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！
Hans had seen。
〃Water！〃 said the child。 〃Water！ I am
dying。〃
〃I have not enough for myself；〃 said Schwartz；
and passed on。
A low bank of black cloud rose out of the
west。
When he had climbed for another hour； the
thirst overcame him again； and again he lifted
the flask to his lips。 As he did so； he saw an
old man who begged for water。
〃I have not enough for myself；〃 said Schwartz；
and passed on。
A mist； of the colour of blood； came over the
sun。
Then Schwartz climbed for another hour； and
once more he had to drink。 This time； as he
lifted the flask； he thought he saw his brother
Hans before him。 The figure stretched its arms
to him； and cried out for water。
〃Ha； ha；〃 laughed Schwartz； 〃do you suppose
I brought the water up here for you？〃 And he
strode over the figure。 But when he had gone
a few yards farther； he looked back； and the
figure was not there。
Then he stood at the brink of the Golden
River； and its waves were black； and the roaring
of the waters filled all the air。 He cast the
flask into the stream。 And as he did so the
lightning glared in his eyes； the earth gave way
beneath him； and the river flowed over
The two Black Stones。
When Gluck found himself alone； he at last
decided to try his luck with the King of the
Golden River。 The priest gave him some holy
water as soon as he asked for it； and with this
and a basket of bread he started off。
The hill of ice was much harder for Gluck
to climb； because he was not so strong as his
brothers。 He lost his bread； fell often； and was
exhausted when he got on firm ground。 He
began to climb the hill in the hottest part of
the day。 When he had climbed for an hour
he was very thirsty； and lifted the bottle to
drink a little water。 As he did so he saw a
feeble old man coming down the path toward
him。
〃I am faint with thirst；〃 said the old man；
〃will you give me some of that water？〃
Gluck saw that he was pale and tired； so he
gave him the water； saying； 〃Please don't drink
it all。〃 But the old man drank a great deal； and
gave back the bottle two…thirds emptied。 Then
he bade Gluck good speed； and Gluck went on
merrily。
Some grass appeared on the path； and the
grasshoppers began to sing。
At the end of another hour； Gluck felt that he
must drink again。 But； as he raised the flask；
he saw a little child lying by the roadside； and
it cried out pitifully for water。 After a struggle
with himself Gluck decided to bear the thirst a
little longer。 He put the bottle to the child's
lips； and it drank all but a few drops。 Then it
got up and ran down the hill。
All kinds of sweet flowers began to grow on
the rocks； and crimson and purple butterflies
flitted about in the air。
At the end of another hour； Gluck's thirst
was almost unbearable。 He saw that there
were only five or six drops of water in the
bottle； however； and he did not dare to drink。
So he was putting the flask away again when he
saw a little dog on the rocks； gasping for breath。
He looked at it； and then at the Golden River；
and he remembered the dwarf's words； 〃No
one can succeed except at the first trial〃； and
he tried to pass the dog。 But it whined
piteously； and Gluck stopped。 He could not bear
to pass it。 〃Confound the King and his gold；
too！〃 he said； and he poured the few drops of
water into the dog's mouth。
The dog sprang up； its tail disappeared； its
nose grew red； and its eyes twinkled。 The next
minute the dog was gone； and the King of the
Golden River stood there。 He stooped and
plucked a lily that grew beside Gluck's feet。
Three drops of dew were on its white leaves。
These the dwarf shook into the flask which Gluck
held in his hand。
〃Cast these into the river；〃 he said； 〃and go
down the other side of the mountains into the
Treasure Valley。〃 Then he disappeared。
Gluck stood on the brink of the Golden River；
and cast the three drops of dew into the stream。
Where they fell； a little whirlpool opened； but
the water did not turn to gold。 Indeed； the
water seemed vanishing altogether。 Gluck was
disappointed not to see gold； but he obeyed the
King of the Golden River； and went down the
other side of the mountains。
When he came out into the Treasure Valley；
a river； like the Golden River； was springing
from a new cleft in the rocks above； and flowing
among the heaps of dry sand。 And then fresh
grass sprang beside the river； flowers opened
along its sides； and vines began to cover the
whole valley。 The Treasure Valley was becoming
a garden again。
Gluck lived in the Valley； and his grapes were
blue； and his apples were red； and his corn was
yellow； and the poor were never driven from
his door。 For him； as the King had promised；
the river was really a River of Gold。
It will probably be clear to anyone who has
followed these attempts； that the first step in
adaptation is analysis； careful analysis of the
story as it stands。 One asks oneself； What is
the story？ Which events are necessary links in
the chain？ How much of the text is pure
description？
Having this essential body of the story in
mind； one then decides which of the steps toward
the climax are needed for safe arrival there； and
keeps these。 When two or more steps can be
covered in a single stride； one makes the stride。
When a necessary explanation is unduly long； or
is woven into the story in too many strands； one
disposes of it in an introductory statement； or
perhaps in a side remark。 If there are two or
more threads of narrative； one chooses among
them； and holds strictly to the one chosen；
eliminating details which concern the others。
In order to hold the simplicity of plot so
attained； it is also desirable to have but few
personages in the story； and to narrate the action
from the point of view of one of them；usually
the hero。 To shift the point of view of the
action is confusing to the child's mind。
When the analysis and condensation have
been accomplished； the whole must be cast in
simple language； keeping if possible the same
kind of speech as that used in the original； but
changing difficult or technical terms to plain；
and complex images to simple and familiar ones。
All types of adaptation share in this need of
simple language；stories which are too short；
as well as those which are too long； have this
feature in their changed form。 The change in a
short story is applied oftenest where it becomes
desirable to amplify a single anecdote； or
perhaps a fable； which is told in very condensed
form。 Such an instance is the following anecdote
of heroism； which in the original is quoted in
one of F。 W。 Robertson's lectures on Poetry。
A detachment of troops was marching along a valley；
the cliffs overhanging which were crested by the enemy。 A
sergeant； with eleven men； chanced to become separated from
the rest by taking the wrong side of a ravine； which they
expected soon to terminate； but which suddenly deepened
into an impassable chasm。 The officer in command signalled
to the party an order to return。 They mistook the signal for
a command to charge； the brave fellows answered with a
cheer； and charged。 At the summit of the steep mountain
was a triangular platform； defended by a breastwork； behind
which were seventy of the foe。 On they went； charging up
one of those fearful paths； eleven against seventy。 The
contest could not long be doubtful with such odds。 One
after another they fell； six upon the spot； the remainder
hurled backwards； but not until they had slain nearly twice
their own number。
There is a custom； we are told； amongst the hillsmen； that
when a great chieftain of their own falls in battle； his wrist is
bound with a thread either of red or green； the red denoting
the highest