the celeatial railroad-第5节

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grafts　from　the　celestial　gardens。　Once；　as　we　dashed　onward　like

a　hurricane；　there　was　a　flutter　of　wings　and　the　bright

appearance　of　an　angel　in　the　air；　speeding　forth　on　some

heavenly　mission。　The　engine　now　announced　the　close　vicinity　of

the　final　station…house　by　one　last　and　horrible　scream；　in　which

there　seemed　to　be　distinguishable　every　kind　of　wailing　and　woe；

and　bitter　fierceness　of　wrath；　all　mixed　up　with　the　wild

laughter　of　a　devil　or　a　madman。　Throughout　our　journey；　at　every

stopping…place；　Apollyon　had　exercised　his　ingenuity　in　screwing

the　most　abominable　sounds　out　of　the　whistle　of　the

steam…engine；　but　in　this　closing　effort　he　outdid　himself　and

created　an　infernal　uproar；　which；　besides　disturbing　the

peaceful　inhabitants　of　Beulah；　must　have　sent　its　discord　even

through　the　celestial　gates。



While　the　horrid　clamor　was　still　ringing　in　our　ears　we　heard　an

exulting　strain；　as　if　a　thousand　instruments　of　music；　with

height　and　depth　and　sweetness　in　their　tones；　at　once　tender　and

triumphant；　were　struck　in　unison；　to　greet　the　approach　of　some

illustrious　hero；　who　had　fought　the　good　fight　and　won　a

glorious　victory；　and　was　come　to　lay　aside　his　battered　arms

forever。　Looking　to　ascertain　what　might　be　the　occasion　of　this

glad　harmony；　I　perceived；　on　alighting　from　the　cars；　that　a

multitude　of　shining　ones　had　assembled　on　the　other　side　of　the

river；　to　welcome　two　poor　pilgrims；　who　were　just　emerging　from

its　depths。　They　were　the　same　whom　Apollyon　and　ourselves　had

persecuted　with　taunts；　and　gibes；　and　scalding　steam；　at　the

commencement　of　our　journeythe　same　whose　unworldly　aspect　and

impressive　words　had　stirred　my　conscience　amid　the　wild

revellers　of　Vanity　Fair。



〃How　amazingly　well　those　men　have　got　on；〃　cried　I　to　Mr。

Smoothitaway。　〃I　wish　we　were　secure　of　as　good　a　reception。〃



〃Never　fear；　never　fear！〃　answered　my　friend。　〃Come；　make　haste；

the　ferry　boat　will　be　off　directly；　and　in　three　minutes　you

will　be　on　the　other　side　of　the　river。　No　doubt　you　will　find

coaches　to　carry　you　up　to　the　city　gates。〃



A　steam　ferry　boat；　the　last　improvement　on　this　important　route；

lay　at　the　river　side；　puffing；　snorting；　and　emitting　all　those

other　disagreeable　utterances　which　betoken　the　departure　to　be

immediate。　I　hurried　on　board　with　the　rest　of　the　passengers；

most　of　whom　were　in　great　perturbation：　some　bawling　out　for

their　baggage；　some　tearing　their　hair　and　exclaiming　that　the

boat　would　explode　or　sink；　some　already　pale　with　the　heaving　of

the　stream；　some　gazing　affrighted　at　the　ugly　aspect　of　the

steersman；　and　some　still　dizzy　with　the　slumberous　influences　of

the　Enchanted　Ground。　Looking　back　to　the　shore；　I　was　amazed　to

discern　Mr。　Smooth…it…away　waving　his　hand　in　token　of　farewell。



〃Don't　you　go　over　to　the　Celestial　City？〃　exclaimed　I。



〃Oh；　no！〃　answered　he　with　a　queer　smile；　and　that　same

disagreeable　contortion　of　visage　which　I　had　remarked　in　the

inhabitants　of　the　Dark　Valley。　〃Oh；　no！　I　have　come　thus　far

only　for　the　sake　of　your　pleasant　company。　Good…by！　We　shall

meet　again。〃



And　then　did　my　excellent　friend　Mr。　Smooth…it…away　laugh

outright；　in　the　midst　of　which　cachinnation　a　smoke…wreath

issued　from　his　mouth　and　nostrils；　while　a　twinkle　of　lurid

flame　darted　out　of　either　eye；　proving　indubitably　that　his

heart　was　all　of　a　red　blaze。　The　impudent　fiend！　To　deny　the

existence　of　Tophet；　when　he　felt　its　fiery　tortures　raging

within　his　breast。　I　rushed　to　the　side　of　the　boat；　intending　to

fling　myself　on　shore；　but　the　wheels；　as　they　began　their

revolutions；　threw　a　dash　of　spray　over　me　so　coldso　deadly

cold；　with　the　chill　that　will　never　leave　those　waters　until

Death　be　drowned　in　his　own　riverthat　with　a　shiver　and　a

heartquake　I　awoke。　Thank　Heaven　it　was　a　Dream！