gulliver of mars-第21章
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sounds of rustling snakes and forest pigs； and all the lesser things that dig and scratch and growl。
Yet I was desperately sleepy； my sword hung heavy as lead at my side； my eyelids drooped； and so at last I dozed uneasily for an hour or two。 Then； all on a sudden； I came wide awake with a shock。 The night was quieter now； away in the forest depth strange noises still arose； but close at hand was a strange hush； like the hush of expecta… tion； and； listening wonderingly； I was aware of slow； heavy footsteps coming up from the river； now two or three steps together； then a pause； then another step or two； and as I bent towards the approaching thing； staring into the dark… ness； my strained senses were conscious of another approach； as like as could be； coming from behind me。 On they came； making the very ground quake with their weight； till I judged that both were about on the edge of the clearing； two vast rat…like shadows； but as big as elephants； and bringing a most intolerable smell of sour slime with them。 There； on the edge of the amphitheatre； each for the first time ap… peared to become aware of the other's presencethe foot… steps stopped dead。 I could hear the water dripping from the fur of those giant brutes amongst the shadows and the deep breathing of the one nearest me； a scanty ten paces off； but not another sound in the stillness。
Minute after minute passed； yet neither moved。 A half… hour grew to a full hour； and that hour lengthened amid the keenest tension till my ears ached with listening； and my eyes were sore with straining into the blackness。 At last I began to wonder whether those earth…shaking beasts had not been an evil dream； and was just venturing to stretch out a cramped leg； and rally myself upon my cowardice； when； without warning； at my elbow rose the most ear… piercing scream of rage that ever came from a living throat。 There was a sweeping rush in the darkness which I could feel but not see； and with a shock the two gladiators met in the midst of the arena。 Over and over they went screaming and struggling； and slipping and plunging。 I could hear them tearing at each other； and the sharp cries of pain； first one and then another gave as claw or tooth got home； and all the time； though the ground was quaking under their struggles and the air full of horrible uproar； not a thing was to be seen。 I did not even know what manner of beasts they were who rocked and rolled and tore at each other's throats； but I heard their teeth snapping； and their fierce breath in the pauses of the struggle； and could but wait in a huddle amongst the roots until it was over。 To and fro they went； now at the far side of the dark clearing； now so close that hot drops of blood from their jaws fell on my face like rain in the darkness。 It seemed as though the fight would never end； but presently there was more of worrying in it and less of snapping； it was clear one or the other had had enough and as I marked this those black shad… ows came gasping and struggling towards me。 There was a sudden sharp cry； a desperate final tusslebefore which strong trees snapped and bushes were flattened out like grass； not twenty yards awayand then for a minute all was silent。
One of them had killed； and as I sat rooted to the spot I was forced to listen while his enemy tore him up and ate him。 Many a banquet have I been at； but never an uglier one than that。 I sat in the darkness while the unknown thing at my feet ripped the flesh from his half…dead rival in strips； and across the damp night wind came the reek of that abominable feastthe reek of blood and spilt en… trailsuntil I turned away my face in loathing； and was nearly starting to my feet to venture a rush into the forest shadows。 But I was spellbound； and remained listening to the heavy munch of blood…stained jaws until presently I was aware other and lesser feasters were coming。 There was a twinkle of hungry eyes all about the limits of the area； the shine of green points of envious fire that circled round in decreasing orbits； as the little foxes and jackals came crowding in。 One fellow took me for a rock； so still I sat； putting his hot； soft paws upon my knee for a space； and others passed me so near I could all but touch them。
The big beast had taken himself off by this time； and there must have been several hundreds of these newcomers。 A merry time they had of it； the whole place was full of the green； hurrying eyes； and amidst the snap of teeth and yapping and quarrelling I could hear the flesh being torn from the red bones in every direction。 One wolf…like individual brought a mass of hot liver to eat between my feet； but I gave him a kick； and sent him away much to his surprise。 Gradually； however； the sound of this unholy feast died away； and； though you may hardly believe it； I fell off into a doze。 It was not sleep； but it served the purpose； and when in an hour or two a draught of cool air roused me； I awoke； feeling more myself again。
Slowly morning came； and the black wall of forest around became full of purple interstices as the east brightened。 Those glimmers of light between bough and trunk turned to yellow and red； the day…shine presently stretched like a canopy from point to point of the treetops on either side of my sleeping…place； and I arose。
All my limbs were stiff with cold； my veins emptied by hunger and wounds； and for a space I had not even strength to move。 But a little rubbing softened my cramped muscles presently and limping painfully down to the place of combat； I surveyed the traces of that midnight fight。 I will not dwell upon it。 It was ugly and grim； the trampled grass； the giant footmarks； each enringing its pool of cur… dled blood； the broken bushes； the grooved mud…slides where the unknown brutes had slid in deadly embrace； the hollows； the splintered boughs； their ragged points tufted with skin and hairall was sickening to me。 Yet so hungry was I that when I turned towards the odious remnants of the vanquisheda shapeless mass of abominationmy thou… ghts flew at once to breakfasting！ I went down and in… spected the victim cautiouslya huge rat…like beast as far as might be judged from the bare uprising ribsall that was left of him looking like the framework of a schooner yacht。 His heart lay amongst the offal； and my knife came out to cut a meal from it； but I could not do it。 Three times I essayed the task； hunger and disgust contending for mastery； three times turned back in loathing。 At last I could stand the sight no more； and； slamming the knife up again； turned on my heels； and fairly ran for fresh air and the shore； where the sea was beginning to glimmer in the light a few score yards through the forest stems。 There； once more out on the open； on a pebbly beach； I stripped； spreading my things out to dry on the stones； and laying myself down with the lapping of the waves in my ears； and the first yellow sunshine thawing my limbs； tried to piece together the hurrying events of the last few days。
What were my gay Martians doing？ Lazy dogs to let me； a stranger； be the only one to draw sword in defence of their own princess！ Where was poor Heru； that sweet maiden wife？ The thought of her in the hands of the ape…men was odious。 And yet was I not mad to try to rescue； or even to follow her alone？ If by any chance I could get off this beast…haunted place and catch up with the ravishers； what had I to look for from them except speedy extinction； and that likely enough by the most painful process they were acquainted with？
The other alternative of going back empty handed was terribly ignominious。 I had lectured the amiable young manhood of Seth so soundly on the subject of gallantry； and set them such a good example on two occasions； that it would be bathos to saunter back； hands in pockets； and con… fess I knew nothing of the lady's fate and had been daunted by the first night alone in the forest。 Besides； how dull it would be in that beautiful； tumble…down old city without Heru； with no expectation day by day of seeing her sylph…like form and hearing the merry tinkle of her fairy laughter as she scoffed at the unknown learning col… lected by her ancestors in a thousand laborious years。 No
