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！
man from the floor。 It is a narrow hole and a high； is it not？as
though one had cut it with iron； and a man might sit in it； his legs
hanging towards the floor of the cave。 Ay； Umslopogaas； a man might
sit in it； might he not？ And there a man sat； or that which had been a
man。 There sat the bones of a man； and the black skin had withered on
his bones； holding them together； and making him awful to see。 His
hands were open beside him； he leaned upon them； and in the right hand
was a piece of hide from his moocha。 It was half eaten； Umslopogaas；
he had eaten it before he died。 His eyes also were bound round with a
band of leather； as though to hide something from their gaze； one foot
was gone； one hung over the edge of the niche towards the floor； and
beneath it on the floor； red with rust； lay the blade of a broken
spear。
〃Now come hither； Umslopogaas； place your hand upon the wall of the
cave； just here； it is smooth； is it not？smooth as the stones on
which women grind their corn。 'What made it so smooth？' you ask。 I
will tell you。
〃When I peered through the door of the cave I saw this： on the floor
of the cave lay a she…wolf panting； as though she had galloped many a
mile； she was great and fierce。 Near to her was another wolfhe was a
dogold and black； bigger than any I have seen； a very father of
wolves； and all his head and flanks were streaked with grey。 But this
wolf was on his feet。 As I watched he drew back nearly to the mouth of
the cave； then of a sudden he ran forward and bounded high into the
air towards the withered foot of that which hung from the cleft of the
rock。 His pads struck upon the rock here where it is smooth； and there
for a second he seemed to cling； while his great jaws closed with a
clash but a spear's breadth beneath the dead man's foot。 Then he fell
back with a howl of rage； and drew slowly down the cave。 Again he ran
and leaped； again the great jaws closed； again he fell down howling。
Then the she…wolf rose； and they sprang together； striving to pull
down him who sat above。 But it was all in vain； they could never come
nearer than within a spear's breadth of the dead man's foot。 And now；
Umslopogaas； you know why the rock is smooth and shines。 From month to
month and year to year the wolves had ravened there； seeking to devour
the bones of him who sat above。 Night upon night they had leaped thus
against the wall of the cave； but never might their clashing jaws
close upon his foot。 One foot they had； indeed； but the other they
could not come by。
〃Now as I watched； filled with fear and wonder； the she…wolf； her
tongue lolling from her jaws； made so mighty a bound that she almost
reached the hanging foot； and yet not quite。 She fell back； and then I
saw that the leap was her last for that time； for she had oversprung
herself； and lay there howling； the black blood flowing from her
mouth。 The wolf saw also： he drew near； sniffed at her； then； knowing
that she was hurt； seized her by the throat and worried her。 Now all
the place was filled with groans and choking howls； as the wolves
rolled over and over beneath him who sat above； and in the blood…red
light of the dying sun the sight and sounds were so horrid that I
trembled like a child。 The she…wolf grew faint； for the fangs of her
mate were buried in her throat。 Then I saw that now was the time to
smite him； lest when he had killed her he should kill me also。 So I
lifted the Watcher and sprang into the cave； having it in my mind to
slay the wolf before he lifted up his head。 But he heard my footsteps；
or perhaps my shadow fell upon him。 Loosing his grip； he looked up；
this father of wolves； then； making no sound； he sprang straight at my
throat。
〃I saw him； and whirling the Watcher aloft； I smote with all my
strength。 The blow met him in mid…air； it fell full on his chest and
struck him backwards to the earth。 But there he would not say； for；
rising before I could smite again； once more he sprang at me。 This
time I leaped aside and struck downwards； and the blow fell upon his
right leg and broke it； so that he could spring no more。 Yet he ran at
me on three feet； and； though the club fell on his side； he seized me
with his teeth； biting through that leather bag； which was wound about
my middle； into the flesh behind。 Then I yelled with pain and rage；
and lifting the Watcher endways； drove it down with both hands； as a
man drives a stake into the earth； and that with so great a stroke
that the skull of the wolf was shattered like a pot； and he fell dead；
dragging me with him。 Presently I sat up on the ground； and； placing
the handle of the Watcher between his jaws； I forced them open；
freeing my flesh from the grip of his teeth。 Then I looked at my
wounds； they were not deep； for the leather bag had saved me； yet I
feel them to this hour； for there is poison in the mouth of a wolf。
Presently I glanced up； and saw that the she…wolf had found her feet
again； and stood as though unhurt； for this is the nature of these
ghosts； Umslopogaas； that； though they fight continually； they cannot
destroy each other。 They may be killed by man alone； and that hardly。
There she stood； and yet she did not look at me or on her dead mate；
but at him who sat above。 I saw； and crept softly behind her； then；
lifting the Watcher； I dashed him down with all my strength。 The blow
fell on her neck and broke it； so that she rolled over and at once was
dead。
〃Now I rested awhile； then went to the mouth of the cave and looked
out。 The sun was sinking： all the depth of the forest was black； but
the light still shone on the face of the stone woman who sits forever
on the mountain。 Here； then； I must bide this night； for； though the
moon shone white and full in the sky； I dared not wend towards the
plains alone with the wolves and the ghosts。 And if I dared not go
alone； how much less should I dare to go bearing with me him who sat
in the cleft of the rock！ Nay； here I must bide； so I went out of the
cave to the spring which flows from the rock on the right yonder and
washed my wounds and drank。 Then I came back and sat in the mouth of
the cave； and watched the light die away from the face of the world。
While it was dying there was silence； but when it was dead the forest
awoke。 A wind sprang up and tossed it till the green of its boughs
waved like troubled water on which the moon shines faintly。 From the
heart of it； too； came howlings of ghosts and wolves； that were
answered by howls from the rocks abovehearken； Umslopogaas； such
howlings as we hear to…night！
〃It was awful here in the mouth of the cave； for I had not yet learned
the secret of the stone； and if I had known it； should I have dared to
close it； leaving myself alone with the dead wolves and him whom the
wolves had struggled to tear down？ I walked out yonder on to the
platform and looked up。 The moon shone full upon the face of the stone
Witch who sits aloft forever。 She seemed to grin at me； and； oh！ I
grew afraid； for now I knew that this was a place of dead men； a place
where spirits perch like vultures in a tree； as they sweep round and
round the world。 I went back to the cave； and feeling that I mus