men of iron(ÌúÈË)-µÚ25ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
and¡¡coarser£»¡¡grosser¡¡songs¡¡with¡¡roars¡¡of¡¡boisterous¡¡laughter¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Yet¡¡¡¡¡¡bleak¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡dreary¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡winter¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡those¡¡¡¡¡¡days£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡cold¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
biting¡¡as¡¡was¡¡the¡¡frost¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cheerless£»¡¡windy¡¡halls¡¡and¡¡corridors¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
castle£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡without¡¡its¡¡joys¡¡to¡¡the¡¡young¡¡lads£»¡¡for¡¡then£»¡¡as¡¡now£»¡¡boys¡¡
could¡¡find¡¡pleasure¡¡even¡¡in¡¡slushy¡¡weather£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡sodden¡¡snow¡¡is¡¡fit¡¡
for¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡to¡¡make¡¡snowballs¡¡of¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Thrice¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡bitter¡¡¡¡winter¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡moat¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡frozen¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡over£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡lads£»¡¡
making¡¡themselves¡¡skates¡¡of¡¡marrow¡bones£»¡¡which¡¡they¡¡bought¡¡from¡¡the¡¡
hall¡¡cook¡¡at¡¡a¡¡groat¡¡a¡¡pair£»¡¡went¡¡skimming¡¡over¡¡the¡¡smooth¡¡surface£»¡¡red¡¡¡
checked¡¡and¡¡shouting£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡crows¡¡and¡¡the¡¡jackdaws¡¡looked¡¡down¡¡at¡¡
them¡¡from¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bleak¡¡gray¡¡walls¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡Yule¡tide£»¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡somewhat¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡rude¡¡¡¡¡¡semblance¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
Merry¡¡Christmas¡¡season¡¡of¡¡our¡¡day£»¡¡a¡¡great¡¡feast¡¡was¡¡held¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hall£»¡¡and¡¡
all¡¡the¡¡castle¡¡folk¡¡were¡¡fed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Earl¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Countess¡£¡¡
Oxen¡¡and¡¡sheep¡¡were¡¡roasted¡¡whole£»¡¡huge¡¡suet¡¡puddings£»¡¡made¡¡of¡¡barley¡¡
meal¡¡sweetened¡¡with¡¡honey¡¡and¡¡stuffed¡¡with¡¡plums£»¡¡were¡¡boiled¡¡in¡¡great¡¡
caldrons¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡open¡¡¡¡¡¡courtyard£»¡¡¡¡¡¡whole¡¡¡¡¡¡barrels¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡ale¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡malmsey¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡
broached£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡folk£»¡¡¡¡¡¡gentle¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡simple£»¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡bidden¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡feast¡£¡¡
Afterwards¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡minstrels¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡danced¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡played¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡rude¡¡¡¡¡¡play£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡the¡¡
evening¡¡a¡¡miracle¡¡show¡¡was¡¡performed¡¡on¡¡a¡¡raised¡¡platform¡¡in¡¡the¡¡north¡¡
hall¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡a¡¡week¡¡afterwards¡¡the¡¡castle¡¡was¡¡fed¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡remains¡¡of¡¡the¡¡good¡¡
things¡¡left¡¡from¡¡that¡¡great¡¡feast£»¡¡until¡¡everyone¡¡grew¡¡to¡¡loathe¡¡fine¡¡victuals£»¡¡
and¡¡longed¡¡for¡¡honest¡¡beef¡¡and¡¡mustard¡¡again¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then¡¡at¡¡last¡¡in¡¡that¡¡constant¡¡change¡¡the¡¡winter¡¡was¡¡gone£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡the¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡85¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡86¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡MEN¡¡OF¡¡IRON¡¡
