第42部分(第1/5 頁)

on　that。　Stay　around　and　they　would　kill　you。

Once　in　camp　I　put　a　log　on　top　of　the　fire　and　it　was　full　of　ants。　As　it　menced　to　burn；　the　ants　swarmed　out　and　went　first　toward　the　centre　where　the　fire　was；　then　turned　back　and　ran　toward　the　end。　When　there　were　enough　on　the　end　they　fell　off　into　the　fire。　Some　got　out；　their　bodies　burnt　and　flattened；　and　went　off　not　knowing　where　they　were　going。　But　most　of　them　went　toward　the　fire　and　then　back　toward　the　end　and　swarmed　on　the　cool　end　and　finally　fell　off　into　the　fire。　I　remember　thinking　at　the　time　that　it　was　the　end　of　the　world　and　a　splendid　chance　to　be　a　messiah　and　lift　the　log　off　the　fire　and　throw　it　out　where　the　ants　could　get　off　onto　the　ground。　But　I　did　not　do　anything　but　throw　a　tin　cup　of　water　on　the　log；　so　that　I　would　have　the　cup　empty　to　put　whiskey　in　before　I　added　water　to　it。　I　think　the　cup　of　water　on　the　burning　log　only　steamed　the　ants。

So　now　I　sat　out　in　the　hall　and　waited　to　hear　how　Catherine　was。　The　nurse　did　not　e　out；　so　after　a　while　I　went　to　the　door　and　opened　it　very　softly　and　looked　in。　I　could　not　see　at　first　because　there　was　a　bright　light　in　the　hall　and　it　was　dark　in　the　room。　Then　I　saw　the　nurse　sitting　by　the　bed　and　Catherine's　head　on　a　pillow；　and　she　was　all　flat　under　the　sheet。　The　nurse　put　her　finger　to　her　lips；　then　stood　up　and　came　to　the　door。

〃How　is　she？〃　I　asked。

〃She's　all　right；〃　the　nurse　said。　〃You　should　go　and　have　your　supper　and　then　e　back　if　you　wish。〃

I　went　down　the　hall　and　then　down　the　stairs　and　out　the　door　of　the　hospital　and　down　the　dark　street　in　the　rain　to　the　caf？　It　was　brightly　lighted　inside　and　there　were　many　people　at　the　tables。　I　did　not　see　a　place　to　sit；