mc.eatersofthedead-第22部分

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　I　answered；　〃I　do　not　know　he　shall　die。〃
　〃Yes；〃　Herger　said；　〃but　Buliwyf　knows。〃　Then　Herger　spoke　nothing　further　to　me；　and　we　rode　onward　for　a　goodly　period　of　time；　until　the　sun　was　high　and　bright　in　the　sky。　Then　at　last　Buliwyf　gave　the　signal　to　halt；　and　all　the　horsemen　dismounted；　and　prepared　to　enter　the　thunder　caves。
　Now；　well　I　knew　that　these　Northmen　are　brave　to　a　fault；　but　as　I　looked　at　the　precipice　of　the　cliff　below　us；　my　heart　twisted　over　inside　my　chest；　and　I　thought　I　should　be　purging　myself　at　any　instant。　Verily；　the　cliff　was　absolutely　sheer；　lacking　the　least　grip　for　hand　or　feet；　and　it　descended　for　the　distance　of　perhaps　four　hundred　paces。　Verily；　the　crashing　waves　were　so　far　beneath　us　that　they　appeared　as　miniature　waves；　tiny　as　the　most　delicate　drawing　of　an　artist。　Yet　I　knew　them　to　be　large　as　any　waves　on　earth；　once　one　descended　to　that　level　far　below。
　To　me；　the　climbing　down　of　these　cliffs　was　madness　beyond　the　madness　of　a　foaming　dog。　But　the　Northmen　proceeded　in　normal　fashion。　Buliwyf　directed　the　pounding　of　stout　wooden　stakes　into　the　earth；　around　these　the　sealskin　ropes　were　bound；　and　the　trailing　ends　flung　over　the　sides　of　the　cliffs。
　Verily；　the　ropes　were　not　long　enough　for　so　distant　a　descent；　and　thus　had　to　be　hauled　up　again；　and　two　ropes　fastened　together　to　make　a　single　length　to　reach　the　waves　at　the　bottom。
　In　due　time；　we　had　two　such　ropes　that　reached　down　the　side　of　the　cliff　face。　Then　Buliwyf　spoke　to　his　gathering：　〃First　I　shall　proceed；　so　that　when　I　reach　the　bottom　all　shall　know　that　the　ropes　are　stout　and　the　journey　can　be　acplished。　I　await　you　at　the　bottom；　on　the　narrow　ledge　you　see　below。〃
　I　looked　to　this　narrow　ledge。　To　call　it　narrow　is　to　call　a　camel　kind。　It　was；　in　truth；　the　barest　strip　of　flat　rock；　continually　washed　and　pounded　by　the　surf。
　〃When　all　have　reached　the　bottom；〃　Buliwyf　said；　〃we　can　attack　the　mother　of　the　wendol　in　the　thunder　caves。〃　Thus　he　spoke；　in　a　voice　as　ordinary　as　that　which　he　would　mand　a　slave　in　the　preparation　of　some　ordinary　stew　or　any　other　household　chore。　And　without　further　speech；　he　went　over　the　side　of　the　cliff。
　Now；　here　is　the　manner　of　his　descent；　which　I　found　remarkable；　but　the　Northmen　account　it　no　particular　thing。　Herger　told　me　they　use　this　method　for　gathering　of　sea…bird　eggs　at　certain　times　of　the　year；　when　the　sea　birds　build　their　nests　on　the　cliff　face。　It　is　done　in　this　fashion：　a　sling　is　placed　around　the　waist　of　the　descending　man；　and　all　the　fellows　strain　to　lower　him　down　the　cliff。　Meanwhile；　this　same　man　grips；　for　support；　on　to　the　second　rope；　which　dangles　on　the　cliff　face。　Further；　the　descending　man　carries　a　stout　staff　of　oaken　wood；　fitted　at　one　end　with　a　leather　thong；　or　strap；　about　his　wrist；　this　staff　he　employs　for　a　prod　to　push　himself　hither　and　yon　as　he　moves　down　the　rocky　surface。41
　As　Buliwyf　went　down；　being　ever　smaller　to　my　eyes；　I　saw　that　he　maneuvered　with　the　sling；　the　rope；　and　the　stick　very　agilely；　but　I　was　not　deceived　into　thinking　this　some　trivial　matter；　for　I　saw　it　to　be　difficult　and　requiring　practice。
