gulliver of mars-第25节
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us gold and crimson glimmers of morningwere as steep as a wall face； only back towards the falls was there a possibility of getting out of the dreadful trap； so thither I went； after a last look at the poor old king； along my narrow beach with all the eagerness begotten of a final chance。 Up to the very brink it looked hopeless enough； but； looking downwards when that was reached； instead of a sheer drop the slope seemed to be a wild 〃staircase〃 of rocks and icy ledges with here and there a little patch of sand on a cornice； and far below； five hundred feet or so； a good big spread of gravel an acre or two in extent close by where the river plunged out of sight into the nethermost cavern mouth。
It was so hopeless up above it； it could not possibly be worse further down； and there was the ugly black flood running into the hole to trust myself to as a last resource； so slipping and sliding I began the descent。
Had I been a schoolboy with a good breakfast ahead the incident might have been amusing enough。 The travel… ling was mostly done on the seat of my trousers； which consequently became caked with mud and glacial loam。 Some was accomplished on hands and knees； with now and then a bit down a snow slope； in good； honest head…over… heels fashion。 The result was a fine appetite for the next meal when it should please providence to send it； and an abrupt arrival on the bottom beach about five minutes after leaving the upper circles。
I came to behind a cluster of breast…high rocks； and before moving took a look round。 Judge then of my as… tonishment and delight at the second glance to perceive about a hundred yards away a brown object； looking like an ape in the half light； meandering slowly up the margin of the water towards me。 Every now and then it stopped； stooping down to pick up something or other from the scum along the torrent； and it was the fact that these trifles； whatever they were； were put into a wallet by the vision's sidenot into his mouthwhich first made me understand with a joyful thrill that it was a MAN before mea real； living man in this huge chamber of dead horrors！ Then again it flashed across my mind in a luminous moment that where one man could come； or go； or live； another could do likewise； and never did cat watch mouse with more con… centrated eagerness than I that quaint； bent…shouldered thing hobbling about in the blue morning shadows where all else was silence。
Nearer and nearer he came； till so close face and garb were discernible； and then there could no longer be any doubt； it was a woodman； an old man； with grizzled monkey…face； stooping gait； and a shaggy fur cloak； utterly unlike the airy garments of my Hither folk； who now stood before me。 It gave me quite a start to recognise him there； for it showed I was in a new land； and since he was going so cheerfully about his business； whatever it might chance to be； there must be some way out of this accursed pit in which I had fallen。 So very cautiously I edged out； taking advantage of all the cover possible until we were only twenty yards apart； and then suddenly standing up； and putting on the most affable smile； I called out
〃Hullo； mess…mate！〃
The effect was electrical。 That quaint old fellow sprang a yard into air as though a spring had shot him up。 Then； coming down； he stood transfixed at his full height as stiff as a ramrod； staring at me with incredible wonder。 He looked so funny that in spite of hunger and loneliness I burst out laughing； whereat the woodman； suddenly recovering his senses； turned on his heels and set off at his best pace in the opposite direction。 This would never do！ I wanted him to be my guide； philosopher； and friend。 He was my sole visible link with the outside world； so after him I went at tip…top speed； and catching him up in fifty yards along the shingle laid hold of his nether garments。 Whereat the old fellow stopping suddenly I shot clean over his back； coming down on my shoulder in the gravel。
But I was much younger than he； and in a minute was in chase again。 This time I laid hold of his cloak； and the moment he felt my grip he slipped the neck…thongs and left me with only the mangy garment in my hands。 Again we set off； dodging and scampering with all our might upon that frozen bit of beach。 The activity of that old fellow was marvellous； but I could not and would not lose him。 I made a rush and grappled him； but he tossed his head round and slipped away once more under my arm； as though he had been brought up by a Chinese wrestler。 Then he got on one side of a flat rock； I the other； and for three or four minutes we waltzed round that slab in the most insane manner。
But by this time we were both pretty well spenthe with age and I with faintness from my long fast； and we came presently to a standstill。
After glaring at me for a time； the woodman gasped out as he struggled for breath
〃Oh； mighty and dreadful spirit！ Oh； dweller in pri… mordial ice； say from which niche of the cliffs has the breath of chance thawed you？〃
〃Never a niche at all； Mr。 Hunter…for…Haddocks'…Eyes；〃 I answered as soon as I could speak。 〃I am just a castaway wrecked last night on this shore of yours； and very grateful indeed will I be if you can show me the way to some breakfast first； and afterwards to the outside world。〃
But the old fellow would not believe。 〃Spirits such as you；〃 he said sullenly； 〃need no food； and go whither they will by wish alone。〃
〃I tell you I am not a spirit； and as hungry as I don't particularly want to be again。 Here； look at the back of my trousers； caked three inches deep in mud。 If I were a spirit； do you think I would slide about on my coat…tails like that？ Do you think that if I could travel by volition I would slip down these infernal cliffs on my pants' seat as I have just done？ And as for materialismlook at this fist； it punched you just now！ Surely there was nothing spiritual in that knock？''
〃No；〃 said the savage； rubbing his head； 〃it was a good； honest rap； so I must take you at your word。 If you are indeed man； and hungry； it will be a charity to feed you； if you are a spirit； it will at least be interesting to watch you eat； so sit down； and let's see what I have in my wallet。〃
So cross…legged we squatted opposite each other on the table rock； and； feeling like another Sindbad the Sailor； I watched my new friend fumble in his bag and lay out at his side all sorts of odds and ends of string； fish…hooks； chew… ing…gum； material for making a fire； and so on； until at last he came to a package （done up； I noted with delight； in a broad； green leaf which had certainly been growing that morning）； and unrolling it； displayed a lump of dried meat； a few biscuits； much thicker and heavier than the honey… cakes of the Hither folk； and something that looked and smelt like strong； white cheese。
He signed to me to eat； and you may depend upon it I was not slow in accepting the invitation。 That tough biltong tasted to me like the tenderest steak that ever came from a grill； the biscuits were ambrosial； the cheese melted in my mouth as butter melts in that of the virtuous； but when the old man finished the quaint picnic by inviting me to accompany him down to the waterside for a drink； I shook my head。 I had a great respect for dead queens and kings； I said； but there were too many of them up above to make me thirsty this morning； my respect did not go to making me desire to imbibe them in solution！
Afterwards I chanced to ask him what he had been pick… ing up just now along the margin； and after looking at me suspiciously for a minute he asked
〃You are not a thief？〃 On being reassured on that point he continued： 〃And you will not attempt to rob me of the harvest for which I venture into this ghost…haunted glen； which you and I alone of living men have seen？〃
〃No。〃 Whatever they were； I said； I would respect his earnings。
〃Very well； then；〃 said the old man； 〃look here！ I come hither to pick up those pretty trifles which yonder lords and ladies have done with；〃 and plunging his hand into an… other bag he brought out a perfect fistful 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
