Wepulledupalongside，gaveitsoccupantsgood-day，andaskedleavetomount。Thefishermen，hospitablesouls，offerednoobjection。
　　Thisseemedtomethemorecourteousontheirpart，afterIhadmadetheascent，forthereweretwooftheminthebasket，andavisitormateriallyaddedtothealreadyuneasyweight。Butthentheywereusedtoit。Therungsofwhatdidforladderweresofarapartastonecessitatemakingverylonglegsofitinplaces，whichmusthavebeencolossalstridesfortheowners。ThehigherIclambered，theflimsierthestructuregot。However，Iarrived，notwithoutunnecessarytrepidation，wormedmywayintothebasketandcroucheddowninsomeuneasinessofmind。Thewaythethingswayedandwriggledgavemetobelievethatthenextmomentweshouldallbeshotcatapultwiseintothesea。Tocallittopheavywilldoforaword，butnothingbutexperiencewilldoforthesensation。Thisoscillation，strangelyenough，wasnotapparentfromthesea;whichremindsmetohavenoticeddifferencesduethepointofviewbefore。
　　Iwasgreetedbyanextensiveoutlook。Theshore，perhapsahundredyardsaway，ranshortlyintoafisherhamlet，andthenintoalonglineofhalfsubmergedrocks，likesuccessivetouchesofaskippingstone。Beyondtheendofthisindefinitepoint，andalittletotherightofit，stoodanotherlookout。Thiswasouronlynearneighbor，thoughotherscouldbeseeninminiatureinthedistance，faintcobwebsagainstthecoast。Thebaystretchedawayonallsides，landlockedatlast，exceptwheretotheeastanopeninggaveintotheseaofJapan。
　　Toadispassionateobserverthebasketmayhavebeentwentyfeetabovethewater。Tooneinthebasket，itwasconsiderablyhigher——anditsheightwasemphasizedbyitsseeminginsecurity。
　　Thefishermenwereverymuchathomeinit，buttomethesensationwassuchastocausestrainedrelationsbetweenmywilltostayandmywishtobegone。
　　Butstrongfeelingsaresoeasilychangedintotheiropposites！Icanimagineoneoftheseeyriesadelightfulsettingtocertainmoods。
　　Adesertedoneshouldbetheplaceofplacesforreadingaromance。
　　Thesolitude，thestrangeness，andthecradle-likeswing，wouldallcomposetoshuttingouttheworld。TopaddletheresomeMaymorning，tieone’sboatoutofsightbeneath，andclimbupintothenesttositalonehalfpoisedintheskyinthemidstofthesea，shouldsavorofanewsensation。Afteralittleacclimatizationitwouldprobablybecomeapassion。Certainly，withapipe，itshouldinduceamosthappyframeofmindforaFrenchnovel。Theseemingriskoftheonesituationwouldservetopointthoseoftheother。
　　Thefishermenreceivedmythankswithamiability，watcheduswithstolidcuriosityaswepulledoff，andthenrelapsedintotheirformersemi-comatosecondition。Theireyrieslippedperspectivelyastern，sanklowerandlower，andsuddenlywaslostagainstthebackgroundofthecoast。
　　Thefavoringbreezewewerealwayshopingfornevercame。Thiswasabitterdisappointmenttotheboatmen，whothusfoundthemselvespreventedfrommorethanoccasionalwhiffsofsmoking。Oncewehadoutthesparandactuallyhoistedthesail，agodsendofanexcusetothemfordoingnothingforthenextfewminutes;butitshortlyhadtocomedownagainandonwerowed。
　　Oursurroundingsmadeaprettysight。Aforegroundofwater，smoothasonecouldwishhadhenowheretogo，withillusivecat’s-pawsofwindplayingcoylyallaround，markingthegreatshieldwithdarkscratches，andnevercomingnearenoughtobecaughtexceptwhenthesailwasdown。Folduponfoldoflowhillsinthedistance，withhamletsshowinghereandthereattheirbasesbythesea。Andthen，almostlikeapartofthepicture，sosubtlydidthesensationsblend，theslowcadencedcreakofthesweepsonthegunwale，arhythmicundercurrentofsound。
