the wood beyond the world-第4章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


land　and　get　knowledge　of　their　whereabouts　from　the　folk　thereof。
Withal　he　said　that　he　deemed　the　land　not　to　be　very　far　distant。

So　did　they；　and　sailed　on　pleasantly　enough；　for　the　weather　kept
on　mending；　and　the　wind　fell　till　it　was　but　a　light　breeze；　yet
still　foul　for　Langton。

So　wore　three　days；　and　on　the　eve　of　the　third；　the　man　from　the
topmast　cried　out　that　he　saw　land　ahead；　and　so　did　they　all　before
the　sun　was　quite　set；　though　it　were　but　a　cloud　no　bigger　than　a
man's　hand。

When　night　fell　they　struck　not　sail；　but　went　forth　toward　the　land
fair　and　softly；　for　it　was　early　summer；　so　that　the　nights　were
neither　long　nor　dark。

But　when　it　was　broad　daylight；　they　opened　a　land；　a　long　shore　of
rocks　and　mountains；　and　nought　else　that　they　could　see　at　first。
Nevertheless　as　day　wore　and　they　drew　nigher；　first　they　saw　how
the　mountains　fell　away　from　the　sea；　and　were　behind　a　long　wall　of
sheer　cliff；　and　coming　nigher　yet；　they　beheld　a　green　plain　going
up　after　a　little　in　green　bents　and　slopes　to　the　feet　of　the　said
cliff…wall。

No　city　nor　haven　did　they　see　there；　not　even　when　they　were　far
nigher　to　the　land；　nevertheless；　whereas　they　hankered　for　the
peace　of　the　green　earth　after　all　the　tossing　and　unrest　of　the
sea；　and　whereas　also　they　doubted　not　to　find　at　the　least　good　and
fresh　water；　and　belike　other　bait　in　the　plain　under　the　mountains；
they　still　sailed　on　not　unmerrily；　so　that　by　nightfall　they　cast
anchor　in　five…fathom　water　hard　by　the　shore。

Next　morning　they　found　that　they　were　lying　a　little　way　off　the
mouth　of　a　river　not　right　great；　so　they　put　out　their　boats　and
towed　the　ship　up　into　the　said　river；　and　when　they　had　gone　up　it
for　a　mile　or　thereabouts　they　found　the　sea　water　failed；　for
little　was　the　ebb　and　flow　of　the　tide　on　that　coast。　　Then　was　the
river　deep　and　clear；　running　between　smooth　grassy　land　like　to
meadows。　　Also　on　their　left　board　they　saw　presently　three　head　of
neat　cattle　going；　as　if　in　a　meadow　of　a　homestead　in　their　own
land；　and　a　few　sheep；　and　thereafter；　about　a　bow…draught　from　the
river；　they　saw　a　little　house　of　wood　and　straw…thatch　under　a
wooded　mound；　and　with　orchard　trees　about　it。　　They　wondered　little
thereat；　for　they　knew　no　cause　why　that　land　should　not　be　builded；
though　it　were　in　the　far　outlands。　　However；　they　drew　their　ship
up　to　the　bank；　thinking　that　they　would　at　least　abide　awhile　and
ask　tidings　and　have　some　refreshing　of　the　green　plain；　which　was
so　lovely　and　pleasant。

But　while　they　were　busied　herein　they　saw　a　man　come　out　of　the
house；　and　down　to　the　river　to　meet　them；　and　they　soon　saw　that　he
was　tall　and　old；　long…hoary　of　hair　and　beard；　and　clad　mostly　in
the　skins　of　beasts。

He　drew　nigh　without　any　fear　or　mistrust；　and　coming　close　to　them
gave　them　the　sele　of　the　day　in　a　kindly　and　pleasant　voice。　　The
shipmaster　greeted　him　in　his　turn；　and　said　withal：　　〃Old　man；　art
thou　the　king　of　this　country？〃

The　elder　laughed；　〃It　hath　had　none　other　a　long　while；〃　said　he；
〃and　at　least　there　is　no　other　son　of　Adam　here　to　gainsay。〃

〃Thou　art　alone　here　then？〃　said　the　master。

〃Yea；〃　said　the　old　man；　〃save　for　the　beasts　of　the　field　and　the
wood；　and　the　creeping　things；　and　fowl。　　Wherefore　it　is　sweet　to
me　to　hear　your　voices。〃

Said　the　master：　　〃Where　be　the　other　houses　of　the　town？〃

The　old　man　laughed。　　Said　he：　　〃When　I　said　that　I　was　alone；　I
meant　that　I　was　alone　in　the　land　and　not　only　alone　in　this　stead。
There　is　no　house　save　this　betwixt　the　sea　and　the　dwellings　of　the
Bears；　over　the　cliff…wall　yonder；　yea　and　a　long　way　over　it。〃

〃Yea；〃　quoth　the　shipmaster　grinning；　〃and　be　the　bears　of　thy
country　so　manlike；　that　they　dwell　in　builded　houses？〃

The　old　man　shook　his　head。　　〃Sir；〃　said　he；　〃as　to　their　bodily
fashion；　it　is　altogether　manlike；　save　that　they　be　one　and　all
higher　and　bigger　than　most。　　For　they　be　bears　only　in　name；　they
be　a　nation　of　half　wild　men；　for　I　have　been　told　by　them　that
there　be　many　more　than　that　tribe　whose　folk　I　have　seen；　and　that
they　spread　wide　about　behind　these　mountains　from　east　to　west。
Now；　sir；　as　to　their　souls　and　understandings　I　warrant　them　not；
for　miscreants　they　be；　trowing　neither　in　God　nor　his　hallows。〃

