ThenatlastIunderstoodthatMr。RavenwasindeedAdam,theoldandthenewman;andthathiswife,ministeringinthehouseofthedead,wasEve,themotherofusall,theladyoftheNewJerusalem。
Theleopardessreared;theflickeringandfleeingofherspotsbegan;
theprincessatlengthstoodradiantinherperfectshape。
\"IAMbeautiful——andimmortal！\"shesaid——andshelookedthegoddessshewouldbe。
\"Asabushthatburns,andisconsumed,\"answeredhewhohadbeenherhusband。\"——Whatisthatunderthyrighthand？\"
Forherarmlayacrossherbosom,andherhandwaspressedtoherside。
Aswiftpangcontortedherbeautifulface,andpassed。
\"Itisbutaleopard—spotthatlingers！itwillquicklyfollowthoseIhavedismissed,\"sheanswered。
\"ThouartbeautifulbecauseGodcreatedthee,butthouarttheslaveofsin:takethyhandfromthyside。\"
Herhandsankaway,andasitdroptshelookedhimintheeyeswithaquailingfiercenessthathadinitnosurrender。
Hegazedamomentatthespot。
\"Itisnotontheleopard;itisinthewoman！\"hesaid。\"Norwillitleavetheeuntilithatheatentothyheart,andthybeautyhathflowedfromtheethroughtheopenwound！\"
Shegaveaglancedownward,andshivered。
\"Lilith,\"saidAdam,andhistonehadchangedtoatenderbeseeching,\"hearme,andrepent,andHewhomadetheewillcleansethee！\"
Herhandreturnedquiveringtoherside。Herfacegrewdark。Shegavethecryofonefromwhomhopeisvanishing。Thecrypassedintoahowl。Shelaywrithingonthefloor,aleopardesscoveredwithspots。
\"Theevilthoumeditatest,\"Adamresumed,\"thoushaltnevercompass,Lilith,forGoodandnotEvilistheUniverse。Thebattlebetweenthemmaylastforcountlessages,butitmustend:howwillitfarewiththeewhenTimehathvanishedinthedawnoftheeternalmorn？
Repent,Ibeseechthee;repent,andbeagainanangelofGod！\"
Sherose,shestoodupright,awomanoncemore,andsaid,\"Iwillnotrepent。Iwilldrinkthebloodofthychild。\"
Myeyeswerefastenedontheprincess;butwhenAdamspoke,Iturnedtohim:hestoodtoweringaboveher;theformofhisvisagewasaltered,andhisvoicewasterrible。
\"Down！\"hecried;\"orbythepowergivenmeIwillmeltthyverybones。\"
Sheflungherselfonthefloor,dwindledanddwindled,andwasagainagraycat。Adamcaughtherupbytheskinofherneck,borehertothecloset,andthrewherin。Hedescribedastrangefigureonthethreshold,andclosingthedoor,lockedit。
Thenhereturnedtomysidetheoldlibrarian,lookingsadandworn,andfurtivelywipingtearsfromhiseyes。
CHAPTERXXX
ADAMEXPLAINS
\"Wemustbeonourguard,\"hesaid,\"orshewillagainoutwitus。
Shewouldbefooltheveryelect！\"
\"Howarewetobeonourguard？\"Iasked。
\"Everyway,\"heanswered。\"Shefears,thereforehatesherchild,andisinthishouseonherwaytodestroyher。Thebirthofchildrenisinhereyesthedeathoftheirparents,andeverynewgenerationtheenemyofthelast。Herdaughterappearstoheranopenchannelthroughwhichherimmortality——whichyetshecountsself—inherent——isflowingfastaway:tofillitup,almostfromherbirthshehaspursuedherwithanutterenmity。Buttheresultofhermachinationshithertois,thatintheregionsheclaimsasherown,hasappearedacolonyofchildren,towhichthatdaughterisheartandheadandshelteringwings。MyEvelongedafterthechild,andwouldhavebeentoherasamothertoherfirst—born,butwewerethenunfittotrainher:shewascarriedintothewilderness,andforagesweknewnothingofherfate。Butshewasdivinelyfostered,andhadyoungangelsforherplaymates;nordidsheeverknowcareuntilshefoundababyinthewood,andthemother—heartinherawoke。