　　Atintervals，awayfarerundersail，boundtheotherway，creptslowlyby，carrying，asitseemedtoourenviouseyes，hisowncapfulofwindwithhim;andonceaboat，boundourwayandnotundersail，passedusnotfaroff。Ourboatmenwerebeautifullyblindtothisdefeattilltheirattentionhadbeenspecificallycalledtoitforanexplanation。Theythendeclaredthevictortobelighterthanwe，andthisinfaceofourhavingchosentheircraftforjustthatquality。Whatpercentofsuchstatements，Iwonder，dothemakersexpecttohavecredited？Andifanyappreciableamount，whichisthemoresold，theartlessdeceiverorhislesssimplevictim？
　　ButwealwaysheadedinthedirectionofNanao，andtheshoresfloatedbythroughthelongspringafternoon。Atlasttheybegantocontractuponustill，byvirtueofnarrowing，theyshotusthroughthestraitsinwaterclearascrystal，andthenwideningagain，droppedusadriftinWakurabay。Thoughnotsobelovedofbora，thebaywasmostpopularwithotherfish。Schoolsofporpoisesturnedcart-wheelsforouramusement，andinspotsthewaterwasfairlyalivewithbabyjelly-fish。OntheleftlayMonkeyisland，socalledfromacertainoldgentlemanwhohadhadapeculiarfondnessforthoseanimals。Hisfamilyofpoorrelationshaddisappearedathisdeath，andtheislandwasnowchieflyremarkableforacuriousclayformation，whichtimehadchiseledintocliffssomimickingafoldingscreenthattheywereknownbythename。Theywereperfectlylevelontopandperpendicularonthesides，andasdouble-facedasthemostmatter-of-factnicknamercoulddesire。Sunsetcame，foundusstillinthebayandleftusthere。Thentheduskcreptupfromtheblackwaterbeneath，likeanexhalation。Itgrewchilly。
　　JustaswewereturningthefaceofScreencliffasoundofsingingreachedus，ricochettingoverthewater。Ithadaplaintiveringsuchaspeasantsongsarewonttohave，andcame，asweatlengthmadeout，fromaboathomewardboundfromtheisland，steeringacourseatrightanglestoourown。Thevoiceswerethoseofwomen，andasourcoursessweptusnearereachother，wesawthatwomenalonecomposedthecrew。Theyhadbeenfaggot-cutting，andthebuncheslaypiledamidships，whileforeandafttheypliedtheiroars，andsang。Thegloaminghidallbutsoundandsex，andthrewitsveilofromanceoverthetrollers，whosenttheirheartsoutthusacrossthetwilightsea。Thesong，nodoubtsomecommonditty，gatheredapathosoverthewaterthroughthenight。Itsweptfromonesideofustotheother，softenedwithdistance，lingeredindetachedstrains，andthenwashushed，leavingusoncemorealonewiththenight。
　　Stillwepaddledon。Itwasnowbecomequitedark，quitecold，quitecalm，andwewerestillseveralgoodmilesofffromNanao。Atlengthonturningaheadlandthelightsofthetownanditsshippingcameoutonebyonefrombehindapoint，theadvanceguardsfirst，thenthemainbody，andwheelingintolinetookuptheirpostinalongparadeahead。Webegantowonderwhichwerethenearer。Thereisatouchofmysteryinmakingaharboratnight。Inthedaytimeyouseeitallwell-orderedbyperspective。Butasyoucreepslowlyinthroughthedark，thetwinklesoftheshippingonlydoubtfullypointtheirwhereabouts。Themostbrilliantmayturnoutthemostremote，andthefaintestatfirstthenearestafterall。Yourownmotionalonecansiftthemintoplace。Ifwecouldvoyagethroughtheseaofspace，itwouldbethuswemightcomeuponsomestar-clusterandhavethesamedelightfuldoubtwhichshouldbecomeoursunthefirst。
