gulliver of mars-第29章
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ful of splendid gems and jewels； some set and some unset。 〃They wash from the hands and wrists of those who have lodgings in the crevices of the falls above；〃 he explained。 〃After a time the beach here will be thick with them。 Could I get up whence you came down； they might be gathered by the sackful。 Come！ there is an eddy still unsearched； and I will show you how they lie。〃
It was very fascinating； and I and that old man set to work amongst the gravels； and； to be brief； in half an hour found enough glittering stuff to set up a Fifth Avenue jewel… ler's shop。 But to tell the truth； now that I had breakfasted； and felt manhood in my veins again； I was eager to be off； and out of the close； death…tainted atmosphere of that valley。 Consequently I presently stood up and said
〃Look here； old man； this is fine sport no doubt； but just at present I have a big job on handone which will not wait； and I must be going。 See； luck and young eyes have favoured me； here is twice as much gold and stones as you have got togetherit is all yours without a question if you will show me the way out of this den and afterwards put me on the road to your big city； for thither I am bound with an errand to your king； Ar…hap。〃
The sight of my gems； backed； perhaps； with the men… tion of Ar…hap's name； appealed to the old fellow； and af… ter a grunt or two about 〃losing a tide〃 just when spoil was so abundant； he accepted the bargain； shouldered his be… longings； and led me towards the far corner of the beach。
It looked as if we were walking right against the tower… ing ice wall； but when we were within a yard or two of it a narrow cleft； only eighteen inches wide； and wonderfully masked by an ice column； showed to the left； and into this we squeezed ourselves； the entrance by which we had come appearing to close up instantly we had gone a pace or two； so perfectly did the ice walls match each other。
It was the most uncanny thoroughfare conceivablea sheer； sharp crack in the blue ice cliffs extending from where the sunlight shone in a dazzling golden band five hundred feet overhead to where bottom was touched in blue ob… scurity of the ice…foot。 It was so narrow we had to travel sideways for the most part； a fact which brought my face close against the clear blue glass walls； and enabled me from time to time to see； far back in those translucent depths； more and more and evermore frozen Martians waiting in stony silence for their release。
But the fact of facts was that slowly the floor of the cleft trended upwards； whilst the sky strip appeared to come downwards to meet it。 A mile； perhaps； we growled and squeezed up that wonderful gully； then with a feeling of incredible joy I felt the clear； outer air smiting upon me。
In my hurry and delight I put my head into the small of the back of the puffing old man who blocked the way in front and forced him forward； until at lastbefore we expected itthe cleft suddenly ended； and he and I tumbled headlong over each other on to a glittering； frozen snowslope； the sky azure overhead； the sunshine warm as a tepid bath； and a wide prospect of mountain and plain extending all around。
So delightful was the sudden change of circumstances that I became quite boyish； and seizing the old man in my exub… erance by the hands； dragged him to his feet； and danced him round and round in a circle； while his ancient hair flapped about his head； his skin cloak waved from his shoulders like a pair of dusky wings and half…eaten cakes； dried flesh； glittering jewels； broken diadems； and golden finger…rings were flung in an arc about us。 We capered till fairly out of breath； and then； slapping him on the back shoulder； I asked whose land all this was about us。
He replied that it was no one's； all waste from verge to verge。
〃What！〃 was my exclamation。 〃All ownerless； and with so much treasure hidden hereabout！ Why； I shall annex it to my country； and you and I will peg out original settlers' claims！〃 And； still excited by the mountain air； I whipped out my sword； and in default of a star…spangled banner to plant on the newly…acquired territory； traced in gigantic letters on the snow…crustU。S。A。
〃And now；〃 I added； wiping the rime off my blade with the lappet of my coat； 〃let us stop capering about here and get to business。 You have promised to put me on the way to your big city。〃
〃Come on then；〃 said the little man； gathering up his property。 〃This white hillside leads to nowhere； we must get into the valley first； and then you shall see your road。〃 And right well that quaint barbarian kept his promise。
CHAPTER XIII
It was half a day's march from those glittering snow… fields into the low country； and when that was reached I found myself amongst quite another people。
The land was no longer fat and flowery； giving every kind of produce for the asking； but stony for the most part； and； where we first came on vegetation； overgrown by firs； with a pine which looked to me like a species which went to make the coal measures in my dear but distant planet。 More than this I cannot say； for there are no places in the world like mess…room and quarter…deck for forgetting school learn… ing。 Instead of the glorious wealth of parti…coloured vege… tation my eyes had been accustomed to lately； here they rested on infertile stretches of marshland intersected by moss…covered gravel shoots； looking as though they had been pushed into the plains in front of extinct glaciers coming down from the region behind us。 On the low hills away from the sea those sombre evergreen forests with an undergrowth of moss and red lichens were more variegated with light foliage； and indeed the pines proved to be but a fringe to the Arctic ice； giving way rapidly to more typical Martian vegetation each mile we marched to the southward。
As for the inhabitants； they seemed； like my guide； rough； uncouth fellows； but honest enough when you came to know them。 An introduction； however； was highly desirable。 I chanced upon the first native as he was gathering reindeer… moss。 My companion was some little way behind at the moment； and when the gentle aborigine saw the stranger he stared hard for a moment； then； turning on his heels； with extraordinary swiftness flung at me half a pound of hard flint stone。 Had his aim been a little more careful this humble narrative had never appeared on the Broadway bookstalls。 As it was； the pebble； missing my head by an inch or two； splintered into a hundred fragments on a rock behind； and while I was debating whether a revengeful rush at the slinger or a strategic advance to the rear were more advisable； my guide called out to his countryman
〃Ho！ you base prowler in the morasses； you eater of un… clean vegetation； do you not see this is a ghost I am con… ducting； a dweller in the ice cliffs； a spirit ten thousand years old？ Put by your sling lest he wither you with a glance。〃 And； very reasonably； surprised； the aborigine did as he was bid and cautiously advanced to inspect me。
The news soon spread over the countryside that my jewel… hunter was bringing a live 〃spook〃 along with him； con… siderable curiosity mixed with an awe all to my advantage characterising the people we met thereafter。 Yet the won… der was not so great as might have been expected； for these people were accustomed to meeting the tags of lost races； and though they stared hard； their interest was chiefly in hearing how； when； and where I had been found； whether I bit or kicked； or had any other vices； and if I possessed any commercial value。
My guide's throat must have ached with the repetition of the narrative； but as he made the story redound greatly to his own glory； he put up cheerfully with the hoarseness。 In this way； walking and talking alternately； we travelled during daylight through a country which slowly lost its rugged features and became more and more inhabited； the hardy people living in scattered villages in contradiction to the debased city…loving Hither folk。
About nightfall we came to a sea…fishers' hamlet； where； after the old man had explained my exalted nature and ven… erable antiquity； I was offered shelter for the night。
My host was the headman； and I must say his bea
