第10章
加入书架 A- A+
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  Judyboxerectedontheflatgrave-stonesofthechurchyard;fromthehutchorproscenium-Iknownotwhattocallit-aneldritch-

  lookingpreacherlayingdownthelawinGaelicaboutsomeoneofthenameofPOWL,whomIatlastdivinedtobetheapostletotheGentiles;alargecongregationoftheLewsmenverydevoutlylistening;andontheoutskirtsofthecrowd,someofthetown\'schildrentowhomthewholeaffairwasGreekandHebrewprofanelyplayingtigg。Thesamedescent,thesamecountry,thesamenarrowsectofthesamereligion,andallthesebondsmadeverylargelynugatorybyanaccidentaldifferenceofdialect!

  IntothebayofWickstretchedthedarklengthoftheunfinishedbreakwater,initscageofopenstaging;thetravellerslikeframesofchurchesover-plumbingall;andawayattheextremeend,thediverstoilingunseenonthefoundation。Onaplatformoflooseplanks,theassistantsturnedtheirair-mills;astonemightbeswingingbetweenwindandwater;underneaththeswellrangaily;

  andfromtimetotime,amaileddragonwithawindow-glasssnoutcamedrippinguptheladder。Youthisablessedseasonafterall;

  mystayatWickwasintheyearofVOCESFIDELIUMandtherose-leafroomatBailieBrown\'s;andalreadyIdidnotcaretwostrawsforliteraryglory。Posthumousambitionperhapsrequiresanatmosphereofroses;andthemoreruggedexcitantofWickeastwindshadmadeanotherboyofme。Togodowninthediving-dress,thatwasmyabsorbingfancy;andwiththecountenanceofacertainhandsomescampofadiver,BobBainbyname,Igratifiedthewhim。

  Itwasgray,harsh,easterlyweather,theswellranprettyhigh,andoutintheopentherewere\"skipper\'sdaughters,\"whenIfoundmyselfatlastonthediver\'splatform,twentypoundsofleaduponeachfootandmywholepersonswollenwithplyandplyofwoollenunderclothing。Onemoment,thesaltwindwaswhistlingroundmynight-cappedhead;thenext,Iwascrushedalmostdoubleundertheweightofthehelmet。Asthatintolerableburthernwaslaiduponme,Icouldhavefounditinmyheartonlyforshame\'ssaketocryofffromthewholeenterprise。Butitwastoolate。Theattendantsbegantoturnthehurdy-gurdy,andtheairtowhistlethroughthetube;someonescrewedinthebarredwindowofthevizor;andIwascutoffinamomentfrommyfellow-men;standingthereintheirmidst,butquitedivorcedfromintercourse:acreaturedeafanddumb,patheticallylookingforthuponthemfromaclimateofhisown。ExceptthatIcouldmoveandfeel,Iwaslikeamanfalleninacatalepsy。Buttimewasscarcegivenmetorealisemyisolation;theweightswerehunguponmybackandbreast,thesignalropewasthrustintomyunresistinghand;andsettingatwenty-poundfootupontheladder,Ibeganponderouslytodescend。

  Sometwentyroundsbelowtheplatform,twilightfell。Lookingup,Isawalowgreenheavenmottledwithvanishingbellsofwhite;

  lookingaround,exceptfortheweedyspokesandshaftsoftheladder,nothingbutagreengloaming,somewhatopaquebutveryrestfulanddelicious。Thirtyroundslower,IsteppedoffonthePIERRESPERDUESofthefoundation;adumbhelmetedfiguretookmebythehand,andmadeagestureasIreaditofencouragement;

  andlookinginatthecreature\'swindow,IbeheldthefaceofBain。

  Therewewere,handtohandandwhenitpleaseduseyetoeye;

  andeithermighthavebursthimselfwithshouting,andnotawhispercometohiscompanion\'shearing。Each,inhisownlittleworldofair,stoodincommunicablyseparate。