　At　length；　he　safely　reached　the　bottom　and　stood　on　the　narrow　ledge　with　the　surf　crashing　over　him。　In　truth；　he　was　so　diminished　we　could　hardly　see　him　wave　his　hand；　in　signal　that　he　was　safe。　Now　the　sling　was　hauled　up；　and　also　with　it；　the　oaken　staff。　Herger　turned　tome；　speaking：　〃You　shall　go　next。〃
　I　said　that　I　was　feeling　poorly。　Also　I　said　I　wished　to　see　another　man　descend；　in　order　better　to　study　the　manner　of　the　descent。
　Herger　said；　〃it　is　more　difficult　with　each　descent；　because　there　are　fewer　here　above　to　lower　a　man　down。　The　last　man　must　descend　without　the　sling　at　all；　and　that　shall　be　Ecthgow；　for　his　arms　are　iron。　It　is　a　mark　of　our　favor　which　allows　you　to　be　the　second　man　to　descend。　Go　now。〃
　I　saw　in　his　eyes　that　there　was　no　hope　of　delay；　and　so　I　was　myself　fitted　into　the　sling；　and　I　gripped　the　stout　staff　in　my　hands；　which　were　slippery　with　sweat；　and　my　whole　body　likewise　was　slippery　with　sweat；　and　I　shivered　in　the　wind　as　I　went　over　the　side　of　the　cliff；　and　for　the　last　time　saw　the　five　Northmen　straining　at　the　rope；　and　then　they　were　lost　from　view。　I　made　my　descent。
　I　had　in　my　mind　to　make　many　prayers　to　Allah；　and　also　to　record　in　the　eye　of　my　mind；　in　the　memory　of　my　soul；　the　many　experiences　that　a　man　must　undergo　as　he　dangles　from　ropes　down　such　a　wind…torn　rocky　cliff。　Once　out　of　sight　of　my　Northmen　friends　above；　I　forgot　all　my　intentions；　and　whispered；　〃Allah　be　praised；〃　over　and　over；　like　a　mindless　person；　or　one　so　old　his　brain　no　longer　functions；　or　a　child；　or　a　fool。
　In　truth；　I　remember　little　from　all　that　transpired。　Only　this：　that　the　wind　blows　a　person　back　and　forth　across　the　rock　at　such　speed　the　eye　cannot　focus　on　the　surface；　which　is　a　gray　blur；　and　that　many　times　I　struck　the　rock；　jarring　my　bones；　splitting　my　skin；　and　once　I　banged　my　head　and　saw　brilliant　white　spots　like　stars　before　my　eyes；　and　I　thought　I　would　be　faint；　but　I　was　not。　And　in　due　time；　which　in　truth　seemed　as　the　whole　duration　of　my　life；　and　more；　I　reached　the　bottom；　and　Buliwyf　clapped　me　on　the　shoulder　and　said　I　had　done　well。
　Now　the　sling　was　raised　up；　and　the　waves　crashed　over　me　and　over　Buliwyf　at　my　side。　Now　I　fought　to　hold　my　balance　upon　this　slippery　ledge；　and　this　so　occupied　my　attention　I　did　not　watch　the　others　ing　down　the　cliff。　My　only　desire　was　this：　to　keep　from　being　swept　away　into　the　sea。　Verily　I　saw　with　my　own　eyes　that　the　waves　were　taller　than　three　men　standing　one　atop　another；　and　when　each　wave　struck；　I　was　for　a　moment　senseless　in　a　swirl　of　chilled　water　and　spinning　force。　Many　times　was　I　knocked　from　my　feet　by　these　waves；　I　was　drenched　over　my　whole　body；　and　shivering　so　badly　that　my　teeth　clattered　like　a　galloping　horse。　I　could　not　speak　words　for　the　clacking　of　my　teeth。
　Now　all　the　warriors　of　Buliwyf　made　their　descent；　and　all　were　safe；　Ecthgow　being　the　last　to　e　down；　by　brute　force　of　his　arms；　and　when　at　last　he　stood；　his　legs　quivered　without　control　as　a　man　shudders　with　a　death　throe；　we　waited　some　moments　until　he　was　himself　again。
　Then　Buliwyf　spoke：　〃We　shall　descend　into　the　water　and　swim　into　the　cave。　I　shall　be　first。　Carry　your　dagger　in　your　teeth；　so　your　arms　shall　be　free　to　battle　the　currents。〃
　These　words　of　new　madness　came　upon　me　at　a　time　when　I　could　endure　nothing　further。　To　my　eyes；　the　plan　of　Buliwyf　was　folly　beyond　folly。　I　saw　the　waves　crash　in；　bursting　upon　the　jagged　rocks；　I　saw　the　waves　pull　away　again　with　the　tug　of　a　giant's　strength；　only　to　recover　their　power　and　crash　forward　anew。　Verily；　I　watched　and　I　believed　that　no　man　could　swim　in　that　water；　but　rather　he　would　be　dashed　to　bony　splinters　in　an　instant。
