rs.undertheandes-第25部分

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　thick　and　heats　slowly。〃
　〃But　what…that　means…〃
　〃It　means　one　of　two　things。　In　a　few　minutes　this　floor　will　be　baking　hot。　Then　we　either　fry　on　their　stone　griddle　or　drown　in　the　lake。　You　see　the　distance　below…only　a　man　crazed　by　suffering　or　one　incredibly　brave　would　take　that　leap。　This　is　their　little　entertainment…they　expect　us　to　dance　for　them。〃
　〃But　the　lake！　If　we　could　take　it　clean…〃
　I　saw　that　the　lake　was　our　only　chance；　if　there　could　be　said　to　be　any　in　so　desperate　a　situation。　To　be　sure；　there　seemed　to　be　no　possibility　of　escaping；　even　if　we　took　the　water　without　injury。　On　every　side　its　bank　was　lined　with　the　watching　Incas；　and　the　bank　itself　was　so　steep　that　to　ascend　it　would　have　required　wings。
　The　heat　began　to　be　felt　even　through　the　soles　of　our　heavy　boots；　involuntarily　I　lifted　one　foot；　then　the　other。　I　saw　the　Child　of　the　Sun　in　the　alcove　lean　forward　with　an　appreciative　grin。　Another　minute…　I　jerked　my　wits　together…never　did　my　brain　answer　with　better　speed。　And　then　I　remembered　that　flash　of　water　I　had　seen　under　the　spiral　stairway　at　the　base　of　the　column。　I　had　thought　at　the　time　that　it　might　be　connected　with　the　lake　itself。　If　that　were　so…　I　turned　to　Harry　and　conveyed　my　idea　to　him　in　as　few　words　as　possible　as　we　walked　up　and　down；　side　by　side。　It　was　impossible　longer　to　stand　still…the　stone　was　so　hot　that　the　bare　hand　could　not　be　held　against　it　for　an　instant。　I　saw　that　he　did　not　prehend　what　I　said　about　the　water　in　the　column；　but　he　did　understand　my　instructions；　and　that　was　all　that　was　necessary。
　We　ran　to　the　edge　of　the　column　nearest　the　alcove。
　Removing　our　woolen　knickerbockers…for　better　ease　in　the　water…we　placed　them　on　the　hot　stone；　and　on　top　of　them　our　boots；　which　we　had　also　removed。　Thus　our　feet　were　protected　as　we　stood　on　the　extreme　edge　of　the　column；　taking　a　deep　breath　for　strength　and　nerve。
　I　saw　the　thousands　of　black　savages…who　had　been　cheated　of　their　dance…crane　their　necks　forward　eagerly。
　I　saw　the　king　gesture　excitedly　to　an　attendant；　who　turned　and　flew　from　the　alcove。
　I　saw　Desiree　spring　up　from　the　golden　throne　and　run　to　the　edge　of　the　alcove；　crying　to　us　in　a　tone　of　despair。　But　I　did　not　hear　her　words；　for　I　myself　was　calling：
　〃Take　it　clean；　Hal。　Ready…go！〃
　The　next　instant　we　were　flying　headlong　through　the　air　toward　the　surface　of　the　lake　a　hundred　feet　below。
　Men　have　told　me　since　that　I　never　made　that　dive；　or　that　I　greatly　overestimated　the　distance；　and　I　admit　that　as　I　look　back　at　it　now　it　appears　incredible。　Well；　they　are　wele　to　their　opinion；　but　I　would　not　advise　them　to　try　to　argue　the　matter　with　Harry。
　The　impact　with　the　water　all　but　pletely　stunned　me；　as　I　struck　the　surface　it　seemed　that　a　thousand　cannons　had　exploded　in　my　ears。　Down；　down　I　went…lucky　for　us　that　the　lake　was　apparently　bottomless！
　I　seemed　to　have　gone　as　far　below　the　water　as　I　had　been　above　it　before　I　was　able　to　twist　myself　about　and　meet　it　with　my　belly。　Then；　striking　out　with　every　ounce　of　strength　in　me；　I　made　for　the　surface　as　rapidly　as　possible。　I　had　started　with　my　lungs　full　of　air；　but　that　headlong　plunge　had　emptied　them。