　　Inhalfanhourtheywereallaboutus;thenearerrevealingbytheirlightthedarkbodiesconnectedwiththem;thefartherstillshowingonlythemselves。Theteahousesalongthewater-frontmadeamilky-wayahead。Wethreadedourcoursebetweentheoutlyinglightswhilethemilky-wayresolveditselfintostar-pointedsilhouettes。
　　Thenskirtingalongit，wedrewupatlastatadarksomequay，andlandedYejirotohuntupaninn。Ilookedatmywatch;itwasteno’clock。Wehadnotonlypassedmyestimateoftimesomewhereinthemiddleofthebay;wehadexceededeventheboatmen’sexcessiveallowance。Somehowwehadputsixhourstothevoyage。IbegantorealizeIhadhiredthewrongmen。Norwasthevoyageyetover，ifremainingattachedtotheboatforfullyanhourmorebeentitledtocount。ForYejirodidnotreturn，andtheboatmenandIwaited。
　　Iwasgladenoughtomakepretenceatarrivalbygettingoutoftheboatontothequay。Thequaywasadismalplace。Iwalkedouttothefartherend，whereIfoundanindividualhauntingitwithanideatosuicideapparently。HiscoursestruckmeassoappropriatethatI
　　feltitwouldbehollowmockerytoarguethepointwithhim。Hemusthavebecomealarmedatthepossibility，however，forhemadeoff。
　　Heavenknowshehadsmallcausetofear;Iwascertainlyatthatmomentnounsympatheticsoul。
　　Havingonlycometogriefonthequay，Inexttriedalandwardstrollwithmuchthesameeffect。Thestreetorplacethatgaveuponthewharfwasasdesertedasthewharfitself。Halfthehousesaboutitweredarkastombs;theotherhalfshowedonlyglimmeringshojitauntingmebythesoundstheysufferedtoescape，orbyachancesilhouettethrownforamomentuponthepaperwallbysomeonewithin。Andnowandthen，asifstillfurthertoenhancethesolitude，apairpassedmebyinlowself-suitedtalk。
　　Stillnosignoftheboy。EveryfewminutesIwouldwalkbacktotheboatandlingerbesideittillIcouldnolongerstandthemutereproachofthebasketshuddledinalittlepileonthestones，poor，houselessimmigrantsthattheywere。AndfromtimetotimeImadeatouchingspectacleofmyself，bypullingoutmywatchandpeering，bywhatfeeblelightIcouldfind，anxiouslyatitsfacetomakeoutthehour。
　　AtlastYejiroturnedupinthecompanyofapoliceman。Thisofficial，however，provedtobeaccompanyinghiminacivilcapacity，and，changingintoaguide，ledthewaythroughseveraldarkalley-waystoaninnofforbiddingface，butbetterheart。Theredidweeventuallydine，orbreakfast，forbythattimeitwasbecomethenextday。
　　XIII。
　　OntheNotoHighway。
　　Onthemorrowmorningwetooktheroadinkuruma，theroadproper，asYejirocalledit;foritwasthemainbondbetweenNotoandtherestofJapan。Thiswasthenearestapproachithadtoapropername，acircumstancewhichshoweditnottobeofthefirstimportance。
　　ForinJapan，alltheoldarteriesoftravelhaddistinctivenames，theNakasendoorMid-Mountainroad，theTokaidoorEasternSearoad，andsoforth。Likecertainothercountryrelations，theirimportancewasduetotheircityconnections，nottotheirownlocalmagnitude。
　　For，whenwelloutofsightofthetown，theydonothesitatetoshrinktoanythingbutimposingproportions。Inmidcareeryoumightoftendoubtyourselftobeonsocelebratedathoroughfare。Buttheyarealwaysdelightfultotheeye，astheywanderthroughthecountry，nowbosomedintreesamongthemountains，nowstalkingbetweentheirownlongfilesofpine，orcryptomeria，acrossthewell-tilledplains。
　　Thisonehadbutfewsentinelstolineitintheopen，butlostlittleinpicturesquenessforitslackofpomp。Itwasprettyenoughtobeverygoodcompanyitself。
　　Itwasfairlypatronizedbywayfarerstodelightthesoul;cheerfulbodies，who，thoughjourneyingforbusiness，hadplentyoftimetobehappy，andradiatedcontent。Takeitasyouplease，theJapanesepeopleareamongtheveryhappiestonthefaceoftheglobe，whichmakesthemamongthemostcharmingtomeet。
