erewhon revisited-第6章
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rest； and when refreshed； he ran down a couple of dozen quails；
some of which he meant to eat when he camped for the night； while
the others would help him out of a difficulty which had been
troubling him for some time。
What was he to say when people asked him； as they were sure to do；
how he was living？ And how was he to get enough Erewhonian money
to keep him going till he could find some safe means of selling a
few of his nuggets？ He had had a little Erewhonian money when he
went up in the balloon； but had thrown it over； with everything
else except the clothes he wore and his MSS。； when the balloon was
nearing the water。 He had nothing with him that he dared offer for
sale； and though he had plenty of gold； was in reality penniless。
When； therefore； he saw the quails； he again felt as though some
friendly spirit was smoothing his way before him。 What more easy
than to sell them at Coldharbour （for so the name of the town in
which he had been imprisoned should be translated）； where he knew
they were a delicacy； and would fetch him the value of an English
shilling a piece？
It took him between two and three hours to catch two dozen。 When
he had thus got what he considered a sufficient stock； he tied
their legs together with rushes； and ran a stout stick through the
whole lot。 Soon afterwards he came upon a wood of stunted pines；
which； though there was not much undergrowth； nevertheless afforded
considerable shelter and enabled him to gather wood enough to make
himself a good fire。 This was acceptable； for though the days were
long； it was now evening； and as soon as the sun had gone the air
became crisp and frosty。
Here he resolved to pass the night。 He chose a part where the
trees were thickest； lit his fire； plucked and cleaned four quails；
filled his billy with water from the stream hard by； made tea in
his pannikin； grilled two of his birds on the embers； ate them； and
when he had done all this； he lit his pipe and began to think
things over。 〃So far so good；〃 said he to himself； but hardly had
the words passed through his mind before he was startled by the
sound of voices； still at some distance； but evidently drawing
towards him。
He instantly gathered up his billy； pannikin； tea； biscuits； and
blanket； all of which he had determined to discard and hide on the
following morning； everything that could betray him he carried full
haste into the wood some few yards off； in the direction opposite
to that from which the voices were coming； but he let his quails
lie where they were； and put his pipe and tobacco in his pocket。
The voices drew nearer and nearer； and it was all my father could
do to get back and sit down innocently by his fire； before he could
hear what was being said。
〃Thank goodness；〃 said one of the speakers （of course in the
Erewhonian language）； 〃we seem to be finding somebody at last。 I
hope it is not some poacher； we had better be careful。〃
〃Nonsense！〃 said the other。 〃It must be one of the rangers。 No
one would dare to light a fire while poaching on the King's
preserves。 What o'clock do you make it？〃
〃Half after nine。〃 And the watch was still in the speaker's hand
as he emerged from darkness into the glowing light of the fire。 My
father glanced at it； and saw that it was exactly like the one he
had worn on entering Erewhon nearly twenty years previously。
The watch； however； was a very small matter； the dress of these two
men （for there were only two） was far more disconcerting。 They
were not in the Erewhonian costume。 The one was dressed like an
Englishman or would…be Englishman； while the other was wearing the
same kind of clothes but turned the wrong way round； so that when
his face was towards my father his body seemed to have its back
towards him； and vice verso。 The man's head； in fact； appeared to
have been screwed right round； and yet it was plain that if he were
stripped he would be found built like other people。
What could it all mean？ The men were about fifty years old。 They
were well…to…do people； well clad； well fed； and were felt
instinctively by my father to belong to the academic classes。 That
one of them should be dressed like a sensible Englishman dismayed
my father as much as that the other should have a watch； and look
as if he had just broken out of Bedlam； or as King Dagobert must
have looked if he had worn all his clothes as he is said to have
worn his breeches。 Both wore their clothes so easilyfor he who
wore them reversed had evidently been measured with a view to this
absurd fashionthat it was plain their dress was habitual。
My father was alarmed as well as astounded； for he saw that what
little plan of a campaign he had formed must be reconstructed； and
he had no idea in what direction his next move should be taken； but
he was a ready man； and knew that when people have taken any idea
into their heads； a little confirmation will fix it。 A first idea
is like a strong seedling； it will grow if it can。
In less time than it will have taken the reader to get through the
last foregoing paragraphs； my father took up the cue furnished him
by the second speaker。
〃Yes；〃 said he； going boldly up to this gentleman； 〃I am one of the
rangers； and it is my duty to ask you what you are doing here upon
the King's preserves。〃
〃Quite so； my man；〃 was the rejoinder。 〃We have been to see the
statues at the head of the pass； and have a permit from the Mayor
of Sunch'ston to enter upon the preserves。 We lost ourselves in
the thick fog； both going and coming back。〃
My father inwardly blessed the fog。 He did not catch the name of
the town； but presently found that it was commonly pronounced as I
have written it。
〃Be pleased to show it me；〃 said my father in his politest manner。
On this a document was handed to him。
I will here explain that I shall translate the names of men and
places； as well as the substance of the document； and I shall
translate all names in future。 Indeed I have just done so in the
case of Sunch'ston。 As an example； let me explain that the true
Erewhonian names for Hanky and Panky； to whom the reader will be
immediately introduced； are Sukoh and Sukopnames too cacophonous
to be read with pleasure by the English public。 I must ask the
reader to believe that in all cases I am doing my best to give the
spirit of the original name。
I would also express my regret that my father did not either
uniformly keep to the true Erewhonian names； as in the cases of
Senoj Nosnibor； Ydgrun； Thims； &c。names which occur constantly in
Erewhonor else invariably invent a name； as he did whenever he
considered the true name impossible。 My poor mother's name； for
example； was really Nna Haras； and Mahaina's Enaj Ysteb； which he
dared not face。 He； therefore； gave these characters the first
names that euphony suggested； without any attempt at translation。
Rightly or wrongly； I have determined to keep consistently to
translation for all names not used in my father's book； and
throughout； whether as regards names or conversations； I shall
translate with the freedom without which no translation rises above
construe level。
Let me now return to the permit。 The earlier part of the document
was printed； and ran as follows：…
Extracts from the Act for the afforesting of certain lands lying
between the town of Sunchildston； formerly called Coldharbour； and
the mountains which bound the kingdom of Erewhon； passed in the
year Three； being the eighth year of the reign of his Most Gracious
Majesty King Well…beloved the Twenty…Second。
〃Whereas it is expedient to prevent any of his Majesty's subjects
from trying to cross over into unknown lands beyond the mountains；
and in like manner to protect his Majesty's kingdom from intrusion
on the part of foreign devils； it is hereby enacted that certain
lands； more particularly described hereafter； shall be afforested
and set apart as a hunting…ground for his Majesty's private use。
〃It is also enacted that the Rangers and Under…rangers shall be
required to immediately kill without parley any foreign devil whom
they may encounter coming from the other side of the mountains。
They ar
