第10章

类别:其他 作者:H.Rider Haggard字数:10746更新时间:19/01/07 15:17:55
\"Iamverythirsty,\"saidBastinpresently。\"Thosesmellsseemtohavedriedmeup。Iamgoingtogetsometea——Imeanwater,asunfortunatelythereisnotea,\"andhesetofftowardsthemouthofthecave。 Wefollowedhim,Idon’tquiteknowwhy,exceptthatwewishedtobreathefreelyoutside,alsoweknewthatthesepulchreanditscontentswouldbeassafeastheyhadbeenfor——well,howlong? Itprovedtobeabeautifulmorningoutside。Wewalkedupanddownenjoyingitsub—consciously,forreallyour——thatisBickley’sandmyown——intelligenceswereconcentratedonthatsepulchreanditscontents。WhereBastin’smayhavebeenIdonotknow,perhapsinavisionaryteapot,sinceIwassurethatitwouldtakehimadayortwotoappreciatethesignificanceofourdiscoveries。Atanyrate,hewanderedoff,makingnoremarksaboutthem,todrinkwater,Isuppose。 Presentlyhebegantoshouttousfromtheendofthetable—rockandwewenttoseethereasonofhisnoise。Itprovedtobeverysatisfactory,forwhilewewereinthecavetheOrofenanshadbroughtabsolutelyeverythingbelongingtous,togetherwithalargesupplyoffoodfromthemainisland。Notasinglearticlewasmissing;evenourbooks,acanwiththebottomout,andthebrokenpiecesofalittlepocketmirrorhadbeenreligiouslytransported,andwiththeseafewarticlesthathadbeenstolenfromus,notablymypocket—knife。Evidentlyagreattaboohadbeenlaiduponallourpossessions。TheywerenowcarefullyarrangedinoneofthegroovesoftherockthatBickleysupposedhadbeenmadebythewheelsofaeroplanes,whichwaswhywehadnotseenthematonce。 Eachofusrushedforwhatwedesiredmost——Bastinforoneofthecanistersoftea,Iformydiaries,andBickleyforhischestofinstrumentsandmedicines。Thesewereremovedtothemouthofthecave,andafterthemtheotherthingsandthefood;alsoabelltentandsomecampfurniturethatwehadbroughtfromtheship。ThenBastinmadesometeaofwhichhedrankfourlargepannikins,havingfirstsaidgraceoveritwithunwontedfervour。 Nordidwedisdainourshareofthebeverage,althoughBickleypreferredcocoaandIcoffee。Cocoaandcoffeewehadnotimetomakethen,andinviewofthatsepulchreinthecave,whathadwetodowithcocoaandcoffee? SoBickleyandIsaidtoeachother,andyetpresentlyhechangedhismindandinaspecialmetalmachinecarefullymadesomeextremelystrongblackcoffeewhichhepouredintoathermosflask,previouslywarmedwithhotwater,addingtheretoaboutaclaretglassofbrandy。Alsoheextractedcertaindrugsfromhismedicine—chest,andwiththem,asInoted,ahypodermicsyringe,whichhefirstboiledinakettleandthenshutupinalittletubewithaglassstopper。 Thesepreparationsfinished,hecalledtoTommytogivehimthescrapsofourmeal。ButtherewasnoTommy。Thedogwasmissing,andthoughwehuntedeverywherewecouldnotfindhim。Finallyweconcludedthathehadwanderedoffdownthebeachonbusinessofhisownandwouldreturninduecourse。WecouldnotbotheraboutTommyjustthen。 Aftermakingsomefurtherpreparationsandfidgetingaboutalittle,Bickleyannouncedthataswehadnowsomeproperparaffinlampsofthepowerfulsortwhichareknownas\"hurricane,\"heproposedbytheiraidtocarryoutfurtherexaminationsinthecave。 \"IthinkIshallstopwhereIam,\"saidBastin,helpinghimselffromthekettletoafifthpannikinoftea。\"Thosecorpsesareveryinteresting,butIdon’tseeanyuseinstaringatthemagainatpresent。