lads¡¡who¡¡had¡¡enjoyed¡¡its¡¡passing¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡glad¡¡when¡¡the¡¡winds¡¡blew¡¡¡¡warm¡¡
once¡¡more£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡grass¡¡showed¡¡green¡¡in¡¡sunny¡¡places£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡leader¡¡of¡¡
the¡¡wild¡fowl¡¡blew¡¡his¡¡horn£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡who¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fall¡¡had¡¡flown¡¡to¡¡the¡¡south¡¡
flew£»¡¡arrow¡like£»¡¡northward¡¡again£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡buds¡¡swelled¡¡and¡¡the¡¡leaves¡¡
burst¡¡¡¡¡¡forth¡¡¡¡¡¡once¡¡¡¡¡¡more£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡crocuses¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡then¡¡¡¡¡¡daffodils¡¡¡¡¡¡gleamed¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
green¡¡grass£»¡¡like¡¡sparks¡¡and¡¡flames¡¡of¡¡gold¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡With¡¡the¡¡spring¡¡came¡¡the¡¡out¡door¡¡sports¡¡of¡¡the¡¡season£»¡¡among¡¡others¡¡
that¡¡of¡¡ballfor¡¡boys¡¡were¡¡boys£»¡¡and¡¡played¡¡at¡¡ball¡¡even¡¡in¡¡those¡¡faraway¡¡
daysa¡¡¡¡¡¡game¡¡¡¡¡¡called¡¡¡¡¡¡trap¡ball¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Even¡¡¡¡¡¡yet¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡parts¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡England¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡
played¡¡just¡¡as¡¡it¡¡was¡¡in¡¡Myles¡¡Falworth's¡¡day£»¡¡and¡¡enjoyed¡¡just¡¡as¡¡Myles¡¡
and¡¡his¡¡friends¡¡enjoyed¡¡it¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡So¡¡now¡¡that¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡was¡¡warm¡¡and¡¡the¡¡weather¡¡pleasant¡¡the¡¡game¡¡of¡¡
trap¡ball¡¡was¡¡in¡¡full¡¡swing¡¡every¡¡afternoon£»¡¡the¡¡play¡ground¡¡being¡¡an¡¡open¡¡
space¡¡between¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡that¡¡surrounded¡¡the¡¡castle¡¡grounds¡¡and¡¡that¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
privy¡¡gardenthe¡¡pleasance¡¡in¡¡which¡¡the¡¡ladies¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Earl's¡¡family¡¡took¡¡
the¡¡air¡¡every¡¡day£»¡¡and¡¡upon¡¡which¡¡their¡¡apartments¡¡opened¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Now¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡fine¡¡¡¡¡¡breezy¡¡¡¡¡¡afternoon£»¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡lads¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡shouting¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
playing¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡this£»¡¡¡¡¡¡then¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡¡¡favorite¡¡¡¡¡¡game£»¡¡¡¡¡¡Myles¡¡¡¡¡¡himself¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡trap¡¡
barehanded¡¡and¡¡barearmed¡£¡¡The¡¡wind¡¡was¡¡blowing¡¡from¡¡behind¡¡him£»¡¡and£»¡¡
aided¡¡perhaps¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡it£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡already¡¡¡¡struck¡¡¡¡¡¡three¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡four¡¡¡¡¡¡balls¡¡¡¡¡¡nearly¡¡¡¡the¡¡
whole¡¡¡¡¡¡length¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡courtan¡¡¡¡¡¡unusual¡¡¡¡¡¡distance¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡several¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡lads¡¡
had¡¡gone¡¡back¡¡almost¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡of¡¡the¡¡privy¡¡garden¡¡to¡¡catch¡¡any¡¡
ball¡¡that¡¡might¡¡chance¡¡to¡¡fly¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡that¡£¡¡Then¡¡once¡¡more¡¡Myles¡¡struck£»¡¡
throwing¡¡all¡¡his¡¡strength¡¡into¡¡the¡¡blow¡£¡¡The¡¡ball¡¡shot¡¡up¡¡into¡¡the¡¡air£»¡¡and¡¡
when¡¡it¡¡fell£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡to¡¡drop¡¡within¡¡the¡¡privy¡¡garden¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡shouts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡young¡¡players¡¡were¡¡instantly¡¡stilled£»¡¡and¡¡Gascoyne£»¡¡
who¡¡stood¡¡nearest¡¡Myles£»¡¡thrust¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡into¡¡his¡¡belt£»¡¡giving¡¡a¡¡long¡¡shrill¡¡
