rs.undertheandes-第22部分

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t　was　in　our　power　to　choose　for　ourselves　the　final　moment…we　were　yet　masters　of　our　fates。
　All　action　seems　useless　when　hope　is　dead；　but　certain　things　needed　to　be　done；　and　Harry　and　I　bestirred　ourselves。　We　extinguished　the　flame　in　all　the　urns　but　one　to　save　the　oil；　not　caring　to　depart　in　darkness。
　Our　supply　of　water；　we　found；　was　quite　sufficient　to　last　for　several　days；　if　used　sparingly；　for　we　intended　to　support　life　so　long　as　we　had　the　fuel。　Then　responsibility　ceases；　man　has　a　right　to　hasten　that　which　fortune　has　made　inevitable。
　The　hours　passed　by。
　We　talked　very　little；　at　times　Desiree　and　Harry　conversed　in　subdued　tones　which　I　did　not　overhear；　I　was　engaged　with　my　own　thoughts。　And　they　were　not　unpleasant；　if；　looking　death　in　the　face；　a　man　can　preserve　his　philosophy　unchanged；　he　has　made　the　only　success　in　life　that　is　worth　while。
　We　ate　and　drank；　but　gave　neither　water　nor　food　to　our　fellow　prisoner。　Not　because　I　really　expected　to　force　negotiations　with　the　Incas…but　the　thing　was　possible　and　was　worth　a　trial。　I　knew　them　well　enough　to　appraise　correctly　the　value　of　any　safe…conduct　they　might　give　us。
　I　was　a　little　surprised　to　find　in　Desiree　no　levity；　the　vulgar　prop　for　courage　based　on　ignorance。　There　was　a　tenderness　in　her　manner；　especially　toward　Harry；　that　spoke　of　something　deeper　and　awoke　in　my　own　breast　a　deeper　respect　for　her。　The　world　had　not　known　Desiree　Le　Mire…it　had　merely　been　fascinated　and　amused　by　her。
　Many　hours　had　passed　in　this　tomblike　apathy。　Two　or　three　times　I　had　advised　Desiree　to　lie　down　to　rest　and；　if　possible；　to　sleep。　She　had　refused；　but　I　became　insistent；　and　Harry　added　his　voice　to　my　own。　Then；　to　please　us；　she　consented；　we　arranged　the　cover　on　the　granite　couch　and　made　her　as　fortable　as　possible。
　In　five　minutes　she　was　fast　asleep。　Harry　stood　a　few　feet　away　from　the　couch；　looking　down　at　her。　I　spoke　to　him；　in　a　low　tone：
　〃And　you　must　rest　too；　Hal。　One　of　us　must　remain　on　watch；　I'll　take　it　first　and　call　you　when　I　feel　drowsy。　It　may　be　a　needless　precaution；　but　I　don't　care　to　wake　up　and　find　myself　in　the　condition　of　our　friend　yonder。〃
　He　wanted　to　take　the　first　watch　himself；　but　I　insisted；　and　he　arranged　our　ponchos　on　the　ground；　and　soon　he　too　was　sleeping　easily　and　profoundly。　I　looked　from　him　to　Desiree　with　a　smile；　and　reflection　that　Socrates　himself　could　not　have　met　misfortune　with　more　sublime　posure。
　It　was　possible　that　the　stone　curtain　across　the　doorway　could　be　raised　noiselessly；　and　that　made　it　necessary　to　keep　my　eyes　fastened　on　it　almost　continuously。　This　became　irksome；　besides；　twice　I　awoke　to　the　fact　that　my　thoughts　had　carried　me　so　far　away　from　my　surroundings　that　the　stone　could　have　been　raised　to　the　roof　and　I　would　not　have　noticed　it。
　So；　using　my　jacket　for　a　cushion；　I　seated　myself　on　the　ground　in　the　threshold；　leaning　my　back　against　the　stone；　and　gave　myself　up　to　meditation。
　I　had　sat　thus　for　three　hours　or　more；　and　was　thinking　of　calling　Harry　to　relieve　me；　when　I　felt　a　movement　at　my　back。　I　turned　quickly　and　saw　that　the　stone　was　moving　upward。
　Slowly　it　rose；　by　little　frequent　jerks；　not　more　than　an　eighth　of　an　inch　at　a　time。　In　fifteen　minutes　it　was　only　about　four　inches　from　the　ground。　There　was　no　sound　save　a　faint　grating　noise　from　above。
