erewhon-第5部分

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comparatively　warm　and　dry。　　Next　morning　it　was　fine；　we　broke
camp；　and　after　advancing　a　short　distance　we　found　that；　by
descending　over　ground　less　difficult　than　yesterday's；　we　should
come　again　upon　the　river…bed；　which　had　opened　out　above　the
gorge；　but　it　was　plain　at　a　glance　that　there　was　no　available
sheep　country；　nothing　but　a　few　flats　covered　with　scrub　on　either
side　the　river；　and　mountains　which　were　perfectly　worthless。　　But
we　could　see　the　main　range。　　There　was　no　mistake　about　this。　　The
glaciers　were　tumbling　down　the　mountain　sides　like　cataracts；　and
seemed　actually　to　descend　upon　the　river…bed；　there　could　be　no
serious　difficulty　in　reaching　them　by　following　up　the　river；
which　was　wide　and　open；　but　it　seemed　rather　an　objectless　thing
to　do；　for　the　main　range　looked　hopeless；　and　my　curiosity　about
the　nature　of　the　country　above　the　gorge　was　now　quite　satisfied；
there　was　no　money　in　it　whatever；　unless　there　should　be　minerals；
of　which　I　saw　no　more　signs　than　lower　down。

However；　I　resolved　that　I　would　follow　the　river　up；　and　not
return　until　I　was　compelled　to　do　so。　　I　would　go　up　every　branch
as　far　as　I　could；　and　wash　well　for　gold。　　Chowbok　liked　seeing　me
do　this；　but　it　never　came　to　anything；　for　we　did　not　even　find
the　colour。　　His　dislike　of　the　main　range　appeared　to　have　worn
off；　and　he　made　no　objections　to　approaching　it。　　I　think　he
thought　there　was　no　danger　of　my　trying　to　cross　it；　and　he　was
not　afraid　of　anything　on　this　side；　besides；　we　might　find　gold。
But　the　fact　was　that　he　had　made　up　his　mind　what　to　do　if　he　saw
me　getting　too　near　it。

We　passed　three　weeks　in　exploring；　and　never　did　I　find　time　go
more　quickly。　　The　weather　was　fine；　though　the　nights　got　very
cold。　　We　followed　every　stream　but　one；　and　always　found　it　lead
us　to　a　glacier　which　was　plainly　impassable；　at　any　rate　without　a
larger　party　and　ropes。　　One　stream　remained；　which　I　should　have
followed　up　already；　had　not　Chowbok　said　that　he　had　risen　early
one　morning　while　I　was　yet　asleep；　and　after　going　up　it　for　three
or　four　miles；　had　seen　that　it　was　impossible　to　go　farther。　　I
had　long　ago　discovered　that　he　was　a　great　liar；　so　I　was　bent　on
going　up　myself：　　in　brief；　I　did　so：　　so　far　from　being
impossible；　it　was　quite　easy　travelling；　and　after　five　or　six
miles　I　saw　a　saddle　at　the　end　of　it；　which；　though　covered　deep
in　snow；　was　not　glaciered；　and　which　did　verily　appear　to　be　part
of　the　main　range　itself。　　No　words　can　express　the　intensity　of　my
delight。　　My　blood　was　all　on　fire　with　hope　and　elation；　but　on
looking　round　for　Chowbok；　who　was　behind　me；　I　saw　to　my　surprise
and　anger　that　he　had　turned　back；　and　was　going　down　the　valley　as
hard　as　he　could。　　He　had　left　me。



