gulliver of mars-第43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！


earth　with　a　thud　that　crushed　the　courtyard　palings　into　nothing　for　twenty　yards　and　shook　me　even　across　the　square。

Another　time　I　might　have　stopped　to　marvel　or　to　watch；　as　I　have　often　watched　with　sympathetic　pleasure；　the　gods　thus　at　play；　but　tonight　there　were　other　things　on　hand。　When　I　had　drunk；　I　picked　up　an　earthen　crock；　filled　it；　and　went　to　Heru。　　It　was　a　rough　drinking…vessel　for　those　dainty　lips；　and　an　indifferent　draught；　being　as　much　mud　as　aught　else；　but　its　effect　was　wonderful。　　At　the　first　touch　of　that　turgid　stuff　a　shiver　of　delight　passed　through　the　drowsy　lady。　　At　the　second　she　gave　a　sigh；　and　her　hand　tightened　on　my　arm。　　I　fetched　another　crockful；　and　by　the　flickering　light　rocking　to　and　fro　in　the　sky；　took　her　head　upon　my　shoulder；　like　a　prodigal　new　come　into　riches；　squandering　the　stuff；　giving　her　to　drink　and　bathing　face　and　neck　till　presently；　to　my　delight；　the　princess's　eyes　opened。　　Then　she　sat　up；　and　taking　the　basin　from　me　drank　as　never　lady　drank　before；　and　soon　was　almost　her…　self　again。

I　went　out　into　the　portico；　there　snuffing　the　deep；　strong　breath　of　the　fragrant　black　earth　receiving　back　into　its　gaping　self　what　the　last　few　days　had　taken　from　it；　while　quick　succeeding　thoughts　of　escape　and　flight　passed　across　my　brain。　　All　through　the　fiery　time　we　had　just　had　the　chance　of　escaping　with　the　fair　booty　yonder　had　been　present。　　Without　her；　flight　would　have　been　easy　enough；　but　that　was　not　worth　considering　for　a　moment。　　With　her　it　was　more　difficult；　yet；　as　I　had　watched　the　wood…　men；　accustomed　to　cool　forest　shades；　faint　under　the　fiery　glare　of　the　world　above；　to　make　a　dash　for　liberty　seemed　each　hour　more　easy。　　I　had　seen　the　men　in　the　streets　drop　one　by　one；　and　the　spears　fall　from　the　hands　of　guards　about　the　pallisades；　I　had　seen　messengers　who　came　to　and　fro　collapse　before　their　errands　were　accomplished；　and　the　forest　women；　who　were　Heru's　gaolers；　groan　and　drop　across　the　thresholds　of　her　prison；　until　at　length　the　way　was　cleara　babe　might　have　taken　what　he　would　from　that　half…scorched　town　and　asked　no　man's　leave。　Yet　what　did　it　avail　me？　　Heru　was　helpless；　my　own　spirit　burnt　in　a　nerveless　frame；　and　so　we　stayed。

But　with　rain　strength　came　back　to　both　of　us。　　The　guards；　lying　about　like　black　logs；　were　only　slowly　re…　turning　to　consciousness；　the　town　still　slept；　and　darkness　favoured；　before　they　missed　us　in　the　morning　light　we　might　be　far　on　the　way　back　to　Setha　dangerous　way　truly；　but　we　were　like　to　tread　a　rougher　one　if　we　stayed。　In　fact；　directly　my　strength　returned　with　the　cooler　air；　I　made　up　my　mind　to　the　venture　and　went　to　Heru；　who　by　this　time　was　much　recovered。　　To　her　I　whispered　my　plot；　and　that　gentle　lady；　as　was　only　natural；　trembled　at　its　dangers。　　But　I　put　it　to　her　that　no　time　could　be　better　than　the　present：　the　storm　was　going　over；　morning　would　〃line　the　black　mantle　of　the　night　with　a　pink　dawn　of　promise〃；　before　any　one　stirred　we　might　be　far　off；　shaping　a　course　by　our　luck　and　the　stars　for　her　kindred；　at　whose　name　she　sighed。　　If　we　stayed；　I　argued；　and　the　king　changed　his　mind；　then　death　for　me；　and　for　Heru　the　arms　of　that　surly　monarch；　and　all　the　rest　of　her　life　caged　in　these　pallisades　amongst　the　uncouth　forms　about　us。

The　lady　gave　a　frightened　little　shiver　at　the　picture；　but　after　a　moment；　laying　her　head　upon　my　shoulder；　an…　swered；　〃Oh；　my　guardian　spirit　and　helper　in　adversity；　I　too　have　thought　of　tomorrow；　and　doubt　whether　that　horror；　that　great　swine　who　has　me；　will　not　invent　an　excuse　for　keeping　me。　　Therefore；　though　the　forest　roads　are　dread…　ful；　and　Seth　very　far　away；　I　will　come；　I　give　myself　into　your　hands。　　Do　what　you　will　with　me。〃

〃Then　the　sooner　the　better；　princess。　　How　soon　can　you　be　prepared？〃

She　smiled；　and　stooping　picked　up　her　slippers；　saying　as　she　did　so；　〃I　am　ready！〃

