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！
unnecessary polish to the edge of his already preternaturally acute weapon；
while those of his own band offer no protection； and three tiers of very
richly…dressed maidens encourage him to his fate by refined gestures of
approval。
Doubtless this person had unconsciously allowed his inner meditations
to carry him away； as it may be expressed； for when he emerged from this
strain of reverie it was to discover himself in the chariot…road andso
incongruously may be the actions when the controlling intelligence is
withdrawneven proceeding at a somewhat undignified pace in a direction
immediately opposed to an encounter with the brown locusts。 From this
mortifying position he was happily saved by emerging from these thought…
dreams before it was too late to return； and； also； if the detail is not too
insignificant to be related； by the fact that certain chosen runners from his
own company had reached a point in the road before him； and now stood
joining their outstretched arms across the passage and raising gravity…
dispelling cries。 Smiling acquiescently； therefore； this person returned in
their midst； and receiving a new weapon； his own club having been
absent…mindedly mislaid； he again set forth warily to the encounter。
Yet in this he did not altogether neglect a discreet prudence。 The
sympathetic person to whom he was indebted for the pointed allusion had
specifically declared that they who used their feet with the desperate
savagery of baffled spectres guarded the nearer limits of their position； the
intention of his timely hint assuredly being that I should seek to approach
from the opposite end； where； doubtless； the more humane and
conciliatory grass…hoppers were assembled。 Thus guided I now set forth in
a widely…circuitous direction； having the point where I meant to open an
attack clearly before my eyes； yet seeking to deliver a more effective
onslaught by reaching it to some extent unperceived and to this end
creeping forward in the protecting shadow of the long grass and
untrimmed herbage。
101
… Page 102…
THE MIRROR OF KONG HO
Whether the one already referred to had incapably failed to express his
real meaning； or whether he was tremulous by nature and inordinately
self…deficient； concerns the narration less than the fact that he had
admittedly produced a state of things largely in excess of the actual。 There
is no longer any serviceable pretext for maintaining that those guarding
any point of their position were other than mild and benevolent； while the
only edged weapon displayed was one courteously produced to aid this
person's ineffectual struggles to extricate himself when； by some obscure
movement； he had most ignobly entangled his pigtail about the claws of
his sandal。
Ignorant of this； the true state of things； I was still advancing subtly
when one wearing the emblems of our band appeared from among the
brown insects and came towards me。 〃Courage！〃 I exclaimed in a guarded
tone； raising my head cautiously and rejoiced to find that I should not be
alone。 〃Here is one clad in green bearing succour； who will； moreover；
obstinately defend his stumps to the last extremity。〃
〃That's right；〃 replied the opportune person agreeably； 〃we need a few
like that。 But do get up on your hind legs and come along； there's a good
fellow。 You can play at bears in the nursery when we get back； if you
want。〃
Certainly one can simulate the movements of wild animals in a
market…garden if the impersonation is thought to be desirable； yet the
reasonable analogy of the saying is elusive in the extreme； and I followed
the ally who had thus betrayed my presence with a deep…set misgiving
although in the absence of a more trustworthy guide； and in the suspicion
that some point of my every ordinary strategy had been inept； I was
compelled to mould myself identically into his advice。
Scarcely had he left me； and I was endeavouring to dispel any idea of
treachery towards those about by actions of graceful courtesy； when one
unworthy of burialstanding a score of paces distant； （to whom； indeed；
this person was at the moment bowing with almost passionate vehemence；
inspired by the conviction that he； for his part； was engaged in a like
attention；） suddenly cast a missilewhich； somewhat double…facedly； he
had hitherto held concealed in his closed handwith undeviating force and
102
… Page 103…
THE MIRROR OF KONG HO
accuracy。 So unexpected was the movement； so painfully…impressed the
vindictive contact； that I should have instinctively seized the offensively…
directed object and contemptuously hurled it back again； if the
consequence of the blow had not deprived my mind of all retaliatory
ambitions。 In this emergency was manifested a magnanimous act worthy
of the incense of a poem； for a person standing immediately by； seeing
how this one was balanced in his emotions； picked up the missile； and
although one of the foremost of the opposing band； very obligingly flung
it back at the assailant。 Even an outcast would not have passed this without
a suitable tribute； and turning to him； I was remarking appreciatively that
men were not divided by seas and wooden barriers； but by the unchecked
and conflicting lusts of the mind； when the unclean and weed…nurtured
traitor twenty paces distant； taking a degraded advantage from this
person's attitude； again propelled his weapon with an even more
concentrated perfidy than before。 At this new outrage every brown cricket
shrank from the attitude of alert vigour which hitherto he had maintained；
and as though to disassociate themselves from the stain of complicity all
crossed over and took up new positions。
Up to this point； majestic head； in order to represent the adventure in
its proper sequence； it has been advisable to present the details as they
arose before the eyes of a reliable and dispassionate gazer。