按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
consideration of a liberal annual allowance； had consented to devote
his time and medical experience exclusively to the care of the
invalid。
Doctor Templeton had been a traveller in his younger days； and at
Paris had become a convert； in great measure； to the doctrines of
Mesmer。 It was altogether by means of magnetic remedies that he had
succeeded in alleviating the acute pains of his patient； and this
success had very naturally inspired the latter with a certain degree
of confidence in the opinions from which the remedies had been
educed。 The Doctor； however； like all enthusiasts； had struggled hard
to make a thorough convert of his pupil； and finally so far gained
his point as to induce the sufferer to submit to numerous
experiments。 By a frequent repetition of these； a result had arisen；
which of late days has become so common as to attract little or no
attention； but which； at the period of which I write； had very rarely
been known in America。 I mean to say； that between Doctor Templeton
and Bedloe there had grown up； little by little； a very distinct and
strongly marked rapport； or magnetic relation。 I am not prepared to
assert； however； that this rapport extended beyond the limits of the
simple sleep…producing power； but this power itself had attained
great intensity。 At the first attempt to induce the magnetic
somnolency； the mesmerist entirely failed。 In the fifth or sixth he
succeeded very partially； and after long continued effort。 Only at
the twelfth was the triumph complete。 After this the will of the
patient succumbed rapidly to that of the physician； so that； when I
first became acquainted with the two； sleep was brought about almost
instantaneously by the mere volition of the operator； even when the
invalid was unaware of his presence。 It is only now； in the year
1845； when similar miracles are witnessed daily by thousands； that I
dare venture to record this apparent impossibility as a matter of
serious fact。
The temperature of Bedloe was； in the highest degree sensitive；
excitable； enthusiastic。 His imagination was singularly vigorous and
creative； and no doubt it derived additional force from the habitual
use of morphine； which he swallowed in great quantity； and without
which he would have found it impossible to exist。 It was his practice
to take a very large dose of it immediately after breakfast each
morning or； rather； immediately after a cup of strong coffee； for
he ate nothing in the forenoon and then set forth alone； or
attended only by a dog； upon a long ramble among the chain of wild
and dreary hills that lie westward and southward of Charlottesville；
and are there dignified by the title of the Ragged Mountains。
Upon a dim； warm； misty day； toward the close of November； and during
the strange interregnum of the seasons which in America is termed the
Indian Summer； Mr。 Bedloe departed as usual for the hills。 The day
passed； and still he did not return。
About eight o'clock at night； having become seriously alarmed at his
protracted absence； we were about setting out in search of him； when
he unexpectedly made his appearance； in health no worse than usual；
and in rather more than ordinary spirits。 The account which he gave
of his expedition； and of the events which had detained him； was a
singular one indeed。
〃You will remember；〃 said he； 〃that it was about nine in the morning
when I left Charlottesville。 I bent my steps immediately to the
mountains； and； about ten； entered a gorge which was entirely new to
me。 I followed the windings of this pass with much interest。 The
scenery which presented itself on all sides； although scarcely
entitled to be called grand； had about it an indescribable and to me
a delicious aspect of dreary desolation。 The solitude seemed
absolutely virgin。 I could not help believing that the green sods and
the gray rocks upon which I trod had been trodden never before by the
foot of a human being。 So entirely secluded； and in fact
inaccessible； except through a series of accidents； is the entrance
of the ravine； that it is by no means impossible that I was indeed
the first adventurer the very first and sole adventurer who had
ever penetrated its recesses。
〃The thick and peculiar mist； or smoke； which distinguishes the
Indian Summer； and which now hung heavily over all objects； served；
no doubt； to deepen the vague impressions which these objects
created。 So dense was this pleasant fog that I could at no time see
more than a dozen yards of the path before me。 This path was
excessively sinuous； and as the sun could not be seen； I soon lost
