Forsomeminutespastastrange，far-awaymusicalnote，likethemurmurofrunningwater，hadstruckmyear，andyetallabouteverythinglookeddead。Ofanimateoreveninanimatepulsationtherewasnosign。OneunbrokensheetofsnowstretchedasfarasIcouldsee，inwhichstoodthegreattreeslikemummies。Stillthesoundcontinued，seemingtocomefromundermyfeet。Istopped，and，kneelingdown，putmyeartothecrust，andthere，asdistinctaspossible，Iheardthewimplingofababybrook，crooningtoitselfunderitsthickwhiteblanket。Herethenwasthecradleofoneofthosestreamsthatlaterwouldbecomesuchanuglycustomertomeet。
　　Itwasbabilyinnocentnow，andtheonelivingthingbesidemyselfonthisMaydayinthegreatsnow-sheetedsolitude。
　　Perhapsitwasthebrookthathadunderminedthesnow。Atallevents，soonafterIovertooktheothers，theguide，fearingtotrusttoitfarther，suddenlystruckupagaintotheleft。Weallfollowed，remonstrating。Wehadnosoonergotupthanwewentdownagaintheotherside，andthispicket-fencestyleofprogresscontinuedtillweemergeduponthetopofacertainspur，whichcommandedafineviewofgorges。Unfortunatelyweourselveswereontopofsomeofthem。
　　Theguidereconnoiteredbothsidesforadescent，pushinghiswaythroughathickgrowthofdwarfbamboo，andbroughtupeachtimeontheedgeofanimpassablefalltothestreambelow。Atlasthetooktothearete。Itwasmaskedbytreesforsomedistance，andthencameoutasabareknifeedgeofrockandearth。Downitwescrambled，tilltheslopetothesidebecamepassable。Thiswasnowmuchlesssteep，althoughstillsteepenoughfortheguidetomakemehaltbehindatree，forfearofthestonesdislodgedbythosebehind。
　　Thesecamedownpastuslikecannon-balls，ricochettingbybigbounds。
　　Atthebottomwereachedthestream，andbesideitwehaltedforlunch。Justbelowourrestingplaceanotherstreamjoinedourown，bothcomingdownforbidding-lookingvalleys，shutinbysavagepeaks。
　　Onthedelta，betweenthewaters，wemadeoutabandofhunters，threeofthem，tarryingafteranunsuccessfulchase。Thislastwasageneralinference，ratherthananobservedfact。
　　Thespotwasidealforpicturesquepurposes，——thewaterclearascrystal，andthesunshinesparkling。Butotherwisematterswentillwithus。Ourextemporeguidehadpromisedus，overhisownfiretheeveningbefore，asingledayofittoArimine。Ontheroadhisestimateofthetimeneededhadincreasedalarmingly。Fromdirectquestioningitnowappearedthatheintendedtocampoutonthemountainopposite，whosesnowyslopeswerepainfullypropheticofwhatthatnightwouldbe。Besides，thismeantanotherdayofittoArimine;andevenwhenwereachedArimine，wewerenowhere，andIwasscantoftime。Wehadalreadylostthreedays;ifwekepton，I
　　foresawthelossofmore。Itwasverydishearteningtoturnback，butithadtobedone。
　　OurobjectnowwastostriketheAshikuratrailandfollowitdown。
　　Theguide，however，wasnotsureofthepath，sowehailedthehunters。Oneofthemcameacrossthedeltatotheedgeofthestreamwithinshoutingdistance，andfromhimweobtainedknowledgeoftheway。
　　Atfirstthepathwasunadventurousenough，thoughdistressinglyrough。Intruth，itwasnopathatall;itwasanabstractdirection。Itledstraighton，regardlessoffooting，andwefollowed，nowwadingthroughswamps，nowstumblingoverroots，nowduckingfromwhip-liketwigsthatcutusacrosstheface，untilatlastweemergedabovethestream，anduponasceneasgrandlydesolateasthemostmorbidmisanthropemightwish。Amassofbouldersofallsizes，fromabarntoacobblestone，completelyfilledachasmatthebaseofasemicircularwallofcastellatedclaycliffs。Intothepitwedescended。Thepinnaclesabovewereimpressivelyhigh，andbetweenthemwerecouloirsofdebristhatlookedtoustobeasperpendicularasthecliffs。Uponeofthesebreakneckslidestheguidepointedforourpath。Portersandall，wedemurred。Path，ofcourse，therewasnone;therewasnotevenanapologyforasuspicionthatanyonehadeverbeenupordowntheplace。Wefeltsuretheremustbesomeotherwayout。Themorewesearched，however，thelesswefound。Thestream，whichwasanimpassabletorrent，barredexitbelowonoursidebyrunningstraightintothewallofrock。Theslidewasanuglyclimbtocontemplate，yetwelookedatitsometimebeforeweacceptedtheinevitable。
