test.txt

压缩包中的内容用matlab语言对算术码进行描述

 Y     (~1@#$%^&*()_+-=***/\|'";:.>,<\|`~..+-***/\\\|||]]]}}{{{{{[[)   A T  HARDY   T MADDING CROWD PENGUIN         C I   P     DESCRIPTION OF FARMER OAK  (~1@#$%^&*()_+-=***/\|'";:.>,<\|`~..+-***/\\\|||]]]}}{{{{{[[)  AN INCIDENT WHEN FARMER OAK SMILED  THE CORNERS OF HIS MOUTH SPREAD TILL THEY WERE WITHIN AN UNIMPORTANT DISTANCE OF HIS EARS  HIS EYES WERE REDUCED TO CHINKS  AND DIVERGING WRINKLES APPEARED ROUND THEM  EXTENDING UPON HIS COUNTENANCE LIKE THE RAYS IN A RUDIMENTARY SKETCH OF THE RISING SUN  HIS CHRISTIAN NAME WAS GABRIEL (~1@#$%^&*()_+-=***/\|'";:.>,<\|`~..+-***/\\\|||]]]}}{{{{{[[) AND ON WORKING DAYS HE WAS A YOUNG MAN OF SOUND JUDGMENT  EASY MOTIONS  PROPER DRESS  AND GENERAL GOOD CHARACTER  ON SUNDAYS HE WAS A MAN OF MISTY VIEWS  RATHER GIVEN TO POSTPONING  AND HAMPERED BY HIS BEST CLOTHES AND UMBRELLA   UPON THE WHOLE  ONE WHO FELT HIMSELF TO OCCUPY MORALLY THAT VAST MIDDLE SPACE OF LAODICEAN NEUTRALITY WHICH LAY BETWEEN THE COMMUNION PEOPLE OF THE PARISH AND THE DRUNKEN SECTION     THAT IS  HE WENT TO CHURCH  BUT YAWNED PRIVATELY BY THE TIME THE CON  GEGATION REACHED THE NICENE CREED   AND THOUGHT OF WHAT THERE WOULD BE FOR DINNER WHEN HE MEANT TO BE LISTENING TO THE SERMON  OR  TO STATE HIS CHARACTER AS IT STOOD IN THE SCALE OF PUBLIC OPINION  WHEN HIS FRIENDS AND CRITICS WERE IN TANTRUMS  HE WAS CONSIDERED RATHER A BAD MAN   WHEN THEY WERE PLEASED  HE WAS RATHER A GOOD MAN   WHEN THEY WERE NEITHER  HE WAS A MAN WHOSE MORAL COLOUR WAS A KIND OF PEPPER AND SALT MIXTURE  SINCE HE LIVED SIX TIMES AS MANY WORKING DAYS AS SUNDAYS  OAK S APPEARANCE IN HIS OLD CLOTHES WAS MOST PECULIARLY HIS OWN    THE MENTAL PICTURE FORMED BY HIS NEIGHBOURS IN IMAGINING HIM BEING ALWAYS DRESSED IN THAT WAY  HE WORE A LOW CROWNED FELT HAT  SPREAD OUT AT THE BASE BY TIGHT JAMMING UPON THE HEAD FOR SECURITY IN HIGH WINDS  AND A COAT LIKE DR  JOHNSON S   HIS LOWER EXTREMITIES BEING ENCASED IN ORDINARY LEATHER LEGGINGS AND BOOTS EMPHATICALLY LARGE  AFFORDING TO EACH FOOT A ROOMY APARTMENT SO CONSTRUCTED THAT ANY WEARER MIGHT STAND IN A RIVER ALL DAY LONG AND KNOW NOTHING OF  P     DAMP    THEIR MAKER BEING A CONSCIENTIOUS MAN WHO ENDEAVOURED TO COMPENSATE FOR ANY WEAKNESS IN HIS CUT BY UNSTINTED DIMENSION AND SOLIDITY  MR  OAK  CARRIED  ABOUT HIM  BY WAY OF WATCH   WHAT MAY BE CALLED A SMALL SILVER CLOCK  IN OTHER WORDS  IT WAS A WATCH AS TO SHAPE AND INTENTION  AND A SMALL CLOCK AS TO SIZE  THIS INSTRUMENT BEING SEVERAL YEARS OLDER THAN OAK S GRANDFATHER  HAD THE PECULIARITY OF GOING EITHER TOO FAST OR NOT AT ALL  THE SMALLER OF ITS HANDS  TOO  OCCASIONALLY SLIPPED ROUND ON THE PIVOT  AND THUS  THOUGH THE MINUTES WERE TOLD WITH PRECISION  NOBODY COULD BE QUITE CERTAIN OF THE HOUR THEY BELONGED TO  THE STOPPING PECULIARITY OF HIS WATCH OAK REMEDIED BY THUMPS AND SHAKES  AND HE ESCAPED ANY EVIL CONSEQUENCES