penguin island-第10章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


t　to　have　run　him　through　with　his　pitchfork；　but　he　slipped　in　a　pool　and　so　let　him　escape。　The　others　would　certainly　have　caught　him　had　they　not　waited　to　pick　up　the　rabbits　and　fowls　that　he　dropped　in　his　flight。

Those　labourers　declared　to　the　Elders　of　the　village　that　the　monster's　form　and　proportions　appeased　to　them　human　enough　except　for　his　head　and　his　tail；　which　were；　in　truth；　terrifying。



XI。　THE　DRAGON　OF　ALCA　（Continuation）

On　that　day　Kraken　came　back　to　his　cavern　sooner　than　usual。　He　took　from　his　head　his　sealskin　helmet　with　its　two　bull's　horns　and　its　visor　trimmed　with　terrible　hooks。　He　threw　on　the　table　his　gloves　that　ended　in　horrible　clawsthey　were　the　beaks　of　sea…birds。　He　unhooked　his　belt　from　which　hung　a　long　green　tail　twisted　into　many　folds。　Then　he　ordered　his　page；　Elo；　to　help　him　off　with　his　boots　and；　as　the　child　did　not　succeed　in　doing　this　very　quickly；　he　gave　him　a　kick　that　sent　him　to　the　other　end　of　the　grotto。

Without　looking　at　the　fair　Orberosia；　who　was　spinning；　he　seated　himself　in　front　of　the　fireplace；　on　which　a　sheep　was　roasting；　and　he　muttered：

〃Ignoble　Penguins。　。　。　。　There　is　no　worse　trade　than　a　dragon's。〃

〃What　does　my　master　say？〃　asked　the　fair　Orberosia。

〃They　fear　me　no　longer；〃　continued　Kraken。　〃Formerly　everyone　fled　at　my　approach。　I　carried　away　hens　and　rabbits　in　my　bag；　I　drove　sheep　and　pigs；　cows；　and　oxen　before　me。　To…day　these　clod…hoppers　keep　a　good　guard；　they　sit　up　at　night。　Just　now　I　was　pursued　in　the　village　of　Anis　by　doughty　labourers　armed　with　flails　and　scythes　and　pitchforks。　I　had　to　drop　the　hens　and　rabbits；　put　my　tail　under　my　arm；　and　run　as　fast　as　I　could。　Now　I　ask　you；　is　it　seemly　for　a　dragon　of　Cappadocia　to　run　away　like　a　robber　with　his　tail　under　his　arm？　Further；　incommoded　as　I　was　by　crests；　horns；　hooks；　claws；　and　scales；　I　barely　escaped　a　brute　who　ran　half　an　inch　of　his　pitchfork　into　my　left　thigh。〃

As　he　said　this　he　carefully　ran　his　hand　over　the　insulted　part；　and；　after　giving　himself　up　for　a　few　moments　to　bitter　meditation：

〃What　idiots　those　Penguins　are！　I　am　tired　of　blowing　flames　in　the　faces　of　such　imbeciles。　Orberosia；　do　you　hear　me？〃

Having　thus　spoken　the　hero　raised　his　terrible　helmet　in　his　hands　and　gazed　at　it　for　a　long　time　in　gloomy　silence。　Then　he　pronounced　these　rapid　words：

〃I　have　made　this　helmet　with　my　own　hands　in　the　shape　of　a　fish's　head；　covering　it　with　the　skin　of　a　seal。　To　make　it　more　terrible　I　have　put　on　it　the　horns　of　a　bull　and　I　have　given　it　a　boar's　jaws；　I　have　hung　from　it　a　horse's　tail　dyed　vermilion。　When　in　the　gloomy　twilight　I　threw　it　over　my　shoulders　no　inhabitant　of　this　island　had　courage　to　withstand　its　sight。　Women　and　children；　young　men　and　old　men　fled　distracted　at　its　approach；　and　I　carried　terror　among　the　whole　race　of　Penguins。　By　what　advice　does　that　insolent　people　lose　its　earlier　fears　and　dare　to…day　to　behold　these　horrible　jaws　and　to　attack　this　terrible　crest？〃

And　throwing　his　helmet　on　the　rocky　soil：

〃Perish；　deceitful　helmet！〃　cried　Kraken。　〃I　swear　by　all　the　demons　of　Armor　that　I　will　never　bear　you　upon　my　head　again。〃

And　having　uttered　this　oath　he　stamped　upon　his　helmet；　his　gloves；　his　boots；　and　upon　his　tail　with　its　twisted　folds。

〃Kraken；〃　said　the　fair　Orberosia；　〃will　you　allow　your　servant　to　employ　artifice　to　save　your　reputation　and　your　goods？　Do　not　despise　a　woman's　help。　You　need　it；　for　all　men　are　imbeciles。〃