  Bobhadtoldmeerethisalittletale,afiveminutes\'dramaatthebottomofthesea,whichatthatmomentpossiblyshotacrossmymind。Hewasdownwithanother,settlingastoneofthesea-wall。

  Theyhaditwelladjusted,Bobgavethesignal,thescissorswereslipped,thestonesethome;anditwastimetoturntosomethingelse。Butstillhiscompanionremainedbowedovertheblocklikeamourneronatomb,oronlyraisedhimselftomakeabsurdcontortionsandmysterioussignsunknowntothevocabularyofthediver。There,then,thesetwostoodforawhile,likethedeadandtheliving;tillthereflashedafortunatethoughtintoBob\'smind,andhestooped,peeredthroughthewindowofthatotherworld,andbeheldthefaceofitsinhabitantwetwithstreamingtears。Ah!

  themanwasinpain!AndBob,glancingdownward,sawwhatwasthetrouble:theblockhadbeenloweredonthefootofthatunfortunate-hewascaughtaliveatthebottomoftheseaunderfifteentonsofrock。

  Thattwomenshouldhandleastonesoheavy,evenswinginginthescissors,mayappearstrangetotheinexpert。Thesemustbearinmindthegreatdensityofthewaterofthesea,andthesurprisingresultsoftransplantationtothatmedium。Tounderstandalittlewhattheseare,andhowaman\'sweight,sofarfrombeinganencumbrance,istheverygroundofhisagility,wasthechieflessonofmysubmarineexperience。Theknowledgecameuponmebydegrees。AsIbegantogoforwardwiththehandofmyestrangedcompanion,aworldoftumbledstoneswasvisible,pillaredwiththeweedyuprightsofthestaging:overhead,aflatroofofgreen:alittleinfront,thesea-wall,likeanunfinishedrampart。Andpresentlyinourupwardprogress,Bobmotionedmetoleapuponastone;Ilookedtoseeifhewerepossiblyinearnest,andheonlysignedtomethemoreimperiously。Nowtheblockstoodsixfeethigh;itwouldhavebeenquitealeaptomeunencumbered;withthebreastandbackweights,andthetwentypoundsuponeachfoot,andthestaggeringloadofthehelmet,thethingwasoutofreason。I

  laughedaloudinmytomb;andtoprovetoBobhowfarhewasastray,Igavealittleimpulsefrommytoes。UpIsoaredlikeabird,mycompanionsoaringatmyside。Ashighastothestone,andthenhigher,Ipursuedmyimpotentandemptyflight。EvenwhenthestrongarmofBobhadcheckedmyshoulders,myheelscontinuedtheirascent;sothatIblewoutsidewayslikeanautumnleaf,andmustbehauledin,handoverhand,assailorshaulintheslackofasail,andproppeduponmyfeetagainlikeanintoxicatedsparrow。

  Yetalittlehigheronthefoundation,andwebegantobeaffectedbythebottomoftheswell,runningtherelikeastrongbreezeofwind。OrsoImustsuppose;for,safeinmycushionofair,Iwasconsciousofnoimpact;onlyswayedidlylikeaweed,andwasnowbornehelplesslyabroad,andnowswiftly-andyetwithdream-likegentleness-impelledagainstmyguide。Sodoesachild\'sballoondivagateuponthecurrentsoftheair,andtouch,andslideoffagainfromeveryobstacle。Somusthaveineffectuallyswung,soresentedtheirinefficiency,thoselightcrowdsthatfollowedtheStarofHades,andutteredexiguousvoicesinthelandbeyondCocytus。

  Therewassomethingstrangelyexasperating,aswellasstrangelywearying,intheseuncommandedevolutions。Itisbittertoreturntoinfancy,tobesupported,anddirected,andperpetuallysetuponyourfeet,bythehandofsomeoneelse。Theairbesides,asitissuppliedtoyoubythebusymillersontheplatform,closestheeustachiantubesandkeepstheneophyteperpetuallyswallowing,tillhisthroatisgrownsodrythathecanswallownolonger。Andforallthesereasons-althoughIhadafine,dizzy,muddle-headedjoyinmysurroundings,andlonged,andtried,andalwaysfailed,tolayhandsonthefishthatdartedhereandthereaboutme,swiftashumming-birds-yetIfancyIwasratherrelievedthanotherwisewhenBainbroughtmebacktotheladderandsignedtometomount。