FROM THE OTHER TWO DEFECTS BY CONSTANT COMPARISONS WITH AND OBSERVATIONS OF THE SUN AND STARS  AND BY PRESSING HIS FACE CLOSE TO THE GLASS OF HIS NEIGHBOURS  WINDOWS  TILL HE COULD DISCERN THE HOUR MARKED BY THE GREEN FACED TIMEKEEPERS WITHIN  IT MAY BE MENTIONED THAT OAK S FOB BEING DIFFICULT OF ACCESS  BY REASON OF ITS SOMEWHAT HIGH SITUATION IN THE WAISTBAND OF HIS TROUSERS  WHICH ALSO LAY AT A REMOTE HEIGHT UNDER HIS WAISTCOAT   THE WATCH WAS AS A NECESSITY PULLED OUT BY THROWING THE BODY TO ONE SIDE  COMPRESSING THE  MOUTH AND FACE TO A MERE MASS OF  RUDDY FLESH  ON ACCOUNT  OF THE EXERTION  AND DRAWING UP THE WATCH BY ITS CHAIN  LIKE A BUCKET FROM A WELL  BUT SOME THOUGHTFULL PERSONS  WHO HAD SEEN HIM WALKING ACROSS ONE OF HIS FIELDS ON A CERTAIN DECEMBER MORNING    SUNNY AND EXCEEDINGLY MILD    MIGHT HAVE REGARDED GABRIEL OAK IN OTHER ASPECTS THAN THESE  IN HIS FACE ONE MIGHT NOTICE THAT MANY OF THE HUES AND CURVES OF YOUTH HAD TARRIED ON TO MANHOOD  THERE EVEN REMAINED IN HIS REMOTER CRANNIES SOME RELICS OF THE BOY  HIS HEIGHT AND BREADTH WOULD HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENT TO MAKE HIS PRESENCE IMPOSING  HAD THEY BEEN EXHIBITED WITH DUE CONSIDERATION  BUT THERE IS A WAY SOME MEN HAVE  RURAL AND URBAN ALIKE  FOR WHICH THE MIND IS MORE RESPONSIBLE THAN FLESH AND SINEW   IT IS A WAY OF CURTAIL  ING THEIR DIMENSIONS BY THEIR MANNER OF SHOWING THEM  AND FROM A QUIET MODESTY THAT WOULD HAVE BECOME A VESTAL WHICH SEEMED CONTINUALLY TO IMPRESS UPON HIM  P     THAT HE HAD NO GREAT CLAIM ON THE WORLD S ROOM  OAK WALKED UNASSUMINGLY AND WITH A FAINTLY PERCEPTIBLE BEND  YET DISTINCT FROM A BOWING OF THE SHOULDERS  THIS MAY BE SAID TO BE A DEFECT IN AN INDIVIDUAL IF HE DEPENDS FOR HIS VALUATION MORE UPON HIS APPEARANCE THAN UPON HIS CAPACITY TO WEAR WELL  WHICH OAK DID NOT  HE HAD JUST REACHED THE TIME OF LIFE AT WHICH   YOUNG  IS CEASING TO BE THE PREFIX OF  MAN   IN SPEAKING OF ONE  HE WAS AT THE BRIGHTEST PERIOD OF MASCULINE GROWTH  FOR HIS INTELLECT AND HIS EMOTIONS WERE CLEARLY SEPARATED   HE HAD PASSED THE TIME DURING WHICH THE INFLUENCE OF YOUTH INDISCRIMINATELY MINGLES THEM IN THE CHARACTER OF IMPULSE  AND HE HAD NOT YET ARRIVED AT THE STAGE WHEREIN THEY BECOME UNITED AGAIN  IN THE CHARACTER OF PREJUDICE  BY THE INFLUENCE OF A WIFE AND FAMILY  IN SHORT  HE WAS TWENTY EIGHT  AND A BACHELOR  THE FIELD HE WAS IN THIS MORNING SLOPED TO A RIDGE CALLED NORCOMBE HILL  THROUGH A SPUR OF THIS HILL RAN THE HIGHWAY BETWEEN EMMINSTER AND CHALK  NEWTON  CASUALLY GLANCING OVER THE HEDGE  OAK SAW COMING DOWN THE INCLINE BEFORE HIM AN ORNAMENTAL SPRING WAGGON  PAINTED YELLOW AND GAILY MARKED  DRAWN BY TWO HORSES  A WAGGONER WALKING ALONGSIDE BEARING A WHIP PERPENDICULARLY  THE WAGGON WAS LADEN WITH HOUSEHOLD GOODS AND WINDOW PLANTS  AND ON THE APEX OF THE WHOLE SAT A WOMAN   YOUNG  AND ATTRACTIVE  GABRIEL HAD NOT BEHELD