热爱生命-love of life(英文版)-第1部分

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redited　will　neither　surprise　nor　offend　me；　for　I　am　probably　the　first　of　human　beings　to　whom　this　trust　has　been　imparted。　　Nor　do　I　know　whether　to　deem　this　distinction　a　reward　or　punishment。　　Since　I　have　possessed　it　I　have　been　far　less　happy　than　before；　and　nothing　but　the　consciousness　of　good　intention　could　have　enabled　me　to　support　the　weariness　of　unremitted　vigilance。'〃'How　long；　sir；'　said　I；　'has　this　great　office　been　in　your　hands？'〃'About　ten　years　ago；'　said　he；　'my　daily　observations　of　the　changes　of　the　sky　led　me　to　consider　whether；　if　I　had　the　power　of　the　seasons；　I　could　confer　greater　plenty　upon　the　inhabitants　of　the　earth。　　This　contemplation　fastened　on　my　mind；　and　I　sat　days　and　nights　in　imaginary　dominion；　pouring　upon　this　country　and　that　the　showers　of　fertility；　and　seconding　every　fall　of　rain　with　a　due　proportion　of　sunshine。　　I　had　yet　only　the　will　to　do　good；　and　did　not　imagine　that　I　should　ever　have　the　power。〃'One　day　as　I　was　looking　on　the　fields　withering　with　heat；　I　felt　in　my　mind　a　sudden　wish　that　I　could　send　rain　on　the　southern　mountains；　and　raise　the　Nile　to　an　inundation。　　In　the　hurry　of　my　imagination　I　manded　rain　to　fall；　and　by　paring　the　time　of　my　mand　with　that　of　the　inundation；　I　found　that　the　clouds　had　listened　to　my　lips。'〃'Might　not　some　other　cause；'　said　I；　'produce　this　concurrence？　　The　Nile　does　not　always　rise　on　the　same　day。'〃'Do　not　believe；'　said　he；　with　impatience；　'that　such　objections　could　escape　me。　　I　reasoned　long　against　my　own　conviction；　and　laboured　against　truth　with　the　utmost　obstinacy。　　I　sometimes　suspected　myself　of　madness；　and　should　not　have　dared　to　impart　this　secret　but　to　a　man　like　you；　capable　of　distinguishing　the　wonderful　from　the　impossible；　and　the　incredible　from　the　false。'〃'Why；　sir；'　said　I；　'do　you　call　that　incredible　which　you　know；　or　think　you　know；　to　be　true？'〃'Because；'　said　he；　'I　cannot　prove　it　by　any　external　evidence；　and　I　know　too　well　the　laws　of　demonstration　to　think　that　my　conviction　ought　to　influence　another；　who　cannot；　like　me；　be　conscious　of　its　force。　　I　therefore　shall　not　attempt　to　gain　credit　by　disputation。　　It　is　sufficient　that　I　feel　this　power　that　I　have　long　possessed；　and　every　day　exerted　it。　　But　the　life　of　man　is　short；　the　infirmities　of　age　increase　upon　me；　and　the　time　will　soon　e　when　the　regulator　of　the　year　must　mingle　with　the　dust。　　The　care　of　appointing　a　successor　has　long　disturbed　me；　the　night　and　the　day　have　been　spent　in　parisons　of　all　the　characters　which　have　e　to　my　knowledge；　and　I　have　yet　found　none　so　worthy　as　thyself。'〃CHAPTER　XLIII　…　THE　ASTRONOMER　LEAVES　IMLAC　HIS　DIRECTIONS。〃'HEAR；　therefore；　what　I　shall　impart　with　attention；　such　as　the　welfare　of　a　world　requires。　　If　the　task　of　a　king　be　considered　as　difficult；　who　has　the　care　only　of　a　few　millions；　to　whom　he　cannot　do　much　good　or　harm；　what　must　be　the　anxiety　of　him　on　whom　depends　the　action　of　the　elements　and　the　great　gifts　of　light　and　heat？　　