gulliver of mars-第42部分

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He　had　stood　out　boldly　at　the　first　coming　of　that　onset；　arms　crossed　on　breast；　chin　up；　and　looking　more　of　a　gentleman　than　I　had　ever　seen　him　look　before；　and　now；　stricken；　he　smiled　gravely；　then　without　flinching；　and　still　eyeing　his　enemies　with　gentle　calm；　his　knees　un…　locked；　his　frame　trembled；　then　down　he　went　headlong；　his　red　blood　running　forth　in　rivulets　amongst　the　wine　of　oblivion　he　had　just　poured　out。

There　was　no　time　for　sentiment。　　I　shrugged　my　shoulders；　and　turning　on　my　heels；　with　the　woodmen　close　after　me；　sprang　through　the　near　doorway。　　Where　was　Heru？　　I　flew　down　the　corridor　by　which　it　seemed　she　had　re…　treated；　and　then；　hesitating　a　moment　where　it　divided　in　two；　took　the　left　one。　　This　to　my　chagrin　presently　began　to　trend　upwards；　whereas　I　knew　Heru　was　making　for　the　river　down　below。

But　it　was　impossible　to　go　back；　and　whenever　I　stopped　in　those　deserted　passages　I　could　hear　the　wolflike　patter　of　men's　feet　upon　my　trail。　　On　again　into　the　stony　laby…　rinths　of　the　old　palace；　ever　upwards；　in　spite　of　my　desire　to　go　down；　until　at　last；　the　pursuers　off　the　track　for　a　moment；　I　came　to　a　north　window　in　the　palace　wall；　and；　hot　and　breathless；　stayed　to　look　out。

All　was　peace　here；　the　sky　a　lovely　lavender；　a　promise　of　coming　morning　in　it；　and　a　gold…spangled　curtain　of　stars　out　yonder　on　the　horizon。　　Not　a　soul　moved。　　Below　appeared　a　sheer　drop　of　a　hundred　feet　into　a　moat　wind…　ing　through　thickets　of　heavy…scented　convolvulus　flowers　to　the　waterways　beyond。　　And　as　I　looked　a　skiff　with　half　a　dozen　rowers　came　swiftly　out　of　the　darkness　of　the　wall　and　passed　like　a　shadow　amongst　the　thickets。　　In　the　prow　was　all　Hath's　wedding　plate；　and　in　the　stern；　a　faint　vision　of　unconscious　loveliness；　lay　Heru！

Before　I　could　lift　a　finger　or　call　out；　even　if　I　had　had　a　mind　to　do　so；　the　shadow　had　gone　round　a　bend；　and　a　shout　within　the　palace　told　me　I　was　sighted　again。

On　once　more；　hotly　pursued；　until　the　last　corridor　ended　in　two　doors　leading　into　a　half…lit　gallery　with　open　win…　dows　at　the　further　end。　　There　was　a　wilderness　of　lumber　down　the　sides　of　the　great　garret；　and　now　I　come　to　think　of　it　more　calmly　I　imagine　it　was　Hath's　Lost　Property　Office；　the　vast　receptacle　where　his　slaves　deposited　everything　lazy　Martians　forgot　or　left　about　in　their　daily　life。　　At　that　moment　it　only　represented　a　last　refuge；　and　into　it　I　dashed；　swung　the　doors　to　and　fastened　them　just　as　the　foremost　of　Ar…hap's　men　hurled　themselves　upon　the　barrier　from　outside。

There　I　was　like　a　rat　in　a　trap；　and　like　a　rat　I　made　up　my　mind　to　fight　savagely　to　the　end；　without　for　a　mo…　ment　deceiving　myself　as　to　what　that　end　must　be。　　Even　up　there　the　horrible　roar　of　destruction　was　plainly　audible　as　the　barbarians　sacked　and　burned　the　ancient　town；　and　I　was　glad　from　the　bottom　of　my　heart　my　poor　little　princess　was　safely　out　of　it。　　Nor　did　I　bear　her　or　hers　the　least　resentment　for　making　off　while　there　was　yet　time　and　leaving　me　to　my　fateanything　else　would　have　been　contrary　to　Martian　nature。　　Doubtless　she　would　get　away；　as　Hath　had　said；　and　elsewhere　drop　a　few　pearly　tears　and　then　over　her　sugar…candy　and　lotus…eating　forget　with　happy　completenessmost　blessed　gift！　　And　meanwhile　the　foresaid　barbarians　were　battering　on　my　doors；　while　over　their　heads　choking　smoke　was　pouring　in　in　ever…increas…　ing　volumes。

