the surprising adventures of baron munchausen-第9节
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r with the Grand Seignior； as will appear hereafter。＇ In that state of humiliation my daily task was not very hard and laborious； but rather singular and irksome。 It was to drive the Sultan's bees every morning to their pasture…grounds； to attend them all the day long； and against night to drive them back to their hives。 One evening I missed a bee； and soon observed that two bears had fallen upon her to tear her to pieces for the honey she carried。 I had nothing like an offensive weapon in my hands but the silver hatchet； which is the badge of the Sultan's gardeners and farmers。 I threw it at the robbers； with an intention to frighten them away； and set the poor bee at liberty； but； by an unlucky turn of my arm； it flew upwards； and continued rising till it reached the moon。 How should I recover it？ how fetch it down again？ I recollected that Turkey…beans grow very quick； and run up to an astonishing height。 I planted one immediately； it grew； and actually fastened itself to one of the moon's horns。 I had no more to do now but to climb up by it into the moon； where I safely arrived； and had a troublesome piece of business before I could find my silver hatchet； in a place where everything has the brightness of silver； at last； however； I found it in a heap of chaff and chopped straw。 I was now for returning： but； alas！ the heat of the sun had dried up my bean； it was totally useless for my descent： so I fell to work； and twisted me a rope of that chopped straw； as long and as well as I could make it。 This I fastened to one of the moon's horns； and slid down to the end of it。 Here I held myself fast with the left hand； and with the hatchet in my right； I cut the long； now useless end of the upper part； which； when tied to the lower end； brought me a good deal lower： this repeated splicing and tying of the rope did not improve its quality； or bring me down to the Sultan's farm。 I was four or five miles from the earth at least when it broke； I fell to the ground with such amazing violence； that I found myself stunned； and in a hole nine fathoms deep at least； made by the weight of my body falling from so great a height： I recovered； but knew not how to get out again； however； I dug slopes or steps with my finger…nails ＇the Baron's nails were then of forty years' growth＇； and easily accomplished it。
Peace was soon after concluded with the Turks； and gaining my liberty； I left St。 Petersburg at the time of that singular revolution； when the emperor in his cradle； his mother； the Duke of Brunswick； her father； Field…Marshal Munich； and many others were sent to Siberia。 The winter was then so uncommonly severe all over Europe； that ever since the sun seems to be frost…bitten。 At my return to this place； I felt on the road greater inconveniences than those I had experienced on my setting out。
I travelled post； and finding myself in a narrow lane； bid the postillion give a signal with his horn； that other travellers might not meet us in the narrow passage。 He blew with all his might； but his endeavours were in vain； he could not make the horn sound； which was unaccountable； and rather unfortunate； for soon after we found ourselves in the presence of another coach coming the other way： there was no proceeding； however； I got out of my carriage； and being pretty strong； placed it； wheels and all； upon my head： I then jumped over a hedge about nine feet high （which； considering the weight of the coach； was rather difficult） into a field； and came out again by another jump into the road beyond the other carriage： I then went back for the horses； and placing one upon my head； and the other under my left arm； by the same means brought them to my coach； put to； and proceeded to an inn at the end of our stage。 I should have told you that the horse under my arm was very spirited； and not above four years old； in making my second spring over the hedge； he expressed great dislike to that violent kind of motion by kicking and snorting； however； I confined his hind legs by putting them into my coat…pocket。 After we arrived at the inn my postillion and I refreshed ourselves： he hung his horn on a peg near the kitchen fire； I sat on the other side。
Suddenly we heard a /tereng！ tereng！ teng！ teng！/ We looked round； and now found the reason why the postillion had not been able to sound his horn； his tunes were frozen up in the horn； and came out now by thawing； plain enough； and much to the credit of the driver； so that the honest fellow entertained us for some time with a variety of tunes； without putting his mouth to the horn〃The King of Prussia's March；〃 〃Over the Hill and over the Dale；〃 with many other favourite tunes； at length the thawing entertainment concluded； as I shall this short account of my Russian travels。
/Some travellers are apt to advance more than is perhaps strictly true； if any of the company entertain a doubt of my veracity； I shall only say to such； I pity their want of faith； and must request they will take leave before I begin the second part of my adventures； which are as strictly founded in fact as those I have already related。/
CHAPTER VII
/The Baron relates his adventures on a voyage to North America； which are well worth the reader's attentionPranks of a whaleA sea…gull saves a sailor's lifeThe Baron's head forced into his stomachA dangerous leak stopped à posteriori。/
I embarked at Portsmouth in a first…rate English man…of…war； of one hundred guns； and fourteen hundred men； for North America。 Nothing worth relating happened till we arrived within three hundred leagues of the river St。 Laurence； when the ship struck with amazing force against （as we supposed） a rock； however； upon heaving the lead we could find no bottom； even with three hundred fathom。 What made this circumstance the more wonderful； and indeed beyond all comprehension； was； that the violence of the shock was such that we lost our rudder； broke our bowsprit in the middle； and split all our masts from top to bottom； two of which went by the board； a poor fellow； who was aloft furling the mainsheet； was flung at least three leagues from the ship； but he fortunately saved his life by laying hold of the tail of a large sea…gull； who brought him back； and lodged him on the very spot from whence he was thrown。 Another proof of the violence of the shock was the force with which the people between decks were driven against the floors above them； my head particularly was pressed into my stomach； where it continued some months before it recovered its natural situation。 Whilst we were all in a state of astonishment at the general and unaccountable confusion in which we were involved； the whole was suddenly explained by the appearance of a large whale； who had been basking； asleep； within sixteen feet of the surface of the water。 This animal was so much displeased with the disturbance which our ship had given himfor in our passage we had with our rudder scratched his nosethat he beat in all the gallery and part of the quarter…deck with his tail； and almost at the same instant took the mainsheet anchor； which was suspended； as it usually is； from the head； between his teeth； and ran away with the ship； at least sixty leagues； at the rate of twelve leagues an hour； when fortunately the cable broke； and we lost both the whale and the anchor。 However； upon our return to Europe； some months after； we found the same whale within a few leagues of the same spot； floating dead upon the water； it measured above half a mile in length。 As we could take but a small quantity of such a monstrous animal on board； we got our boats out； and with much difficulty cut off his head； where； to our great joy； we found the anchor； and above forty fathom of the cable； concealed on the left side of his mouth； just under his tongue。 ＇Perhaps this was the cause of his death； as that side of his tongue was much swelled； with a great degree of inflammation。＇ This was the only extraordinary circumstance that happened on this voyage。 One part of our distress； however； I had like to have forgot： while the whale was running away with the ship she sprung a leak； and the water poured in so fast； that all our pumps could not keep us from sinking； it was； however； my good fortune to discover it first。 I found it a large hole about a foot diameter； you will naturally suppose this circumstance gives me infinite pleasure； when I inform you that this noble vessel was preserved； with all its crew； by a most fortunate thought！ in short； I sat down over it； and could have dispensed with it had it been larger； nor will you be surprised when I inform you I am descended from Dutch parents。 ＇The Baron's ancestors have but lately settled there； in another part of his adventures he boasts of royal blood。＇
My situation； while I sat there； was rather cool； but the carpenter's art soon relieved me。
CHAPTER VIII
/Bathes in the MediterraneanMeets an unexpected companion Arrives unintentionally in the regions of heat and darkness； from which he is extricated by dancing a hornpipeFrightens his deliverers； and returns on shore。/
I was once in great danger of being lost in a most singular manner in the Mediterranean： I was ba
