高級(jí)英語(yǔ)第二冊(cè)課文原文

FacetoFacewithHurricaneCamille

JosephP.Blank

1JohnKoshak,Jr.,knewthatHurricaneCamillewouldbebad.RadioandtelevisionwarningshadsoundedthroughoutthatSunday,lastAugust17,asCamillelashednorthwestwardacrosstheGulfofMexico.ItwascertaintopummelGulfport,Miss.,wheretheKosherslived.AlongthecoastsofLouisiana,MississippiandAlabama,nearly150,000peoplefledinlandtosafer8round.But,likethousandsofothersinthecoastalcommunities,johnwasreluctanttoabandonhishomeunlessthefamily--hiswife,Janis,andtheirsevenchildren,abed3to11--wasclearlyendangered.

2Tryingtoreasonoutthebestcourseofaction,hetalkedwithhisfatherandmother,whohadmovedintotheten-roomhousewiththeKoshaksamonthearlierfromCalifornia.HealsoconsultedCharlesHill,alongtimefriend,whohaddrivenfromLasVegasforavisit.

3John,37--whosebusinesswasrightthereinhishome(hedesignedanddevelopededucationaltoysandsupplies,andallofMagnaProducts'correspondence,engineeringdrawingsandartworkwerethereonthefirstfloor)--wasfamiliarwiththepowerofahurricane.Fouryearsearlier,HurricaneBetsyhaddemolishedundefinedhisformerhomeafewmileswestofGulfport(Koshakhadmovedhisfamilytoamotelforthenight).Butthathousehadstoodonlyafewfeetabovesealevel."We'reelevated2afeet,"hetoldhisfather,"andwe'reagood250yardsfromthesea.Theplacehasbeenheresince1915,andnohurricanehaseverbotheredit.We'IIprobablybeassafehereasanyplaceelse."

4TheelderKoshak,agruff,warmheartedexpertmachinistof67,agreed."Wecanbattendownandrideitout,"hesaid."Ifweseesignsofdanger,wecangetoutbeforedark."

5Themenmethodicallypreparedforthehurricane.Sincewatermainsmightbedamaged,theyfilledbathtubsandpails.Apowerfailurewaslikely,sotheycheckedoutbatteriesfortheportableradioandflashlights,andfuelforthelantern.John'sfathermovedasmallgeneratorintothedownstairshallway,wiredseverallightbulbstoitandpreparedaconnectiontotherefrigerator.

6Rainfellsteadilythatafternoon;graycloudsscuddedinfromtheGulfontherisingwind.Thefamilyhadanearlysupper.Aneighbor,whosehusbandwasinVietnam,askedifsheandhertwochildrencouldsitoutthestormwiththeKoshaks.Anotherneighborcamebyonhiswayin-land—wouldtheKoshaksmindtakingcareofhisdog

7Itgrewdarkbeforeseveno'clock.Windandrainnowwhippedthehouse.Johnsenthisoldestsonanddaughterupstairstobringdownmattressesandpillowsfortheyoungerchildren.Hewantedtokeepthegrouptogetherononefloor."Stayawayfromthewindows,"hewarned,concernedaboutglassflyingfromstorm-shatteredpanes.Asthewindmountedtoaroar,thehousebeganleaking-therainseeminglydrivenrightthroughthewalls.Withmops,towels,potsandbucketstheKoshaksbeganastruggleagainsttherapidlyspreadingwater.At8:30,powerfailed,andPopKoshakturnedonthegenerator.

8Theroarofthehurricanenowwasoverwhelming.Thehouseshook,andtheceilinginthelivingroomwasfallingpiecebypiece.TheFrenchdoorsinanupstairsroomblewinwithanexplosivesound,andthegroupheardgun-likereportsasotherupstairswindowsdisintegrated.Waterroseabovetheirankles.

9Thenthefrontdoorstartedtobreakawayfromitsframe.JohnandCharlieputtheirshouldersagainstit,butablastofwaterhitthehouse,flingingopenthedoorandshovingthemdownthehall.Thegeneratorwasdoused,andthelightswentout.CharlielickedhislipsandshoutedtoJohn."Ithinkwe'reinrealtrouble.Thatwatertastedsalty."Theseahadreachedthehouse,andthewaterwasrisingbytheminute!

