tracks of a rolling stone-第33部分

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ing　a　half　round　each　foot。　　This　enabled　me　to　　get　on　much　better；　but　when　the　September　sun　was　high；　my　　unprotected　skin　and　head　paid　the　penalty。　　I　waited　for　a　　couple　of　hours；　I　dare　say；　hoping　Samson　would　appear。　　But　　concluding　at　length　that　he　had　arrived　long　before　me；　　through　the　slowness　of　my　early　progress；　and　had　gone　　further　up　the　river　…　thinking　perhaps　that　I　had　meant　some　　other　place　…　I　gave　him　up；　and；　full　of　internal　'd…n'　at　　his　incorrigible　consistency；　plodded　on　and　on　for　…　I　knew　　not　where。

Why；　it　may　be　asked；　did　I　not　try　to　cross　where　I　had　　intended？　　I　must　confess　my　want　of　courage。　　True；　the　　river　here　was　not　half；　not　a　third；　of　the　width　of　the　　scene　of　my　disasters；　but　I　was　weak　in　body　and　in　mind。　　　Had　anything　human　been　on　the　other　side　to　see　me　…　to　see　　how　brave　I　was；　（alas！　poor　human　nature！）　…　I　could　have　　plucked　up　heart　to　risk　it。　　It　would　have　been　such　a　　comfort　to　have　some　one　to　see　me　drown！　　But　it　is　　difficult　to　play　the　hero　with　no　spectators　save　oneself。　　　I　shall　always　have　a　fellow…feeling　with　the　Last　Man：　　　practically；　my　position　was　about　as　uncomfortable　as　his　　will　be。

One　of　the　worst　features　of　it　was；　what　we　so　often　　suffered　from　before　…　the　inaccessibility　of　water。　　The　sun　　was　broiling；　and　the　and　soil　reflected　its　scorching　rays。　　　I　was　feverish　from　exhaustion；　and　there　was　nothing；　　nothing　to　look　forward　to。　　Mile　after　mile　I　crawled　along；　　sometimes　half　disposed　to　turn　back；　and　try　the　deep　but　　narrow　passage；　then　that　inexhaustible　fountain　of　last　　hopes　…　the　Unknown　…　tempted　me　to　go　forward。　　I　　persevered；　when　behold！　as　I　passed　a　rock；　an　Indian　stood　　before　me。

He　was　as　naked　as　I　was。　　Over　his　shoulder　he　carried　a　　spear　as　long　as　a　salmon　rod。　　Though　neither　had　foreseen　　the　other；　he　was　absolutely　unmoved；　showed　no　surprise；　no　　curiosity；　no　concern。　　He　stood　still；　and　let　me　come　up　to　　him。　　My　only；　or　rather　my　uppermost；　feeling　was　gladness。　　　Of　course　the　thought　crossed　me　of　what　he　might　do　if　he　　owed　the　white　skins　a　grudge。　　If　any　white　man　had　ever　　harmed　one　of　his　tribe；　I　was　at　his　mercy；　and　it　was　　certain　that　he　would　show　me　none。　　He　was　a　tall　powerful　　man；　and　in　my　then　condition　he　could　have　done　what　he　　pleased　with　me。　　Friday　was　my　model；　the　red　man　was　　Robinson　Crusoe。　　I　kneeled　at　his　feet；　and　touched　the　　ground　with　my　forehead。　　He　did　not　seem　the　least　elated　by　　my　humility：　　there　was　not　a　spark　of　vanity　in　him。　　　Indeed；　except　for　its　hideousness　and　brutality；　his　face　　was　without　expression。

I　now　proceeded　to　make　a　drawing；　with　my　finger；　in　the　　sand；　of　a　mule　in　the　water；　while　I　imitated　by　pantomime　　the　struggles　of　the　drowning。　　I　then　pointed　to　myself；　　and；　using　my　arms　as　in　swimming；　shook　my　head　and　my　　finger　to　signify　that　I　could　not　swim。　　I　worked　an　　imaginary　paddle；　and　made　him　understand　that　I　wanted　him　　to　paddle　me　across　the　river。　　Still　he　remained　unmoved；　　till　finally　I　used　one　argument　which　interested　him　more　　than　all　the　rest　of　my　story。　　I　untied　a　part　of　the　shirt　　round　one　foot　and　showed　him　three　gold　studs。　　These　I　took　　out　and　gave　to　him。　　I　also　made　a　drawing　of　a　rifle　in　the　　sand；　and　signified　that　he　would　get　the　like　if　he　went　　with　me　to　my　camp。　　Whereupon　he　turned　in　the　direction　I　　was　going；　and；　though　unbidden　by　a　look；　I　did　not　hesitate　　to　follow。