THE SIGHT FOR MORE THAN HALF A MINUTE  WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A STANDSTILL JUST BENEATH HIS EYES    THE TAILBOARD OF THE WAGGON IS GONE  MISS   SAID THE WAGGONER   THEN I HEARD IT FALL   SAID THE GIRL  IN A SOFT  THOUGH NOT PARTICULARLY LOW VOICE   I HEARD A NOISE I COULD NOT ACCOUNT FOR WHEN WE WERE COMING UP THE HILL    I LL RUN BACK       DO   SHE ANSWERED    THE SENSIBLE HORSES STOOD    PERFECTLY STILL  AND THE WAGGONER S STEPS SANK FAINTER AND FAINTER IN THE DISTANCE  THE GIRL ON THE SUMMIT OF THE LOAD SAT MOTIONLESS  SURROUNDED BY TABLES AND CHAIRS WITH THEIR LEGS UPWARDS  BACKED BY AN OAK SETTLE  AND ORNAMENTED IN FRONT BY POTS OF GERANIUMS  MYRTLES  AND CACTUSES  TOGETHER WITH  P     A CAGED CANARY    ALL PROBABLY FROM THE WINDOWS OF THE HOUSE JUST VACATED  THERE WAS ALSO A CAT IN A WILLOW BASKET  FROM THE PARTLY OPENED LID OF WHICH SHE GAZED WITH HALF CLOSED EYES  AND AFFECTIONATELY SURVEYED THE SMALL BIRDS AROUND  THE HANDSOME GIRL WAITED FOR SOME TIME IDLY IN HER PLACE  AND THE ONLY SOUND HEARD IN THE STILLNESS WAS  THE HOPPING OF THE CANARY UP AND DOWN THE PERCHES OF ITS PRISON  THEN SHE LOOKED ATTENTIVELY DOWNWARDS  IT WAS NOT AT THE BIRD  NOR AT THE CAT  IT WAS AT AN OBLONG PACKAGE TIED IN PAPER  AND LYING BETWEEN THEM  SHE TURNED HER HEAD TO LEARN IF THE WAGGONER WERE COMING  HE WAS NOT YET IN SIGHT  AND HER EYES CREPT BACK TO THE PACKAGE  HER THOUGHTS SEEMING TO RUN  UPON WHAT WAS INSIDE IT  AT LENGTH SHE DREW THE ARTICLE INTO HER LAP  AND UNTIED THE PAPER COVERING  A SMALL SWING LOOKING GLASS WAS DISCLOSED  IN WHICH SHE PROCEEDED TO SURVEY HERSELF ATTENTIVELY  SHE PARTED HER LIPS AND SMILED  IT WAS A FINE MORNING  AND THE SUN LIGHTED UP TO A SCARLET GLOW THE CRIMSON JACKET SHE WORE  AND PAINTED A SOFT LUSTRE UPON HER BRIGHT FACE AND DARK HAIR  THE MYRTLES  GERANIUMS  AND CACTUSES PACKED AROUND HER WERE FRESH AND GREEN  AND AT SUCH A LEAFLESS SEASON THEY INVESTED THE WHOLE CONCERN OF HORSES  WAGGON  FURNITURE  AND GIRL WITH A PECULIAR VERNAL CHARM  WHAT POSSESSED HER TO INDULGE IN SUCH A PERFORMANCE IN THE SIGHT OF THE SPARROWS  BLACKBIRDS  AND UNPERCEIVED FARMER WHO WERE ALONE ITS SPECTATORS     WHETHER THE SMILE BEGAN AS A FACTITIOUS ONE  TO TEST HER CAPACITY IN THAT ART     NOBODY KNOWS   IT ENDED CERTAINLY IN A REAL SMILE  SHE BLUSHED AT HERSELF  AND SEEING HER REFLECTION BLUSH  BLUSHED THE MORE  THE CHANGE FROM THE CUSTOMARY SPOT AND NECESSARY OCCASION OF SUCH AN ACT    FROM THE DRESSING HOUR IN A BEDROOM TO A TIME OF TRAVELLING OUT OF DOORS    LENT TO THE IDLE DEED A NOVELTY IT DID NOT INTRINSICALLY POSSESS  THE PICTURE WAS A DELICATE ONE  WOMAN S PRESCRIPTIVE INFIRMITY HAD STALKED INTO THE SUNLIGHT  WHICH HAD CLOTHED IT IN THE FRESHNESS OF AN ORIGINALITY  A CYNICAL INFERENCE WAS IRRESISTITLE BY GABRIEL OAK AS HE REGARDED THE SCENE  GENEROUS THOUGH HE FAIN WOULD HAVE BEEN  THERE