10"Everybodyoutthebackdoortotheoars!"Johnyelled."We'IIpassthechildrenalongbetweenus.Countthem!Nine!"

11Thechildrenwentfromadulttoadultlikebucketsinafirebrigade.Butthecarswouldn'tstart;theelectricalsystemshadbeenkilledbywater.ThewindwastooStrongandthewatertoodeeptofleeonfoot."Backtothehouse!"johnyelled."Countthechildren!Countnine!"

12Astheyscrambledback,johnordered,"Every-bodyonthestairs!"Frightened,breathlessandwet,thegroupsettledonthestairs,whichwereprotectedbytwointeriorwalls.Thechildrenputtheoat,Spooky,andaboxwithherfourkittensonthelanding.Shepeerednervouslyatherlitter.Theneighbor'sdogcurledupandwenttosleep.

13Thewindsoundedliketheroarofatrainpassingafewyardsaway.Thehouseshudderedandshiftedonitsfoundations.Waterincheditswayupthestepsasfirst-flooroutsidewallscollapsed.Noonespoke.Everyoneknewtherewasnoescape;theywouldliveordieinthehouse.

14CharlieHillhadmoreorlesstakenresponsibilityfortheneighborandhertwochildren.Themotherwasonthevergeofpanic.Sheclutchedhisarmandkeptrepeating,"Ican'tswim,Ican'tswim."

15"Youwon'thaveto,"hetoldher,withoutwardcalm."It'sboundtoendsoon."

16GrandmotherKoshakreachedanarmaroundherhusband'sshoulderandputhermouthclosetohisear."Pop,"shesaid,"Iloveyou."Heturnedhisheadandanswered,"Iloveyou"--andhisvoicelackeditsusualgruffness.

17Johnwatchedthewaterlapatthesteps,andfeltacrushingguilt.HehadunderestimatedtheferocityofCamille.Hehadassumedthatwhathadneverhappenedcouldnothappen.Heheldhisheadbetweenhishands,andsilentlyprayed:"Getusthroughthismess,willYou"

18Amomentlater,thehurricane,inonemightyswipe,liftedtheentireroofoffthehouseandskimmedit40feetthroughtheair.Thebottomstepsofthestaircasebrokeapart.Onewallbegancrumblingonthemaroonedgroup.

19Dr.RobertH.Simpson,directoroftheNationalHurricaneCenterinMiami,Fla.,gradedHurricaneCamilleas"thegreatestrecordedstormevertohitapopulatedareaintheWesternHemisphere."initsconcentratedbreadthofsome70milesitshotoutwindsofnearly200m.p.h.andraisedtidesashighas30feet.AlongtheGulfCoastitdevastatedeverythinginitsswath:19,467homesand709smallbusinessesweredemolishedorseverelydamaged.itseizeda600,000-gallonGulfportoiltankanddumpedit3~milesaway.Ittorethreelargecargoshipsfromtheirmooringsandbeachedthem.Telephonepolesand20-inch-thickpinescrackedlikegunsasthewindssnappedthem.

20TothewestofGulfport,thetownofPassChristianwasvirtuallywipedout.SeveralvacationersattheluxuriousRichelieuApartmentsthereheldahurricanepartytowatchthestormfromtheirspectacularvantagepoint.RichelieuApartmentsweresmashedapartasifbyagiganticfist,and26peopleperished.

21SecondsaftertheroofblewofftheKoshakhouse,johnyelled,"Upthestairs--intoourbedroom!Countthekids."Thechildrenhuddledintheslashingrainwithinthecircleofadults.GrandmotherKoshakimplored,"Children,let'ssing!"Thechildrenweretoofrightenedtorespond.Shecarriedonaloneforafewbars;thenhervoicetrailedaway.

22Debrisflewastheliving-roomfireplaceanditschimneycollapsed.Withtwowallsintheirbedroomsanctuarybeginningtodisintegrate,Johnordered,"Intothetelevisionroom!"Thiswastheroomfarthestfromthedirectionofthestorm.

