madam how and lady why(豪夫人和怀女士)-第26节
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sometimes like branches of roses or of grapes； sometimes like statues；
sometimes like delicate curtains； and I know not what other beautiful
shapes。 I have never seen them； I am sorry to say； and therefore I cannot
describe them。 But they are all made in the same way； just in the same
way as those little straight stalactites which you may have seen hanging；
like icicles； in vaulted cellars； or under the arches of a bridge。 The water
melts more lime than it can carry； and drops some of it again； making fresh
limestone grain by grain as it drips from the roof above； and fresh
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limestone again where it splashes on the floor below： till if it dripped
long enough； the stalactite hanging from above would meet the stalagmite
rising from below； and join in one straight round white graceful shaft；
which would seem （but only seem） to support the roof of the cave。 And
out of that cavethough not always out of the mouth of itwill run a
stream of water； which seems to you clear as crystal； though it is actually；
like the Itchen at Winchester； full of lime； so full of lime； that it makes
beds of fresh limestone； which are called travertinewhich you may see in
Italy； and Greece； and Asia Minor： or perhaps it petrifies； as you call it；
the weeds in its bed； like that dropping…well at Knaresborough； of which
you have often seen a picture。 And the cause is this： the water is so full
of lime； that it is forced to throw away some of it upon everything it
touches； and so incrusts with stonethough it does not turn to stone
almost anything you put in it。 You have seen； or ought to have seen；
petrified moss and birds' nests and such things from Knaresborough Well：
and now you know a little； though only a very little； of how the pretty toys
are made。
Now if you can imagine for yourself （though I suppose a little boy
cannot） the amount of lime which one of these subterranean rivers would
carry away； gnawing underground centuries after centuries； day and night；
summer and winter； then you will not be surprised at the enormous size of
caverns which may be seen in different parts of the worldbut always； I
believe； in limestone rock。 You would not be surprised （though you
would admire them） at the caverns of Adelsberg； in Carniola （in the south
of Austria； near the top of the Adriatic）； which runs； I believe； for miles in
length； and in the lakes of which； in darkness from its birth until its death；
lives that strange beast； the Proteus a sort of long newt which never comes
to perfectionI suppose for want of the genial sunlight which makes all
things grow。 But he is blind； and more； he keeps all his life the same
feathery gills which newts have when they are babies； and which we have
so often looked at through the microscope； to see the blood…globules run
round and round inside。 You would not wonder； either； at the Czirknitz
Lake； near the same place； which at certain times of the year vanishes
suddenly through chasms under water； sucking the fish down with it； and
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after a certain time boils suddenly up again from the depths； bringing back
with it the fish； who have been swimming comfortably all the time in a
subterranean lake； and bringing back； too （and； extraordinary as this story
is； there is good reason to believe it true）； live wild ducks who went down
small and unfledged； and come back full…grown and fat； with water… weeds
and small fish in their stomachs； showing they have had plenty to feed on
underground。 Butand this is the strangest part of the story； if truethey
come up unfledged just as they went down； and are moreover blind from
having been so long in darkness。 After a while； however； folks say their
eyes get right； their feathers grow； and they fly away like other birds。
Neither would you be surprised （if you recollect that Madam How is a
very old lady indeed； and that some of her work is very old likewise） at
that Mammoth Cave in Kentucky； the largest cave in the known world；
through which you may walk nearly ten miles on end； and in which a
hundred miles of gallery have been explored already； and yet no end found
to the cave。 In it （the guides will tell you） there are 〃226 avenues； 47
domes； 8 cataracts； 23 pits； and several rivers；〃 and if that fact is not very
interesting to you （as it certainly is not to me） I will tell you something
which ought to interest you： that this cave is so immensely old that
various kinds of little animals； who have settled themselves in the outer
parts of it； have had time to change their shape； and to become quite blind；
so that blind fathers and mothers have blind children； generation after
generation。
There are blind rats there； with large shining eyes which cannot see
blind landcrabs； who have the foot…stalks of their eyes （you may see them
in any crab） still left； but the eyes which should be on the top of them are
gone。 There are blind fish； too； in the cave； and blind insects； for； if they
have no use for their eyes in the dark； why should Madam How take the
trouble to finish them off？
One more cave I must tell you of； to show you how old some caves
must be； and then I must stop； and that is the cave of Caripe； in Venezuela；
which is the most northerly part of South America。 There； in the face of a
limestone cliff； crested with enormous flowering trees； and festooned with
those lovely creepers of which you have seen a few small ones in
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hothouses； there opens an arch as big as the west front of Winchester
Cathedral； and runs straight in like a cathedral nave for more than 1400
feet。 Out of it runs a stream； and along the banks of that stream； as far as
the sunlight strikes in； grow wild bananas； and palms； and lords and ladies
（as you call them）； which are not； like ours； one foot； but many feet high。
Beyond that the cave goes on； with subterranean streams； cascades； and
halls； no man yet knows how far。 A friend of mine last year went in
farther； I believe； than any one yet has gone； but； instead of taking Indian
torches made of bark and resin； or even torches made of Spanish wax；
such as a brave bishop of those parts used once when he went in farther
than any one before him； he took with him some of that beautiful
magnesium light which you have seen often here at home。 And in one
place； when he lighted up the magnesium； he found himself in a hall full
300 feet highhigher far； that is； than the dome of St。 Paul'sand a very
solemn thought it was to him； he said； that he had seen what no other
human being ever had seen； and that no ray of light had ever struck on that
stupendous roof in all the ages since the making of the world。 But if he
found out something which he did not expect； he was disappointed in
something which he did expect。 For the Indians warned him of a hole in
the floor which （they told him） was an unfathomable abyss。 And lo and
behold； when he turned the magnesium light upon it； the said abyss was
just about eight feet deep。 But it is no wonder that the poor Indians with
their little smoky torches should make such mistakes； no wonder； too； that
they should be afraid to enter far into those gloomy vaults； that they
should believe that the souls of their ancestors live in that dark cave； and
that they should say that when they die they will go to the Guacharos； as
they call the birds that fly with doleful screams out of the cave to feed at
night； and in again at daylight； to roost and sleep。
Now； it is these very Guacharo birds which are to me the most
wonderful part of the story。 The Indians kill and eat th
