarrassing。　　No　hero　likes　to　be　ne…　glected；　it　is　fatal　to　his　part。　　I　had　said　my　prayers　and　steeled　myself　to　all　sorts　of　fine　endurance　on　the　way　up；　and　here；　when　it　came　to　the　crisis；　no　one　was　anxious　to　play　the　necessary　villain。　　They　just　helped　me　ashore　civilly　enough；　the　captain　nodded　his　head　at　me；　mutter…　ing　something　in　an　indifferent　tone　to　the　functionary　about　a　ghost　who　had　wandered　overseas　and　begged　a　passage　up　the　canal；　the　group　about　the　quay　stared　a　little；　but　that　was　all。

Once　I　remember　seeing　a　squatting；　life…size　heathen　idol　hoisted　from　a　vessel's　hold　and　deposited　on　a　sugar…box　on　a　New　York　quay。　　Some　ribald　passer…by　put　a　battered　felt　hat　upon　Vishnu's　sacred　curls；　and　there　the　poor　image　sat；　an　alien　in　an　indifferent　land；　a　sack　across　its　shoulders；　a　〃billycock〃　upon　its　head；　and　honoured　at　most　with　a　passing　stare。　　I　thought　of　that　lonely　image　as　al…　most　as　lonely　I　stood　on　the　Thither　men's　quay；　without　the　support　of　friends　or　heroics；　wondering　what　to　do　next。

However；　a　cheerful　disposition　is　sometimes　better　than　a　banking　account；　and　not　having　the　one　I　cultivated　the　other；　sunning　myself　amongst　the　bales　for　a　time；　and　then；　since　none　seemed　interested　in　me；　wandered　off　into　the　town；　partly　to　satisfy　my　curiosity；　and　partly　in　the　vague　hope　of　ascertaining　if　my　princess　was　really　here；　and；　if　possible；　getting　sight　of　her。

Meanwhile　it　turned　hot　with　a　supernatural；　heavy　sort　of　heat　altogether；　I　overheard　passersby　exclaiming；　out　of　the　common；　and　after　wandering　for　an　hour　through　gardens　and　endless　streets　of　thatched　huts；　I　was　glad　enough　to　throw　myself　down　in　the　shadow　of　some　trees　on　the　outskirts　of　the　great　central　pile　of　buildings；　a　whole　village　in　itself　of　beam…built　towers　and　dwelling…　place；　suggesting　by　its　superior　size　that　it　might　actually　be　Ar…hap's　palace。

Hotter　and　hotter　it　grew；　while　a　curious　secondary　sunrise　in　the　west；　the　like　of　which　I　never　saw　before　seemed　to　add　to　the　heat；　and　heavier　and　heavier　my　eye…　lids；　till　I　dozed　at　last；　and　finally　slept　uncomfortably　for　a　time。

Rousing　up　suddenly；　imagine　my　surprise　to　see　sitting；　chin　on　knees；　about　a　yard　away；　a　slender　girlish　figure；　infinitely　out　of　place　in　that　world　of　rough　barbarians。　Was　it　possible？　　Was　I　dreaming？　　No；　there　was　no　doubt　about　it；　she　was　a　girl　of　the　Hither　folk；　slim　and　pretty；　but　with　a　wonderfully　sad　look　in　her　gazelle　eyes；　and　scarcely　a　sign　of　the　indolent　happiness　of　Seth　in　the　pale　little　face　regarding　me　so　fixedly。

〃Good　gracious；　miss；〃　I　said；　still　rubbing　my　eyes　and　doubting　my　senses；　〃have　you　dropped　from　the　skies？　　You　are　the　very　last　person　I　expected　to　see　in　this　barbarian　place。〃

〃And　you　too；　sir。　　Oh；　it　is　lovely　to　see　one　so　newly　from　home；　and　free…seemingnot　a　slave。〃

〃How　did　you　know　I　was　from　Seth？〃

〃Oh；　that　was　easy　enough；〃　and　with　a　little　laugh　she　pointed　to　a　pebble　lying　between　us；　on　which　was　a　piece　of　battered　sweetmeat　in　a　perforated　bamboo　box。　　Poor　An　had　given　me　something　just　like　that　in　a　playful　mood；　and　I　had　kept　it　in　my　pocket　for　her　sake；　being；　as　you　will　have　doubtless　observed；　a　sentimental　young　man；　and　now　I　clapped　my　hand　where　it　should　have　been；　but　it　was　gone。

〃Yes；〃　said　my　new　friend；　〃that　is　yours。　　I　smelt　the　sweetmeat　coming　up　the　hill；　and　crossed　the　grass　until　I　found　you　here　asleep。　　Oh；　it　was　lovely！　　I　took　it　from　your　pocket；　and　white　Seth　rose　up　before　my　swimming　eyes；　even　at　the　scent　of　it。　　I　am　Si；　well　named；　for　that　in　our　land　means　sadness；　Si；　the　daughter　of　Prince　Hath's　chief　sweetmeat…maker；　so　I　should　know　something　of　such　stuff。　　May　I；　please；　nibble　a　l