Onecanalwaysdothatatanytime。IhavemissedMaramaoncealreadybybeingawayinthatcave,andIhavealottosaytohimaboutmypeople;Idon’twanttobeabsentincaseheshouldreturn。\" \"Towashupthethings,Isuppose,\"saidBickleywithasniff; \"orperhapstoeatthetea—leaves。\" \"Well,asamatteroffact,Ihavenoticedthatthesenativeshaveapeculiartastefortea—leaves。Ithinktheybelievethemtobeamedicine,butIdon’tsupposetheywouldcomesofarforthem,thoughperhapstheymightinthehopeofgettingtheheadofOro。Anyhow,Iamgoingtostophere。\" \"Praydo,\"saidBickley。\"Areyouready,Humphrey?\" Inodded,andhehandedtomeafelt—coveredflaskofthenon— conductingkind,filledwithboilingwater,atinofpreservedmilk,andalittlebottleofmeatextractofamostconcentratedsort。Then,havinglittwoofthehurricanelampsandseenthattheywerefullofoil,westartedbackupthecave。 ChapterXI ResurrectionWereachedthesepulchrewithoutstoppingtolookattheparkedmachinesoreventhemarvelousstatuethatstoodaboveit,forwhatdidwecareaboutmachinesorstatuesnow?Asweapproachedwewereastonishedtohearlowandcavernousgrowlings。 \"Thereissomewildbeastinthere,\"saidBickley,halting。 \"No,byGeorge!it’sTommy。Whatcanthedogbeafter?\" Wepeepedin,andtheresureenoughwasTommylyingonthetopoftheGlitteringLady’scoffinandgrowlinghisverybestwiththehairstandingupuponhisback。Whenhesawwhoitwas,however,hejumpedoffandfriskedround,lickingmyhand。 \"That’sverystrange,\"Iexclaimed。 \"Notstrangerthaneverythingelse,\"saidBickley。 \"Whatareyougoingtodo?\"Iasked。 \"Openthesecoffins,\"heanswered,\"beginningwiththatoftheoldgod,sinceIwouldratherexperimentonhim。Iexpecthewillcrumbleintodust。Butifbychancehedoesn’tI’lljamalittlestrychnine,mixedwithsomeotherdrugs,ofwhichyoudon’tknowthenames,intooneofhisveinsandseeifanythinghappens。Ifitdoesn’t,itwon’thurthim,andifitdoes——well,whoknows? Nowgivemeahand。\" Wewenttotheleft—handcoffinandbyinsertingthehookonthebackofmyknife,ofwhichtherealuseistopickstonesoutofhorses’hoofs,intooneofthelittleair—holesIhavedescribed,managedtoraisetheheavycrystallidsufficientlytoenableustoforceapieceofwoodbetweenitandthetop。Therestwaseasy,forthehingesbeingofcrystalhadnotcorroded。 Intwominutesitwasopen。 Fromthechestcameanoverpoweringspicyodour,andwithitaveritablebreathofwarmairbeforewhichwerecoiledalittle。 Bickleytookapocketthermometerwhichhehadathandandglancedatit。Itmarkedatemperatureof82degreesinthesepulchre。Havingnotedthis,hethrustitintothecoffinbetweenthecrystalwallanditsoccupant。Thenwewentoutandwaitedalittlewhiletogivetheodourstimetodissipate,fortheymadetheheadreel。 Afterfiveminutesorsowereturnedandexaminedthethermometer。Ithadrisento98degrees,thenaturaltemperatureofthehumanbody。 \"Whatdoyoumakeofthatifthemanisdead?\"hewhispered。 Ishookmyhead,andaswehadagreed,settohelpinghimtoliftthebodyfromthecoffin。Itwasagoodweight,quiteelevenstoneIshouldsay;moreover,itwasnotstill,forthehipjointsbent。Wegotitoutandlaiditonablanketwehadspreadonthefloorofthesepulchre。WhilstIwasthusengagedIsawsomethingthatnearlycausedmetoloosemyholdfromastonishment。