  Andtherewasonemoreexperiencebeforemeeventhen。Ofasudden,myascendingheadpassedintothetroughofaswell。Outofthegreen,Ishotatonceintoagloryofrosy,almostofsanguinelight-themultitudinousseasincarnadined,theheavenaboveavaultofcrimson。Andthenthegloryfadedintothehard,uglydaylightofaCaithnessautumn,withalowsky,agraysea,andawhistlingwind。

  BobBainhadfiveshillingsforhistrouble,andIhaddonewhatI

  desired。ItwasoneofthebestthingsIgotfrommyeducationasanengineer:ofwhich,however,asawayoflife,Iwishtospeakwithsympathy。Ittakesamanintotheopenair;itkeepshimhangingaboutharbour-sides,whichistherichestformofidling;

  itcarrieshimtowildislands;itgiveshimatasteofthegenialdangersofthesea;itsupplieshimwithdexteritiestoexercise;

  itmakesdemandsuponhisingenuity;itwillgofartocurehimofanytasteifeverhehadoneforthemiserablelifeofcities。

  Andwhenithasdoneso,itcarrieshimbackandshutshiminanoffice!Fromtheroaringskerryandthewetthwartofthetossingboat,hepassestothestoolanddesk;andwithamemoryfullofships,andseas,andperilousheadlands,andtheshiningpharos,hemustapplyhislong-sightedeyestothepettynicetiesofdrawing,ormeasurehisinaccuratemindwithseveralpagesofconsecutivefigures。Heisawiseyouth,tobesure,whocanbalanceonepartofgenuinelifeagainsttwopartsofdrudgerybetweenfourwalls,andforthesakeoftheone,manfullyaccepttheother。

  Wickwasscarceaneligibleplaceofstay。Buthowmuchbetteritwastohanginthecoldwinduponthepier,togodownwithBobBainamongtherootsofthestaging,tobealldayinaboatcoilingawetropeandshoutingorders-notalwaysverywise-

  thantobewarmanddry,anddull,anddead-alive,inthemostcomfortableoffice。AndWickitselfhadinthosedaysanoteoforiginality。Itmayhavestill,butImisdoubtitmuch。TheoldministerofKeisswouldnotpreach,inthesedegeneratetimes,foranhourandahalfupontheclock。Thegipsiesmustbegonefromtheircavern;whereyoumightsee,fromthemouth,thewomentendingtheirfire,likeMegMerrilies,andthemensleepingofftheircoarsepotations;andwhere,inwintergales,thesurfwouldbeleaguerthemclosely,burstingintheirverydoor。Atravellerto-dayupontheThursocoachwouldscarceobservealittlecloudofsmokeamongthemoorlands,andbetold,quiteopenly,itmarkedaprivatestill。Hewouldnotindeedmakethatjourney,forthereisnownoThursocoach。Andevenifhecould,onelittlethingthathappenedtomecouldneverhappentohim,ornotwiththesametrenchancyofcontrast。

  Wehadbeenupontheroadallevening;thecoach-topwascrowdedwithLewsfishersgoinghome,scarceanythingbutGaelichadsoundedinmyears;andourwayhadlainthroughoutoveramoorishcountryverynortherntobehold。Latishatnight,thoughitwasstillbroaddayinoursubarcticlatitude,wecamedownupontheshoresoftheroaringPentlandFirth,thatgraveofmariners;ononehand,thecliffsofDunnetHeadranseaward;infrontwasthelittlebare,whitetownofCastleton,itsstreetsfullofblowingsand;nothingbeyond,buttheNorthIslands,thegreatdeep,andtheperennialice-fieldsofthePole。Andhere,inthelastimaginableplace,theresprangupyoungoutlandishvoicesandachatterofsomeforeignspeech;andIsaw,pursuingthecoachwithitsloadofHebrideanfishers-astheyhadpursuedVETTURINIupthepassesoftheApenninesorperhapsalongthegrottounderVirgil\'stomb-twolittledark-eyed,white-toothedItalianvagabonds,oftwelvetofourteenyearsofage,onewithahurdy-

