rs.undertheandes-第27部分

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ascination　at　that　silent；　crouching　figure。
　Suddenly　it　crouched　lower　still　against　the　black　background　of　the　boulder。
　〃Another　second　and　he　will　be　at　my　throat；〃　I　thought…but　I　stood　still；　unable　to　move。
　But　the　figure　did　not　spring。　Instead；　it　suddenly　straightened　up　to　almost　twice　the　height　of　an　Inca；　and　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　white　face　and　ragged；　clinging　garments。
　〃Harry！〃　I　whispered。　I　wonder　yet　that　it　was　not　a　shout。
　〃Thank　God！〃　came　his　voice；　also　in　a　whisper；　and　in　another　moment　he　had　reached　my　side。
　A　hurried　word　or　two…there　was　no　time　for　more…and　I　pointed　to　the　Incas　on　the　raft；　saying：　〃We　want　those　spears。〃
　〃I　was　after　them；〃　he　grinned。　〃What　shall　we　do？〃
　〃There's　no　use　taking　them　while　the　Incas　are　away；〃　I　replied；　〃because　they　would　soon　return　and　find　them　gone。
　Surely　we　can　handle　two　of　them。〃
　As　I　spoke　there　came　a　sound　from　the　lake…a　sudden　loud　splash　followed　by　a　motion　in　the　water。　I　looked　around　the　corner　of　the　boulder　and　saw　that　the　spears　again　found　their　mark。
　〃e；〃　I　whispered；　and　began　to　pick　my　way　toward　the　ledge。
　Harry　followed　close　at　my　heels。　It　was　easier　here；　and　we　soon　found　ourselves　close　to　the　shore　of　the　lake；　with　a　smooth　stretch　of　rock　between　us　and　the　fisherman's　landing…place。　The　urns；　whose　light　was　quite　sufficient　here；　were　about　fifty　feet　to　the　right　and　rear。
　The　Incas　had　made　their　kill　and　were　paddling　for　the　shore。
　As　they　came　near；　Harry　and　I　sank　back　against　the　boulder；　which　extended　to　the　boundary　of　the　ledge。　Soon　the　raft　was　beached　and　pulled　well　away　from　the　water；　and　the　fish…I　was　amazed　at　its　size…followed。
　They　drew　forth　the　spears　and　laid　them　on　the　ground；　as　they　had　done　formerly；　and；　laying　hold　on　the　immense　fish；　still　floundering　ponderously　about；　began　to　drag　it　toward　the　mouth　of　the　passage。
　〃Now；〃　whispered　Harry；　and　as　he　stood　close　at　my　side　I　could　feel　his　body　draw　together　for　the　spring。
　I　laid　a　hand　on　his　arm。
　〃Not　yet。　Others　may　be　waiting　for　them　in　the　passage。
　Wait　till　they　return。〃
　In　a　few　minutes　they　reappeared　in　the　light　of　the　flaming　urns。　I　waited　till　they　had　advanced　half…way　to　the　water's　edge；　some　thirty　feet　away。　Then　I　whispered　to　Harry：　〃You　for　the　left；　me　for　the　right；〃　and　released　my　hold　on　his　arm；　and　the　next　instant　we　were　bounding　furiously　across　the　ledge。
　Taken　by　surprise；　the　Incas　offered　no　resistance　whatever。
　The　momentum　of　our　assault　carried　them　to　the　ground；　their　heads　struck　the　hard　granite　with　fearful　force　and　they　lay　stunned。
　Harry；　kneeling　over　them；　looked　up　at　me　with　a　question　in　his　eyes。
　〃The　lake；〃　said　I；　for　it　was　no　time　for　squeamishness。
　Our　friend　the　king　thought　us　dead；　and　we　wanted　no　witnesses　that　we　had　returned　to　life。　We　laid　hold　of　the　unconscious　bodies；　dragged　them　to　the　edge　of　the　lake；　and　pushed　them　in。　The　shock　of　the　cold　water　brought　one　of　them　to　life；　and　he　started　to　swim；　and　we…well；　we　did　what　had　to　be　done。
　We　had　our　spears。　I　examined　them　curiously。
