gulliver of mars-第21节
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ite star； and hung pensive and inviting on its mossy cushion。 From it came such a ravishing odour that even I； at the further end of the great scale of life； felt my pulses quicken and my eyes brighten with cupidity。 I was in the very act of climbing the tree； but before I could move hand or foot two things happened； whether you take my word for them or no。
Firstly； up through a glade in the underwood； attracted by the odour； came an ugly brown bird with a capacious beak and shining claws。 He perched near by； and peeped and peered until he made out the flower pining on her virgin stem； whereat off he hopped to her branch and there； with a cynical chuckle； strutted to and fro between her and the main stem like an ill genius guarding a fairy princess。
Surely Heaven would not allow him to tamper with so chaste a bud！ My hand reached for a stone to throw at him when happened the second thing。 There came a gentle pat upon the woodland floor； and from a tree overhead dropped down another living plant like to the one above yet not exactly similar； a male； my instincts told me； in full sol… itary blossom like her above； cinctured with leaves； and supported by half a score of thick white roots that worked； as I looked； like the limbs of a crab。 In a twinkling that parti…coloured gentleman vegetable near me was off to the stem upon which grew his lady love； running and scram… bling； dragging the finery of his tasselled petals behind； it was laughable to watch his eagerness。 He got a grip of the tree and up he went； 〃hand over hand；〃 root over root。 I had just time to note others of his species had dropped here and there upon the ground； and were hurry… ing with frantic haste to the same destination when he reached the fatal branch； and was straddling victoriously down it； blind to all but love and longing。 That ill…omened bird who stood above the maiden…flower let him come within a stalk's length； so near that the white splendour of his sleeping lady gleamed within arms' reach； then the great beak was opened； the great claws made a clutch； the gal… lant's head was yanked from his neck； and as it went tumbling down the maw of the feathered thing his white legs fell spinning through space； and lay knotting them… selves in agony upon the ground for a minute or two before they relaxed and became flaccid in the repose of death。 An… other and another vegetable suitor made for that fatal tryst； and as each came up the snap of the brown bird's beak was all their obsequies。 At last no more came； and then that Nemesis of claws and quills walked over to the girl…flower； his stomach feathers ruffled with repletion； the green blood of her lovers dripping from his claws； and pulled her golden heart out； tore her white limbs one from the other； and swallowed her piecemeal before my very eyes！ Then up in wrath I jumped and yelled at him till the woods echoed； but too late to stay his sacrilege。
By this time the sun was bathing everything in splendour； and turning away from the wonders about me； I set off at best pace along the well…trodden path which led without turning to the west coast village where the canoes were。
It proved far closer than expected。 As a matter of fact the forest in this direction grew right down to the water's edge； the salt…loving trees actually overhanging the wavesone of the pleasantest sights in natureand thus I came right out on top of the hamlet before there had been an indication of its presence。 It occupied two sides of a pretty little bay； the third side being flat land given over to the cultivation of an enormous species of gourd whose characteristic yellow flowers and green； succulent leaves were discernible even at this distance。
I branched off along the edge of the surf and down a dainty little flowery path； noticing meanwhile how the whole bay was filled by hundreds of empty canoes； while scores of others were drawn up on the strand； and then the first thing I chanced upon was a group of peopleyouthful； of course； with the eternal Martian bloomand in the splendid simplicity of almost complete nakedness。 My first idea was that they were bathing； and fixing my eyes on the tree…tops with great propriety； I gave a warning cough。 At that sound instead of getting to cover； or clothes； all started up and stood staring for a time like a herd of startled cattle。 It was highly embarrassing； they were right in the path； a round dozen of them； naked and so little ashamed that when I edged away modestly they began to run after me。 And the farther they came forward the more I retired； till we were playing a kind of game of hide…and…seek round the tree…stems。 In the middle of it my heel caught in a root and down I went very hard and very ignominiously； whereon those laughing； light…hearted folk rushed in； and with smiles and jests helped me to my feet。