whistle¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨This¡¡time¡¡thou¡¡hast¡¡struck¡¡us¡¡all¡¡out£»¡¡Myles£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡he¡£¡¡¡¨There¡¡be¡¡no¡¡
more¡¡play¡¡for¡¡us¡¡until¡¡we¡¡get¡¡another¡¡ball¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡outfielders¡¡came¡¡slowly¡¡trooping¡¡in¡¡until¡¡they¡¡had¡¡gathered¡¡in¡¡a¡¡
little¡¡circle¡¡around¡¡Myles¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡help¡¡it£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Myles£»¡¡in¡¡answer¡¡to¡¡their¡¡grumbling¡£¡¡¡¨How¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡86¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡87¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡MEN¡¡OF¡¡IRON¡¡
knew¡¡I¡¡the¡¡ball¡¡would¡¡fly¡¡so¡¡far£¿¡¡But¡¡if¡¡I¡¡ha'¡¡lost¡¡the¡¡ball£»¡¡I¡¡can¡¡get¡¡it¡¡again¡£¡¡
I¡¡will¡¡climb¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡for¡¡it¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Thou¡¡¡¡¡¡shalt¡¡¡¡¡¡do¡¡¡¡¡¡naught¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡kind£»¡¡¡¡¡¡Myles£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡Gascoyne£»¡¡¡¡¡¡hastily¡£¡¡
¡¨Thou¡¡art¡¡as¡¡mad¡¡as¡¡a¡¡March¡¡hare¡¡to¡¡think¡¡of¡¡such¡¡a¡¡venture£¡¡¡Wouldst¡¡get¡¡
thyself¡¡shot¡¡with¡¡a¡¡bolt¡¡betwixt¡¡the¡¡ribs£»¡¡like¡¡poor¡¡Diccon¡¡Cook£¿¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Of¡¡all¡¡places¡¡about¡¡the¡¡castle¡¡the¡¡privy¡¡garden¡¡was¡¡perhaps¡¡the¡¡most¡¡
sacred¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡small¡¡plot¡¡of¡¡ground£»¡¡only¡¡a¡¡few¡¡rods¡¡long¡¡and¡¡wide£»¡¡and¡¡
was¡¡¡¡¡¡kept¡¡¡¡¡¡absolutely¡¡¡¡¡¡private¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡use¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Countess¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡family¡£¡¡
Only¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡¡¡while¡¡¡¡¡¡before¡¡¡¡¡¡Myles¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡first¡¡¡¡¡¡come¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡Devlen£»¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
cook's¡¡men¡¡had¡¡been¡¡found¡¡climbing¡¡the¡¡wall£»¡¡whereupon¡¡the¡¡soldier¡¡who¡¡
saw¡¡him¡¡shot¡¡him¡¡with¡¡his¡¡cross¡¡bow¡£¡¡The¡¡poor¡¡fellow¡¡dropped¡¡from¡¡the¡¡
wall¡¡into¡¡the¡¡garden£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡they¡¡found¡¡him£»¡¡he¡¡still¡¡held¡¡a¡¡bunch¡¡of¡¡
flowers¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡hand£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡perhaps¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡gathering¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡his¡¡
sweetheart¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Had¡¡Myles¡¡seen¡¡him¡¡carried¡¡on¡¡a¡¡litter¡¡to¡¡the¡¡infirmary¡¡as¡¡Gascoyne¡¡
and¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡others¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡done£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡might¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡thought¡¡¡¡¡¡twice¡¡¡¡¡¡before¡¡
venturing¡¡to¡¡enter¡¡the¡¡ladies'¡¡private¡¡garden¡£¡¡As¡¡it¡¡was£»¡¡he¡¡only¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡
stubborn¡¡head£»¡¡and¡¡said¡¡again£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡will¡¡climb¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡and¡¡fetch¡¡it¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Now¡¡at¡¡the¡¡lower¡¡extremity¡¡of¡¡the¡¡court£»¡¡and¡¡about¡¡twelve¡¡or¡¡fifteen¡¡
feet¡¡¡¡¡¡distant¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡garden¡¡¡¡¡¡wall£»¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡¡¡¡¡grew¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡pear¡tree£»¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
branches¡¡of¡¡which¡¡overhung¡¡into¡¡the¡¡garden¡¡beyond¡£¡¡So£»¡¡first¡¡making¡¡sure¡¡
that¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡looking¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡way£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡bidding¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡others¡¡¡¡¡¡keep¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡sharp¡¡
