rs.undertheandes-第23部分

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　Then　came　the　avalanche；　with　a　suddenness　and　fury　that　nigh　overwhelmed　us。
　Crouching；　rushing　forms　filled　the　doorway　from　both　directions　and　leaped　savagely　at　us。　After　so　many　weary　days　of　dull　inaction　and　helpless；　hopeless　apathy；　a　mad　joy　fired　my　brain　and　thrilled　my　heart　as　I　raised　my　club　on　high　and　struck　a　blow　for　freedom　and　life。
　That　blow　crushed　the　skull　of　one　whose　fingers　were　at　my　throat；　and　he　dropped　like　a　log　at　my　feet；　but　his　place　was　already　filled。　Again　I　swung　the　club；　another　swayed；　toppling　against　the　doorway　and　leaning　there　with　the　blood　streaming　from　his　broken　head；　quite　dead；　but　held　erect　by　the　pressure　of　his　fellows　from　behind。
　If　the　doorway　had　been　but　a　foot　wider　we　would　have　been　overwhelmed　almost　instantly。　As　it　was；　but　three　or　four　could　get　to　us　at　once；　and　they　found　the　gold　which　their　ancestors　had　carried　from　the　temples　of　Huanuco　waiting　for　them。　My　arm　seemed　to　have　the　strength　of　a　hundred　arms；　it　swung　the　heavy　club　as　though　it　had　been　a　feather；　and　with　deadly　accuracy。
　Harry　fought　like　a　demon。　I　think　I　did　all　that　a　man　could　do；　but　he　did　more；　and　withal　more　coolly。　I　brought　down　my　club　on　heads；　shoulders；　chests；　and　rarely　failed　to　get　my　man。
　But　the　impact　of　Harry's　blows　was　like　the　popping　of　a　Maxim。　I　saw　him　reach　over　and　grasp　the　throat　of　one　who　had　his　teeth　set　in　my　shoulder；　and；　holding　him　straight　before　him　with　his　arm　extended；　break　his　neck　with　one　blow。　Again；　his　club　descended　on　one　black　skull　with　a　glancing　blow　and　shot　off　to　the　head　of　another　with　the　force　of　a　sledge…hammer。
　At　the　time　I　did　not　know　that　I　saw　these　things；　it　was　all　one　writhing；　struggling；　bloody　horror；　but　afterward　the　eyes　of　memory　showed　them　to　me。
　Still　they　came。　My　arm　rose　and　fell　seemingly　without　order　from　the　brain；　I　was　not　conscious　that　it　moved。　It　seemed　to　me　that　ever　since　the　beginning　of　time　I　had　stood　in　that　butcher's　doorway　and　brought　down　that　bar　of　gold　on　thick；　black　skulls　and　distorted；　grinning　faces。　But　they　would　not　disappear。　One　fell；　another　took　his　place；　and　another；　and　another；　and　another。
　The　bodies　of　those　who　fell　were　dragged　away　from　underneath。　I　did　not　see　it；　but　it　must　have　been　so；　or　soon　we　would　have　raised　our　own　barricade　for　defense…a　barricade　of　flesh。　And　there　was　none。
　I　began　to　weaken；　and　Harry　saw　it；　for　he　gasped　out：　〃Steady…Paul。　Take　it…easy。　They　can't…last…forever。〃
　His　blows　were　redoubled　in　fury　as　he　moved　closer　to　me；　taking　more　than　his　share　of　the　attack；　so　that　I　almost　had　time　to　breathe。
　But　we　could　not　have　held　out　much　longer。　My　brain　was　whirling　madly　and　a　weight　of　a　thousand　tons　seemed　dragging　me　remorselessly；　inevitably　to　the　ground。　I　kept　my　feet　through　the　force　of　some　crazy　instinct；　for　will　and　reason　were　gone。
　And　then；　for　an　instant；　Harry's　eyes　met　mine；　and　I　read　in　them　what　neither　of　us　could　say；　nor　would。　With　the　fury　of　despair　we　struck　out　together　in　one　last　effort。
　Whether　the　Incas　saw　in　that　effort　a　renewed　strength　that　spoke　of　immortality；　or　whether　it　happened　just　at　that　moment　that　the　pressure　from　behind　was　removed；　no　longer　forcing　them　to　their　death；　I　do　not　know。　It　may　have　been　that；　like　some　better　men；　they　had　merely　had　enough。
