gulliver of mars-第17部分

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　while　like　the　wild　beasts　we　were；　the　teeth　chattering　in　the　Martian　heads　as　they　watched　us；　and　then；　exerting　all　my　strength；　lifted　him　fairly　from　his　feet　and　with　supreme　effort　swung　him　up；　shoulder　high；　and　with　a　mighty　heave　hurled　him　across　the　tables；　flung　that　ambassador；　whom　no　Martian　dared　look　upon；　crashing　and　sprawling　through　the　gold　and　silver　of　the　feast；　whirled　him　round　with　such　a　splendid　send　that　bench　and　trestle；　tankards　and　flagons；　chairs　and　cloths　and　candelabras　all　went　down　into　thundering　chaos　with　him；　and　the　envoy　only　stayed　when　his　sacred　person　came　to　harbour　amongst　the　westral　odds　and　ends；　the　soiled　linen；　and　dirty　platters　of　our　wedding　feast。

I　remember　seeing　him　there　on　hands　and　knees；　and　then　the　liquor　I　had　had　would　not　be　denied。　　In　vain　I　drew　my　hands　across　my　drooping　eyelids；　in　vain　I　tried　to　master　my　knees　that　knocked　together。　　The　spell　of　the　love…drink　that　Heru；　blushing；　had　held　to　my　lips　was　on　me。　　Its　soft；　overwhelming　influence　rose　like　a　prismatic　fog　between　me　and　my　enemy；　everything　again　became　hazy　and　dreamlike；　and　feebly　calling　on　Heru；　my　chin　dropped　upon　my　chest；　my　limbs　relaxed；　and　I　slipped　down　in　drowsy　oblivion　before　my　rival。




CHAPTER　VIII

They　must　have　carried　me；　still　under　the　influence　of　　wine　fumes；　to　the　chamber　where　I　slept　that　night；　for　when　I　woke　the　following　morning　my　surroundings　were　familiar　enough；　though　a　glorious　maze　of　uncertainties　rocked　to　and　fro　in　my　mind。

Was　it　a　real　feast　we　had　shared　in　overnight；　or　only　a　quaint　dream？　　Was　Heru　real　or　only　a　lovely　fancy？　　And　those　hairy　ruffians　of　whom　a　horrible　vision　danced　before　my　waking　eyes；　were　they　fancy　too？　　No；　my　wrists　still　ached　with　the　strain　of　the　tussle；　the　quaint；　sad　wine　taste　was　still　on　my　lipsit　was　all　real　enough；　I　decided；　starting　up　in　bed；　and　if　it　was　real　where　was　the　little　princess？　　What　had　they　done　with　her？　　Surely　they　had　not　given　her　to　the　ape…mencowards　though　they　were　they　could　not　have　been　cowards　enough　for　that。　　And　as　I　wondered　a　keen；　bright　picture　of　the　hapless　maid　as　I　saw　her　last　blossomed　before　my　mind's　eye；　the　am…　bassadors　on　either　side　holding　her　wrists；　and　she　shrink…　ing　from　them　in　horror　while　her　poor；　white　face　turned　to　me　for　rescue　in　desperate　pleadingoh！　I　must　find　her　at　all　costs；　and　leaping　from　bed　I　snatched　up　those　trousers　without　which　the　best　of　heroes　is　nothing；　and　had　hardly　got　into　them　when　there　came　the　patter　of　light　feet　without　and　a　Martian；　in　a　hurry　for　once；　with　half　a　dozen　others　behind　him；　swept　aside　the　curtains　of　my　doorway。

They　peeped　and　peered　all　about　the　room；　then　one　said；　〃Is　Princess　Heru　with　you；　sir？〃

〃No；〃　I　answered　roughly。　　〃Saints　alive；　man；　do　you　think　I　would　have　you　tumbling　in　here　over　each　other's　heels　if　she　were？〃

〃Then　it　must　indeed　have　been　Heru；〃　he　said；　speak…　ing　in　an　awed　voice　to　his　fellows；　〃whom　we　saw　carried　down　to　the　harbour　at　daybreak　by　yonder　woodmen；〃　and　the　pink　upon　their　pretty　cheeks　faded　to　nothing　at　the　suggestion。

