she-第25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！
the 'responsibilities' are killed； at least some of
them are； and that is why there are so few old women
about just now。 Well； they brought it on themselves。
As for this girl；〃 he went on； in a graver tone； 〃I
know not what to say。 She is a brave girl； and she
loves the Lion （Leo）； thou sawest how she clung to
him； and saved his life。 Also； she is； according to
our custom； wed to him； and has a right to go where he
goes； unless；〃 he added； significantly； 〃 _i_ She _i_
would say her no； for her word overrides all rights。〃
〃And if _i_ She _i_ bade her leave him； and the girl
refused？ What then？〃
〃If；〃 he said； with a shrug； 〃the hurricane bids the
tree to bend； and it will not； what happens？〃
And then； without waiting for an answer； he turned and
walked to his litter； and in ten minutes from that
time we were all well under way。
It took us an hour and more to cross the cup of the
volcanic plain； and another half…hour or so to climb
the edge on the farther side。 Once there； however； the
view was a very fine one。 Before us was a long steep
slope of grassy plain； broken here and there by clumps
of trees mostly of the thorn tribe。 At the bottom of
this gentle slope； some nine or ten miles away； we
could make out a dim sea of marsh； over which the foul
vapors hung like smoke about a city。 It was easy going
for the bearers down the slopes； and by midday we had
reached the borders of the dismal swamp。 Here we
halted to eat our midday meal； and then； following a
winding and devious path； plunged into the morass。
Presently the path； at any rate to our unaccustomed
eyes； grew so faint as to be almost indistinguishable
from those made by the aquatic beasts and birds； and
it is to this day a mystery to me how our bearers
found their way across the marshes。 Ahead of the
cavalcade marched two men with long poles； which they
now and again plunged into the ground before them； the
reason of this being that the nature of the soil
frequently changed from causes with which I am not
acquainted； so that places which might be safe enough
to cross one month would certainly swallow the
wayfarer the next。 Never did I see a more dreary and
depressing scene。 Miles on miles of quagmire； varied
only by bright green strips of comparatively solid
ground； and by deep and sullen pools fringed with tall
rushes； in which the bitterns boomed and the frogs
croaked incessantly； miles on miles of it without a
break； unless the fever fog can be called a break。 The
only life in this great morass was that of the aquatic
birds； and the animals that fed on them； of both of
which there were vast numbers。 Geese； cranes； ducks；
teal； coot； snipe； and plover swarmed all around us；
many being of varieties that were quite new to me； and
all so tame that one could almost have knocked them
over with a stick。 Among these birds I especially
noticed a very beautiful variety of painted snipe；
almost the size of woodcock； and with a flight more
resembling that bird's than an English snipe's。 In the
pools； too； was a species of small alligator or
enormous iguana； I do not know which； that fed；
Billali told me； upon the waterfowl； also large
quantities of a hideous black water snake； of which
the bite is very dangerous； though not； I gathered； so
deadly as a cobra's or a puff adder's。 The bullfrogs
were also very large； and with voices proportionate to
their size； and as for the mosquitoesthe
〃musqueteers；〃 as Job called themthey were； if
possible； even worse than they had been on the river；
and tormented us greatly。 Undoubtedly； however； the
worst feature of the swamp was the awful smell of
rotting vegetation that hung about it； which was at
times positively overpowering； and the malarious
exhalations that accompanied it； which we were of
course obliged to breathe。
On we went through it all； till at last the sun sank
in sullen splendor just as we reached a spot of rising
ground about two acres in extenta little oasis of
dry in the midst of the miry wildernesswhere Billali
announced that we were to camp。 The camping； however；
turned out to be a very simple process； and consisted；
in fact； in sitting down on the ground round a scanty
fire made of dry reeds and some wood that had been
brought with us。 However； we made the best we could of
it； and smoked and ate with such appetite as the smell
of damp； stifling heat would allow； for it was very
hot on this low land； and yet； oddly enough； chilly at
times。 But； however hot it was； we were glad enough to
keep near the fire； because we found that the
mosquitoes did not like the smoke。 Presently we rolled
ourselves up in our blankets and tried to go to sleep；
but so far as I was concerned the bullfrogs； and the
extraordinary roaring and alarming sound produced by
hundreds of snipe hovering high in the air； made sleep
an impossibility； to say nothing of our other
discomforts。 I turned and looked at Leo； who was next
to me； he was dozing； but his face had a flushed
appearance that I did not like； and by the flickering
firelight I saw Ustane； who was lying on the other
side of him； raise herself from time to time upon her
elbow； and look at him anxiously enough； However； I
could do nothing for him for we had all already taken
a good dose of quinine； which was the only preventive
we had； so I lay and watched the stars come out by
thousands； till all the immense arch of heaven was
sewn with glittering points； and every point a world！
Here was a glorious sight by which man might well
measure his own insignificance！ Soon I gave up
thinking about it； for the mind wearies easily when it
strives to grapple with the Infinite； and to trace the
footsteps of the Almighty as he strides from sphere to
sphere； or deduce his purpose from his works。 Such
things are not for us to know。 Knowledge is to the
strong； and we are weak。 Too much wisdom would
perchance blind our imperfect sight； and too much
strength would make us drunk； and overweight our
feeble reason till it fell； and we were drowned in the
depths of our own vanity。 For what is the first result
of man's increased knowledge interpreted from Nature's
book by the persistent effort of his purblind
observation？ Is it not but too often to make him
question the existence of his Maker； or indeed of any
intelligent purpose beyond his own？ The truth is
veiled； because we could no more look upon her glory
than we can upon the sun。 It would destroy us。 Full
knowledge is not for man as man is here； for his
capacities； which he is apt to think so great； are
indeed but small。 The vessel is soon filled； and； were
one thousandth part of the unutterable and silent
wisdom that directs the rolling of those shining
spheres； and the force which makes them roll； pressed
into it； it would be shattered into fragments。 Perhaps
in some other place and time it may be otherwise； who
can tell？ Herethe lot of man born of the flesh is but
to endure midst toil and tribulation； to catch at the
bubbles blown by Fate； which he calls pleasures；
thankful if before they burst they rest a moment in
his hand； and when the tragedy is played out； and his
hour comes to perish； to pass humbly whither he knows
not。
Above me； as I lay； shone the eternal stars； and there
at my feet the impish marsh…born balls of fire rolled
this way and that； vapor…tossed and earth…desiring；
and methought that in the two I saw a type and image
of what man is； and what perchance man may one day be；
if the living Force who ordained him and them should
so ordain this also。 Oh； that it might be ours to rest
year by year upon that high level of the heart to
which at times we momentarily attain！ Oh； that we
could shake loose the prisoned pinions of the soul and
soar to that superior point； whence； like to some
traveller looking out through space from Darien's
giddiest peak； we might gaze with the spiritual eyes
of noble thoughts deep into Infinity！
What would it be to cast off this earthy robe； to have
done forever with these earthy thoughts and miserable
desires； no l