WAS NO NECESSITY WHATEVER FOR HER LOOKING IN THE GLASS  SHE DID NOT ADJUST HER HAT  OR PAT HER  P     HAIR  OR PRESS A DIMPLE INTO SHAPE  OR DO ONE THING TO SIGNIFY THAT ANY SUCH INTENTION HAD BEEN HER MOTIVE IN TAKING UP THE GLASS  SHE SIMPLY OBSERVED HERSELF AS A FAIR PRODUCT OF NATURE IN THE FEMININE KIND  HER THOUGHTS SEEMING TO GLIDE INTO FAR OFF THOUGH LIKELY DRAMAS IN WHICH MEN WOULD PLAY A PART    VISTAS OF PROBABLE TRIUMPHS    THE SMILES BEING OF A PHASE SUGGESTING THAT HEARTS WERE IMAGINED AS LOST AND WON  STILL  THIS WAS BUT CONJECTURE  AND THE WHOLE SERIES OF ACTIONS WAS SO IDLY PUT FORTH AS TO MAKE IT RASH TO ASSERT THAT INTENTION HAD ANY PART IN THEM AT ALL  THE WAGGONER S STEPS WERE HEARD RETURNING  SHE PUT THE GLASS IN THE PAPER  AND THE WHOLE AGAIN INTO ITS PLACE  WHEN THE WAGGON HAD PASSED ON  GABRIEL WITHDREW FROM HIS POINT OF ESPIAL  AND DESCENDING INTO THE ROAD  FOLLOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE TURNPIKE GATE SOME WAY BEYOND THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL  WHERE THE OBJECT OF HIS CONTEMPLATION NOW HALTED FOR THE PAYMENT OF TOLL  ABOUT TWENTY STEPS STILL REMAINED BETWEEN HIM AND THE GATE  WHEN HE HEARD A DISPUTE  LT WAS A DIFFERENCE CON  CERNING TWOPENCE BETWEEN THE PERSONS WITH THE WAGGON AND THE MAN AT THE TOLL BAR    MIS ESS S NIECE IS UPON THE TOP OF THE THINGS  AND SHE SAYS THAT S ENOUGH THAT I VE OFFERED YE  YOU GREAT MISER  AND SHE WON T PAY ANY MORE   THESE WERE THE WAGGONER S WORDS   VERY WELL   THEN MIS ESS S NIECE CAN T PASS   SAID THE TURNPIKE KEEPER  CLOSING THE GATE  OAK LOOKED FROM ONE TO THE OTHER OF THE DISPUTANTS  AND FELL INTO A REVERIE  THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE TONE OF TWOPENCE REMARKABLY INSIGNIFICANT  THREEPENCE HAD A DEFINITE VALUE AS MONEY    IT WAS AN APPRECIABLE INFRINGEMENT ON A DAY S WAGES  AND  AS SUCH  A HIGGLING MATTER   BUT TWOPENCE          HERE   HE SAID  STEPPING FORWARD AND HANDING TWOPENCE TO THE GATEKEEPER    LET THE YOUNG WOMAN PASS   HE LOOKED UP AT HER THEN  SHE HEARD HIS WORDS  AND LOOKED DOWN  GABRIEL S FEATURES ADHERED THROUGHOUT THEIR FORM SO EXACTLY TO THE MIDDLE LINE BETWEEN THE BEAUTY OF ST  JOHN AND THE UGLINESS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT  AS REPRESENTED IN A WINDOW OF THE CHURCH HE ATTENDED  THAT NOT A SINGLE LINEAMENT COULD BE SELECTED AND CALLED WORTHY EITHER OF DISTINCTION OR NOTORIETY  THE REDJACKETED AND DARK   P     HAIRED MAIDEN SEEMED TO THINK SO TOO  FOR SHE CARELESSLY GLANCED OVER HIM  AND TOLD HER MAN TO DRIVE ON  SHE MIGHT HAVE LOOKED HER THANKS TO GABRIEL ON A MINUTE SCALE  BUT SHE DID NOT SPEAK THEM  MORE PROBABLY SHE FELT NONE  FOR IN GAINING HER A PASSAGE HE HAD LOST HER HER POINT  AND WE KNOW HOW WOMEN TAKE A FAVOUR OF THAT KIND  THE GATEKEEPER SURVEYED THE RETREATING VEHICLE    THAT S A HANDSOME MAID   HE SAID TO OAK   BUT SHE HAS HER