第 53 节
作者:
低诉 更新:2021-02-18 23:48 字数:9319
increas… ing volumes。
In burst the first panel; then another; and I could see through the gaps a
medley of tossing weapons and wild faces without。 Short shrift for me if
they came through; so in the obstinacy of desperation I set to work to pile
old furniture and dry goods against the barricade。 And as they yelled and
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hammered outside I screamed back defiance from within; sweating;
tugging; and hauling with the strength of ten men; piling up the old
Martian lumber against the opening till; so fierce was the attack outside;
little was left of the original doorway and nothing between me and the
beseigers but a rampart of broken woodwork half seen in a smother of
smoke and flames。
Still they came on; thrusting spears and javelins through every crevice
and my strength began to go。 I threw two tables into a gap; and brained a
besieger with a sweet… meat…seller's block and smothered another; and
overturned a great chest against my barricade; but what was the purpose of
it all? They were fifty to one and my rampart quaked before them。 The
smoke was stifling; and the pains of dis… solution in my heart。 They burst
in and clambered up the rampart like black ants。 I looked round for still
one more thing to hurl into the breach。 My eyes lit on a roll of carpet: I
seized it by one corner meaning to drag it to the door… way; and it came
undone at a touch。
That strange; that incredible pattern! Where in all the vicissitudes of
a chequered career had I seen such a one before? I stared at it in
amazement under the very spears of the woodmen in the red glare of
Hath's burning palace。 Then all on a sudden it burst upon me that IT
WAS THE ACCURSED RUG; the very one which in response to a
careless wish had swept me out of my own dear world; and forced me to
take as wild a journey into space as ever fell to a man's lot since the
universe was made!
And in another second it occurred to me that if it had brought me
hither it might take me hence。 It was but a chance; yet worth trying when
all other chances were against me。 As Ar…hap's men came shouting over
the barricade I threw myself down upon that incredible carpet and cried
from the bottom of my heart;
〃I wishI wish I were in New York!〃
Yes!
A moment of thrilling suspense and then the corners lifted as though a
strong breeze were playing upon them。 An… other moment and they had
curled over like an incoming surge。 One swift glance I got at the smoke
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and flames; the glittering spears and angry faces; and then fold upon fold;
a stifling; all…enveloping embrace; a lift; a sense of super… human speed
and then forgetfulness。
When I came to; as reporters say; I was aware the rug had ejected me
on solid ground and disappeared; forever。 Where was I! It was cool;
damp; and muddy。 There were some iron railings close at hand and a
street lamp overhead。 These things showed clearly to me; sitting on a
doorstep under that light; head in hand; amazed and giddyso amazed that
when slowly the recognition came of the in… credible fact my wish was
gratified and I was home again; the stupendous incident scarcely appealed
to my tingling sen… ses more than one of the many others I had lately
undergone。
Very slowly I rose to my feet; and as like a discreditable reveller as
could be; climbed the steps。 The front door was open; and entering the
oh; so familiar hall a sound of voices in my sitting…room on the right
caught my ear。
〃Oh no; Mrs。 Brown;〃 said one; which I recognised at once as my
Polly's; 〃he is dead for certain; and my heart is breaking。 He would never;
never have left me so long without writing if he had been alive;〃 and then
came a great sound of sobbing。
〃Bless your kind heart; miss;〃 said the voice of my land… lady in reply;
〃but you don't know as much about young gentlemen as I do。 It is not
likely; if he has gone off on the razzle…dazzle; as I am sure he has; he is
going to write every post and tell you about it。 Now you go off to your
ma at the hotel like a dear; and forget all about him till he comes back
that's MY advice。〃
〃I cannot; I cannot; Mrs。 Brown。 I cannot rest by day or sleep by
night for thinking of him; for wondering why he went away so suddenly;
and for hungering for news of him。 Oh; I am miserable。 Gully! Gully!
Come to me;〃 and then there were sounds of troubled footsteps pacing to
and fro and of a woman's grief。
That was more than I could stand。 I flung the door open; and; dirty;
dishevelled; with unsteady steps; advanced into the room。
〃Ahem!〃 coughed Mrs。 Brown; 〃just as I expected!〃
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But I had no eyes for her。 〃Polly! Polly!〃 I cried; and that dear girl;
after a startled scream and a glance to make sure it was indeed the
recovered prodigal; rushed over and threw all her weight of dear; warm;
comfortable woman… hood into my arms; and the moment after burst into a
pas… sion of happy tears down my collar。
〃Humph!〃 quoth the landlady; 〃that is not what BROWN gets when he
forgets his self。 No; not by any means。〃
But she was a good old soul at heart; and; seeing how matters stood;
with a parting glance of scorn in my direction and a toss of her head; went
out of the room; and closed the door behind her。
Need I tell in detail what followed? Polly behaved like an angel; and
when in answer to her gentle reproaches I told her the outlines of my
marvellous story she almost be… lieved me! Over there on the writing…
desk lay a whole row of the unopened letters she had showered upon me
during my absence; and amongst them an official one。 We went and
opened it together; and it was an intimation of my promotion; a much
better 〃step〃 than I had ever dared to hope for。
Holding that missive in my hand a thought suddenly oc… curred to me。
〃Polly dear; this letter makes me able to maintain you as you ought to
be maintained; and there is still a fortnight of vacation for me。 Polly; will
you marry me tomorrow?〃
〃No; certainly not; sir。〃
〃Then will you marry me on Monday?〃
〃Do you truly; truly want me to?〃
〃Truly; truly。〃
〃Then; yes;〃 and the dear girl again came blushing into my arms。
While we were thus the door opened; and in came her parents who
were staying at a neighbouring hotel while in… quiries were made as to my
mysterious absence。 Not un… naturally my appearance went a long way
to confirm suspi… cions such as Mrs。 Brown had confessed to; and; after
they had given me cold salutations; Polly's mother; fixing gold glasses on
the bridge of her nose and eyeing me haughtily therefrom; observed;
〃And now that you ARE safely at home again; Lieuten… ant Gulliver
Jones; I think I will take my daughter away with me。 Tomorrow her
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father will ascertain the true state of her feelings after this unpleasant
experience; and sub… sequently he will no doubt communicate with you on
the subject。〃 This very icily。
But I was too happy to be lightly put down。
〃My dear madam;〃 I replied; 〃I am happy to be able to save her father
that trouble。 I have already communicated with this young lady as to the
state of her feelings; and as an outcome I am delighted to be able to tell
you we are to be married on Monday。〃
〃Oh yes; Mother; it is true; and if you do not want to make me