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to unlock； one by one； all the doors of paradise； such as I have heard they
have in lands be… yond the sea； but fare good enough for plain men who
eat but to live。 So！ reach me down yonder bunch of yellow aru fruit； and
don't upset that calabash； for all my funniest stories lurk at the bottom of
it。〃
I did as he bid； and soon we were squatting by the fire toasting arus on
pointed sticks； the doorway closed with a wattle hurdle； and the black and
gold firelight filling the hut with fantastic shadows。 Then when the
banana…like fruit was ready； the man fetched from a recess a loaf of bread
savoured with the dust of dried and pounded fish； put the foresaid calabash
of strong ale to warm； and down we sat to supper with real woodman
appetites。 Seldom have I enjoyed a meal so much； and when we had
finished the fruit and the wheat cake my guide snatched up the great gourd
of ale； and putting it to his lips called out：
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〃Here's to you； stranger； here's to your country； here's to your girl； if
you have one； and death to your enemies！〃 Then he drank deep and long；
and； passed the stuff to me。
〃Here's to you； bully host； and the missus； and the children； if there are
any； and more power to your el… bow！〃the which gratified him greatly；
though probably he had small idea of my meaning。
And right merry we were that evening。 The host was a jolly good
fellow； and his ale； with a pleasant savour of mint in it； was the heartiest
drink I ever set lips to。 We talked and laughed till the very jackals
yapped in sympathy outside。 And when he had told a score of wonderful
wood stories as pungent of the life of these fairy forests as the aromatic
scent of his bark…heaps outside； as iridescent with the colours of another
world as the rainbow bubbles rid… ing down his starlit rill； I took a turn；
and told him of the commonplaces of my world so far away； whereat he
laughed gloriously again。 The greater the commonplace the larger his
joy。 The humblest story； hardly calculated to impress a griffin between
watches on the main…deck； was a masterpiece of wit to that gentle savage；
and when I 〃took off〃 the tricks and foibles of some of my superiors
Heaven forgive me for such treason！he listened with the exquisite open…
mouthed delight of one who wanders in a brand…new world of mirth。
We drank and laughed over that strong beer till the little owls outside
raised their voice in combined accord； and then the woodman； shaking the
last remnant of his sleepy wits together； and giving a reproachful look at
me for finally passing him the gourd empty to the last drop； rose； threw a
fur on a pile of dead grass at one side of the hut； and bid me sleep； 〃for his
brain was giddy with the wonders of the incredible and ludicrous sphere
which I had lately in… habited。〃
Slowly the fire died away； slowly the quivering gold and black
arabesques on the walls merged in a red haze as the sticks dropped into
tinder； and the great black outline of the hairy monster who had thrown
himself down by the embers rose up the walls against that flush like the
outline of a range of hills against a sunset glow。 I listened drowsily for a
space to his snoring and the laughing answer of the brook outside； and
then that ambrosial sleep which is the gentle attendant of hardship and
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danger touched my tired eyelids； and I； too； slept。
My friend was glum the next morning； as they who stay over…long at
the supper flagon are apt to be。 He had been at work an hour on his bark…
heaps when I came out into the open； and it was only by a good deal of
diplomacy and some material help in sorting his faggots that he was got
into a better frame of mind。 I could not； however； trust his mood
completely； and as I did not want to end so jovial a friendship with a
quarrel； I hurried through our breakfast of dry bread； with hard…boiled
lizard eggs； and then settling my reckoning with one of the brass buttons
from my coat； which he immediately threaded； with every evidence of ex…
treme gratification； on a string of trinkets hanging round his neck； asked
him the way to Ar…hap's capital。
〃Your way is easy； friend； as long as you keep to the straight path and
have yonder two…humped mountain in front。 To the left is the sea； and
behind the hill runs the canal and road by which all traffic comes or goes
to Ar…hap。 But above all things pass not to the hills right； for no man goes
there； there away the forests are thick as night； and in their perpetual
shadows are the ruins of a Hither city； a haunted fairy town to which some
travellers have been； but whence none ever returned alive。〃
〃By the great Jove； that sounds promising！ I would like to see that
town if my errand were not so urgent。〃
But the old fellow shook his shaggy head and turned a shade yellower。
〃It is no place for decent folk；〃 he growled。 〃I myself once passed within a
mile of its outskirts at dusk； and saw the unholy little people's lanterned
processions starting for the shrine of Queen Yang； who； tradition says；
killed herself and a thousand babies with her when we took this land。〃
〃My word； that was a holocaust！ Couldn't I drop in there to lunch？ It
would make a fine paper for an anti… quarian society。〃
Again the woodman frowned。 〃Do as I bid you； son。 You are too
young and green to go on ventures by yourself。 Keep to the straight road：
shun the swamps and the fairy forest； else will you never see Ar…hap。〃
〃And as I have very urgent and very important business with him；
comrade； no doubt your advice is good。 I will call on Princess Yang
some other day。 And now goodbye！ Rougher but friendlier shelter than
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you have given me no man could ask for。 I am downright sorry to part
with you in this lonely land。 If ever we meet again〃 but we never did！
The honest old churl clasped me into his hairy bosom three times； stuffed
my wallet with dry fruit and bread； and once more repeating his directions；
sent me on my lonely way。
I confess I sighed while turning into the forest； and looked back more
than once at his retreating form。 The loneliness of my position； the
hopelessness of my venture； welled up in my heart after that good
comradeship； and when the hut was out of sight I went forward down the
green grass road； chin on chest； for twenty minutes in the deepest
dejection。 But； thank Heaven； I was born with a tough spirit； and possess a
mind which has learned in many fights to give brave counsel to my spirit；
and thus presently I shook myself together； setting my face boldly to the
quest and the day's work。
It was not so clear a morning as the previous one； and a steamy wind
on what at sea I should have called the starboard bow； as I pressed forward
to the distant hill； had a curiously subduing effect on my thoughts； and
filled the forest glades with a tremulous unreality like to nothing on our
earth； and distinctly embarrassing to a stranger in a strange land。 Small
birds in that quaint atmospheric haze looked like condors； butterflies like
giant fowl； and the sim… plest objects of the forest like the imaginations of
a disordered dream。 Behind that gauzy hallucination a fine white mist
came up； and the sun spread out flat and red in the sky； while the pent…in
heat became almost unendurable。
Still I plodded on； growling to myself that in Christian latitudes all the
evidences would have been held to be… token a storm before night；
whatever they might do here； but for the most part lost in my own gloomy
speculations。 That was the more pity since； in thinking the walk over now；
it seems to me that I passed many marvels； saw many glorious vistas in
those nameless forests； many spreads of colour； many incidents that； could
I b