FAULTS   SAID GABRIEL    TRUE  FARMER     AND THE GREATEST OF THEM IS    WELL  WHAT IT IS ALWAYS     BEATING PEOPLE DOWN   AY   TIS SO    O NO     WHAT  THEN     GABRIEL  PERHAPS A LITTLE PIQUED BY THE COMELY TRAVELLER S INDIFFERENCE  GLANCED BACK TO WHERE HE HAD WITNESSED HER PERFORMANCE OVER THE HEDGE  AND SAID    VANITY    C II   P     NIGHT    THE FLOCK    AN INIERIOR    ANOTHER INTERIOR IT WAS NEARLY MIDNIGHT ON THE EVE OF ST  THOMAS S  THE SHORTEST DAY IN THE YEAR  A DESOLATING WIND WANDERED FROM THE NORTH OVER THE HILL WHEREON OAK HAD WATCHED THE YELLOW WAGGON AND ITS OCCUPANT IN THE SUNSHINE OF A FEW DAYS EARLIER    NORCOMBE HILL    NOT FAR FROM LONELY TOLLER DOWN     WAS ONE OF THE SPOTS WHICH SUGGEST TO A PASSER BY THAT HE IS IN THE PRESENCE OF A SHAPE APPROACHING THE INDESTRUCTIBLE AS NEARLY AS ANY TO BE FOUND ON EARTH  IT WAS A FEATURELESS CONVEXITY OF CHALK AND SOIL    AN ORDINARY SPECIMEN OF THOSE SMOOTHLY OUTLINED PROTUBER  ANCES OF THE GLOBE WHICH MAY REMAIN UNDISTURBED ON SOME GREAT DAY OF CONFUSION  WHEN FAR GRANDER HEIGHTS AND DIZZY GRANITE PRECIPICES TOPPLE DOWN  THE HILL WAS COVERED ON ITS NORTHERN SIDE BY AN ANCIENT AND DECAYING PLANTATION OF BEECHES  WHOSE UPPER VERGE FORMED A LINE OVER THE CREST  FRINGING ITS ARCHED CURVE AGAINST THE SKY  LIKE A MANE  TO NIGHT THESE TREES SHELTERED THE SOUTHERN SLOPE FROM THE KEENEST BLASTS  WHICH SMOTE THE WOOD AND FLOUNDERED THROUGH IT WITH A SOUND AS OF GRUMBLING  OR GUSHED OVER ITS CROWNING BOUGHS IN A WEAKENED MOAN  THE DRY LEAVES IN THE DITCH SIMMERED AND BOILED IN THE SAME BREEZES  A TONGUE OF AIR OCCASIONALLY FERRETING OUT A FEW  AND SENDING THEM SPINNING ACROSS THE GRASS  A GROUP OR TWO OF THE LATEST IN DATE AMONGST THE DEAD MULTITUDE HAD REMAINED TILL THIS VERY MID WINTER TIME ON THE TWIGS WHICH BORE THEM AND IN FALLING RATTLED AGAINST THE TRUNKS WITH SMART TAPS  BETWENNE THIS HALF WOODED  HALF NAKED HILL  AND THE VAGUE STILL HORIZON THAT ITS SUMMIT INDISTINCTLY COM  MANDED  WAS A MYSTERIOUS SHEET OF FATHOMLESS SHADE     THE SOUNDS FROM WHICH SUGGESTED THAT WHAT IT CON  CEALED BORE SOME REDUCED RESEMBLANCE TO FEATURES HERE   P     THE THIN GRASSES  MORE OR LESS COATING THE HILL  WERE TOUCHED BY THE WIND IN BREEZES OF DIFFERING POWERS  AND ALMOST OF DIFFERING NATURES    ONE RUBBING THE BLADES HEAVILY  ANOTHER RAKING THEM PIERCINGLY  ANOTHER BRUSHING THEM LIKE A SOFT BROOM  THE INSTINCTIVE ACT OF HUMAN  KIND WAS TO STAND AND LISTEN  AND LEARN HOW THE TREES TO EACH OTHER IN THE REGULAR ANTIPHONIES OF A CATHEDRAL CHOIR  HOW HEDGES AND OTHER SHAPES TO LEEWARD THEM CAUGHT THE NOTE  LOWERING IT TO THE TENDEREST SOB  AND HOW THE HURRYING GUST THEN PLUNGED INTO THE SOUTH  TO BE HEARD NO MORE  THE SKY WAS CLEAR    REMARKABLY CLEAR    AND THE TWINKLING OF ALL THE STARS SEEMED TO BE BUT THROBS OF ONE BODY  TIMED BY A COMMON PULSE  THE NORTH STAR WAS DIRECTLY IN THE WIND S EYE  AND