Hear　me；　therefore；　with　attention。〃'I　have　diligently　considered　the　position　of　the　earth　and　sun；　and　formed　innumerable　schemes；　in　which　I　changed　their　situation。　　I　have　sometimes　turned　aside　the　axis　of　the　earth；　and　sometimes　varied　the　ecliptic　of　the　sun；　but　I　have　found　it　impossible　to　make　a　disposition　by　which　the　world　may　be　advantaged；　what　one　region　gains　another　loses　by　an　imaginable　alteration；　even　without　considering　the　distant　parts　of　the　solar　system　with　which　we　are　acquainted。　　Do　not；　therefore；　in　thy　administration　of　the　year；　indulge　thy　pride　by　innovation；　do　not　please　thyself　with　thinking　that　thou　canst　make　thyself　renowned　to　all　future　ages　by　disordering　the　seasons。　　The　memory　of　mischief　is　no　desirable　fame。　　Much　no　sound　of　man；　no　mark　of　the　handiwork　of　man。　　The　world　slept；　and　it　was　like　the　sleep　of　death。John　Messner　seemed　succumbing　to　the　apathy　of　it　all。　　The　frost　was　benumbing　his　spirit。　　He　plodded　on　with　bowed　head；　unobservant；　mechanically　rubbing　nose　and　cheeks；　and　batting　his　steering　hand　against　the　gee…pole　in　the　straight　trail…stretches。But　the　dogs　were　observant；　and　suddenly　they　stopped；　turning　their　heads　and　looking　back　at　their　master　out　of　eyes　that　were　wistful　and　questioning。　　Their　eyelashes　were　frosted　white；　as　were　their　muzzles；　and　they　had　all　the　seeming　of　decrepit　old　age；　what　of　the　frost…rime　and　exhaustion。The　man　was　about　to　urge　them　on；　when　he　checked　himself；　roused　up　with　an　effort；　and　looked　around。　　The　dogs　had　stopped　beside　a　water…hole；　not　a　fissure；　but　a　hole　man…made；　chopped　laboriously　with　an　axe　through　three　and　a　half　feet　of　ice。　　A　thick　skin　of　new　ice　showed　that　it　had　not　been　used　for　some　time。　　Messner　glanced　about　him。　　The　dogs　were　already　pointing　the　way；　each　wistful　and　hoary　muzzle　turned　toward　the　dim　snow…path　that　left　the　main　river　trail　and　climbed　the　bank　of　the　island。〃All　right；　you　sore…footed　brutes；〃　he　said。　　〃I'll　investigate。　　You're　not　a　bit　more　anxious　to　quit　than　I　am。〃He　climbed　the　bank　and　disappeared。　　The　dogs　did　not　lie　down；　but　on　their　feet　eagerly　waited　his　return。　　He　came　back　to　them；　took　a　hauling…rope　from　the　front　of　the　sled；　and　put　it　around　his　shoulders。　　Then　he　GEE'D　the　dogs　to　the　right　and　put　them　at　the　bank　on　the　run。　　It　was　a　stiff　pull；　but　their　weariness　fell　from　them　as　they　crouched　low　to　the　snow；　whining　with　eagerness　and　gladness　as　they　struggled　upward　to　the　last　ounce　of　effort　in　their　bodies。　　When　a　dog　slipped　or　faltered；　the　one　behind　nipped　his　hind　quarters。　　The　man　shouted　encouragement　and　threats；　and　threw　all　his　weight　on　the　hauling…rope。They　cleared　the　bank　with　a　rush；　swung　to　the　left；　and　dashed　up　to　a　small　log　cabin。　　It　was　a　deserted　cabin　of　a　single　room；　eight　feet　by　ten　on　the　inside。　　Messner　unharnessed　the　animals；　unloaded　his　sled　and　took　possession。　　