23Foraninstant,Johnputhisarmaroundhiswife.Janisunderstood.Shiveringfromthewindandrainandfear,clutchingtwochildrentoher,shethought,DearLord,givemethestrengthtoendurewhatIhaveto.Shefeltangeragainstthehurricane.Wewon'tletitwin.

24PopKoshakragedsilently,frustratedatnotbeingabletodoanythingtofightCamille.Withoutreason,hedraggedacedarchestandadoublemattressfromabed-roomintotheTVroom.Atthatmoment,thewindtoreoutonewallandextinguishedthelantern.Asecondwallmoved,wavered,CharlieHilltriedtosupportit,butittoppledonhim,injuringhisback.Thehouse,shudderingandrocking,hadmoved25feetfromitsfoundations.Theworldseemedtobebreakingapart.

25"Let'sgetthatmattressup!"Johnshoutedtohisfather."Makeitalean-toagainstthewind.Getthekidsunderit.Wecanpropitupwithourheadsandshoulders!"

26Thelargerchildrensprawledonthefloor,withthesmalleronesinalayerontopofthem,andtheadultsbentoverallnine.Thefloortilted.Theboxcontainingthelitterofkittensslidoffashelfandvanishedinthewind.Spookyflewoffthetopofaslidingbookcaseandalsodisappeared.Thedogcoweredwitheyesclosed.Athirdwallgaveway.Waterlappedacrosstheslantingfloor.Johngrabbedadoorwhichwasstillhingedtooneclosetwall."Ifthefloorgoes,"heyelledathisfather,"let'sgetthekidsonthis."

27Inthatmoment,thewindslightlydiminished,andthewaterstoppedrising.Thenthewaterbeganreceding.ThemainthrustofCamillehadpassed.TheKoshaksandtheirfriendshadsurvived.

28Withthedawn,Gulfportpeoplestartedcomingbacktotheirhomes.Theysawhumanbodies--morethan130men,womenandchildrendiedalongtheMississippicoast-andpartsofthebeachandhighwaywerestrewnwithdeaddogs,cats,cattle.Stripsofclothingfestoonedthestandingtrees,andblowndownpowerlinescoiledlikeblackspaghettiovertheroads.

29Noneofthereturneesmovedquicklyorspokeloudly;theystoodshocked,tryingtoabsorbtheshatteringscenesbeforetheireyes."Whatdowedot"theyasked."Wheredowego"

30Bythistime,organizationswithintheareaand,ineffect,theentirepopulationoftheUnitedStateshadcometotheaidofthedevastatedcoast.Beforedawn,theMississippiNationalGuardandcivil-defenseunitsweremovingintohandletraffic,guardproperty,setupcommunicationscenters,helpclearthedebrisandtakethehomelessbytruckandbustorefugeecenters.By10a.m.,theSalvationArmy'scanteentrucksandRedCrossvolunteersandstaffersweregoingwhereverpossibletodistributehotdrinks,food,clothingandbedding.

31Fromhundredsoftownsandcitiesacrossthecountrycameseveralmilliondollarsindonations;householdandmedicalsuppliesstreamedinbyplane,train,truckandcar.Thefederalgovernmentshipped4,400,000poundsoffood,movedinmobilehomes,setupportableclassrooms,openedofficestoprovidelow-interest,long-termbusinessloans.

32Camille,meanwhile,hadrakeditswaynorthwardacrossMississippi,droppingmorethan28inchesofrainintoWestVirginiaandsouthernVirginia,causingrampagingfloods,hugemountainslidesand111additionaldeathsbeforebreakingupovertheAtlanticOcean.

33LikemanyotherGulfportfamilies,theKoshaksquicklybeganreorganizingtheirlives,Johndividedhisfamilyinthehomesoftwofriends.Theneighborwithhertwochildrenwenttoarefugeecenter.CharlieHillfoundaroomforrent.ByTuesday,Charlie'sbackhadimproved,andhepitchedinwithSeabeesintheworstvolunteerworkofall--searchingforbodies.Threedaysafterthestorm,hedecidednottoreturntoLasVegas,butto"remaininGulfportandhelprebuildthecommunity."