SINCE EVENING THE BEAR HAD SWUNG ROUND IT OUTWARDLY TO THE EAST  TILL HE WAS NOW AT A RIGHT ANGLE WITH THE MERIDIAN  A DIFFERENCE OF COLOUR IN THE STARS    OFTENER READ OF THAN SEEN IN ENGLAND WAS REALLY PERCEPTIBLE HERE  THE SOVEREIGN BRILLIANCY OF SIRIUS PIERCED THE EYE WITH A STEELY GLITTER  THE STAR CALLED CAPELLA WAS YELLOW  ALDEBARAN AND BETELGUEUX SHONE WITH A FIERY RED  TO PERSONS STANDING ALONE ON A HILL DURING A CLEAR MIDNIGHT SUCH AS THIS  THE ROLL OF THE WORLD EASTWARD IS ALMOST A PALPABLE MOVEMENT  THE SENSATION MAY BE CAUSED BY THE PANORAMIC GLIDE OF THE STARS PAST EARTHLY OBJECTS  WHICH IS PERCEPTIBLE IN A FEW MINUTES OF STILL  NESS  OR BY THE BETTER OUTLOOK UPON SPACE THAT A HILL AFFORDS  OR BY THE WIND  OR BY THE SOLITUDE   BUT WHATEVER BE ITS ORIGIN  THE IMPRESSION OF RIDING ALONG IS VIVID AND ABIDING  THE POETRY OF MOTION IS A PHRASE MUCH IN USE  AND TO ENJOY THE EPIC FORM OF THAT GRATIFICATION IT IS NECESSARY TO STAND ON A HILL AT A SMALL HOUR OF THE NIGHT  AND  HAVING FIRST EXPANDED WITH A SENSE OF DIFFER  ENCE FROM THE MASS OF CIVILISED MANKIND  WHO ARE DREAMWRAPT AND DISREGARDFUL OF ALL SUCH PROCEEDINGS AT THIS TIME  LONG AND QUIETLY WATCH YOUR STATELY PROGRESS THROUGH THE STARS  AFTER SUCH A NOCTURNAL RECONNOITRE IT IS HARD TO GET BACK TO EARTH  AND TO BELIEVE THAT THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF SUCH MAJESTIC SPEEDING IS DERIVED FROM A TINY HUMAN FRAME  SUDDENLY AN UNEXPECTED SERIES OF SOUNDS BEGAN TO  P     BE HEARD IN THIS PLACE UP AGAINST THE SKY  THEY HAD A CLEARNESS WHICH WAS TO BE FOUND NOWHERE IN THE WIND  AND A SEQUENCE WHICH WAS TO BE FOUND NOWHERE IN NATURE  THEY WERE THE NOTES OF FARMER OAK S FLUTE  THE TUNE WAS NOT FLOATING UNHINDERED INTO THE OPEN AIR   IT SEEMED MUFFLED IN SOME WAY  AND WAS ALTOGETHER TOO CURTAILED IN POWER TO SPREAD HIGH OR WIDE  IT CAME FROM THE DIRECTION OF A SMALL DARK OBJECT UNDER THE PLANTATION HEDGE    A SHEPHERD S HUT    NOW PRESENTING AN OUTLINE TO WHICH AN UNINITIATED PERSON MIGHT HAVE BEEN PUZZLED TO ATTACH EITHER MEANING OR USE  THE IMAGE AS A WHOLE WAS THAT OF A SMALL NOAH S ARK ON A SMALL ARARAT  ALLOWING THE TRADITIONARY OUTLINES AND GENERAL FORM OF THE ARK WHICH ARE FOLLOWED BY TOY  MAKERS    AND BY THESE MEANS ARE ESTABLISHED IN MEN S IMAGINATIONS AMONG THEIR FIRMEST  BECAUSE EARLIEST IM  PRESSIONS    TO PASS AS AN APPROXIMATE PATTERN  THE HUT STOOD ON LITTLE WHEELS  WHICH RAISED ITS FLOOR ABOUT A FOOT FROM THE GROUND  SUCH SHEPHERDS  HUTS ARE DRAGGED INTO THE FIELDS WHEN THE LAMBING SEASON COMES ON  TO SHELTER THE SHEPHERD IN HIS  ENFORCED NIGHTLY ATTENDANCE  IT WAS ONLY LATTERLY THAT PEOPLE HAD BEGUN TO CALL GABRIEL  FARMER  OAK  DURING THE TWELVEMONTH PRE  CEDING THIS TIME HE HAD BEEN ENABLED BY SUSTAINED EFFORTS OF INDUSTRY AND CHRONIC GOOD SPIRITS TO LEASE THE SMALL SHEPP FARM OF WHICH NORCOMBE HILL WAS A PORTION  AND STOCK IT WITH