　From　whatever　cause；　the　attack　ceased　almost　with　the　suddenness　with　which　it　had　begun；　they　fell　back　from　the　doorway；　Harry　lunged　forward　with　raised　club；　and　the　forms　melted　away　into　the　darkness　of　the　corridor。
　Harry　turned　and　looked　at　me　as　I　stood　swaying　from　side　to　side　in　the　doorway。　Neither　of　us　could　speak。　Together　we　staggered　back　across　the　room；　but　I　had　not　gone　more　than　half　way　when　my　legs　bent　under　me　and　I　sank　to　the　floor。　Dimly　I　saw　Harry's　face　above　me；　as　though　through　a　veil…then　another　face　that　came　close　to　my　own…and　a　voice：
　〃Paul！　My　love！　They　have　killed　him！〃
　Soft　white　arms　were　about　my　neck；　and　a　velvet　cheek　was　pressed　against　my　own。
　〃Desiree！〃　I　gasped。　〃Don't！　Harry！　No；　they　have　not　killed　me…〃
　Then　Harry's　voice：
　〃That's　all　right；　old　fellow。　I　know…I　have　known　she　loves　you。　This　is　no　time　to　talk　of　that。　Listen；　Paul…what　you　were　going　to　do　for　Desiree…if　you　can…they　will　be　back　at　any　moment…〃
　That　thought　kindled　my　brain；　I　raised　myself　onto　my　elbow。
　〃I　haven't　the　strength；〃　I　said；　hardly　knowing　how　I　spoke。
　〃You　must　do　it；　Harry；　you　must。　And　quick；　lad！　The　dagger！
　Desiree…the　dagger！〃
　What　followed　came　to　me　as　in　a　dream；　my　eyes　were　dim　with　the　exhaustion　that　had　overe　my　body。　Desiree's　face　disappeared　from　before　my　face…then　a　silence…then　the　sound　of　her　voice　as　though　from　a　distance：
　〃Harry…e！　I　can't　find　it！　I　dropped　it　when　I　ran　across…it　must　be　here…on　the　floor…〃
　And　then　another　sound　came　that　I　knew　only　too　well…the　sound　of　rushing；　pattering　feet。
　I　think　I　tried　to　rise　to　my　own　feet。　I　heard　Harry's　voice　crying　in　a　frenzy：　〃Quick…here　they　e！　Desiree；　where　is　it？〃
　There　was　a　ringing　cry　of　despair　from　Desiree；　a　swinging　oath　from　Harry；　and　the　next　instant　I　found　myself　pinned　to　the　floor　by　the　weight　of　a　score　of　bodies。
　
　Chapter　XIII。
　INTO　THE　WHIRLPOOL。
　
　I　hardly　know　what　happened　after　that。　I　was　barely　conscious　that　there　was　movement　round　me；　and　that　my　wrists　and　ankles　were　being　tightly　bound。　Harry　told　me　afterward　that　he　made　one　last　desperate　stand；　and　was　halted　by　a　cry　from　Desiree；　imploring　him　to　employ　the　club　in　the　intended　office　of　the　dagger。
　He　wheeled　about　and　raised　it　to　strike；　then　his　arm　dropped；　unable　to　obey　for　the　brutal　horror　of　it。　In　another　instant　he　and　Desiree；　too；　had　been　overpowered　and　carried　to　the　floor　by　the　savage　rush。
　This　he　told　me　as　we　lay　side　by　side　in　a　dark　cavern；　whither　we　had　been　carried　by　the　victorious　Incas。　I　had　expected　instant　death；　the　fact　that　our　lives　had　been　spared　could　have　but　one　meaning；　I　thought：　to　the　revenge　of　death　was　to　be　added　the　vindictiveness　of　torture。
　We　knew　nothing　of　Desiree's　fate。　Harry　had　not　seen　her　since　he　had　been　crushed　to　the　floor　by　that　last　assault。　And　instead　of　fearing　for　her　life；　we　were　convinced　that　a　still　more　horrible　doom　was　to　be　hers；　and　hoped　only　that　she　would　find　the　means　to　avoid　it　by　the　only　possible　course。
　I　have　said　that　we　again　found　ourselves　in　darkness；　but　it　was　much　less　profound　than　it　had　been　before。　We　could　distinctly　see　the　four　walls　of　the　cavern　in　which　we　lay；　it　was　about　twelve　feet　by　twenty；　and　the　ceiling　was　very　low。　The　ground　was　damp　and　cold；　and　we　had　neither　ponchos　nor　jackets　to　protect　us。