　　Whenindesperationwefinallymadeupourminds，webeganpickingourdubiouswayupamongamassofrocksthatthreatenedtobecomeastoneavalancheatanymoment。Noneofuslikedit，butnoneofusknewhowlittletheotherslikedittillthatevening。Intheexpansionofsuccessweadmittedourpastfeelings。Onepoorportersaidhethoughthislasthourhadcome，andmostofusbelievedanearfuturewithoutusnotimprobable。Itshowshowdangerunlockstheheartthatjustbecause，halfwayup，Ihadrelievedthismanofhisstick，whichfromahelphadbecomeahindrance，hefelttowardmeanexaggeratedgratitude。Itwasnothingformetodo，forIwasfree，whilehehadhisload，buthadIreallysavedhislifehecouldnothavebeenmorebeholden。Indeed，itwasatimetointensifyemotion。
　　Aswescrambledupwardonallfours，theascent，fromfamiliarity，grewlessformidable。Atleastthestonesdecreasedinsize，althoughtheirtiltremainedthesame，buttheanglelookedlesssteepfromabovethanfrombelow。
　　Atlast，oneaftertheother，wereachedaplacetothesideoftheneckofthecouloir，andscramblingroundthecopingofturfatthetopemerged，tooursurprise，uponapath，orratherupontheghostofone。Forwefoundourselvesuponanarrowridgeofsoilbetweentwochasms，endinginapinnacleofclay，andalongthisribbonoflandranapath，perfectlypreservedforperhapsascoreofpacesout，whenitbrokeoffbodilyinmid-air。Theuntowardlookofthewaywehadcomestoodexplained。Hereclearlyhadbeenacataclysmwithinitinerarytimes。Somegiganticlandslidemusthaveslicedthemountainoffintothegorgebelow，andinsteadofapathwehadbeenfollowingitsstillunlaidphantom。Thenew-borncharacterofthechasmexplaineditsshockingnakedness。Butitwasanuncomfortablesighttoseeapathinallitsentiretyvanishsuddenlyintothevoid。
　　Theuncutendoftheformertrailledbacktoalittletablelandsupportingapatchoftillingandtenantedbyanuninhabitedhut。
　　TheWillowMoortheycalledit，thoughitseemedhardlybigenoughtobearaname。Onreconnoitringforthedescent，wefoundthefarthersidefallenawaylikethefirst;sothattheplateauwasnowcutofffromalldecentapproach。Oneofus，atlast，struckthebuttendofapath;butwehadnotgonefardownitbeforeitbrokeoff，anddeliveredustothegullies。Thisside，however，wasmuchbetterthantheother，andittooknoneofusverylongtoslipdowntheslope，repairthebridge，andjointheAshikuratrail。
　　Wewerenowoncemoreonthepathwehadcomeup，withthecertaintyofbadplacesinsteadoftheiruncertaintyaheadofus，adoubtfulbetterment。TheOnigaJolayinwaitroundthecorner，andtherestofthefamiliardevilswouldallappearinduecourseoftime。
　　Tiedovermybootswerethestrawsandalsofthecountry。Theywerenotmadetobewornthus，andshowedgreatuneasinessintheirnewposition，dowhatwemightwiththethongs。Everybodytriedhishandatit，firstandlast;butthefidgetythingsalwaysendedbycomingoffatthetoeortheheel，orsluingroundtothesidetilltheywereworsethanuseless。Theyweresupposedtopreventonefromslipping，whichnodoubttheywouldhavedonehadtheynotbegunbyslippingoffthemselves。Theyworethemselvesoutbytheirnervousness，andhadtoberenewedeverylittlewhilefromthestocktheporterscarried。InhonoroftheOnigaJoIhadafreshpairputonbesidethebrooksacredtothememoryofmypocket-handkerchief。WethenrosetotheDevilPlace，andthreadeditinsinglefile。Whetheritwerethecompanionship，orfamiliarity，orsimplythatmyrightsideinsteadofmyleftnextthecliffgavegreaterseemingsecurity，I
　　gotoveritashademorecomfortablythistime，thoughitwasstillfarfrommyidealofanafternoon’swalk。Theroadtothenextworldbranchedofftoodisturbinglytotheleft。
