the surprising adventures of baron munchausen-第6节
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dventures may not prove unentertaining。
After we had resided at Ceylon about a fortnight I accompanied one of the governor's brothers upon a shooting party。 He was a strong； athletic man； and being used to that climate （for he had resided there some years）； he bore the violent heat of the sun much better than I could； in our excursion he had made a considerable progress through a thick wood when I was only at the entrance。
Near the banks of a large piece of water； which had engaged my attention； I thought I heard a rustling noise behind； on turning about I was almost petrified （as who would not be？） at the sight of a lion； which was evidently approaching with the intention of satisfying his appetite with my poor carcase； and that without asking my consent。 What was to be done in this horrible dilemma？ I had not even a moment for reflection； my piece was only charged with swan…shot； and I had no other about me： however； though I could have no idea of killing such an animal with that weak kind of ammunition； yet I had some hopes of frightening him by the report； and perhaps of wounding him also。 I immediately let fly； without waiting till he was within reach； and the report did but enrage him； for he now quickened his pace； and seemed to approach me full speed： I attempted to escape； but that only added （if an addition could be made） to my distress； for the moment I turned about I found a large crocodile； with his mouth extended almost ready to receive me。 On my right hand was the piece of water before mentioned； and on my left a deep precipice； said to have； as I have since learned； a receptacle at the bottom for venomous creatures； in short I gave myself up as lost； for the lion was now upon his hind… legs； just in the act of seizing me； I fell involuntarily to the ground with fear； and； as it afterwards appeared； he sprang over me。 I lay some time in a situation which no language can describe； expecting to feel his teeth or talons in some part of me every moment： after waiting in this prostrate situation a few seconds I heard a violent but unusual noise； different from any sound that had ever before assailed my ears； nor is it at all to be wondered at； when I inform you from whence it proceeded： after listening for some time； I ventured to raise my head and look round； when； to my unspeakable joy； I perceived the lion had； by the eagerness with which he sprung at me； jumped forward； as I fell； into the crocodile's mouth！ which； as before observed； was wide open； the head of the one stuck in the throat of the other！ and they were struggling to extricate themselves！ I fortunately recollected my /couteau de chasse/； which was by my side； with this instrument I severed the lion's head at one blow； and the body fell at my feet！ I then； with the butt…end of my fowling… piece； rammed the head farther into the throat of the crocodile； and destroyed him by suffocation； for he could neither gorge nor eject it。
Soon after I had thus gained a complete victory over my two powerful adversaries； my companion arrived in search of me； for finding I did not follow him into the wood； he returned； apprehending I had lost my way； or met with some accident。
After mutual congratulations； we measured the crocodile； which was just forty feet in length。
As soon as we had related this extraordinary adventure to the governor； he sent a waggon and servants； who brought home the two carcases。 The lion's skin was properly preserved； with its hair on； after which it was made into tobacco…pouches； and presented by me； upon our return to Holland； to the burgomasters； who； in return； requested my acceptance of a thousand ducats。
The skin of the crocodile was stuffed in the usual manner； and makes a capital article in their public museum at Amsterdam； where the exhibitor relates the whole story to each spectator； with such additions as he thinks proper。 Some of his variations are rather extravagant； one of them is； that the lion jumped quite through the crocodile； and was making his escape at the back door； when； as soon as his head appeared； Monsieur the Great Baron （as he is pleased to call me） cut it off； and three feet of the crocodile's tail along with it； nay； so little attention has this fellow to the truth； that he sometimes adds； as soon as the crocodile missed his tail； he turned about； snatched the /couteau de chasse/ out of Monsieur's hand； and swallowed it with such eagerness that it pierced his heart and killed him immediately！
The little regard which this impudent knave has to veracity makes me sometimes apprehensive that my /real facts/ may fall under suspicion； by being found in company with his confounded inventions。
CHAPTER II
/In which the Baron proves himself a good shotHe loses his horse； and finds a wolfMakes him draw his sledgePromises to entertain his company with a relation of such facts as are well deserving their notice。/
I set off from Rome on a journey to Russia； in the midst of winter； from a just notion that frost and snow must of course mend the roads； which every traveller had described as uncommonly bad through the northern parts of Germany； Poland； Courland； and Livonia。 I went on horseback； as the most convenient manner of travelling； I was but lightly clothed； and of this I felt the inconvenience the more I advanced north…east。 What must not a poor old man have suffered in that severe weather and climate； whom I saw on a bleak common in Poland； lying on the road； helpless； shivering； and hardly having wherewithal to cover his nakedness？ I pitied the poor soul： though I felt the severity of the air myself； I threw my mantle over him； and immediately I heard a voice from the heavens； blessing me for that piece of charity； saying
〃You will be rewarded； my son； for this in time。〃
I went on： night and darkness overtook me。 No village was to be seen。 The country was covered with snow； and I was unacquainted with the road。
Tired； I alighted； and fastened my horse to something like a pointed stump of a tree； which appeared above the snow； for the sake of safety I placed my pistols under my arm； and laid down on the snow； where I slept so soundly that I did not open my eyes till full daylight。 It is not easy to conceive my astonishment to find myself in the midst of a village； lying in a churchyard； nor was my horse to be seen； but I heard him soon after neigh somewhere above me。 On looking upwards I beheld him hanging by his bridle to the weather…cock of the steeple。 Matters were now very plain to me： the village had been covered with snow overnight； a sudden change of weather had taken place； I had sunk down to the churchyard whilst asleep； gently； and in the same proportion as the snow had melted away； and what in the dark I had taken to be a stump of a little tree appearing above the snow； to which I had tied my horse； proved to have been the cross or weather… cock of the steeple！
Without long consideration I took one of my pistols； shot the bridle in two； brought the horse； and proceeded on my journey。 ＇Here the Baron seems to have forgot his feelings； he should certainly have ordered his horse a feed of corn； after fasting so long。＇
He carried me welladvancing into the interior parts of Russia。 I found travelling on horseback rather unfashionable in winter； therefore I submitted； as I always do； to the custom of the country； took a single horse sledge； and drove briskly towards St。 Petersburg。 I do not exactly recollect whether it was in Eastland or Jugemanland； but I remember that in the midst of a dreary forest I spied a terrible wolf making after me； with all the speed of ravenous winter hunger。 He soon overtook me。 There was no possibility of escape。 Mechanically I laid myself down flat in the sledge； and let my horse run for our safety。 What I wished； but hardly hoped or expected； happened immediately after。 The wolf did not mind me in the least； but took a leap over me； and falling furiously on the horse； began instantly to tear and devour the hind…part of the poor animal； which ran the faster for his pain and terror。 Thus unnoticed and safe myself； I lifted my head slyly up； and with horror I beheld that the wolf had ate his way into the horse's body； it was not long before he had fairly forced himself into it； when I took my advantage； and fell upon him with the butt…end of my whip。 This unexpected attack in his rear frightened him so much； that he leaped forward with all his might： the horse's carcase dropped on the ground； but in his place the wolf was in the harness； and I on my part whipping him continually： we both arrived in full career safe at St。 Petersburg； contrary to our respective expectations； and very much to the astonishment of the spectators。
I shall not tire you； gentlemen； with the politics； arts； sciences； and history of this magnificent metropolis of Russia； nor trouble you with the various intrigues and pleasant adventures I had in the politer circles of that country； where the lady of the house always receives the visitor with a dram and a salute。 I shall confine myself rather to the greater and nobler objects of your attention； horses and dogs； my favourites in the brute creation； also to foxes； wolves； and bears； with
