the golden fleece-µÚ16ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡¡shingle£»¡¡of¡¡yellow¡¡loam£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡alkaline¡¡dust¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡some¡¡places¡¡there¡¡appeared¡¡a¡¡salt¡¡efflorescence£»¡¡sprouting¡¡up¡¡in¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡ghastly¡¡vegetation£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡death¡¡itself¡¡had¡¡acquired¡¡a¡¡sinister¡¡life¡£¡¡¡¡Elsewhere£»¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡quaked¡¡and¡¡yielded¡¡underfoot£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡became¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡make¡¡detours¡¡to¡¡avoid¡¡these¡¡arid¡¡bogs¡£¡¡¡¡Once¡¡or¡¡twice£»¡¡too£»¡¡Freeman¡¡turned¡¡aside¡¡lest¡¡he¡¡should¡¡trample¡¡upon¡¡some¡¡dry¡¡bones¡¡that¡¡protruded¡¡in¡¡his¡¡path£»bones¡¡that¡¡were¡¡their¡¡own¡¡monument£»¡¡and¡¡told¡¡their¡¡own¡¡story¡¡of¡¡struggle£»¡¡agony£»¡¡exhaustion£»¡¡and¡¡despair¡£
None¡¡of¡¡these¡¡things¡¡had¡¡any¡¡depressing¡¡effect¡¡on¡¡Freeman's¡¡spirit¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡heart¡¡was¡¡singing¡¡with¡¡joy¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡a¡¡mind¡¡logically¡¡disposed£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡trouble¡¡in¡¡sight£»¡¡whether¡¡he¡¡succeeded¡¡or¡¡failed¡¡in¡¡his¡¡present¡¡mission¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡former¡¡case£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡find¡¡himself¡¡in¡¡a¡¡hostile¡¡position¡¡as¡¡regarded¡¡the¡¡man¡¡he¡¡most¡¡desired¡¡to¡¡conciliate£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡latter£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡remain¡¡the¡¡mere¡¡rolling¡¡stone¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡before£»¡¡and¡¡love¡¡itself¡¡would¡¡forbid¡¡him¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡he¡¡loved¡¡to¡¡share¡¡his¡¡uncertain¡¡existence¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡Freeman¡¡was¡¡not¡¡logical£º¡¡he¡¡was¡¡happy£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡help¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡kissed¡¡Miriam£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡loved¡¡him¡£
His¡¡course¡¡lay¡¡a¡¡few¡¡degrees¡¡north¡¡of¡¡east¡£¡¡¡¡Far¡¡across¡¡the¡¡plain£»¡¡dancing¡¡and¡¡turning¡¡somersaults¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fantastic¡¡atmosphere£»¡¡were¡¡the¡¡summits¡¡of¡¡a¡¡range¡¡of¡¡abrupt¡¡hills£»¡¡the¡¡borders¡¡of¡¡a¡¡valley¡¡or¡¡ravine¡¡which¡¡he¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡explore¡£¡¡¡¡Gradually£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡rode£»¡¡his¡¡shadow¡¡lengthened¡¡before¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡his¡¡only¡¡companion£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡no¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡loneliness¡£¡¡¡¡Miriam¡¡was¡¡in¡¡his¡¡heart£»¡¡and¡¡kept¡¡it¡¡fresh¡¡and¡¡bold¡£¡¡¡¡Even¡¡hunger¡¡and¡¡thirst¡¡he¡¡scarcely¡¡felt¡£¡¡¡¡Who¡¡can¡¡estimate¡¡the¡¡therapeutic¡¡and¡¡hygienic¡¡effects¡¡of¡¡love£¿
The¡¡mustang¡¡could¡¡not¡¡share¡¡his¡¡rider's¡¡source¡¡of¡¡content£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡may¡¡have¡¡been¡¡conscious£»¡¡through¡¡animal¡¡instincts¡¡whereof¡¡we¡¡know¡¡nothing£»¡¡of¡¡an¡¡uplifting¡¡and¡¡encouraging¡¡spirit¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡all¡¡events£»¡¡he¡¡kept¡¡up¡¡his¡¡steady¡¡lope¡¡without¡¡faltering¡¡or¡¡apparent¡¡effort£»¡¡and¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡require¡¡nothing¡¡more¡¡than¡¡the¡¡occasional¡¡wetting¡¡which¡¡Freeman¡¡administered¡¡to¡¡his¡¡nose¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡would¡¡probably¡¡be¡¡some¡¡vegetation£»¡¡and¡¡perhaps¡¡water£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡hills£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡prospect¡¡may¡¡likewise¡¡have¡¡helped¡¡him¡¡along¡£