There　were　no　arrangements　to　be　made。　　Every　instant　was　of　value。　　So；　to　be　brief；　I　threw　a　dark　cloak　over　the　damsel's　shoulders；　for　indeed　she　was　clad　in　little　more　than　her　loveliness　and　the　gauziest　filaments　of　a　Hither　girl's　underwear；　and　hand　in　hand　led　her　down　the　log　steps；　over　the　splashing；　ankle…deep　courtyard；　and　into　the　shadows　of　the　gateway　beyond。

Down　the　slope　we　went；　along　towards　the　harbour；　through　a　score　of　deserted　lanes　where　nothing　was　to　be　heard　but　the　roar　of　rain　and　the　lapping　of　men　and　beasts；　drinking　in　the　shadows　as　though　they　never　would　stop；　and　so　we　came　at　last　unmolested　to　the　wharf。　　There　I　hid　royal　Seth　between　two　piles　of　merchandise；　and　went　to　look　for　a　boat　suitable　to　our　needs。　　There　were　plenty　of　small　craft　moored　to　rings　along　the　quay；　and　selecting　a　canoeit　was　no　time　to　stand　on　niceties　of　property　easily　managed　by　a　single　paddle；　I　brought　it　round　to　the　steps；　put　in　a　fresh　water…pot；　and　went　for　the　princess。

With　her　safely　stowed　in　the　prow；　a　helpless；　sodden　little　morsel　of　feminine　loveliness；　things　began　to　appear　more　hopeful　and　an　escape　down　to　blue　water；　my　only　idea；　for　the　first　time　possible。　　Yet　I　must　needs　go　and　well　nigh　spoil　everything　by　over…solicitude　for　my　charge。

Had　we　pushed　off　at　once　there　can　be　no　doubt　my　credit　as　a　spirit　would　have　been　established　for　all　time　in　the　Thither　capital；　and　the　belief　universally　held　that　Heru　had　been　wafted　away　by　my　enchantment　to　the　regions　of　the　unknown。　　The　idea　would　have　gradually　grown　into　a　tradition；　receiving　embellishments　in　succeeding　gen…　erations；　until　little　wood　children　at　their　mother's　knees　came　to　listen　in　awe　to　the　story　of　how；　once　upon　a　time；　the　Sun…god　loved　a　beautiful　maiden；　and　drove　his　fiery　chariot　across　the　black　night…fields　to　her　prison　door；　scorch…　ing　to　death　all　who　strove　to　gainsay　him。　　How　she　flew　into　his　arms　and　drove　away　before　all　men's　eyes；　in　his　red　car；　into　the　west；　and　was　never　seen　againthe　foresaid　Sun…god　being　I；　Gulliver　Jones；　a　much　under…　paid　lieutenant　in　the　glorious　United　States　navy；　with　a　packet　of　overdue　tailors'　bills　in　my　pocket；　and　nothing　lovable　about　me　save　a　partiality　for　meddling　with　other　people's　affairs。

This　is　how　it　might　have　been；　but　I　spoiled　a　pretty　fairy　story　and　changed　the　whole　course　of　Martian　history　by　going　back　at　that　moment　in　search　of　a　wrap　for　my　prize。　　Right　on　top　of　the　steps　was　a　man　with　a　lantern；　and　half　a　glance　showed　me　it　was　the　harbour　master　met　with　on　my　first　landing。

〃Good　evening；〃　he　said　suspiciously。　　〃May　I　ask　what　you　are　doing　on　the　quay　at　such　an　hour　as　this？〃

〃Doing？　　Oh；　nothing　in　particular；　just　going　out　for　a　little　fishing。〃

〃And　your　companion　the　ladyis　she　too　fond　of　fishing？〃

I　swore　between　my　teeth；　but　could　not　prevent　the　fel…　low　walking　to　the　quay　edge　and　casting　his　light　full　upon　the　figure　of　the　girl　below。　　I　hate　people　who　interfere　with　other　people's　business！

〃Unless　I　am　very　much　mistaken　your　fishing　friend　is　the　Hither　woman　brought　here　a　few　days　ago　as　tribute　to　Ar…hap。〃

〃Well；〃　I　answered；　getting　into　a　nice　temper；　for　I　had　been　very　much　harrassed　of　late；　〃put　it　at　that。　　What　would　you　do　if　it　were　so？〃

〃Call　up　my　rain…drunk　guards；　and　give　you　in　charge　as　a　thief　caught　meddling　with　the　king's　property。〃

〃Thanks；　but　as　my　interviews　with　Ar…hap　have　al…　ready　begun　to　grow　tedious；　we　will　settle　this　little　matter　here　between　ourselves　at　once。〃　　And　without　more　to…do　I　closed　with　him。　　There　was　a　brief　scuffle　and　then　I　got　in　a　blow　upon　his　jaw　which　sent　the　harbour　master　flying　back　head　over　heels　amongst　the　sugar　bales　and　potatoes。

Without　waiting　to　see　how　he　fared　I　ran　down　the　steps；　jumped　on　board；　loosened　the　rope；　and　pushed　out　into　the　river。　　But　my　heart　was　angry　and　sore；　for　I　knew；　as　turned　out　to　be　the　case；　that　our　secret　was　one　no　more；　in　a　short　time　we　should　have　the　savage　king　in　pursuit；　and　now　there　was　nothing　for　it　but　headlong　flight　with　only　a　small　chance　of　getting　away　to　distant　Seth。

Luckily