Onebyoneshehasfoundmanychildrensince,andthatheartisnotyetfull。Herfamilyisherabsorbingcharge,andneverchildrenwerebettermothered。Herauthorityoverthemiswithoutappeal,butitisunknowntoherself,andnevercomestothesurfaceexceptinwatchfulnessandservice。Shehasforgottenthetimewhenshelivedwithoutthem,andthinksshecameherselffromthewood,thefirstofthefamily。
\"Youhavesavedthelifeofherandtheirenemy;thereforeyourlifebelongstoherandthem。Theprincesswasonherwaytodestroythem,butasshecrossedthatstream,vengeanceovertookher,andshewouldhavediedhadyounotcometoheraid。Youdid;anderenowshewouldhavebeenragingamongtheLittleOnes,hadshedaredagaincrossthestream。Buttherewasyetawaytotheblessedlittlecolonythroughtheworldofthethreedimensions;only,fromthat,bytheslayingofherformerbody,shehadexcludedherself,andexceptinpersonalcontactwithonebelongingtoit,couldnotre—enterit。Youprovidedtheopportunity:never,inallherlongyears,hadshehadonebefore。Herhand,withlightesttouch,wasononeorotherofyourmuffledfeet,everystepasyouclimbed。Inthatlittlechamber,sheisnowwatchingtoleaveitassoonasevershemay。\"
\"Shecannotknowanythingaboutthedoor！——shecannotatleastknowhowtoopenit！\"Isaid;butmyheartwasnotsoconfidentasmywords。
\"Hush,hush！\"whisperedthelibrarian,withupliftedhand;\"shecanhearthroughanything！——Youmustgoatonce,andmakeyourwaytomywife\'scottage。Iwillremaintokeepguardoverher。\"
\"LetmegototheLittleOnes！\"Icried。
\"Bewareofthat,Mr。Vane。Gotomywife,anddoasshetellsyou。\"
Hisadvicedidnotrecommenditself:whyhastetoencountermeasurelessdelay？Ifnottoprotectthechildren,whygoatall？
Alas,evennowIbelievedhimonlyenoughtoaskhimquestions,nottoobeyhim！
\"Tellmefirst,Mr。Raven,\"Isaid,\"why,ofallplaces,youhaveshutherupthere！ThenightIranfromyourhouse,itwasimmediatelyintothatcloset！\"
\"Theclosetisnonearerourcottage,andnofartherfromit,thananyoreveryotherplace。\"
\"But,\"Ireturned,hardtopersuadewhereIcouldnotunderstand,\"howisitthenthat,whenyouplease,youtakefromthatsamedoorawholebookwhereIsawandfeltonlyapartofone？Theotherpart,youhavejusttoldme,stuckthroughintoyourlibrary:whenyouputitagainontheshelf,willitnotagainstickthroughintothat？Mustnotthenthetwoplaces,inwhichpartsofthesamevolumecanatthesamemomentexist,lieclosetogether？Orcanonepartofthebookbeinspace,orSOMEWHERE,andtheotheroutofspace,orNOWHERE？\"
\"IamsorryIcannotexplainthethingtoyou,\"heanswered;\"butthereisnoprovisioninyouforunderstandingit。Notmerely,therefore,isthephenomenoninexplicabletoyou,buttheverynatureofitisinapprehensiblebyyou。IndeedIbutpartiallyapprehenditmyself。Atthesametimeyouareconstantlyexperiencingthingswhichyounotonlydonot,butcannotunderstand。Youthinkyouunderstandthem,butyourunderstandingofthemisonlyyourbeingusedtothem,andthereforenotsurprisedatthem。Youacceptthem,notbecauseyouunderstandthem,butbecauseyoumustacceptthem:
