gulliver of mars-第6部分

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s　pressed　upon　it。　　So　close　those　wherries　hung　about　that　the　garlanded　rowers　who　sat　at　the　oars　could　scarcely　pull；　but；　here　as　everywhere；　it　was　the　same　good　temper；　the　same　carelessness　of　order；　as　like　a　flowery　island　in　the　dancing　blue　water　the　motley　fleet　came　up。

I　steered　our　skiff　a　space　out　from　the　bank　to　get　a　better　view；　while　An　clapped　her　hands　together　and　laughed。　　〃It　is　Hathhe　himself　and　those　of　the　palace　with　him。　　Steer　a　little　nearer　still；　friendso！　between　yon　floating　rubbish　flats；　for　those　with　Hath　are　good　to　look　at。〃

Nothing　loth　I　made　out　into　mid…stream　to　see　that　strange　prince　go　by；　little　thinking　in　a　few　minutes　I　should　be　shaking　hands　with　him；　a　wet　and　dripping　hero。　The　crowd　came　up；　and　having　the　advantage　of　the　wind；　it　did　not　take　me　long　to　get　a　front　place　in　the　ruck；　whence　I　set　to　work；　with　republican　interest　in　royalty；　to　stare　at　the　man　who　An　said　was　the　head　of　Martian　society。　　He　did　not　make　me　desire　to　renounce　my　demo…　cratic　principles。　　The　royal　fellow　was　sitting　in　the　centre　of　the　barge　under　a　canopy　and　on　a　throne　which　was　a　mass　of　flowers；　not　bunched　together　as　they　would　have　been　with　us；　but　so　cunningly　arranged　that　they　rose　from　the　footstool　to　the　pinnacle　in　a　rhythm　of　colour；　a　poem　in　bud　and　petals　the　like　of　which　for　harmonious　beauty　I　could　not　have　imagined　possible。　　And　in　this　fairy　den　was　a　thin；　gaunt　young　man；　dressed　in　some　sort　of　black　stuff　so　nondescript　that　it　amounted　to　little　more　than　a　shadow。　　I　took　it　for　granted　that　a　substance　of　bone　and　muscle　was　covered　by　that　gloomy　suit；　but　it　was　the　face　above　that　alone　riveted　my　gaze　and　made　me　return　the　stare　he　gave　me　as　we　came　up　with　re…　doubled　interest。　　It　was　not　an　unhandsome　face；　but　ashy　grey　in　colour　and　amongst　the　insipid　countenances　of　the　Martians　about　him　marvellously　thoughtful。　　I　do　not　know　whether　those　who　had　killed　themselves　by　learn…　ing　ever　leave　ghosts　behind；　but　if　so　this　was　the　very　ideal　for　such　a　one。　　At　his　feet　I　noticed；　when　I　un…　hooked　my　eyes　from　his　at　last；　sat　a　girl　in　a　loose　coral　pink　gown　who　was　his　very　antipode。　　Princess　Heru；　for　so　she　was　called；　was　resting　one　arm　upon　his　knee　at　our　approach　and　pulling　a　blue　convolvulus　bud　to　piecesa　charming　picture　of　dainty　idleness。　　Anything　so　soft；　so　silken　as　that　little　lady　was　never　seen　before。　　Who　am　I；　a　poor　quarter…deck　loafer；　that　I　should　attempt　to　describe　what　poet　and　painter　alike　would　have　failed　to　realise？　　I　know；　of　course；　your　stock　descriptives：　the　melting　eye；　the　coral　lip；　the　peachy　cheek；　the　raven　tress；　but　these　were　coined　for　mortal　womanand　this　was　not　one　of　them。　　I　will　not　attempt　to　describe　the　glorious　tenderness　of　those　eyes　she　turned　upon　me　presently；　the　glowing　radiance　of　her　skin；　the　infinite　grace　of　every　action；　the　incredible　soul…searching　harmony　of　her　voice；　when　later　on　I　heard　ityou　must　gather　something　of　these　things　as　I　gosuffice　it　to　say　that　when　I　saw　her　there　for　the　first　time　in　the　plenitude　of　her　beauty　I　fell　desperately；　wildly　in　love　with　her。

Meanwhile；　even　the　most　infatuated　of　mortals　cannot　stare　for　ever　without　saying　something。　　The　grating　of　our　prow　against　the　garlanded　side　of　the　royal　barge　roused　me　from　my　reverie；　and　nodding　to　An；　to　imply　I　would　be　back　presently；　I　lightly　jumped　on　to　Hath's　vessel；　and；　with　the　assurance　of　a　free　and　independent　American　voter；　approached　that　individual；　holding　out　my　palm；　and　saying　as　I　did　so；

