gulliver of mars-第7章
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d presently came out into the main waterway perhaps a mile wide and flowing rapidly； as streams will on the threshold of the spring； with brash or waste of distant beaches riding down it； and every now and then a broken branch or tree…stem glancing through waves whose crests a fresh wind lifted and sowed in golden showers in the inter… vening furrows。 The Martians seemed expert upon the water； steering nimbly between these floating dangers when they met them； but for the most part hugging the shore where a more placid stream better suited their fancies； and for a time all went well。
An； as we went along； was telling me more of her strange country； pointing out birds or flowers and naming them to me。 〃Now that；〃 she said； pointing to a small grey owl who sat reflective on a floating log we were approaching 〃that is a bird of omen； cover your face and look away； for it is not well to watch it。〃
Whereat I laughed。 〃Oh！〃 I answered； 〃so those ancient follies have come as far as this； have they？ But it is no bird grey or black or white that can frighten folk where I come from； see； I will ruffle his philosophy for him；〃 and suiting the action to the words I lifted a pebble that happened to lie at the bottom of the boat and flung it at that creature with the melancholy eyes。 Away went the owl； dipping his wings into the water at every stroke； and as he went wailing out a ghostly cry； which even amongst sunshine and glitter made one's flesh creep。
An shook her head。 〃You should not have done that；〃 she said； 〃our dead whom we send down over the falls come back in the body of yonder little bird。 But he has gone now；〃 she added； with relief； 〃see； he settles far up stream upon the point of yonder rotten bough； I would not disturb him again if I were you〃
Whatever more An would have said was lost； for amidst a sound of flutes and singing round the bend of the river below came a crowd of boats decked with flowers and gar… lands； all clustering round a barge barely able to move； so thick those lesser skiffs pressed upon it。 So close those wherries hung about that the garlanded rowers who sat at the oars could scarcely pull； but； here as everywhere； it was the same good temper； the same carelessness of order； as like a flowery island in the dancing blue water the motley fleet came up。
I steered our skiff a space out from the bank to get a better view； while An clapped her hands together and laughed。 〃It is Hathhe himself and those of the palace with him。 Steer a little nearer still； friendso！ between yon floating rubbish flats； for those with Hath are good to look at。〃
Nothing loth I made out into mid…stream to see that strange prince go by； little thinking in a few minutes I should be shaking hands with him； a wet and dripping hero。 The crowd came up； and having the advantage of the wind； it did not take me long to get a front place in the ruck； whence I set to work； with republican interest in royalty； to stare at the man who An said was the head of Martian society。 He did not make me desire to renounce my demo… cratic principles。 The royal fellow was sitting in the centre of the barge under a canopy and on a throne which was a mass of flowers； not bunched together as they would have been with us； but so cunningly arranged that they rose from the footstool to the pinnacle in a rhythm of colour； a poem in bud and petals the like of which for harmonious beauty I could not have imagined possible。 And in this fairy den was a thin； gaunt young man； dressed in some sort of black stuff so nondescript that it amounted to little more than a shadow。 I took it for granted that a substance of bone and muscle was covered by that gloomy suit； but it was the face above that alone riveted my gaze and made me return the stare he gave me as we came up with re… doubled interest。 It was not an unhandsome face； but ashy grey in colour and amongst the insipid countenances of the Martians about him marvellously thoughtful。 I do not know whether those who had killed themselves by learn… ing ever leave ghosts behind； but if so this was the very ideal for such a one。 At his feet I noticed； when I un… hooked my eyes from his at last； sat a girl in a loose coral pink gown who was his very antipode。 Princess Heru； for so she was called； was resting one arm upon his knee at our approach and pulling a blue convolvulus bud to piecesa charming picture of dainty idleness。 Anything so soft； so silken as that little lady was never seen before。 Who am I； a poor quarter…deck loafer； that I should attempt to describe what poet and painter alike would have failed to realise？ I know； of course； your stock descriptives： the melting eye； the coral lip； the peachy cheek； the raven tress； but these were coined for mortal womanand this was not one of them。 I will not attempt to describe the glorious tenderness of those eyes she turned upon me presently； the glowing radiance of her skin； the infinite grace of every action； the incredible soul…searching harmony of her voice； when later on I heard ityou must gather something of these things as I gosuffice it to say that when I saw her there for the first time in the plenitude of her beauty I fell desperately； wildly in love with her。
Meanwhile； even the most infatuated of mortals cannot stare for ever without saying something。 The grating of our prow against the garlanded side of the royal barge roused me from my reverie； and nodding to An； to imply I would be back presently； I lightly jumped on to Hath's vessel； and； with the assurance of a free and independent American voter； approached that individual； holding out my palm； and saying as I did so；
〃Shake hands； Mr。 President！〃
The prince came forward at my bidding and extending his hand for mine。 He bowed slow and sedately； in that peculiar way the Martians have； a ripple of gratified civility passing up his flesh； lower and lower he bowed； until his face was over our clasped hands； and then； with simple courtesy； he kissed my finger…tips！ This was somewhat em… barrassing。 It was not like the procedure followed in Courts nearer to Washington than this one； as far as my reading went； and； withdrawing my fingers hastily； I turned to the princess； who had risen； and was eyeing her somewhat awkwardly； the while wondering what kind of salutation would be suitable in her case when a startling incident happened。 The river； as said； was full of floating rubbish brought down from some far…away uplands by a spring freshet while the royal convoy was making slow progress upstream and thus met it all bow on。 Some of this stuff was heavy timber； and when a sudden warning cry went up from the leading boats it did not take my sailor instinct long to guess what was amiss。 Those in front shot side to side； those be… hind tried to drop back as； bearing straight down on the royal barge； there came a log of black wood twenty feet long and as thick as the mainmast of an old three…decker。
Hath's boat could no more escape than if it had been planted on a rocky pedestal； garlands and curtains trailing in the water hung so heavy on it。 The gilded paddles of the slender rowers were so feeblethey had but made a half… turn from that great javelin's road when down it came upon them； knocking the first few pretty oarsmen head over heels and crackling through their oars like a bull through dry maize stalks。 I sprang forward； and snatching a pole from a half…hearted slave； jammed the end into the head of the log and bore with all my weight upon it； diverting it a little； and thereby perhaps saving the ship herself； but not enough。 As it flashed by a branch caught upon the trailing tapestry； hurling me to the deck； ；and tearing away with it all that finery。 Then the great spar； tossing half its dripping length into the air； went plunging downstream with shreds of silk and flowers trailing from it； and white water bubbling in its rear。
When I scrambled to my feet all was ludicrous confusion on board。 Hath still stood by his thronean island in a sea of disorderstaring at me； all else was chaos。 The rowers and courtiers were kicking and wallowing in the 〃waist〃 of the ship like fish newly shot out of a trawl net； but the princess was gone。 Where was she？ I br