theyarethere,andhaveunavoidablerelationswithyou！Thefactis,nomanunderstandsanything;whenheknowshedoesnotunderstand,thatishisfirsttotteringstep——nottowardunderstanding,buttowardthecapabilityofonedayunderstanding。Tosuchthingsastheseyouarenotused,thereforeyoudonotfancyyouunderstandthem。NeitherInoranymancanherehelpyoutounderstand;butImay,perhaps,helpyoualittletobelieve！\"
Hewenttothedoorofthecloset,gavealowwhistle,andstoodlistening。Amomentafter,Iheard,orseemedtohear,asoftwhirofwings,and,lookingup,sawawhitedoveperchforaninstantonthetopoftheshelvesovertheportrait,thencedroptoMr。Raven\'sshoulder,andlayherheadagainsthischeek。OnlybythemotionsoftheirtwoheadscouldItellthattheyweretalkingtogether;
Iheardnothing。NeitherhadImovedmyeyesfromthem,whensuddenlyshewasnotthere,andMr。Ravencamebacktohisseat。
\"Whydidyouwhistle？\"Iasked。\"Surelysoundhereisnotsoundthere！\"
\"Youareright,\"heanswered。\"IwhistledthatyoumightknowI
calledher。Notthewhistle,butwhatthewhistlemeantreachedher。——Thereisnotaminutetolose:youmustgo！\"
\"Iwillatonce！\"Ireplied,andmovedforthedoor。
\"Youwillsleepto—nightatmyhostelry！\"hesaid——notasaquestion,butinatoneofmildauthority。
\"Myheartiswiththechildren,\"Ireplied。\"Butifyouinsist————\"
\"Idoinsist。Youcanotherwiseeffectnothing。——Iwillgowithyouasfarasthemirror,andseeyouoff。\"
Herose。Therecameasuddenshockinthecloset。Apparentlytheleopardesshadflungherselfagainsttheheavydoor。Ilookedatmycompanion。
\"Come;come！\"hesaid。
Erewereachedthedoorofthelibrary,ahowlingyellcameafterus,mingledwiththenoiseofclawsthatscoredatthehardoak。
Ihesitated,andhalfturned。
\"Tothinkofherlyingtherealone,\"Imurmured,\"——withthatterriblewound！\"
\"Nothingwilleverclosethatwound,\"heanswered,withasigh。
\"Itmusteatintoherheart！Annihilationitselfisnodeathtoevil。Onlygoodwhereevilwas,isevildead。Anevilthingmustlivewithitseviluntilitchoosestobegood。Thataloneistheslayingofevil。\"
IheldmypeaceuntilasoundIdidnotunderstandovertookus。
\"Ifsheshouldbreakloose！\"Icried。
\"Makehaste！\"herejoined。\"Ishallhurrydownthemomentyouaregone,andIhavedisarrangedthemirrors。\"
Weran,andreachedthewoodenchamberbreathless。Mr。Ravenseizedthechainsandadjustedthehood。Thenhesetthemirrorsintheirproperrelation,andcamebesidemeinfrontofthestandingone。
AlreadyIsawthemountainrangeemergingfromthemist。
Betweenus,wedgingusasunder,darted,withtheyellofademon,thehugebulkofthespottedleopardess。Sheleapedthroughthemirrorasthroughanopenwindow,andsettledatonceintoalow,even,swiftgallop。
Icastalookofdismayatmycompanion,andsprangthroughtofollowher。Hecameaftermeleisurely。
\"Youneednotrun,\"hecalled;\"youcannotovertakeher。Thisisourway。\"
Ashespokeheturnedintheoppositedirection。
\"Shehasmoremagicatherfinger—tipsthanIcaretoknow！\"headdedquietly。