〃What！〃　I　roared；　〃Heru　taken　from　the　palace　by　a　handful　of　men　and　none　of　you　infernal　rascalsnone　of　you　white…livered　abortions　lifted　a　hand　to　save　hercurse　on　you　a　thousand　times。　　Out　of　my　way；　you　churls！〃　　And　snatching　up　coat　and　hat　and　sword　I　rushed　furiously　down　the　long；　marble　stairs　just　as　the　short　Martian　night　was　giving　place　to　lavender…coloured　light　of　morning。　　I　found　my　way　somehow　down　the　deserted　corridors　where　the　air　was　heavy　with　aromatic　vapours；　I　flew　by　cur…　tained　niches　and　chambers　where　amongst　mounds　of　half…　withered　flowers　the　Martian　lovers　were　slowly　waking。　Down　into　the　banquethall　I　sped；　and　there　in　the　twilight　was　the　litter　of　the　feast　still　aboutgold　cups　and　silver；　broken　bread　and　meat；　the　convolvulus　flowers　all　turning　their　pallid　faces　to　the　rosy　daylight；　making　pools　of　brightness　between　the　shadows。　　Amongst　the　litter　little　sapphire…coloured　finches　were　feeding；　twittering　merrily　to　themselves　as　they　hopped　about；　and　here　and　there　down　the　long　tables　lay　asprawl　a　belated　reveller；　his　empty　oblivion…phial　before　him；　his　curly　head　upon　his　arms；　dreaming　perhaps　of　last　night's　feast　and　a　neglected　bride　dozing　dispassionate　in　some　distant　chamber。　　But　Heru　was　not　there　and　little　I　cared　for　twittering　finches　or　sighing　damsels。　　With　hasty　feet　I　rushed　down　the　hall　out　into　the　cool；　sweet　air　of　the　planet　morning。

There　I　met　one　whom　I　knew；　and　he　told　me　he　had　been　among　the　crowd　and　had　heard　the　woodmen　had　gone　no　farther　than　the　river　gate；　that　Heru　was　with　them　beyond　a　doubt。　　I　would　not　listen　to　more。　　〃Good！〃　I　shouted。　　〃Get　me　a　horse　and　just　a　handful　of　your　sleek　kindred　and　we　will　pull　the　prize　from　the　bear's　paw　even　yet！　　Surely；〃　I　said；　turning　to　a　knot　of　Martian　youths　who　stood　listening　a　few　steps　away；　〃surely　some　of　you　will　come　with　me　at　this　pinch？　　The　big　bullies　are　very　few；　the　sea　runs　behind　them；　the　maid　in　their　clutch　is　worth　fighting　for；　it　needs　but　one　good　onset；　five　minutes'　gallantry；　and　she　is　ours　again。　　Think　how　fine　it　will　look　to　bring　her　back　before　yon　sleepy　fellows　have　found　their　weapons。　　You；　there；　with　the　blue　tunic！　you　look　a　proper　fellow；　and　something　of　a　heart　should　beat　under　such　gay　wrappings；　will　you　come　with　me？〃

But　blue…mantle；　biting　his　thumbs；　murmured　he　had　not　breakfasted　yet　and　edged　away　behind　his　com…　panions。　　Wherever　I　looked　eyes　dropped　and　timid　hands　fidgeted　as　their　owners　backed　off　from　my　dangerous　en…　thusiasm。　　There　was　obviously　no　help　to　be　had　from　them；　and　meantime　the　precious　moments　were　flying；　so　with　a　disdainful　glance　I　turned　on　my　heels　and　set　off　alone　as　hard　as　I　could　go　for　the　harbour。