The　last　chance　wayfarer　had　left　a　supply　of　firewood。　　Messner　set　up　his　light　sheet…iron　stove　and　starred　a　fire。　　He　put　five　sun…cured　salmon　into　the　oven　to　thaw　out　for　the　dogs；　and　from　the　water…hole　filled　his　coffee…pot　and　cooking…pail。While　waiting　for　the　water　to　boil；　he　held　his　face　over　the　stove。　　The　moisture　from　his　breath　had　collected　on　his　beard　and　frozen　into　a　great　mass　of　ice；　and　this　he　proceeded　to　thaw　out。　　As　it　melted　and　dropped　upon　the　stove　it　sizzled　and　rose　about　him　in　steam。　　He　helped　the　process　with　his　fingers；　working　loose　small　ice…chunks　that　fell　rattling　to　the　floor。A　wild　outcry　from　the　dogs　without　did　not　take　him　from　his　task。　　He　heard　the　wolfish　snarling　and　yelping　of　strange　dogs　and　the　sound　of　voices。　　A　knock　came　on　the　door。　〃e　in；〃　Messner　called；　in　a　voice　muffled　because　at　the　moment　he　was　sucking　loose　a　fragment　of　ice　from　its　anchorage　on　his　upper　lip。The　door　opened；　and；　gazing　out　of　his　cloud　of　steam；　he　saw　a　man　and　a　woman　pausing　on　the　threshold。〃e　in；〃　he　said　peremptorily；　〃and　shut　the　door！〃Peering　through　the　steam；　he　could　make　out　but　little　of　their　personal　appearance。　　The　nose　and　cheek　strap　worn　by　the　woman　and　the　trail…wrappings　about　her　head　allowed　only　a　pair　of　black　eyes　to　be　seen。　　The　man　was　dark…eyed　and　smooth…shaven　all　except　his　mustache；　which　was　so　iced　up　as　to　hide　his　mouth。〃We　just　wanted　to　know　if　there　is　any　other　cabin　around　here；〃　he　said；　at　the　same　time　glancing　over　the　unfurnished　state　of　the　room。　　〃We　thought　this　cabin　was　empty。〃〃It　isn't　my　cabin；〃　Messner　answered。　　〃I　just　found　it　a　few　minutes　ago。　　e　right　in　and　camp。　　Plenty　of　room；　and　you　won't　need　your　stove。　　There's　room　for　all。〃At　the　sound　of　his　voice　the　woman　peered　at　him　with　quick　curiousness。〃Get　your　things　off；〃　her　panion　said　to　her。　　〃I'll　unhitch　and　get　the　water　so　we　can　start　cooking。〃Messner　took　the　thawed　salmon　outside　and　fed　his　dogs。　　He　had　to　guard　them　against　the　second　team　of　dogs；　and　when　he　had　re塶tered　the　cabin　the　other　man　had　unpacked　the　sled　and　fetched　water。　　Messner's　pot　was　boiling。　　He　threw　in　the　coffee；　settled　it　with　half　a　cup　of　cold　water；　and　took　the　pot　from　the　stove。　　He　thawed　some　sour…dough　biscuits　in　the　oven；　at　the　same　time　heating　a　pot　of　beans　he　had　boiled　the　night　before　and　that　had　ridden　frozen　on　the　sled　all　morning。Removing　his　utensils　from　the　stove；　so　as　to　give　the　newers　a　chance　to　cook；　he　proceeded　to　take　his　meal　from　the　top　of　his　grub…box；　himself　sitting　on　his　bed…roll。　　Between　mouthfuls　he　talked　trail　and　dogs　with　the　man；　who；　with　head　over　the　stove；　was　thawing　the　ice　from　his　mustache。　　There　were　two　bunks　in　the　cabin；　and　into　one　of　them；　when　he　had　cleared　his　lip；　the　stranger　tossed　his　bed…roll。〃We'll　sleep　here；〃　he　said；　〃unless　you　prefer　this　bunk。　　You're　the　first　er　and　you　have　first　choice；　you　know。〃〃That's　all　right；〃　Messner　answered。　　〃One　bunk's　just　as　good　as　the　other。