　　Nothingnotablebeyondsuchpleasinggeneralitiesofpathandpeoplelayinourway，tillwecametoaplacewhereasteepandperfectlysmoothclaybankshotfromaspurofthehillsdirectlyintothethoroughfare。Threeurchinswereindustriouslyputtingthistoitsproperuse，coastingdownit，thatis，ontheseatsofwhatdidthemforbreeches。Anover-grown-upregardformyowntrousersalonedeterredmefrominstantlyfollowingsuit。Nosuchscruplespreventedmyabettingthem，however，totheextentofatriflingbribeforarepetition。Fortheyhadstoppedabashedassoonastheyfoundtheyhadapublic。Regardlessofmaternalconsequences，Ithusencouragedthesport。Butafterall，wasitsomuchabribeasanentrancefeetothecircus，orbetteryet，asortofsubsidyfromanex-memberofthefraternity？Surely，ifadversephysicalcircumstancesprecludeprofessioninperson，thenextbestthingistobecomeanoblepatronofart。
　　Fromthisaccidentalinstance，IjudgedthatboysinNotohadaboutasgoodatimeofitasboyselsewhere;thenextsightwechanceduponmademethinkthatpossiblywomendidnot。Wehadhardlypartedfromthecoastersondrygroundwhenwemetinthewaywithalotofwomenharnessedtocartsfilledwithvariousmerchandise，whichtheyweretoilsomelydraggingalongtowardsNanao。Itwasnotsopicturesqueasightasitssexmightsuggest。Forthoughthewomenwerenaturallynotaged，andsomehadnotyetlostallcomelinessoffeature，thiswomanlinessmadethethingthemoreappealing。NotowasevidentlynoEden，sincethelocalAdamhadthuscontrivedtoshiftuponthelocalEvesolargeafractionoftheprimalcurse。
　　ItwasasbadasthenorthofGermany。Thefemaleporterswehadbeenofferedonthethresholdoftheprovinceweremerelysymptomaticofthestateofthingswithin。IwonderwhatmyyoungJapanesefriend，thenewlight，towhomIlistenedonceonboardship，whilehelaunchedintoadiatribeuponthejinrikishaquestion，thedegradingpractice，ashetermedit，ofusingmenforhorses，——Iwonder，Isay，whathewouldhavesaidtothis！Hewasaquixoticyouth，atthetimereturningfromabroad，wherehehadpickedupmanynewideas。
　　Hisproposedapplicationsofthemdidhimgreatcredit，morethantheyarelikelytowinamongtheclassforwhomtheyweredesigned。
　　Acentandtwothirdsamile，tobehadfortherunningforit，isasyettooglitteringaprizetobeeasilyforegone。
　　Ofthetravelinquestion，weweretreatedtoforty-threemiles’
　　worththatday，byrelaysofrunners。Theoldmenfelloffgradually，tobereplacedbynewones，givingouradvancethecharacterofawave，wheretheparticlesmerelyoscillated，butthemotionwentsteadilyon。Theoscillations，however，werenotinsignificantinamount。Someofthemenmusthaveruntheirtwenty-fivemilesormore，brokenonlybyshorthalts;andthisatadog-trot，changedofcoursetoaslowerpullonbadbits，andwhengoinguphill。Afineshowofendurance，withallallowances。
　　Inthisfashionwebowledalongthroughasmilingagriculturallandscape，relievedbythehillsupontheleft，andwiththefaintestsuspicion，notamountingtoascent，oftheseaoutofsightontheright。Thedaygrewmorebeautifulwitheveryhourofitsage。
