rs.undertheandes-第29部分

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　Again　we　sought　the　passage。　A　little　farther　on　it　was　crossed　by　another；　running　at　right　angles　in　both　directions。
　But　to　the　right　there　was　nothing　but　darkness；　and　we　turned　to　the　left；　where；　some　distance　ahead；　we　could　see　a　light　evidently　proceeding　from　a　doorway　similar　to　the　one　we　had　just　left。
　We　went　rapidly；　but　our　feet　made　scarcely　any　sound　on　the　granite　floor。　Still　we　were　incautious；　and　it　was　purely　by　luck　that　I　glanced　ahead　and　discovered　that　which　made　me　jerk　Harry　violently　back　and　flatten　myself　against　the　wall。
　〃What　is　it？〃　he　whispered。
　In　silence　I　pointed　with　my　finger　to　where　two　Incas　stood　in　the　passage　ahead　of　us；　just　without　the　patch　of　light　from　the　doorway；　which　they　were　facing。　They　made　no　movement；　we　were　as　yet　undiscovered。　They　were　about　a　hundred　feet　away　from　where　we　stood。
　〃Then　she's　here！〃　whispered　Harry。　〃They　are　on　guard。〃
　I　nodded；　I　had　had　the　same　thought。
　There　was　no　time　to　lose；　at　any　moment　that　they　should　chance　to　glance　in　our　direction　they　were　certain　to　see　us。　I　whispered　hastily　and　briefly　to　Harry。　He　nodded。
　The　next　instant　we　were　advancing　slowly　and　noiselessly；　hugging　the　wall。　We　carried　our　spears　ready；　though　we　did　not　mean　to　use　them；　for　a　miss　would　have　meant　an　alarm。
　〃If　she　is　alone！〃　I　was　saying　within　myself；　almost　a　prayer；　when　suddenly　one　of　the　Incas　turned；　facing　us　squarely；　and　gave　a　start　of　surprise。　We　leaped　forward。
　Half　a　dozen　bounds　and　we　were　upon　them；　before　they　had　had　time　to　realize　their　danger　or　move　to　escape　it。　With　a　ferocity　taught　us　by　the　Incas　themselves　we　gripped　their　throats　and　bore　them　to　the　floor。
　No　time　then　for　the　decencies；　we　had　work　to　do；　and　we　crushed　and　pounded　their　lives　out　against　the　stone　floor。　There　had　not　been　a　sound。　They　quivered　and　lay　still；　and　then；　looking　up　at　some　slight　sound　in　the　doorway；　we　saw　Desiree。
　She　stood　in　the　doorway；　regarding　us　with　an　expression　of　terror　that　I　did　not　at　first　understand；　then　suddenly　I　realized　that；　having　seen　us　disappear　beneath　the　surface　of　the　take　after　our　dive　from　the　column；　she　had　thought　us　dead。
　〃Bon　Dieu！〃　she　exclaimed　in　a　hollow　voice　of　horror。
　〃This；　too！　Do　you　e；　messieurs？〃
　〃For　you；〃　I　answered。　〃We　are　flesh　and　bone；　Desiree；　though　in　ill　repair。　We　have　e　for　you。〃
　〃Paul！　Harry；　is　it　really　you？〃
　Belief　crept　into　her　eyes；　but　nothing　more；　and　she　stood　gazing　at　us　curiously。　Harry　had　sprung　to　her　side；　she　did　not　move　as　he　embraced　her。
　〃Are　you　alone？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Good。　Here；　Harry…quick！　Help　me。　Stand　aside；　Desiree。〃
　We　carried　the　bodies　of　the　two　Incas　within　the　room　and　deposited　them　in　a　corner。　Then　I　ran　and　brought　the　spears；　which　we　had　dropped　when　we　attacked　the　Incas。　Desiree　stood　just　within　the　doorway；　seemingly　half　dazed。
　〃e；〃　I　said；　〃there　is　no　time　to　be　lost。　e！〃
　〃Where？〃　She　did　not　move。
　〃With　us。　Isn't　that　enough？　Do　you　want　to　stay　here？〃
　She　shuddered　violently。
　〃You　don't　know…what　has　happened。　I　want　to　die。　Where　are　you　going　to　take　me？〃
　〃Desiree；〃　Harry　burst　out；　〃for　Heaven's　sake；　e！　Must　we　carry　you？〃
　He　grasped　her　arm。
　Then　she　moved　and　appeared　to　acquiesce。　I　started　ahead；　Harry　brought　up　the　rear；　with　an　arm　round　Desiree's　shoulders。