〃Woman；〃　asked　Kraken；　〃what　are　your　plans？〃

And　the　fair　Orberosia　informed　her　husband　that　the　monks　were　going　through　the　villages　teaching　the　inhabitants　the　best　way　of　combating　the　dragon；　that；　according　to　their　instructions；　the　beast　would　be　overcome　by　a　virgin；　and　that　if　a　maid　placed　her　girdle　around　the　dragon's　neck　she　could　lead　him　as　easily　as　if　he　were　a　little　dog。

〃How　do　you　know　that　the　monks　teach　this？〃　asked　Kraken。

〃My　friend；〃　answered　Orberosia；　〃do　not　interrupt　a　serious　subject　by　frivolous　questions。　。　。　。　'If；　then；'　added　the　monks；　'there　be　in　Alca　a　pure　virgin；　let　her　arise！'　Now；　Kraken；　I　have　determined　to　answer　their　call。　I　will　go　and　find　the　holy　Mael　and　I　will　say　to　him：　'I　am　the　virgin　destined　by　Heaven　to　overthrow　the　dragon。'〃

At　these　words　Kraken　exclaimed：　〃How　can　you　be　that　pure　virgin？　And　why　do　you　want　to　overthrow　me；　Orberosia？　Have　you　lost　your　reason？　Be　sure　that　I　will　not　allow　myself　to　be　conquered　by　you！〃

〃Can　you　not　try　and　understand　me　before　you　get　angry？〃　sighed　the　fair　Orberosia　with　deep　though　gentle　contempt。

And　she　explained　the　cunning　designs　that　she　had　formed。

As　he　listened；　the　hero　remained　pensive。　And　when　she　ceased　speaking：

〃Orberosia；　your　cunning；　is　deep；〃　said　he；　〃And　if　your　plans　are　carried　out　according　to　your　intentions　I　shall　derive　great　advantages　from　them。　But　how　can　you　be　the　virgin　destined　by　heaven？〃

〃Don't　bother　about　that；〃　she　replied；　〃and　come　to　bed。〃

The　next　day　in　the　grease…laden　atmosphere　of　the　cavern；　Kraken　plaited　a　deformed　skeleton　out　of　osier　rods　and　covered　it　with　bristling；　scaly；　and　filthy　skins。　To　one　extremity　of　the　skeleton　Orberosia　sewed　the　fierce　crest　and　the　hideous　mask　that　Kraken　used　to　wear　in　his　plundering　expeditions；　and　to　the　other　end　she　fastened　the　tail　with　twisted　folds　which　the　hero　was　wont　to　trail　behind　him。　And　when　the　work　was　finished　they　showed　little　Elo　and　the　other　five　children　who　waited　on　them　how　to　get　inside　this　machine；　how　to　make　it　walk；　how　to　blow　horns　and　burn　tow　in　it　so　as　to　send　forth　smoke　and　flames　through　the　dragon's　mouth。



XII。　THE　DRAGON　OF　ALCA　（Continuation）

Orberosia；　having　clothed　herself　in　a　robe　made　of　coarse　stuff　and　girt　herself　with　a　thick　cord；　went　to　the　monastery　and　asked　to　speak　to　the　blessed　Mael。　And　because　women　were　forbidden　to　enter　the　enclosure　of　the　monastery　the　old　man　advanced　outside　the　gates；　holding　his　pastoral　cross　in　his　right　hand　and　resting　his　left　on　the　shoulder　of　Brother　Samuel；　the　youngest　of　his　disciples。

He　asked：

〃Woman；　who　art　thou？〃

〃I　am　the　maiden　Orberosia。〃

At　this　reply　Mael　raised　his　trembling　arms　to　heaven。

〃Do　you　speak　truth；　woman？　It　is　a　certain　fact　that　Orberosia　was　devoured　by　the　dragon。　And　yet　I　see　Orberosia　and　hear　her。　Did　you　not；　O　my　daughter；　while　within　the　dragon's　bowels　arm　yourself　with　the　sign　of　the　cross　and　come　uninjured　out　of　his　throat？　That　is　what　seems　to　me　the　most　credible　explanation。〃

〃You　are　not　deceived；　father；〃　answered　Orberosia。　〃That　is　precisely　what　happened　to　me。　Immediately　I　came　out　of　the　creature's　bowels　I　took　refuge　in　a　hermitage　on　the　Coast　of　Shadows。　I　lived　there　in　solitude；　giving　myself　up　to　prayer　and　meditation；　and　performing　unheard　of　austerities；　until　I　learnt　by　a　revelation　from　heaven　that　a　maid　alone　could　overcome　the　dragon；　and　that　I　was　that　maid。〃

〃Show　me　a　sign　of　your　mission；〃　said　the　old　man。

〃I　myself　am　the　sign；〃　answered　Orberosia。

〃I　am　not　ignorant　of　the　power　of　those　who　have　placed　a　seal　upon　their　flesh；〃　replied　the　apostle　of　the　Penguins。　But　are　you　indeed　such　as　you　say？〃