I　thought　I　must　have　dropped　before　we　reached　his　village。　　　This　was　an　osier…bed　at　the　water's　side；　where　the　whole　　river　rushed　through　a　rocky　gorge　not　more　than　fifty　to　　sixty　yards　broad。　　There　were　perhaps　nearly　a　hundred　　Indians　here；　two…thirds　of　whom　were　women　and　children。　　　Their　habitations　were　formed　by　interlacing　the　tops　of　the　　osiers。　　Dogs'　skins　spread　upon　the　ground　and　numerous　　salmon　spears　were　their　only　furniture。　　In　a　few　minutes　my　　arrival　created　a　prodigious　commotion。　　The　whole　population　　turned　out　to　stare　at　me。　　The　children　ran　into　the　bushes　　to　hide。　　But　feminine　curiosity　conquered　feminine　timidity。　　　Although　I　was　in　the　plight　of　the　forlorn　Odysseus　after　　his　desperate　swim；　I　had　no　'blooming　foliage'　to　wind　　＇Greek　text　which　cannot　be　reproduced＇。　　Unlike　the　　Phaeacian　maidens；　however；　the　tawny　nymphs　were　all　as　　brave　as　Princess　Nausicaa　herself。　　They　stared；　and　　pointed；　and　buzzed；　and　giggled；　and　even　touched　my　skin　　with　the　tips　of　their　fingers　…　to　see；　I　suppose；　if　the　　white　would　come　off。

But　ravenous　hunger　turned　up　its　nose　at　flirtation。　　The　　fillets　of　drying　salmon　suspended　from　every　bough　were　a　　million　times　more　seductive　than　the　dark　Naiads　who　had　　dressed　them。　　Slice　after　slice　I　tore　down　and　devoured；　as　　though　my　maw　were　as　compendious　as　Jack　the　Giant　Killer's。　　　This　so　astonished　and　delighted　the　young　women　that　they　　kept　supplying　me；　…　with　the　expectation；　perhaps；　that　　sooner　or　later　I　must　share　the　giant's　fate。

While　this　was　going　on；　a　conference　was　being　held；　and　I　　had　the　satisfaction　of　seeing　some　men　pull　up　a　lot　of　dead　　rushes；　dexterously　tie　them　into　bundles；　and　truss　these　　together　by　means　of　spears。　　They　had　no　canoes；　for　the　　very　children　were　amphibious；　living；　so　it　seemed；　as　much　　in　the　water　as　out　of　it。　　When　the　raft　was　completed；　I　　was　invited　to　embark。　　My　original　friend；　who　had　twisted　a　　tow…rope；　took　this　between　his　teeth；　and　led　the　way。　　　Others　swam　behind　and　beside　me　to　push　and　to　pull。　　The　　force　of　the　water　was　terrific；　but　they　seemed　to　care　no　　more　for　that　than　fish。　　My　weight　sunk　the　rush　bundles　a　　good　bit　below　the　surface；　and　to　try　my　nerves；　my　crew　　every　now　and　then　with　a　wild　yell　dived　simultaneously；　　dragging　the　raft　and　me　under　water。　　But　I　sat　tight；　and　　with　genuine　friendliness　they　landed　me　safely　on　the　　desired　shore。

It　was　quite　dark　before　we　set　forth。　　Robinson　Crusoe　　walked　on　as　if　he　knew　exactly　where　my　camp　was。　　Probably　　the　whole　catastrophe　had　by　this　time　been　bruited　for　miles　　above　and　below　the　spot。　　Five　other　stalwart　young　fellows　　kept　us　company；　each　with　salmon　spear　in　hand。　　The　walk　　seemed　interminable；　but　I　had　shipped　a　goodly　cargo　of　　latent　energy。

