penguin island-第3章
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ols； he ran to the shore； dragging the holy man after him by his habit。 The latter was bent； sweating； and breathless； under the burden of canvas and wood。
IV。 ST。 MAEL'S NAVIGATION ON THE OCEAN OF ICE
The Devil； having tucked his clothes up to his arm…pits； dragged the trough on the sand； and fitted the rigging in less than an hour。
As soon as the holy Mael had embarked； the vessel； with all its sails set； cleft through the waters with such speed that the coast was almost immediately out of sight。 The old man steered to the south so as to double the Land's End； but an irresistible current carried him to the south…west。 He went along the southern coast of Ireland and turned sharply towards the north。 In the evening the wind freshened。 In vain did Mael attempt to furl the sail。 The vessel flew distractedly towards the fabulous seas。
By the light of the moon the immodest sirens of the North came around him with their hempen…coloured hair； raising their white throats and their rose…tinted limbs out of the sea； and beating the water into foam with their emerald tails； they sang in cadence：
Whither go'st thou； gentle Mael； In thy trough distracted？ All distended is thy sail Like the breast of Juno When from it gushed the Milky Way。
For a moment their harmonious laughter followed him beneath the stars； but the vessel fled on； a hundred times more swiftly than the red ship of a Viking。 And the petrels； surprised in their flight； clung with their feet to the hair of the holy man。
Soon a tempest arose full of darkness and groanings； and the trough； driven by a furious wind； flew like a sea…mew through the mist and the surge。
After a night of three times twenty…four hours the darkness was suddenly rent and the holy man discovered on the horizon a shore more dazzling than diamond。 The coast rapidly grew larger； and soon by the glacial light of a torpid and sunken sun； Mael saw； rising above the waves； the silent streets of a white city； which； vaster than Thebes with its hundred gates； extended as far as the eye could see the ruins of its forum built of snow； its palaces of frost； its crystal arches； and its iridescent obelisks。
The ocean was covered with floating ice…bergs around which swam men of the sea of a wild yet gentle appearance。 And Leviathan passed by hurling a column of water up to the clouds。
Moreover； on a block of ice which floated at the same rate as the stone trough there was seated a white bear holding her little one in her arms； and Mael heard her murmuring in a low voice this verse of Virgil； Incipe parve puer。
And full of sadness and trouble； the old man wept。
The fresh water had frozen and burst the barrel that contained it。 And Mael was sucking pieces of ice to quench his thirst； and his food was bread dipped in dirty water。 His beard and his hair were broken like glass。 His habit was covered with a layer of ice and cut into him at every movement of his limbs。 Huge waves rose up and opened their foaming jaws at the old man。 Twenty times the boat was filled by masses of sea。 And the ocean swallowed up the book of the Holy Gospels which the apostle guarded with extreme care in a purple cover marked with a golden cross。
Now on the thirtieth day the sea calmed。 And lo！ with a frightful clamour of sky and waters a mountain of dazzling whiteness advanced towards the stone vessel。 Mael steered to avoid it； but the tiller broke in his hands。 To lessen the speed of his progress towards the rock he attempted to reef the sails； but when he tried to knot the reef…points the wind pulled them away from him and the rope seared his hands。 He saw three demons with wings of black skin having hooks at their ends； who； hanging from the rigging； were puffing with their breath against the sails。
Understanding from this sight that the Enemy had governed him in all these things； he guarded himself by making the sign of the Cross。 Immediately a furious gust of wind filled with the noise of sobs and howls struck the stone trough； carried off the mast with all the sails； and tore away the rudder and the stem。
The trough was drifting on the sea； which had now grown calm。 The holy man knelt and gave thanks to the Lord who had delivered him from the snares of the demon。 Then he recognised； sitting on a block of ice； the mother bear who had spoken during the storm。 She pressed her beloved child to her bosom； and in her hand she held a purple book marked with a golden cross。 Hailing the granite trough； she saluted the holy man with these words：
〃Pax tibi Mael〃
And she held out the book to him。
The holy man recognised his evangelistary； and； full of astonishment； he sang in the tepid air a hymn to the Creator and His creation。
V。 THE BAPTISM OF THE PENGUINS
After having drifted for an hour the holy man approached a narrow strand； shut in by steep mountains。 He went along the coast for a whole day and a night； passing around the reef which formed an insuperable barrier。 He discovered in this way that it was a round island in the middle of which rose a mountain crowned with clouds。 He joyfully breathed the fresh breath of the moist air。 Rain fell； and this rain was so pleasant that the holy man said to the Lord：
〃Lord； this is the island of tears； the island of contrition。〃
The strand was deserted。 Worn out with fatigue and hunger； he sat down on a rock in the hollow of which there lay some yellow eggs； marked with black spots； and about as large as those of a swan。 But he did not touch them； saying：
〃Birds are the living praises of God。 I should not like a single one of these praises to be lacking through me。〃
And he munched the lichens which he tore from the crannies of the rocks。
The holy man had gone almost entirely round the island without meeting any inhabitants； when he came to a vast amphitheatre formed of black and red rocks whose summits became tinged with blue as they rose towards the clouds； and they were filled with sonorous cascades。
The reflection from the polar ice had hurt the old man's eyes； but a feeble gleam of light still shone through his swollen eyelids。 He distinguished animated forms which filled the rocks； in stages； like a crowd of men on the tiers of an amphitheatre。 And at the same time； his ears； deafened by the continual noises of the sea； heard a feeble sound of voices。 Thinking that what he saw were men living under the natural law； and that the Lord had sent him to teach them the Divine law； he preached the gospel to them。
Mounted on a lofty stone in the midst of the wild circus：
〃Inhabitants of this island；〃 said he； 〃although you be of small stature； you look less like a band of fishermen and mariners than like the senate of a judicious republic。 By your gravity； your silence； your tranquil deportment； you form on this wild rock an assembly comparable to the Conscript Fathers at Rome deliberating in the temple of Victory； or rather； to the philosophers of Athens disputing on the benches of the Areopagus。 Doubtless you possess neither their science nor their genius； but perhaps in the sight of God you are their superiors。 I believe that you are simple and good。 As I went round your island I saw no image of murder； no sign of carnage； no enemies' heads or scalps hung from a lofty pole or nailed to the doors of your villages。 You appear to me to have no arts and not to work in metals。 But your hearts are pure and your hands are innocent； and the truth will easily enter into your souls。〃
Now what he had taken for men of small stature but of grave bearing were penguins whom the spring had gathered together； and who were ranged in couples on the natural steps of the rock； erect in the majesty of their large white bellies。 From moment to moment they moved their winglets like arms； and uttered peaceful cries。 They did not fear men； for they did not know them； and had never received any harm from them； and there was in the monk a certain gentleness that reassured the most timid animals and that pleased these penguins extremely。 With a friendly curiosity they turned towards him their little round eyes lengthened in front by a white oval spot that gave something odd and human to their appearance。
Touched by th