\"Wemustdowhatwecan！\"Isaid,andranon,butsickeningasI
sawherdwindleinthedistance,stopped,andwentbacktohim。
\"Doubtlesswemust,\"heanswered。\"ButmywifehaswarnedMara,andshewilldoherpart;youmustsleepfirst:youhavegivenmeyourword！\"
\"NordoImeantobreakit。Butsurelysleepisnotthefirstthing！
Surely,surely,actiontakesprecedenceofrepose！\"
\"Amancandonothingheisnotfittodo。——See！didInottellyouMarawoulddoherpart？\"
Ilookedwhitherhepointed,andsawawhitespotmovingatanacuteanglewiththelinetakenbytheleopardess。
\"Theresheis！\"hecried。\"Thespottedleopardessisstrong,butthewhiteisstronger！\"
\"Ihaveseenthemfight:thecombatdidnotappeardecisiveastothat。\"
\"Howshouldsucheyestellwhichhaveneverslept？Theprincessdidnotconfessherselfbeaten——thatsheneverdoes——butshefled！Whensheconfessesherlasthopegone,thatitisindeedhardtokickagainstthegoad,thenwillherdaybegintodawn！Come;come！Hewhocannotactmustmakehastetosleep！\"
CHAPTERXXXI
THESEXTON\'SOLDHORSE
Istoodandwatchedthelastgleamofthewhiteleopardessmeltaway,thenturnedtofollowmyguide——butreluctantly。WhathadItodowithsleep？Surelyreasonwasthesameineveryworld,andwhatreasoncouldtherebeingoingtosleepwiththedead,whenthehourwascallingtheliveman？Besides,noonewouldwakeme,andhowcouldIbecertainofwakingearly——ofwakingatall？——thesleepersinthathouseletmorningglideintonoon,andnoonintonight,noreverstirred！Imurmured,butfollowed,forIknewnotwhatelsetodo。
Thelibrarianwalkedoninsilence,andIwalkedsilentashe。Timeandspaceglidedpastus。Thesunset;itbegantogrowdark,andIfeltintheairthespreadingcoldofthechamberofdeath。Myheartsanklowerandlower。Ibegantolosesightofthelean,long—coatedfigure,andatlengthcouldnomorehearhisswishingstridethroughtheheather。ButthenIheardinsteadtheslow—flappingwingsoftheraven;and,atintervals,nowafirefly,nowagleamingbutterflyroseintotheraylessair。
Byandbythemoonappeared,slowcrossingthefarhorizon。
\"Youaretired,areyounot,Mr。Vane？\"saidtheraven,alightingonastone。\"Youmustmakeacquaintancewiththehorsethatwillcarryyouinthemorning！\"
Hegaveastrangewhistlethroughhislongblackbeak。Aspotappearedonthefaceofthehalf—risenmoon。Tomyearscamepresentlythedrummingofswift,soft—gallopinghoofs,andinaminuteortwo,outoftheverydiscofthemoon,low—thunderedtheterriblehorse。Hismaneflowedawaybehindhimlikethecrestofawind—fightingwave,tornseawardinhoaryspray,andthewhiskofhistailkeptblindingtheeyeofthemoon。Nineteenhandsheseemed,hugeofbone,tightofskin,hardofmuscle——asteedtheholyDeathhimselfmightchooseonwhichtorideabroadandslay！
Themoonseemedtoregardhimwithawe;inherscarylighthelookedaveryskeleton,looselyropedtogether。Terrificallylarge,hemovedwiththelightnessofawingedinsect。Ashedrewnear,hisspeedslackened,andhismaneandtaildriftedabouthimsettling。
NowIwasnotmerelyaloverofhorses,butIlovedeveryhorseI
