the great god pan(潘恩大帝)-第4节
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ground； about six miles from the sea； and is sheltered by a large and
picturesque forest。
Some eleven years ago； Helen V。 came to the village under rather
peculiar circumstances。 It is understood that she； being an orphan； was
adopted in her infancy by a distant relative； who brought her up in his own
house until she was twelve years old。 Thinking； however； that it would be
better for the child to have playmates of her own age； he advertised in
several local papers for a good home in a comfortable farmhouse for a girl
of twelve； and this advertisement was answered by Mr。 R。； a well…to…do
farmer in the above…mentioned village。 His references proving
satisfactory； the gentleman sent his adopted daughter to Mr。 R。； with a
letter； in which he stipulated that the girl should have a room to herself；
and stated that her guardians need be at no trouble in the matter of
education； as she was already sufficiently educated for the position in life
which she would occupy。 In fact； Mr。 R。 was given to understand that the
girl be allowed to find her own occupations and to spend her time almost
as she liked。 Mr。 R。 duly met her at the nearest station； a town seven
miles away from his house； and seems to have remarked nothing
extraordinary about the child except that she was reticent as to her former
life and her adopted father。 She was； however； of a very different type
from the inhabitants of the village； her skin was a pale； clear olive； and her
features were strongly marked； and of a somewhat foreign character。 She
appears to have settled down easily enough into farmhouse life； and
became a favourite with the children； who sometimes went with her on her
rambles in the forest； for this was her amusement。 Mr。 R。 states that he
has known her to go out by herself directly after their early breakfast； and
not return till after dusk； and that； feeling uneasy at a young girl being out
alone for so many hours； he communicated with her adopted father； who
replied in a brief note that Helen must do as she chose。 In the winter；
when the forest paths are impassable； she spent most of her time in her
bedroom； where she slept alone； according to the instructions of her
relative。 It was on one of these expeditions to the forest that the first of the
singular incidents with which this girl is connected occurred； the date
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being about a year after her arrival at the village。 The preceding winter
had been remarkably severe； the snow drifting to a great depth； and the
frost continuing for an unexampled period； and the summer following was
as noteworthy for its extreme heat。 On one of the very hottest days in
this summer； Helen V。 left the farmhouse for one of her long rambles in
the forest； taking with her； as usual； some bread and meat for lunch。 She
was seen by some men in the fields making for the old Roman Road； a
green causeway which traverses the highest part of the wood； and they
were astonished to observe that the girl had taken off her hat； though the
heat of the sun was already tropical。 As it happened； a labourer； Joseph
W。 by name； was working in the forest near the Roman Road； and at
twelve o'clock his little son； Trevor； brought the man his dinner of bread
and cheese。 After the meal； the boy； who was about seven years old at
the time； left his father at work； and； as he said； went to look for flowers in
the wood； and the man； who could hear him shouting with delight at his
discoveries； felt no uneasiness。 Suddenly； however； he was horrified at
hearing the most dreadful screams； evidently the result of great terror；
proceeding from the direction in which his son had gone； and he hastily
threw down his tools and ran to see what had happened。 Tracing his path
by the sound； he met the little boy； who was running headlong； and was
evidently terribly frightened； and on questioning him the man elicited that
after picking a posy of flowers he felt tired； and lay down on the grass and
fell asleep。 He was suddenly awakened； as he stated； by a peculiar noise；
a sort of singing he called it； and on peeping through the branches he saw
Helen V。 playing on the grass with a 〃strange naked man；〃 who he seemed
unable to describe more fully。 He said he felt dreadfully frightened and
ran away crying for his father。 Joseph W。 proceeded in the direction
indicated by his son； and found Helen V。 sitting on the grass in the middle
of a glade or open space left by charcoal burners。 He angrily charged her
with frightening his little boy； but she entirely denied the accusation and
laughed at the child's story of a 〃strange man；〃 to which he himself did not
attach much credence。 Joseph W。 came to the conclusion that the boy
had woke up with a sudden fright； as children sometimes do； but Trevor
persisted in his story； and continued in such evident distress that at last his
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father took him home； hoping that his mother would be able to soothe him。
For many weeks； however； the boy gave his parents much anxiety； he
became nervous and strange in his manner； refusing to leave the cottage by
himself； and constantly alarming the household by waking in the night
with cries of 〃The man in the wood！ father！ father！〃
In course of time； however； the impression seemed to have worn off；
and about three months later he accompanied his father to the home of a
gentleman in the neighborhood； for whom Joseph W。 occasionally did
work。 The man was shown into the study； and the little boy was left
sitting in the hall； and a few minutes later； while the gentleman was giving
W。 his instructions； they were both horrified by a piercing shriek and the
sound of a fall； and rushing out they found the child lying senseless on the
floor； his face contorted with terror。 The doctor was immediately
summoned； and after some examination he pronounced the child to be
suffering form a kind of fit； apparently produced by a sudden shock。 The
boy was taken to one of the bedrooms； and after some time recovered
consciousness； but only to pass into a condition described by the medical
man as one of violent hysteria。 The doctor exhibited a strong sedative；
and in the course of two hours pronounced him fit to walk home； but in
passing through the hall the paroxysms of fright returned and with
additional violence。 The father perceived that the child was pointing at
some object； and heard the old cry； 〃The man in the wood；〃 and looking in
the direction indicated saw a stone head of grotesque appearance； which
had been built into the wall above one of the doors。 It seems the owner
of the house had recently made alterations in his premises； and on digging
the foundations for some offices； the men had found a curious head；
evidently of the Roman period； which had been placed in the manner
described。 The head is pronounced by the most experienced
archaeologists of the district to be that of a faun or satyr。 ＇Dr。 Phillips
tells me that he has seen the head in question； and assures me that he has
never received such a vivid presentment of intense evil。＇
From whatever cause arising； this second shock seemed too severe for
the boy Trevor； and at the present date he suffers from a weakness of
intellect； which gives but little promise of amending。 The matter caused
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a good deal of sensation at the time； and the girl Helen was closely
questioned by Mr。 R。； but to no purpose； she steadfastly denying that she