　　Atlastthepathdescendedtotheriverbottomforgood。Isatdownonastone，pulledoutmytobaccopouch，andlitapipe。Theporterspassedonoutofsight。ThenItrudgedalongmyself。Thetensionofthelasttwodayshadsuddenlyceased，andintheexpansionofspiritthatensuedIwasconsciousofavoid。Iwantedsomeonewithmethen，perhaps，morethanIevercravedcompanionshipbefore。Thegreatgorgeaboutmelayfilledtothebrimwithpurpleshadow。Idrankinthecoolshade-scentedairateverybreath。Theforest-coveredmountainsides，patchedhigherupwithsnowinthegullies，shutouttheworld。Onlyagildedbithereandthereonsomeloftyspurlingeredtohintasunbeyond。Thestripofpaleblueskyfaroverheadbowedtomeetthevistaofthevalleybehind，avistaofpeaksmoreandmoresnow-clad，tilltheviewwasblockedatlastbyawhite，nun-veiledsummit，flushednow，inthelateafternoonlight，toatenderrose。Paststrainhadleftthespirit，aspastfatigueleavesthebody，exquisitelyconscious;andmyfancycameandwalkedwithmethereinthatlonelyvalley，asitgaveitselfsilentlyintothearmsofnight。
　　ProbablynoneIknowwillevertreadwhereIwastreadingthen，norI
　　everbeagaininthatstrangewildcleft，sofaroutoftheworld;
　　andyet，ifyearshenceIshouldchancetowandertherealoneoncemore，IknowtheghostofthatromancewillrisetomeetmeasIpass。
　　IownImadenohastetoovertakethecaravan。
　　DarknessfelluponuswhilewewereyetalongwayfromAshikura，withanuncertaincliffpathbetweenusandit：forthepath，likeatruemountaintrail，hadthepassionforclimbingdevelopedintoamania，andcouldneverrestcontentwiththeriver’sbedwheneveritspiedachancetorise。Ithadjustmanagedanascentupazigzagstairwayofitsowninvention，andhadsteppedoutinthedarkuponapatchoftallmountaingrass，asdryasstraw，whenYejiroconceivedthebrilliantideaoftorches。HehadlearnedthetrickintheHakonehills，whereitwasthehabit，hetoldtheguide，whencaughtoutatnight;andheproceededtorollsomeofthegrassintolongwispsforthepurpose。Thetorcheswereremarkablypicturesque，anddidusservicebeside。Theirruddyflare，bowingtothebreeze，butonlyburningthemoremadlyforitsthwarting，lightedthepathlikenoondaythroughacircleoffifteenfeet，anddroppedbrands，stillflaring，intothestubble，whichwefeltitacaseofconsciencetostopandstampout。Thecircle，smallasitwas，sufficedtodiscloseayawninggulfontheside，towhichthepathclungwiththepersistencyofinfatuation。
　　Thefirstthingtotellusofapproachtohumanhabitationwasthecroakingofthefrogs。AfterthewildnessofourdayitsoundedlikesomelullabyofMotherEarth，speakingofhearthandhome，andweknewthatwewerecomebacktoricefieldsandman。Itwasanotherhalfhour，however，beforeourprocessionreachedtheoutskirtsofthevillage。Herewethrewasideourtorches，andinaweary，drawn-outfilefoundourway，onebyone，intothecourtyardoftheinn。Itwasnotaninntheyearround;itbecamesuchonlyatcertainseasons，ofwhichthepresentwasnotone。IthadthehabitofputtinguppilgrimsontheirwaytotheDragonPeak;betweenthetimesofitspiousofficesitrelapsedintoasimplefarmhouse。
　　Buttheownerreceivedusnonethelesskindlyforourinopportuneappearance，andhastedtobringthewater-tubsforourfeet。NeverwasImorewillingtositonthesillamomentanddabblemytoes;
　　forIwasfootsoreandweary，andgladtobeonman’slevelagain。
　　Ipromiseyou，wewereallveryhumanthatevening，andfeltadealaloud。
　　XVIII。
　　AGenialInkyo。
　　Theownerofthefarmhousehadinheriteditfromhisfather。Therewasnothingveryoddaboutthiseventoourother-worldnotionsofproperty，exceptthatthefatherwasstillliving，ashaleandheartyasyouplease，inalittledenatthefootofthegarden。Hewas，inshort，whatisknownasaninkyo，orone"dwellinginretirement，"——asingularstate，composedofequalpartsofthisworldandthenext;
　　likedyingintheory，andthenundertakingtoliveoninpractice。
　　Foraninkyoisamanwhohasformallyhandedinhisresignationtothecommunity，andyetcontinuestoexistmostenjoyablyinthemidstofit。Hehasabdicatedinfavorofhiseldestson，and，havingputoffallresponsibilities，isfiliallysupportedinalifeofeaseandpleasure。
