gulliver of mars-第8章

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f　the　ship　like　fish　newly　shot　out　of　a　trawl　net；　but　the　princess　was　gone。　　Where　was　she？　　I　brushed　the　spray　from　my　eyes；　and　stared　overboard。　　She　was　not　in　the　bub…　bling　blue　water　alongside。　　Then　I　glanced　aft　to　where　the　log；　now　fifteen　yards　away；　was　splashing　through　the　sun…　shine；　and；　as　I　looked；　a　fair　arm　came　up　from　underneath　and　white　fingers　clutched　convulsively　at　the　sky。　　What　man　could　need　more？　　Down　the　barge　I　rushed；　and　drop…　ping　only　my　swordbelt；　leapt　in　to　her　rescue。　　The　gentle　Martians　were　too　numb　to　raise　a　hand　in　help；　but　it　was　not　necessary。　　I　had　the　tide　with　me；　and　gained　at　every　stroke。　　Meanwhile　that　accursed　tree；　with　poor　Heru's　skirts　caught　on　a　branch；　was　drowning　her　at　its　leisure；　lifting　her　up　as　it　rose　upon　the　crests；　a　fair；　helpless　bundle；　and　then　sousing　her　in　its　fall　into　the　nether　water；　where　I　could　see　her　gleam　now　and　again　like　pink　coral。

I　redoubled　my　efforts　and　got　alongside；　clutching　the　rind　of　that　old　stump；　and　swimming　and　scrambling；　at　last　was　within　reach　of　the　princess。　　Thereon　the　log　lifted　her　playfully　to　my　arms；　and　when　I　had　laid　hold　came　down；　a　crushing　weight；　and　forced　us　far　into　the　clammy　bosom　of　Martian　sea。　　Again　we　came　up；　coughing　and　chokingI　tugging　furiously　at　that　tangled　raiment；　and　the　lady；　a　mere　lump　of　sweetness　in　my　other　arm　then　down　again　with　that　log　upon　me　and　all　the　noises　of　Eblis　in　my　ears。　　Up　and　down　we　went；　over　and　over；　till　strength　was　spent　and　my　ribs　seemed　breaking；　then；　with　a　last　desperate　effort；　I　got　a　knee　against　the　stem；　and　by　sheer　strength　freed　my　princessthe　spiteful　timber　made　a　last　ugly　thrust　at　us　as　it　rolled　awayand　we　were　free！

I　turned　upon　my　back；　and；　sure　of　rescue　now；　took　the　lady's　head　upon　my　chest；　holding　her　sweet；　white　fists　in　mine　the　while；　and；　floating；　waited　for　help。

It　came　only　too　quickly。　　The　gallant　Martians；　when　they　saw　the　princess　saved；　came　swiftly　down　upon　us。　Over　the　lapping　of　the　water　in　my　ears　I　heard　their　sigh…　like　cries　of　admiration　and　surprise；　the　rattle　of　spray　on　the　canoe　sides　mingled　with　the　splash　of　oars；　the　flitting　shadows　of　their　prows　were　all　about　us；　and　in　less　time　than　it　takes　to　write　we　were　hauled　aboard；　revived；　and　taken　to　Hath's　barge。　　Again　the　prince's　lips　were　on　my　fingertips；　again　the　flutes　and　music　struck　up；　and　as　I　squeezed　the　water　out　of　my　hair；　and　tried　to　keep　my　eyes　off　the　outline　of　Heru；　whose　loveliness　shone　through　her　damp；　clinging；　pink　robe；　as　if　that　robe　were　but　a　gauzy　fancy；　I　vaguely　heard　Hath　saying　wondrous　things　of　my　gallantry；　and；　what　was　more　to　the　purpose；　asking　me　to　come　with　him　and　stay　that　night　at　the　palace。




CHAPTER　IV

They　lodged　me　like　a　prince　in　a　tributary　country　that　first　night。　　I　was　tired。　　'Twas　a　stiff　stage　I　had　come　the　day　before；　and　they　gave　me　a　couch　whose　ethereal　softness　seemed　to　close　like　the　wings　of　a　bird　as　I　plunged　at　its　touch　into　fathomless　slumbers。　　But　the　next　day　had　hardly　broken　when　I　was　awake；　and；　stretching　my　limbs　upon　the　piled　silk　of　a　legless　bed　upon　the　floor；　found　myself　in　a　great　chamber　with　a　purple　tapestry　across　the　entrance；　and　a　square　arch　leading　to　a　flat　terrace　outside。

It　was　a　glorious　daybreak；　making　my　heart　light　within　me；　the　air　like　new　milk；　and　the　colours　of　the　sunrise　lay　purple　and　yellow　in　bars　across　my　room。　　I　yawned　and　stretched；　then　rising；　wrapped　a　silken　quilt　about　me　and　went　out　into　the　flat　terrace　top；　wherefrom　all　the　city　could　be　seen　stretched　in　an　ivory　and　emerald　patchwork；　with　open；　blue　water　on　one　side；　and　the　Martian　plain　trending　away　in　illimitable　distance　upon　the　other。

