she-第11章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
compartments saved our lives。 In five minutes we were
through； and driftingfor we were too exhausted to do
anything to help ourselves except keep her head
straightwith the most startling rapidity round the
headland which I have described。
Round we went with the tide； until we got well under
the lee of the point； and then suddenly the speed
slackened； we ceased to make way； and finally appeared
to be in dead water。 The storm had entirely passed；
leaving a clean…washed sky behind it； the headland
intercepted the heavy sea that had been occasioned by
the squall； and the tide； which had been running so
fiercely up the river （for we were now in the mouth of
a river）； was sluggish before it turned； so we floated
quietly； and before the moon went down managed to bail
out the boat thoroughly and get her a little ship…
shape。 Leo was sleeping profoundly； and on the whole I
thought it wise not to wake him。 It was true he was
sleeping in wet clothes； but the night was now so warm
that I thought （and so did Job） that they were not
likely to injure a man of his unusually vigorous
constitution。 Besides； we had no dry ones at hand。
Presently the moon went down； and left us floating on
the waters； now only heaving like some troubled
woman's breast； giving us leisure to reflect upon all
that we had gone through and all that we had escaped。
Job stationed himself at the bow； Mahomed kept his
post at the tiller； and I sat on a seat in the middle
of the boat close to where Leo was lying。
The moon went slowly down in chastened loveliness； she
departed like some sweet bride into her chamber； and
long； veil…like shadows crept up the sky through which
the stars peeped shyly out。 Soon； however； they too
began to pale before a splendor in the east； and then
the quivering footsteps of the dawn came rushing
across the new…born blue； and shook the planets from
their places。 Quieter and yet more quiet grew the sea；
quiet as the soft mist that brooded on her bosom； and
covered up her troubling； as the illusive wreaths of
sleep brood upon a pain…racked mind； causing it to
forget its sorrow。 From the east to the west sped the
angels of the dawn； from sea to sea； from mountain…top
to mountain…top； scattering light with both their
hands。 On they sped out of the darkness； perfect；
glorious； like spirits of the just breaking from the
tomb； on； over the quiet sea； over the low coast…line；
and the swamps beyond； and the mountains beyond them；
over those who slept in peace； and those who woke in
sorrow； over the evil and the good； over the living
and dead； over the wide world and all that breathes or
has breathed thereon。
It was a wonderfully beautiful sight； and yet sad；
perhaps from the very excess of its beauty。 The
arising sun； the setting sun！ There we have the symbol
and the type of humanity； and all things with which
humanity has to do。 The symbol and the type； yes； and
the earthly beginning； and the end also。
And on that morning this came home to me with a
peculiar force。 The sun that rose to…day for us had
set last night for eighteen of our fellow voyagers！
had set forever for eighteen whom we knew！
The dhow had gone down with them； they were tossing
about now among the rocks and seaweed； so much human
drift on the great ocean of death！ And we four were
saved。 But one day a sunrise will come when we shall
be among those who are lost； and then others will
watch those glorious rays； and grow sad in the midst
of beauty； and dream of Death in the full glow of
arising Life！
For this is the lot of man。
CHAPTER V
THE HEAD OF THE ETHIOPIAN
AT length the heralds and forerunners of the royal sun
had done their work； and； searching out the shadows；
caused them to flee away。 Then up he came in glory
from his ocean…bed； and flooded the earth with warmth
and I sat there in the boat listening to the gentle
lapping of the water and watched him rise； till
presently the slight drift of the boat brought the odd
shaped rock； or peak； at the end of the promontory
which we had weathered with so much peril； between me
and the majestic sight； and blotted it from my view。 I
still continued to stare at the rock； however；
absently enough； till presently it became edged with
the fire of the growing light behind it； and then I
started； as well I might； for I perceived that the top
of the peak； which was about eighty feet high by one
hundred and fifty thick at its base； was shaped like a
negro's head and face； whereon was stamped a most
fiendish and terrifying expression。 There was no doubt
about it； there were the thick lips； the fat cheeks；
and the squat nose standing out with startling
clearness against the flaming background。 There； too；
was the round skull； washed into shape perhaps by
thousands of years of wind and weather； and； to
complete the resemblance； there was a scrubby growth
of weeds or lichen upon it； which against the sun
looked for all the world like the wool on a colossal
negro's head。 It certainly was very odd； so odd that
now I believe that it is not a mere freak of nature；
but a gigantic monument fashioned； like the well…known
Egyptian Sphinx； by a forgotten people out of a pile
of rock that lent itself to their design； perhaps as
an emblem of warning and defiance to any enemies who
approached the harbor。 Unfortunately we were never
able to ascertain whether or not this was the case；
inasmuch as the rock was difficult of access both from
the land and the water…side； and we had other things
to attend to。 Myself； considering the matter by the
light of what we afterwards saw； I believe that it was
fashioned by man； but whether or not this is so； there
it stands； and sullenly stares from age to age out
across the changing seathere it stood two thousand
years and more ago； when Amenartas； the Egyptian
princess； and the wife of Leo's remote ancestor
Kallikrates； gazed upon its devilish faceand there I
have no doubt it will still stand when as many
centuries as are numbered between her day and our own
are added to the year that bore us to oblivion。
〃What do you think of that； Job？〃 I asked of our
retainer； who was sitting on the edge of the boat；
trying to get as much sunshine as possible； and
generally looking uncommonly wretched； and I pointed
to the fiery and demoniacal head。
〃Oh Lord； sir；〃 answered Job； who now perceived the
object for the first time； 〃I think that the old
gentleman must have been sitting for his portrait； on
them rocks。〃
I laughed； and the laugh woke up Leo。
〃Hullo；〃 he said； 〃What's the matter with me？ I am all
stiffwhere is the dhow？ Give me some brandy；
please。〃
〃You may be thankful that you are not stiffer； my
boy；〃 I answered。 〃The dhow is sunk； and everybody on
board her is drowned； with the exception of us four；
and your own life was only saved by a miracle；〃 and
while Job； now that it was light enough； searched
about in a locker for the brandy for which Leo asked；
I told him the history of our night's adventure。
〃Great heavens！〃 he said； faintly； 〃and to think that
we should have been chosen to live through it！〃
By this time the brandy was forthcoming； and we all
had a good pull at it； and thankful enough we were for
it。 Also the sun was beginning to get strength； and
warm our chilled bones； for we had been wet through
for five hours or more。
〃Why；〃 said Leo； with a gasp as he put down the brandy
bottle； 〃there is the head the writing talks of； the
'rock carven like the head of an Ethiopian。'〃
〃Yes；〃 I said； 〃there it is。〃
〃Well； then；〃 he answered； 〃the whole thing is true。〃
〃I don't at all see that that follows；〃 I answered。
〃We knew this head was here； your father saw it。 Very
likely it is not the same head that the writing talks
of； or if it is； it proves nothing。〃
Leo smiled at me in a superior way。 〃You are an
unbelieving Jew； Uncle Horace；〃 he said。 〃Those who
live will see。〃
〃Exactly so；〃 I answered； 〃and now perhaps you will
observe that we are drifting across a sand bank into
the mouth of the river。 Get ho