　She　started　once　more　to　speak；　but　I　wheeled　sharply　with　a　mand　for　silence；　and　she　obeyed。
　We　reached　the　turn　in　the　corridor　and　passed　to　the　right；　moving　as　swiftly　and　noiselessly　as　possible。　Ahead　of　us　was　the　light　from　the　doorway　of　the　room　in　which　we　had　formerly　been　imprisoned。
　We　had　nearly　reached　it　when　I　saw；　some　distance　down　the　corridor；　moving　forms。　The　light　was　very　dim；　but　there　appeared　to　be　a　great　many　of　them。
　I　turned；　with　a　swift　gesture　to　Harry　and　Desiree　to　follow；　and　dashed　forward　to　the　light　and　through　the　doorway　into　the　room。　Discovery　was　inevitable；　I　thought；　in　any　event；　but　it　was　better　to　meet　them　at　the　door　to　the　room　than　in　the　open　passage。　And　we　had　our　spears。
　But　by　a　rare　stroke　of　luck　we　had　not　been　seen。　As　we　stood　within　the　room　on　either　side　of　the　doorway；　out　of　the　line　of　view　from　the　corridor；　we　heard　the　patter　of　many　footsteps　approaching。
　They　neared　the　doorway；　and　I　glanced　at　Harry；　pointing　to　his　spear　significantly。　He　gave　me　a　nod　of　understanding。　Let　them　e；　we　would　not　again　fall　into　their　hands　alive。
　The　footsteps　sounded　just　without　the　doorway；　I　stood　tense　and　alert；　with　spear　ready；　expecting　a　rush　momentarily。　Then　they　passed；　passed　altogether；　and　receded　down　the　corridor　in　the　direction　whence　we　had　e。　I　wanted　to　glance　out　at　their　number；　but　dared　not。　We　stood　still　till　all　was　again　perfectly　silent。
　Then　Desiree　spoke　in　a　whisper：
　〃It　is　useless；　we　are　lost。　That　was　the　king。　He　is　going　to　my　room。　In　ten　seconds　he　will　be　there　and　find　me　gone。〃
　There　was　only　one　thing　to　do；　and　I　wasted　no　time　in　discussing　it。　A　swift　mand　to　Harry；　and　we　dashed　from　the　doorway　and　down　the　corridor　to　the　left；　each　holding　an　arm　of　Desiree。　But　she　needed　little　of　our　assistance；　the　presence　of　the　Inca　king　seemed　to　have　inspired　her　with　a　boundless　terror；　and　she　flew；　rather　than　ran；　between　us。
　We　reached　the　bend　in　the　passage；　and　just　beyond　it　the　light…the　first　one　we　had　seen　on　our　way　in。　I　had　our　route　marked　on　my　memory　with　plete　distinctness。　Soon　we　found　ourselves　in　the　wide；　sloping　passage　that　carried　us　to　the　level　below；　and　in　another　five　seconds　had　reached　its　end　and　the　beginning　of　the　last　stretch。
　At　the　turn　Harry　stumbled　and　fell　flat；　dragging　Desiree　to　her　knees。　I　lifted　her；　and　he　sprang　to　his　feet　unhurt。
　She　was　panting　heavily。　Harry　had　dropped　his　spear　in　the　fall；　and　we　wasted　a　precious　minute　searching　for　it　in　the　darkness；　finally　finding　it　where　it　had　slid；　some　twenty　feet　ahead。　Again　we　dashed　forward。
　A　light　appeared　ahead　in　the　distance；　dim　but　unmistakable　…the　light　of　the　urns　in　the　cavern　for　which　we　were　headed。
　Suddenly　Desiree　faltered　and　would　have　fallen　but　for　our　supporting　arms。
　〃Courage！〃　I　breathed。　〃We　are　near　the　end。〃
　She　stopped　short　and　sank　to　the　ground。
　〃It　is　useless；〃　she　gasped。　〃I　hurt　my　ankle　when　I　fell。
　I　can　go　no　farther。　Leave　me！〃
　Harry　and　I　with　one　impulse　stooped　over　to　pick　her　up；　and　as　we　did　so　she　fainted　away　in　our　arms。　We　were　then　but　a　few　hundred　feet　from　our　goal；　the　light　from　the　urns　could　be　plainly　seen　gleaming　on　the　broad　ledge　by　the　lake。
　Suddenly　the　sound　of　many　footsteps　came　from　behind。　I　turned　quickly；　but　the　passage　was　too　dark。　I　could　see　nothing。
