Страна слепых

           Hegrippedhisspadestilltighter,andadvanceddownthemeadowstowardstheplaceofhabitations,anddirectlyhemovedtheyconvergeduponhim. "I’llhitthemiftheytouchme,"heswore; "byHeaven,Iwill.I’llhit." Hecalledaloud, "Lookhere,I’mgoingtodowhatIlikeinthisvalley. Doyouhear? I’mgoingtodowhatIlikeandgowhereIlike!" 

           Theyweremovinginuponhimquickly,groping,yetmovingrapidly. Itwaslikeplayingblindman’sbuff,witheveryoneblindfoldedexceptone. "Getholdofhim!"criedone. Hefoundhimselfinthearcofaloosecurveofpursuers. Hefeltsuddenlyhemustbeactiveandresolute. 

           "Youdon’tunderstand,"hecriedinavoicethatwasmeanttobegreatandresolute,andwhichbroke. "Youareblind,andIcansee. Leavemealone!" 

           "Bogota! Putdownthatspade,andcomeoffthegrass!" 

           Thelastorder,grotesqueinitsurbanfamiliarity,producedagustofanger. 

           "I’llhurtyou,"hesaid,sobbingwithemotion. "ByHeaven,I’llhurtyou. Leavemealone!" 

           Hebegantorun,notknowingclearlywheretorun. Heranfromthenearestblindman,becauseitwasahorrortohithim. Hestopped,andthenmadeadashtoescapefromtheirclosingranks. Hemadeforwhereagapwaswide,andthemenoneitherside,withaquickperceptionoftheapproachofhispaces,rushedinononeanother. Hesprangforward,andthensawhemustbecaught,andswish!thespadehadstruck. Hefeltthesoftthudofhandandarm,andthemanwasdownwithayellofpain,andhewasthrough.