Beneaththehead,thecentreofthebackandthefeetwerecrystalboxesabouteightinchessquare,orrathercrystalblocks,forinthemIcouldseenoopening,andtheseboxesemittedafaintphosphorescentlight。Itouchedoneofthemandfoundthatitwasquitewarm。 \"Greatheavens!\"Iexclaimed,\"here’smagic。\" \"There’snosuchthing,\"answeredBickleyinhisusualformula。 Thenanexplanationseemedtostrikehimandheadded,\"Notmagicbutradiumorsomethingofthesort。That’showthetemperaturewaskeptup。Insufficientquantityitispracticallyindestructible,yousee。Myword!thisoldgentlemanknewathingortwo。\" Againwewaitedalittlewhiletoseeifthebodybeguntocrumbleonexposuretotheair,Itakingtheopportunitytomakearoughsketchofitinmypocket—bookinanticipationofthatevent。Butitdidnot;itremainedquitesound。 \"Heregoes,\"saidBickley。\"Ifheshouldbealive,hewillcatchcoldinhislungsafterlyingforagesinthatbabyincubator,asIsupposehehasdone。Soitisnowornever。\" Thenbiddingmeholdtheman’srightarm,hetookthesterilizedsyringewhichhehadprepared,andthrustingtheneedleintoaveinheselectedjustabovethewrist,injectedthecontents。 \"Itwouldhavebeenbetterovertheheart,\"hewhispered,\"butIthoughtIwouldtrythearmfirst。Idon’tlikeriskingchillsbyuncoveringhim。\" Imadenoanswerandagainwewaitedandwatched。 \"Greatheavens,he’sstirring!\"Igaspedpresently。 Stirringhewas,forhisfingersbegantomove。 Bickleybentdownandplacedhiseartotheheart——Iforgottosaythathehadtestedthisbeforewithastethoscope,buthadbeenunabletodetectanymovement。 \"Ibelieveitisbeginningtobeat,\"hesaidinanawedvoice。 Thenheappliedthestethoscope,andadded,\"Itis,itis!\" Nexthetookafilamentofcottonwoolandlaiditontheman’slips。Presentlyitmoved;hewasbreathing,thoughveryfaintly。 Bickleytookmorecottonwoolandhavingpouredsomethingfromhismedicine—chestontoit,placeditoverthemouthbeneaththeman’snostrils——Ibelieveitwassalvolatile。 Nothingfurtherhappenedforalittlewhile,andtorelievethestrainonmymindIstaredabsentlyintotheemptycoffin。HereI sawwhathadescapedournotice,twosmallplatesofwhitemetalandcutuponthemwhatItooktobestarmaps。BeyondtheseandtheglowingboxeswhichIhavementioned,therewasnothingelseinthecoffin。Ihadnotimetoexaminethem,foratthatmomenttheoldmanopenedhismouthandbegantobreathe,evidentlywithsomediscomfortandeffort,ashisemptylungsfilledthemselveswithair。Thenhiseyelidslifted,revealingawonderfulpairofdarkglowingeyesbeneath。Nexthetriedtositupbutwouldhavefallen,hadnotBickleysupportedhimwithhisarm。 IdonotthinkhesawBickley,indeedheshuthiseyesagainasthoughthelighthurtthem,andwentintoakindoffaint。ThenitwasthatTommy,whoallthiswhilehadbeenwatchingtheproceedingswithgraveinterest,cameforward,wagginghistail,andlickedtheman’sface。Atthetouchofthedog’sredtongue,heopenedhiseyesforthesecondtime。Nowhesaw——notusbutTommy,foraftercontemplatinghimforafewseconds,somethinglikeasmileappeareduponhisfiercebutnobleface。More,heliftedhishandandlaiditonthedog’shead,asthoughtopatitkindly。Halfaminuteorsolaterhisawakeningsensesappreciatedourpresence。Theincipientsmilevanishedandwasreplacedbyasomewhatterriblefrown。 MeanwhileBickleyhadpouredoutsomeofthehotcoffeelacedwithbrandyintothecupthatwasscrewedonthetopofthethermosflask。AdvancingtothemanwhomIsupported,heputittohislips。