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Tracks of a Rolling Stone-Part29_Henry J.Coke(1827-1916)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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finger to signify that I could not swim. I worked an



imaginary paddle, and made him understand that I wanted him

to paddle me across the river. Still he remained unmoved;



till finally I used one argument which interested him more

than all the rest of my story. I untied a part of the shirt



round one foot and showed him three gold studs. These I took

out and gave to him. I also made a drawing of a rifle in the



sand, and signified that he would get the like if he went

with me to my camp. Whereupon he turned in the direction I



was going; and, though unbidden by a look, I did not hesitate

to follow.



I thought I must have dropped before we reached his village.

This was an osier-bed at the water's side, where the whole



river rushed through a rocky gorge not more than fifty to

sixty yards broad. There were perhaps nearly a hundred



Indians here, two-thirds of whom were women and children.

Their habitations were formed by interlacing the tops of the



osiers. Dogs' skins spread upon the ground and numerous

salmon spears were their only furniture. In a few minutes my



arrival created a prodigiouscommotion. The whole population

turned out to stare at me. The children ran into the bushes



to hide. But femininecuriosity conquered feminine timidity.

Although I was in the plight of the forlorn Odysseus after



his desperate swim, I had no 'blooming foliage' to wind

[Greek text which cannot be reproduced]. Unlike the



Phaeacian maidens, however, the tawny nymphs were all as

brave as Princess Nausicaa herself. They stared, and



pointed, and buzzed, and giggled, and even touched my skin

with the tips of their fingers - to see, I suppose, if the



white would come off.

But ravenous hunger turned up its nose at flirtation. The



fillets of drying salmon suspended from every bough were a

million times more seductive than the dark Naiads who had



dressed them. Slice after slice I tore down and devoured, as

though my maw were as compendious as Jack the Giant Killer's.



This so astonished and delighted the young women that they

kept supplying me, - with the expectation, perhaps, that



sooner or later I must share the giant's fate.

While this was going on, a conference was being held; and I



had the satisfaction of seeing some men pull up a lot of dead

rushes, dexterously tie them into bundles, and truss these



together by means of spears. They had no canoes, for the

very children were amphibious, living, so it seemed, as much



in the water as out of it. When the raft was completed, I

was invited to embark. My original friend, who had twisted a



tow-rope, took this between his teeth, and led the way.

Others swam behind and beside me to push and to pull. The



force of the water was terrific; but they seemed to care no

more for that than fish. My weight sunk the rush bundles a



good bit below the surface; and to try my nerves, my crew

every now and then with a wild yell dived simultaneously,



dragging the raft and me under water. But I sat tight; and

with genuinefriendliness they landed me safely on the



desired shore.

It was quite dark before we set forth. Robinson Crusoe



walked on as if he knew exactly where my camp was. Probably

the whole catastrophe had by this time been bruited for miles



above and below the spot. Five other stalwart young fellows

kept us company, each with salmon spear in hand. The walk



seemed interminable; but I had shipped a goodly cargo of

latent energy.



When I got home, instead of Samson, I found the camp occupied

by half a dozen Indians. They were squatted round a fire,



smoking. Each one, so it seemed, had appropriated some

article of our goods. Our blankets were over their



shoulders. One had William's long rifle in his lap. Another

was sitting upon mine. A few words were exchanged with the



newcomers, who seated themselves beside their friends; but no

more notice was taken of me than of the mules which were



eating rushes close to us. How was I, single-handed, to

regain possession? That was the burning question. A



diplomatic course commanded itself as the only possible one.

There were six men who expected rewards, but the wherewithal



was held in seisin by other six. The fight, if there were

one, should be between the two parties. I would hope to






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