  gurdy,theotherwithacageofwhitemice。Thecoachpassedon,andtheirsmallItalianchatterdiedinthedistance;andIwaslefttomarvelhowtheyhadwanderedintothatcountry,andhowtheyfaredinit,andwhattheythoughtofit,andwhenifever

  theyshouldseeagainthesilverwind-breaksrunamongtheolives,andthestone-pinestandguarduponEtruscansepulchres。

  UponanyAmerican,thestrangenessofthisincidentissomewhatlost。Forasfarbackashegoesinhisownland,hewillfindsomealiencampingthere;theCornishminer,theFrenchorMexicanhalf-blood,thenegrointheSouth,thesearedeepinthewoodsandfaramongthemountains。Butinanold,cold,andruggedcountrysuchasmine,thedaysofimmigrationarelongatanend;andawayupthere,whichwasatthattimefarbeyondthenorthernmostextremeofrailways,hardupontheshoreofthatill-omenedstraitofwhirlpools,inalandofmoorswherenostrangercame,unlessitshouldbeasportsmantoshootgrouseoranantiquarytodecipherrunes,thepresenceofthesesmallpedestriansstruckthemindasthoughabird-of-paradisehadrisenfromtheheatheroranalbatrosscomefishinginthebayofWick。TheywereasstrangetotheirsurroundingsasmylordlyevangelistortheoldSpanishgrandeeontheFairIsle。

  CHAPTERVII-THELANTERN-BEARERS

  I

  THESEboyscongregatedeveryautumnaboutacertaineasterlyfisher-village,wheretheytastedinahighdegreethegloryofexistence。Theplacewascreatedseeminglyonpurposeforthediversionofyounggentlemen。Astreetortwoofhouses,mostlyredandmanyof,themtiled;anumberoffinetreesclusteredaboutthemanseandthekirkyard,andturningthechiefstreetintoashadyalley;manylittlegardensmorethanusuallybrightwithflowers;netsa-drying,andfisher-wivesscoldinginthebackwardparts;asmelloffish,agenialsmellofseaweed;whiffsofblowingsandatthestreet-corners;shopswithgolf-ballsandbottledlollipops;anothershopwithpennypickwicksthatremarkablecigarandtheLONDONJOURNAL,deartomeforitsstartlingpictures,andafewnovels,dearfortheirsuggestivenames:such,aswellasmemoryservesme,weretheingredientsofthetown。These,youaretoconceivepostedonaspitbetweentwosandybays,andsparselyflankedwithvillasenoughfortheboystolodgeinwiththeirsubsidiaryparents,notenoughnotyetenough

  tococknifythescene:ahavenintherocksinfront:infrontofthat,afileofgrayislets:totheleft,endlesslinksandsandwreaths,awildernessofhiding-holes,alivewithpoppingrabbitsandsoaringgulls:totheright,arangeofseawardcrags,oneruggedbrowbeyondanother;theruinsofamightyandancientfortressonthebrinkofone;covesbetween-nowcharmedintosunshinequiet,nowwhistlingwithwindandclamorouswithburstingsurges;thedensandshelteredhollowsredolentofthymeandsouthernwood,theairatthecliff\'sedgebriskandcleanandpungentofthesea-infrontofall,theBassRock,tiltedseawardlikeadoubtfulbather,thesurfringingitwithwhite,thesolan-

  geesehangingrounditssummitlikeagreatandglitteringsmoke。

  Thischoicepieceofseaboardwassacred,besides,tothewrecker;

  andtheBass,intheeyeoffancy,stillflewthecoloursofKingJames;andintheearoffancythearchesofTantallonstillrangwithhorse-shoeiron,andechoedtothecommandsofBell-the-Cat。