　　Inspiteofbeingnolongerinsociety，thefatherwasgreedilysocial。
　　Assoonasheheardaforeignerhadarrived，hetrottedovertocall，andnothingwoulddobutImustvisithisnicheearlyinthemorning，beforegoingaway。
　　Afterbreakfast，therefore，thesondulycametofetchme，andwestartedoffthroughthegarden。Forhissire’splaceofretirementlayawayfromtheroad，towardtheriver，thatthedearoldgentlemanmightcommandaviewofthepeaksopposite，ofoneofwhich，calledtheEtchiuFuji，fromitsconicalform，hewasdotinglyfond。
　　Itwasanexpeditiongettingthere。Thisarose，notfromanyspecialfaultinthepath，whichforthefirsthalfofthewayconsistedofastringofstepping-stonesneatlylaidintheground，andforthelatterfractionofnoworsemudthancouldeasilybemetwithelsewhere。Thetroublecamefromamisunderstandinginfoot-gear。
　　Itseemedtooshortawalktoputone’sbootstwiceonandoffforthedoingofit。Ontheotherhand，towalkinstocking-feetwasoutofthequestion，forthemud。SoIattemptedacompromise，consistingofmysocksandthenativewoodenclogs，andtriedtomaketheonetakekindlytotheother。Butmymittenlikesockswouldhavenoneofmythongs，and，failingofagripformytoes，compelledmetoscufflealonginaveryundignifiedway。Theneveryfewstepsoneortheotheroftheclogssawfittostaybehind，andIhadtohalttorecoverthedelinquent。ImadeasorryspectacleasIscrewedaboutontheremainingshoe，gropingafteritsfellow。OnceIwascaughtintheactbymycicerone，whoturnedroundinopportunelytoseewhyIwasnotfollowing;andtwiceinattemptingthefeatIallbutlostmybalanceintothemud。
　　Theworthyvirtuoso，ashewas，metusatthedoor，andescortedusupstairstoseehistreasures。Theroomwastapestriedwithallmannerofworksofart，ofwhichhewasjustlyproud，whilethehouseitselfstoodcopiedfromaChinesemodel，forhewasveryclassic。
　　ButIwaspleasedtofindthataboveallhisheartwasgiventotheview。Itwasshared，asIalsodiscovered，bythetea-ceremonies，inwhichhewasaproficient;suchamixtureisman。ButIbelievetheviewtohavebeenthedeeperaffection。WhileIwasadmiringit，hefetchedfromacupboardaverysuspicious-lookingbottleofwhatturnedouttobehoney，andpressedaglassofituponme。Idulysippedthisnotinappropriateliquor，sincecordialssavorofasceticism，andthisonebeingofnaturaldecoctionpeculiarlybefittedasecularanchorite。ThenItookmyleaveofonewho，thoughnolongerintheworld，wasstillsocharminglyofit。
　　Thegoodsoulchancedtobeawidower，butsuchbereavementisnonecessarypreliminarytobecominga"dwellerinretirement。"
　　Sometimesamanenterstheinkyostatewhilehestillhaswithhimthehelpmateofhisyouth，andthetwogotogethertothisaftermathoflife。Surelyaprettyreturn，this，ofthehoneymoon！DarbyandJoanstartingoncemorehandinhand，aloneinthisIndiansummeroftheirlove，astheydidyearsagoinitsspring-tide，beforeothergenerationsoftheirownhadpushedthemontolessromanticparts;
　　Darbycomebackfrompaternalcarestobeoncemorethelover，andJoanfrommotherandgrandamagainbecomehisgirl。
　　Wepartedfromourwatchman-guideandhalfourporterswithmuchfeeling，asdidtheyfromus。Asfriendshipsgowehadnotknownoneanotherlong，butintimacyisnotmeasuredbytime。Circumstanceshadthrownusintooneanother’sarms，and，aswebadegood-byfirsttooneandthentoanother，weseemedtobeseveringatiethattouchedveryneartheheart。
　　Twooftheporterscameonwithus，asmuchforloveasformoney，asfarasKamiichi，whereweweretogetkuruma。Alongtrampwehadofitacrossleaguesofricefields，andforapartofthewaybesidealarge，deepcanal，finelyboweredintrees，andflowingwithaswift，darkcurrentlikesomehugeboawindingstealthilyunderthebamboo。
　　ItwasthearterytoIknownothowmanysquaremilesoffield。
　　Wecameinforasteadydrizzleafterthis，anditwaslongpastnoonbeforewetouchedournoontidehalt，andstalkedatlastintotheinn。