　I　stood　several　feet　away；　holding　one　of　the　golden　clubs　in　my　hand；　thinking　it　unnecessary　to　rouse　Harry　until　the　space　was　wide　enough　to　cause　apprehension。　Or　rather；　because　I　had　no　fear　of　an　assault…I　was　convinced　that　our　ruse　had　succeeded；　and　that　they　were　about　to　municate　with　us　by　means　of　the　quipos。
　The　stone　was　raised　a　little　over　a　foot；　then　became　stationary。　I　waited；　expecting　to　see　a　bundle　of　quipos　thrust　through　the　opening；　but　they　did　not　appear。
　Instead；　five　golden　vessels　were　pushed　across　the　ground　until　they　were　inside；　clear　of　the　stone；　I　could　see　the　black；　hairy　hands　and　arms；　which　were　immediately　withdrawn。
　Then　the　granite　curtain　fell　with　a　crash　that　caused　me　to　start　with　its　suddenness　and　awakened　both　Harry　and　Desiree。
　Two　of　the　vessels　contained　water；　two　oil；　and　the　other　dried　fish。　Harry；　who　had　sprung　to　his　feet　excitedly；　grumbled　in　disgust。
　〃At　least；　they　might　have　sent　us　some　soup。　But　what's　their　idea？〃
　〃It　means　that　Desiree　was　right；〃　I　observed。　〃They　have　some　way　of　watching　us。　And；　seeing　that　we　refused　to　provide　their　beloved　monarch　with　provender；　they　have　sent　him　an　allowance　from　the　pantry。〃
　Harry　grinned。
　〃Will　he　get　it？〃
　〃Hardly；〃　said　I　with　emphasis。　〃We'll　make　'em　treat　with　us　if　it's　only　to　observe　their　diplomacy。　There'll　be　a　message　from　them　within　twenty…four　hours。　You'll　see。〃
　〃Anyway；　we　know　now　that　they　can　raise　that　stone　whenever　they　feel　like　it。　But　in　the　name　of　Archimedes；　how？〃
　He　advanced　to　the　doorway　and　examined　the　block　of　granite　curiously；　but　there　was　no　clue　to　its　weight　or　thickness　from　the　inside。　I　explained　that　there　were　several　ways　by　which　the　thing　could　be　raised；　but　that　the　most　probable　one　was　by　means　of　a　rolling　pulley；　which　required　merely　some　rounded　stones　and　a　flat　surface　above；　with　ropes　of　hide　for　stays。
　It　had　been　several　hours　since　we　had　last　eaten；　and　we　decided　to　at　once　convey　to　the　spies　without　our　intentions　concerning　our　prisoner。　So　we　regaled　ourselves　with　dried　fish　and　water；　taking　care　not　to　approach　the　king；　who　had　rolled　over　on　his　side　and　lay　facing　us；　looking　for　all　the　world；　in　the　dim　light；　like　a　black　dog　crouched　on　the　floor。
　Harry　relieved　me　at　my　post　against　the　door；　and　I　lay　down　to　sleep。　Desiree　had　seated　herself　beside　him；　and　the　low　tones　of　their　voices　came　to　me　as　I　lay　on　the　couch　（which　Desiree　had　insisted　I　should　occupy）　in　an　indistinct；　musical　murmur。　This　for　perhaps　ten　minutes；　then　I　slept。
　That　became　our　routine。　During　the　many　weary　hours　that　followed　there　was　never　a　moment　when　one　of　us　was　not　seated　with　his　back　against　the　stone　across　the　doorway；　we　dared　not　trust　our　eyes。　Usually　Harry　and　Desiree　watched　together；　and；　when　I　relieved　them；　slept　side　by　side　on　the　couch。
　Sometimes；　when　we　were　all　awake；　Desiree　was　left　on　guard　alone；　but　Harry　and　I　were　never　both　asleep　at　the　same　time。
　An　estimate　of　the　time　we　spent　thus　would　be　the　wildest　guess；　for　time　was　heavy　and　passed　on　leaden　feet。　But　I　should　say　we　had　been　imprisoned　for　something　like　four　days；　possibly　five；　when　the　monotony　came　to　an　abrupt　end。
