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！
Perhaps they were。 They knew we were going away； at all events。
They know what bringing out boxes and luggage means well enough。
Sam knew； I am sure； but he did not care for us。 He was only uneasy
because he thought Harper was going； and he should lose his shooting；
and as soon as he saw Harper was not getting into the boat； he sat down
and scratched himself； quite happy。 But do dogs think？
Of course they do； only they do not think in words； as we do。
But how can they think without words？
That is very difficult for you and me to imagine； because we always
think in words。 They must think in pictures； I suppose； by remembering
things which have happened to them。 You and I do that in our dreams。
I suspect that savages； who have very few words to express their thoughts
with； think in pictures； like their own dogs。 But that is a long story。 We
must see about getting on board now； and under way。
* * *
Well； and what have you been doing？
Oh； I looked all over the yacht； at the ropes and curious things； and
then I looked at the mountains； till I was tired； and then I heard you and
some gentleman talking about the land sinking； and I listened。 There was
no harm in that？
None at all。 But what did you hear him say？
That the land must be sinking here； because there were peat…bogs
everywhere below high…water mark。 Is that true？
Quite true； and that peat would never have been formed where the salt
water could get at it； as it does now every tide。
But what was it he said about that cliff over there？
He said that cliff on our right； a hundred feet high； was plainly once
joined on to that low island on our left。
What； that long bank of stones； with a house on it？
That is no house。 That is a square lump of mud； the last remaining
bit of earth which was once the moraine of a glacier。 Every year it
crumbles into the sea more and more； and in a few years it will be all gone；
156
… Page 157…
MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
and nothing left but the great round boulder…stones which the ice brought
down from the glaciers behind us。
But how does he know that it was once joined to the cliff？
Because that cliff； and the down behind it； where the cows are fed； is
made up； like the island； of nothing but loose earth and stones； and that is
why it is bright and green beside the gray rocks and brown heather of the
moors at its foot。 He knows that it must be an old glacier moraine； and
he has reason to think that moraine once stretched right across the bay to
the low island； and perhaps on to the other shore； and was eaten out by the
sea as the land sank down。
But how does he know that the land sank？
Of that； he says； he is quite certain； and this is what he says。 Suppose
there was a glacier here； where we are sailing now： it would end in an
ice cliff； such as you have seen a picture of in Captain Cook's Voyages； of
which you are so fond。 You recollect the pictures of Christmas Sound
and Possession Bay？ Oh yes； and pictures of Greenland and Spitzbergen
too； with glaciers in the sea。
Then icebergs would break off from that cliff； and carry all the dirt and
stones out to sea； perhaps hundreds of miles away； instead of letting it
drop here in a heap； and what did fall in a heap here the sea would wash
down at once； and smooth it over the sea…bottom； and never let it pile up in
a huge bank like that。 Do you understand？
I think I do。
Therefore； he says； that great moraine must have been built upon dry
land； in the open air； and must have sunk since into the sea； which is
gnawing at it day and night； and will some day eat it all up； as it would eat
up all the dry land in the world； if Madam How was not continually lifting
up fresh land； to make up for what the sea has carried off。
Oh； look there！ some one has caught a fish； and is hauling it up。 What
a strange creature！ It is not a mackerel； nor a gurnet； nor a pollock。
How do you know that？
Why； it is running along the top of the water like a snake； and they
never do that。 Here it comes。 It has got a long beak； like a snipe。 Oh；
let me see。
157
… Page 158…
MADAM HOW AND LADY WHY
See if you like： but don't get in the way。 Remember you are but a
little boy。
What is it？ a snake with a bird's head？
No： a snake has no fins； and look at its beak： it is full of little teeth；
which no bird has。 But a very curious fellow he is； nevertheless： and
his name is Gar…fish。 Some call him Green… bone； because his bones are
green。
But what kind of fish is he？ He is like nothing I ever saw。
I believe he is nearest to a pike； though his backbone is different from
a pike； and from all other known fishes。
But is he not very rare？
Oh no： he comes to Devonshire and Cornwall with the mackerel； as
he has come here； and in calm weather he will swim on the top of the
water； and play about； and catch flies； and stand bolt upright with his long
nose in the air； and when the fisher…boys throw him a stick； he will jump
over it again and again； and play with it in the most ridiculous way。
And what will they do with him？
Cut him up for bait； I suppose； for he is not very good to eat。
Certainly； he does smell very nasty。
Have you only just found out that？ Sometimes when I have caught
one； he has made the boat smell so that I was glad to throw him overboard；
and so he saved his life by his nastiness。 But they will catch plenty of
mackerel now； for where he is they are； and where they are； perhaps the
whale will be； for we are now well outside the harbour； and running across
the open bay； and lucky for you that there are no rollers coming in from
the Atlantic； and spouting up those cliffs in columns of white foam。
* * *
〃Hoch！〃
Ah！ Who was that coughed just behind the ship？
Who； indeed？ look round and see。
There is nobody。 There could not be in the sea。
Lookthere； a quarter of a mile away。
Oh！ What is that turning over in the water； like a great black wheel？
And a great tooth on it； andoh！ it is gone！
158
… Page 159…
MADAM HOW A