saw。Ihadneverspentmoneyexceptuponhorses,andhadneversoldahorse。Thesightofthismightyone,terribletolookat,wokeinmelongingtopossesshim。Itwaspuregreed,nay,rankcovetousness,anevilthinginalltheworlds。IdonotmeanthatIcouldhavestolenhim,butthat,regardlessofhisproperplace,IwouldhaveboughthimifIcould。Ilaidmyhandsonhim,andstrokedtheprotuberantbonesthathumpedahidesmoothandthin,andshinyassatin——soshinythattheveryshapeofthemoonwasreflectedinit;Ifondledhissharp—pointedears,whisperedwordsinthem,andbreathedintohisrednostrilsthebreathofaman\'slife。Heinreturnbreathedintominethebreathofahorse\'slife,andwelovedoneanother。Whateyeshehad！Blue—filmyliketheeyesofthedead,behindeachwasaglowingcoal！Theraven,withwingshalfextended,lookedonpleasedatmylove—makingtohismagnificenthorse。
\"Thatiswell！befriendswithhim,\"hesaid:\"hewillcarryyouallthebetterto—morrow！——Nowwemusthurryhome！\"
Mydesiretoridethehorsehadgrownpassionate。
\"MayInotmounthimatonce,Mr。Raven？\"Icried。
\"Byallmeans！\"heanswered。\"Mount,andridehimhome。\"
Thehorsebenthisheadovermyshoulderlovingly。Itwistedmyhandsinhismaneandscrambledontohisback,notwithoutaidfromcertainprotuberantbones。
\"Hewouldoutspeedanyleopardincreation！\"Icried。
\"Notthatwayatnight,\"answeredtheraven;\"theroadisdifficult。——
Butcome;lossnowwillbegainthen！Towaitisharderthantorun,anditsmeedisthefuller。Goon,myson——straighttothecottage。Ishallbethereassoonasyou。Itwillrejoicemywife\'shearttoseesonofhersonthathorse！\"
Isatsilent。Thehorsestoodlikeablockofmarble。
\"Whydoyoulinger？\"askedtheraven。
\"Ilongsomuchtorideaftertheleopardess,\"Ianswered,\"thatI
canscarcerestrainmyself！\"
\"Youhavepromised！\"
\"MydebttotheLittleOnesappears,Iconfess,agreaterthingthanmybondtoyou。\"
\"Yieldtothetemptationandyouwillbringmischiefuponthem——andonyourselfalso。\"
\"Whatmattersitforme？Ilovethem;andloveworksnoevil。I
willgo。\"
Butthetruthwas,Iforgotthechildren,infatuatewiththehorse。
Eyesflashedthroughthedarkness,andIknewthatAdamstoodinhisownshapebesideme。Iknewalsobyhisvoicethatherepressedanindignationalmosttoostrongforhim。
\"Mr。Vane,\"hesaid,\"doyounotknowwhyyouhavenotyetdoneanythingworthdoing？\"
\"BecauseIhavebeenafool,\"Ianswered。
\"Wherein？\"
\"Ineverything。\"
\"Whichdoyoucountyourmostindiscreetaction？\"
\"Bringingtheprincesstolife:Ioughttohavelefthertoherjustfate。\"
\"Nay,nowyoutalkfoolishly！Youcouldnothavedoneotherwisethanyoudid,notknowingshewasevil！——Butyouneverbroughtanyonetolife！Howcouldyou,yourselfdead？\"
\"Idead？\"Icried。
\"Yes,\"heanswered;\"andyouwillbedead,solongasyourefusetodie。\"
\"Backtotheoldriddling！\"Ireturnedscornfully。
\"Bepersuaded,andgohomewithme,\"hecontinuedgently。\"Themost——nearlytheonlyfoolishthingyoueverdid,wastorunfromourdead。\"
Ipressedthehorse\'sribs,andhewasofflikeasuddenwind。I
gavehimapatonthesideoftheneck,andhewentaboutinasharp—drivencurve,\"closetotheground,likeacatwhenscratchinglyshewheelsaboutafteramouse,\"leaningsidewaystillhismanesweptthetopsoftheheather。
ThroughthedarkIheardthewingsoftheraven。FivequickflapsIheard,andheperchedonthehorse\'shead。Thehorsecheckedhimselfinstantly,ploughingupthegroundwithhisfeet。
