erewhon-第6部分

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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…ground；　but　there　was　not　a
moment　to　be　lost。　　At　first　I　got　along　rapidly；　for　I　was　on　the
snow；　and　sank　into　it　enough　to　save　me　from　falling；　though　I
went　forward　straight　down　the　mountain　side　as　fast　as　I　could；
but　there　was　less　snow　on　this　side　than　on　the　other；　and　I　had
soon　done　with　it；　getting　on　to　a　coomb　of　dangerous　and　very
stony　ground；　where　a　slip　might　have　given　me　a　disastrous　fall。
But　I　was　careful　with　all　my　speed；　and　got　safely　to　the　bottom；
where　there　were　patches　of　coarse　grass；　and　an　attempt　here　and
there　at　brushwood：　　what　was　below　this　I　could　not　see。　　I
advanced　a　few　hundred　yards　farther；　and　found　that　I　was　on　the
brink　of　a　frightful　precipice；　which　no　one　in　his　senses　would
attempt　descending。　　I　bethought　me；　however；　to　try　the　creek
which　drained　the　coomb；　and　see　whether　it　might　not　have　made
itself　a　smoother　way。　　In　a　few　minutes　I　found　myself　at　the
upper　end　of　a　chasm　in　the　rocks；　something　like　Twll　Dhu；　only　on
a　greatly　larger　scale；　the　creek　had　found　its　way　into　it；　and
had　worn　a　deep　channel　through　a　material　which　appeared　softer
than　that　upon　the　other　side　of　the　mountain。　　I　believe　it　must
have　been　a　different　geological　formation；　though　I　regret　to　say
that　I　cannot　tell　what　it　was。

I　looked　at　this　rift　in　great　doubt；　then　I　went　a　little　way　on
either　side　of　it；　and　found　myself　looking　over　the　edge　of
horrible　precipices　on　to　the　river；　which　roared　some　four　or　five
thousand　feet　below　me。　　I　dared　not　think　of　getting　down　at　all；
unless　I　committed　myself　to　the　rift；　of　which　I　was　hopeful　when
I　reflected　that　the　rock　was　soft；　and　that　the　water　might　have
worn　its　channel　tolerably　evenly　through　the　whole　extent。　　The
darkness　was　increasing　with　every　minute；　but　I　should　have
twilight　for　another　half…hour；　so　I　went　into　the　chasm　（though　by
no　means　without　fear）；　and　resolved　to　return　and　camp；　and　try
some　other　path　next　day；　should　I　come　to　any　serious　difficulty。
In　about　five　minutes　I　had　completely　lost　my　head；　the　side　of
the　rift　became　hundreds　of　feet　in　height；　and　overhung　so　that　I
could　not　see　the　sky。　　It　was　full　of　rocks；　and　I　had　many　falls
and　bruises。　　I　was　wet　through　from　falling　into　the　water；　of
which　there　was　no　great　volume；　but　it　had　such　force　that　I　could
do　nothing　against　it；　once　I　had　to　leap　down　a　not　inconsiderable
waterfall　into　a　deep　pool　below；　and　my　swag　was　so　heavy　that　I
was　very　nearly　drowned。　　I　had　indeed　a　hair's…breadth　escape；
but；　as　luck　would　have　it；　Providence　was　on　my　side。　　Shortly
afterwards　I　began　to　fancy　that　the　rift　was　getting　wider；　and
that　there　was　more　brushwood。　　Presently　I　found　myself　on　an　open
grassy　slope；　and　feeling　my　way　a　little　farther　along　the　stream；
I　came　upon　a　flat　place　with　wood；　where　I　could　camp　comfortably；
which　was　well；　for　it　was　now　quite　dark。

