16

EVERYDAY CLASSICS

quiver at his back. In the meantime, I felt at least forty more of the same kind following the first. I was in the utmost astonishment, and roared so loudly, that they all ran back in a 5 fright; and some of them, as I was afterward told, were hurt with the falls they got by leaping from my sides upon the ground. They soon returned, however, and one of them, who ventured so far as to get a full sight of my face, lifting up 10 his hands and eyes in wonder, said a few words in a shrill voice. The others repeated these words several times, but I knew not what they

meant.

I lay all this while, in great uneasiness; at 15 length, struggling to get loose, I had the luck to break the strings, and wrench out the pegs that fastened my left arm to the ground. At the same time, with a violent pull which gave me very great pain, I loosened the strings that tied 20 down my hair on the left side, so that I was able to turn my head about two inches. But the creatures ran off a second time, before I could seize them; whereupon there was a great shout

in a very shrill accent, and in an instant I felt a hundred arrows shot into my left hand, which pricked me like so many needles.

When this shower of arrows was over, I tried again to get loose, but they sent another vol-5 ley larger than the first, and some of them attempted with spears to stick me in the sides. By good luck I had on a buff jerkin, which they could not pierce. I thought it the most prudent method to lie still, and when the people saw 10 that I was quiet, they discharged no more arrows. But by the noise I heard, I knew their numbers increased; and about four yards from me, near my right ear, I heard a knocking for more than an hour, like that of people at work. On turn-15 ing my head that way, as well as the pegs and strings would permit me, I saw a stage built about a foot and a half from the ground, large enough to hold four of the inhabitants, with two or three ladders to mount it; from whence one of 20 them who seemed to be a person of quality, made me a long speech, of which I understood not one syllable.

B

I answered in a few words, but in a most humble manner, and being very weak from hunger, I could not help showing my impatience by putting my finger frequently to my mouth, to 5 show that I wanted food. The orator then got down from the stage, and commanded that several ladders should be set up against my sides. On these a hundred of the inhabitants mounted, and walked toward my mouth, carrying baskets 10 full of meat, which had been provided and sent thither by the king's orders.

I noticed there was the flesh of several animals, but could not distinguish them by the taste. There were shoulders, legs, and loins, shaped like 15 those of mutton, and very well dressed, but smaller than the wings of a lark. I ate them by two or three at a mouthful, and took three loaves of bread at a time, about the size of musket bullets. They supplied me as fast as they 20 could, showing a thousand marks of wonder at my appetite.

I then made another sign that I wanted drink. They found by my eating that a small quantity

would not satisfy me, and slung up with great skill one of their largest hogsheads. They rolled it toward my hand, and beat out the top. I drank it off at a draught, which I might well do, for it did not hold half a pint. A second hogs-5 head I drank in the same manner, and made signs for more; but they had none to give me.

When I had performed these wonders, they shouted for joy and danced upon my breast. I confess I was often tempted, while they were pass- 10 ing to and fro on my body, to seize forty or fifty of the first that came in my reach, and dash them against the ground. But I now considered myself as bound by the laws of hospitality to a people who had treated me with so much kindness 15 and expense.

II

After some time, when they observed that I made no more demands for food, there appeared before me a person of high rank from his imperial majesty. His excellency having mounted on 5 my ankle, came forward up to my face, with a dozen of his retinue, and spoke about ten minutes, pointing forward, which, as I afterward found, was toward the capital city, about half a mile distant. It was there that his majesty had ordered that I 10 must be conveyed. I made a sign with my hand that was loose, to show that I wanted my liberty. It appeared that he understood me, for he shook his head and held his hand in a position to show that I must be carried as a prisoner.

15

However, he made other signs to let me understand that I should have meat and drink enough, and very good treatment. Soon afterwards I heard a general shout, and I felt great numbers of people on my left side loosening the cords to 20 such a degree that I was able to turn upon my right side.