〃He　spread　his　own　bedding　in　the　second　bunk；　and　sat　down　on　the　edge。　　The　stranger　thrust　a　physician's　small　travelling　case　under　his　blankets　at　one　end　to　serve　for　a　pillow。〃Doctor？〃　Messner　asked。〃Yes；〃　came　the　answer；　〃but　I　assure　you　I　didn't　e　into　the　Klondike　to　practise。〃The　woman　busied　herself　with　cooking；　while　the　man　sliced　bacon　and　fired　the　stove。　　The　light　in　the　cabin　was　dim；　filtering　through　in　a　small　window　made　of　onion…skin　writing　paper　and　oiled　with　bacon　grease；　so　that　John　Messner　could　not　make　out　very　well　what　the　woman　looked　like。　　Not　that　he　tried。　　He　seemed　to　have　no　interest　in　her。　　But　she　glanced　curiously　from　time　to　time　into　the　dark　corner　where　he　sat。〃Oh；　it's　a　great　life；〃　the　doctor　proclaimed　enthusiastically；　pausing　from　sharpening　his　knife　on　the　stovepipe。　　〃What　I　like　about　it　is　the　struggle；　the　endeavor　with　one's　own　hands；　the　primitiveness　of　it；　the　realness。〃〃The　temperature　is　real　enough；〃　Messner　laughed。〃Do　you　know　how　cold　it　actually　is？〃　the　doctor　demanded。The　other　shook　his　head。〃Well；　I'll　tell　you。　　Seventy…four　below　zero　by　spirit　thermometer　on　the　sled。〃〃That's　one　hundred　and　six　below　freezing　point　…　too　cold　for　travelling；　eh？〃〃Practically　suicide；〃　was　the　doctor's　verdict。　　〃One　exerts　himself。　　He　breathes　heavily；　taking　into　his　lungs　the　frost　itself。　　It　chills　his　lungs；　freezes　the　edges　of　the　tissues。　　He　gets　a　dry；　hacking　cough　as　the　dead　tissue　sloughs　away；　and　dies　the　following　summer　of　pneumonia；　wondering　what　it's　all　about。　　I'll　stay　in　this　cabin　for　a　week；　unless　the　thermometer　rises　at　least　to　fifty　below。〃〃I　say；　Tess；〃　he　said；　the　next　moment；　〃don't　you　think　that　coffee's　boiled　long　enough！〃At　the　sound　of　the　woman's　name；　John　Messner　became　suddenly　alert。　　He　looked　at　her　quickly；　while　across　his　face　shot　a　haunting　expression；　the　ghost　of　some　buried　misery　achieving　swift　resurrection。　　But　the　next　moment；　and　by　an　effort　of　will；　the　ghost　was　laid　again。　　His　face　was　as　placid　as　before；　though　he　was　still　alert；　dissatisfied　with　what　the　feeble　light　had　shown　him　of　the　woman's　face。Automatically；　her　first　act　had　been　to　set　the　coffee…pot　back。　　It　was　not　until　she　had　done　this　that　she　glanced　at　Messner。　　But　already　he　had　posed　himself。　　She　saw　only　a　man　sitting　on　the　edge　of　the　bunk　and　incuriously　studying　the　toes　of　his　moccasins。　　But；　as　she　turned　casually　to　go　about　her　cooking；　he　shot　another　swift　look　at　her；　and　she；　glancing　as　swiftly　back；　caught　his　look。　　He　shifted　on　past　her　to　the　doctor；　though　the　slightest　smile　curled　his　lip　in　appreciation　of　the　way　she　had　trapped　him。She　drew　a　candle　from　the　grub…box　and　lighted　it。　　One　look　at　her　illuminated　face　was　enough　for　Messner。　　In　the　small　cabin　the　widest　limit　was　only　a　matter　of　several　steps；　and　the　next　moment　she　was　alongside　of　him。　　She　deliberately　held　the　candle　close　to　his　face　and　stared　at　him　out　of　eyes　wide　with　fear　and　recognition。　　He　s