herland(她乡)-第2节
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vertical cataract from an opening in the face of the cliff。 It was sweet
water。 The guide drank eagerly and so did we。
〃That's snow water；〃 Terry announced。 〃Must come from way
back in the hills。〃
But as to being red and blueit was greenish in tint。 The guide
seemed not at all surprised。 He hunted about a little and showed us a
quiet marginal pool where there were smears of red along the border； yes；
and of blue。
Terry got out his magnifying glass and squatted down to
investigate。
〃Chemicals of some sortI can't tell on the spot。 Look to me
like dyestuffs。 Let's get nearer；〃 he urged； 〃up there by the fall。〃
We scrambled along the steep banks and got close to the pool
that foamed and boiled beneath the falling water。 Here we searched the
border and found traces of color beyond dispute。 MoreJeff suddenly held
up an unlooked…for trophy。
It was only a rag； a long； raveled fragment of cloth。 But it was
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a well…woven fabric； with a pattern； and of a clear scarlet that the water
had not faded。 No savage tribe that we had heard of made such fabrics。
The guide stood serenely on the bank； well pleased with our
excitement。
〃One day blueone day redone day green；〃 he told us； and
pulled from his pouch another strip of bright…hued cloth。
〃Come down；〃 he said； pointing to the cataract。 〃Woman
Countryup there。〃
Then we were interested。 We had our rest and lunch right there
and pumped the man for further information。 He could tell us only what
the others hada land of womenno menbabies； but all girls。 No place
for mendangerous。 Some had gone to seenone had come back。
I could see Terry's jaw set at that。 No place for men？
Dangerous？ He looked as if he might shin up the waterfall on the spot。
But the guide would not hear of going up； even if there had been any
possible method of scaling that sheer cliff； and we had to get back to our
party before night。
〃They might stay if we told them；〃 I suggested。
But Terry stopped in his tracks。 〃Look here； fellows；〃 he said。
〃This is our find。 Let's not tell those cocky old professors。 Let's go on
home with 'em； and then come backjust ushave a little expedition of
our own。〃
We looked at him； much impressed。 There was something
attractive to a bunch of unattached young men in finding an undiscovered
country of a strictly Amazonian nature。
Of course we didn't believe the storybut yet！
〃There is no such cloth made by any of these local tribes；〃 I
announced； examining those rags with great care。 〃Somewhere up
yonder they spin and weave and dyeas well as we do。〃
〃That would mean a considerable civilization； Van。 There
couldn't be such a placeand not known about。〃
〃Oh； well； I don't know。 What's that old republic up in the
Pyrenees somewhereAndorra？ Precious few people know anything
about that； and it's been minding its own business for a thousand years。
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Then there's Montenegrosplendid little stateyou could lose a dozen
Montenegroes up and down these great ranges。〃
We discussed it hotly all the way back to camp。 We discussed
it with care and privacy on the voyage home。 We discussed it after that；
still only among ourselves； while Terry was making his arrangements。
He was hot about it。 Lucky he had so much moneywe might
have had to beg and advertise for years to start the thing； and then it would
have been a matter of public amusementjust sport for the papers。
But T。 O。 Nicholson could fix up his big steam yacht； load his
specially…made big motorboat aboard； and tuck in a 〃dissembled〃 biplane
without any more notice than a snip in the society column。
We had provisions and preventives and all manner of supplies。
His previous experience stood him in good stead there。 It was a very
complete little outfit。
We were to leave the yacht at the nearest safe port and go up that
endless river in our motorboat； just the three of us and a pilot； then drop
the pilot when we got to that last stopping place of the previous party； and
hunt up that clear water stream ourselves。
The motorboat we were going to leave at anchor in that wide
shallow lake。 It had a special covering of fitted armor； thin but strong；
shut up like a clamshell。
〃Those natives can't get into it； or hurt it； or move it；〃 Terry
explained proudly。 〃We'll start our flier from the lake and leave the boat
as a base to come back to。〃
〃If we come back；〃 I suggested cheerfully。
〃‘Fraid the ladies will eat you？〃 he scoffed。
〃We're not so sure about those ladies； you know；〃 drawled Jeff。
〃There may be a contingent of gentlemen with poisoned arrows or
something。〃
〃You don't need to go if you don't want to；〃 Terry remarked
drily。
〃Go？ You'll have to get an injunction to stop me！〃 Both Jeff
and I were sure about that。
But we did have differences of opinion； all the long way。
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An ocean voyage is an excellent time for discussion。 Now we
had no eavesdroppers； we could loll and loaf in our deck chairs and talk
and talkthere was nothing else to do。 Our absolute lack of facts only
made the field of discussion wider。
〃We'll leave papers with our consul where the yacht stays；〃
Terry planned。 〃If we don't come back insay a monththey can send a
relief party after us。〃
〃A punitive expedition；〃 I urged。 〃If the ladies do eat us we
must make reprisals。〃
〃They can locate that last stopping place easy enough； and I've
made a sort of chart of that lake and cliff and waterfall。〃
〃Yes； but how will they get up？〃 asked Jeff。
〃Same way we do； of course。 If three valuable American
citizens are lost up there； they will follow somehowto say nothing of the
glittering attractions of that fair landlet's call it ‘Feminisia；'〃 he broke off。
〃You're right； Terry。 Once the story gets out； the river will
crawl with expeditions and the airships rise like a swarm of mosquitoes。〃 I
laughed as I thought of it。 〃We've made a great mistake not to let Mr。
Yellow Press in on this。 Save us！ What headlines！〃
〃Not much！〃 said Terry grimly。 〃This is our party。 We're
going to find that place alone。〃
〃What are you going to do with it when you do find itif you
do？〃 Jeff asked mildly。
Jeff was a tender soul。 I think he thought that countryif there
was onewas just blossoming with roses and babies and canaries and
tidies； and all that sort of thing。
And Terry； in his secret heart； had visions of a sort of sublimated
summer resortjust Girls and Girls and Girlsand that he was going to be…
…well； Terry was popular among women even when there were other men
around； and it's not to be wondered at that he had pleasant dreams of what
might happen。 I could see it in his eyes as he lay there； looking at the
long blue rollers slipping by； and fingering that impressive mustache of
his。
But I thoughtthenthat I could form a far clearer idea of what
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was before us than either of them。
〃You're all off； boys；〃 I insisted。 〃If there is such a plac