\"Mr。Vane,\"croakedtheraven,\"thinkwhatyouaredoing！Twicealreadyhasevilbefallenyou——oncefromfear,andoncefromheedlessness:breachofwordisfarworse;itisacrime。\"
\"TheLittleOnesareinfrightfulperil,andIbroughtituponthem！\"
Icried。\"——ButindeedIwillnotbreakmywordtoyou。Iwillreturn,andspendinyourhousewhatnights——whatdays——whatyearsyouplease。\"
\"Itellyouoncemoreyouwilldothemotherthangoodifyougoto—night,\"heinsisted。
Butafalsesenseofpower,asensewhichhadnorootandwasmerelyvibratedintomefromthestrengthofthehorse,had,alas,renderedmetoostupidtolistentoanythinghesaid！
\"Wouldyoutakefrommemylastchanceofreparation？\"Icried。
\"Thistimethereshallbenoshirking！Itismyduty,andIwillgo——ifIperishforit！\"
\"Go,then,foolishboy！\"hereturned,withangerinhiscroak。\"Takethehorse,andridetofailure！Mayitbetohumility！\"
Hespreadhiswingsandflew。AgainIpressedtheleanribsunderme。
\"Afterthespottedleopardess！\"Iwhisperedinhisear。
Heturnedhisheadthiswayandthat,snuffingtheair;thenstarted,andwentafewpacesinaslow,undecidedwalk。Suddenlyhequickenedhiswalk;brokeintoatrot;begantogallop,andinafewmomentshisspeedwastremendous。Heseemedtoseeinthedark;neverstumbled,notoncefaltered,notoncehesitated。Isatasontheridgeofawave。Ifeltundermetheplayofeachindividualmuscle:hisjointsweresoelastic,andhiseverymovementglidedsointothenext,thatnotoncedidhejarme。Hisgrowingswiftnessborehimalonguntilheflewratherthanran。
Thewindmetandpasseduslikeatornado。
Acrosstheevilhollowwespedlikeaboltfromanarblast。Nomonsterlifteditsneck;allknewthehoofsthatthunderedovertheirheads！Werushedupthehills,weshotdowntheirfartherslopes;fromtherockychasmsoftheriver—bedhedidnotswerve;
heheldonoverthemhisfierce,terriblegallop。Themoon,half—wayuptheheaven,gazedwithasolemntroubleinherpalecountenance。
Rejoicinginthepowerofmysteedandintheprideofmylife,I
satlikeakingandrode。
Wewerenearthemiddleofthemanychannels,myhorseeveryothermomentclearingone,sometimestwoinhisstride,andnowandthengatheringhimselfforagreatboundingleap,whenthemoonreachedthekey—stoneofherarch。Thencameawonderandaterror:shebegantodescendrollinglikethenaveofFortune\'swheelbowledbythegods,andwentfasterandfaster。Likeourownmoon,thisonehadahumanface,andnowthebroadforeheadnowthechinwasuppermostassherolled。Igazedaghast。
Acrosstheravinescamethehowlingofwolves。Anuglyfearbegantoinvadethehollowplacesofmyheart;myconfidencewasonthewane！Thehorsemaintainedhisheadlongswiftness,withearsprickedforward,andthirstynostrilsexultinginthewindhiscareercreated。Buttherewasthemoonjoltinglikeanoldchariot—wheeldownthehillofheaven,withawfulboding！Sherolledatlastoverthehorizon—edgeanddisappeared,carryingallherlightwithher。
Themightysteedwasintheactofclearingawideshallowchannelwhenwewerecaughtinthenetofthedarkness。Hisheaddropped;
itsimpetuscarriedhishelplessbulkacross,buthefellinaheaponthemargin,andwherehefellhelay。Igotup,kneeledbesidehim,andfelthimallover。NotabonecouldIfindbroken,buthewasahorsenomore。Isatdownonthebody,andburiedmyfaceinmyhands。