　The　head　appeared　to　be　of　copper　and　the　shaft　was　a　long；　thin　rod　of　the　same　material。　But　when　I　tried　it　against　a　stone　and　saw　its　hardness　I　found　that　it　was　much　less　soft；　and　consequently　more　effective；　than　copper　would　have　been。　That　those　underground　savages　had　succeeded　in　bining　metals　was　incredible；　but　there　was　the　evidence；　and；　besides；　it　may　have　been　a　trick　of　nature　herself。
　The　point　was　some　six　inches　long　and　very　sharp。　It　was　set　on　the　shaft　in　a　wedge；　and　bound　with　thin；　tough　strips　of　hide。
　Altogether；　a　weapon　not　to　be　laughed　at。
　We　carried　the　spears；　the　raft；　and　the　oars　behind　a　large　boulder　to　the　left　of　the　ledge　with　considerable　difficulty。　The　two　latter　not　because　we　expected　them　to　be　of　any　service；　but　in　order　not　to　leave　any　trace　of　our　presence；　for　if　any　searchers　came　and　found　nothing　they　could　know　nothing。
　We　expected　them　to　arrive　at　any　moment；　and　we　waited　for　hours。　We　had　about　given　up　watching　from　our　vantage　point　behind　the　boulder　when　two　Incas　appeared　at　the　mouth　of　the　passage。　But　they　brought　only　oil　to　fill　the　urns；　and　after　performing　this　duty　departed；　without　a　glance　at　the　lake　or　any　exhibition　of　surprise　at　the　absence　of　their　fellows。
　Every　now　and　then　there　was　a　motion　in　some　part　of　the　lake；　and　we　could　occasionally　see　a　black；　glistening　body　leap　into　the　air　and　fall　again　into　the　water。
　〃I'm　hungry；〃　Harry　announced　suddenly。　〃I　wonder　if　we　couldn't　turn　the　trick　on　that　raft　ourselves？〃
　The　same　thought　had　occurred　to　me；　but　Harry's　impulsiveness　had　made　me　fearful　of　expressing　it。　I　hesitated。
　〃We've　got　to　do　something；〃　he　continued。
　I　suggested　that　it　might　be　best　to　wait　another　hour　or　two。
　〃And　why？　Now　is　as　good　a　time　as　any。　If　we　intend　to　find　Desiree…〃
　〃In　the　name　of　Heaven；　how　can　we？〃　I　interrupted。
　〃You　don't　mean　to　say　you　don't　intend　to　try？〃　he　exclaimed。
　〃Hal；　I　don't　know。　In　the　first　place；　it's　impossible。　And　where　could　we　take　her　and　what　could　we　do…in　short；　what's　the　use？　Why　the　deuce　should　we　prolong　the　thing　any　further？
　〃In　the　world　I　refused　to　struggle　because　nothing　tempted　me；　in　this　infernal　hole　I　have　fought　when　there　was　nothing　to　fight　for。　If　civilization　held　no　prize　worth　an　effort；　why　should　I　exert　myself　to　preserve　the　life　of　a　rat？　Faugh！　It's　sickening！　I　wondered　why　I　wanted　those　spears。　Now　I　know。　I　have　an　idea　I'm　going　to　be　coward　enough　to　use　one…or　enough　of　a　philosopher。〃
　〃Paul；　that　isn't　like　you。〃
　〃On　the　contrary；　it　is　consistent　with　my　whole　life。　I　have　never　been　overly　keen　about　it。　To　end　it　in　a　hole　like　this…well；　that　isn't　exactly　what　I　expected；　but　it　is　all　one…after。
　Understand　me；　Hal；　I　don't　want　to　desert　you；　haven't　I　stuck？
　And　I　would　still　if　there　were　the　slightest　possible　chance。
　Where　can　we　go？　What　can　we　do？〃
　There　was　a　long　silence；　then　Harry's　voice　came　calmly：
　〃I　can　stay　in　the　game。　You　call　yourself　a　philosopher。　I　won't　quarrel　about　it；　but　the　world　would　call　you　a　quitter。
　Whichever　it　is；　it's　not　for　me。　I　stay　in　the　game。　I'm　going　to　find　Desiree　if　I　can；　and；　by　the　Lord；　some　day　I'm　going　to　cock　my　feet　up　on　the　fender　at　the　Midlothian　and　make　'em　open　their　mouths　and　call　me　a　liar！〃
　〃A　worthy　ambition。〃
　〃My　own。　And；　Paul；　you　can't…you're　not　a　quitter。〃
　〃Personally；　yes。　If　I　were　here　alone；　Hal〃…I　picked　up　one　of　the　spears　and　passed　my　palm　over　its　sharp　point…〃I　would　quit　cold。　But　not…not　with　you。　I　can't　share　your　enthusiasm；　but　I'll　go　fifty…fifty　on　the　rest　of　it；　including　the　fender…when　we　see　it。〃
