the days of my life-第89部分
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On Friday； the 15th； I was going into Bungay when at the level crossing on the Bungay road I was hailed by two plate…layers； who are named respectively George Arterton and Harry Alger。 These men informed me that the dog had been killed by a train； and took me on a trolly down to a certain open…work bridge which crosses the water between Ditchingham and Bungay； where they showed me evidence of its death。 This is the sum of their evidence：
It appears that about 7 o’clock upon the Monday morning； very shortly after the first train had passed； in the course of his duties Harry Alger was on the bridge； where he found a dog’s collar torn off and broken by the engine （since produced and positively identified as that worn by Bob）； coagulated blood； and bits of flesh； of which remnants he cleaned the rails。 On search also I personally found portions of black hair from the coat of a dog。 On the Monday afternoon and subsequently his mate saw the body of the dog floating in the water beneath the bridge； whence it drifted down to the weir； it having risen with the natural expansion of gases； such as； in this hot weather； might be expected to occur within about forty hours of death。 It would seem that the animal must have been killed by an excursion train that left Ditchingham at 10。25 on Saturday night； returning empty from Harlestone a little after 11。 This was the last train which ran that night。 No trains run on Sunday； and it is practically certain that it cannot have been killed on the Monday morning； for then the blood would have been still fluid。 Further； if it was living； the dog would almost certainly have e home during Sunday； and its body would not have risen so quickly from the bottom of the river； or presented the appearance it did on Thursday morning。 From traces left upon the piers of the bridge it appeared that the animal was knocked or carried along some yards by the train and fell into the brink of the water where reeds grow。 Here； if it were still living — and； although the veterinary thinks that death was practically instantaneous； its life may perhaps have lingered for a few minutes — it must have suffocated and sunk； undergoing； I imagine； much the same sensations as I did in my dream； and in very similar surroundings to those that I saw therein — namely； amongst a scrubby growth at the edge of water。
I am forced to conclude that the dog Bob； between whom and myself there existed a mutual attachment； either at the moment of his death； if his existence can conceivably have been prolonged till after one in the morning； or； as seems more probable； about three hours after that event； did succeed in calling my attention to its actual or recent plight by placing whatever portion of my being is capable of receiving such impulses when enchained by sleep； into its own terrible position。
On the remarkable issues opened up by this occurrence I cannot venture to speak further than to say that — although it is dangerous to generalise from a particular instance； however striking and well supported by evidence； which is so rarely obtainable in such obscure cases — it does seem to suggest that there is a more intimate ghostly connection between all members of the animal world； including man； than has hitherto been believed； at any rate by Western peoples； that they may be； in short； all of them different manifestations of some central； informing life； though inhabiting the universe in such various shapes。 The matter； however； is one for the consideration of learned people who have made a study of these mysterious questions。 I will only add that I ask you to publish the annexed documents with this letter； as they constitute the written testimony at present available to the accuracy of what I state。 Further； I may say that I shall wele any investigation by petent persons。
I am； your obedient servant；
H。 Rider Haggard。
To the Editor of The Times。
The editor of the Journal of the Society for Psychical Research says：
This case is one of very unusual interest from several points of view。 It is； therefore； specially satisfactory to have it so well authenticated； and Mr。 Rider Haggard deserves the gratitude of psychical researchers for having collected all the available evidence so promptly and pletely and put it at the disposal of the scientific world。
This experience produced a great effect upon me； and at first frightened and upset me somewhat； for without doubt it has a very uncanny side。 By degrees； however； I came to see that it also has its lessons； notably one lesson — that of the kinship； I might almost say the oneness； of all animal life。 I have always been fond of every kind of creature； and especially of dogs； some of which have been and are as very dear friends to me。 But up to this date I had also been a sportsman。 Shooting was my principal recreation； and one of which I was； and indeed still am； extremely fond。 Greatly did I love a high pheasant； at which sometimes I made good marksmanship。 But now； alas！ I only bring them down in imagination with an umbrella or a walking…stick。 From that day forward； except noxious insects and so forth； I have killed nothing； and； although I should not hesitate to shoot again for food or for protection； I am by no means certain that the act would not make me feel unwell。 Perhaps illogically； I make an exception in favour of fishing； and I daresay that if salmon came my way I might once more throw a fly for them。 I do not think that fish feel much； also I always remember that； if He did not fish Himself； our Lord was frequently present while others did； even after His Resurrection； further； that he ate of the results； and indeed by His power made those results more plentiful。 Lastly； on one occasion — I allude to the case of the coin that was paid for poll…tax — this fishing was not carried on for the sake of food。
Again； harmful creatures must be destroyed since man must live； and so must those that are necessary to his physical sustenance； such as sheep and cattle； that is； until he bees a vegetarian； as perhaps he will one day — a long while hence。 In fact； subsequent to this date； I fell into great trouble and was held up to the readers of sundry journals as a cruel brute by persons who call themselves “humanitarians” because； as a farmer； I advocated an organised State crusade against rats and sparrows； which （owing largely to the destruction of the hawk and owl tribes； and of other creatures of prey in the interest of game preservation） work such incalculable damage in this country。 “Humanitarians” evidently do not earn their living from the land。 If they did they might take a different view of sparrows。 It is； however； cheap to be pitiful at the expense of others！
I know that the above views on shooting may be thought a hard saying by many who greatly enjoy what they consider a harmless and a healthful sport。 But really it is not so； since in such matters every man must act according to his own heart。 If his conscience is not afraid of a thing； let him do it； if it is afraid； let him leave it alone。 So talks St。 Paul of whatever is sold in the shambles。 “To him that esteemeth anything to be unclean； it is unclean。” “All things indeed are pure； but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence。” And again； “He that doubteth is condemned if he eat because he eateth not of faith；” which I take it is another way of saying that a man must follow the light that is lit in him。 Therefore； although I no longer shoot myself； I still go out shooting with my friends who are happy in so doing。 So far as I am concerned； however； the result of it all is that “Othello’s occupation’s gone。” I have now no recreation left save that of the garden and of my solitary walks about the farm； which lead； perhaps； to too much thinking。
The publication of this “Bob” correspondence in The Times and； I may add； everywhere throughout the civilised world； brought me many letters of which the general tenor went to prove that similar examples of such psychical or telepathic munications were by no means unknown； though none of these were quite so clear as that which I have set out above。 Nor were they so well supported by evidence。 Moreover； it seemed almost certain that the dog Bob municated with me after its death； which； if it could be absolutely and finally proved； as it cannot； would solve one of the mysteries of our being； by showing that the spirit even of a dog can live on when its mortal frame is destroyed and physical death has happened。 If a dog — then how much more a man！
None of the experiences of my correspondents went so far as this。 A number of these letters I sent to the Psychical Research Society； but a great bundle of them still remains which I have not the time to re…read。 On this point of the continuance of individual existence after physical death； I once wrote a letter to Sir Oliver Lodge； who is both an eminent man of science and a great student of such hidden matters。 I asked him whether he possessed such evidence as would satisfy a reasonable person； say a judge or a juryman； of the fact of the continued existence of the individual after his physical death。 He answered：
As to your question — it is not an easy one。 By scientific experience I have myself bee absol
