madam how and lady why(豪夫人和怀女士)-第39章
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Quite happy。 And do you not think that any one who took a gun and
shot either that mother or that child would be both cowardly and cruel？
But they might eat them。
These sea…birds are not good to eat。 They taste too strong of fish…oil。
They are of no use at all； except that the gulls' and terns' feathers are put
into girls' hats。
Well they might find plenty of other things to put in their hats。
So I think。 Yes： it would be very cruel； very cruel indeed； to do
what some do； shoot at these poor things； and leave them floating about
wounded till they die。 But I suppose； if one gave them one's mind about
such doings； and threatened to put the new Sea Fowl Act in force against
them； and fine them； and show them up in the newspapers； they would say
they meant no harm； and had never thought about its being cruel。
Then they ought to think。
They ought； and so ought you。 Half the cruelty in the world； like half
the misery； comes simply from people's not thinking； and boys are often
very cruel from mere thoughtlessness。 So when you are tempted to rob
birds' nests； or to set the dogs on a moorhen； or pelt wrens in the hedge；
think； and sayHow should I like that to be done to me？
I know： but what are all the birds doing？
Look at the water； how it sparkles。 It is alive with tiny fish； 〃fry；〃
〃brett〃 as we call them in the West； which the mackerel are driving up to
the top。
Poor little things！ How hard on them！ The big fish at them from
below； and the birds at them from above。 And what is that？ Thousands of
fish leaping out of the water； scrambling over each other's backs。 What a
curious soft rushing roaring noise they make！
Aha！ The eaters are going to be eaten in turn。 Those are the
mackerel themselves； and I suspect they see Mr。 Whale； and are
scrambling out of the way as fast as they can； lest he should swallow them
down； a dozen at a time。 Look out sharp for him now。
I hope he will not come very near。
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
No。 The fish are going from us and past us。 If he comes up； he will
come up astern of us； so look back。 There he is！
That？ I thought it was a boat。
Yes。 He does look very like a boat upside down。 But that is only
his head and shoulders。 He will blow next。
〃Hoch！〃
Oh！ What a jet of spray； like the Geysers！ And the sun made a
rainbow on the top of it。 He is quite still now。
Yes； he is taking a long breath or two。 You need not hold my hand so
tight。 His head is from us； and when he goes down he will go right away。
Oh； he is turning head over heels！ There is his back fin again。 And
Ah！ was that not a slap！ How the water boiled and foamed； and what a
tail he had！ And how the mackerel flew out of the water！
Yes。 You are a lucky boy to have seen that。 I have not seen one of
those gentlemen show his 〃flukes；〃 as they call them； since I was a boy on
the Cornish coast。
Where is he gone？
Hunting mackerel； away out at sea。 But did you notice something
odd about his tail； as you call itthough it is really none？
It looked as if it was set on flat； and not upright； like a fish's。 But
why is it not a tail？
Just because it is set on flat； not upright： and learned men will tell
you that those two flukes are the 〃rudiments〃that is； either the beginning；
or more likely the last remainsof two hind feet。 But that belongs to the
second volume of Madam How's Book of Kind； and you have not yet
learned any of the first volume； you know； except about a few butterflies。
Look here！ Here are more whales coming。 Don't be frightened。 They
are only little ones； mackerel…hunting； like the big one。
What pretty smooth things； turning head over heels； and saying； 〃Hush；
Hush！〃
They don't really turn clean over； and that 〃Hush〃 is their way of
breathing。
Are they the young ones of that great monster？
No； they are porpoises。 That big one is； I believe； a bottle… nose。
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
But if you want to know about the kinds of whales； you must ask Dr。
Flower at the Royal College of Surgeons； and not me： and he will tell
you wonderful things about them。How some of them have mouths full of
strong teeth； like these porpoises； and others； like the great sperm whale in
the South Sea； have huge teeth in their lower jaws； and in the upper only
holes into which those teeth fit； others like the bottle…nose； only two teeth
or so in the lower jaw； and others； like the narwhal； two straight tusks in
the upper jaw； only one of which grows； and is what you call a narwhal's
horn。
Oh yes。 I know of a walking…stick made of one。