  Therewasnothingtomaryourdays,ifyouwereaboysummeringinthatpart,buttheembarrassmentofpleasure。Youmightgolfifyouwanted;butIseemtohavebeenbetteremployed。YoumightsecreteyourselfintheLady\'sWalk,acertainsunlessdingleofelders,allmossedoverbythedampasgreenasgrass,anddottedhereandtherebythestream-sidewithrooflesswalls,thecoldhomesofanchorites。Tofitthemselvesforlife,andwithaspecialeyetoacquiretheartofsmoking,itwasevencommonfortheboystoharbourthere;andyoumighthaveseenasinglepennypickwick,honestlysharedinlengthswithabluntknife,bestrewtheglenwiththeseapprentices。Again,youmightjoinourfishingparties,wherewesatperchedasthickassolan-geese,acoveyoflittleanglers,boyandgirl,anglingovereachother\'sheads,tothetothemuchentanglementoflinesandlossofpodleysandconsequentshrillrecrimination-shrillasthegeesethemselves。

  Indeed,hadthatbeenall,youmighthavedonethisoften;butthoughfishingbeafinepastime,thepodleyisscarcetoberegardedasadaintyforthetable;anditwasapointofhonourthataboyshouldeatallthathehadtaken。Oragain,youmightclimbtheLaw,wherethewhale\'sjawbonestoodlandmarkinthebuzzingwind,andbeholdthefaceofmanycounties,andthesmokeandspiresofmanytowns,andthesailsofdistantships。Youmightbathe,nowintheflawsoffineweather,thatwepatheticallycalloursummer,nowinagaleofwind,withthesandscourgingyourbarehide,yourclothesthrashingabroadfromunderneaththeirguardianstone,thefrothofthegreatbreakerscastingyouheadlongereithaddrownedyourknees。Oryoumightexplorethetidalrocks,aboveallintheebbofsprings,whentheveryrootsofthehillswereforthenoncediscovered;followingmyleaderfromonegrouptoanother,gropinginslipperytangleforthewreckofships,wadinginpoolsaftertheabominablecreaturesofthesea,andeverwithaneyecastbackwardonthemarchoffthetideandthemenacedlineofyourretreat。AndthenyoumightgoCrusoeing,awordthatcoversallextemporeeatingintheopenair:

  diggingperhapsahouseunderthemarginofthelinks,kindlingafireofthesea-ware,andcookingapplesthere-iftheyweretrulyapples,forIsometimessupposethemerchantmusthaveplayedusoffwithsomeinferiorandquitelocalfruitcapableofresolving,intheneighbourhoodoffire,intomeresandandsmokeandiodine;

  orperhapspushingtoTantallon,youmightlunchonsandwichesandvisionsinthegrassycourt,whilethewindhummedinthecrumblingturrets;orclamberingalongthecoast,eatgeanstheworst,I

  mustsuppose,inChristendomfromanadventurousgeantreethathadtakenrootunderacliff,whereitwasshakenwithanagueofeastwind,andsilveredaftergaleswithsalt,andgrewsoforeignamongitsbleaksurroundingsthattoeatofitsproducewasanadventureinitself。

  Therearemingledsomedismalmemorieswithsomanythatwerejoyous。Ofthefisher-wife,forinstance,whohadcutherthroatatCantyBay;andofhowIranwiththeotherchildrentothetopoftheQuadrant,andbeheldaposseofsilentpeopleescortingacart,andonthecart,boundinachair,herthroatbandaged,andthebandageallbloody-horror!-thefisher-wifeherself,whocontinuedthenceforthtohag-ridemythoughts,andevento-dayasIrecallthescenedarkensdaylight。Shewaslodgedinthelittleoldjailinthechiefstreet;butwhetherornoshediedthere,withawiseterroroftheworst,Ineverinquired。Shehadbeentippling;itwasbutadingytragedy;anditseemsstrangeandhardthat,afteralltheseyears,thepoorcrazysinnershouldbestillpilloriedonhercartinthescrap-bookofmymemory。NorshallI

