gulliver of mars-第33节
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Nor was my confidence misplaced。 The woman； as I guessed； was touched somewhere back in her female heart by my melting love…tale； by my anxiety and Heru's peril。 Besides； a ghost in search of a fairy ladyand such the slender folk of Seth were still considered to be by the race which had supplanted themthis was romance indeed。 To be brief； that good woman proved invaluable。
She told me； firstly； that Ar…hap was believed to be away at war； 〃weekending〃 as was his custom； amongst rebellious tribes； and by starting at once up the water； I should very probably get to the town before he did。 Sec… ondly； she thought if I kept clear of private brawls there was little chance of my receiving injury； from the people at all events； as they were accustomed to strange visitors； and civil enough until they were fired by war。 〃Sickle cold； sword hot；〃 was one of their proverbs； meaning thereby that in peaceful times they were lambs； however lionlike they might be in contest。
This was reassuring； but as to recovering the lady； that was another matter over which the good woman shook her head。 It was ill coming between Ar…hap and his tribute； she said； still； if I wanted to see Heru once again； this was my op… portunity； and； for the rest； that chance； which often favours the enamoured； must be my help。
Briefly； though I should probably have gone forward in any case out of sheer obstinacy； had it been to certain destruction； this better aspect of the situation hastened my resolution。 I thanked the woman for help； and then the man outside was called in to advise as to the best and speediest way of getting within earshot of his hairy sovereignty； the monarch of Thitherland。
CHAPTER XVI
The Martian told me of a merchant boat with ten rowers which was going up to the capital in a couple of hours； and as the skipper was a friend of his they would no doubt take me as supercargo； thereby saving the necessity of passenger fees； which was obviously a consideration with me。 It was not altogether a romantic approach to the dungeon of an imprisoned beauty； but it was practical； which is often better if not so pleasant。 So the offer was gladly closed with； and curling myself in a rug of foxskins； for I was tired with much walking； sailors never being good foot… gangers； I slept soundly fill they came to tell me it was time to go on board。
The vessel was more like a canal barge than anything else； lean and long； with the cargo piled in a ridge down the centre as farmers store their winter turnips； the rowers sitting on either side of this plying oars like dessert…spoons with long handles； while they chanted a monotonous cadence of monosyllables：
Oh； ho； oh；
Oh； ho； oh；
How high； how high。
and then again after a pause
How high； how high
Oh； ho； oh；
Oh； ho； oh。
the which was infinitely sleep…provoking if not a refrain of a high intellectual order。
I shut my eyes as we pulled away from the wharfs of that nameless emporium and picked a passage through a crowd of quaint shipping； wondering where I was； and asking myself whether I was mentally rising equal to my extraordinary surroundings； whether I adequately appreci… ated the immensity of my remove from those other seas on which I had last travelled； tiller…ropes in hand； piloting a captain's galley from a wharf。 Good heavens； what would my comrades on my ship say if they could see me now steer… ing a load of hairy savages up one of those waterways which our biggest telescopes magnify but to the thickness of an indication？ No； I was not rising equal to the oc… casion； and could not。 The human mind is of but limited capacity after all； and such freaks of fortune are beyond its conception。 I knew I was where I was； but I knew I should probably never get the chance of telling of it； and that no one would ever believe me if I did； and I re… signed myself to the inevitable with sullen acquiescence； smothering the wonder that might have been overwhelming in passing interests of the moment。
There is little to record of that voyage。 We passed through a fleet of Ar…hap's warships； empty and at anchor in double line； serviceable half…decked cutters； built of solid timber； not pumpkin rind it was pleasant to notice； and then the town dropped away as we proceeded up a stream about as broad as the Hudson at its widest； and profusely studded with islands。 This water was bitterly salt and joined an… other sea on the other side of the Martian continent。 Yet it had a pronounced flow against us eastward； this tide running for three spring months and being followed； I learned； as ocean temperatures varied； by a flow in the opposite direction throughout the summer。
Just at present the current was so strong eastwards； the moisture beaded upon my rowers' tawny hides as they strug… gled against it； and their melancholy song dawdled in 〃linked sweetness long drawn out；〃 while the swing of their oars grew longer and longer。 Truly it was very hot； far hotter than was usual for the season； these men declared； and pos… sibly this robbed me of my wonted energy； and you； gentle reader； of a description of all the strange things we passed upon that highway。
Suffice it to say we spent a scorching afternoon； the greater part of a stifling night moored under a mud…bank with a grove of trees on top from which gigantic fire…flies hung as though the place were illuminated for a garden fete； and then； rowing on again in the comparatively cool hours before dawn； turned into a backwater at cock…crow。
The skipper of our cargo boat roused me just as we turned； putting under my sleepy nostrils a handful of toasted beans on a leaf； and a small cup full of something that was not coffee； but smelt as good as that matutinal beverage always does to the tired traveller。
Over our prow was an immense arch of foliage； and under… neath a long arcade of cool black shadows； sheltering still water； till water and shadow suddenly ended a quarter of a mile down in a patch of brilliant colour。 It was as peaceful as could be in the first morning light； and to me over all there was the inexpressible attraction of the unknown。
As our boat slipped silently forward up this leafy lane； a thin white 〃feather〃 in her mouth alone breaking the steely surface of the stream； the men rested from their work and began； as sailors will； to put on their shore…going clothes； the while they chatted in low tones over the profits of the voyage。 Overhead flying squirrels were flitting to and fro like bats； or shelling fruit whereof the husks fell with a pleasant splash about us； and on one bank a couple of early mothers were washing their babies； whose smothered protests were almost the only sound in this morning world。
Another silent dip or two of the oars and the colour ahead crystallised into a town。 If I said it was like an African village on a large scale； I should probably give you the best description in the fewest words。 From the very water's edge up to the crown of a low hill inland； extended a mass of huts and wooden buildings； embowered and partly hidden in bright green foliage； with here and there patches of millet； or some such food plant； and the flowers that grow everywhere so abundantly in this country。 It was all Arcadian and peaceful enough at the moment； and as we drew near the men were just coming out to the quays along the har… bour front； the streets filling and the town waking to busy life。
A turn to the left through a watergate defended by towers of wood and mud； and we were in the city harbour itself； boats of many kinds moored on every side； quaint craft from the gulfs and bays of Nowhere； full of unheard…of merch… andise； and manned by strange…faced crews； every vessel a romance of nameless seas； an epitome of an undiscovered world； and every moment the scene grew busier as the breakfast smoke arose； and wharf and gangway set to work upon the day's labours。
Our boatloaded； as it turned out； with spoil from Seth was run to a place of honour at the bottom of the town square； and was an object of much curiosity to a small crowd which speedily collected and lent a hand with the mooring ropes； the while chatting excitedly with the crew about further tribute and the latest news from overseas。 At the same time a swarthy barbarian； whose trappings showed him to be some sort of functionary； came down to our 〃captain；〃 much wagging of heads and counting of notched sticks taking place between them。
I； indeed； was apparently the least interesting item of the cargo； and this was embarrassing。 No hero likes to be ne… glected； it is fatal to his part。 I had said my prayers and steeled myself to all sorts of fine endurance on the way up； and here； when it came to the crisis； no one was anxious to play the necessary villain。 They just helped me ashore civilly enough； the captain nodded his head at me； mutter… ing something in an indifferent tone to the functionary about a ghost who had wandered overseas and begged a passage up the canal； the group about the quay stared a little； but that was all。
Once I remember seeing a squatting； life…size heathen idol hoisted from a vessel's hold and deposited on a sugar…box on a New York quay。 Some ribald