〃Was I the traveller who had come from Seth？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Oh； then that was well。 They had heard such a traveller was on the road； and had come a little way down the path； as far as might be without fatigue； to meet him。〃
〃Would I eat with them？〃 these amiable strangers asked； pushing their soft warm fingers into mine and ringing me round with a circle。 〃But firstly might they help me out of my clothes？ It was hot； and these things were cumber… some。〃 As to the eating； I was agreeable enough seeing how casual meals had been with me lately； but my clothes； though Heaven knows they were getting horribly ragged and travel…stained； I clung to desperately。
My new friends shrugged their dimpled shoulders and； arguments being tedious； at once squatted round me in the dappled shade of a big tree and produced their stores of never failing provisions。 After a pleasant little meal taken thus in the open and with all the simplicity Martians de… light in； we got to talking about those yellow canoes which were bobbing about on the blue waters of the bay。
〃Would you like to see where they are grown？〃 asked an individual basking by my side。
〃Grown！〃 I answered with incredulity。 〃Built； you mean。 Never in my life did I hear of growing boats。〃
〃But then； sir；〃 observed the girl as she sucked the honey out of the stalk of an azure convolvulus flower and threw the remains at a butterfly that sailed across the sunshine； 〃you know so little！ You have come from afar； from some barbarous and barren district。 Here we undoubtedly grow our boats； and though we know the Thither folk and such uncultivated races make their craft by cumbrous methods of flat planks； yet we prefer our own way； for one thing be… cause it saves trouble；〃 and as she murmured that all… sufficient reason the gentle damsel nodded reflectively。
But one of her companions； more lively for the moment； tickled her with a straw until she roused； and then said； 〃Let us take the stranger to the boat garden now。 The cur… rent will drift us round the bay； and we can come back when it turns。 If we wait we shall have to row in both directions； or even walk；〃 and again planetary slothfulness carried the day。
So down to the beach we strolled and launched one of the golden…hued skiffs upon the pretty dancing wavelets just where they ran； lipped with jewelled spray； on the shore； and then only had I a chance to scrutinise their material。 I patted that one we were upon inside and out。 I noted with a seaman's admiration its lightness； elasticity； and supreme sleekness； its marvellous buoyancy and fairy… like 〃lines；〃 and after some minutes' consideration it sud… denly flashed across me that it was all of gourd rind。 And as if to supply confirmation； the flat land we were ap… proaching on the opposite side of the bay was covered by the characteristic verdure of these plants with a touch here and there of splendid yellow blossoms； but all of gigantic proportions。
〃Ay；〃 said a Martian damsel lying on the bottom； and taking and kissing my hand as she spoke； in the simple… hearted way of her people； 〃I see you have guessed how we make our boats。 Is it the same in your distant country？〃
〃No； my girl； and what's more； I am a bit uneasy as to what the fellows on the Carolina will say if they ever hear I went to sea in a hollowed…out pumpkin； and with a young ladywell； dressed as you arefor crew。 Even now I can… not imagine how you get your ships so trim and shapely there is not a seam or a patch anywhere； it looks as if you had run them into a mould。〃
〃That's just what we have done； sir； and now you will witness the moulds at work； for here we are；〃 and the little skiff was pulled ashore and the Martians and I jumped out on the shelving beach； hauled our boat up high and dry； and there right over us； like great green umbrellas； spread the fronds of the outmost garden of this strangest of all ship… building yards。 Briefly； and not to make this part of my story too long； those gilded boys and girls took me ashore； and chattering like finches in the evening； showed how they planted their gourd seed； nourished the gigantic plants as they grew with brackish water and the burnt ashes； then； when they flowered； mated the male and female blossoms； glorious funnels of golden hue big enough for one to live in； and when the young fruit was of the bigness of an ordinary bolster； how they slipped it into a