But　it　was　too　late。　　I　rushed　through　the　marketplace　where　all　was　silent　and　deserted；　I　ran　on　to　the　wharves　beyond　and　they　were　empty　save　for　the　litter　and　embers　of　the　fires　Ar…hap's　men　had　made　during　their　stay；　I　dashed　out　to　the　landing…place；　and　there　at　the　hythe　the　last　boat…　loads　of　the　villains　were　just　embarking；　two　boatloads　of　them　twenty　yards　from　shore；　and　another　still　upon　the　beach。　　This　latter　was　careening　over　as　a　dusky　group　of　men　lifted　aboard　to　a　heap　of　tumbled　silks　and　stuffs　in　the　stern　such　a　sweet　piece　of　insensible　merchandise　as　no　man；　I　at　least　of　all；　could　mistake。　　It　was　Heru　her…　self；　and　the　rogues　were　ladling　her　on　board　like　so　much　sandal…wood　or　cotton　sheeting。　　I　did　not　wait　for　more；　but　out　came　my　sword；　and　yielding　to　a　reckless　impulse；　for　which　perhaps　last　night's　wine　was　as　much　to　blame　as　anything；　I　sprang　down　the　steps　and　leapt　aboard　of　the　boat　just　as　it　was　pushed　off　upon　the　swift　tide。　　Full　of　Bersark　rage；　I　cut　one　brawny　copper…coloured　thief　down；　and　struck　another　with　my　fist　between　the　eyes　so　that　he　went　headlong　into　the　water；　sinking　like　lead；　and　deep　into　the　great　target　of　his　neighbour's　chest　I　drove　my　blade。　　Had　there　been　a　man　beside　me；　had　there　been　but　two　or　three　of　all　those　silken　triflers；　too　late　come　on　the　terraces　above　to　watch；　we　might　have　won。　　But　all　alone　what　could　I　do？　　That　last　red　beast　turned　on　my　blade；　and　as　he　fell　dragged　me　half　down　with　him。　　I　staggered　up；　and　tugging　the　metal　from　him　turned　on　the　next。

At　that　moment　the　cause　of　all　the　turmoil；　roused　by　the　fighting；　came　to　herself；　and　sitting　up　on　the　piled　plunder　in　the　boat　stared　round　for　a　moment　with　a　child…　ish　horror　at　the　barbarians　whose　prize　she　was；　then　at　me；　then　at　the　dead　man　at　my　feet　whose　blood　was　welling　in　a　red　tide　from　the　wound　in　his　breast。　　As　the　full　meaning　of　the　scene　dawned　upon　her　she　started　to　her　feet；　looking　wonderfully　beautiful　amongst　those　dusky　forms；　and　extending　her　hands　to　me　began　to　cry　in　the　most　piteous　way。　　I　sprang　forward；　and　as　I　did　so　saw　an　ape…　man　clap　his　hairy　paw　over　her　mouth　and　faceit　was　like　an　eclipse　of　the　moon　by　a　red　earth…shadow；　I　thought　at　the　momentand　drag　her　roughly　back；　but　that　was　about　the　last　I　remembered。　　As　I　turned　to　hit　him　standing　on　the　slippery　thwart；　another　rogue　crept　up　behind　and　let　drive　with　a　club　he　had　in　hand。　　The　cud…　gel　caught　me　sideways　on　the　head；　a　glancing　shot。　　I　can　recall　a　blaze　of　light；　a　strange　medley　of　sounds　in　my　ears；　and　then；　clutching　at　a　pile　of　stuffs　as　I　fell；　a　tall　bower　of　spray　rising　on　either　hand；　and　the　cool　shock　of　the　blue　sea　as　I　plunged　headlong　inbut　noth…　ing　after　that！

How　long　after　I　know　not；　but　presently　a　tissue　of　day…　light　crept　into　my　eyes；　and　I　awoke　again。　　It　was　better　than　nothing　perhaps；　yet　it　was　a　poor　awakening。　　The　big　sun　lay　low　down；　and　the　day　was　all　but　done；　so　much　I　guessed　as　I　rocked　in　that　light　with　an　undulating　movement；　and　then　as　my　senses　returned　more　fully；　recognised　with　a　start　of　wonder　that　I　was　still　in　the　water；　floating　on　a　swift　current　into　the　unknown　on　an　air…filled　pile　of　silken　stuf