the surprising adventures of baron munchausen-第17部分

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tly。　The　day　being　clear；　notwithstanding　my　degree　of　elevation；　the　earth's　surface　appeared　just　like　a　map；　where　land；　sea；　lakes；　rivers；　mountains；　and　the　like　were　perfectly　distinguishable；　and　having　some　knowledge　of　geography；　I　was　at　no　loss　to　determine　what　part　of　the　globe　I　was　in。

Whilst　I　was　contemplating　this　wonderful　prospect　a　dreadful　howling　suddenly　began　all　around　me；　and　in　a　moment　I　was　invested　by　thousands　of　small；　black；　deformed；　frightful　looking　creatures；　who　pressed　me　on　all　sides　in　such　a　manner　that　I　could　neither　move　hand　or　foot：　but　I　had　not　been　in　their　possession　more　than　ten　minutes　when　I　heard　the　most　delightful　music　that　can　possibly　be　imagined；　which　was　suddenly　changed　into　a　noise　the　most　awful　and　tremendous；　to　which　the　report　of　cannon；　or　the　loudest　claps　of　thunder　could　bear　no　more　proportion　than　the　gentle　zephyrs　of　the　evening　to　the　most　dreadful　hurricane；　but　the　shortness　of　its　duration　prevented　all　those　fatal　effects　which　a　prolongation　of　it　would　certainly　have　been　attended　with。

The　music　commenced；　and　I　saw　a　great　number　of　the　most　beautiful　little　creatures　seize　the　other　party；　and　throw　them　with　great　violence　into　something　like　a　snuff…box；　which　they　shut　down；　and　one　threw　it　away　with　incredible　velocity；　then　turning　to　me；　he　said　they　whom　he　had　secured　were　a　party　of　devils；　who　had　wandered　from　their　proper　habitation；　and　that　the　vehicle　in　which　they　were　enclosed　would　fly　with　unabating　rapidity　for　ten　thousand　years；　when　it　would　burst　of　its　own　accord；　and　the　devils　would　recover　their　liberty　and　faculties；　as　at　the　present　moment。　He　had　no　sooner　finished　this　relation　than　the　music　ceased；　and　they　all　disappeared；　leaving　me　in　a　state　of　mind　bordering　on　the　confines　of　despair。

When　I　had　recomposed　myself　a　little；　and　looking　before　me　with　inexpressible　pleasure；　I　observed　that　the　eagles　were　preparing　to　light　on　the　peak　of　Teneriffe：　they　descended　on　the　top　of　the　rock；　but　seeing　no　possible　means　of　escape　if　I　dismounted　determined　me　to　remain　where　I　was。　The　eagles　sat　down　seemingly　fatigued；　when　the　heat　of　the　sun　soon　caused　them　both　to　fall　asleep；　nor　did　I　long　resist　its　fascinating　power。　In　the　cool　of　the　evening；　when　the　sun　had　retired　below　the　horizon；　I　was　roused　from　sleep　by　the　eagle　moving　under　me；　and　having　stretched　myself　along　its　back；　I　sat　up；　and　reassumed　my　travelling　position；　when　they　both　took　wing；　and　having　placed　themselves　as　before；　directed　their　course　to　South　America。　The　moon　shining　bright　during　the　whole　night；　I　had　a　fine　view　of　all　the　islands　in　those　seas。