　The　sound　came　closer　and　closer；　there　seemed　to　be　many　of　them；　advancing　swiftly。　I　straightened　and　raised　my　spear。
　Harry　grasped　my　arm。
　〃Not　yet！〃　he　cried。　〃One　more　try；　we　can　make　it。〃
　He　thrust　his　spear　into　my　hand；　and　in　another　instant　had　thrown　Desiree's　unconscious　body　over　his　shoulder　and　was　staggering　forward　toward　the　cavern。　I　followed；　while　the　sound　of　the　footsteps　behind　grew　louder　and　louder。
　We　neared　the　end　of　the　passage；　we　reached　it；　we　were　on　the　ledge。　Even　with　Desiree　for　a　burden；　Harry　moved　so　swiftly　that　I　found　it　difficult　to　keep　up　with　him。　The　strength　of　a　god　was　in　him；　which　was　but　just；　since　he　had　his　goddess　in　his　arms。
　On　the　ledge；　near　the　edge　of　the　water；　stood　two　Incas。
　They　turned　at　our　approach　and　rushed　at　us。　Unlucky　for　them；　for　Harry's　example　had　fired　my　brain　and　put　the　strength　of　a　giant　in　me。
　To　this　day　I　don't　know　what　followed…whether　I　used　my　spear　or　my　fists　or　my　head。　I　know　only　that　I　leaped　at　them　in　irresistible　fury　and　left　them　stretched　on　the　ground　before　they　had　reached　Harry　or　halted　him。
　We　crossed　the　ledge　and　made　for　the　boulders　to　the　left。
　The　crevice　which　led　to　our　hiding…place　was　too　narrow　for　Harry　and　his　burden。　I　sprang　forward　and　grasped　Desiree's　shoulders；　he　held　her　ankles；　and　we　got　her　through　to　the　ledge　beyond。
　Then　I　leaped　back　through　the　crevice；　and　barely　in　time。
　As　I　looked　out　a　black；　rushing　horde　emerged　from　the　passage　and　dashed　across　the　ledge　toward　us。　I　stood　at　the　entrance　to　the　narrow　crevice；　spear　in　hand。
　They　appeared　to　have　no　sense　of　the　fact　that　my　position　was　impregnable；　but　dashed　blindly　at　me。　The　crevice　in　which　I　stood　and　which　was　the　only　way　through　to　the　ledge　where　Harry　had　taken　Desiree；　was　not　more　than　two　feet　wide。　With　unarmed　savages　for　foes；　one　man　could　have　held　it　against　a　million。
　But　they　came　and　I　met　them。　I　stood　within　the　crevice；　some　three　or　four　feet　from　its　end；　and　when　one　appeared　in　the　opening　I　let　him　have　the　spear。　Another　rushed　in　and　fell　on　top　of　the　first。
　As　I　say；　they　appeared　to　be　deprived　of　the　power　to　reason。
　In　five　minutes　the　mouth　of　the　crevice　was　pletely　choked　with　bodies；　some；　who　were　merely　wounded；　struggling　and　squirming　to　extricate　themselves　from　the　bloody　tangle。
　I　heard　Harry's　voice　at　my　back：
　〃How　about　it？　Want　some　help？〃
　〃Not　unless　they　find　some　gunpowder；〃　I　answered。　〃The　idiots　eat　death　as　though　it　were　candy。　We're　safe；　they　can　never　break　through　here。〃
　〃Are　they　still　ing？〃
　〃They　can't；　they've　blocked　the　way　with　their　smelly　black　carcasses。　How　is　Desiree？〃
　〃Better；　she's　awake。　I've　been　bathing　her　ankle　with　cold　water。　She　has　a　bad　sprain；　how　the　deuce　she　ever　managed　to　hobble　on　it　even　two　steps　is　beyond　me。〃
　〃A　sprain？　Are　you　sure？〃
　〃I　think　so；　it's　badly　swollen。　Maybe　only　a　twist；　a　few　hours　will　tell。〃
　I　heard　him　return　to　the　ledge　back　of　me；　I　dared　not　turn　my　head。
　Thinking　I　heard　a　sound　above；　I　looked　up；　but　there　was　nothing　to　fear　in　that　direction。　The　boulders　which　formed　the　sides　of　the　crevice　extended　straight　up　to　the　roof　of　the　cavern。　We　appeared；　in　fact；　to　be　fortified　against　any　attack。
　With　one　exception…hunger。　But　there　would　be　plenty　of　time　to　think　of　that；