34Neartheendofthefirstweek,afriendofferedtheKoshakshisapartment,andthefamilywasreunited.Thechildrenappearedtosuffernopsychologicaldamagefromtheirexperience;theywerestillawedbytheincomprehensiblepowerofthehurricane,butenjoyeddescribingwhattheyhadseenandheardonthatfrightfulnight,Janishadjustonedelayedreaction.Afewnightsafterthehurricane,sheawokesuddenlyat2a.m.Shequietlygotupandwentoutside.Lookingupattheskyand,withoutknowingshewasgoingtodoit,shebegantocrysoftly.

35Meanwhile,John,PopandCharliewerepickingthroughthewreckageofthehome.Itcouldhavebeendepressing,butitwasn't:eachsalvageditemrepresentedalittlevictoryoverthewrathofthestorm.Thedogandcatsuddenlyappearedatthescene,aliveandhungry.

36Butthebluesdidoccasionallyafflictalltheadults.Once,inalowmood,Johnsaidtohisparents,"Iwantedyouheresothatwewouldallbetogether,soyoucouldenjoythechildren,andlookwhathappened."

37Hisfather,whohadmadeuphismindtostartaweldingshopwhenlivingwasnormalagain,said,"Let'snotcryaboutwhat'sgone.We'IIjuststartallover."

38"You'regreat,"Johnsaid."Andthistownhasalotofgreatpeopleinit.It'sgoingtobebetterherethaniteverwasbefore."

39Later,GrandmotherKoshakreflected:"Welostpracticallyallourpossessions,butthefamilycamethroughit.WhenIthinkofthat,Irealizewelostnothingimportant."

(fromRhetoricandLiteraturebyP.JosephCanavan)

NOTES

1.Josephp.Blank:Thewriterpublished"FacetoFacewithHurricaneCamille"intheReader'sDigest,March1970.

2.HurricaneCamille:IntheUnitedStateshurricanesarenamedalphabeticallyandgiventhenamesofpeoplelikeHurricaneCamille,HurricaneBetsy,andsoon;whereasinChinaTyphoonsaregivenserialnumberslikeTyphoonNo.1,TyphoonNo.2andsoon.

3.TheSalvationArmy:AProtestantreligiousbodydevotedtotheconversionof,andsocialworkamongthepoor,andcharacterizedbyuseofmilitarytitles,uniforms,etc.Itwasfoundedin1878by"General"BoothinLondon;nowworldwideinoperation.

4.RedCross:aninternationalorganization(infullInternationalRedCross),foundedin1864withheadquartersandbranchesinallcountriessignatorytotheGenevaConvention,forthereliefofsufferingintimeofwarordisaster

Marrakech

GeorgeOrwell

1Asthecorpsewentpasttheflieslefttherestauranttableinacloudandrushedafterit,buttheycamebackafewminuteslater.

2Thelittlecrowdofmourners--allmenandboys,nowomen--threadedtheirwayacrossthemarketplacebetweenthepilesofpomegranatesandthetaxisandthecamels,wallingashortchantoverandoveragain.Whatreallyappealstothefliesisthatthecorpseshereareneverputintocoffins,theyaremerelywrappedinapieceofragandcarriedonaroughwoodenbierontheshouldersoffourfriends.Whenthefriendsgettotheburying-groundtheyhackanoblongholeafootortwodeep,dumpthebodyinitandflingoveritalittleofthedried-up,lumpyearth,whichislikebrokenbrick.Nogravestone,noname,noidentifyingmarkofanykind.Theburying-groundismerelyahugewasteofhummockyearth,likeaderelictbuilding-lot.Afteramonthortwonoonecanevenbecertainwherehisownrelativesareburied.