And strangest of all； how the right…whales have a few little teeth when
they are born； which never come through the gums； but； instead； they
grow all along their gums； an enormous curtain of clotted hair； which
serves as a net to keep in the tiny sea… animals on which they feed； and let
the water strain out。
You mean whalebone？ Is whalebone hair？
So it seems。 And so is a rhinoceros's horn。 A rhinoceros used to be
hairy all over in old times： but now he carries all his hair on the end of
his nose； except a few bristles on his tail。 And the right…whale； not to be
done in oddity； carries all his on his gums。
But have no whales any hair？
No real whales： but the Manati； which is very nearly a whale； has
long bristly hair left。 Don't you remember M。's letter about the one he
saw at Rio Janeiro？
This is all very funny： but what is the use of knowing so much about
things' teeth and hair？
What is the use of learning Latin and Greek； and a dozen things more
which you have to learn？ You don't know yet： but wiser people than
you tell you that they will be of use some day。 And I can tell you； that if
you would only study that gar…fish long enough； and compare him with
another fish something like him； who has a long beak to his lower jaw； and
none to his upperand how he eats I cannot guess；and both of them
again with certain fishes like them； which M。 Agassiz has found lately； not
in the sea； but in the river Amazon； and then think carefully enough over
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
their bones and teeth； and their history from the time they are hatched
why； you would find out； I believe； a story about the river Amazon itself；
more wonderful than all the fairy tales you ever read。
Now there is luncheon ready。 Come down below； and don't tumble
down the companion…stairs； and by the time you have eaten your dinner
we shall be very near the shore。
* * *
So？ Here is my little man on deck； after a good night's rest。 And he
has not been the least sick； I hear。
Not a bit： but the cabin was so stuffy and hot； I asked leave to come
on deck。 What a huge steamer！ But I do not like it as well as the yacht。
It smells of oil and steam； and …
And pigs and bullocks too； I am sorry to say。 Don't go forward above
them； but stay here with me； and look round。
Where are we now？ What are those high hills； far away to the left；
above the lowlands and woods？
Those are the shore of the Old Worldthe Welsh mountains。
And in front of us I can see nothing but flat land。 Where is that？
That is the mouth of the Severn and Avon； where we shall be in half an
hour more。
And there； on the right； over the low hills； I can see higher ones； blue
and hazy。
Those are an island of the Old World； called now the Mendip Hills；
and we are steaming along the great strait between the Mendips and the
Welsh mountains； which once was coral reef； and is now the Severn sea；
and by the time you have eaten your breakfast we shall steam in through a
crack in that coral…reef； and you will see what you missed seeing when
you went to Ireland； because you went on board at night。
* * *
Oh！ Where have we got to now？ Where is the wide Severn Sea？
Two or three miles beyond us； and here we are in narrow little Avon。
Narrow indeed。 I wonder that the steamer does not run against those
rocks。 But how beautiful they are； and how the trees hang down over the
water； and are all reflected in it！
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MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
Yes。 The gorge of the Avon is always lovely。 I saw it first when I
was a little boy like you； and I have seen it many a time since； in sunshine
and in storm； and thought it more lovely every time。 Look！ there is
something curious。
What？ Those great rusty rings fixed into the rock？
Yes。 Those may be as old； for aught I know； as Queen Elizabeth's or
James's reign。
But why were they put there？
For ships to hold on by； if they lost the tide。
What do you mean？
It is high tide now。 That is why the water is almost up to the
branches of the trees。 But when the tide turns； it will all rush out in a
torrent which would sweep ships out to sea again； if they had not steam； as
we have； to help them up against the stream。 So sailing ships； in old
times； fastened themselves to those rings； and rode against the stream till
the tide turned； and carried them up to Bristol。
But what is the tide？ And why does it go up and down？ And why
does it alter with the moon； as I heard you all saying so often in Ireland？
That is a long story； which I must tell you something about some other
time。 Now I want you to look at s