Hetastedandmadeawryface,butpresentlyhebegantosip,andultimatelyswalloweditall。Theeffectofthestimulantwaswonderful,forinafewminuteshecametolifecompletelyandwasevenabletositupwithoutsupport。 Forquitealongwhilehegazedatusgravely,talkingusinandeverythingconnectedwithus。Forinstance,Bickley’smedicine— casewhichlayopenshowingthelittlevulcanitetubes,afewinstrumentsandotheroutfit,engagedhisparticularattention,andIsawatoncethatheunderstoodwhatitwas。Thushisarmstillsmartedwheretheneedlehadbeendriveninandontheblanketlaythesyringe。Helookedathisarm,thenlookedatthesyringe,andnodded。Theparaffinhurricanelampsalsoseemedtointerestandwinhisapproval。Wetwomen,asIthought,attractedhimleastofall;hejustsummedusupandourgarments,moreespeciallythegarments,withafewshrewdglances,andthenseemedtoturnhisthoughtstoTommy,whohadseatedhimselfquitecontentedlyathisside,evidentlyacceptinghimasanewadditiontoourparty。 IconfessthatthisbehaviouronTommy’spartreassuredmenotalittle。Iamagreatbelieverintheinstinctsofanimals,especiallyofdogs,andIfeltcertainthatifthismanhadnotbeeninallessentialshumanlikeourselves,Tommywouldnothavetoleratedhim。Inthesamewaythesleeper’sclearlikingforTommy,atwhomhelookedmuchoftenerandwithgreaterkindnessthanhedidatus,suggestedthattherewasgoodnessinhimsomewhere,sincealthoughadoginitswonderfultolerancemayloveabadpersoninwhomitsmellsouthiddenvirtue,noreallybadpersoneverlovedadog,or,Imayadd,achildoraflower。 Asamatteroffact,the\"oldgod,\"aswehadchristenedhimwhilehewasinhiscoffin,duringallourassociationwithhim,caredinfinitelymoreforTommythanhedidforanyofus,acircumstancethatultimatelywasnotwithoutitsinfluenceuponourfortunes。Butforthistherewasareasonaswelearnedafterwards,alsohewasnotreallysoamiableasIhoped。 Whenwehadlookedateachotherforalongwhilethesleeperbegantoarrangehisbeard,ofwhichthelengthseemedtosurprisehim,especiallyasTommywasseatedononeendofit。 FindingthisoutandapparentlynotwishingtodisturbTommy,hegaveuptheoccupation,andafteroneortwoattempts,forhistongueandlipsstillseemedtobestiff,addressedusinsomesonorousandmusicallanguage,unlikeanythatwehadeverheard。 Weshookourheads。ThenbyanafterthoughtIsaid\"Goodday\"tohiminthelanguageoftheOrofenans。Hepuzzledoverthewordasthoughitweremoreorlessfamiliartohim,andwhenIrepeatedit,gaveitbacktomewithadifferenceindeed,butinawaywhichconvincedusthathequiteunderstoodwhatImeant。Theconversationwentnofurtheratthemomentbecausejustthensomememoryseemedtostrikehim。 HewassittingwithhisbackagainstthecoffinoftheGlitteringLady,whomthereforehehadnotseen。Nowhebegantoturnround,andbeingtooweaktodoso,motionedmetohelphim。 Iobeyed,whileBickley,guessinghispurpose,helduponeofthehurricanelampsthathemightseebetter。Withakindoffierceeagernesshesurveyedherwholaywithinthecoffin,andafterhehaddoneso,utteredasighasofintenserelief。 Nexthepointedtothemetalcupoutofwhichhehaddrunk。 Bickleyfilleditagainfromthethermosflask,whichIobservedexcitedhiskeeninterest,for,havingtouchedtheflaskwithhishandandfoundthatitwascool,heappearedtomarvelthatthefluidcomingfromitshouldbehotandsteaming。