CHAPTERXXXII
THELOVERSANDTHEBAGS
Bitterlycoldgrewthenight。Thebodyfrozeunderme。Thecryofthewolvescamenearer;Iheardtheirfeetsoft—paddingontherockyground;theirquickpantingfilledtheair。ThroughthedarknessIsawthemanyglowingeyes;theirhalf—circlecontractedaroundme。Mytimewascome！Isprangtomyfeet。——Alas,Ihadnotevenastick！
Theycameinarush,theireyesflashingwithfuryofgreed,theirblackthroatsagapetodevourme。Istoodhopelesslywaitingthem。
Onemomenttheyhaltedoverthehorse——thencameatme。
Withasoundofswiftnessallbutsilence,acloudofgreeneyescamedownontheirflank。Theheadsthatborethemflewatthewolveswithacryfeebleryetfiercerthantheirhowlingsnarl,andbythecryIknewthem:theywerecats,ledbyahugegrayone。I
couldseenothingofhimbuthiseyes,yetIknewhim——andsoknewhiscolourandbigness。Aterrificbattlefollowed,whosetalealonecametomethroughthenight。Iwouldhavefled,forsurelyitwasbutafightwhichshouldhaveme！——onlywherewastheuse？
myfirststepwouldbeafall！andmyfoesofeitherkindcouldbothseeandscentmeinthedark！
AllatonceImissedthehowling,andthecaterwaulinggrewwilder。
Thencamethesoftpadding,andIknewitmeantflight:thecatshaddefeatedthewolves！Inamomentthesharpestofsharpteethwereinmylegs;amomentmoreandthecatswereallovermeinalivecataract,bitingwherevertheycouldbite,furiouslyscratchingmeanywhereandeverywhere。Amultitudeclungtomybody;Icouldnotflee。MadlyIfellonthehatefulswarm,everyfingerinstinctwithdestruction。Itorethemoffme,Ithrottledattheminvain:
whenIwouldhaveflungthemfromme,theyclungtomyhandslikelimpets。Itrampledthemundermyfeet,thrustmyfingersintheireyes,caughttheminjawsstrongerthantheirs,butcouldnotridmyselfofone。Withoutceasetheykeptdiscoveringuponmespaceforfreshmouthfuls;theyhauledatmyskinwiththewidespread,horriblycurvedpincersofclutchingclaws;theyhissedandspatinmyface——butnevertouchedituntil,inmydespair,Ithrewmyselfontheground,whentheyforsookmybody,anddartedatmyface。
Irose,andimmediatelytheyleftit,themoretooccupythemselveswithmylegs。InanagonyIbrokefromthemandran,carelesswhither,cleavingthesoliddark。Theyaccompaniedmeinasurroundingtorrent,nowrubbing,nowleapingupagainstme,buttormentingmenomore。WhenIfell,whichwasoften,theygavemetimetorise;whenfromfearoffallingIslackenedmypace,theyflewafreshatmylegs。Allthatmiserablenighttheykeptmerunning——buttheydrovemebyacomparativelysmoothpath,forI
tumbledintonogully,andpassingtheEvilWoodwithoutseeingit,leftitbehindinthedark。Whenatlengththemorningappeared,Iwasbeyondthechannels,andonthevergeoftheorchardvalley。
InmyjoyIwouldhavemadefriendswithmypersecutors,butnotacatwastobeseen。Ithrewmyselfonthemoss,andfellfastasleep。
Iwaswakedbyakick,tofindmyselfboundhandandfoot,oncemorethethrallofthegiants！
\"Whatfitter？\"Isaidtomyself;\"towhomelseshouldIbelong？\"
andIlaughedinthetriumphofself—disgust。Asecondkickstoppedmyfalsemerriment;andthusrecurrentlyassistedbymycaptors,I
succeededatlengthinrisingtomyfeet。
