英中英48_he gave me a sad smile_林_乐明无念

I reached the wall just in time to catch my little man in my arms; hisface was white as snow."What does this mean?" I demanded. "Why are you talkingwith snakes?"I had loosened the golden muffler that he always wore. I had moistened histemples, and had given him some water to drink. And now I did not dare ask himany more questions. He looked at me very gravely, and put his arms around myneck. I felt his heart beating like the heart of a dying bird, shot withsomeone's rifle..."I am glad that you have found what was the matter with yourengine," he said. "Now you can go back home--""How do you know about that?"I was just coming to tell him that my work had been successful, beyondanything that I had dared to hope.He made no answer to my question, but he added:"I, too, am going back home today..."Then, sadly--"It is much farther... it is much more difficult..."I realised clearly that something extraordinary was happening. I washolding him close in my arms as if he were a little child; and yet it seemed tome that he was rushing headlong toward an abyss from which I could do nothingto restrain him...His look was very serious, like some one lost far away."I have your sheep. And I have the sheep's box. And I have themuzzle..."And he gave me a sad smile.