TWO HUNDRED SHEEP  PREVIOUSLY HE HAD BEEN A BAILIFF FOR A SHORT TIME  AND EARLIER STILL A SHEPHERD ONLY  HAVING FROM HIS CHILDHOOD ASSISTED HIS FATHER IN TENDING THE FLOEKS OF LARGE PROPRIETORS  TILL OLD GABRIEL SANK TO REST  THIS VENTURE  UNAIDED AND ALONE  INTO THE PATHS OF FARMING AS MASTER AND NOT AS MAN  WITH AN ADVANCE OF SHEEP NOT YET PAID FOR  WAS A CRITICAL JUNCTURE WITH GABRIEL OAK  AND HE RECOGNISED HIS POSITION CLEARLY  THE FIRST MOVEMENT IN HIS NEW PROGRESS WAS THE LAMBING OF HIS EWES  AND SHEEP HAVING BEEN HIS SPECIALITY FROM HIS  YOUTH  HE WISELY REFRAINED FROM DEPUTING    THE TASK OF TENDING THEM AT THIS SEASON TO A HIRELING OR A NOVICE  THE WIND CONTINUED TO BEAT ABOUT THE CORNERS OF THE HUT  BUT THE FLUTE PLAYING CEASED  A RECTANGULAR SPACE OF LIGHT  P     APPEARED IN THE SIDE OF THE HUT  AND IN THE OPENING THE OUTLINE OF FARMER OAK S FIGURE  HE CARRIED A LANTERN IN HIS HAND  AND CLOSING THE DOOR BEHIND HIM  CAME FORWARD AND BUSIED HIMSELF ABOUT THIS NOOK OF THE FIELD FOR NEARLY TWENTY MINUTES  THE LANTERN LIGHT APPEAR  ING AND DISAPPEARING HERE AND THERE  AND BRIGHTENING HIM OR DARKENING HIM AS HE STOOD BEFORE OR BEHIND IT  OAK S MOTIONS  THOUGH THEY HAD A QUIET ENERGY  WERE SLOW  AND THEIR DELIBERATENESS ACCORDED WELL WITH HIS OCCUPATION  FITNESS BEING THE BASIS OF BEAUTY  NOBODY COULD HAVE DENIED THAT HIS STEADY SWINGS AND TURNS  IN AND  ABOUT THE FLOCK HAD ELEMENTS OF GRACE  YET  ALTHOUGH IF OCCASION DEMANDED HE COULD DO OR THINK A THING WITH AS MERCURIAL A DASH AS CAN THE MEN OF TOWNS WHO ARE MORE TO THE MANNER BORN  HIS SPECIAL POWER  MORALLY  PHYSICALLY  AND MENTALLY  WAS STATIC  OWING LITTLE OR NOTHING TO MOMENTUM AS A RULE  A CLOSE EXAMINATION OF THE GROUND HEREABOUT  EVEN BY THE WAN STARLIGHT ONLY  REVEALED HOW A PORTION OF WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN CASUALLY CALLED A WILD SLOPE HAD BEEN APPROPRIATED BY FARMER OAK FOR HIS GREAT PURPOSE THIS WINTER  DETACHED HURDLES THATCHED WITH STRAW WERE STUCK INTO THE GROUND AT VARIOUS SCATTERED POINTS  AMID AND UNDER WHICH THE WHITISH FORMS OF HIS MEEK EWES MOVED AND RUSTLED  THE RING OF THE SHEEP BELL  WHICH HAD BEEN SILENT DURING HIS ABSENCE  RECOMMENCED  IN TONES THAT HAD MORE MELLOWNESS THAN CLEARNESS  OWING TO AN INCREASING GROWTH OF SURROUNDING WOOL  THIS CONTINUED TILL OAK WITHDREW AGAIN FROM THE FLOCK  HE      RETURNED TO THE HUT  BRINGING IN HIS ARMS A NEW BORN LAMB  CONSISTING OF FOUR LEGS LARGE ENOUGH FOR A FULL  GROWN SHEEP  UNITED BY A SEEMINGLY INCONSIDERABLE MEM  BRANE ABOUT HALF THE SUBSTANCE OF THE LEGS COLLECTIVELY  WHICH CONSTITUTED THE ANIMAL S ENTIRE BODY JUST AT PRESENT  THE LITTLE SPECK OF LIFE HE PLACED ON A WISP OF HAY BEFORE THE SMALL STOVE  WHERE A CAN OF MILK WAS SIMMER  ING  OAK EXTINGUISHED THE LANTERN BY BLOWING INTO IT AND THEN PINCHING THE SNUFF  THE COT BEING LIGHTED BY A CANDLE SUSPENDED BY A TWISTED WIRE  