〃Shake　hands；　Mr。　President！〃

The　prince　came　forward　at　my　bidding　and　extending　his　hand　for　mine。　　He　bowed　slow　and　sedately；　in　that　peculiar　way　the　Martians　have；　a　ripple　of　gratified　civility　passing　up　his　flesh；　lower　and　lower　he　bowed；　until　his　face　was　over　our　clasped　hands；　and　then；　with　simple　courtesy；　he　kissed　my　finger…tips！　　This　was　somewhat　em…　barrassing。　　It　was　not　like　the　procedure　followed　in　Courts　nearer　to　Washington　than　this　one；　as　far　as　my　reading　went；　and；　withdrawing　my　fingers　hastily；　I　turned　to　the　princess；　who　had　risen；　and　was　eyeing　her　somewhat　awkwardly；　the　while　wondering　what　kind　of　salutation　would　be　suitable　in　her　case　when　a　startling　incident　happened。　　The　river；　as　said；　was　full　of　floating　rubbish　brought　down　from　some　far…away　uplands　by　a　spring　freshet　while　the　royal　convoy　was　making　slow　progress　upstream　and　thus　met　it　all　bow　on。　　Some　of　this　stuff　was　heavy　timber；　and　when　a　sudden　warning　cry　went　up　from　the　leading　boats　it　did　not　take　my　sailor　instinct　long　to　guess　what　was　amiss。　　Those　in　front　shot　side　to　side；　those　be…　hind　tried　to　drop　back　as；　bearing　straight　down　on　the　royal　barge；　there　came　a　log　of　black　wood　twenty　feet　long　and　as　thick　as　the　mainmast　of　an　old　three…decker。

Hath's　boat　could　no　more　escape　than　if　it　had　been　planted　on　a　rocky　pedestal；　garlands　and　curtains　trailing　in　the　water　hung　so　heavy　on　it。　　The　gilded　paddles　of　the　slender　rowers　were　so　feeblethey　had　but　made　a　half…　turn　from　that　great　javelin's　road　when　down　it　came　upon　them；　knocking　the　first　few　pretty　oarsmen　head　over　heels　and　crackling　through　their　oars　like　a　bull　through　dry　maize　stalks。　　I　sprang　forward；　and　snatching　a　pole　from　a　half…hearted　slave；　jammed　the　end　into　the　head　of　the　log　and　bore　with　all　my　weight　upon　it；　diverting　it　a　little；　and　thereby　perhaps　saving　the　ship　herself；　but　not　enough。　　As　it　flashed　by　a　branch　caught　upon　the　trailing　tapestry；　hurling　me　to　the　deck；　；and　tearing　away　with　it　all　that　finery。　　Then　the　great　spar；　tossing　half　its　dripping　length　into　the　air；　went　plunging　downstream　with　shreds　of　silk　and　flowers　trailing　from　it；　and　white　water　bubbling　in　its　rear。

When　I　scrambled　to　my　feet　all　was　ludicrous　confusion　on　board。　　Hath　still　stood　by　his　thronean　island　in　a　sea　of　disorderstaring　at　me；　all　else　was　chaos。　　The　rowers　and　courtiers　were　kicking　and　wallowing　in　the　〃waist〃　of　the　ship　like　fish　newly　shot　out　of　a　trawl　net；　but　the　princess　was　gone。　　Where　was　she？　　I　brushed　the　spray　from　my　eyes；　and　stared　overboard。　　She　was　not　in　the　bub…　bling　blue　water　alongside。　　Then　I　glanced　aft　to　where　the　log；　now　fifteen　yards　away；　was　splashing　through　the　sun…　shine；　and；　as　I　looked；　a　fair　arm　came　up　from　underneath　and　white　fingers　clutched　convulsively　at　the　sky。　　What　man　could　need　more？　　Down　the　barge　I　rushed；　and　drop…　ping　only　my　swordbelt；　leapt　in　to　her　rescue。　　The　gentle　Martians　were　too　numb　to　raise　a　hand　in　help；　but　it　was　not　necessary。　　I　had　the　tide　with　me；　and　gained　at　every　stroke。　　Meanwhile　that　accursed　tree；　with　poor　Heru's　skirts　caught　on　a　branch；　was　drowning　her　at　its　leisure；　lifting　her　up　as　it　rose　upon　the　crests；　a　fair；　helpless　bundle；　and　then　sousing　her　in　its　fall　into　the　nether　water；　where　I　could　see　her　gleam　now　and　again　like　pink　coral。