　　Withgreatdifficultywesecuredthreekuruma，——theplacestoodonthelimitsofsuchlocomotion，——andacrowdsodensecollectedaboutthemthatitblockedthewayout。Everybodyseemedsmittenwithadesiretoseethestrangers，whichgavetheinnservants，byvirtueoftheircalling，anenviabledistinctiontovillageeyes。Buttheportersstoodhighestinregard，bothbecauseoftheirmoreintimatetietousandbecauseweherepartedfromthem。Itwasseveringthefinallinktothenowhappypast。Weallfeltit，andtoldourrosaryofmemoriesinthought，Idoubtnot，eachtohimself，aswewentoutintotheworlduponourdifferentways。
　　EightmilesinarainbroughtustotheroadbywhichwehadenteredEtchiusomedaysbefore，andthatnightwesleptatMikkaichioncemore。Onthemorrowmorningtheweatherfaired，andtowardmiddaywewereagainfacingthefringeofbreakersfromthecliffs。
　　Themountainspurslookedthegrimmerthatwenowknewthemsowellbyrepulse。Theairwasclearerthanwhenwecame，andaswegazedoutovertheoceanwecouldseeforthefirsthalfdaythefaintcoastlineofNoto，stretchingtowarduslikeanarmalongthehorizon。
　　Wewatcheditatintervalsaslongasitwasrecognizable，andwhenatlastitvanishedbeyondevenimagination’spowertoconjureup，feltastrangepangofpersonalregret。Theseathatsnatchesawaysomanylandsatpartingseemsfitlyinhumantothedeed。
　　InthecourseofthesetwodaystwothingshappenedwhichpointedcuriouslytotheisolationofthispartofJapan。Thefirstwasthenearmeetingwithanotherforeigner，whichwouldseemtoimplypreciselythecontrary。ButtheunwontedexcitementintowhichtheeventthrewYejiroandmewasproofenoughofitsstrangeness。
　　ItwaswhileIwassippingtea，waitingforafreshrelayofkurumaatNamerigawa，thatYejirorushedintoannouncethatanotherforeignerwasrestingataninnalittlefurtheruptown。HehadarrivedshortlybeforefromtheEchigoside，reportsaid。Thepassingofroyaltyorevenacircuswouldhavebeentamenewsincomparison。
　　OfcourseIhastenedintomybootsandsalliedforth。Ididnotcallonhimformally，butIinspectedthefrontoftheinninwhichhewassaidtobe，withpeculiarexpectationofspirit，inspiteofmyaffectedunconcern。Hewas，Ibelieve，aGerman;buthenevertookshape。
　　Thesecondeventoccurredthenextevening，andwasevenmoresingular。
　　Likethedodoitchronicledsurvival。Itwasmanifestedinthepersonofapoliceman。
　　SometimeafterourarrivalattheinnYejiroreportedthatthepoliceofficerwishedtoseeme。Themanhadalreadyseentheimportantpartofme，thepassport，andIwasatalosstoimaginewhatmorehecouldwant。SoYejirowassentbacktoinvestigate。
　　Hereturnedshortlywithasadcaseofconcernforconsideration，andhehardlykepthisfaceashetoldit。Theconscientiousofficer，itseemed，wishedtosleepoutsidemyroomformyprotection。
　　Fromthepassporthefelthimselfresponsibleformysafety，andhadconcludedthattheleasthecoulddowouldbenottoleavemeforamoment。Iassuredhim，throughYejiro，thathisofferwasmostthoughtful，butunnecessary。Butwhatanout-of-the-worldcornerthethoughtimplied，andwhatafinefossilthegoodsoulmusthavebeen！
　　Herewassurvivalwithanemphasis！Themanhadsleptsoundlythroughtwentyyearsormoreofchange，andwasstillinthepre-foreigndaysofthefeudalages。
　　Thepricesofkuruma，too，werepleasinglybehindthetimes。Theywerebuttwo-fifthsofwhatweshouldhavehadtopayonthesoutherncoast。AsweadvancedtowardShinshiu，however，thepricesadvancedtoo。Indeed，theoneadvanceaccuratelymeasuredtheother。Weweregettingbackagainintotheworld，itwaspainfullyevident。Atlastfaresrosetosixcentsari。Beforetheycouldmounthigherwehadtakenrefugeinthetrain，andwerehurryingtowardZenkojibysteam。
　　OurobjectivepointwasnowthedescentoftheTenriugawarapids。
　　Itwasnottheshortestwayhome，butitwaspartofourprojecteditineraryandtookusthroughacountrytypicaloftheheartofJapan。Itbeganwithafinesuccessionofpass...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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