gulliver of mars(火星上的格列弗)-第22章
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hundreds of empty canoes； while scores of others were drawn up on the
strand； and then the first thing I chanced upon was a group of people
youthful； of course； with the eternal Martian bloomand in the splendid
simplicity of almost complete nakedness。 My first idea was that they
were bathing； and fixing my eyes on the tree…tops with great propriety； I
gave a warning cough。 At that sound instead of getting to cover； or
clothes； all started up and stood staring for a time like a herd of startled
cattle。 It was highly embarrassing； they were right in the path； a round
dozen of them； naked and so little ashamed that when I edged away
modestly they began to run after me。 And the farther they came forward
the more I retired； till we were playing a kind of game of hide…and…seek
round the tree…stems。 In the middle of it my heel caught in a root and
down I went very hard and very ignominiously； whereon those laughing；
light…hearted folk rushed in； and with smiles and jests helped me to my
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feet。
〃Was I the traveller who had come from Seth？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Oh； then that was well。 They had heard such a traveller was on the
road； and had come a little way down the path； as far as might be without
fatigue； to meet him。〃
〃Would I eat with them？〃 these amiable strangers asked； pushing their
soft warm fingers into mine and ringing me round with a circle。 〃But
firstly might they help me out of my clothes？ It was hot； and these things
were cumber… some。〃 As to the eating； I was agreeable enough seeing
how casual meals had been with me lately； but my clothes； though Heaven
knows they were getting horribly ragged and travel…stained； I clung to
desperately。
My new friends shrugged their dimpled shoulders and； arguments
being tedious； at once squatted round me in the dappled shade of a big tree
and produced their stores of never failing provisions。 After a pleasant
little meal taken thus in the open and with all the simplicity Martians de…
light in； we got to talking about those yellow canoes which were bobbing
about on the blue waters of the bay。
〃Would you like to see where they are grown？〃 asked an individual
basking by my side。
〃Grown！〃 I answered with incredulity。 〃Built； you mean。 Never in
my life did I hear of growing boats。〃
〃But then； sir；〃 observed the girl as she sucked the honey out of the
stalk of an azure convolvulus flower and threw the remains at a butterfly
that sailed across the sunshine； 〃you know so little！ You have come from
afar； from some barbarous and barren district。 Here we undoubtedly
grow our boats； and though we know the Thither folk and such
uncultivated races make their craft by cumbrous methods of flat planks；
yet we prefer our own way； for one thing be… cause it saves trouble；〃 and
as she murmured that all… sufficient reason the gentle damsel nodded
reflectively。
But one of her companions； more lively for the moment； tickled her
with a straw until she roused； and then said； 〃Let us take the stranger to the
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boat garden now。 The cur… rent will drift us round the bay； and we can
come back when it turns。 If we wait we shall have to row in both
directions； or even walk；〃 and again planetary slothfulness carried the day。
So down to the beach we strolled and launched one of the golden…hued
skiffs upon the pretty dancing wavelets just where they ran； lipped with
jewelled spray； on the shore； and then only had I a chance to scrutinise
their material。 I patted that one we were upon inside and out。 I noted
with a seaman's admiration its lightness； elasticity； and supreme sleekness；
its marvellous buoyancy and fairy… like 〃lines；〃 and after some minutes'
consideration it sud… denly flashed across me that it was all of gourd rind。
And as if to supply confirmation； the flat land we were ap… proaching on
the opposite side of the bay was covered by the characteristic verdure of
these plants with a touch here and there of splendid yellow blossoms； but
all of gigantic proportions。
〃Ay；〃 said a Martian damsel lying on the bottom； and taking and
kissing my hand as she spoke； in the simple… hearted way of her people； 〃I
see you have guessed how we make our boats。 Is it the same in your
distant country？〃
〃No； my girl； and what's more； I am a bit uneasy as to what the fellows
on the Carolina will say if they ever hear I went to sea in a hollowed…out
pumpkin； and with a young ladywell； dressed as you arefor crew。
