rs.undertheandes-第27章

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　A　light　appeared　ahead　in　the　distance；　dim　but　unmistakable　…the　light　of　the　urns　in　the　cavern　for　which　we　were　headed。
　Suddenly　Desiree　faltered　and　would　have　fallen　but　for　our　supporting　arms。
　〃Courage！〃　I　breathed。　〃We　are　near　the　end。〃
　She　stopped　short　and　sank　to　the　ground。
　〃It　is　useless；〃　she　gasped。　〃I　hurt　my　ankle　when　I　fell。
　I　can　go　no　farther。　Leave　me！〃
　Harry　and　I　with　one　impulse　stooped　over　to　pick　her　up；　and　as　we　did　so　she　fainted　away　in　our　arms。　We　were　then　but　a　few　hundred　feet　from　our　goal；　the　light　from　the　urns　could　be　plainly　seen　gleaming　on　the　broad　ledge　by　the　lake。
　Suddenly　the　sound　of　many　footsteps　came　from　behind。　I　turned　quickly；　but　the　passage　was　too　dark。　I　could　see　nothing。
　The　sound　came　closer　and　closer；　there　seemed　to　be　many　of　them；　advancing　swiftly。　I　straightened　and　raised　my　spear。
　Harry　grasped　my　arm。
　〃Not　yet！〃　he　cried。　〃One　more　try；　we　can　make　it。〃
　He　thrust　his　spear　into　my　hand；　and　in　another　instant　had　thrown　Desiree's　unconscious　body　over　his　shoulder　and　was　staggering　forward　toward　the　cavern。　I　followed；　while　the　sound　of　the　footsteps　behind　grew　louder　and　louder。
　We　neared　the　end　of　the　passage；　we　reached　it；　we　were　on　the　ledge。　Even　with　Desiree　for　a　burden；　Harry　moved　so　swiftly　that　I　found　it　difficult　to　keep　up　with　him。　The　strength　of　a　god　was　in　him；　which　was　but　just；　since　he　had　his　goddess　in　his　arms。
　On　the　ledge；　near　the　edge　of　the　water；　stood　two　Incas。
　They　turned　at　our　approach　and　rushed　at　us。　Unlucky　for　them；　for　Harry's　example　had　fired　my　brain　and　put　the　strength　of　a　giant　in　me。
　To　this　day　I　don't　know　what　followed…whether　I　used　my　spear　or　my　fists　or　my　head。　I　know　only　that　I　leaped　at　them　in　irresistible　fury　and　left　them　stretched　on　the　ground　before　they　had　reached　Harry　or　halted　him。
　We　crossed　the　ledge　and　made　for　the　boulders　to　the　left。
　The　crevice　which　led　to　our　hiding…place　was　too　narrow　for　Harry　and　his　burden。　I　sprang　forward　and　grasped　Desiree's　shoulders；　he　held　her　ankles；　and　we　got　her　through　to　the　ledge　beyond。
　Then　I　leaped　back　through　the　crevice；　and　barely　in　time。
　As　I　looked　out　a　black；　rushing　horde　emerged　from　the　passage　and　dashed　across　the　ledge　toward　us。　I　stood　at　the　entrance　to　the　narrow　crevice；　spear　in　hand。
　They　appeared　to　have　no　sense　of　the　fact　that　my　position　was　impregnable；　but　dashed　blindly　at　me。　The　crevice　in　which　I　stood　and　which　was　the　only　way　through　to　the　ledge　where　Harry　had　taken　Desiree；　was　not　more　than　two　feet　wide。　With　unarmed　savages　for　foes；　one　man　could　have　held　it　against　a　million。
　But　they　came　and　I　met　them。　I　stood　within　the　crevice；　some　three　or　four　feet　from　its　end；　and　when　one　appeared　in　the　opening　I　let　him　have　the　spear。　Another　rushed　in　and　fell　on　top　of　the　first。
　As　I　say；　they　appeared　to　be　deprived　of　the　power　to　reason。
　In　five　minutes　the　mouth　of　the　crevice　was　pletely　choked　with　bodies；　some；　who　were　merely　wounded；　struggling　and　squirming　to　extricate　themselves　from　the　bloody　tangle。
　I　heard　Harry's　voice　at　my　back：
　〃How　about　it？　Want　some　help？〃
　〃Not　unless　they　find　some　gunpowder；〃　I　answered。　〃The　idiots　eat　death　as　though　it　were　candy。　We're　safe；　they　can　never　break　through　here。〃
　〃Are　they　still　ing？〃
　〃They　can't；　they've　blocked　the　way　with　their　smelly　black　carcasses。　How　is　Desiree？〃
　〃Better；　she's　awake。　I've　been　bathing　her　ankle　with　cold　water。　She　has　a　bad　sprain；　how　the　deuce　she　ever　managed　to　hobble　on　it　even　two　steps　is　beyond　me。〃
　〃A　sprain？　Are　you　sure？〃
　〃I　think　so；　it's　badly　swollen。　Maybe　only　a　twist；　a　few　hours　will　tell。〃
　I　heard　him　return　to　the　ledge　back　of　me；　I　dared　not　turn　my　head。
　Thinking　I　heard　a　sound　above；　I　looked　up；　but　there　was　nothing　to　fear　in　that　direction。　The　boulders　which　formed　the　sides　of　the　crevice　extended　straight　up　to　the　roof　of　the　cavern。　We　appeared；　in　fact；　to　be　fortified　against　any　attack。
　With　one　exception…hunger。　But　there　would　be　plenty　of　time　to　think　of　that；　for　the　present　we　had　our　fish；　which　was　sufficient　for　the　three　of　us　for　a　month；　if　we　could　keep　it　fresh　that　long。　And　the　water　was　at　our　very　feet。
　The　bodies　wedged　in　the　mouth　of　the　crevice　began　to　disappear；　allowing　the　light　from　the　urns　to　filter　through；　they　were　removing　their　dead。　I　could　see　the　black　forms　swaying　and　pulling　not　five　feet　away。　But　I　stood　motionless；　saving　my　spear　and　my　strength　for　any　who　might　try　to　force　an　entrance。
　Soon　the　crevice　was　clear；　and　from　where　I　stood　I　manded　a　view　of　something　like　three…quarters　of　the　ledge。　It　was　one　mass　of　black　forms；　packed　tightly　together；　gazing　at　our　retreat。
　They　looked　particularly　silly　and　helpless　to　me　then；　rendered　powerless　as　they　were　by　a　little　bit　of　rock。　Brute　force　was　all　they　had；　and　nature；　being　the　biggest　brute　of　all；　laughed　at　them。
　But　I　soon　found　that　they　were　not　devoid　of　resource。　For　perhaps　fifteen　minutes　the　scene　remained　unchanged；　not　one　ventured　to　approach　the　crevice。　Then　there　was　a　sudden　movement　and　shifting　in　the　mass；　it　split　suddenly　in　the　middle；　they　pressed　off　to　either　side；　leaving　an　open　lane　between　them　leading　directly　toward　me。
　Down　this　lane　suddenly　dashed　a　dozen　or　more　of　the　savages；　with　spears　aloft　in　their　brawny　arms。　I　was　taken　by　surprise　and　barely　had　time　to　cut　and　run　for　the　ledge　within。
　As　it　was　I　did　not　entirely　escape；　the　spears　came　whistling　through　the　crevice；　and　one　of　them　lodged　in　my　leg　just　below　the　thigh。
　I　jerked　it　out　with　an　oath　and　turned　to　meet　the　attack。
　I　was　now　clear　of　the　crevice；　standing　on　the　ledge　inside；　near　Harry　and　Desiree。　I　called　to　them　to　go　to　one　side；　out　of　the　range　of　the　spears　that　might　e　through。　Harry　took　Desiree　in　his　arms　and　carried　her　to　safety。
　As　I　expected；　the　Incas　came　rushing　through　the　crevice…that　narrow　lane　where　a　man　could　barely　push　through　without　squeezing。　The　first　got　my　spear　full　in　the　face…a　blow　rather　than　a　thrust；　for　I　had　once　or　twice　had　difficulty　in　retrieving　it　when　I　had　buried　it　deep。
　As　he　fell　I　struck　at　the　one　behind。　He　grasped　the　spear　with　his　hand；　but　I　jerked　it　free　and　brought　it　down　on　his　head；　crushing　him　to　the　ground。　It　was　mere　butchery；　they　hadn't　a　chance　in　the　world　to　get　at　me。　Another　fell；　and　the　rest　retreated。　The　crevice　was　again　clear；　save　for　the　bodies　of　the　three　who　had　fallen。
　I　turned　to　where　Harry　and　Desiree　were　seated　on　the　further　edge　of　the　ledge。　Her　body　rested　against　his；　her　head　lay　on　his　shoulder。
　As　I　looked　at　them；　smiling；　her　eyes　suddenly　opened　wide　and　she　sprang　to　her　feet　and　started　toward　me。
　〃Paul！　You　are　hurt！　Harry；　a　bandage…quick；　your　shirt…anything！〃
　I　looked　down　at　the　gash　on　my　leg；　which　was　bleeding　somewhat　freely。
　〃It's　nothing；〃　I　declared；　〃a　mere　tear　in　the　skin。　But　your　ankle！　I　thought　it　was　sprained？〃
　She　had　reached　my　side　and　bent　over　to　examine　my　wound；　but　I　raised　her　in　my　arms　and　held　her　before　me。
　〃That；〃　I　said；　〃is　nothing。　Believe　me；　it　isn't　even　painful。　I　shall　bandage　it　myself；　Harry　will　take　my　place　here。
　But　your　foot？〃
　〃That；　too；　is　nothing；〃　she　answered　with　a　half…smile。　〃I　merely　twisted　it；　it　is　nearly　well　already。　See！〃