Directly　underneath　in　the　great　square　at　the　bottom　of　Hath's　palace　steps　were　gathered　a　concourse　of　people；　brilliant　in　many…coloured　dresses。　　They　were　sitting　or　lying　about　just　as　they　might　for　all　I　knew　have　done　through　the　warm　night；　without　much　order；　save　that　where　the　black　streaks　of　inlaid　stone　marked　a　carriage…　way　across　the　square　none　were　stationed。　　While　I　won…　dered　what　would　bring　so　many　together　thus　early；　there　came　a　sound　of　flutesfor　these　people　can　do　nothing　without　piping　like　finches　in　a　thicket　in　Mayand　from　the　storehouses　half…way　over　to　the　harbour　there　streamed　a　line　of　carts　piled　high　with　provender。　　Down　came　the　teams　attended　by　their　slaves；　circling　and　wheeling　into　the　open　place；　and　as　they　passed　each　group　those　lazy；　lolling　beggars　crowded　round　and　took　the　dole　they　were　too　thriftless　to　earn　themselves。　　It　was　strange　to　see　how　listless　they　were　about　the　meal；　even　though　Provi…　dence　itself　put　it　into　their　hands；　to　note　how　the　yellow…girted　slaves　scudded　amongst　them；　serving　out　the　loaves；　themselves　had　grown；　harvested；　and　baked；　slipping　from　group　to　group；　rousing；　exhorting；　admin…　istering　to　a　helpless　throng　that　took　their　efforts　without　thought　or　thanks。

I　stood　there　a　long　time；　one　foot　upon　the　coping　and　my　chin　upon　my　hand；　noting　the　beauty　of　the　ruined　town　and　wondering　how　such　a　feeble　race　as　that　which　lay　about；　breakfasting　in　the　limpid　sunshine；　could　have　come　by　a　city　like　this；　or　kept　even　the　ruins　of　its　walls　and　buildings　from　the　covetousness　of　others；　until　presently　there　was　a　rustle　of　primrose　garments　and　my　friend　of　the　day　before　stood　by　me。

〃Are　you　rested；　traveller？〃　she　questioned　in　that　pretty　voice　of　hers。

〃Rested　ambrosially；　An。〃

〃It　is　well；　I　will　tell　the　Government　and　it　will　come　up　to　wash　and　dress　you；　afterwards　giving　you　breakfast。〃

〃For　the　breakfast；　damsel；　I　shall　be　grateful；　but　as　for　the　washing　and　dressing　I　will　defend　myself　to　the　last　gasp　sooner　than　submit　to　such　administration。〃

〃How　strange！　　Do　you　never　wash　in　your　country？〃

〃Yes；　but　it　is　a　matter　left　largely　to　our　own　discretion；　so；　my　dear　girl；　if　you　will　leave　me　for　a　minute　or　two　in　quest　of　that　meal　you　have　mentioned；　I　will　guarantee　to　be　ready　when　it　comes。〃

Away　she　slipped；　with　a　shrug　of　her　rosy　shoulders；　to　return　presently；　carrying　a　tray　covered　with　a　white　cloth；　whereon　were　half　a　dozen　glittering　covers　whence　came　most　fragrant　odours　of　cooked　things。

〃Why；　comrade；〃　I　said；　sitting　down　and　lifting　lid　by　lid；　for　the　cold；　sweet　air　outside　had　made　me　hungry；　〃this　is　better　than　was　hoped　for；　I　thought　from　what　I　saw　down　yonder　I　should　have　to　trot　behind　a　tumbril　for　my　breakfast；　and　eat　it　on　my　heels　amongst　your　sleepy　friends　below。〃

An　replied；　〃The　stranger　is　a　prince；　we　take　it；　in　his　own　country；　and　princes　fare　not　quite　like　common　people；　even　here。〃

〃So；〃　I　said；　my　mouth　full　of　a　strange；　unknown　fish；　and　a　cake　soft　as　milk　and　white　as　cotton　in　the　pod。　〃Now　that　makes　me　feel　at　home！〃

〃Would　you　have　had　it　otherwise　with　us？〃

〃No！　now　I　come　to　think　of　it；　it　is　most　natural　things　should　be　much　alike　in　all　the　corners　of　the　universe；　the　splendid　simplicity　that　rules　the　spheres；　works　much　the　same；　no　doubt；　upon　one　side　of　the　sun　as　upon　the　other。　　Yet；　somehowyou　can　hardly　wonder　at　ityes…　terday　I　looked　to　find　your　world；　when　I　realised　where　I　had　tumbled　to；　a　world　of　djin　and　giants；　of　mad　possibilities　over　realised；　and　here　I　see　you　dwellers　by　the　utterly　remote　little　more　marvellous　than　if　I　had　come　amongst　you　on　the　introduction　of　a　cheap　tourist　ticket；　and　round　some　neglected　corner　of　my　own　distant　world！〃

〃I　hardly　follow　your　meaning；　sir。〃

〃No；　no；　of　course　you　cannot。　　I　was　forgetting　you　did　not　know！　　There；　pass　me　the　stuff　on　yonder　platter　that　looks　like　caked　mud　from　an　anchor　fluke；　and　swells　like　breath　of　paradise；　and　let　me　question　you；〃　and　while　I　sat　and　drank　with　that　yellow　servitor　sitting　in　front　of　me；　I　plied　her　with　questions；　just　as　a　baby　might　who　had　come　into　the　world　with　a　full…blown　gift　of　speech。　But　though　she　was　ready　and　willing　enough　to　answer；　and　laughed　gaily　at　my　quaint　ignorance　of　simple　things；　yet　there　was　little　wat