小说园

第46部分（第5页）

He　hung　up　the　shafts　and　took　the　gig…lamp。　As　he　came　out

of　the　familiar　jumble　of　shafts　and　wheels　in　the　shed；　the

water；　in　little　waves；　came　washing　strongly　against　his　legs。

He　staggered　and　almost　fell。

〃Well；　what　the　deuce！〃　he　said；　staring　round　at　the　running

water　in　the　black；　watery　night。

He　went　to　meet　the　running　flood；　sinking　deeper　and　deeper。

His　soul　was　full　of　great　astonishment。　He　had　to　go　and

look　where　it　came　from；　though　the　ground　was　going　from　under

his　feet。　He　went　on；　down　towards　the　pond；　shakily。　He　rather

enjoyed　it。　He　was　knee…deep；　and　the　water　was　pulling　heavily。

He　stumbled；　reeled　sickeningly。

Fear　took　hold　of　him。　Gripping　tightly　to　the　lamp；　he

reeled；　and　looked　round。　The　water　was　carrying　his　feet　away；

he　was　dizzy。　He　did　not　know　which　way　to　turn。　The　water　was

whirling；　whirling；　the　whole　black　night　was　swooping　in　rings。

He　swayed　uncertainly　at　the　centre　of　all　the　attack；　reeling

in　dismay。　In　his　soul；　he　knew　he　would　fall。

As　he　staggered　something　in　the　water　struck　his　legs；　and

he　fell。　Instantly　he　was　in　the　turmoil　of　suffocation。　He

fought　in　a　black　horror　of　suffocation；　fighting；　wrestling；

but　always　borne　down；　borne　inevitably　down。　Still　he　wrestled

and　fought　to　get　himself　free；　in　the　unutterable　struggle　of

suffocation；　but　he　always　fell　again　deeper。　Something　struck

his　head；　a　great　wonder　of　anguish　went　over　him；　then　the

blackness　covered　him　entirely。

In　the　utter　darkness；　the　unconscious；　drowning　body　was

rolled　along；　the　waters　pouring；　washing；　filling　in　the　place。

The　cattle　woke　up　and　rose　to　their　feet；　the　dog　began　to

yelp。　And　the　unconscious；　drowning　body　was　washed　along　in　the

black；　swirling　darkness；　passively。

Mrs。　Brangwen　woke　up　and　listened。　With　preternaturally

sharp　senses　she　heard　the　movement　of　all　the　darkness　that

swirled　outside。　For　a　moment　she　lay　still。　Then　she　went　to