Presentlyhesmiledasthoughhehadgotthecluetothemystery,andswallowedhisseconddrinkofcoffeeandspirit。Thisdone,hemotionedtoustoliftthelidofthelady’scoffin,pointingoutacertaincatchintheboltswhichatfirstwecouldnotmaster,foritwillberememberedthatonthiscoffinthesewereshot。 Intheend,bypursuingthesamemethodsthatwehadusedintheinstanceofhisown,weraisedthecoffinlidandoncemoreweredriventoretreatfromthesepulchreforawhilebytheoverpoweringodourliketothatofawholegreenhousefulloftuberoses,thatflowedoutofit,inducingakindofstupefactionfromwhichevenTommyfled。 Whenwereturneditwastofindthemankneelingbythesideofthecoffin,forasyethecouldnotstand,withhisglowingeyesfixeduponthefaceofherwhosleptthereinandwavinghislongarmsaboveher。 \"Hypnoticbusiness!Wonderifitwillwork,\"whisperedBickley。 Thenheliftedthesyringeandlookedinquiringlyattheman,whoshookhishead,andwentonwithhismesmericpasses。 Icreptroundhimandtookmystandbythesleeper’shead,thatImightwatchherface,whichwaswellworthwatching,whileBickley,withhismedicineathand,remainednearherfeet,I thinkengagedindisinfectingthesyringeinsomespiritoracid。 Ibelievehewasabouttomakeanattempttouseitwhensuddenly,asthoughbeneaththeinfluenceofthehypnoticpasses,achangeappearedontheGlitteringLady’sface。Hitherto,beautifulasitwas,ithadbeenadeadfacethoughoneofapersonwhohadsuddenlybeencutoffwhileinfullhealthandvigourafewhours,oratthemostadayorsobefore。Nowitbegantoliveagain;itwasasthoughthespiritwerereturningfromafar,andnotwithouttoilandtribulation。 Expressionafterexpressionflittedacrossthefeatures;indeedtheseseemedtochangesomuchfrommomenttomomentthattheymighthavebelongedtoseveraldifferentindividuals,thougheachwasbeautiful。ThefactoftheseremarkablechangeswiththesuggestionofmultiformpersonalitieswhichtheyconveyedimpressedbothBickleyandmyselfverymuchindeed。Thenthebreastheavedtumultuously;itevenappearedtostruggle。Nexttheeyesopened。Theywerefullofwonder,evenoffear,butoh! whatmarvelouseyes。Idonotknowhowtodescribethem,I cannotevenstatetheirexactcolour,exceptthatitwasdark,somethingliketheblueofsapphiresofthedeepesttint,andyetnotblack;large,too,andsoftasadeer’s。Theyshutagainasthoughthelighthurtthem,thenoncemoreopenedandwanderedabout,apparentlywithoutseeing。 Atlengththeyfoundmyface,forIwasstillbendingoverher,and,restingthere,appearedtotakeitinbydegrees。More,itseemedtotouchandstirsomehumanspringinthestill—sleepingheart。Atleastthefearpassedfromherfeaturesandwasreplacedbyafaintsmile,suchasapatientsometimesgivestooneknownandwellloved,astheeffectsofchloroformpassaway。 Forawhileshelookedatmewithanearnest,searchinggaze,thensuddenly,forthefirsttimemovingherarms,liftedthemandthrewthemroundmyneck。 Theoldmanstared,bendinghisimperialbrowsintoalittlefrown,butdidnothing。Bickleystaredalsothroughhisglassesandsniffedasthoughindisapproval,whileIremainedquitestill,fightingwithawildimpulsetokissheronthelipsasonewouldanawakeningandbelovedchild。IdoubtifIcouldhavedoneso,however,forreallyIwasimmovable;myheartseemedtostopandallmymusclestobeparalysed。 Idonotknowforhowlongthisendured,butIdoknowhowitended。