　I　made　the　surface　at　last　and　looked　round　for　Harry；　calling　his　name。　For　perhaps　thirty　seconds　I　called　in　vain；　then　there　came　an　unanswering　shout　off　to　the　left。　The　urns　were　far　above　us　now；　and　the　light　on　the　surface　of　the　lake　was　very　dim；　but　soon　I　made　out　Harry's　head。　He　was　swimming　easily　toward　me；　apparently　unhurt。
　〃All　right；　Hal？〃
　〃Right。　And　you？〃
　〃Sound　as　a　whistle。　Now　make　for　the　column。〃
　At　the　instant　that　we　turned　to　swim　toward　the　column　I　became　aware　of　a　strong　current　in　the　water　carrying　us　off　to　the　right。　It　was　inexplicable；　but　there　was　no　time　then　for　speculation；　and　we　struck　out　with　bold；　sweeping　strokes。
　The　Incas　had　left　the　stone　seats　and　advanced　to　the　water's　edge。　I　could　see　their　black；　sinister　faces；　thousands　of　them；　peering　intently　at　us　through　the　dim　light；　but　they　made　no　sound。
　Once　I　cast　a　glance　over　my　shoulder　and　saw　Desiree　standing　at　the　edge　of　the　alcove　with　her　clenched　fists　pressed　to　her　throat。　Beside　her　stood　the　Child　of　the　Sun。　Harry；　too；　saw　her　and　sent　her　a　shout　of　farewell；　but　there　was　no　answer。
　We　were　now　less　than　thirty　feet　from　the　column。　Its　jeweled　sides　sparkled　and　shone　before　us；　looking　up；　our　eyes　were　dazzled。　Something　struck　the　water　near　me。　I　glanced　to　the　right　and　saw　what　moved　me　to　hasten　my　stroke　and　call　to　Harry　to　do　likewise。
　The　black　devils　were　increasing　the　fun　by　hurling　stones　at　us　from　the　bank…apparently　with　the　kind　approval　of　Pachacamac。
　As　we　neared　the　column　the　current　which　tended　to　carry　us　to　the　right　became　stronger；　but　still　we　seemed　not　to　be　approaching　the　bank。　What　could　it　mean？　The　struggle　against　it　was　fast　taking　our　strength。
　Looking　up；　I　saw　that　we　had　swung　round　to　the　other　side　of　the　column…it　was　between　us　and　the　alcove。　Then　I　understood。
　We　were　in　a　whirlpool；　ever　increasing　in　force；　which　was　carrying　us　swiftly　in　a　circle　from　left　to　right　and　approaching　the　column。
　I　called　a　swift　warning　to　Harry；　who　was　some　ten　feet　to　my　left；　and　he　answered　that　he　understood。　The　stones　from　the　bank　were　falling　thick　about　us　now；　one　struck　me　on　the　shoulder；　turning　me　half　round。
　The　current　became　swifter…so　swift　that　we　were　almost　helpless　against　it　and　were　carried　around　and　around　the　column；　which　was　but　a　few　feet　away。　And　always　plete　silence。
　Nearer　and　nearer　we　were　carried；　till；　thrusting　out　my　arm；　the　tips　of　my　fingers　brushed　against　the　side　of　the　column。　The　water　whirled　with　the　rapidity　of　a　mill…stream；　ten　more　seconds　and　our　brains　would　have　been　dashed　against　the　unyielding　stone。
　It　was　now　but　half　an　arm's　length　away。　I　kept　thrusting　out　my　arm　in　a　wild　endeavor　to　avoid　it。
　Suddenly　my　outstretched　hand　found　a　purchase　in　a　break　in　the　wall；　but　the　force　of　the　water　tore　it　loose　and　swept　me　away。　But　when　I　reached　the　same　spot　again　I　thrust　out　both　hands；　and；　finding　the　edge；　held　on　desperately。　The　next　instant　Harry's　body　was　swept　against　mine；　doubling　the　strain　on　my　fingers。
　〃The　column！〃　I　gasped。　〃Inside…through　the　wall…opening…I　am　holding…〃
　He　understood；　and　the　next　moment　he；　too；　had　grasped　the　edge。　Together　we　pulled　ourselves；　little　by　little；　toward　the　opening；　for　our　strength　was　nearly　spent；　and　the　force　of　the　maelstrom　was　nigh　irresistible。