〃You　will　see　by　the　result；〃　answered　Orberosia。

The　monk　Regimental　drew　near：

〃That　will；〃　said　he；　〃be　the　best　proof。　King　Solomon　has　said：　'Three　things　are　hard　to　understand　and　a　fourth　is　impossible：　they　are　the　way　of　a　serpent　on　the　earth；　the　way　of　a　bird　in　the　air；　the　way　of　a　ship　in　the　sea；　and　the　way　of　a　man　with　a　maid！'　I　regard　such　matrons　as　nothing　less　than　presumptuous　who　claim　to　compare　themselves　in　these　matters　with　the　wisest　of　kings。　Father；　if　you　are　led　by　me　you　will　not　consult　them　in　regard　to　the　pious　Orberosia。　When　they　have　given　their　opinion　you　will　not　be　a　bit　farther　on　than　before。　Virginity　is　not　less　difficult　to　prove　than　to　keep。　Pliny　tells　us　in　his　history　that　its　signs　are　either　imaginary　or　very　uncertain。*　One　who　bears　upon　her　the　fourteen　signs　of　corruption　may　yet　be　pure　in　the　eyes　of　the　angels；　and；　on　the　contrary；　another　who　has　been　pronounced　pure　by　the　matrons　who　inspected　her　may　know　that　her　good　appearance　is　due　to　the　artifices　of　a　cunning　perversity。　As　for　the　purity　of　this　holy　girl　here；　I　would　put　my　hand　in　the　fire　in　witness　of　it。〃

*　We　have　vainly　sought　for　this　phrase　in　Pliny's　〃Natural　History。〃Editor。


He　spoke　thus　because　he　was　the　Devil。　But　old　Mael　did　not　know　it。　He　asked　the　pious　Orberosia：

〃My　daughter；　how；　would　you　proceed　to　conquer　so　fierce　an　animal　as　he　who　devoured　you？〃

The　virgin　answered：

〃To…morrow　at　sunrise；　O　Mael；　you　will　summon　the　people　together　on　the　hill　in　front　of　the　desolate　moor　that　extends　to　the　Coast　of　Shadows；　and　you　will　take　care　that　no　man　of　the　Penguins　remains　less　than　five　hundred　paces　from　those　rocks　so　that　he　may　not　be　poisoned　by　the　monster's　breath。　And　the　dragon　will　come　out　of　the　rocks　and　I　will　put　my　girdle　round　his　neck　and　lead　him　like　an　obedient　dog。〃

〃Ought　you　not　to　be　accompanied　by　a　courageous　and　pious　man　who　will　kill　the　dragon？〃　asked　Mael。

〃It　will　be　as　thou　sayest；　venerable　father。　I　shall　deliver　the　monster　to　Kraken；　who　will　stay　him　with　his　flashing　sword。　For　I　tell　thee　that　the　noble　Kraken；　who　was　believed　to　be　dead；　will　return　among　the　Penguins　and　he　shall　slay　the　dragon。　And　from　the　creature's　belly　will　come　forth　the　little　children　whom　he　has　devoured。〃

〃What　you　declare　to　me；　O　virgin；〃　cried　the　apostle；　〃seems　wonderful　and　beyond　human　power。〃

〃It　is；〃　answered　the　virgin　Orberosia。　〃But　learn；　O　Mael；　that　I　have　had　a　revelation　that　as　a　reward　for　their　deliverance；　the　Penguin　people　will　pay　to　the　knight　Kraken　an　annual　tribute　of　three　hundred　fowls；　twelve　sheep；　two　oxen；　three　pigs；　one　thousand　eight　hundred　bushels　of　corn；　and　vegetables　according　to　their　season；　and　that；　moreover；　the　children　who　will　come　out　of　the　dragon's　belly　will　be　given　and　committed　to　the　said　Kraken　to　serve　him　and　obey　him　in　all　things。　If　the　Penguin　people　fail　to　keep　their　engagements　a　new　dragon　will　come　upon　the　island　more　terrible　than　the　first。　I　have　spoken。〃



XIII。　THE　DRAGON　OF　ALCA　（Continuation　and　End）

The　people　of　the　Penguins　were　assembled　by　Mael　and　they　spent　the　night　on　the　Coast　of　Shadows　within　the　bounds　which　the　holy　man　had　prescribed　in　order　that　none　among　the　Penguins　should　be　poisoned　by　the　monster's　breath。

The　veil　of　night　still　covered　the　earth　when；　preceded　by　a　hoarse　bellowing；　the　dragon　showed　his　indistinct　and　monstrous　form　upon　the　rocky　coast。　He　crawled　like　a　serpent　and　his　writhing　body　seemed　about　fifteen　feet　long。　At　his　appearance　the　crowd　drew　back　in　terror。　But　soon　all　eyes　were　turned　towards　the　Virgin　Orberosia；　who；　in　the　first　light　of　the　dawn；　clothed　in　white；　advanced　over　the　purple　heather。　With　an　intrepid　though　modest　gait　she　walked　towards　the　beast；　who；　uttering　awful　bellowings；　opened　his　flaming　throat。　An　imm