In　burst　the　first　panel；　then　another；　and　I　could　see　through　the　gaps　a　medley　of　tossing　weapons　and　wild　faces　without。　　Short　shrift　for　me　if　they　came　through；　so　in　the　obstinacy　of　desperation　I　set　to　work　to　pile　old　furniture　and　dry　goods　against　the　barricade。　　And　as　they　yelled　and　hammered　outside　I　screamed　back　defiance　from　within；　sweating；　tugging；　and　hauling　with　the　strength　of　ten　men；　piling　up　the　old　Martian　lumber　against　the　opening　till；　so　fierce　was　the　attack　outside；　little　was　left　of　the　original　doorway　and　nothing　between　me　and　the　beseigers　but　a　rampart　of　broken　woodwork　half　seen　in　a　smother　of　smoke　and　flames。

Still　they　came　on；　thrusting　spears　and　javelins　through　every　crevice　and　my　strength　began　to　go。　　I　threw　two　tables　into　a　gap；　and　brained　a　besieger　with　a　sweet…　meat…seller's　block　and　smothered　another；　and　overturned　a　great　chest　against　my　barricade；　but　what　was　the　purpose　of　it　all？　　They　were　fifty　to　one　and　my　rampart　quaked　before　them。　　The　smoke　was　stifling；　and　the　pains　of　dis…　solution　in　my　heart。　　They　burst　in　and　clambered　up　the　rampart　like　black　ants。　　I　looked　round　for　still　one　more　thing　to　hurl　into　the　breach。　　My　eyes　lit　on　a　roll　of　carpet：　I　seized　it　by　one　corner　meaning　to　drag　it　to　the　door…　way；　and　it　came　undone　at　a　touch。

That　strange；　that　incredible　pattern！　　Where　in　all　the　vicissitudes　of　a　chequered　career　had　I　seen　such　a　one　before？　　I　stared　at　it　in　amazement　under　the　very　spears　of　the　woodmen　in　the　red　glare　of　Hath's　burning　palace。　　Then　all　on　a　sudden　it　burst　upon　me　that　IT　WAS　THE　ACCURSED　RUG；　the　very　one　which　in　response　to　a　careless　wish　had　swept　me　out　of　my　own　dear　world；　and　forced　me　to　take　as　wild　a　journey　into　space　as　ever　fell　to　a　man's　lot　since　the　universe　was　made！

And　in　another　second　it　occurred　to　me　that　if　it　had　brought　me　hither　it　might　take　me　hence。　　It　was　but　a　chance；　yet　worth　trying　when　all　other　chances　were　against　me。　　As　Ar…hap's　men　came　shouting　over　the　barricade　I　threw　myself　down　upon　that　incredible　carpet　and　cried　from　the　bottom　of　my　heart；

〃I　wishI　wish　I　were　in　New　York！〃

Yes！

A　moment　of　thrilling　suspense　and　then　the　corners　lifted　as　though　a　strong　breeze　were　playing　upon　them。　　An…　other　moment　and　they　had　curled　over　like　an　incoming　surge。　　One　swift　glance　I　got　at　the　smoke　and　flames；　the　glittering　spears　and　angry　faces；　and　then　fold　upon　fold；　a　stifling；　all…enveloping　embrace；　a　lift；　a　sense　of　super…　human　speedand　then　forgetfulness。