3Whenyouwalkthroughatownlikethis--twohundredthousandinhabitantsofwhomatleasttwentythousandownliterallynothingexcepttheragstheystandupin--whenyouseehowthepeoplelive,andstillmorehoweasilytheydie,itisalwaysdifficulttobelievethatyouarewalkingamonghumanbeings.Allcolonialempiresareinrealityfoundeduponthisfact.Thepeoplehavebrownfaces--besides,therearesomanyofthem!AretheyreallythesamefleshasyourselfDotheyevenhavenamesOraretheymerelyakindofundifferentiatedbrownstuff,aboutasindividualasbeesorcoralinsectsTheyriseoutoftheearth，theysweatandstarveforafewyears,andthentheysinkbackintothenamelessmoundsofthegraveyardandnobodynoticesthattheyaregone.Andeventhegravesthemselvessoonfadebackintothesoil.Sometimes,outforawalkasyoubreakyourwaythroughthepricklypear,younoticethatitisratherbumpyunderfoot,andonlyacertainregularityinthebumpstellsyouthatyouarewalkingoverskeletons.

4Iwasfeedingoneofthegazellesinthepublicgardens.

5Gazellesarealmosttheonlyanimalsthatlookgoodtoeatwhentheyarestillalive,infact,onecanhardlylookattheirhindquarterswithoutthinkingofamintsauce.ThegazelleIwasfeedingseemedtoknowthatthisthoughtwasinmymind,forthoughittookthepieceofbreadIwasholdingoutitobviouslydidnotlikeme.Itnibblednibbledrapidlyatthebread,thenlowereditsheadandtriedtobuttme,thentookanothernibbleandthenbuttedagain.Probablyitsideawasthatifitcoulddrivemeawaythebreadwouldsomehowremainhanginginmid-air.

6AnArabnavvyworkingonthepathnearbyloweredhisheavyhoeandsidledslowlytowardsus.Helookedfromthegazelletothebreadandfromthebreadtothegazelle,withasortofquietamazement,asthoughhehadneverseenanythingquitelikethisbefore.FinallyhesaidshylyinFrench:"1couldeatsomeofthatbread."

7Itoreoffapieceandhestoweditgratefullyinsomesecretplaceunderhisrags.Thismanisanemployeeofthemunicipality.

8WhenyougothroughtheJewishQuartersyougathersomeideaofwhatthemedievalghettoeswereprobablylike.UndertheirMoorishMoorishrulerstheJewswereonlyallowedtoownlandincertainrestrictedareas,andaftercenturiesofthiskindoftreatmenttheyhaveceasedtobotheraboutovercrowding.Manyofthestreetsareagooddeallessthansixfeetwide,thehousesarecompletelywindowless,andsore-eyedchildrenclustereverywhereinunbelievablenumbers,likecloudsofflies.Downthecentreofthestreetthereisgenerallyrunningalittleriverofurine.

9InthebazaarhugefamiliesofJews,alldressedinthelongblackrobeandlittleblackskull-cap,areworkingindarkfly-infestedboothsthatlooklikecaves.Acarpentersitscrossleggedataprehistoriclathe,turningchairlegsatlightningspeed.Heworksthelathewithabowinhisrighthandandguidesthechiselwithhisleftfoot,andthankstoalifetimeofsittinginthispositionhisleftlegiswarpedoutofshape.Athissidehisgrandson,agedsix,isalreadystartingonthesimplerpartsofthejob.

10Iwasjustpassingthecoppersmiths'boothswhensomebodynoticedthatIwaslightingacigarette.Instantly,fromthedarkholesallround,therewasafrenziedrushofJews,manyofthemoldgrandfatherswithflowinggreybeards,allclamouringforacigarette.Evenablindmansomewhereatthebackofoneoftheboothsheardarumourofcigarettesandcamecrawlingout,gropingintheairwithhishand.InaboutaminuteIhadusedupthewholepacket.Noneofthesepeople,Isuppose,workslessthantwelvehoursaday,andeveryoneofthemlooksonacigaretteasamoreorlessimpossibleluxury.

11AstheJewsliveinself-containedcommunitiestheyfollowthesametradesastheArabs,exceptforagriculture.Fruitsellers,potters,silversmiths,blacksmiths,butchers,leather-workers,tailors,water-carriers,beggars,porters--whicheverwayyoulookyouseenothingbutJews.Asamatteroffacttherearethirteenthousandofthem,alllivinginthespaceofafewacres.AgoodjobHitletwasn'there.Perhapshewasonhisway,however.YouheartheusualdarkrumoursaboutJews,notonlyfromtheArabsbutfromthepoorerEuropeans.