CHAPTER　IV：　　THE　SADDLE



I　cooeyed　to　him；　but　he　would　not　hear。　　I　ran　after　him；　but　he
had　got　too　good　a　start。　　Then　I　sat　down　on　a　stone　and　thought
the　matter　carefully　over。　　It　was　plain　that　Chowbok　had
designedly　attempted　to　keep　me　from　going　up　this　valley；　yet　he
had　shown　no　unwillingness　to　follow　me　anywhere　else。　　What　could
this　mean；　unless　that　I　was　now　upon　the　route　by　which　alone　the
mysteries　of　the　great　ranges　could　be　revealed？　　What　then　should
I　do？　　Go　back　at　the　very　moment　when　it　had　become　plain　that　I
was　on　the　right　scent？　　Hardly；　yet　to　proceed　alone　would　be　both
difficult　and　dangerous。　　It　would　be　bad　enough　to　return　to　my
master's　run；　and　pass　through　the　rocky　gorges；　with　no　chance　of
help　from　another　should　I　get　into　a　difficulty；　but　to　advance
for　any　considerable　distance　without　a　companion　would　be　next
door　to　madness。　　Accidents　which　are　slight　when　there　is　another
at　hand　（as　the　spraining　of　an　ankle；　or　the　falling　into　some
place　whence　escape　would　be　easy　by　means　of　an　outstretched　hand
and　a　bit　of　rope）　may　be　fatal　to　one　who　is　alone。　　The　more　I
pondered　the　less　I　liked　it；　and　yet；　the　less　could　I　make　up　my
mind　to　return　when　I　looked　at　the　saddle　at　the　head　of　the
valley；　and　noted　the　comparative　ease　with　which　its　smooth　sweep
of　snow　might　be　surmounted：　　I　seemed　to　see　my　way　almost　from　my
present　position　to　the　very　top。　　After　much　thought；　I　resolved
to　go　forward　until　I　should　come　to　some　place　which　was　really
dangerous；　but　then　to　return。　　I　should　thus；　I　hoped；　at　any　rate
reach　the　top　of　the　saddle；　and　satisfy　myself　as　to　what　might　be
on　the　other　side。

I　had　no　time　to　lose；　for　it　was　now　between　ten　and　eleven　in　the
morning。　　Fortunately　I　was　well　equipped；　for　on　leaving　the　camp
and　the　horses　at　the　lower　end　of　the　valley　I　had　provided　myself
（according　to　my　custom）　with　everything　that　I　was　likely　to　want
for　four　or　five　days。　　Chowbok　had　carried　half；　but　had　dropped
his　whole　swagI　suppose；　at　the　moment　of　his　taking　flightfor
I　came　upon　it　when　I　ran　after　him。　　I　had；　therefore；　his
provisions　as　well　as　my　own。　　Accordingly；　I　took　as　many　biscuits
as　I　thought　I　could　carry；　and　also　some　tobacco；　tea；　and　a　few
matches。　　I　rolled　all　these　things　（together　with　a　flask　nearly
full　of　brandy；　which　I　had　kept　in　my　pocket　for　fear　lest　Chowbok
should　get　hold　of　it）　inside　my　blankets；　and　strapped　them　very
tightly；　making　the　whole　into　a　long　roll　of　some　seven　feet　in
length　and　six　inches　in　diameter。　　Then　I　tied　the　two　ends
together；　and　put　the　whole　round　my　neck　and　over　one　shoulder。
This　is　the　easiest　way　of　carrying　a　heavy　swag；　for　one　can　rest
one's　self　by　shifting　the　burden　from　one　shoulder　to　the　other。
I　strapped　my　pannikin　and　a　small　axe　about　my　waist；　and　thus
equipped　began　to　ascend　the　valley；　angry　at　having　been　misled　by
Chowbok；　but　determined　not　to　return　till　I　was　compelled　to　do
so。

I　crossed　and　recrossed　the　stream　several　times　without
difficulty；　for　there　were　many　good　fords。　　At　one　o'clock　I　was
at　the　foot　of　the　saddle；　for　four　hours　I　mounted；　the　last　two
on　the　snow；　where　the　going　was　easier；　by　five；　I　was　within　ten
minutes　of　the　top；　in　a　state　of　excitement　greater；　I　think；　than
I　had　ever　known　before。　　Ten　minutes　more；　and　the　cold　air　from
the　other　side　came　rushing　upon　me。

A　glance。　　I　was　NOT　on　the　main　range。

Another　glance。　　There　was　an　awful　river；　muddy　and　horribly
angry；　roaring　over　an　immense　riverbed；　thousands　of　feet　below
me。

It　went　round　to　the　westward；　and　I　could　see　no　farther　up　the
valley；　save　that　there　were　enormous　glaciers　which　must　extend
round　the　source　of　the　river；　and　from　which　it　must　spring。

Another　glance；　and　then　I　remained　motionless。

There　was　an　easy　pass　in　the　mountains　directly　opposite　to　me；
through　which　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　an　immeasurable　extent　of　blue
and　distant　plains。