About　the　break　of　day　we　reached　the　great　continent　of　America；　that　part　called　Terra　Firma；　and　descended　on　the　top　of　a　very　high　mountain。　At　this　time　the　moon；　far　distant　in　the　west；　and　obscured　by　dark　clouds；　but　just　afforded　light　sufficient　for　me　to　discover　a　kind　of　shrubbery　all　around；　bearing　fruit　something　like　cabbages；　which　the　eagles　began　to　feed　on　very　eagerly。　I　endeavoured　to　discover　my　situation；　but　fogs　and　passing　clouds　involved　me　in　the　thickest　darkness；　and　what　rendered　the　scene　still　more　shocking　was　the　tremendous　howling　of　wild　beasts；　some　of　which　appeared　to　be　very　near：　however；　I　determined　to　keep　my　seat；　imagining　that　the　eagle　would　carry　me　away　if　any　of　them　should　make　a　hostile　attempt。　When　daylight　began　to　appear；　I　thought　of　examining　the　fruit　which　I　had　seen　the　eagles　eat；　and　as　some　was　hanging　which　I　could　easily　come　at；　I　took　out　my　knife　and　cut　a　slice；　but　how　great　was　my　surprise　to　see　that　it　had　all　the　appearance　of　roast　beef　regularly　mixed；　both　fat　and　lean！　I　tasted　it；　and　found　it　well　flavoured　and　delicious；　then　cut　several　large　slices　and　put　in　my　pocket；　where　I　found　a　crust　of　bread　which　I　had　brought　from　Margate；　took　it　out；　and　found　three　musket…balls　that　had　been　lodged　in　it　on　Dover　cliff。　I　extracted　them；　and　cutting　a　few　slices　more；　made　a　hearty　meal　of　bread　and　cold　beef　fruit。　I　then　cut　down　two　of　the　largest　that　grew　near　me；　and　tying　them　together　with　one　of　my　garters；　hung　them　over　the　eagle's　neck　for　another　occasion；　filling　my　pockets　at　the　same　time。　While　I　was　settling　these　affairs　I　observed　a　large　fruit　like　an　inflated　bladder；　which　I　wished　to　try　an　experiment　upon：　and　striking　my　knife　into　one　of　them；　a　fine　pure　liquor　like　Hollands　gin　rushed　out；　which　the　eagles　observing；　eagerly　drank　up　from　the　ground。　I　cut　down　the　bladder　as　fast　as　I　could；　and　saved　about　half　a　pint　in　the　bottom　of　it；　which　I　tasted；　and　could　not　distinguish　it　from　the　best　mountain　wine。　I　drank　it　all；　and　found　myself　greatly　refreshed。　By　this　time　the　eagles　began　to　stagger　against　the　shrubs。　I　endeavoured　to　keep　my　seat；　but　was　soon　thrown　to　some　distance　among　the　bushes。　In　attempting　to　rise　I　put　my　hand　upon　a　large　hedgehog；　which　happened　to　lie　among　the　grass　upon　its　back：　it　instantly　closed　round　my　hand；　so　that　I　found　it　impossible　to　shake　it　off。　I　struck　it　several　times　against　the　ground　without　effect；　but　while　I　was　thus　employed　I　heard　a　rustling　among　the　shrubbery；　and　looking　up；　I　saw　a　huge　animal　within　three　yards　of　me；　I　could　make　no　defence；　but　held　out　both　my　hands；　when　it　rushed　upon　me；　and　seized　that　on　which　the　hedgehog　was　fixed。　My　hand　being　soon　relieved；　I　ran　to　some　distance；　where　I　saw　the　creature　suddenly　drop　down　and　expire　with　the　hedgehog　in　its　throat。　When　the　danger　was　past　I　went　to　view　the　eagles；　and　found　them　lying　on　the　grass　fast　asleep；　being　intoxicated　with　the　liquor　they　had　drank。　Indeed；　I　found　myself　considerably　elevated　by　it；　and　seeing　everything　quiet；　I　began　to　search　for　some　more；　which　I　soon　found；　and　having　cut　down　two　large　bladders；　about　a　gallon　each；　I　tied　them　together；　and　hung　them　over　the　neck　of　the　other　eagle；　and　the　two　smaller　ones　I　tied　with　a　cord　round　my　own　waist。　Having　secured　a　good　stock　of　provisions；　and　perceiving　the　eagles　begin　to　recover；　I　again　took　my　seat。　In　half　an　hour　they　arose　majestically　from　the　place；　without　taking　the　least　notice　of　their　incumbrance。　Each　reassumed　its　former　station；　and　directing　their　course　to　the　northward；　they　crossed　the　Gulf　of　Mexico；　entered　North　America；　and　steered　directly　for　the　Polar　regions；　which　gave　me　the　finest　opportunity　of　viewing　this　vast　continent　that　can　possibly　be　imagined。

Before　we　entered　the　frigid　zone　the　cold　began　to　affect　me；　but　piercing　one　of　my　bladders；　I　took　a　draught；　and　found　that　it　could　make　no　impression　on　me　afterwards。　Passing　over　Hudson's　Bay；　I　saw　several　of　the　Company's　ships　lying　at　anchor；　and　many　tribes　of　Indians　marching　with　their　furs　to　market。