Said　the　master：　　〃Trow　they　in　Mahound　then？〃

〃Nay；〃　said　the　elder；　〃I　wot　not　for　sure　that　they　have　so　much　as
a　false　God；　though　I　have　it　from　them　that　they　worship　a　certain
woman　with　mickle　worship。〃

Then　spake　Walter：　　〃Yea；　good　sir；　and　how　knowest　thou　that？　dost
thou　deal　with　them　at　all？〃

Said　the　old　man：　　〃Whiles　some　of　that　folk　come　hither　and　have　of
me　what　I　can　spare；　a　calf　or　two；　or　a　half…dozen　of　lambs　or
hoggets；　or　a　skin　of　wine　or　cyder　of　mine　own　making：　　and　they
give　me　in　return　such　things　as　I　can　use；　as　skins　of　hart　and
bear　and　other　peltries；　for　now　I　am　old；　I　can　but　little　of　the
hunting　hereabout。　　Whiles；　also；　they　bring　little　lumps　of　pure
copper；　and　would　give　me　gold　also；　but　it　is　of　little　use　in　this
lonely　land。　　Sooth　to　say；　to　me　they　are　not　masterful　or　rough…
handed；　but　glad　am　I　that　they　have　been　here　but　of　late；　and　are
not　like　to　come　again　this　while；　for　terrible　they　are　of　aspect；
and　whereas　ye　be　aliens；　belike　they　would　not　hold　their　hands
from　off　you；　and　moreover　ye　have　weapons　and　other　matters　which
they　would　covet　sorely。〃

Quoth　the　master：　　〃Since　thou　dealest　with　these　wild　men；　will　ye
not　deal　with　us　in　chaffer？　　For　whereas　we　are　come　from　long
travel；　we　hanker　after　fresh　victual；　and　here　aboard　are　many
things　which　were　for　thine　avail。〃

Said　the　old　man：　　〃All　that　I　have　is　yours；　so　that　ye　do　but
leave　me　enough　till　my　next　ingathering：　　of　wine　and　cyder；　such
as　it　is；　I　have　plenty　for　your　service；　ye　may　drink　it　till　it　is
all　gone；　if　ye　will：　　a　little　corn　and　meal　I　have；　but　not　much；
yet　are　ye　welcome　thereto；　since　the　standing　corn　in　my　garth　is
done　blossoming；　and　I　have　other　meat。　　Cheeses　have　I　and　dried
fish；　take　what　ye　will　thereof。　　But　as　to　my　neat　and　sheep；　if　ye
have　sore　need　of　any；　and　will　have　them；　I　may　not　say　you　nay：
but　I　pray　you　if　ye　may　do　without　them；　not　to　take　my　milch…
beasts　or　their　engenderers；　for；　as　ye　have　heard　me　say；　the　Bear…
folk　have　been　here　but　of　late；　and　they　have　had　of　me　all　I　might
spare：　　but　now　let　me　tell　you；　if　ye　long　after　flesh…meat；　that
there　is　venison　of　hart　and　hind；　yea；　and　of　buck　and　doe；　to　be
had　on　this　plain；　and　about　the　little　woods　at　the　feet　of　the
rock…wall　yonder：　　neither　are　they　exceeding　wild；　for　since　I　may
not　take　them；　I　scare　them　not；　and　no　other　man　do　they　see　to
hurt　them；　for　the　Bear…folk　come　straight　to　my　house；　and　fare
straight　home　thence。　　But　I　will　lead　you　the　nighest　way　to　where
the　venison　is　easiest　to　be　gotten。　　As　to　the　wares　in　your　ship；
if　ye　will　give　me　aught　I　will　take　it　with　a　good　will；　and
chiefly　if　ye　have　a　fair　knife　or　two　and　a　roll　of　linen　cloth；
that　were　a　good　refreshment　to　me。　　But　in　any　case　what　I　have　to
give　is　free　to　you　and　welcome。〃

The　shipmaster　laughed：　　〃Friend；〃　said　he；　〃we　can　thee　mickle
thanks　for　all　that　thou　biddest　us。　　And　wot　well　that　we　be　no
lifters　or　sea…thieves　to　take　thy　livelihood　from　thee。　　So　to…
morrow；　if　thou　wilt；　we　will　go　with　thee　and　upraise　the　hunt；　and
meanwhile　we　will　come　aland；　and　walk　on　the　green　grass；　and　water
our　ship　with　thy　good　fresh　water。〃

So　the　old　carle　went　back　to　his　house　to　make　them　ready　what
cheer　he　might；　and　the　shipmen；　who　were　twenty　and　one；　all　told；
what　with　the　mariners　and　Arnold　and　Walter's　servants；　went
ashore；　all　but　two　who　watched　the　ship　and　abode　their　turn。　　They
went　well…weaponed；　for　both　the　master　and　Walter　deemed　wariness
wisdom；　lest　all　might　not　be　so　good　as　it　seemed。　　They　took　of
their　sail…cloths　ashore　and　tilted　them　in　on　the　meadow　betwixt
the　house　and　the　ship；　and　the　carle　brought　them　what　he　had　for
their　avail；　of　fresh　fruits；　and