gulliver of mars-第28章

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us　gold　and　crimson　glimmers　of　morningwere　as　steep　as　a　wall　face；　only　back　towards　the　falls　was　there　a　possibility　of　getting　out　of　the　dreadful　trap；　so　thither　I　went；　after　a　last　look　at　the　poor　old　king；　along　my　narrow　beach　with　all　the　eagerness　begotten　of　a　final　chance。　　Up　to　the　very　brink　it　looked　hopeless　enough；　but；　looking　downwards　when　that　was　reached；　instead　of　a　sheer　drop　the　slope　seemed　to　be　a　wild　〃staircase〃　of　rocks　and　icy　ledges　with　here　and　there　a　little　patch　of　sand　on　a　cornice；　and　far　below；　five　hundred　feet　or　so；　a　good　big　spread　of　gravel　an　acre　or　two　in　extent　close　by　where　the　river　plunged　out　of　sight　into　the　nethermost　cavern　mouth。

It　was　so　hopeless　up　above　it；　it　could　not　possibly　be　worse　further　down；　and　there　was　the　ugly　black　flood　running　into　the　hole　to　trust　myself　to　as　a　last　resource；　so　slipping　and　sliding　I　began　the　descent。

Had　I　been　a　schoolboy　with　a　good　breakfast　ahead　the　incident　might　have　been　amusing　enough。　　The　travel…　ling　was　mostly　done　on　the　seat　of　my　trousers；　which　consequently　became　caked　with　mud　and　glacial　loam。　Some　was　accomplished　on　hands　and　knees；　with　now　and　then　a　bit　down　a　snow　slope；　in　good；　honest　head…over…　heels　fashion。　　The　result　was　a　fine　appetite　for　the　next　meal　when　it　should　please　providence　to　send　it；　and　an　abrupt　arrival　on　the　bottom　beach　about　five　minutes　after　leaving　the　upper　circles。

I　came　to　behind　a　cluster　of　breast…high　rocks；　and　before　moving　took　a　look　round。　　Judge　then　of　my　as…　tonishment　and　delight　at　the　second　glance　to　perceive　about　a　hundred　yards　away　a　brown　object；　looking　like　an　ape　in　the　half　light；　meandering　slowly　up　the　margin　of　the　water　towards　me。　　Every　now　and　then　it　stopped；　stooping　down　to　pick　up　something　or　other　from　the　scum　along　the　torrent；　and　it　was　the　fact　that　these　trifles；　whatever　they　were；　were　put　into　a　wallet　by　the　vision's　sidenot　into　his　mouthwhich　first　made　me　understand　with　a　joyful　thrill　that　it　was　a　MAN　before　mea　real；　living　man　in　this　huge　chamber　of　dead　horrors！　　Then　again　it　flashed　across　my　mind　in　a　luminous　moment　that　where　one　man　could　come；　or　go；　or　live；　another　could　do　likewise；　and　never　did　cat　watch　mouse　with　more　con…　centrated　eagerness　than　I　that　quaint；　bent…shouldered　thing　hobbling　about　in　the　blue　morning　shadows　where　all　else　was　silence。

Nearer　and　nearer　he　came；　till　so　close　face　and　garb　were　discernible；　and　then　there　could　no　longer　be　any　doubt；　it　was　a　woodman；　an　old　man；　with　grizzled　monkey…face；　stooping　gait；　and　a　shaggy　fur　cloak；　utterly　unlike　the　airy　garments　of　my　Hither　folk；　who　now　stood　before　me。　　It　gave　me　quite　a　start　to　recognise　him　there；　for　it　showed　I　was　in　a　new　land；　and　since　he　was　going　so　cheerfully　about　his　business；　whatever　it　might　chance　to　be；　there　must　be　some　way　out　of　this　accursed　pit　in　which　I　had　fallen。　　So　very　cautiously　I　edged　out；　taking　advantage　of　all　the　cover　possible　until　we　were　only　twenty　yards　apart；　and　then　suddenly　standing　up；　and　putting　on　the　most　affable　smile；　I　called　out

〃Hullo；　mess…mate！〃

The　effect　was　electrical。　　That　quaint　old　fellow　sprang　a　yard　into　air　as　though　a　spring　had　shot　him　up。　　Then；　coming　down；　he　stood　transfixed　at　his　full　height　as　stiff　as　a　ramrod；　staring　at　me　with　incredible　wonder。　　He　looked　so　funny　that　in　spite　of　hunger　and　loneliness　I　burst　out　laughing；　whereat　the　woodman；　suddenly　recovering　his　senses；　turned　on　his　heels　and　set　off　at　his　best　pace　in　the　opposite　direction。　　This　would　never　do！　　I　wanted　him　to　be　my　guide；　philosopher；　and　friend。　　He　was　my　sole　visible　link　with　the　outside　world；　so　after　him　I　went　at　tip…top　speed；　and　catching　him　up　in　fifty　yards　along　the　shingle　laid　hold　of　his　nether　garments。　　Whereat　the　old　fellow　stopping　suddenly　I　shot　clean　over　his　back；　coming　down　on　my　shoulder　in　the　gravel。

