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the works of edgar allan poe-3-第6部分
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strange trees seemed endowed with a human vitality; and waving to and
fro their skeleton arms; were crying to the silent waters for mercy;
in the shrill and piercing accents of the most acute agony and
despair。 The scene changed; and I stood; naked and alone; amidst the
burning sand…plains of Sahara。 At my feet lay crouched a fierce lion
of the tropics。 Suddenly his wild eyes opened and fell upon me。 With
a conculsive bound he sprang to his feet; and laid bare his horrible
teeth。 In another instant there burst from his red throat a roar like
the thunder of the firmament; and I fell impetuously to the earth。
Stifling in a paroxysm of terror; I at last found myself partially
awake。 My dream; then; was not all a dream。 Now; at least; I was in
possession of my senses。 The paws of some huge and real monster were
pressing heavily upon my bosom his hot breath was in my ear… and
his white and ghastly fangs were gleaming upon me through the gloom。
Had a thousand lives hung upon the movement of a limb or the
utterance of a syllable; I could have neither stirred nor spoken。 The
beast; whatever it was; retained his position without attempting any
immediate violence; while I lay in an utterly helpless; and; I
fancied; a dying condition beneath him。 I felt that my powers of body
and mind were fast leaving me… in a word; that I was perishing; and
perishing of sheer fright。 My brain swam I grew deadly sick my
vision failed even the glaring eyeballs above me grew dim。 Making
a last strong effort; I at length breathed a faint ejaculation to
God; and resigned myself to die。 The sound of my voice seemed to
arouse all the latent fury of the animal。 He precipitated himself at
full length upon my body; but what was my astonishment; when; with a
long and low whine; he commenced licking my face and hands with the
greatest eagerness; and with the most extravagant demonstration of
affection and joy! I was bewildered; utterly lost in amazement… but I
could not forget the peculiar whine of my Newfoundland dog Tiger; and
the odd manner of his caresses I well knew。 It was he。 I experienced
a sudden rush of blood to my temples… a giddy and overpowering sense
of deliverance and reanimation。 I rose hurriedly from the mattress
upon which I had been lying; and; throwing myself upon the neck of my
faithful follower and friend; relieved the long oppression of my
bosom in a flood of the most passionate tears。
As upon a former occasion my conceptions were in a state of the
greatest indistinctness and confusion after leaving the mattress。 For
a long time I found it nearly impossible to connect any ideas; but;
by very slow degrees; my thinking faculties returned; and I again
called to memory the several incidents of my condition。 For the
presence of Tiger I tried in vain to account; and after busying
myself with a thousand different conjectures respecting him; was
forced to content myself with rejoicing that he was with me to share
my dreary solitude; and render me comfort by his caresses。 Most
people love their dogs but for Tiger I had an affection far more
ardent than common; and never; certainly; did any creature more truly
deserve it。 For seven years he had been my inseparable companion; and
in a multitude of instances had given evidence of all the noble
qualities for which we value the animal。 I had rescued him; when a
puppy; from the clutches of a malignant little villain in Nantucket
who was leading him; with a rope around his neck; to the water; and
the grown dog repaid the obligation; about three years afterward; by
saving me from the bludgeon of a street robber。
Getting now hold of the watch; I found; upon applying it to my
ear; that it had again run down; but at this I was not at all
surprised; being convinced; from the peculiar state of my feelings;
that I had slept; as before; for a very long period of time; how
long; it was of course impossible to say。 I was burning up with
fever; and my thirst was almost intolerable。 I felt about the box for
my little remaining supply of water; for I had no light; the taper
having burnt to the socket of the lantern; and the phosphorus…box not
coming readily to hand。 Upon finding the jug; however; I discovered
it to be empty Tiger; no doubt; having been tempted to drink it;
as well as to devour the remnant of mutton; the bone of which lay;
well picked; by the opening of the box。 The spoiled meat I could well
spare; but my heart sank as I thought of the water。 I was feeble in
the extreme so much so that I shook all over; as with an ague; at
