Мартин Иден

Chapter 26

           "BecauseIdidn’tknow,"heanswered. "Ineverdreamedoflepers. WhenIdesertedtheschoonerandlandedonthebeach,Iheadedinlandforsomeplaceofhiding. ForthreedaysIlivedoffguavas,ohia-apples,andbananas,allofwhichgrewwildinthejungle. OnthefourthdayIfoundthetrail—amerefoot-trail. Itledinland,anditledup. ItwasthewayIwantedtogo,anditshowedsignsofrecenttravel. Atoneplaceitranalongthecrestofaridgethatwasnomorethanaknife-edge. Thetrailwasn’tthreefeetwideonthecrest,andoneithersidetheridgefellawayinprecipiceshundredsoffeetdeep. Oneman,withplentyofammunition,couldhavehelditagainstahundredthousand. 

           "Itwastheonlywayintothehiding-place. ThreehoursafterIfoundthetrailIwasthere,inalittlemountainvalley,apocketinthemidstoflavapeaks. Thewholeplacewasterracedfortaro-patches,fruittreesgrewthere,andtherewereeightortengrasshuts. ButassoonasIsawtheinhabitantsIknewwhatI’dstruck. Onesightofthemwasenough." 

           "Whatdidyoudo?"Ruthdemandedbreathlessly,listening,likeanyDesdemona,appalledandfascinated. 

           "Nothingformetodo. Theirleaderwasakindoldfellow,prettyfargone,butheruledlikeaking. Hehaddiscoveredthelittlevalleyandfoundedthesettlement—allofwhichwasagainstthelaw. Buthehadguns,plentyofammunition,andthoseKanakas,trainedtotheshootingofwildcattleandwildpig,weredeadshots. No,therewasn’tanyrunningawayforMartinEden. Hestayed—forthreemonths." "Buthowdidyouescape?" 

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