erewhon revisited-第42部分
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water is discoloured you must not cross itnot even with Doctor。
I could not ask George to come up three days running from
Sunch'ston to the statues and back。〃
Here he became exhausted。 Almost the last coherent string of
sentences I got from him was as follows：…
〃About George's money if I send him 2000 pounds you will still have
nearly 150；000 pounds left； and Mr。 Cathie will not let you try to
make it more。 I know you would give him four or five thousand； but
the Mayor and I talked it over； and settled that 2000 pounds in
gold would make him a rich man。 Consult our good friend Alfred〃
（meaning； of course； Mr。 Cathie） 〃about the best way of taking the
money。 I am afraid there is nothing for it but gold； and this will
be a great weight for you to carryabout； I believe 36 lbs。 Can
you do this？ I really think that if you lead your horse you 。 。 。
nothere will be the getting him down again〃
〃Don't worry about it； my dear father；〃 said I； 〃I can do it easily
if I stow the load rightly； and I will see to this。 I shall have
nothing else to carry； for I shall camp down below both morning and
evening。 But would you not like to send some present to the Mayor；
Yram； their other children； and Mrs。 Humdrum's grand…daughter？〃
〃Do what you can；〃 said my father。 And these were the last
instructions he gave me about those adventures with which alone
this work is concerned。
The day before he died； he had a little flicker of intelligence；
but all of a sudden his face became clouded as with great anxiety；
he seemed to see some horrible chasm in front of him which he had
to cross； or which he feared that I must cross； for he gasped out
words； which； as near as I could catch them； were； 〃Look out！
John！ Leap！ Leap！ Le 。 。 。 〃 but he could not say all that he
was trying to say and closed his eyes； having； as I then deemed；
seen that he was on the brink of that gulf which lies between life
and death； I took it that in reality he died at that moment； for
there was neither struggle； nor hardly movement of any kind
afterwardsnothing but a pulse which for the next several hours
grew fainter and fainter so gradually； that it was not till some
time after it had ceased to beat that we were certain of its having
done so。
CHAPTER XXVII： I MEET MY BROTHER GEORGE AT THE STATUES； ON THE TOP
OF THE PASS INTO EREWHON
This book has already become longer than I intended； but I will ask
the reader to have patience while I tell him briefly of my own
visit to the threshold of that strange country of which I fear that
he may be already beginning to tire。
The winding…up of my father's estate was a very simple matter； and
by the beginning of September 1891 I should have been free to
start； but about that time I became engaged； and naturally enough I
did not want to be longer away than was necessary。 I should not
have gone at all if I could have helped it。 I left； however； a
fortnight later than my father had done。
Before starting I bought a handsome gold repeater for the Mayor；
and a brooch for Yram； of pearls and diamonds set in gold； for
which I paid 200 pounds。 For Yram's three daughters and for Mrs。
Humdrum's grand…daughter I took four brooches each of which cost
about 15 pounds； 15s。； and for the boys I got three ten…guinea
silver watches。 For George I only took a strong English knife of
the best make； and the two thousand pounds worth of uncoined gold；
which for convenience' sake I had had made into small bars。 I also
had a knapsack made that would hold these and nothing elseeach
bar being strongly sewn into its place； so that none of them could
shift。 Whenever I went on board ship； or went on shore； I put this
on my back； so that no one handled it except myselfand I can
assure the reader that I did not find it a light weight to handle。
I ought to have taken something for old Mrs。 Humdrum； but I am
ashamed to say that I forgot her。
I went as directly as I could to the port of which my father had
told me； and reached it on November 27； one day later than he had
done in the preceding year。
On the following day； which was a Saturday； I went to the livery
stables from which my father had bought his horse； and found to my
great delight that Doctor could be at my disposal； for； as it
seemed to me； the very reasonable price of fifteen shillings a day。
I shewed the owner of the stables my father's order； and all the
articles he had left were immediately delivered to me。 I was still
wearing crape round one arm； and the horse…dealer； whose name was
Baker； said he was afraid the other gentleman might be dead。
〃Indeed； he is so；〃 said I； 〃and a great grief it is to me； he was
my father。〃
〃Dear； dear；〃 answered Mr。 Baker； 〃that is a very serious thing for
the poor gentleman。 He seemed quite unfit to travel alone； and I
feared he was not long for this world； but he was bent on going。〃
I had nothing now to do but to buy a blanket； pannikin； and billy；
with some tea； tobacco； two bottles of brandy； some ship's
biscuits； and whatever other few items were down on the list of
