the surprising adventures of baron munchausen-第18节
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aws。 From hence I travelled up to St。 Petersburg a second time： here an old friend gave me a most excellent pointer； descended from the famous bitch before…mentioned； that littered while she was hunting a hare。 I had the misfortune to have him shot soon after by a blundering sportsman； who fired at him instead of a covey of partridges which he had just set。 Of this creature's skin I have had this waistcoat made （showing his waistcoat）； which always leads me involuntarily to game if I walk in the fields in the proper season； and when I come within shot； /one of the buttons constantly flies off； and lodges upon the spot where the sport is/； and as the birds rise； being always primed and cocked； I never miss them。 Here are now but three buttons left。 I shall have a new set sewed on against the shooting season commences。
When a covey of partridges is disturbed in this manner； by the button falling amongst them； they always rise from the ground in a direct line before each other。 I one day； by forgetting to take my ramrod out of my gun； shot it straight through a leash； as regularly as if the cook had spitted them。 I had forgot to put in any shot； and the rod had been made so hot with the powder； that the birds were completely roasted by the time I reached home。
Since my arrival in England I have accomplished what I had very much at heart； viz。； providing for the inhabitant of the Cheese Island； whom I had brought with me。 My old friend； Sir William Chambers； who is entirely indebted to me for all his ideas of Chinese gardening； by a description of which he has gained such high reputation； I say； gentlemen； in a discourse which I had with this gentlemen； he seemed much distressed for a contrivance to light the lamps at the new buildings； Somerset House； the common mode with ladders； he observed； was both dirty and inconvenient。 My native of the Cheese Island popped into my head； he was only nine feet high when I first brought him from his own country； but was now increased to ten and a half： I introduced him to Sir William； and he is appointed to that honourable office。 He is also to carry； under a large cloak； a utensil in each coat pocket； instead of those four which Sir William has /very properly/ fixed for private purposes in so conspicuous a situation； the great quadrangle。
He has also obtained from Mr。 PITT the situation of messenger to his Majesty's lords of the bed…chamber； whose principal employment will /now/ be； divulging the secrets of the Royal household to their /worthy/ Patron。
SUPPLEMENT
/Extraordinary flight on the back of an eagle； over France to Gibraltar； South and North America； the Polar Regions； and back to England； within six…and…thirty hours。/
About the beginning of his present Majesty's reign I had some business with a distant relation who then lived on the Isle of Thanet； it was a family dispute； and not likely to be finished soon。 I made it a practice during my residence there； the weather being fine； to walk out every morning。 After a few of these excursions I observed an object upon a great eminence about three miles distant： I extended my walk to it； and found the ruins of an ancient temple： I approached it with admiration and astonishment； the traces of grandeur and magnificence which yet remained were evident proofs of its former splendour： here I could not help lamenting the ravages and devastations of time； of which that once noble structure exhibited such a melancholy proof。 I walked round it several times； meditating on the fleeting and transitory nature of all terrestrial things； on the eastern end were the remains of a lofty tower； near forty feet high； overgrown with ivy； the top apparently flat； I surveyed it on every side very minutely； thinking that if I could gain its summit I should enjoy the most delightful prospect of the circumjacent country。 Animated with this hope； I resolved； if possible； to gain the summit； which I at length effected by means of the ivy； though not without great difficulty and danger； the top I found covered with this evergreen； except a large chasm in the middle。 After I had surveyed with pleasing wonder the beauties of art and nature that conspired to enrich the scene； curiosity prompted me to sound the opening in the middle； in order to ascertain its depth； as I entertained a suspicion that it might probably communicate with some unexplored subterranean cavern in the hill； but having no line I was at a loss how to proceed。 After revolving the matter in my thoughts for some time； I resolved to drop a stone down and listen to the echo： having found one that answered my purpose I placed myself over the hole； with one foot on each side； and stooping down to listen； I dropped the stone； which I had no sooner done than I heard a rustling below； and suddenly a monstrous eagle put up its head right opposite my face； and rising up with irresistible force； carried me away seated on its shoulders： I instantly grasped it round the neck； which was large enough to fill my arms； and its wings； when extended； were ten yards from one extremity to the other。 As it rose with a regular ascent； my seat was perfectly easy； and I enjoyed the prospect below with inexpressible pleasure。 It hovered over Margate for some time； was seen by several people； and many shots were fired at it； one ball hit the heel of my shoe； but did me no injury。 It then directed its course to Dover cliff； where it alighted； and I thought of dismounting； but was prevented by a sudden discharge of musketry from a party of marines that were exercising on the beach； the balls flew about my head； and rattled on the feathers of the eagle like hail…stones； yet I could not perceive it had received any injury。 It instantly reascended and flew over the sea towards Calais； but so very high that the Channel seemed to be no broader than the Thames at London Bridge。 In a quarter of an hour I found myself over a thick wood in France； where the eagle descended very rapidly； which caused me to slip down to the back part of its head； but alighting on a large tree； and raising its head； I recovered my seat as before； but saw no possibility of disengaging myself without the danger of being killed by the fall； so I determined to sit fast； thinking it would carry me to the Alps； or some other high mountain； where I could dismount without any danger。 After resting a few minutes it took wing； flew several times round the wood； and screamed loud enough to be heard across the English Channel。 In a few minutes one of the same species arose out of the wood； and flew directly towards us； it surveyed me with evident marks of displeasure； and came very near me。 After flying several times round； they both directed their course to the south…west。 I soon observed that the one I rode upon could not keep pace with the other； but inclined towards the earth； on account of my weight； its companion perceiving this； turned round and placed itself in such a position that the other could rest its head on its rump； in this manner they proceeded till noon； when I saw the rock of Gibraltar very distinctly。 The day being clear； notwithstanding my degree of elevation； the earth's surface appeared just like a map； where land； sea； lakes； rivers； mountains； and the like were perfectly distinguishable； and having some knowledge of geography； I was at no loss to determine what part of the globe I was in。
Whilst I was contemplating this wonderful prospect a dreadful howling suddenly began all around me； and in a moment I was invested by thousands of small； black； deformed； frightful looking creatures； who pressed me on all sides in such a manner that I could neither move hand or foot： but I had not been in their possession more than ten minutes when I heard the most delightful music that can possibly be imagined； which was suddenly changed into a noise the most awful and tremendous； to which the report of cannon； or the loudest claps of thunder could bear no more proportion than the gentle zephyrs of the evening to the most dreadful hurricane； but the shortness of its duration prevented all those fatal effects which a prolongation of it would certainly have been attended with。
The music commenced； and I saw a great number of the most beautiful little creatures seize the other party； and throw them with great violence into something like a snuff…box； which they shut down； and one threw it away with incredible velocity； then turning to me； he said they whom he had secured were a party of devils； who had wandered from their proper habitation； and that the vehicle in which they were enclosed would fly with unabating rapidity for ten thousand years； when it would burst of its own accord； and the devils would recover their liberty and faculties； as at the present moment。 He had no sooner finished this relation than the music ceased； and they all disappeared； leaving me in a state of mind bordering on the confines of despair。
When I had recomposed myself a little； and looking before me with inexpressible pleasure； I observed that the eagles were preparing to light on the peak of Teneriffe： they descended on the top of the rock； but seeing no possible means of escape if I dismounted determined me to remain where I