12"Yesvieuxmonvieux,theytookmyjobawayfrommeandgaveittoaJew.TheJews!They'retherealrulersofthiscountry,youknow.They’vegotallthemoney.Theycontrolthebanks,finance--everything."

13"But",Isaid,"isn'titafactthattheaverageJewisalabourerworkingforaboutapennyanhour"

14"Ah,that'sonlyforshow!They'reallmoneylendersreally.They'recunning,theJews."

15Injustthesameway,acoupleofhundredyearsago,pooroldwomenusedtobeburnedforwitchcraftwhentheycouldnotevenworkenoughmagictogetthemselvesasquaremeal.squaremeal

16Allpeoplewhoworkwiththeirhandsarepartlyinvisible,andthemoreimportanttheworktheydo,thelessvisibletheyare.Still,awhiteskinisalwaysfairlyconspicuous.InnorthernEurope,whenyouseealabourerploughingafield,youprobablygivehimasecondglance.Inahotcountry,anywheresouthofGibraltaroreastofSuez,thechancesarethatyoudon'tevenseehim.Ihavenoticedthisagainandagain.Inatropicallandscapeone'seyetakesineverythingexceptthehumanbeings.Ittakesinthedried-upsoil,thepricklypear,thepalmtreeandthedistantmountain,butitalwaysmissesthepeasanthoeingathispatch.Heisthesamecolourastheearth,andagreatdeallessinterestingtolookat.

17ItisonlybecauseofthisthatthestarvedcountriesofAsiaandAfricaareacceptedastouristresorts.NoonewouldthinkofrunningcheaptripstotheDistressedAreas.Butwherethehumanbeingshavebrownskinstheirpovertyissimplynotnoticed.WhatdoesMoroccomeantoaFrenchmanAnorangegroveorajobinGovernmentservice.OrtoanEnglishmanCamels,castles,palmtrees,ForeignLegionnaires,brasstrays,andbandits.Onecouldprobablylivethereforyearswithoutnoticingthatfornine-tenthsofthepeopletherealityoflifeisanendlessback-breakingstruggletowringalittlefoodoutofanerodedsoil.

18MostofMoroccoissodesolatethatnowildanimalbiggerthanaharecanliveonit.Hugeareaswhichwereoncecoveredwithforesthaveturnedintoatreelesswastewherethesoilisexactlylikebroken-upbrick.Neverthelessagooddealofitiscultivated,withfrightfullabour.Everythingisdonebyhand.Longlinesofwomen,bentdoublelikeinvertedcapitalLs,worktheirwayslowlyacrossthefields,tearingupthepricklyweedswiththeirhands,andthepeasantgatheringlucerneforfodderpullsitupstalkbystalkinsteadofreapingit,thussavinganinchortwooneachstalk.Theploughisawretchedwoodenthing,sofrailthatonecaneasilycarryitonone'sshoulder,andfittedunderneathwitharoughironspikewhichstirsthesoiltoadepthofaboutfourinches.Thisisasmuchasthestrengthoftheanimalsisequalto.Itisusualtoploughwithacowandadonkeyyokedtogether.Twodonkeyswouldnotbequitestrongenough,butontheotherhandtwocowswouldcostalittlemoretofeed.Thepeasantspossessnonarrows,theymerelyploughthesoilseveraltimesoverindifferentdirections,finallyleavingitinroughfurrows,afterwhichthewholefieldhastobeshapedwithhoesintosmalloblongpatchestoconservewater.Exceptforadayortwoaftertherarerainstormsthereisneverenoughwater.Alongtheedgesofthefieldschannelsarehackedouttoadepthofthirtyorfortyfeettogetatthetinytrickleswhichrunthroughthesubsoil.

