gulliver of mars-第26章
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midnight we were right into the region of snow and ice； not the actual polar region of the planet； as I afterwards guessed； but one of those long outliers which follow the course of the broad waterways almost into fertile regions； and the cold； though intense； was somewhat modified by the complete stillness of the air。
It was just then that I began to be aware of a low； rum… bling sound ahead； increasing steadily until there could not be any doubt the journey was nearly over and we were approaching those great falls An had told me of； over which the dead tumble to perpetual oblivion。 There was no op… portunity for action； and； luckily； little time for thought。 I remember clapping my hand to my heart as I muttered an im… perfect prayer； and laughing a little as I felt in my pocket； between it and that organ； an envelope containing some corn…plaster and a packet of unpaid tailors' bills。 Then I pulled out that locket with poor forgotten Polly's photo… graph； and while I was still kissing it fervently； and the dead girl on my right was jealously nudging my canoe with the corner of her raft； we plunged into a narrow gully as black as hell； shot round a sharp corner at a tremendous pace； and the moment afterwards entered a lake in the midst of an unbroken amphitheatre of cliffs gleaming in soft light all round。
Even to this moment I can recall the blue shine of those terrible ice crags framing the weird picture in on every hand； and the strange effect upon my mind as we passed out of the darkness of the gully down which we had come into the sepulchral radiance of that place。 But though it fixed with one instantaneous flash its impression on my mind forever； there was no time to admire it。 As we swept on to the lake's surface； and a glance of light coming over a dip in the ice walls to the left lit up the dead faces and half… withered flowers of my fellow…travellers with startling dis… tinctness； I noticed with a new terror at the lower end of the lake towards which we were hurrying the water suddenly disappeared in a cloud of frosty spray； and it was from thence came the low； ominous rumble which had sounded up the ravine as we approached。 It was the fall； and beyond the stream dropped down glassy step after step； in wild pools and rapids； through which no boat could live for a moment； to a black cavern entrance； where it was swal… lowed up in eternal night。
I WOULD not go that way！ With a yell such as those solitudes had probably never heard since the planet was fashioned out of the void； I seized the paddle again and struck out furiously from the main current； with the result of post… poning the crisis for a time； and finding myself bobbing round towards the northern amphitheatre； where the light fell clearest from planets overhead。 It was like a great ball… room with those constellations for tapers； and a ghastly crowd of Martians were doing cotillions and waltzes all about me on their rafts as the troubled water； icy cold and clear as glass； eddied us here and there in solemn con… fusion。 On the narrow beaches at the cliff foot were hundreds of wrecked voyagersthe wall…flowers of that ghostly as… sembly…roomand I went jostling and twirling round the circle as though looking for a likely partner； until my brain spun and my heart was sick。
For twenty minutes Fate played with me； and then the deadly suck of the stream got me down again close to where the water began to race for the falls。 I vowed sav… agely I would not go over them if it could be helped； and struggled furiously。
On the left； in shadow； a narrow beach seemed to lie between the water and the cliff foot； towards it I fought。 At the very first stroke I fouled a raft； the occupant thereof came tumbling aboard and nearly swamped me。 But now it was a fight for life； so him I seized without ceremony by clammy neck and leg and threw back into the water。 Then another playful Martian butted the behind part of my canoe and set it spinning； so that all the stars seemed to be dancing giddily in the sky。 With a yell I shoved him off； but only to find his comrades were closing round me in a solid ring as we sucked down to the abyss at ever… increasing speed。
Then I fought like a fury； hacking； pushing； and paddling shorewards； crying out in my excitement； and spinning and bumping and twisting ever downwards。 For every foot I gained they pushed me on a yard； as though determined their fate should be mine also。
They crowded round me in a compact circle； their poor flower…girt heads nodding as the swift current curtsied their crafts。 They hemmed me in with desperate persistency as we spun through the ghostly starlight in a swirling mass down to destruction！ And in a minute we were so close to the edge of the fall I could see the water break into ridges as it felt the solid bottom give way under it。 We were so close that already the foremost rafts； ten yards ahead； were tipping and their occupants one by one waving their arms about and tumbling from their funeral chairs as they shot into the spray veil and went out of sight under a faint rainbow that was arched over there； the symbol of peace and the only lovely thing in that gruesome region。 Another minute and I must have gone with them。 It was too late to think of getting out of the tangle then； the water behind was heavy with trailing silks and flowers。 We were jammed together almost like one huge float and in that latter fact lay my one chance。
On the left was a low ledge of rocks leading back to the narrow beach already mentioned； and the ledge came out to within a few feet of where the outmost boat on that side would pass it。 It was the only chance and a poor one； but already the first rank of my fleet was trembling on the brink； and without stopping to weigh matters I bounded off my own canoe on to the raft alongside； which rocked with my weight like a tea…tray。 From that I leapt； with such hearty good…will as I had never had before； on to a second and third。 I jumped from the footstool of one Martian to the knee of another； steadying myself by a free use of their nodding heads as I passed。 And every time I jumped a ship collapsed behind me。 As I staggered with my spring into the last and outermost boat the ledge was still six feet away； half hidden in a smother of foam； and the rim of the great fall just under it。 Then I drew all my sailor agility together and just as the little vessel was going bow up over the edge I leapt from hercame down blinded with spray on the ledge； rolled over and over； clutched frantically at the frozen soil； and was safe for the moment； but only a few inches from the vortex below！
As soon as I picked myself up and got breath； I walked shorewards and found； with great satisfaction； that the ledge joined the shelving beach； and so walked on in the blue obscurity of the cliff shadow back from the falls in the bare hope that the beach might lead by some way into the gully through which we had come and open country beyond。 But after a couple of hundred yards this hope ended as abruptly as the spit itself in deep water； and there I was； as far as the darkness would allow me to ascertain； as utterly trapped as any mortal could be。
I will not dwell on the next few minutes； for no one likes to acknowledge that he has been unmanned even for a space。 When those minutes were over calmness and con… sideration returned； and I was able to look about。
All the opposite cliffs； rising sheer from the water； were in light； their cold blue and white surfaces rising far up into the black starfields overhead。 Looking at them intently from this vantage…point I saw without at first understanding that along them horizontally； tier above tier； were rows of objects； likelikewhy； good Heavens； they were like men and women in all sorts of strange postures and positions！ Rubbing my eyes and looking again I perceived with a start and a strange creepy feeling down my back that they WERE men and women！hundreds of them； thousands； all in rows as cormorants stand upon sea…side cliffs； myriads and myriads now I looked about； in every conceivable pose and attitude but never a sound； never a movement amongst the vast concourse。
Then I turned back to the cliffs behind me。 Yes！ the