A RATHER HARD COUCH  FORMED OF A FEW CORN SACKS THROWN CARELESSLY DOWN  COVERED HALF THE FLOOR OF THIS LITTLE  P     HABITATION  AND HERE THE YOUNG MAN STRETCHED HIMSELF ALONG  LOOSENED HIS WOOLLEN CRAVAT  AND CLOSED HIS EYES  IN ABOUT THE TIME A PERSON UNACCUSTOMED TO BODILY LABOUR WOULD HAVE DECIDED UPON WHICH SIDE TO LIE  FARMER OAK WAS ASLEEP  THE INSIDE OF THE HUT  AS IT NOW PRESENTED ITSELF  WAS COSY AND ALLURING  AND THE SCARLET HANDFUL OF FIRE IN ADDITION TO THE CANDLE  REFLECTING ITS OWN GENIAL COLOUR UPON WHATEVER IT COULD REACH  FLUNG ASSOCIATIONS OF ENJOYMENT EVEN OVER UTENSILS AND TOOLS  IN THE CORNER STOOD THE SHEEP CROOK  AND ALONG A SHELF AT ONE SIDE WERE RANGED BOTTLES AND CANISTERS OF THE SIMPLE PREPARA  TIONS PERTAINING TO OVINE SURGERY AND PHYSIC  SPIRITS OF WINE  TURPENTINE  TAR  MAGNESIA  GINGER  AND CASTOR OIL BEING THE CHIEF  ON A TRIANGULAR SHELF ACROSS THE CORNER STOOD BREAD  BACON  CHEESE  AND A CUP FOR ALE OR CIDER  WHICH WAS SUPPLIED FROM A FLAGON BENEATH  BESIDE THE PROVISIONS LAY THE FLUTE WHOSE NOTES HAD LATELY BEEN CALLED FORTH BY THE LONELY WATCHER TO BEGUILE A TEDIOUS HOUR  THE HOUSE WAS VENTILATED BY TWO ROUND HOLES  LIKE THE LIGHTS OF A SHIP S CABIN  WITH WOOD SLIDES  THE LAMB  REVIVED BY THE WARMTH  BEGAN TO BLEAT  INSTANT MEANING  AS EXPECTED SOUNDS WILL  PASSING FROM THE PROFOUNDEST SLEEP TO THE MOST ALERT WAKEFULNESS WITH THE SAME EASE THAT HAD ACCOMPANIED THE REVERSE OPERATION  HE LOOKED AT HIS WATCH  FOUND THAT THE HOUR  HAND HAD SHIFTED AGAIN  PUT ON HIS HAT  TOOK THE LAMB IN HIS ARMS  AND CARRIED IT INTO THE DARKNESS  AFTER PLACING THE LITTLE CREATURE WITH ITS MOTHER  HE STOOD AND CAREFULLY EXAMINED THE SKY  TO ASCERTAIN THE TIME OF NIGHT FROM THE ALTITUDES OF THE STARS  THE DOG STAR AND ALDEBARAN  POINTING TO THE RESTLESS PLEIADES  WERE HALF WAY UP THE SOUTHERN SKY  AND BETWEEN THEM HUNG ORION  WHICH GORGEOUS CONSTELLATION NEVER BURNT MORE VIVIDLY THAN NOW  AS IT SOARED FORTH ABOVE THE RIM OF THE LANDSCAPE  CASTOR AND POLLUX WILL THE NORTH WEST  FAR AWAY THROUGH THE PLANTATION VEGA AND CASSIOPEIA S CHAIR STOOD DAINTILY POISED ON THE UPPERMOST BOUGHS   P      ONE O CLOCK   SAID GABRIEL  BEING A MAN NOT WITHOUT A FREQUENT CONSCIOUSNESS THAT THERE WAS SOME CHARM IN THIS LIFE HE LED  HE STOOD STILL AFTER LOOKING AT THE SKY AS A USEFUL INSTRUMENT  AND REGARDED IT IN AN APPRECIATIVE SPIRIT  AS A WORK OF ART SUPERLATIVELY BEAUTIFUL  FOR A MOMENT HE SEEMED IMPRESSED WITH THE SPEAKING LONELINESS OF THE SCENE  OR RATHER WITH THE COMPLETE ABSTRACTION FROM ALL ITS COMPASS OF THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF MAN  HUMAN SHAPES INTERFERENCES  TROUBLES  AND JOYS WERE ALL AS IF THEY WERE NOT  AND THERE SEEMED TO BE ON THE SHADED HEMISPHERE OF THE GLOBE NO SENTIENT BEING SAVE HIMSELF  HE COULD FANCY THEM ALL GONE ROUND TO THE SUNNY SIDE    OCCUPIED THIS  WITH EYES STRETCHED AFAR  OAK