I　redoubled　my　efforts　and　got　alongside；　clutching　the　rind　of　that　old　stump；　and　swimming　and　scrambling；　at　last　was　within　reach　of　the　princess。　　Thereon　the　log　lifted　her　playfully　to　my　arms；　and　when　I　had　laid　hold　came　down；　a　crushing　weight；　and　forced　us　far　into　the　clammy　bosom　of　Martian　sea。　　Again　we　came　up；　coughing　and　chokingI　tugging　furiously　at　that　tangled　raiment；　and　the　lady；　a　mere　lump　of　sweetness　in　my　other　arm　then　down　again　with　that　log　upon　me　and　all　the　noises　of　Eblis　in　my　ears。　　Up　and　down　we　went；　over　and　over；　till　strength　was　spent　and　my　ribs　seemed　breaking；　then；　with　a　last　desperate　effort；　I　got　a　knee　against　the　stem；　and　by　sheer　strength　freed　my　princessthe　spiteful　timber　made　a　last　ugly　thrust　at　us　as　it　rolled　awayand　we　were　free！

I　turned　upon　my　back；　and；　sure　of　rescue　now；　took　the　lady's　head　upon　my　chest；　holding　her　sweet；　white　fists　in　mine　the　while；　and；　floating；　waited　for　help。

It　came　only　too　quickly。　　The　gallant　Martians；　when　they　saw　the　princess　saved；　came　swiftly　down　upon　us。　Over　the　lapping　of　the　water　in　my　ears　I　heard　their　sigh…　like　cries　of　admiration　and　surprise；　the　rattle　of　spray　on　the　canoe　sides　mingled　with　the　splash　of　oars；　the　flitting　shadows　of　their　prows　were　all　about　us；　and　in　less　time　than　it　takes　to　write　we　were　hauled　aboard；　revived；　and　taken　to　Hath's　barge。　　Again　the　prince's　lips　were　on　my　fingertips；　again　the　flutes　and　music　struck　up；　and　as　I　squeezed　the　water　out　of　my　hair；　and　tried　to　keep　my　eyes　off　the　outline　of　Heru；　whose　loveliness　shone　through　her　damp；　clinging；　pink　robe；　as　if　that　robe　were　but　a　gauzy　fancy；　I　vaguely　heard　Hath　saying　wondrous　things　of　my　gallantry；　and；　what　was　more　to　the　purpose；　asking　me　to　come　with　him　and　stay　that　night　at　the　palace。




CHAPTER　IV

They　lodged　me　like　a　prince　in　a　tributary　country　that　first　night。　　I　was　tired。　　'Twas　a　stiff　stage　I　had　come　the　day　before；　and　they　gave　me　a　couch　whose　ethereal　softness　seemed　to　close　like　the　wings　of　a　bird　as　I　plunged　at　its　touch　into　fathomless　slumbers。　　But　the　next　day　had　hardly　broken　when　I　was　awake；　and；　stretching　my　limbs　upon　the　piled　silk　of　a　legless　bed　upon　the　floor；　found　myself　in　a　great　chamber　with　a　purple　tapestry　across　the　entrance；　and　a　square　arch　leading　to　a　flat　terrace　outside。

It　was　a　glorious　daybreak；　making　my　heart　light　within　me；　the　air　like　new　milk；　and　the　colours　of　the　sunrise　lay　purple　and　yellow　in　bars　across　my　room。　　I　yawned　and　stretched；　then　rising；　wrapped　a　silken　quilt　about　me　and　went　out　into　the　flat　terrace　top；　wherefrom　all　the　city　could　be　seen　stretched　in　an　ivory　and　emerald　patchwork；　with　open；　blue　water　on　one　side；　and　the　Martian　plain　trending　away　in　illimitable　distance　upon　the　other。

Directly　underneath　in　the　great　square　at　the　bottom　of　Hath's　palace　steps　were　gathered　a　concourse　of　people；　brilliant　in　many…coloured　dresses。　　They　were　sitting　or　lying　about　just　as　they　might　for　all　I　knew　have　done　through　the　warm　night；　without　much　order；　save　that　where　the　black　streaks　of　inlaid　stone　marked　a　carriage…　way　across　the