Nevertheless£»¡¡man¡¡and¡¡beast¡¡may¡¡well¡¡have¡¡welcomed¡¡the¡¡hour¡¡when¡¡the¡¡craggy¡¡acclivities¡¡of¡¡that¡¡lonely¡¡range¡¡became¡¡so¡¡near¡¡that¡¡they¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡loom¡¡above¡¡their¡¡heads¡£¡¡¡¡Freeman¡¡directed¡¡his¡¡steps¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡southern¡¡extremity£»¡¡where¡¡a¡¡huge£»¡¡pallid¡¡mass£»¡¡of¡¡almost¡¡regular¡¡pyramidal¡¡form£»¡¡reared¡¡itself¡¡aloft¡¡like¡¡a¡¡monument¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡skirted¡¡the¡¡base¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pyramid£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡opened¡¡on¡¡his¡¡view¡¡a¡¡narrow£»¡¡winding¡¡valley£»¡¡scarcely¡¡half¡¡a¡¡mile¡¡in¡¡apparent¡¡breadth£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡a¡¡very¡¡wild¡¡and¡¡savage¡¡aspect¡£¡¡¡¡Its¡¡general¡¡direction¡¡was¡¡nearly¡¡north¡¡and¡¡south£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡declined¡¡downwards£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡seeking¡¡the¡¡interior¡¡of¡¡the¡¡earth¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡fact£»¡¡it¡¡looked¡¡not¡¡unlike¡¡those¡¡imaginative¡¡pictures¡¡of¡¡the¡¡road¡¡to¡¡the¡¡infernal¡¡regions¡¡described¡¡by¡¡the¡¡ancient¡¡poets¡£¡¡¡¡One¡¡could¡¡picture¡¡Pluto¡¡in¡¡his¡¡chariot£»¡¡with¡¡Proserpine¡¡beside¡¡him£»¡¡thundering¡¡downwards¡¡behind¡¡his¡¡black¡¡horses£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡way¡¡to¡¡those¡¡sombre¡¡and¡¡magnificent¡¡regions¡¡which¡¡are¡¡hollowed¡¡out¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡surface¡¡of¡¡the¡¡planet¡£
Freeman£»¡¡however£»¡¡presently¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡sight¡¡which£»¡¡if¡¡less¡¡spectacularly¡¡impressive£»¡¡was¡¡far¡¡more¡¡agreeable¡¡to¡¡his¡¡eyes¡£¡¡¡¡On¡¡a¡¡shelf¡¡or¡¡cup¡¡of¡¡the¡¡declivity¡¡was¡¡a¡¡little¡¡clump¡¡of¡¡vegetation£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡it¡¡welled¡¡up¡¡a¡¡thin¡¡stream¡¡of¡¡water¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡mustang¡¡scrambled¡¡eagerly¡¡towards¡¡it£»¡¡and£»¡¡before¡¡Freeman¡¡had¡¡had¡¡time¡¡to¡¡throw¡¡himself¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡saddle£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡plunged¡¡his¡¡muzzle¡¡into¡¡the¡¡rivulet¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡sucked¡¡it¡¡down¡¡with¡¡such¡¡satisfaction¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡evident¡¡the¡¡water¡¡was¡¡not¡¡salt¡£¡¡¡¡Freeman¡¡laid¡¡himself¡¡prone¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡brink£»¡¡and¡¡followed¡¡his¡¡steed's¡¡example¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡draught¡¡was¡¡cool¡¡and¡¡pure¡£
¡¨I¡¡didn't¡¡know¡¡how¡¡much¡¡I¡¡wanted¡¡it£¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡he¡¡to¡¡himself¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡must¡¡come¡¡from¡¡a¡¡good¡¡way¡¡down¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡I¡¡could¡¡only¡¡bring¡¡the¡¡parent¡¡stream¡¡to¡¡the¡¡surface£»¡¡my¡¡mission¡¡would¡¡be¡¡on¡¡a¡¡fair¡¡road¡¡to¡¡success¡£¡¨