When　I　got　home；　instead　of　Samson；　I　found　the　camp　occupied　　by　half　a　dozen　Indians。　　They　were　squatted　round　a　fire；　　smoking。　　Each　one；　so　it　seemed；　had　appropriated　some　　article　of　our　goods。　　Our　blankets　were　over　their　　shoulders。　　One　had　William's　long　rifle　in　his　lap。　　Another　　was　sitting　upon　mine。　　A　few　words　were　exchanged　with　the　　newcomers；　who　seated　themselves　beside　their　friends；　but　no　　more　notice　was　taken　of　me　than　of　the　mules　which　were　　eating　rushes　close　to　us。　　How　was　I；　single…handed；　to　　regain　possession？　　That　was　the　burning　question。　　A　　diplomatic　course　commanded　itself　as　the　only　possible　one。　　　There　were　six　men　who　expected　rewards；　but　the　wherewithal　　was　held　in　seisin　by　other　six。　　The　fight；　if　there　were　　one；　should　be　between　the　two　parties。　　I　would　hope　to　　prove；　that　when　thieves　fall　out　honest　men　come　by　their　　own。

There　is　one　adage　whose　truth　I　needed　no　further　proof　of。　　　Its　first　line　apostrophises　the　'Gods　and　little　fishes。'　　　My　chief　need　was　for　the　garment　which　completes　the　rhyme。　　　Indians；　having　no　use　for　corduroy　small　clothes；　I　speedily　　donned　mine。　　Next　I　quietly　but　quickly　snatched　up　　William's　rifle；　and　presented　it　to　Robinson　Crusoe；　patting　　him　on　the　back　as　if　with　honours　of　knighthood。　　The　　dispossessed　was　not　well　pleased；　but　Sir　Robinson　was；　and；　　to　all　appearances；　he　was　a　man　of　leading；　if　of　darkness。　　　While　words　were　passing　between　the　two；　I　sauntered　round　　to　the　gentleman　who　sat　cross…legged　upon　my　weapon。　　He　was　　as　heedless　of　me　as　I；　outwardly；　of　him。　　When　well　within　　reach；　mindful　that　'DE　L'AUDACE'　is　no　bad　motto；　in　love　　and　war；　I　suddenly　placed　my　foot　upon　his　chest；　tightened　　the　extensor　muscle　of　my　leg；　and　sent　him　heels　over　head。　　　In　an　instant　the　rifle　was　mine；　and　both　barrels　cocked。　　　After　yesterday's　immersion　it　might　not　have　gone　off；　but　　the　offended　Indian；　though　furious；　doubtless　inferred　from　　the　histrionic　attitude　which　I　at　once　struck；　that　I　felt　　confident　it　would。　　With　my　rifle　in　hand；　with　my　suite　　looking　to　me　to　transfer　the　plunder　to　them；　my　position　　was　now　secure。　　I　put　on　a　shirt　…　the　only　one　left　to　me；　　by　the　way　…　my　shoes　and　stockings；　and　my　shooting　coat；　　and　picking　out　William's　effects；　divided　these；　with　his　　ammunition；　his　carpet…bag；　and　his　blankets；　amongst　my　　original　friends。　　I　was　beginning　to　gather　my　own　things　　together；　when　Samson；　leading　my　horse；　unexpectedly　rode　　into　the　midst　of　us。　　The　night　was　far　advanced。　　The　　Indians　took　their　leave；　and　added　to　the　obligation　by　　bequeathing　us　a　large　fresh　salmon；　which　served　us　for　many　　a　day　to　come。

As　a　postscript　I　may　add　that　I　found　poor　Mary's　address　on　　one　of　her　letters；　and　faithfully　kept　my　promise　as　soon　as　　I　reached　pen　and　ink。



CHAPTER　XXVIII



WHAT　remains　to　be　told　will　not　take　long。　　Hardships　　naturally　increased　as　the　means　of　bearing　them　diminished。　　　I　have　said　the　salmon　held　out　for　many　days。　　We　cut　it　in　　strips；　and　dried　it　as　well　as　we　could；　but　the　flies　and　　maggots　robbed　us　of　a　large　portion　of　it。　　At　length　we　　were　reduced　to　two　small　hams；　nothing　else　except　a　little　　tea。　　Guessing　the　distance　we　had　yet　to　go；　and　taking　into　　account　our　slow　rate　of　travelling；　I　calculated　the　number　　of　days　which；　with　the　greatest　economy；　these　could　be　made　　to　last。　　Allowing　only　one　meal　a　day；　and　that　of　the　　scantiest；　I　scored　the　hams　as　a　cook　scores　a　leg　of　roast　　pork；　determined　under　no　circumstances　to　exceed　the　daily　　ration。

No　little　discipline　was　requisite　to　adhere　to　this　　resolution。　　Samson　broke　down　under　the　exposure　and　　privation；　superadded　dysentery　rendered　him　all　but　　helpless；　and　even　affected　his　mind。　　The　whole　labour　of　　the　camp　then　devolved　on　me。　　I　never　rouse