Even now I can… not imagine how you get your ships so trim and shapely
there is not a seam or a patch anywhere； it looks as if you had run them
into a mould。〃
〃That's just what we have done； sir； and now you will witness the
moulds at work； for here we are；〃 and the little skiff was pulled ashore and
the Martians and I jumped out on the shelving beach； hauled our boat up
high and dry； and there right over us； like great green umbrellas； spread the
fronds of the outmost garden of this strangest of all ship… building yards。
Briefly； and not to make this part of my story too long； those gilded boys
and girls took me ashore； and chattering like finches in the evening；
showed how they planted their gourd seed； nourished the gigantic plants as
they grew with brackish water and the burnt ashes； then； when they
flowered； mated the male and female blossoms； glorious funnels of golden
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hue big enough for one to live in； and when the young fruit was of the
bigness of an ordinary bolster； how they slipped it into a double mould of
open reed…work something like the two halves of a walnut… shell； and how；
growing day by day in this； it soon took every curve and line they chose to
give it； even the hanging keel below； the strengthened bulwarks； and tall
prow…piece。 It was so ingenious； yet simple； and I confess I laughed over
my first skiff 〃on the stalk；〃 and fell to bantering the Martians； asking
whether it was a good season for navies； whether their Cunarders were
spreading nicely； if they could give me a pinch of barge seed； or a yacht in
bud to show to my friends at home。
But those lazy people took the matter seriously enough。 They led me
down green alleys arched over with huge melon…like leaves； they led me
along innumerable byways； making me peep and peer through the
chequered sunlight at ocean…growing craft； that had budded twelve months
before； already filling their moulds to the last inch of space。 They told me
that when the growing process was sufficiently advanced； they loosened
the casing； and cutting a hole into the interior of each giant fruit； scooped
out all its seed； thereby checking more advance； and throwing into the rind
strength that would otherwise have gone to reproductive… ness。 They said
each fruit made two vessels； but the upper half was always best and used
for long salt…water jour… neys； the lower piece being but for punting or
fishing on their lakes。 They cut them in half while still green； scraped
out the light remaining pulp when dry； and dragged them down with the
minimum of trouble； light as feathers； ten… acious as steel plate； and
already in the form and fashion of dainty craft from five to twenty feet in
length； when the process was completed。
By the time we had explored this strangest of ship… building yards； and
I had seen last year's crop on the stocks being polished and fitted with
seats and gear； the sun was going down； and the Martian twilight； owing to
the comparative steepness of the little planet's sides； being brief； we
strolled back to the village； and there they gave me harbourage for the
night； ambrosial supper； and a deep draught of the wine of Forgetfulness；
under the gauzy spell of which the real and unreal melted into the vistas of
rosy oblivion； and I slept。
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CHAPTER XI
With the new morning came fresh energy and a spasm of conscience
as I thought of poor Heru and the shabby sort of rescuer I was to lie about
with these pretty triflers while she remained in peril。
So I had a bath and a swim； a breakfast； and； to my shame be it
acknowledged； a sort of farewell merry…go… round dance on the yellow
sands with a dozen young persons all light…hearted as the morning；
beautiful as the flowers that bound their hair； and in the extremity of
statuesque attire。
Then at last I got them to give me a sea…going canoe； a stock of cakes
and fresh water； and with many parting in… junctions how to find the
Woodman trail； since I would not listen to reason and lie all the rest of my
life with them in the sunshine； they pushed me off on my lonely voyage。
〃Over the blue waters！〃 they shouted in chorus as I dipped my paddle
into the diamond…crested wavelets。 〃Six hours； adventurous stranger；
with the sun behind you！ Then into the broad river behind the yellow
sand…bar。 But not the black northward river！ Not the strong； black river；
above all things； stranger！ For that is the River of the Dead； by which
many go but none come back。 Goodbye！〃 And
