rs.undertheandes-第33部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


wall；　and　she　sat　there　with　her　back　propped　against　it；　breathing　heavily　from　the　exhaustion　of　terror。
　〃We　must　find　water；〃　I　said；　and　Harry　nodded；　hesitating。
　I　understood　him。　Danger　could　not　have　stayed　him　nor　fear；　but　the　horror　of　the　thing　which　roamed　about　the　cavern；　dark　as　darkness　itself　and　possessed　of　some　strange　power　that　could　not　be　withstood；　was　enough　to　make　him　pause。　For　myself　it　was　impossible；　I　was　barely　able　to　stand。　So　Harry　went　off　alone　in　search　of　water　and　I　stayed　with　Desiree。
　It　was　perhaps　half　an　hour　before　he　returned；　and　we　were　shaken　with　fear　for　him　long　before　he　appeared。　When　he　did　so　it　was　with　a　white　face　and　trembling　limbs；　in　spite　of　his　evident　effort　at　steadiness。
　〃There　is　water　over　there；〃　said　he；　pointing　across　the　cavern。　〃A　stream　runs　across　the　corner　and　disappears　beneath　the　wall。　There　is　nothing　to　carry　it　in。　You　must　e　with　me。〃
　〃What　has　happened？〃　I　asked；　for　even　his　voice　was　unsteady。
　〃I　saw　it；〃　he　replied　simply；　but　expressing　enough　in　those　three　words　to　cause　a　shudder　to　run　through　me。
　Then；　speaking　in　a　low　tone　that　Desiree　might　not　hear；　he　told　me　that　the　thing　had　confronted　him　suddenly　as　he　was　following　the　opposite　wall；　and　that　he；　too；　had　been　drawn　forward；　as　it　were；　by　a　spell　impossible　to　shake　off。　He　had　tried　to　cry　aloud；　but　had　been　unable　to　utter　a　sound。　And　suddenly；　as　before；　the　eyes　had　disappeared；　leaving　him　barely　able　to　stand。
　〃No　wonder　the　Incas　wouldn't　follow　us　in　here；〃　he　finished。
　〃We　must　get　out　of　this。　I'm　not　a　coward；　but　I　wouldn't　go　through　that　again　for　my　life。〃
　〃You　take　Desiree；〃　said　I。　〃I　want　that　water。〃
　He　led　us　around　the　wall　several　hundred　feet。　The　ground　was　level　and　clear　of　obstruction；　but　we　went　slowly；　for　I　could　scarcely　move。　Harry　kept　his　eyes　strained　intently　on　all　sides；　his　experience　had　left　him　more　profoundly　impressed　even　than　he　had　been　willing　to　admit　to　me。
　Soon　we　heard　the　low　music　of　running　water；　and　a　minute　later　we　reached　the　stream　Harry　had　found。
　The　fact　that　there　was　something　to　be　done　seemed　to　infuse　a　new　spirit　into　Desiree；　and　soon　her　deft　fingers　were　bathing　my　wounds　and　bandaging　them　as　well　as　her　poor　material　would　allow。
　The　cold　water　took　the　heat　from　my　pumping　veins　and　left　me　almost　fortable。　Harry　had　e　off　much　easier　than　I；　since　I　had　so　often　sent　him　ahead　with　Desiree；　and　myself　brought　up　the　rear　and　withstood　the　brunt　of　the　attack。
　As　Harry　had　said；　the　stream　cut　across　a　corner　of　the　cavern；　disappearing　beneath　the　opposite　wall；　forming　a　triangle　bound　by　two　sides　of　the　cavern　and　the　stream　itself。　I　saw　plainly　that　it　would　be　impossible　for　me　to　move　any　distance　for　at　least　a　few　days；　and　that　triangle　appeared　to　offer　the　safest　and　most　fortable　retreat。
　I　spoke　to　Harry；　and　he　waded　across　the　stream　to　try　its　depth。　From　the　other　side　he　called　that　the　water　was　at　no　point　more　than　waist…high；　and　Desiree　and　I　started　to　cross；　but　about　the　middle　I　felt　the　current　about　to　sweep　me　off　my　feet。
　Harry　waded　in　and　helped　me　ashore。
　On　that　hard　rock　we　lay　for　many　weary　hours。　We　had　no　food；　but　for　that　I　would　soon　have　been　myself　again；　for；　though　my　wounds　were　numerous；　they　were　little　more　than　scratches；　with　the　exception　of　the　gash　on　my　shoulder。　Weakened　as　I　was　by　loss　of　blood；　and　lacking　nourishment；　I　improved　but　slowly；　and　only　the　cold　water　kept　the　fever　from　me。
　Twice　Harry　went　out　in　search　of　food　and　of　an　exit　from　the　cavern。　The　first　time　he　was　away　for　several　hours；　and　returned　exhausted　and　empty…handed　and　without　having　found　any　exit　other　than　the　one　by　which　we　had　entered。