By　this　time　I　was　so　reconciled　to　my　seat；　and　become　such　an　expert　rider；　that　I　could　sit　up　and　look　around　me；　but　in　general　I　lay　along　the　eagle's　neck；　grasping　it　in　my　arms；　with　my　hands　immersed　in　its　feathers；　in　order　to　keep　them　warm。

In　those　cold　climates　I　observed　that　the　eagles　flew　with　greater　rapidity；　in　order；　I　suppose；　to　keep　their　blood　in　circulation。　In　passing　Baffin's　Bay　I　saw　several　large　Greenlandmen　to　the　eastward；　and　many　surprising　mountains　of　ice　in　those　seas。

While　I　was　surveying　these　wonders　of　nature　it　occurred　to　me　that　this　was　a　good　opportunity　to　discover　the　north…west　passage；　if　any　such　thing　existed；　and　not　only　obtain　the　reward　offered　by　government；　but　the　honour　of　a　discovery　pregnant　with　so　many　advantages　to　every　European　nation。　But　while　my　thoughts　were　absorbed　in　this　pleasing　reverie　I　was　alarmed　by　the　first　eagle　striking　its　head　against　a　solid　transparent　substance；　and　in　a　moment　that　which　I　rode　experienced　the　same　fate；　and　both　fell　down　seemingly　dead。

Here　our　lives　must　inevitably　have　terminated；　had　not　a　sense　of　danger；　and　the　singularity　of　my　situation；　inspired　me　with　a　degree　of　skill　and　dexterity　which　enabled　us　to　fall　near　two　miles　perpendicular　with　as　little　inconveniency　as　if　we　had　been　let　down　with　a　rope：　for　no　sooner　did　I　perceive　the　eagles　strike　against　a　frozen　cloud；　which　is　very　common　near　the　poles；　than　（they　being　close　together）　I　laid　myself　along　the　back　of　the　foremost；　and　took　hold　of　its　wings　to　keep　them　extended；　at　the　same　time　stretching　out　my　legs　behind　to　support　the　wings　of　the　other。　This　had　the　desired　effect；　and　we　descended　very　safe　on　a　mountain　of　ice；　which　I　supposed　to　be　about　three　miles　above　the　level　of　the　sea。

I　dismounted；　unloaded　the　eagles；　opened　one　of　the　bladders；　and　administered　some　of　the　liquor　to　each　of　them；　without　once　considering　that　the　horrors　of　destruction　seemed　to　have　conspired　against　me。　The　roaring　of　waves；　crashing　of　ice；　and　the　howling　of　bears；　conspired　to　form　a　scene　the　most　awful　and　tremendous：　but　notwithstanding　this；　my　concern　for　the　recovery　of　the　eagles　was　so　great；　that　I　was　insensible　of　the　danger　to　which　I　was　exposed。　Having　rendered　them　every　assistance　in　my　power；　I　stood　over　them　in　painful　anxiety；　fully　sensible　that　it　was　only　by　means　of　them　that　I　could　possibly　be　delivered　from　these　abodes　of　despair。

But　suddenly　a　monstrous　bear　began　to　roar　behind　me；　with　a　voice　like　thunder。　I　turned　round；　and　seeing　the　creature　just　ready　to　devour　me；　having　the　bladder　of　liquor　in　my　hands；　through　fear　I　squeezed　it　so　hard；　that　it　burst；　and　the　liquor　flying　in　the　eyes　of　the　animal；　totally　deprived　it　of　sight。　It　instantly　turned　from　me；　ran　away　in　a　state　of　distraction；　and　soon　fell　over　a　precipice　of　ice　into　the　sea；　where　I　saw　it　no　more。

The　danger　being　over；　I　again　turned　my　attention　to　the　eagles；　whom　I　found　in　a　fair　way　of　recovery；　and　suspecting　that　they　were　faint　for　want　of　victuals；　I　took　one　of　the　beef　fruit；　cut　it　into　small　slices；　and　presented　them　with　it；　which　they　devoured　with　avidity。

Having　given　them　plenty　to　eat　and　drink；　and　disposed　of　the　remainder　of　my　provision；　I　took　possession　of　my　seat　as　before。　After　co