all idea of the direction in which I journeyed。 In the meantime the
morphine had its customary effect that of enduing all the external
world with an intensity of interest。 In the quivering of a leaf in
the hue of a blade of grass in the shape of a trefoil in the
humming of a bee in the gleaming of a dew…drop in the breathing
of the wind in the faint odors that came from the forest there
came a whole universe of suggestion a gay and motley train of
rhapsodical and immethodical thought。
〃Busied in this； I walked on for several hours； during which the mist
deepened around me to so great an extent that at length I was reduced
to an absolute groping of the way。 And now an indescribable
uneasiness possessed me a species of nervous hesitation and
tremor。 I feared to tread； lest I should be precipitated into some
abyss。 I remembered； too； strange stories told about these Ragged
Hills； and of the uncouth and fierce races of men who tenanted their
groves and caverns。 A thousand vague fancies oppressed and
disconcerted me… fancies the more distressing because vague。 Very
suddenly my attention was arrested by the loud beating of a drum。
〃My amazement was； of course； extreme。 A drum in these hills was a
thing unknown。 I could not have been more surprised at the sound of
the trump of the Archangel。 But a new and still more astounding
source of interest and perplexity arose。 There came a wild rattling
or jingling sound； as if of a bunch of large keys； and upon the
instant a dusky…visaged and half…naked man rushed past me with a
shriek。 He came so close to my person that I felt his hot breath upon
my face。 He bore in one hand an instrument composed of an assemblage
of steel rings； and shook them vigorously as he ran。 Scarcely had he
disappeared in the mist before； panting after him； with open mouth
and glaring eyes； there darted a huge beast。 I could not be mistaken
in its character。 It was a hyena。
〃The sight of this monster rather relieved than heightened my terrors
for I now made sure that I dreamed； and endeavored to arouse
myself to waking consciousness。 I stepped boldly and briskly forward。
I rubbed my eyes。 I called aloud。 I pinched my limbs。 A small spring
of water presented itself to my view； and here； stooping； I bathed my
hands and my head and neck。 This seemed to dissipate the equivocal
sensations which had hitherto annoyed me。 I arose； as I thought； a
new man； and proceeded steadily and complacently on my unknown way。
〃At length； quite overcome by exertion； and by a certain oppressive
closeness of the atmosphere； I seated myself beneath a tree。
Presently there came a feeble gleam of sunshine； and the shadow of
the leaves of the tree fell faintly but definitely upon the grass。 At
this shadow I gazed wonderingly for many minutes。 Its character
stupefied me with astonishment。 I looked upward。 The tree was a palm。
〃I now arose hurriedly； and in a state of fearful agitation for
the fancy that I dreamed would serve me no longer。 I saw I felt
that I had perfect command of my senses and these senses now
brought to my soul a world of novel and singular sensation。 The heat
became all at once intolerable。 A strange odor loaded the breeze。 A
low； continuous murmur； like that arising from a full； but gently
flowing river； came to my ears； intermingled with the peculiar hum of
multitudinous human voices。
〃While I listened in an extremity of astonishment which I need not
attempt to describe； a strong and brief gust of wind bore off the
incumbent fog as if by the wand of an enchanter。
〃I found myself at the foot of a high mountain； and looking down into
a vast plain； through which wound a majestic river。 On the margin of
this river stood an Eastern…looking city； such as we read of in the
Arabian Tales； but of a character even more singular than any there
described。 From my position； which was far above the level of the
town； I could perceive its every nook and corner； as if delineated on
a map。 The streets seemed innumerable； and crossed each other
irregularly in all directions； but were rather long winding alleys
than streets； and absolutely swarmed with inhabitants。 The houses
were wildly picturesque。 On every hand was a wilderness of balconies；
of verandas； of minarets； of shrines； and fantastically carved
oriels。 Bazaars abounded； and in these were displayed rich wares in
infinite variety and profusion silks； muslins； the most dazzling
cutlery； the most magnificent jewels and gems。 Besides these things；
were seen； on all sides； banners and palanquins； litters with stately
dames close veiled；