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！
did I come by a beard？ I looked about me and saw that I was lying on
the deck of a ship； yes； of the /Blanche/ itself； for I knew the shape
of her stern； also certain knots in one of the uprights of the deck…
house that formed a rude resemblance to a human face。 Nothing of this
deck…house was left now； except the corner posts between which I lay；
and to the tops of these was lashed a piece of canvas as though to
keep off the sun and the weather。
With difficulty I lifted my head a little and looked about me。 The
bulwarks of the ship had gone； but some of the uprights to which the
planks had been nailed remained； and between them I perceived tall…
stemmed trees with tufts of great leaves at the top of them； which
trees seemed to be within a few yards of me。 Bright…winged birds flew
about them and in their crowns I saw apes such as the sailors used to
bring home from Barbary。 It would seem； then； that I must be in a
river （in fact； it was a little bay or creek； on either side of which
these trees appeared）。
Noting these and the creeping plants with beautiful flowers； such as I
had never seen； that climbed up them； and the sweet scents that
floated on the air； and the clear light； now I grew sure that I was
dead and had reached Paradise。 Only then how came it that I still lay
on the ship； for never had I heard that such things also went to
Paradise？ Nay； I must dream； it was nothing but a dream that I wished
were true； remembering as I did the terrors of that gale…tossed sea。
Or； if I did not dream； then I was in some new world。
While I mused thus I heard a sound of soft footsteps and presently saw
a figure bending over me。 It was Kari； very thin and hollow…eyed；
much； indeed； as he had been when I found him on the quay in London；
but still Kari without doubt。 He looked at me in his grave fashion；
then said softly：
〃Master awake？〃
〃Yes； Kari；〃 I said； 〃but tell me； where am I？〃
He did not answer at once but went away and returned presently with a
bowl from which he bade me drink； holding it to my lips。 I did so；
swallowing what seemed to be broth though I thought it strangely
flavoured； after which I felt much stronger； for whatever was in that
broth ran through my veins like wine。 At last he spoke in his queer
English。
〃Master；〃 he said； 〃when we still in Thames River； you ask me whether
we should run ashore into the hands of the hunters who try to catch
us； or sail on。 I answer； 'You have God and I have God and better fall
into hands of gods than into hands of men。' So we sail on into the big
storm。 For long we sail； and though once it turn； always the
great wind blew； behind us。 You grow weak and your mind leave you； but
I keep you alive with medicine that I have and for many days I stay
awake and steer。 Then at last my mind leave me； too； and I know no
more。 Three days ago I wake up and find the ship in this place。 Then I
eat more medicine and get strength； also food from people on the shore
who think us gods。 That all the story； except that you live； not die。
Your God and my God bring us here safe。〃
〃Yes； Kari； but where are we？〃
〃Master； I think in that country from which I come； not in my own land
which is still far away； but still in that country。 You remember；〃 he
added with a flash of his dark eyes； 〃I always say that you and I go
there together one day。〃
〃But what is the country； Kari？〃
〃Master； not know its name。 It big and have many names； but you first
white man who ever come here； that why people think you God。 Now you
go sleep again； to…morrow we talk。〃
I shut my eyes； being so very tired； and as I learned afterwards；
slept for twelve hours or more； to awake on the morning of the
following day； feeling wonderfully stronger and able to eat with
appetite。 Also Kari brought me water and washed me； and clean clothes
which he had found in the ship that I put on。
Thus it went on for a long while and day by day I recovered strength
till at length I was almost as I had been when I married Blanche Aleys
in the church of St。 Margaret at Westminster。 Only now sorrow had
changed me within and without my face had grown more serious； while to
it hung a short yellow beard which； when I looked at my reflection；
seemed to become me well enough。 That beard puzzled me much； since
such are not grown in a day； although it is true that as yet it was
not over…long。 Weeks must have passed since it began to sprout upon my
chin and as we had been but three days in this place when I woke up；
those weeks without doubt were spent upon the sea。
Whither； then； had we come？ Driving all the while before a great gale；
that for most of our voyage had blown from the east； as； if Kari were
right； we had done； this country must be very far away from England。
That it was so； indeed there could be no doubt； since here everything
was different。 For example； having been a mariner from my childhood； I
had been taught and observed something of the stars； and noted that
the constellations had changed their places in the heavens； also that
some with which I was familiar were missing； while other new ones had
appeared。 Further； the heat was great and constant； even at night
being more than that of our hottest summer day； and the air was full
of stinging insects； which at first troubled me much； though
afterwards I grew hardened to them。 In short； everything was changed；
and I was indeed in a new world that was not told of in Europe； but
what world？ What world？ At least the sea joined it to the old； for
beneath me was still the /Blanche/； which timber by timber I had seen
built up upon the shores of Thames from oaks cut in my own woods。
As soon as I was strong enough； I went over the ship； or what was left
of her。 It was a marvel that she had floated for so long； since her
hull was shattered。 Indeed； I do not think she could have done so；
save for the fine wool that was packed into the lower part of her；
which wool seemed to have swollen when it grew wet and to have kept
the water out。 For the rest she was but a hulk； since both her masts
were gone； and much of the deck with them。 Still she had kept afloat
and driving into this creek； had beached herself upon the mud as
though it were the harbour that she sought。
How had we lived through such a journey？ The answer seemed to be；
after we were too weak to find or take food； by means of the drug that
Kari cherished in his skin bag； and water of which there was plenty
left at hand in barrels； since the /Blanche/ had been provisioned for
a long voyage to Italy and farther。 At least we had lived for weeks；
and weeks； being still young and very strong； and not having been
called upon to suffer great cold； since it would appear that although
the gale continued after the first few days of our flight before it；
the weather had turned warm。
During this time of my recovery； every morning Kari would go ashore；
which he did by means of planks set upon the mud； since we were within
a few feet of the bank of the creek into which a streamlet ran。 Later
he would return； bringing with him fish and wildfowl； and corn of a
sort that I did not know； for its grains were a dozen times the size
of wheat； flat…sided； and if ripe； of a yellow colour； which he said
he had purchased from those who dwelt upon the land。 On this good food
I feasted； washing it down with ale and wine from the ship's stores；
indeed never before did I eat so much； not even when I was a boy。
At length； one morning Kari made me put on my armour； the same which I
had taken from the French knight； and fled in from London； that he had
burnished till it shone like silver； and seat myself in a chair upon
what remained of the poop of the ship。 When I asked him why； he
answered in order that he might show me to the inhabitants of that
land。 In this chair he bade me sit and wait； holding the shield upon
my arm and the bare sword in my right hand。
As I had come to know that Kari never did anything without a reason
and remembered that I was in a strange country where； lacking him； I
should not have lived or could continue to do so； I fell into his
humour。 Moreover； I promised that I would remain still and neither
speak； nor smile； nor rise from my chair unless he bade me。 So there I
sat glittering in the hot sunshine which burned me through the armour。
Then Kari went ashore and was absent for some time。 At length among
the trees and undergrowth I heard the sound of people talking in a
strange tongue。 Presently they appeared on the bank of the creek； a
great number of them； very curious people； brown…skinned with long；
lank black hair and large eyes； but not over…tall in stature； men；
women and children together。
Among them were some who wore white robes whom I took to be their
gentlefolk； but the most of them had only cloths or girdles about
their middles。 Leading the throng was Kari； who； as it appeared from
the bushes； waved his hand and pointed me out seated in the shining
armour on the ship； the visor up to show my face and the long sword in
my hand。 They stared； then； with a low； sighing exclamation； one and
all fell upon their faces and rubbed their brows upon the ground。
As they lay there Kari add