the witch and other stories(女巫)-第9节
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them。 The student paused for a while and then said：
〃It's cold！ It's time for the dawn to begin。 Do you know what time the
sun rises？〃
〃What？〃
〃What time does the sun rise now？〃
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〃Between five and six；〃 said the driver。
The mail cart drove out of the town。 Now nothing could be seen on
either side of the road but the fences of kitchen gardens and here and there
a solitary willow…tree； everything in front of them was shrouded in
darkness。 Here in the open country the half…moon looked bigger and the
stars shone more brightly。 Then came a scent of dampness； the postman
shrank further into his collar； the student felt an unpleasant chill first
creeping about his feet； then over the mail bags； over his hands and his
face。 The horses moved more slowly； the bell was mute as though it were
frozen。 There was the sound of the splash of water； and stars reflected in
the water danced under the horses' feet and round the wheels。
But ten minutes later it became so dark that neither the stars nor the
moon could be seen。 The mail cart had entered the forest。 Prickly pine
branches were continually hitting the student on his cap and a spider's web
settled on his face。 Wheels and hoofs knocked against huge roots； and the
mail cart swayed from side to side as though it were drunk。
〃Keep to the road；〃 said the postman angrily。 〃Why do you run up the
edge？ My face is scratched all over by the twigs！ Keep more to the right！〃
But at that point there was nearly an accident。 The cart suddenly
bounded as though in the throes of a convulsion； began trembling； and；
with a creak； lurched heavily first to the right and then to the left； and at a
fearful pace dashed along the forest track。 The horses had taken fright at
something and bolted。
〃Wo！ wo！〃 the driver cried in alarm。 〃Wo 。 。 。 you devils！
The student； violently shaken； bent forward and tried to find
something to catch hold of so as to keep his balance and save himself from
being thrown out； but the leather mail bags were slippery； and the driver；
whose belt the student tried to catch at； was himself tossed up and down
and seemed every moment on the point of flying out。 Through the rattle of
the wheels and the creaking of the cart they heard the sword fall with a
clank on the ground； then a little later something fell with two heavy thuds
behind the mail cart。
〃Wo！〃 the driver cried in a piercing voice； bending backwards。 〃Stop！〃
The student fell on his face and bruised his forehead against the
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driver's seat； but was at once tossed back again and knocked his spine
violently against the back of the cart。
〃I am falling！〃 was the thought that flashed through his mind； but at
that instant the horses dashed out of the forest into the open； turned
sharply to the right； and rumbling over a bridge of logs； suddenly stopped
dead； and the suddenness of this halt flung the student forward again。
The driver and the student were both breathless。 The postman was not
in the cart。 He had been thrown out； together with his sword； the student's
portmanteau； and one of the mail bags。 〃Stop； you rascal！ Sto…op！〃 they
heard him shout from the forest。 〃You damned blackguard！〃 he shouted；
running up to the cart； and there was a note of pain and fury in his tearful
voice。 〃You anathema； plague take you！〃 he roared； dashing up to the
driver and shaking his fist at him。
〃What a to…do！ Lord have mercy on us！〃 muttered the driver in a
conscience…stricken voice； setting right something in the harness at the
horses' heads。 〃It's all that devil of a tracehorse。 Cursed filly； it is only a
week since she has run in harness。 She goes all right； but as soon as we go
down hill there is trouble！ She wants a touch or two on the nose； then she
wouldn't play about like this。 。 。 Stea…eady！ Damn！〃
While the driver was setting the horses to rights and looking for the
portmanteau； the mail bag； and the sword on the road； the postman in a
plaintive voice shrill with anger ejaculated oaths。 After replacing the
luggage the driver for no reason whatever led the horses for a hundred
paces； grumbled at the restless tracehorse； and jumped up on the box。
When his fright was over the student felt amused and good…humoured。
It was the first time in his life that he had driven by night in a mail cart；
and the shaking he had just been through； the postman's having been
thrown out； and the pain in his own back struck him as interesting
adventures。 He lighted a cigarette and said with a laugh：
〃Why you know； you might break your neck like that！ I very nearly
flew out； and I didn't even notice you had been thrown out。 I can fancy
what it is like driving in autumn！〃
The postman did not speak。
〃Have you been going with the post for long？〃 the student asked。
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〃Eleven years。〃
〃Oho； every day？〃
〃Yes； every day。 I take this post and drive back again at once。 Why？〃
Making the journey every day； he must have had a good many
interesting adventures in eleven years。 On bright summer and gloomy
autumn nights； or in winter when a ferocious snowstorm whirled howling
round the mail cart； it must have been hard to avoid feeling frightened and
uncanny。 No doubt more than once the horses had bolted； the mail cart had
stuck in the mud； they had been attacked by highwaymen； or had lost their
way i n the blizzard。 。 。 。
〃I can fancy what adventures you must have had in eleven years！〃 said
the student。 〃I expect it must be terrible driving？〃
He said this and expected that the postman would tell him something；
but the latter preserved a sullen silence and retreated into his collar。
Meanwhile it began to get light。 The sky changed colour imperceptibly； it
still seemed dark； but by now the horses and the driver and the road could
be seen。 The crescent moon looked bigger and bigger； and the cloud that
stretched below it； shaped like a cannon in a gun…carriage； showed a faint
yellow on its lower edge。 Soon the postman's face was visible。 It was wet
with dew； grey and rigid as the face of a corpse。 An expression of dull；
sullen anger was set upon it； as though the postman were still in pain and
still angry with the driver。
〃Thank God it is daylight！〃 said the student； looking at his chilled and
angry face。 〃I am quite frozen。 The nights are cold in September； but as
soon as the sun rises it isn't cold。 Shall we soon reach the station？〃
The postman frowned and made a wry face。
〃How fond you are of talking； upon my word！〃 he said。 〃Can't you
keep quiet when you are travelling？〃
The student was confused； and did not approach him again all the
journey。 The morning came on rapidly。 The moon turned pale and melted
away into the dull grey sky； the cloud turned yellow all over； the stars
grew dim； but the east was still cold…looking and the same colour as the
rest of the sky； so that one could hardly believe the sun was hidden in it。
The chill of the morning and the surliness of the postman gradually
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infected the student。 He looked apathetically at the country around him；
waited for the warmth of the sun； and thought of nothing but how dreadful
and horrible it must be for the poor trees and the grass to endure the cold
nights。 The sun rose dim； drowsy； and cold。 The tree…tops were not gilded
by the rays of the rising sun； as usually described； the sunbeams did not
creep over the earth and there was no sign of joy in the flight of the sleepy
birds。 The cold remained just the same now that the sun was up as it had
been in the night。
The student looked drowsily and ill…humouredly at the curtai