  readilyforgetacertainhouseintheQuadrantwhereavisitordied,andadarkoldwomancontinuedtodwellalonewiththedeadbody;norhowthisoldwomanconceivedahatredtomyselfandoneofmycousins,andinthedreadhourofthedusk,aswewereclamberingonthegarden-walls,openedawindowinthathouseofmortalityandcursedusinashrillvoiceandwithamarrowychoiceoflanguage。Itwasapairofverycolourlessurchinsthatfleddownthelanefromthisremarkableexperience!ButIrecallwithamoredoubtfulsentiment,compoundedoutoffearandexultation,thecoilofequinoctialtempests;trumpetingsqualls,scouringflawsofrain;theboatswiththeirreefedlugsailsscuddingfortheharbourmouth,wheredangerlay,foritwashardtomakewhenthewindhadanyeastinit;thewivesclusteredwithblowingshawlsatthepier-head,whereiffatewasagainstthemtheymightseeboatandhusbandandsons-theirwholewealthandtheirwholefamily-

  engulfedundertheireyes;andwhatIsawbutonceatroopofneighboursforcingsuchanunfortunatehomeward,andshesquallingandbattlingintheirmidst,afigurescarcelyhuman,atragicMaenad。

  ThesearethingsthatIrecallwithinterest;butwhatmymemorydwellsuponthemost,Ihavebeenallthiswhilewithholding。Itwasasportpeculiartotheplace,andindeedtoaweekorsoofourtwomonths\'holidaythere。Maybeitstillflourishesinitsnativespot;forboysandtheirpastimesareswayedbyperiodicforcesinscrutabletoman;sothattopsandmarblesreappearintheirdueseason,regularlikethesunandmoon;andtheharmlessartofknuckleboneshasseenthefalloftheRomanempireandtheriseoftheUnitedStates。Itmaystillflourishinitsnativespot,butnowhereelse,Iampersuaded;forItriedmyselftointroduceitonTweedside,andwasdefeatedlamentably;itscharmbeingquitelocal,likeacountrywinethatcannotbeexported。

  Theidlemannerofitwasthis:-

  TowardtheendofSeptember,whenschool-timewasdrawingnearandthenightswerealreadyblack,wewouldbegintosallyfromour-

  respectivevillas,eachequippedwithatinbull\'s-eyelantern。

  ThethingwassowellknownthatithadwornarutinthecommerceofGreatBritain;andthegrocers,abouttheduetime,begantogarnishtheirwindowswithourparticularbrandofluminary。Weworethembuckledtothewaistuponacricketbelt,andoverthem,suchwastherigourofthegame,abuttonedtop-coat。Theysmellednoisomelyofblisteredtin;theyneverburnedaright,thoughtheywouldalwaysburnourfingers;theirusewasnaught;thepleasureofthemmerelyfanciful;andyetaboywithabull\'s-eyeunderhistop-coataskedfornothingmore。Thefishermenusedlanternsabouttheirboats,anditwasfromthem,Isuppose,thatwehadgotthehint;buttheirswerenotbull\'s-eyes,nordidweeverplayatbeingfishermen。Thepolicecarriedthemattheirbelts,andwehadplainlycopiedtheminthat;yetwedidnotpretendtobepolicemen。Burglars,indeed,wemayhavehadsomehauntingthoughtsof;andwehadcertainlyaneyetopastageswhenlanternsweremorecommon,andtocertainstory-booksinwhichwehadfoundthemtofigureverylargely。Buttakeitforallinall,thepleasureofthethingwassubstantive;andtobeaboywithabull\'s-eyeunderhistop-coatwasgoodenoughforus。

点击下载App,搜索"ACROSS THE PLAINS",免费读到尾