requisites which my father had dictated to me。 Mr。 Baker； seeing
that I was what he called a new chum； shewed me how to pack my
horse； but I kept my knapsack full of gold on my back； and though I
could see that it puzzled him； he asked no questions。 There was no
reason why I should not set out at once for the principal town of
the colony； which was some ten miles inland； I； therefore； arranged
at my hotel that the greater part of my luggage should await my
return； and set out to climb the high hills that back the port。
From the top of these I had a magnificent view of the plains that I
should have to cross； and of the long range of distant mountains
which bounded them north and south as far as the eye could reach。
On some of the mountains I could still see streaks of snow； but my
father had explained to me that the ranges I should here see； were
not those dividing the English colony from Erewhon。 I also saw；
some nine miles or so out upon the plains； the more prominent
buildings of a large town which seemed to be embosomed in trees；
and this I reached in about an hour and a half； for I had to
descend at a foot's pace； and Doctor's many virtues did not
comprise a willingness to go beyond an amble。
At the town above referred to I spent the night； and began to
strike across the plains on the following morning。 I might have
crossed these in three days at twenty…five miles a day； but I had
too much time on my hands； and my load of gold was so uncomfortable
that I was glad to stay at one accommodation house after another；
averaging about eighteen miles a day。 I have no doubt that if I
had taken advice； I could have stowed my load more conveniently；
but I could not unpack it； and made the best of it as it was。
On the evening of Wednesday； December 2； I reached the river which
I should have to follow up； it was here nearing the gorge through
which it had to pass before the country opened out again at the
back of the front range。 I came upon it quite suddenly on reaching
the brink of a great terrace； the bank of which sloped almost
precipitously down towards it； but was covered with grass。 The
terrace was some three hundred feet above the river； and faced
another similar one； which was from a mile and a half to two miles
distant。 At the bottom of this huge yawning chasm； rolled the
mighty river； and I shuddered at the thought of having to cross and
recross it。 For it was angry； muddy； evidently in heavy fresh； and
filled bank and bank for nearly a mile with a flood of seething
waters。
I followed along the northern edge of the terrace； till I reached
the last accommodation house that could be said to be on the
plainswhich； by the way； were here some eight or nine hundred
feet above sea level。 When I reached this house； I was glad to
learn that the river was not likely to remain high for more than a
day or two； and that if what was called a Southerly Burster came
up； as it might be expected to do at any moment； it would be quite
low again before three days were over。
At this house I stayed the night； and in the course of the evening
a stray doga retriever； hardly full grown； and evidently very
much down on his lucktook up with me； when I inquired about him；
and asked if I might take him with me； the landlord said he wished
I would； for he knew nothing about him and was trying to drive him
from the house。 Knowing what a boon the companionship of this poor
beast would be to me when I was camping out alone； I encouraged
him； and next morning he followed me as a matter of course。
In the night the Southerly Burster which my host anticipated had
come up； cold and blustering； but invigorating after the hot； dry；
wind that had been blowing hard during the daytime as I had crossed
the plains。 A mile or two higher up I passed a large sheep…
station； but did not stay there。 One or two men looked at me with
surprise； and asked me where I was going； whereon I said I was in
search of rare plants and birds for the Museum of the town at which
I had slept the night after my arrival。 This satisfied their
curiosity； and I ambled on accompanied by the dog。 In passing I
may say that I found Doctor not to excel at any pace except an
amble； but for a long journey； especially for one who is carrying a
heavy； awkward load； there is no pace so comfortable； and he ambled
fairly fast。
I followed the horse track which had been cut through the gorge；
and in many places I disliked it extremely； for the river； still in
fresh； was raging furiously； twice； for some few yards； where the
gorge was wider and the stream less rapid； it covered the track；
and I had no confidence that it might not have washed it away； on
these occasions Doctor pricked his ears towards the water； and was
evidently thinking exactly what his rider was。 He decided；
however； that all would be sound； and took to the water without any
urging on my part。 Seeing his opinion； I remembered my father's
advice； and let him do what he liked； but in one place for three or
four yards the water came nearly up to his belly； and I was in
great fear for the watches that we