Sixofthemwereaboutme。Theyundidtheropethattiedmylegstogether,attachedaropetoeachofthem,anddraggedmeaway。I
walkedaswellasIcould,but,astheyfrequentlypulledbothropesatonce,Ifellrepeatedly,whereupontheyalwayskickedmeupagain。
Straighttomyoldlabourtheytookme,tiedmyleg—ropestoatree,undidmyarms,andputthehatefulflintinmylefthand。Thentheylaydownandpeltedmewithfallenfruitandstones,butseldomhitme。IfIcouldhavefreedmylegs,andgotholdofastickI
spiedacoupleofyardsfromme,Iwouldhavefallenuponallsixofthem！\"ButtheLittleOneswillcomeatnight！\"Isaidtomyself,andwascomforted。
AlldayIworkedhard。Whenthedarknesscame,theytiedmyhands,andleftmefasttothetree。Isleptagooddeal,butwokeoften,andeverytimefromadreamoflyingintheheartofaheapofchildren。Withthemorningmyenemiesreappeared,bringingtheirkicksandtheirbestialcompany。
Itwasaboutnoon,andIwasnearlyfailingfromfatigueandhunger,whenIheardasuddencommotioninthebrushwood,followedbyaburstofthebell—likelaughtersodeartomyheart。Igavealoudcryofdelightandwelcome。Immediatelyroseatrumpetingasofbaby—elephants,aneighingasoffoals,andabellowingasofcalves,andthroughthebushescameacrowdofLittleOnes,ondiminutivehorses,onsmallelephants,onlittlebears;butthenoisescamefromtheriders,nottheanimals。Mingledwiththemountedoneswalkedthebiggeroftheboysandgirls,amongthelatterawomanwithababycrowinginherarms。Thegiantssprangtotheirlumberingfeet,butwereinstantlysalutedwithastormofsharpstones;thehorseschargedtheirlegs;thebearsroseandhuggedthematthewaist;theelephantsthrewtheirtrunksroundtheirnecks,pulledthemdown,andgavethemsuchatramplingastheyhadsometimesgiven,butneverreceivedbefore。Inamomentmyropeswereundone,andIwasinthearms,seeminglyinnumerable,oftheLittleOnes。
ForsometimeIsawnomoreofthegiants。
Theymademesitdown,andmyLonacame,andwithoutawordbegantofeedmewiththeloveliestredandyellowfruits。Isatandate,thewholecolonymountingguarduntilIhaddone。Thentheybroughtuptwoofthelargestoftheirelephants,andhavingplacedthemsidebyside,hookedtheirtrunksandtiedtheirtailstogether。
Thedocilecreaturescouldhaveuntiedtheirtailswithasingleshake,andunhookedtheirtrunksbyforgettingthem;buttailsandtrunksremainedastheirlittlemastershadarrangedthem,anditwascleartheelephantsunderstoodthattheymustkeeptheirbodiesparallel。Igotup,andlaidmyselfinthehollowbetweentheirtwobacks;whenthewiseanimals,counteractingtheweightthatpushedthemapart,leanedagainsteachother,andmadeformeamostcomfortablelitter。Myfeet,itistrue,projectedbeyondtheirtails,butmyheadlaypillowedonanearofeach。Thensomeofthesmallerchildren,mountingforabodyguard,rangedthemselvesinarowalongthebackofeachofmybearers;thewholeassemblyformeditselfintrain;andtheprocessionbegantomove。
Whithertheywerecarryingme,Ididnottrytoconjecture;Iyieldedmyselftotheirpleasure,almostashappyasthey。Chatteringandlaughingandplayinggladtricksinnumerableatfirst,themomenttheysawIwasgoingtosleep,theybecamestillasjudges。
Iwoke:asuddenmusicaluproargreetedtheopeningofmyeyes。