lookout£»¡¡Myles¡¡shinned¡¡up¡¡this¡¡tree£»¡¡and¡¡choosing¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡thicker¡¡limbs£»¡¡
climbed¡¡out¡¡upon¡¡it¡¡for¡¡some¡¡little¡¡distance¡£¡¡Then¡¡lowering¡¡his¡¡body£»¡¡he¡¡
hung¡¡at¡¡arm's¡length£»¡¡the¡¡branch¡¡bending¡¡with¡¡his¡¡weight£»¡¡and¡¡slowly¡¡let¡¡
himself¡¡down¡¡hand¡¡under¡¡hand£»¡¡until¡¡at¡¡last¡¡he¡¡hung¡¡directly¡¡over¡¡the¡¡top¡¡
of¡¡the¡¡wall£»¡¡and¡¡perhaps¡¡a¡¡foot¡¡above¡¡it¡£¡¡Below¡¡him¡¡he¡¡could¡¡see¡¡the¡¡leafy¡¡
top¡¡of¡¡an¡¡arbor¡¡covered¡¡with¡¡a¡¡thick¡¡growth¡¡of¡¡clematis£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡as¡¡he¡¡
hung¡¡there¡¡he¡¡noticed¡¡the¡¡broad¡¡smooth¡¡walks£»¡¡the¡¡grassy¡¡terrace¡¡in¡¡front¡¡
of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Countess's¡¡¡¡¡¡apartments¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡distance£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡quaint¡¡¡¡¡¡flower¡beds£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
yew¡trees¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡trimmed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡into¡¡¡¡¡¡odd¡¡¡¡¡¡shapes£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡even¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡deaf¡¡¡¡¡¡old¡¡¡¡¡¡gardener¡¡
working¡¡bare¡armed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sunlight¡¡at¡¡a¡¡flower¡bed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡far¡¡corner¡¡by¡¡the¡¡
tool¡house¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡87¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡88¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡MEN¡¡OF¡¡IRON¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡top¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡wall¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡pointed¡¡¡¡¡¡like¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡house¡¡¡¡¡¡roof£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡immediately¡¡
below¡¡him¡¡was¡¡covered¡¡by¡¡a¡¡thick¡¡growth¡¡of¡¡green¡¡moss£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡flashed¡¡
through¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡mind¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡hung¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡maybe¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡offer¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡very¡¡
slippery¡¡foothold¡¡for¡¡one¡¡dropping¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡steep¡¡slopes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡top¡£¡¡But¡¡it¡¡
was¡¡too¡¡late¡¡to¡¡draw¡¡back¡¡now¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Bracing¡¡himself¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡he¡¡loosed¡¡his¡¡hold¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡limb¡¡above¡£¡¡
The¡¡branch¡¡flew¡¡back¡¡with¡¡a¡¡rush£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡dropped£»¡¡striving¡¡to¡¡grasp¡¡the¡¡
sloping¡¡¡¡¡¡angle¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡feet¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Instantly¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡treacherous¡¡¡¡¡¡slippery¡¡¡¡¡¡moss¡¡¡¡¡¡slid¡¡
away¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡beneath¡¡¡¡¡¡him£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡made¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡vain¡¡¡¡¡¡clutch¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡wall£»¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡fingers¡¡
sliding¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡cold¡¡¡¡¡¡stones£»¡¡¡¡¡¡then£»¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡sharp¡¡¡¡¡¡exclamation£»¡¡¡¡¡¡down¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡
pitched¡¡bodily¡¡into¡¡the¡¡garden¡¡beneath£¡¡¡A¡¡thousand¡¡thoughts¡¡flew¡¡through¡¡
his¡¡brain¡¡like¡¡a¡¡cloud¡¡of¡¡flies£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡a¡¡leafy¡¡greenness¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡strike¡¡