Measuring the World by Daniel Kehlmann Page A

the top hat.
    He had already traveled it, said the man with the jewelry.
    Him too, said the man with the top hat. But it didn't exist. All a rumor.
    Humboldt, confused, said nothing. Well anyway, was his final remark, he wanted to measure this channel, and he would need experienced oarsmen.
    The man with the top hat asked what the prize was.
    Money and knowledge.
    The third man used two fingers to remove the reed from his mouth. Money, he said, was better than knowledge.
    Much better, said the man with the top hat. And besides, life was so damn short, why gamble on it?
    Because it was short, said Bonpland.
    The four of them looked at one another, then at Humboldt. Their names, said the man with the top hat, were Carlos, Gabriel, Mario, and Julio, and they were good but they weren't cheap.
    That was all right, said Humboldt.
    He was followed to the inn by a rough sheepdog. When Humboldt stood still, the dog came up and pressed its nose against his shoe. When Humboldt scratched him behind the ears, he hiccuped, then whimpered with pleasure, fell back, and growled at Bonpland.
    He liked him, said Humboldt. Obviously he had no master, so he'd take him along.
    The boat was too small, said Bonpland. The dog was rabid and smelled bad.
    They would soon get on with each other, said Humboldt, and let the dog sleep in his room at the inn. When the two of them arrived at the boat the following morning, they were as easy with each other as if they'd always been together.
    Nobody had said anything about dogs, said Julio.
    Further south, said Mario as he straightened his top hat, where the people were mad and talked backwards, there were dwarf dogs with wings. He had seen them himself.
    Him too, said Julio. But now they'd died out. Eaten by the talking fish.
    With a sigh, Humboldt used sextant and chronometer to determine the position of the town; once again the maps had been inaccurate. Then they cast off.
    Soon all traces of the settlement were left behind. They saw crocodiles everywhere: the animals were floating in the water like tree trunks, dozing on the bank or gaping their jaws wide, and on their backs little herons walked around. The dog jumped into the water. A crocodile swam at him immediately, and as Bonpland pulled him back on board, his paw was bleeding from a piranha bite. Lianas brushed the surface of the water and tree trunks leaned out over the river.
    They moored the boat and while Bonpland gathered plants, Humboldt went for a walk. He clambered over roots, squeezed a way between tree trunks, and brushed the threads of a spider's web out of his face. He detached flowers from stalks, broke the back of a beautiful butterfly with a skilled hand, and laid it lovingly in his specimen box. Only then did he notice that he was standing in front of a jaguar.
    The animal raised its head and looked at him. Humboldt took a step to the side. Without stirring, the animal lifted its lip. Humboldt froze. After a long time it laid its head down on its forepaws. Humboldt took a step back. And another. The jaguar watched him attentively, without raising its head. Its tail switched in pursuit of a fly. Humboldt turned. He listened, but he heard nothing behind him. Holding his breath, arms pressed tight against his body, head down on his chest, and his eyes fixed on his feet, he began to move. Slowly, step by step, then gradually quicker. He must not stumble, he must not look back. And then he couldn't help himself, he began to run. Branches reared into his face, an insect smacked against his forehead, he slipped, grabbed hold of a liana, one sleeve got caught and tore, he struck branches out of his way. Sweating and out of breath, he reached the boat.
    Cast off immediately, he panted.
    Bonpland reached for his gun, the oarsmen got to their feet.
    No, said Humboldt, cast off!
    These were good weapons, said Bonpland. They could kill the animal and it would make a wonderful trophy.
    Humboldt shook his head.
    But why not?
    The jaguar had let him