An¡¡examination¡¡of¡¡the¡¡spring¡¡revealed¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡it¡¡could¡¡not¡¡have¡¡been¡¡long¡¡in¡¡existence¡£¡¡¡¡Indeed£»¡¡there¡¡were¡¡no¡¡traces¡¡whatever¡¡of¡¡long¡¡continuance¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡aperture¡¡in¡¡the¡¡rock¡¡through¡¡which¡¡it¡¡trickled¡¡bore¡¡the¡¡appearance¡¡of¡¡having¡¡been¡¡recently¡¡opened£»¡¡fragments¡¡were¡¡lying¡¡near¡¡it¡¡that¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡just¡¡broken¡¡off¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡bed¡¡of¡¡the¡¡little¡¡stream¡¡was¡¡entirely¡¡free¡¡from¡¡moss¡¡or¡¡weeds£»¡¡and¡¡after¡¡proceeding¡¡a¡¡short¡¡distance¡¡it¡¡dwindled¡¡and¡¡disappeared£»¡¡either¡¡sucked¡¡up¡¡in¡¡vapor¡¡by¡¡the¡¡torrid¡¡air£»¡¡or¡¡absorbed¡¡into¡¡the¡¡dusty¡¡soil¡£¡¡¡¡Manifestly£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡recent¡¡creation¡£
¡¨And£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡sure£»¡¡why¡¡not£¿¡¨¡¡ejaculated¡¡Freeman¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨There¡¡was¡¡an¡¡earthquake¡¡last¡¡night£»¡¡which¡¡swallowed¡¡up¡¡the¡¡spring¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Trednokes'¡¡garden£º¡¡probably¡¡that¡¡same¡¡earthquake¡¡brought¡¡this¡¡stream¡¡to¡¡light¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡vanished¡¡there£»¡¡to¡¡reappear¡¡here¡£¡¡¡¡Well£»¡¡the¡¡loss¡¡is¡¡not¡¡important¡¡to¡¡them£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡gain¡¡is¡¡very¡¡important¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡as¡¡if¡¡Miriam¡¡had¡¡come¡¡with¡¡a¡¡cup¡¡of¡¡water¡¡to¡¡refresh¡¡her¡¡lover¡¡in¡¡the¡¡desert¡£¡¡¡¡God¡¡bless¡¡her£¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡has¡¡refreshed¡¡me¡¡indeed£»¡¡soul¡¡and¡¡body£¡¡¨
He¡¡removed¡¡the¡¡saddle¡¡from¡¡the¡¡mustang£»¡¡and¡¡turned¡¡him¡¡loose¡¡to¡¡make¡¡the¡¡best¡¡of¡¡such¡¡scanty¡¡herbage¡¡as¡¡he¡¡could¡¡find¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡unpacked¡¡his¡¡own¡¡provisions£»¡¡and¡¡made¡¡a¡¡comfortable¡¡meal£»¡¡after¡¡which¡¡he¡¡rolled¡¡a¡¡cigarette¡¡and¡¡reclined¡¡on¡¡the¡¡spot¡¡most¡¡available£»¡¡to¡¡rest¡¡and¡¡recuperate¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡valley£»¡¡or¡¡gorge£»¡¡lay¡¡before¡¡him¡¡in¡¡the¡¡afternoon¡¡light¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡strange¡¡and¡¡savage¡¡spectacle¡£¡¡¡¡Had¡¡it¡¡been¡¡torn¡¡asunder¡¡by¡¡some¡¡stupendous¡¡explosion£»¡¡it¡¡could¡¡not¡¡have¡¡presented¡¡a¡¡rougher¡¡or¡¡more¡¡chaotic¡¡aspect¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡look¡¡at¡¡it¡¡was¡¡like¡¡beholding¡¡the¡¡secret¡¡places¡¡of¡¡the¡¡earth¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡rocky¡¡walls¡¡were¡¡of¡¡different¡¡colors£»¡¡yellow£»¡¡blue£»¡¡and¡¡red£»¡¡in¡¡many¡¡shades¡¡and¡¡gradations¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡towered¡¡ruggedly¡¡upwards£»¡¡sharply¡¡shadowed¡¡and¡¡brightly¡¡lighted£»¡¡mounting¡¡in¡¡regular¡¡pinnacles£»¡¡parting¡¡in¡¡black¡¡crevices£»¡¡here¡¡and¡¡there¡¡vast¡¡masses¡¡hung¡¡poised¡¡on¡¡bases¡¡seemingly¡¡insufficient£»¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡topple¡¡over¡¡on¡¡the¡¡unwary¡¡passer¡¡beneath¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡short¡¡distance¡¡to¡¡the¡¡northward¡¡the¡¡ravine¡¡had¡¡a¡¡turn£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡projecting¡¡promontory¡¡hid¡¡its¡¡further¡¡extreme¡¡from¡¡sight¡£¡¡¡¡Freeman¡¡made¡¡up¡¡his¡¡mind¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡it¡¡up¡¡on¡¡foot£»¡¡after¡¡the¡¡descending¡¡sun¡¡should¡¡have¡¡thrown¡¡a¡¡shadow¡¡over¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡indications£»¡¡in¡¡his¡¡judgment£»¡¡were¡¡not¡¡without¡¡promise¡¡that¡¡a¡¡system¡¡of¡¡judiciously¡applied¡¡blastings¡¡might¡¡open¡¡up¡¡a¡¡source¡¡of¡¡water¡¡that¡¡would¡¡transform¡¡this¡¡dreadful¡¡barrenness¡¡into¡¡something¡¡quite¡¡different¡£