My　first　care　was　for　my　matches；　were　they　dry？　　The　outside　of　my
swag　had　got　completely　wet；　but；　on　undoing　the　blankets；　I　found
things　warm　and　dry　within。　　How　thankful　I　was！　　I　lit　a　fire；　and
was　grateful　for　its　warmth　and　company。　　I　made　myself　some　tea
and　ate　two　of　my　biscuits：　　my　brandy　I　did　not　touch；　for　I　had
little　left；　and　might　want　it　when　my　courage　failed　me。　　All　that
I　did；　I　did　almost　mechanically；　for　I　could　not　realise　my
situation　to　myself；　beyond　knowing　that　I　was　alone；　and　that
return　through　the　chasm　which　I　had　just　descended　would　be
impossible。　　It　is　a　dreadful　feeling　that　of　being　cut　off　from
all　one's　kind。　　I　was　still　full　of　hope；　and　built　golden　castles
for　myself　as　soon　as　I　was　warmed　with　food　and　fire；　but　I　do　not
believe　that　any　man　could　long　retain　his　reason　in　such　solitude；
unless　he　had　the　companionship　of　animals。　　One　begins　doubting
one's　own　identity。

I　remember　deriving　comfort　even　from　the　sight　of　my　blankets；　and
the　sound　of　my　watch　tickingthings　which　seemed　to　link　me　to
other　people；　but　the　screaming　of　the　wood…hens　frightened　me；　as
also　a　chattering　bird　which　I　had　never　heard　before；　and　which
seemed　to　laugh　at　me；　though　I　soon　got　used　to　it；　and　before
long　could　fancy　that　it　was　many　years　since　I　had　first　heard　it。

I　took　off　my　clothes；　and　wrapped　my　inside　blanket　about　me；　till
my　things　were　dry。　　The　night　was　very　still；　and　I　made　a　roaring
fire；　so　I　soon　got　warm；　and　at　last　could　put　my　clothes　on
again。　　Then　I　strapped　my　blanket　round　me；　and　went　to　sleep　as
near　the　fire　as　I　could。

I　dreamed　that　there　was　an　organ　placed　in　my　master's　wool…shed：
the　wool…shed　faded　away；　and　the　organ　seemed　to　grow　and　grow
amid　a　blaze　of　brilliant　light；　till　it　became　like　a　golden　city
upon　the　side　of　a　mountain；　with　rows　upon　rows　of　pipes　set　in
cliffs　and　precipices；　one　above　the　other；　and　in　mysterious
caverns；　like　that　of　Fingal；　within　whose　depths　I　could　see　the
burnished　pillars　gleaming。　　In　the　front　there　was　a　flight　of
lofty　terraces；　at　the　top　of　which　I　could　see　a　man　with　his　head
buried　forward　towards　a　key…board；　and　his　body　swaying　from　side
to　side　amid　the　storm　of　huge　arpeggioed　harmonies　that　came
crashing　overhead　and　round。　　Then　there　was　one　who　touched　me　on
the　shoulder；　and　said；　〃Do　you　not　see？　it　is　Handel〃；but　I　had
hardly　apprehended；　and　was　trying　to　scale　the　terraces；　and　get
near　him；　when　I　awoke；　dazzled　with　the　vividness　and　distinctness
of　the　dream。

A　piece　of　wood　had　burned　through；　and　the　ends　had　fallen　into
the　ashes　with　a　blaze：　　this；　I　supposed；　had　both　given　me　my
dream　and　robbed　me　of　it。　　I　was　bitterly　disappointed；　and
sitting　up　on　my　elbow；　came　back　to　reality　and　my　strange
surroundings　as　best　I　could。

I　was　thoroughly　arousedmoreover；　I　felt　a　foreshadowing　as
though　my　attention　were　arrested　by　something　more　than　the　dream；
although　no　sense　in　particular　was　as　yet　appealed　to。　　I　held　my
breath　and　waited；　and　then　I　heardwas　it　fancy？　　Nay；　I　listened
again　and　again；　and　I　DID　hear　a　faint　and　extremely　distant　sound
of　music；　like　that　of　an　AEolian　harp；　borne　upon　the　wind　which
was　blowing　fresh　and　chill　from　the　opposite　mountains。

The　roots　of　my　hair　thrilled。　　I　listened；　but　the　wind　had　died；
and；　fancying　that　it　must　have　been　the　wind　itselfno；　on　a
sudden　I　remembered　the　noise　which　Chowbok　had　made　in　the　wool…
shed。　　Yes；　it　was　that。