But　I　was　much　younger　than　he；　and　in　a　minute　was　in　chase　again。　　This　time　I　laid　hold　of　his　cloak；　and　the　moment　he　felt　my　grip　he　slipped　the　neck…thongs　and　left　me　with　only　the　mangy　garment　in　my　hands。　　Again　we　set　off；　dodging　and　scampering　with　all　our　might　upon　that　frozen　bit　of　beach。　　The　activity　of　that　old　fellow　was　marvellous；　but　I　could　not　and　would　not　lose　him。　I　made　a　rush　and　grappled　him；　but　he　tossed　his　head　round　and　slipped　away　once　more　under　my　arm；　as　though　he　had　been　brought　up　by　a　Chinese　wrestler。　　Then　he　got　on　one　side　of　a　flat　rock；　I　the　other；　and　for　three　or　four　minutes　we　waltzed　round　that　slab　in　the　most　insane　manner。

But　by　this　time　we　were　both　pretty　well　spenthe　with　age　and　I　with　faintness　from　my　long　fast；　and　we　came　presently　to　a　standstill。

After　glaring　at　me　for　a　time；　the　woodman　gasped　out　as　he　struggled　for　breath

〃Oh；　mighty　and　dreadful　spirit！　　Oh；　dweller　in　pri…　mordial　ice；　say　from　which　niche　of　the　cliffs　has　the　breath　of　chance　thawed　you？〃

〃Never　a　niche　at　all；　Mr。　Hunter…for…Haddocks'…Eyes；〃　I　　answered　as　soon　as　I　could　speak。　　〃I　am　just　a　castaway　wrecked　last　night　on　this　shore　of　yours；　and　very　grateful　indeed　will　I　be　if　you　can　show　me　the　way　to　some　breakfast　first；　and　afterwards　to　the　outside　world。〃

But　the　old　fellow　would　not　believe。　　〃Spirits　such　as　you；〃　he　said　sullenly；　〃need　no　food；　and　go　whither　they　will　by　wish　alone。〃

〃I　tell　you　I　am　not　a　spirit；　and　as　hungry　as　I　don't　particularly　want　to　be　again。　　Here；　look　at　the　back　of　my　trousers；　caked　three　inches　deep　in　mud。　　If　I　were　a　spirit；　do　you　think　I　would　slide　about　on　my　coat…tails　like　that？　Do　you　think　that　if　I　could　travel　by　volition　I　would　slip　down　these　infernal　cliffs　on　my　pants'　seat　as　I　have　just　done？　And　as　for　materialismlook　at　this　fist；　it　punched　you　just　now！　　Surely　there　was　nothing　spiritual　in　that　knock？''

〃No；〃　said　the　savage；　rubbing　his　head；　〃it　was　a　good；　honest　rap；　so　I　must　take　you　at　your　word。　　If　you　are　indeed　man；　and　hungry；　it　will　be　a　charity　to　feed　you；　if　you　are　a　spirit；　it　will　at　least　be　interesting　to　watch　you　eat；　so　sit　down；　and　let's　see　what　I　have　in　my　wallet。〃

So　cross…legged　we　squatted　opposite　each　other　on　the　table　rock；　and；　feeling　like　another　Sindbad　the　Sailor；　I　watched　my　new　friend　fumble　in　his　bag　and　lay　out　at　his　side　all　sorts　of　odds　and　ends　of　string；　fish…hooks；　chew…　ing…gum；　material　for　making　a　fire；　and　so　on；　until　at　last　he　came　to　a　package　（done　up；　I　noted　with　delight；　in　a　broad；　green　leaf　which　had　certainly　been　growing　that　morning）；　and　unrolling　it；　displayed　a　lump　of　dried　meat；　a　few　biscuits；　much　thicker　and　heavier　than　the　honey…　cakes　of　the　Hither　folk；　and　something　that　looked　and　smelt　like　strong；　white　cheese。

He　signed　to　me　to　eat；　and　you　may　depend　upon　it　I　was　not　slow　in　accepting　the　invitation。　　That　tough　biltong　tasted　to　me　like　the　tenderest　steak　that　ever　came　from　a　grill；　the　biscuits　were　ambrosial；　the　cheese　melted　in　my　mouth　as　butter　melts　in　that　of　the　virtuous；　but　when　the　old　man　finished　the　quaint　picnic　by　inviting　me　to　accompany　him　down　to　the　waterside　for　a　drink；　I　shook　my　head。　　I　had　a　great　respect　for　dead　queens　and　kings；　I　said；　but　there　were　too　many　of　them　up　above　to　make　me　thirsty　this　morning；　my　respect　did　not　go　to　making　me　desire　to　imbibe　them　in　solution！

Afterwards　I　chanced　to　ask　him　what　he　had　been　pick…　ing　up　just　now　along　the　margin；　and　after　looking　at　me　suspiciously　for　a　minute　he　asked

〃You　are　not　a　thief？〃　　On　being　reassured　on　that　point　he　continued：　〃And　you　will　not　attempt　to　rob　me　of　the　harvest　for　which　I　venture　into　this　ghost…haunted　glen；　which　you　and　I　alone　of　living　men　have　seen？〃

〃No。〃　　Whatever　they　were；　I　said；　I　would　respect　his　earnings。

〃Very　well；　then；〃　said　the　old　man；　〃look　here！　　I　come　hither　to　pick　up　those　pretty　trifles　which　yonder　lords　and　ladies　have　done　with；〃　and　plunging　his　hand　into　an…　other　bag　he　brought　out　a　perfect　fistful　of　splendid　gems　and　jewels；　some　set　and　some　unset。　　〃They　wash　from　the　hands　and　wrists　of　t