the slightest movement or exertion。 To add to my troubles; the brig
was pitching and rolling with great violence; and the oil…casks which
lay upon my box were in momentary danger of falling down; so as to
block up the only way of ingress or egress。 I felt; also; terrible
sufferings from sea…sickness。 These considerations determined me to
make my way; at all hazards; to the trap; and obtain immediate
relief; before I should be incapacitated from doing so altogether。
Having come to this resolve; I again felt about for the
phosphorus…box and tapers。 The former I found after some little
trouble; but; not discovering the tapers as soon as I had expected
(for I remembered very nearly the spot in which I had placed them); I
gave up the search for the present; and bidding Tiger lie quiet;
began at once my journey toward the trap。
In this attempt my great feebleness became more than ever
apparent。 It was with the utmost difficulty I could crawl along at
all; and very frequently my limbs sank suddenly from beneath me;
when; falling prostrate on my face; I would remain for some minutes
in a state bordering on insensibility。 Still I struggled forward by
slow degrees; dreading every moment that I should swoon amid the
narrow and intricate windings of the lumber; in which event I had
nothing but death to expect as the result。 At length; upon making a
push forward with all the energy I could command; I struck my
forehead violently against the sharp corner of an iron…bound crate。
The accident only stunned me for a few moments; but I found; to my
inexpressible grief; that the quick and violent roll of the vessel
had thrown the crate entirely across my path; so as effectually to
block up the passage。 With my utmost exertions I could not move it a
single inch from its position; it being closely wedged in among the
surrounding boxes and ship…furniture。 It became necessary; therefore;
enfeebled as I was; either to leave the guidance of the whipcord and
seek out a new passage; or to climb over the obstacle; and resume the
path on the other side。 The former alternative presented too many
difficulties and dangers to be thought of without a shudder。 In my
present weak state of both mind and body; I should infallibly lose my
way if I attempted it; and perish miserably amid the dismal and
disgusting labyrinths of the hold。 I proceeded; therefore; without
hesitation; to summon up all my remaining strength and fortitude; and
endeavour; as I best might; to clamber over the crate。
Upon standing erect; with this end in view; I found the
undertaking even a more serious task than my fears had led me to
imagine。 On each side of the narrow passage arose a complete wall of
various heavy lumber; which the least blunder on my part might be the
means of bringing down upon my head; or; if this accident did not
occur; the path might be effectually blocked up against my return by
the descending mass; as it was in front by the obstacle there。 The
crate itself was a long and unwieldy box; upon which no foothold
could be obtained。 In vain I attempted; by every means in my power;
to reach the top; with the hope of being thus enabled to draw myself
up。 Had I succeeded in reaching it; it is certain that my strength
would have proved utterly inadequate to the task of getting over; and
it was better in every respect that I failed。 At length; in a
desperate effort to force the crate from its ground; I felt a strong
vibration in the side next me。 I thrust my hand eagerly to the edge
of the planks; and found that a very large one was loose。 With my
pocket…knife; which; luckily; I had with me; I succeeded; after great
labour; in prying it entirely off; and getting it through the
aperture; discovered; to my exceeding joy; that there were no boards
on the opposite side in other words; that the top was wanting; it
being the bottom through which I had forced my way。 I now met with no
important difficulty in proceeding along the line until I finally
reached the nail。 With a beating heart I stood erect; and with a
gentle touch pressed against the cover of the trap。 It did not rise
as soon as I had expected; and I pressed it with somewhat more
determination; still dreading lest some other person than Augustus
might be in his state…room。 The door; however; to my astonishment;
remained steady; and I became somewhat uneasy; for I knew that it had
formerly required but little or no effort to remove it。 I pushed it
strongly it was nevertheless firm: with all my strength it
still did not give way: with rage; with fury; with despair it set
at defiance my utmost efforts; and it was evident;
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