PresentlyintheintensesilenceIheardBastin’sheavyvoiceandlookinground,sawhisbigheadprojectingintothesepulchre。 \"Well,Inever!\"hesaid,\"youseemtohavewokethemupwithavengeance。Ifyoubeginlikethatwiththelady,therewillbecomplicationsbeforeyouhavedone,Arbuthnot。\" Talkofbeingbroughtbacktoearthwitharush!IcouldhavekilledBastin,andBickley,turningonhimlikeatiger,toldhimtobeoff,findwoodandlightalargefireinfrontofthestatue。IthinkhewasabouttoarguewhentheAncientgavehimaglanceofhisfierceeyes,whichalarmedhim,andhedeparted,bewildered,toreturnpresentlywiththewood。 Butthesoundofhisvoicehadbrokenthespell。TheLadyletherarmsfallwithastart,andshuthereyesagain,seemingtofaint。Bickleysprangforwardwithhissalvolatileandappliedittohernostrils,theAncientnotinterfering,forheseemedtorecognisethathehadtodealwithamanofskillandonewhomeantwellbythem。 Intheendwebroughtherroundagainand,toomitdetails,Bickleygaveher,notcoffeeandbrandy,butamixturehecompoundedofhotwater,preservedmilkandmeatessence。Theeffectofitonherwaswonderful,sinceafewminutesafterswallowingitshesatupinthecoffin。Thenweliftedherfromthatnarrowbedinwhichshehadsleptfor——ah!howlong?andperceivedthatbeneathheralsowerecrystalboxesoftheradiant,heat—givingsubstance。Wesatheronthefloorofthesepulchre,wrappingheralsoinablanket。 NowitwasthatTommy,afterfriskingroundherasthoughinwelcomeofanoldfriend,calmlyestablishedhimselfbesideherandlaidhisblackheaduponherknee。Shenoteditandsmiledforthefirsttime,amarvelouslysweetandgentlesmile。More,sheplacedherslenderhanduponthedogandstrokedhimfeebly。 Bickleytriedtomakeherdrinksomemoreofhismixture,butsherefused,motioninghimtogiveittoTommy。This,however,hewouldnotdobecausetherewasbutonecup。Presentlybothofthesleepersbegantoshiver,whichcausedBickleyanxiety。AbusingBastinbeneathhisbreathforbeingsolongwiththefire,hedrewtheblanketscloseraboutthem。 Thenanideacametohimandheexaminedtheglowingboxesinthecoffin。Theywereloose,beingmerelysetinpreparedcavitiesinthecrystal。Wrappingourhandkerchiefsabouthishand,hetookthemoutandplacedthemaroundthewakenedpatients,aproceedingofwhichtheAncientnoddedapproval。Justthen,too,Bastinreturnedwithhisfirstloadoffirewood,andsoonwehadamerryblazegoingjustoutsidethesepulchre。Isawthattheyobservedthelightingofthisfirebymeansofamatchwithmuchinterest。 Nowtheygrewwarmagain,asindeedwedidalso——toowarm。TheninmyturnIhadanidea。Iknewthatbynowthesunwouldbebeatinghotlyagainsttherockofthemount,andsuggestedtoBickley,that,ifpossible,thebestthingwecoulddowouldbetogetthemintoitslife—givingrays。Heagreed,ifwecouldmakethemunderstandandtheywereabletowalk。SoItried。 FirstIdirectedtheAncient’sattentiontothemouthofthecavewhichatthisdistanceshowedasawhitecircleoflight。Helookedatitandthenatmewithgraveinquiry。Imademotionstosuggestthatheshouldproceedthere,repeatingtheword\"Sun\"intheOrofenantongue。Heunderstoodatonce,thoughwhetherhereadmymindratherthanwhatIsaidIamnotsure。ApparentlytheGlitteringLadyunderstoodalsoandseemedtobemostanxioustogo。Onlyshelookedratherpitifullyatherfeetandshookherhead。Thisdecidedme。 IdonotknowifIhavementionedanywherethatIamatallmanandverymuscular。