rs.undertheandes-第24部分

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less　than　two　hundred　of　them　in　front；　behind；　and　on　either　side；　as　we　left　the　cavern　and　proceeded　along　a　narrow；　winding　passage　to　the　left。
　Once；　as　we　started；　we　stretched　our　arms　high　and　stood　on　tiptoe　to　relieve　the　stiffness　of　our　joints；　and　immediately　found　ourselves　clutched　on　every　side　by　a　score　of　hands。
　〃Gad！　We　seem　to　have　made　an　impression！〃　Harry　grinned。
　On　the　way　down　the　passage　we　marched　with　the　Prussian　goose…step；　and　felt　the　blood　quickening　to　life　in　our　legs　and　arms。
　We　had　proceeded　in　this　manner　for　some　ten　minutes　when　we　rounded　a　corner　which　I　recognized　at　once　by　the　peculiar　circular　formation　of　the　walls。　We　were　on　our　way　to　the　great　cavern…the　cavern　where　we　had　first　seen　Desiree；　and　where　later　she　had　won　the　toss　for　our　lives　and　then　preserved　them。
　Another　minute　and　we　had　reached　the　steps　leading　to　the　tunnel　under　the　lake。　Here　our　guards　seemed　in　doubt　as　to　just　what　to　do；　those　in　front　halted　and　stood　hesitant；　and　it　seemed　to　me　that　as　they　gazed　below　down　the　stone　stair　their　eyes　held　a　certain　shrinking　terror。　Then　one　came　up　from　behind　and　with　a　manding　gesture　ordered　them　to　descend；　and　they　obeyed。
　Harry　and　I　still　found　ourselves　surrounded　by　a　full　pany；　there　were　fifty　or　sixty　ahead　of　us　and　at　least　twice　that　number　behind。　The　idea　of　a　successful　struggle　was　so　patently　impossible　that　I　believe　it　never　entered　our　minds。
　There　was　further　delay　at　the　bottom　of　the　stairs；　for；　as　I　have　said　before；　the　tunnel　was　extremely　narrow　and　it　was　barely　possible　to　walk　two　abreast。　None　of　them　turned　back；　but　Harry　and　I　could　scarcely　restrain　a　laugh　at　the　sight　of　those　immediately　in　front　of　us　treading　on　the　toes　of　their　fellows　to　keep　out　of　our　way。　With　all　their　savage　brutality　I　believe　they　possessed　little　real　bravery。
　Five　minutes　more　and　we　had　reached　the　end　of　the　tunnel　and　found　ourselves　at　the　foot　of　the　spiral　stairway。　The　passage　was　so　blocked　by　those　ahead　that　we　were　unable　to　approach　it；　they　flattened　their　squatty　bodies　against　the　wall　and　we　were　forced　to　squeeze　our　way　past　them。
　There　we　stood；　barely　able　to　make　out　their　black　forms　against　the　blacker　wall；　when　the　one　who　appeared　to　be　the　leader　approached　and　motioned　to　us　to　ascend。　We　hesitated；　feeling　instinctively　that　this　was　our　last　chance　to　make　a　stand；　weighing　our　fate。
　That　was　a　dark　moment；　but　though　I　did　not　know　it；　Providence　was　with　us。　For；　happening　to　glance　downward；　beneath　the　spiral　stair…for　there　was　no　ground　immediately　beneath　it…I　saw　a　faint　glimmer　and　a　movement　as　though　of　a　dim　light　in　the　black；　yawning　space　at　my　feet。　（You　must　understand　that　we　were　now　inside　the　base　of　the　column　in　the　center　of　the　great　cavern。）
　Moved　either　by　curiosity　or　a　mand　of　Providence；　I　stooped　and　peered　intently　downward；　and　saw　that　the　movement　was　the　almost　imperceptible　reflection　of　a　stray　ray　of　light　from　above　on　the　surface　of　water。　At　the　time　I　merely　wondered　idly　if　the　water　came　from　the　same　source　as　that　in　the　lake　outside；　not　thinking　it　sufficiently　important　to　mention　to　Harry。
　Then　a　question　came　from　him：
　〃No　good；　Paul。　They　are　a　hundred　to　one；　and　we　are　empty…handed。　Do　we　go？〃