Easy？　　Yes；　perfectly　easy；　grassed　nearly　to　the　summit；　which
was；　as　it　were；　an　open　path　between　two　glaciers；　from　which　an
inconsiderable　stream　came　tumbling　down　over　rough　but　very
possible　hillsides；　till　it　got　down　to　the　level　of　the　great
river；　and　formed　a　flat　where　there　was　grass　and　a　small　bush　of
stunted　timber。

Almost　before　I　could　believe　my　eyes；　a　cloud　had　come　up　from　the
valley　on　the　other　side；　and　the　plains　were　hidden。　　What
wonderful　luck　was　mine！　　Had　I　arrived　five　minutes　later；　the
cloud　would　have　been　over　the　pass；　and　I　should　not　have　known　of
its　existence。　　Now　that　the　cloud　was　there；　I　began　to　doubt　my
memory；　and　to　be　uncertain　whether　it　had　been　more　than　a　blue
line　of　distant　vapour　that　had　filled　up　the　opening。　　I　could
only　be　certain　of　this　much；　namely；　that　the　river　in　the　valley
below　must　be　the　one　next　to　the　northward　of　that　which　flowed
past　my　master's　station；　of　this　there　could　be　no　doubt。　　Could
I；　however；　imagine　that　my　luck　should　have　led　me　up　a　wrong
river　in　search　of　a　pass；　and　yet　brought　me　to　the　spot　where　I
could　detect　the　one　weak　place　in　the　fortifications　of　a　more
northern　basin？　　This　was　too　improbable。　　But　even　as　I　doubted
there　came　a　rent　in　the　cloud　opposite；　and　a　second　time　I　saw
blue　lines　of　heaving　downs；　growing　gradually　fainter；　and
retiring　into　a　far　space　of　plain。　　It　was　substantial；　there　had
been　no　mistake　whatsoever。　　I　had　hardly　made　myself　perfectly
sure　of　this；　ere　the　rent　in　the　clouds　joined　up　again　and　I
could　see　nothing　more。

What；　then；　should　I　do？　　The　night　would　be　upon　me　shortly；　and　I
was　already　chilled　with　standing　still　after　the　exertion　of
climbing。　　To　stay　where　I　was　would　be　impossible；　I　must　either
go　backwards　or　forwards。　　I　found　a　rock　which　gave　me　shelter
from　the　evening　wind；　and　took　a　good　pull　at　the　brandy　flask；
which　immediately　warmed　and　encouraged　me。

I　asked　myself；　Could　I　descend　upon　the　river…bed　beneath　me？　　It
was　impossible　to　say　what　precipices　might　prevent　my　doing　so。
If　I　were　on　the　river…bed；　dare　I　cross　the　river？　　I　am　an
excellent　swimmer；　yet；　once　in　that　frightful　rush　of　waters；　I
should　be　hurled　whithersoever　it　willed；　absolutely　powerless。
Moreover；　there　was　my　swag；　I　should　perish　of　cold　and　hunger　if
I　left　it；　but　I　should　certainly　be　drowned　if　I　attempted　to
carry　it　across　the　river。　　These　were　serious　considerations；　but
the　hope　of　finding　an　immense　tract　of　available　sheep　country
（which　I　was　determined　that　I　would　monopolise　as　far　as　I
possibly　could）　sufficed　to　outweigh　them；　and；　in　a　few　minutes；　I
felt　resolved　that；　having　made　so　important　a　discovery　as　a　pass
into　a　country　which　was　probably　as　valuable　as　that　on　our　own
side　of　the　ranges；　I　would　follow　it　up　and　ascertain　its　value；
even　though　I　should　pay　the　penalty　of　failure　with　life　itself。
The　more　I　thought；　the　more　determined　I　became　either　to　win　fame
and　perhaps　fortune；　by　entering　upon　this　unknown　world；　or　give
up　life　in　the　attempt。　　In　fact；　I　felt　that　life　would　be　no
longer　valuable　if　I　were　to　have　seen　so　great　a　prize　and　refused
to　grasp　at　the　possible　profits　therefrom。

I　had　still　an　hour　of　good　daylight　during　which　I　might　begin　my
descent　on　to　some　suitable　camping…gr