　　Thebluedepthsabove，tenantedbycastlesofcloud，grantedfancyeminentdomaintowanderwhereshewould。Eventheroadbelowgavefreeplaytoitscaprice，andmeanderedlikeanystreaminquisitivelythroughthevalley，visitingallthevillageswithinreach，afterawhimsicalfashionofitsown。Allaboutit，meadowsweretilling，andthewholelandscapebreathedanairofwell-establishedage，amidthelustinessofyouth。Theveryfarmhouseslookedtohavegrownwheretheystood，asindeedtheupperpartofthemhad。Forfromthethatchoftheirroofs，deepbeddedinmud，sprangallmannerofplantsthatmadeoftheeavesgardensintheair。Theridgepolesstoodtransformedintobedsofflowers;theirlongtuftsofgrasswavedinthewind，theblossomsnoddingtheirheadsamicablytothepassers-by。Whatacontentedfolkthisshouldbewhoseveryhomescansovegetate！Surelyaprettyconceititisforapeasantrythustosleepeverynightunderthesod，andyetawakeeachmorningtolifeagain！
　　AtthethresholdofKagaweturnedabruptlytotheleft，andattackedthepassleadingoverintoEtchiu。Aswewoundourwayupthenarrowvalley，dayleftthehollowstostandonrosytiptoeonthesidesofthehills，thebettertotakeflightintotheclouds。Thereitlingeredalittle，foldingtheforestsaboutwithitsroseatewarmth。
　　Eventhesternoldpinesflushedtothetipsoftheirshaggybranches，whilehereandthereabitofopenturnedaglowingcheekfulltothegood-nightkissofthesun。Andoverbeyonditallrosethetwilightbow，inpurplishinsubstantialitycreepingsteadilyhigherandhigher，abovethepine-cladheights。
　　Ireachedthetopbeforethejinrikisha，andasasortofrewardofmeritscrambledalittlefartherupthesteepslopetotheleft。
　　FromhereIcommandedthepass，especiallythatsideofitIhadnotcomeup。Thecorkscrewoftheroadcarriedtheeyemostpleasinglydownwithit。Icouldseeateahouseafewhundredfeetbelow，andbeyondit，atamuchlowerlevel，abridge。Beyondthiscameacomparativelyflatstretch，andthentheroaddisappearedintoagorge。Hereandthereitwaspointedwithpeopletoilingslowlyup。
　　Oftheencirclinghillstheshouldersalonewerevisible。WhileI
　　wasstillsurveyingthescene，thejinrikishamen，oneaftertheother，emergedfromthegulfoutofsightontherightandproceededtodescendintotheoneontheleft。Whenthelasthadwellpassed，andIhadtickledmyselfwiththesenseofabandonment，Iscrambledback，tookajumpintotheroadandslippeddownafterthem。Thelasthadwaitedformeattheteahouse，andstowingmeinstartedtorattledownthedescent。Theroad，unlikeus，seemedafraidofitsownspeed，andbroughtitselfupeveryfewhundredfeetwitharoundturn。Abouteachoftheseweswung，onlytodashdownthenextbend，andbegintheoscillationoveragain。Themenwereinfineexcitement，andkeptupashoutingoutofmeredelight。Intruthweallenjoyedthedissipatedsquanderinginafewminutesoftheenergyofpositionwehadsolaboriouslygainedbytoilinguptheotherside。Overthebridgewerattled，bowledalongthelevelstretch，andthenintothegorgeandoncemoredown，tillinanothertenminutesthelastfallhadshotusoutintotheplainwithmentalmomentumenoughtocarryushilariouslyintoImaisurugi，whereweputupforthenight。
　　Atbreakfastthenextmorningthesonofthehouse，anengaginglad，presentedmewithanunexpecteddish，threefossilstarfishonaplatter。Theywerefound，hesaid，innumbers，onthesidesofthehillhardby;afactwhichwouldgotoprovethatthispartofJapanhasbeenmakinginlatergeologictime。Indeed，ItakeitthebetterpartofEtchiuhasthusbeencastupbythesea，andnowliesbetweenitssemicircleofpeaksanditscrescentofbeach，likeayoungmooninthewesternsky，anewbayofricefieldintheoldbay’sarms。
　　Wehadcomebywayofitsoceanterminatoralongitsfringeofsand;
　　wewerenowtocrossitsface。
　　Aswepulledoutfromthetownandenteredthegreatplainofpaddyfieldsitwaslikeadventuringourselv...剩余内容请长按扫描二维码或下载丁香书院APP继续免费看：

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