　She　placed　her　weight　on　the　injured　foot；　but　could　not　suppress　a　faint　grimace　of　pain。
　Calling　to　Harry　to　watch　the　crevice；　I　took　Desiree　in　my　arms　and　carried　her　back　to　her　seat。
　〃Now　sit　still；〃　I　manded。　〃Soon　we'll　have　dinner；　in　the　mean　time　allow　me　to　say　that　you　are　the　bravest　woman　in　the　world；　and　the　best　sport。　And　some　day　we'll　drink　to　that…from　a　bottle。〃
　But　facts　have　no　respect　for　sentiment　and　fine　speeches。
　The　last　words　were　taken　from　my　very　mouth　by　a　ringing　cry　from　Harry：
　〃Paul！　By　gad；　they're　ing　at　us　from　the　water！〃
　
　
　Chapter　XVI。
　THE　ESCAPE。
　
　The　ledge　on　which　we　rested　was　about　forty　feet　square。
　Back　of　us　was　a　confused　mass　of　boulders　and　chasms；　across　which　I　had　e　when　I　first　encircled　the　cavern　and　found　Harry。
　In　front　was　the　crevice；　guarded　by　the　two　massive　boulders。
　On　the　right　the　ledge　met　the　solid　wall　of　the　cavern；　and　on　the　left　was　the　lake　itself；　whose　waters　rippled　gently　at　our　very　feet。
　At　sound　of　Harry's　warning　cry　I　ran　to　the　water's　edge　and　peered　round　the　side　of　the　boulder。　He　was　right；　but　what　I　saw　was　not　very　alarming。
　Two　rafts　had　been　launched　from　the　enemy's　camp。　Each　raft　held　three　Incas…more　would　have　sunk　them。　Two　were　paddling；　while　the　third　balanced　himself　in　the　center；　brandishing　a　spear　aloft。
　Turning　to　Desiree；　I　called　to　her　to　move　behind　a　projecting　bit　of　rock。　Then；　leaving　Harry　to　guard　the　crevice　in　case　of　a　double　attack；　I　took　three　of　our　four　spears…one　of　which　had　made　the　wound　in　my　leg…and　stood　at　the　water's　edge　awaiting　the　approach　of　the　rafts。
　They　came　slowly；　and　their　appearance　was　certainly　anything　but　terrifying。
　〃Not　much　of　a　navy；〃　I　called　to　Harry；　and　he　answered；　with　a　laugh：　〃Lucky　for　us！　Look　at　our　coast　defense！〃
　One　of　the　rafts　was　considerably　ahead　of　the　other；　and　in　another　minute　it　had　approached　within　fifty　feet　of　the　ledge。
　The　Inca　in　the　center　stood　with　legs　spread　apart　and　his　spear　poised　above　his　head；　I　made　no　movement；　thinking　that　on　such　precarious　footing　he　would　have　difficulty　to　hurl　the　thing　at　all。　Wherein　I　underrated　his　skill；　and　it　nearly　cost　me　dear。
　Suddenly；　with　hardly　a　movement　of　his　body；　his　arm　snapped　forward。　I　ducked　to　one　side　instinctively　and　heard　the　spear　whistle　past　my　ear　with　the　speed　of　a　bullet；　so　close　that　the　butt　of　the　shaft　struck　the　side　of　my　head　a　glancing　blow　and　toppled　me　over。
　I　sprang　quickly　to　my　feet；　and　barely　in　time；　for　I　saw　the　Inca　stoop　over；　pick　up　another　spear　from　the　raft；　and　draw　it　back　above　his　head。　At　the　same　moment　the　second　raft　drew　up　alongside；　and　as　I　fell　to　the　ground　flat　on　my　face　I　heard　the　two　spears　whistle　shrewdly　over　me。
　At　that　game　they　were　my　masters；　it　would　have　been　folly　to　have　tried　conclusions　with　them　with　their　own　weapons。　As　the　spears　clattered　on　the　ground　thirty　feet　away　I　sprang　to　my　feet　and　ran　to　the　farther　side　of　the　ledge；　where　I　had　before　noticed　some　loose　stones　in　a　corner。
　With　two　or　three　of　these　in　my　hands　I　ran　back　to　the　water's　edge；　meeting　two　more　of　the　spears　that　came　twisting　at　me　through　the　air；　one　of　which　tore　the　skin　from　my　left　shoulder。
　A　quick　glance　at　the　crevice　as　I　passed　showed　me　Harry　fighting　at　its　entrance；　they　were　at　us　there；　too。　I　heard　Desiree　shout　something　at　me；　but　didn't　catch　the　words。
　My　first　stone　found　its　goal。　The　two　rafts；　side　by　side　not　forty　feet　away；　were　a　fair　mark。　The　stone　was　nearly　the　size　of　a　man's　head　and　very　heavy；　I　had　all　I　could　do　to　get　the　distance。
　It　struck　the　raft　on　the　right　fairly；　the　thi