　A　description　of　our　state　of　mind　as　we　lay　exhausted；　wounded；　and　bound　so　tightly　that　any　movement　was　impossible；　would　seem　to　betray　a　weakness。　Perhaps　it　was　so；　but　we　prayed　for　the　end…Harry　with　curses　and　oaths；　myself　in　silence。　There　is　a　time　when　misery　bees　so　acute　that　a　man　wants　only　deliverance　and　gives　no　thought　to　the　means。
　That　was　reaction；　and　gradually　it　lessened。　And　when；　after　we　had　lain　unconscious　for　many　hours　（we　can　hardly　be　said　to　have　slept）　they　came　to　bathe　our　wounds　and　bruises　and　bring　us　food　and　drink；　the　water　was　actually　grateful　to　our　hot；　suffering　flesh；　and　we　ate　almost　with　relish。　But　before　they　left　they　again　bound　our　wrists　firmly　behind　us；　and　tightened　the　cords　on　our　ankles。
　If　they　meditated　punishment　they　certainly　seemed　to　be　in　no　hurry　about　it。　The　hours　passed　endlessly　by。　We　were　cared　for　as　tenderly　as　though　we　had　been　wounded　rades　instead　of　vanquished　foes；　and　though　we　were　allowed　to　remain　on　the　damp；　hard　rock　of　the　cavern；　we　gradually　recovered　from　the　effects　of　that　gruesome　struggle　in　the　doorway；　and　our　suffering　bodies　began　to　feel　parative　fort。
　〃What　the　deuce　are　they　waiting　for？〃　Harry　growled；　after　one　of　their　visits　with　food　and　water。　〃Why　don't　they　end　it？〃
　〃Most　likely　because　a　well　man　can　appreciate　torture　better　than　a　sick　one；〃　I　answered；　not　having　seen　fit　to　speak　of　it　before。　〃You　may　be　sure　we'll　get　all　that's　ing　to　us。〃
　〃But　what　will　they　do？〃
　〃Heaven　knows。　They　are　capable　of　anything。　We'll　get　the　worst。〃
　There　was　a　silence；　then　Harry　said　slowly；　hesitating：
　〃Paul…do　you　think…Desiree…〃
　〃I　don't　think…I　dare　not　think　about　her；〃　I　interrupted。
　〃And　it　is　our　fault；　we　failed　her。　I　should　have　put　her　beyond　their　reach；　as　I　promised。　I　have　reproached　myself　bitterly；　Hal；　you　need　add　nothing。〃
　〃Do　you　think　I　would？　Only…there　is　something　else。　About　what　she　said　to　you。　I　knew　that；　you　know。〃
　I　was　silent；　he　continued：
　〃I　knew　it　long　ago。　Do　you　think　I　am　blind？　And　I　want　to　say　this　while　I　have　a　chance…it　was　unmon　good　of　you。　To　take　it　the　way　you　did；　I　mean。〃
　His　simplicity　made　me　unfortable；　and　I　made　no　answer。
　Indeed；　the　thing　was　beyond　discussion；　it　was　merely　a　bare　fact　which；　when　once　stated；　left　nothing　to　be　said。　So　I　refused　to　humor　Harry's　evident　desire　to　thrash　out　the　topic；　and　abruptly　changed　the　subject。
　We　must　have　lain　bound　in　that　cavern　little　short　of　a　week。
　Our　wounds　and　bruises　were　pletely　healed；　save　one　gash　on　Harry's　side　where　he　had　been　hurled　against　the　sharp　edge　of　one　of　the　stone　seats　as　he　had　been　borne　to　the　floor。　But　it　was　not　painful；　and　was　nearly　closed。　And　we　could　feel　the　return　of　strength　even　through　the　stiffness　caused　by　the　inactivity　of　our　muscles。
　We　had　given　up　wondering　at　the　delay　by　the　time　it　came　to　an　end。　When　they　finally　came　and　cut　our　bonds　and　led　us　from　the　cavern　we　felt　nothing　keener　than　a　mere　curiosity　as　to　what　awaited　us　at　the　end　of　our　journey。　For　myself；　there　was　a　distinct　sensation　of　thankfulness　that　uncertainty　was　to　end。
　They　took　no　chances　with　us；　but　paid　us　the　pliment　of　a　truly　royal　escort…at　least；　in　number。　There　could　not　have　been　less　than　two　hundred　of　them　in　front；　behind；　and　on　either　side；　as　we　left　the