　〃That's　the　talk；　old　man。　I　knew　you　would。〃
　〃But　understand　me。　I　expect　nothing。　It's　all　rot。　If　by　any　wild　chance　we　should　pull　out　in　the　end　I'll　admit　you　were　right。　But　I　eat　under　pulsion；　and　I　fight　for　you。　You're　the　leader　unless　you　ask　my　advice。〃
　〃And　I　begin　right　now；〃　said　Harry　with　a　grin。　〃First；　to　get　Desiree。　What　about　it？〃
　We　discussed　plans　all　the　way　from　the　impossible　to　the　miraculous　and　arrived　nowhere。　One　thing　only　we　decided…that　before　we　tried　to　find　our　way　back　to　the　great　cavern　and　the　royal　apartments　we　would　lay　in　a　supply　of　food　and　cache　it　among　the　boulders　and　ledges　where　we　then　were。　For　if　ever　a　place　were　designed　for　a　successful　defense　by　two　men　against　thousands　it　was　that　one。　And　we　had　the　spears。
　Still　no　one　had　appeared　in　the　cavern；　and　we　decided　to　wait　no　longer。　We　carried　the　raft　back　to　the　ledge。　It　was　fairly　light；　being　made　of　hide　stretched　tightly　across　stringers　of　bone；　but　was　exceedingly　clumsy。　Once　Harry　fell；　and　the　thing　nearly　toppled　over　into　the　lake　with　him　on　top　of　it；　but　I　caught　his　arm　just　in　time。
　Another　trip　for　the　oars　and　spears；　and　everything　was　ready。　We　launched　the　raft　awkwardly；　nearly　shipping　it　beneath；　but　finally　got　it　afloat　with　ourselves　aboard。　We　had　fastened　the　loose　ends　of　the　spear…thongs　about　our　waists。
　I　think　that　raft　was　the　craziest　thing　that　ever　touched　water。　It　was　a　most　excellent　diver；　but　was　in　profound　ignorance　of　the　first　principle　of　the　art　of　floating。
　After　a　quarter　of　an　hour　of　experimentation　we　found　that　by　standing　exactly　in　a　certain　position；　one　on　each　side　and　paddling　with　one　hand；　it　was　possible　to　keep　fairly　level。　If　either　of　us　shifted　his　foot　a　fraction　of　an　inch　the　thing　ducked　like　a　stone。
　We　finally　got　out　a　hundred　feet　or　so　and　ceased　paddling。
　Then；　exchanging　our　oars　for　the　spears；　we　waited。
　The　surface　of　the　lake　was　perfectly　still；　save　for　a　barely　perceptible　ripple；　caused　no　doubt　by　the　undercurrent　which　was　fed　by　the　stream　at　the　opposite　side。　The　urns　were　so　far　away　that　the　light　was　very　dim；　no　better　than　half　darkness。　The　silence　was　broken　by　the　sound　of　the　rushing　stream。
　Suddenly　the　raft　swayed　gently；　there　was　a　parting　of　the　water　not　a　foot　away　toward　the　front；　and　then…well；　the　ensuing　events　happened　so　quickly　that　their　order　is　uncertain。
　A　black　form　arose　from　the　water　with　a　leap　like　lightning　and　landed　squarely　on　the　raft；　which　proceeded　to　perform　its　favorite　dive。　It　would　have　done　so　with　much　less　persuasion；　for　the　fish　was　a　monster…it　appeared　to　me　at　that　moment　to　be　twenty　feet　long。
　On　the　instant；　as　the　raft　capsized；　Harry　and　I　lunged　with　our　spears；　tumbling　forward　and　landing　on　each　other　and　on　top　of　the　fish。　I　felt　my　spear　sinking　into　the　soft　fish　almost　without　resistance。
　The　raft　slipped　from　under；　and　we　found　ourselves　floundering　in　the　water。
　I　have　said　the　spear…thongs　were　fastened　about　our　waists。
　Otherwise；　we　would　have　let　the　fish　go；　but　we　could　hardly　allow　him　to　take　us　along。　That　is；　we　didn't　want　to　allow　it；　but　we　soon　found　that　we　had　nothing　to　say　in　the　matter。　Before　we　had　time　to　set　ourselves　to　stroke　we　were　being　towed　as　though　we　had　been　corks　toward　the　opposi