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！
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
91
… Page 92…
GULLIVER OF MARS
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
92
… Page 93…
GULLIVER OF MARS
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。
93
… Page 94…
GULLIVER OF MARS
94
… Page 95…
GULLIVER OF MARS
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 waving them adieu； I
sternly turned my eyes from delights behind and faced the fascination of
perils in front。
In four hours （for the Martians had forgotten in their calculations that
my muscles were something better than theirs） I 〃rose〃 the further shore；
and then the question was； Where ran that westward river of theirs？
It turned out afterwards that； knowing nothing of their tides； I had
drifted much too far to northward； and con… sequently the coast had closed
up the estuary mouth I should have entered。 Not a sign of an opening
showed any… where； and having nothing whatever for guidance I turned
northward； eagerly scanning an endless line of low cliffs； as the day
lessened； for the promised sand…bar or inlet。
About dusk my canoe； flying swiftly forward at its own sweet will；