Shewastall,also,butasIjudgednotsoveryheavyafterherlongfast。AtanyrateIfeltquitecertainthatIcouldcarryherforthatdistance。Stoopingdown,Iliftedherup,signingtohertoputherarmsroundmyneck,whichshedid。ThencallingtoBickleyandBastintobringalongtheAncientbetweenthem,withsomedifficultyIstruggledoutofthesepulchre,andstarteddownthecave。ShewasmoreheavythanI thought,andyetIcouldhavewishedthejourneylonger。Tobeginwithsheseemedquitetrustfulandhappyinmyarms,whereshelaywithherheadagainstmyshoulder,smilingalittleasachildmightdo,especiallywhenIhadtostopandthrowherlonghairroundmynecklikeamuffler,topreventitfromtrailinginthedust。 Abundleoflavender,oratrussofnew—mownhay,couldnothavebeenmoresweettocarryandtherewassomethingelectricaboutthetouchofher,whichwentthroughandthroughme。Verysoonitwasover,andwewereoutofthecaveintothefullgloryofthetropicalsun。Atfirst,thathereyesmightbecomeaccustomedtoitslightandherawakenedbodytoitsheat,Isetherdownwhereshadowfellfromtheoverhangingrock,inacanvasdeckchairthathadbeenbroughtbyMaramawiththeotherthings,throwingtherugabouthertoprotectherfromsuchwindastherewas。Shenestledgratefullyintothesoftseatandshuthereyes,forthemotionhadtiredher。Inoted,however,thatshedrewinthesweetairwithlongbreaths。 ThenIturnedtoobservethearrivaloftheAncient,whowasbeingbornebetweenBickleyandBastininwhatchildrenknowasadandy—chair,whichisformedbytwopeoplecrossingtheirhandsinapeculiarfashion。Itsaysmuchforthetremendousdignityofhispresencethateventhus,withonearmroundtheneckofBickleyandtheotherroundthatofBastin,andhislongwhitebeardfallingalmosttotheground,hestilllookedmostimposing。 Unfortunately,however,justastheywereemergingfromthecave,Bastin,alwaysthemostawkwardofcreatures,managedtoleaveholdwithonehand,sothathispassengernearlycametotheground。NevershallIforgetthelookthathegavehim。 Indeed,IthinkthatfromthismomenthehatedBastin。Bickleyherespectedasamanofintelligenceandlearning,althoughincomparisonwithhisown,thelatterwasinfantileandcrude;mehetoleratedandevenliked;butBastinhedetested。TheonlyoneofourpartyforwhomhefeltanythingapproachingrealaffectionwasthespanielTommy。 Wesethimdown,fortunatelyuninjured,onsomerugs,andalsointheshadow。Then,afteralittlewhile,wemovedbothofthemintothesun。Itwasquitecurioustoseethemexpandthere。AsBickleysaid,whathappenedtothemmightwellbecomparedtothedevelopmentofabutterflywhichhasjustbrokenfromthelivinggraveofitschrysalisandcreptintothefull,hotradianceofthelight。Itscrinkledwingsunfold,theirbrillianttintsdevelop;inanhourortwoitisperfect,glorious,preparedforlifeandflight,anewcreature。 Soitwaswiththispair,frommomenttomomenttheygatheredstrengthandvigour。Near—bytothem,asithappened,stoodalargebasketofthelusciousnativefruitsbroughtthatmorningbytheOrofenans,andatthesetheLadylookedwithlonging。WithBickley’spermission,IofferedthemtoherandtotheAncient,firstpeelingthemwithmyfingers。Theyateofthemgreedily,afullmeal,andwouldhavegoneonhadnotthesternBickley,fearinguntowardconsequences,removedthebasket。Againtheresultswerewonderful,forhalfanhourafterwardstheyseemedtobequitestrong。WithmyassistancetheGlitteringLady,asI