When　I　came　to；　as　reporters　say；　I　was　aware　the　rug　had　ejected　me　on　solid　ground　and　disappeared；　forever。　Where　was　I！　　It　was　cool；　damp；　and　muddy。　　There　were　some　iron　railings　close　at　hand　and　a　street　lamp　overhead。　These　things　showed　clearly　to　me；　sitting　on　a　doorstep　under　that　light；　head　in　hand；　amazed　and　giddyso　amazed　that　when　slowly　the　recognition　came　of　the　in…　credible　fact　my　wish　was　gratified　and　I　was　home　again；　the　stupendous　incident　scarcely　appealed　to　my　tingling　sen…　ses　more　than　one　of　the　many　others　I　had　lately　undergone。

Very　slowly　I　rose　to　my　feet；　and　as　like　a　discreditable　reveller　as　could　be；　climbed　the　steps。　　The　front　door　was　open；　and　entering　the　oh；　so　familiar　hall　a　sound　of　voices　in　my　sitting…room　on　the　right　caught　my　ear。

〃Oh　no；　Mrs。　Brown；〃　said　one；　which　I　recognised　at　once　as　my　Polly's；　〃he　is　dead　for　certain；　and　my　heart　is　breaking。　　He　would　never；　never　have　left　me　so　long　without　writing　if　he　had　been　alive；〃　and　then　came　a　great　sound　of　sobbing。

〃Bless　your　kind　heart；　miss；〃　said　the　voice　of　my　land…　lady　in　reply；　〃but　you　don't　know　as　much　about　young　gentlemen　as　I　do。　　It　is　not　likely；　if　he　has　gone　off　on　the　razzle…dazzle；　as　I　am　sure　he　has；　he　is　going　to　write　every　post　and　tell　you　about　it。　　Now　you　go　off　to　your　ma　at　the　hotel　like　a　dear；　and　forget　all　about　him　till　he　comes　backthat's　MY　advice。〃

〃I　cannot；　I　cannot；　Mrs。　Brown。　　I　cannot　rest　by　day　or　sleep　by　night　for　thinking　of　him；　for　wondering　why　he　went　away　so　suddenly；　and　for　hungering　for　news　of　him。　　Oh；　I　am　miserable。　　Gully！　　Gully！　　Come　to　me；〃　and　then　there　were　sounds　of　troubled　footsteps　pacing　to　and　fro　and　of　a　woman's　grief。

That　was　more　than　I　could　stand。　　I　flung　the　door　open；　and；　dirty；　dishevelled；　with　unsteady　steps；　advanced　into　the　room。

〃Ahem！〃　coughed　Mrs。　Brown；　〃just　as　I　expected！〃

But　I　had　no　eyes　for　her。　　〃Polly！　　Polly！〃　I　cried；　and　that　dear　girl；　after　a　startled　scream　and　a　glance　to　make　sure　it　was　indeed　the　recovered　prodigal；　rushed　over　and　threw　all　her　weight　of　dear；　warm；　comfortable　woman…　hood　into　my　arms；　and　the　moment　after　burst　into　a　pas…　sion　of　happy　tears　down　my　collar。

〃Humph！〃　quoth　the　landlady；　〃that　is　not　what　BROWN　gets　when　he　forgets　his　self。　　No；　not　by　any　means。〃

But　she　was　a　good　old　soul　at　heart；　and；　seeing　how　matters　stood；　with　a　parting　glance　of　scorn　in　my　direction　and　a　toss　of　her　head；　went　out　of　the　room；　and　closed　the　door　behind　her。

Need　I　tell　in　detail　what　followed？　　Polly　behaved　like　an　angel；　and　when　in　answer　to　her　gentle　reproaches　I　told　her　the　outlines　of　my　marvellous　story　she　almost　be…　lieved　me！　　Over　there　on　the　writing…desk　lay　a　whole　row　of　the　unopened　letters　she　had　showered　upon　me　during　my　absence；　and　amongst　them　an　official　one。　　We　went　and　opened　it　together；　and　it　was　an　intimation　of　my　promotion；　a　much　better　〃step〃　than　I　had　ever　dared　to　hope　for。

Holding　that　missive　in　my　hand　a　thought　suddenly　oc…　curred　to　me。

〃Polly　dear；　this　letter　makes　me　able　to　maintain　you　as　you　ought　to　be　maintain