The¡¡shade¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡pyramid¡¡fell¡¡upon¡¡him¡¡as¡¡he¡¡lay£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡tumultuous¡¡wall¡¡opposite¡¡was¡¡brilliantly¡¡illuminated£º¡¡the¡¡sky£»¡¡over¡¡it£»¡¡was¡¡of¡¡a¡¡peculiar¡¡brassy¡¡hue£»¡¡but¡¡entirely¡¡cloudless¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡radiations¡¡from¡¡the¡¡baked¡¡surface£»¡¡ascending¡¡vertically£»¡¡made¡¡the¡¡rocky¡¡bastion¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡quiver£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡it¡¡were¡¡a¡¡reflection¡¡cast¡¡on¡¡undulating¡¡water¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡wreaths¡¡of¡¡tobacco¡smoke¡¡that¡¡emanated¡¡from¡¡Freeman's¡¡mouth¡¡also¡¡ascended£»¡¡until¡¡they¡¡touched¡¡the¡¡slant¡¡of¡¡sunlight¡¡overhead¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡the¡¡young¡¡man's¡¡eyes¡¡followed¡¡these£»¡¡something¡¡happened¡¡that¡¡caused¡¡him¡¡to¡¡utter¡¡an¡¡exclamation¡¡and¡¡raise¡¡himself¡¡on¡¡one¡¡arm¡£
All¡¡at¡¡once£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡vacant¡¡air¡¡diagonally¡¡above¡¡him£»¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡shadowy¡¡shimmer¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡concentrate¡¡itself£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡rapidly¡¡resolved¡¡into¡¡color¡¡and¡¡form¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡much¡¡as¡¡if¡¡some¡¡unseen¡¡artist¡¡had¡¡swept¡¡a¡¡mass¡¡of¡¡mingled¡¡hues¡¡on¡¡a¡¡canvas¡¡and¡¡then¡¡had¡¡worked¡¡them¡¡with¡¡magical¡¡speed¡¡into¡¡a¡¡picture¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡appeared¡¡a¡¡breadth¡¡of¡¡rolling¡¡country£»¡¡covered¡¡with¡¡verdure£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡it¡¡the¡¡white¡¡walls¡¡and¡¡long£»¡¡shadowed¡¡veranda¡¡of¡¡an¡¡adobe¡¡house¡£¡¡¡¡Freeman¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡vines¡¡clambering¡¡over¡¡the¡¡eaves¡¡and¡¡roof£»¡¡the¡¡vases¡¡of¡¡earthenware¡¡suspended¡¡between¡¡the¡¡pillars¡¡and¡¡overflowing¡¡with¡¡flowers£»¡¡the¡¡long¡¡windows£»¡¡the¡¡steps¡¡descending¡¡into¡¡the¡¡garden¡£¡¡¡¡Now¡¡a¡¡figure¡¡clad¡¡in¡¡white¡¡emerged¡¡from¡¡the¡¡door¡¡and¡¡advanced¡¡slowly¡¡to¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡veranda¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡recognized¡¡the¡¡gait¡¡and¡¡bearing£º¡¡he¡¡could¡¡almost¡¡fancy¡¡he¡¡discerned¡¡the¡¡beloved¡¡features¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡stood¡¡there¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡gazing£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡seemed£»¡¡directly¡¡at¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡raised¡¡her¡¡hands£»¡¡and¡¡pressed¡¡them¡¡to¡¡her¡¡lips£»¡¡then¡¡threw¡¡them¡¡outwards£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡gesture¡¡eloquent¡¡of¡¡innocent¡¡and¡¡tender¡¡passion¡£¡¡¡¡Freeman's¡¡heart¡¡leaped£º¡¡involuntarily¡¡he¡¡stretched¡¡out¡¡his¡¡arms£»¡¡and¡¡murmured£»¡¡¡¨Miriam£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡The¡¡next¡¡moment£»¡¡a¡¡tall£»¡¡dark¡¡figure£»¡¡with¡¡white¡¡hair£»¡¡wrapped¡¡in¡¡a¡¡blanket£»¡¡came¡¡stalking¡¡behind¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡made¡¡a¡¡beckoning¡¡movement¡£¡¡¡¡Miriam¡¡did¡¡not¡¡turn£»¡¡but¡¡h