Thank　Heaven；　whatever　it　was；　it　was　over　now。　　I　reasoned　with
myself；　and　recovered　my　firmness。　　I　became　convinced　that　I　had
only　been　dreaming　more　vividly　than　usual。　　Soon　I　began　even　to
laugh；　and　think　what　a　fool　I　was　to　be　frightened　at　nothing；
reminding　myself　that　even　if　I　were　to　come　to　a　bad　end　it　would
be　no　such　dreadful　matter　after　all。　　I　said　my　prayers；　a　duty
which　I　had　too　often　neglected；　and　in　a　little　time　fell　into　a
really　refreshing　sleep；　which　lasted　till　broad　daylight；　and
restored　me。　　I　rose；　and　searching　among　the　embers　of　my　fire；　I
found　a　few　live　coals　and　soon　had　a　blaze　again。　　I　got
breakfast；　and　was　delighted　to　have　the　company　of　several　small
birds；　which　hopped　about　me　and　perched　on　my　boots　and　hands。　　I
felt　comparatively　happy；　but　I　can　assure　the　reader　that　I　had
had　a　far　worse　time　of　it　than　I　have　told　him；　and　I　strongly
recommend　him　to　remain　in　Europe　if　he　can；　or；　at　any　rate；　in
some　country　which　has　been　explored　and　settled；　rather　than　go
into　places　where　others　have　not　been　before　him。　　Exploring　is
delightful　to　look　forward　to　and　back　upon；　but　it　is　not
comfortable　at　the　time；　unless　it　be　of　such　an　easy　nature　as　not
to　deserve　the　name。



CHAPTER　V：　　THE　RIVER　AND　THE　RANGE



My　next　business　was　to　descend　upon　the　river。　　I　had　lost　sight
of　the　pass　which　I　had　seen　from　the　saddle；　but　had　made　such
notes　of　it　that　I　could　not　fail　to　find　it。　　I　was　bruised　and
stiff；　and　my　boots　had　begun　to　give；　for　I　had　been　going　on
rough　ground　for　more　than　three　weeks；　but；　as　the　day　wore　on；
and　I　found　myself　descending　without　serious　difficulty；　I　became
easier。　　In　a　couple　of　hours　I　got　among　pine　forests　where　there
was　little　undergrowth；　and　descended　quickly　till　I　reached　the
edge　of　another　precipice；　which　gave　me　a　great　deal　of　trouble；
though　I　eventually　managed　to　avoid　it。　　By　about　three　or　four
o'clock　I　found　myself　on　the　river…bed。

From　calculations　which　I　made　as　to　the　height　of　the　valley　on
the　other　side　the　saddle　over　which　I　had　come；　I　concluded　that
the　saddle　itself　could　not　be　less　than　nine　thousand　feet　high；
and　I　should　think　that　the　river…bed；　on　to　which　I　now　descended；
was　three　thousand　feet　above　the　sea…level。　　The　water　had　a
terrific　current；　with　a　fall　of　not　less　than　forty　to　fifty　feet
per　mile。　　It　was　certainly　the　river　next　to　the　northward　of　that
which　flowed　past　my　master's　run；　and　would　have　to　go　through　an
impassable　gorge　（as　is　commonly　the　case　with　the　rivers　of　that
country）　before　it　came　upon　known　parts。　　It　was　reckoned　to　be
nearly　two　thousand　feet　above　the　sea…level　where　it　came　out　of
the　gorge　on　to　the　plains。

As　soon　as　I　got　to　the　river　side　I　liked　it　even　less　than　I
thought　I　should。　　It　was　muddy；　being　near　its　parent　glaciers。
The　stream　was　wide；　rapid；　and　rough；　and　I　could　hear　the　smaller
stones　knocking　against　each　other　under　the　rage　of　the　waters；　as
upon　a　seashore。　　Fording　was　out　of　the　question。　　I　could　not
swim　and　carry　my　swag；　and　I　dared　not　leave　my　swag　behind　me。
My　only　chance　was　to　make　a　small　raft；　and　that　would　be
difficult　to　make；　and　not　at　all　safe　when　it　was　made；not　for
one　man　in　such　a　current。

As　it　was　too　late　to　do　much　that　afternoon；　I　spent　the　rest　of
it　in　going　up　and　down　the　river　side；　and　seeing　where　I　should
find　the　most　favourable　crossing。　　Then　I　camped　early；　and　had　a
quiet　comfortable　night　with　no　more　music；　for　which　I　was
thankful；　as　it　had　hau