　I　had　e　off　watch；　and　Harry　and　Desiree　had　taken　my　place。　Before　I　lay　down　I　had　taken　some　water　to　the　prisoner；　for　we　had　some　time　before　admitted　the　necessity　of　giving　him　drink。　But　of　food　he　had　had　none。
　Harry　told　me　afterward　that　I　had　slept　for　two　or　three　hours；　but　it　seemed　to　me　rather　as　many　minutes；　when　I　was　awakened　by　the　sound　of　his　voice　calling　my　name。　Glancing　at　the　doorway；　I　sprang　to　my　feet。
　The　stone　was　slowly　rising　from　the　floor；　already　there　was　a　space　of　a　foot　or　more。　Desiree　and　Harry　stood　facing　it　in　silence。
　〃You　have　seen　nothing？〃　I　asked；　joining　them。
　〃Nothing；〃　said　Harry。　〃Here；　take　one　of　these　clubs。　Something's　up。〃
　〃Of　course…the　stone；〃　I　observed　facetiously；　yawning。
　〃Probably　nothing　more　important　than　a　bundle　of　quipos。　Lord；　I'm　sleepy！〃
　Still　the　stone　moved　upward；　very　slowly。　It　reached　a　height　of　two　feet；　yet　did　not　halt。
　〃This　is　no　quipos〃　said　Harry；　〃or　if　it　is；　they　must　be　going　to　send　us　in　a　whole　library。　Six　inches　would　have　been　enough　for　that。〃
　I　nodded；　keeping　my　eyes　on　the　ever…widening　space　at　our　feet。
　〃This　means　business；　Hal。　Stand　ready　with　your　club。　Desiree；　go　to　the　further　corner；　behind　that　seat。〃
　She　refused；　I　insisted；　she　stamped　her　foot　in　anger。
　〃Do　you　think　I'm　a　child；　to　run　and　hide？〃　she　demanded　obstinately。
　I　wasted　no　time　in　argument。
　〃You　will　go〃；　I　said　sternly；　〃or　I　shall　carry　you　and　tie　you。　This　is　not　play。　We　must　have　room　and　know　that　you　are　safe。〃
　To　my　surprise；　she　made　no　reply；　but　quietly　obeyed。　Then；　struck　by　a　sudden　thought；　I　crossed　to　where　she　stood　behind　a　stone　seat　in　the　corner。
　〃Here；〃　I　said　in　a　low　tone；　taking　the　little　jeweled　dagger　from　my　pocket　and　holding　it　out　to　her；　〃in　case…〃
　〃I　understand；〃　she　said　simply；　and　her　hand　closed　over　the　hilt。
　By　that　time　the　stone　was　half…way　to　the　top　of　the　doorway；　leaving　a　space　over　three　feet　high；　and　was　still　rising。　I　stood　on　one　side　and　Harry　on　the　other；　not　caring　to　expose　ourselves　immediately　in　front。
　Suddenly　he　left　his　post　and　ran　to　one　of　the　stone　seats　and　began　prying　at　the　blocks　of　granite。　I　saw　at　once　his　intention　and　our　mistake；　we　should　have　long　before　barricaded　the　door　on　the　inside。　But　it　was　too　late　now；　I　knew　from　experience　the　difficulty　of　loosening　those　firmly　wedged　blocks；　and　I　called　out：
　〃No　good；　Hal。　We　were　fools　not　to　have　thought　of　it　before；　but　there　is　no　time　for　it　now。　e　back；　I　couldn't　stop　'em　alone。〃
　Nevertheless；　he　continued　his　exertions；　and　succeeded　in　getting　one　of　the　blocks　partially　free；　but　by　that　time　the　doorway　was　almost　pletely　uncovered；　and　he　saw　the　folly　of　attempting　further。
　He　resumed　his　post　on　the　right　of　the　door…I　was　on　the　left。
　The　stone　appeared　to　be　going　faster。　It　reached　the　top…passed　it…and　quickly　swung　in　toward　the　wall　and　disappeared；　probably　to　rest　on　a　ledge　above。
　We　stood　waiting；　tense　and　alert。　The　open　doorway　gaped　on　the　black；　empty　corridor；　into　which　the　light　from　our　single　urn　shone　dimly。　We　could　see　or　hear　nothing；　no　indication　that　any　one　was　in　the　passage；　but　we　dared　not　look　out　in　that　darkness。
　The　suspense　was　trying　enough；　Harry　ripped　out　an　impatient　oath　and　made　a　movement　as　though　to　step　in　the　entrance；　but　I　waved　him　back。
　Then　came　the　avalanche；　with　a　suddenness　and　fury　that　nigh　overwhelmed　us。
　Crouching；　rushing　forms　filled　the