erewhon revisited-第47节
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done in the preceding year。
On the following day； which was a Saturday； I went to the livery
stables from which my father had bought his horse； and found to my
great delight that Doctor could be at my disposal； for； as it
seemed to me； the very reasonable price of fifteen shillings a day。
I shewed the owner of the stables my father's order； and all the
articles he had left were immediately delivered to me。 I was still
wearing crape round one arm； and the horse…dealer； whose name was
Baker； said he was afraid the other gentleman might be dead。
〃Indeed； he is so；〃 said I； 〃and a great grief it is to me； he was
my father。〃
〃Dear； dear；〃 answered Mr。 Baker； 〃that is a very serious thing for
the poor gentleman。 He seemed quite unfit to travel alone； and I
feared he was not long for this world； but he was bent on going。〃
I had nothing now to do but to buy a blanket； pannikin； and billy；
with some tea； tobacco； two bottles of brandy； some ship's
biscuits； and whatever other few items were down on the list of
requisites which my father had dictated to me。 Mr。 Baker； seeing
that I was what he called a new chum； shewed me how to pack my
horse； but I kept my knapsack full of gold on my back； and though I
could see that it puzzled him； he asked no questions。 There was no
reason why I should not set out at once for the principal town of
the colony； which was some ten miles inland； I； therefore； arranged
at my hotel that the greater part of my luggage should await my
return； and set out to climb the high hills that back the port。
From the top of these I had a magnificent view of the plains that I
should have to cross； and of the long range of distant mountains
which bounded them north and south as far as the eye could reach。
On some of the mountains I could still see streaks of snow； but my
father had explained to me that the ranges I should here see； were
not those dividing the English colony from Erewhon。 I also saw；
some nine miles or so out upon the plains； the more prominent
buildings of a large town which seemed to be embosomed in trees；
and this I reached in about an hour and a half； for I had to
descend at a foot's pace； and Doctor's many virtues did not
comprise a willingness to go beyond an amble。
At the town above referred to I spent the night； and began to
strike across the plains on the following morning。 I might have
crossed these in three days at twenty…five miles a day； but I had
too much time on my hands； and my load of gold was so uncomfortable
that I was glad to stay at one accommodation house after another；
averaging about eighteen miles a day。 I have no doubt that if I
had taken advice； I could have stowed my load more conveniently；
but I could not unpack it； and made the best of it as it was。
On the evening of Wednesday； December 2； I reached the river which
I should have to follow up； it was here nearing the gorge through
which it had to pass before the country opened out again at the
back of the front range。 I came upon it quite suddenly on reaching
the brink of a great terrace； the bank of which sloped almost
precipitously down towards it； but was covered with grass。 The
terrace was some three hundred feet above the river； and faced
another similar one； which was from a mile and a half to two miles
distant。 At the bottom of this huge yawning chasm； rolled the
mighty river； and I shuddered at the thought of having to cross and
recross it。 For it was angry； muddy； evidently in heavy fresh； and
filled bank and bank for nearly a mile with a flood of seething
waters。
I followed along the northern edge of the terrace； till I reached
the last accommodation house that could be said to be on the
plainswhich； by the way； were here some eight or nine hundred
feet above sea level。 When I reached this house； I was glad to
learn that the river was not likely to remain high for more than a
day or two； and that if what was called a Southerly Burster came
up； as it might be expected to do at any moment； it would be quite
low again before three days were over。
At this house I stayed the night； and in the course of the evening
a stray doga retriever； hardly full grown； and evidently very
much down on his lucktook up with me； when I inquired about him；
and asked if I might take him with me； the landlord said he wished
I would； for he knew nothing about him and was trying to drive him
from the house。 Knowing what a boon the companionship of this poor
beast would be to me when I was camping out alone； I encouraged
him； and next morning he followed me as a matter of course。
In the night the Southerly Burster which my host anticipated had
come up； cold and blustering； but invigorating after the hot； dry；
wind that had been blowing hard during the daytime as I had crossed
the plains。 A mile or two higher up I passed a large sheep…
station； but did not stay there。 One or two men looked at me with
surprise； and asked me where I was going； whereon I said I was in
search of rare plants and birds for the Museum of the town at which
I had slept the night after my arrival。 This satisfied their
curiosity； and I ambled on accompanied by the dog。 In passing I
may say that I found Doctor not to excel at any pace except an
amble； but for a long journey； especially for one who is carrying a
heavy； awkward load； there is no pace so comfortable； and he ambled
fairly fast。
I followed the horse track which had been cut through the gorge；
and in many places I disliked it extremely； for the river； still in
fresh； was raging furiously； twice； for some few yards； where the
gorge was wider and the stream less rapid； it covered the track；
and I had no confidence that it might not have washed it away； on
these occasions Doctor pricked his ears towards the water； and was
evidently thinking exactly what his rider was。 He decided；
however； that all would be sound； and took to the water without any
urging on my part。 Seeing his opinion； I remembered my father's
advice； and let him do what he liked； but in one place for three or
four yards the water came nearly up to his belly； and I was in
great fear for the watches that were in my saddlebags。 As for the
dog； I feared I had lost him； but after a time he rejoined me；
though how he contrived to do so I cannot say。
Nothing could be grander than the sight of this great river pent
into a narrow compass； and occasionally becoming more like an
immense waterfall than a river； but I was in continual fear of
coming to more places where the water would be over the track； and
perhaps of finding myself unable to get any farther。 I therefore
failed to enjoy what was really far the most impressive sight in
its way that I had ever seen。 〃Give me；〃 I said to myself； 〃the
Thames at Richmond；〃 and right thankful was I； when at about two
o'clock I found that I was through the gorge and in a wide valley；
the greater part of which； however； was still covered by the river。
It was here that I heard for the first time the curious sound of
boulders knocking against each other underneath the great body of
water that kept rolling them round and round。
I now halted； and lit a fire； for there was much dead scrub
standing that had remained after the ground had been burned for the
first time some years previously。 I made myself some tea； and
turned Doctor out for a couple of hours to feed。 I did not hobble
him； for my father had told me that he would always come for bread。
When I had dined； and smoked； and slept for a couple of hours or
so； I reloaded Doctor and resumed my journey towards the shepherd's
hut； which I caught sight of about a mile before I reached it。
When nearly half a mile off it； I dismounted； and made a written
note of the exact spot at which I did so。 I then turned for a
couple of hundred yards to my right； at right angles to the track；
where some huge rocks were lyingfallen ages since from the
mountain that flanked this side of the valley。 Here I deposited my
knapsack in a hollow underneath some of the rocks； and put a good
sized stone in front of it； for I meant spending a couple of days
with the shepherd to let the river go down。 Moreover； as it was
now only December 3； I had too much time on my hands； but I had not
dared to cut things finer。
I reached the hut at about six o'clock； and introduced myself to
the shepherd； who was a nice； kind old man； commonly called Harris；
but his real name he told me was HoraceHorace Taylor。 I had the
conversation with him of which I have already told the reader；
adding that my father had been unable to give a coherent account of
what he had seen； and that I had been sent to get the information
he had failed to furnish。
The old man said that I must certainly wait a couple of days before
I went higher up the river。 He had made himself a nice garden； in
which he took the greatest pride； and which supplied him with
plenty of vegetables。 He was very glad to have company； and to
receive the newspapers which I had taken care to bring him。 He had
a real genius for simple cookery； and fed me excellently。 My
father's 5 pounds； and the ration of brandy which I nightly gave
him； made me a welcome guest； and though