19Everyafternoonaveryoldwomenpassesdowntheroadoutsidemyhouse,eachcarryingaloadoffirewood.Allofthemaremummifiedwithageandthesun,andallofthemaretiny.Itseemstobegenerallythecaseinprimitivecommunitiesthatthewomen,whentheygetbeyondacertainage,shrinktothesizeofchildren.Onedaypoorcreaturewhocouldnothavebeenmorethanfourfeettallcreptpastmeunderavastloadofwood.Istoppedherandputafive-sousoupiece(alittlemorethanafarthingintoherhand.Sheansweredwithashrillwail,almostascream,whichwaspartlygratitudebutmainlysurprise.Isupposethatfromherpointofview,bytakinganynoticeofher,Iseemedalmosttobeviolatingalawofnature.Sheaccept-edherstatusasanoldwoman,thatistosayasabeastofburden.Whenafamilyistravellingitisquiteusualtoseeafatherandagrown-upsonridingaheadondonkeys,andanoldwomanfollowingonfoot,carryingthebaggage.

20Butwhatisstrangeaboutthesepeopleistheirinvisibility.Forseveralweeks,alwaysataboutthesametimeofday,theoldwomenhadhobbledpastthehousewiththeirfirewood,andthoughtheyhadregisteredthemselvesonmyeyeballsIcannottrulysaythatIhadseenthem.Firewoodwaspassing--thatwashowIsawit.ItwasonlythatonedayIhappenedtobewalkingbehindthem,andthecuriousup-and-downmotionofaloadofwooddrewmyattentiontothehumanbeingbeneathit.ThenforthefirsttimeInoticedthepooroldearth-colouredbodies,bodiesreducedtobonesandleatheryskin,bentdoubleunderthecrushingweight.YetIsupposeIhadnotbeenfiveminutesonMoroccansoilbeforeInoticedtheoverloadingofthedonkeysandwasinfuriatedbyit.Thereisnoquestionthatthedonkeysaredamnablytreated.TheMoroccandonkeyishardlybiggerthanaSt.Bernarddog,itcarriesaloadwhichintheBritishArmywouldbeconsideredtoomuchforafifteen-handsmule,andveryoftenitspacksaddleisnottakenoffitsbackforweekstogether.Butwhatispeculiarlypitifulisthatitisthemostwillingcreatureonearth,itfollowsitsmasterlikeadoganddoesnotneedeitherbridleorhalter.Afteradozenyearsofdevotedworkitsuddenlydropsdead,whereuponitsmastertipsitintotheditchandthevillagedogshavetornitsgutsoutbeforeitiscold.

21Thiskindofthingmakesone'sbloodboil,whereas--onthewhole--theplightofthehumanbeingsdoesnot.Iamnotcommenting,merelypointingtoafact.Peoplewithbrownskinsarenextdoortoinvisible.Anyonecanbesorryforthedonkeywithitsgalledback,butitisgenerallyowingtosomekindofaccidentifoneevennoticestheoldwomanunderherloadofsticks.

22AsthestorksflewnorthwardtheNegroesweremarchingsouthward--along,dustycolumn,infantry,screw-gunbatteries,andthenmoreinfantry,fourorfivethousandmeninall,windinguptheroadwithaclumpingofbootsandaclatterofironwheels.

23TheywereSenegalese,theblackestNegroesinAfrica,soblackthatsometimesitisdifficulttoseewhereaboutsontheirnecksthehairbegins.Theirsplendidbodieswerehiddeninreach-me-downkhakiuniforms,theirfeetsquashedintobootsthatlookedlikeblocksofwood,andeverytinhatseemedtobeacoupleofsizestoosmall.Itwasveryhotandthemenhadmarchedalongway.Theyslumpedundertheweightoftheirpacksandthecuriouslysensitiveblackfaceswereglisteningwithsweat.

24Astheywentpast,atall,veryyoungNegroturnedandcaughtmyeye.Butthelookhegavemewasnotintheleastthekindoflookyoumightexpect.Nothostile,notcontemptuous,notsullen,noteveninquisitive.Itwastheshy,wide-eyedNegrolook,whichactuallyisalookofprofoundrespect.Isawhowitwas.Thiswretchedboy,whoisaFrenchcitizenandhasthereforebeendraggedfromtheforesttoscrubfloorsandcatchsyphilisingarrisontowns,actuallyhasfeelingsofreverencebeforeawhiteskin.Hehasbeentaughtthatthewhiteracearehismasters,andhestillbelievesit.

25Butthereisonethoughtwhicheverywhiteman(andinthisconnectionitdoes