　〃There　is　nothing　else　to　do；〃　I　answered；　and　I　placed　my　foot　on　the　first　step　of　the　spiral　stair。
　Behind　us　came　the　guide；　with　a　dozen　others　at　his　heels。
　The　ascent　seemed　even　longer　and　more　arduous　than　before；　for　then　we　had　been　propelled　by　keen　curiosity。　Twice　I　stumbled　in　the　darkness；　and　would　have　fallen　if　it　had　not　been　for　Harry's　supporting　hand　behind　me。　But　finally　we　reached　the　top　and　stepped　out　into　the　glare　of　the　great　cavern。　I　saw　the　stone　slab　close　to　behind　us；　noiselessly；　and　wondered　if　I　should　ever　see　it　open　again。
　We　looked　about　us；　and　as　our　eyes　sought　the　alcove　in　the　wall　opposite；　we　gave　a　simultaneous　start　of　surprise；　and　from　Harry's　lips　came　a　cry；　half　of　gladness；　half　of　wonder。　For；　seated　on　the　golden　throne；　exactly　as　before；　was　Desiree。　By　her　side　was　seated　the　Inca　king；　round　them；　guards　and　attendants。
　We　gazed　at　her　in　astonishment；　but　she　did　not　look　at　us；　even　at　that　distance　we　could　see　that　her　eyes　were　lowered　to　the　ground。　Harry　called　her　name…there　was　no　answer。　Again　he　called；　and　I　caught　him　by　the　arm。
　〃Don't；　Hal！　She　can't　possibly　do　us　any　good；　and　you　may　do　her　harm。　If　she　doesn't　answer；　it　is　because　she　has　a　reason。〃
　He　was　silent；　but　not　convinced；　and　would　probably　have　argued　the　matter　if　our　attention　had　not　been　arrested　by　a　movement　in　the　alcove。
　The　king　rose　and　extended　an　arm；　and　the　Incas　who　filled　the　seats　surrounding　the　cavern　fell　flat　on　their　faces。
　〃We　don't　seem　to　have　thinned　them　out　any；〃　I　observed。　〃I　believe　there　are　actually　more　than　before。　Where　do　they　all　e　from？〃
　〃The　Lord　knows！〃
　〃And；　by　the　way；　it　is　now　apparent　why　they　waited　so　long　to　attend　to　us。　The　king　naturally　wanted　to　be　present　at　the　entertainment；　and　he　had　to　take　time　to　recover　from　his　little　fasting　operation。　But　now；　what　in　the　name　of…my　word；　the　thing　is　to　be　done　in　all　propriety！　Look！〃
　The　king　had　dropped　his　arm；　and　the　Incas　were　again　sitting　as　Nature　had　intended　they　should　sit；　instead　of　on　their　noses。
　And　four　attendants　had　approached　the　throne；　bearing　a　frame　of　quipos。
　〃So　we　are　to　have　a　fair　trial；〃　Harry　observed。
　〃With　the　king　for　judge。〃
　〃And　a　hundred　dead　rats　as　evidence。〃
　〃Right；　they　can't　get　even　with　us；　anyway；　there　are　only　two　of　us。　And　as　far　as　the　other　is　concerned；　I　have　an　idea。〃
　The　king　had　left　his　throne　and　approached　the　outer　edge　of　the　alcove；　until　he　stood　almost　directly　under　the　oval　plate　of　gold　representing　Pachacamac　or　the　unknown　god。
　To　this　he　knelt　and　made　a　succession　of　weird；　uncouth　gestures　that　suggested　a　lunatic　or　a　traveling　hypnotist。
　Evidently　the　good　Pachacamac　approved　whatever　suggestions　the　royal　priest　municated；　for　he　rose　to　his　feet　with　a　solemn　grin　and　strutted　majestically　to　the　rear；　facing　the　frame　of　quipos。
　It　was　evident　that　he　no　longer　had　faith　in　Desiree's　interpretation　of　the　divine　will　of　the　great　Pachacamac。　It　is　a　royal　privilege　to　be　able　to　judge　your　own　enemies。
　The　hand　of　the　Child　of　the　Sun　passed　slowly　up　and　down　the　frame　of　quipos；　betraying　a　mendable　reluctance。　It　touched　the　yellow　cord　and　passed　on；　grasped　the　white　and　dropped　it。
　〃The　old　hypocrite！〃　exclaimed　Harry　in　disgust。　〃Does　he　imagine　he　is　playing　with　us？〃