　It　was　as　I　had　thought。　The　base　of　the　column　consisted　merely　of　two　massive　pillars；　some　twelve　feet　in　length　and　circular　in　shape。　The　water　rushed　in　through　each　of　the　two　openings　thus　left；　and　inside　of　the　column　was　the　center　of　the　whirlpool；　sucking　the　water　from　both　sides。　The　water　I　had　seen；　I　had　not　counted　on　the　whirlpool。
　We　had　pulled　ourselves　round　till　our　bodies　rested　against　the　edge　of　the　opening；　clinging　to　either　side。　Inside　all　was　blackness；　but　we　could　judge　of　the　fury　of　the　maelstrom　by　the　force　of　the　current　outside。　Stones　hurled　by　the　Incas　were　striking　against　the　sides　of　the　column　and　in　the　water　near　us。
　We　were　being　hunted　from　life　like　dogs；　and　a　hot；　unreasoning　anger　surged　through　my　brain…anger　at　the　grinning　savages　on　the　bank；　at　the　whirling　black　water；　at　Harry；　at　myself。
　Whichever　way　we　looked　was　death；　and　none　worth　choosing。
　〃I　can't　hold…much　longer；〃　Harry　gasped。　〃What's　the　use…old　man…Paul…e…I'm　going…〃
　He　disappeared　into　the　black；　furious　whirlpool　with　that　word。　The　next　instant　my　own　fingers　were　torn　from　their　hold　by　a　sudden　jerk　of　the　water；　and　I　followed。
　
　Chapter　XIV。
　A　FISHING　PARTY。
　
　Water；　when　whirling　rapidly；　has　a　keen　distaste　for　any　foreign　object；　but　when　once　the　surface　breaks；　that　very　repulsion　seems　to　multiply　the　indescribable　fury　with　which　it　endeavors　to　bury　the　object　beneath　its　center。
　Once　in　the　whirlpool；　I　was　carried　in　a　swift　circle　round　its　surface　for　what　seemed　an　age；　and　I　think　could　not　have　been　less　than　eight　or　ten　seconds　in　reality。　Then　suddenly　I　was　turned　pletely　over；　my　limbs　seemed　to　be　torn　from　my　body；　there　was　a　deafening　roar　in　my　ears；　and　a　crushing　weight　pressed　against　me　from　every　side。
　Any　effort　of　any　kind　was　worse　than　useless；　as　well　as　impossible；　indeed；　I　could　hardly　have　been　said　to　be　conscious；　except　for　the　fact　that　I　retained　sufficient　volition　to　avoid　breathing　or　swallowing　the　water。
　The　pressure　against　my　body　was　terrific；　I　wondered　vaguely　why　life　had　not　departed；　since…as　I　supposed…there　was　not　a　whole　bone　left　in　my　body。　My　head　was　bursting　with　dizziness　and　pain；　my　breast　was　a　furnace　of　torture。
　Suddenly　the　pressure　lessened　and　the　whirling　movement　gradually　ceased；　but　still　the　current　carried　me　on。　I　struck　out　wildly　with　both　arms…in　an　effort；　I　suppose；　to　grasp　the　proverbial　straw。
　I　found　no　straw；　but　something　better…space。　Instinct　led　the　fight　to　reach　it　with　my　head　to　get　air；　but　the　swiftness　of　the　current　carried　me　again　beneath　the　surface。　My　arms　seemed　powerless；　I　was　unable　to　direct　them。
　I　hardly　know　what　happened　after　that。　A　feeling　of　most　intense　suffocation　in　my　chest；　a　relaxation　of　all　my　muscles；　a　sensation　of　light　in　my　smarting　eyes；　a　gentle　pressure　from　the　water　beneath；　like　the　rising　gait　of　a　saddle…horse；　and　suddenly；　without　knowing　why　or　when　or　how；　I　found　myself　lying　on　hard　ground；　gasping；　choking；　sputtering；　not　far　from　death；　but　nearer　to　life　than　I　had　thought　ever　to　be　again。
　I　lay　for　several　minutes　unable　to　move；　then　my　brain　awoke　and　called　for　life。　I　twisted　over　on　my　face；　and　moved　my　arms　out　and　in　with　the　motion　of　a　swimmer；　the　most　exquisite　pains　shot　through　my　chest　and　abdomen。　My　head　weighed　tons。
　Water　ran　from　my　nose　and　mouth　in　gurgling　streams。　The　roaring；　scarcely　abated；　pounded　in　my　ears。　I　was　telling　myself　over　and　over　with　a　most　i