　But　I　made　no　protest；　for　I　was　past　any　prehension。　To　my　way　of　thinking；　I　was　close　enough　to　death　that　it　did　not　matter　if　I　came　closer　still。　Thus　I　took　my　dagger；　which　I　jammed　into　my　belt；　for　my　teeth　rattled　too　severely　to　grip　it　in　my　mouth。　Of　the　other　Northmen；　they　gave　no　sign　of　coldness　or　fatigue；　but　rather　greeted　each　wave　as　a　fresh　invigoration；　also　they　smiled　with　the　happy　anticipation　of　the　ing　battle；　and　for　this　last　I　hated　them。
　Buliwyf　watched　the　movement　of　the　waves；　choosing　his　time；　and　then　he　leapt　into　the　surf。　I　hesitated；　and　someone…I　have　always　believed　it　to　be　Herger…pushed　me。　I　fell　deep　in　the　swirling　sea　of　numbing　coldness；　verily　I　was　spun　head　over　feet　and　sideward　also；　I　could　see　nothing　but　green　water。　Then　I　perceived　Buliwyf　kicking　down　in　the　depths　of　the　sea；　and　I　followed　after　him；　and　he　swam　into　a　kind　of　passage　in　the　rocks。　In　all　things；　I　did　as　he。　This　was　the　fashion：
　Upon　one　moment；　the　surf　would　tug　after　him；　trying　to　pluck　him　into　the　wide　ocean；　and　me　also。　At　these　moments；　Buliwyf　gripped　onto　a　rock　with　his　hands　to　hold　against　the　current；　this　also　I　did。　Mightily　I　held　to　the　rocks；　with　my　lungs　bursting。　Then　in　an　instant　the　surge　ran　opposite；　and　I　was　propelled　with　frightful　speed　forward；　bouncing　off　rocks　and　obstructions。　And　then　again；　the　surge　changed；　and　tugged　backward　as　it　had　done　previously；　and　I　was　obliged　to　follow　the　example　of　Buliwyf　and　cling　to　rocks。　Now　it　is　true　that　my　lungs　burned　as　if　afire；　and　I　knew　in　my　heart　that　I　could　not　continue　much　longer　in　this　icy　sea。　Then　the　surge　ran　forward；　and　I　was　flung　headlong；　knocked　here　and　there；　and　then　suddenly　I　was　up　and　breathing　air。
　Verily；　this　transpired　with　such　swiftness　that　I　was　so　surprised　I　did　not　think　to　feel　relief；　which　was　a　proper　feeling；　nor　did　I　think　to　praise　Allah　for　my　good　fortune　in　surviving。　I　gasped　air；　and　all　about　me　the　warriors　of　Buliwyf　set　their　heads　above　the　surface　and　gasped　likewise。
　Now；　here　is　what　I　saw：　we　were　in　a　kind　of　pond　or　lake；　inside　a　cave　with　a　smooth　rocky　dome　and　a　seaward　entrance　through　which　we　had　just　traversed。　Directly　ahead　was　a　flat　rocky　space。　I　saw　three　or　four　dark　shapes　squatted　about　a　fire；　these　creatures　chanted　in　high　voices。　Now　also　I　understood　why　this　was　called　the　cave　of　thunder；　for　with　each　crash　of　the　surf　the　sound　in　the　cave　reverberated　with　such　power　that　the　ears　ached　and　the　very　air　seemed　to　shake　and　press。
　In　this　place；　this　cave；　Buliwyf　and　his　warriors　made　their　attack；　and　I　joined　in　with　them；　and　with　our　short　daggers　we　killed　the　four　demons　in　the　cave。　I　saw　them　clearly　for　the　first　time；　in　the　flickering　light　of　the　fire；　whose　flames　leapt　madly　with　each　pounding　of　the　thundering　surf。　The　aspect　of　these　demons　was　thus：　they　appeared　to　be　manlike　in　every　respect；　but　not　as　any　man　upon　the　face　of　the　earth。　They　were　short　creatures；　and　broad　and　squat；　and　hairy　on　all　parts　of　their　bodies　save　their　palms；　the　soles　of　their　feet；　and　their　faces。　Their　faces　were　very　large；　with　mouth　and　jaws　large　and　prominent；　and　of　an　u