　Then　there　was　an　imperceptible　movement；　rather　felt　than　seen；　throughout　the　vast　assemblage；　and　Desiree　sank　back　on　her　throne　of　gold　with　a　shudder　as　the　king　severed　with　the　knife　the　black　cord　of　death　and　laid　it　on　the　ground　at　her　feet。
　I　looked　at　Harry；　his　face　became　slightly　pale；　but　his　eyes　met　mine　firmly；　speaking　of　a　fortitude　unconquerable。　Then　we　again　riveted　our　gaze　on　the　alcove　opposite。
　An　attendant　approached　from　the　rear　and　stood　before　the　golden　throne；　while　the　king　motioned　to　Desiree　to　take　up　the　black　cord。　For　a　moment　she　did　not　understand　him；　then　she　drew　back；　shaking　her　head　firmly。
　The　king　did　not　wait　to　argue　the　matter；　but　stooped　himself　and　picked　up　the　cord　and　handed　it　to　the　attendant；　who　received　it　with　a　great　show　of　respect　and　retired　to　the　rear；　where　a　motion　was　created　by　its　appearance。
　The　judgment　was　passed；　but　what　was　to　be　the　nature　of　the　execution？　That　uncertainty　and　the　weirdness　of　the　scene　gave　to　the　thing　an　air　of　unreality　that　shut　out　the　tragic　and　admitted　only　the　grotesque。
　I　have　many　times　in　my　life　felt　nearer　to　death　than　when　I　stood　on　the　top　of　that　lofty　column；　surrounded　by　the　thousands　of　squatting　dwarfs；　whose　black　bodies　reflected　dully　the　mounting　light　from　the　flaming　urns。
　I　cannot　say　what　we　expected；　for　we　knew　not　what　to　expect。
　Many　conjectures　entered　my　mind；　but　none　of　them　approached　the　fact。　But；　thinking　that　our　guide　might　now　return　at　any　moment　to　lead　us　below；　and　not　caring　to　be　surprised　by　an　attack　from　behind　on　that　narrow　precipice；　I　moved　across　to　the　rear；　where　I　could　keep　my　eyes　on　the　alcove　opposite；　and　at　the　same　time　watch　the　stone　slab　which　closed　the　opening　to　the　spiral　stairway。　A　word　to　Harry　and　he　joined　me。
　〃Perhaps　we　can　open　it　from　above；〃　he　suggested。
　〃Not　likely；〃　I　answered；　〃and；　anyway；　what's　the　use？〃
　He　knelt　down　and　tugged　at　it；　but　there　was　no　edge　on　which　to　obtain　a　purchase。　The　thing　was　immovable。
　Five　minutes　passed；　during　which　there　was　no　movement；　either　in　the　audience　on　the　stone　seats　or　in　the　alcove。　But　there　was　an　indefinable　air　of　expectancy　on　the　faces　of　the　king　and　those　surrounding　him；　and　I　kept　a　sharp　eye　on　the　stone　slab。
　Another　five　minutes　and　still　nothing　happened。　Harry　called　across　to　Desiree；　or　rather　began　to　call；　for　I　stopped　him　with　a　jerk。　It　was　impossible　for　her　to　aid　us；　and　her　situation　was　already　sufficiently　perilous。
　Then；　being　impatient；　I　decided　to　try　to　move　the　stone　slab　myself。　Kneeling　down；　I　placed　the　palms　of　my　hands　firmly　against　its　surface　and　pressed　with　all　my　weight。
　And　then　I　knew。　plete　prehension　flashed　through　my　brain　on　the　instant。　I　sprang　to　my　feet；　and　my　thought　must　have　shown　on　my　face；　for　Harry　looked　at　me　in　surprise；　demanding：
　〃What　is　it？　What　is　it；　Paul？〃
　And　I　answered　calmly：
　〃We're　caught；　Hal。　Like　rats　in　a　trap。　Oh；　the　black　devils！　Listen！　We　have　no　time　to　lose。　Bend　over　and　touch　the　palm　of　your　hand　to　the　ground。〃
　He　did　so；　plainly　puzzled。　Then　he　drew　his　hand　hastily　away；　exclaiming：　〃It's　hot！〃
　〃Yes。〃　I　spoke　quickly。　〃Our　boots　kept　us　from　feeling　it　before；　and　the　stone　doesn't　throw　out　enough　heat　to　feel　it　in　the　air。　They've　built　a　fire　under　us　in　the　column。　The　stone　is　thick　and　heats　slowly。〃
　〃But　what…that　means…〃
　〃It　means　one　of　two　things。　In　a　few　minutes