　He　had　ventured　through　that　far　enough　to　see　a　group　of　Incas　on　watch　at　the　other　end。　They　had　seen　him　and　sprung　after　him；　but　he　had　returned　without　injury；　and　at　the　entrance　into　the　cavern　where　we　lay　they　had　halted　abruptly。
　The　second　time　he　was　gone　out　more　than　half　an　hour；　and　the　instant　I　saw　his　face　when　he　returned　I　knew　what　had　happened。
　But　I　was　not　in　the　best　of　humor；　his　terror　appeared　to　me　to　be　ridiculously　childish；　and　I　said　so　in　no　uncertain　terms。
　But　he　was　too　profoundly　agitated　to　show　any　anger。
　〃You　don't　know；　you　don't　know；〃　was　all　he　said　in　answer　to　me；　then　he　added；　〃I　can't　stand　this　any　longer。　I　tell　you　we've　got　to　get　out　of　here。　You　don't　know　how　awful…〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Desiree；　looking　at　me。
　〃But　I　can　scarcely　walk；〃　I　objected。
　〃True；〃　said　Harry。　〃I　know。　But　we　can　help　you。　There　must　be　another　exit；　and　we'll　start　now。〃
　〃Very　well；〃　I　said　quite　calmly；　and　I　picked　up　one　of　the　spears　which　we　had　carried　with　us；　and；　rising　to　my　knees；　placed　the　butt　of　the　shaft　against　the　wall　near　which　I　lay。
　But　Harry　saw　my　purpose；　and　was　too　quick　for　me。　He　sprang　across　and　snatched　the　spear　from　my　hand　and　threw　it　on　the　ground　a　dozen　feet　away。
　〃Are　you　crazy？〃　he　shouted　angrily。
　〃No；〃　I　answered；　〃but　I　am　little　better；　and　I　doubt　if　I　shall　be。　e…why　not？　I　hinder　you　and　bee　bored　with　myself。〃
　〃You　blame　me；〃　he　said　bitterly；　〃but　I　tell　you　you　don't　know。　Very　well…we　stay。　You　must　give　me　your　promise　not　to　act　the　fool。〃
　〃In　any　event；　you　must　go　soon；〃　I　answered；　〃or　starve　to　death。　Perhaps　in　another　twenty…four　hours　I　shall　be　stronger。
　e；　Desiree；　will　that　satisfy　you？〃
　She　did　not　answer；　her　back　was　turned　to　us　as　she　stood　gazing　across　the　stream　into　the　depths　of　the　cavern。　There　was　a　curious　tenseness　in　her　attitude　that　made　me　follow　her　gaze；　and　what　I　saw　left　me　with　no　wonder　at　it…a　huge；　black；　indistinct　form　that　moved　slowly　toward　us　through　the　darkness。
　Harry　caught　sight　of　it　at　the　same　moment　as　myself；　and　on　the　instant　he　turned　about；　covering　his　face　with　his　hands；　and　called　to　Desiree　and　me　to　do　likewise。
　Desiree　obeyed；　I　had　risen　to　my　knees　and　remained　so；　gazing　straight　ahead；　ready　for　a　bat　if　it　were　not　a　physical　one。　I　will　not　say　that　a　certain　feeling　of　dread　did　not　rise　in　my　heart；　but　I　intended　to　show　Desiree　and　Harry　the　childishness　of　their　terror。
　Nothing　could　be　seen　but　the　uncertain　outline　of　the　immense　bulk；　but　the　same　penetrating；　sickening　odor　that　had　before　all　but　suffocated　me　came　faintly　across　the　surface　of　the　stream；　growing　stronger　with　each　second　that　passed。　Suddenly　the　eyes　appeared…two　glowing　orbs　of　fire　that　caught　my　gaze　and　held　it　as　with　a　chain。
　I　did　not　attempt　to　avoid　it；　but　returned　the　gaze　with　another　as　steadfast。　I　was　telling　myself：　〃Let　us　see　this　trick　and　play　one　stronger。〃　My　nerves　centered　throbbingly　back　of　my　eyes；　and　I　gave　them　the　whole　force　of　my　will。
　The　thing　came　closer　and　the　eyes　seemed　to　burn　into　my　very　brain。　With　a　great　effort　I　brought　myself　back　to　control；　dropping　to　my　hands　and　knees　and　gripping　the　ground　for　strength。
　〃This　is　nothing；　this　is　nothing；〃　I　kept　saying　to　myself　aloud…until　I　realized　suddenly　that　my　voice　had　risen　almost　to　a　scream；　and　I　locked　my　teeth　tight　on　my　lip。
　I　no　longer　returned　the　gaze　from　my　own　power；　it　held　me　of　itself。　I　felt　my　brain　grow　curiously　numb　and　every　muscle　in　my　body　contracted　with　a　pain　almost　unbearable。　Still　the　thing　came　closer　and　closer；　and　it　seemed　to　me；　half　dazed　as　I　was；　that　it　advanced　much　faster　than　before。
　Then　suddenly　I　felt　a　sensation　of　cold　and　moisture　on　my　arms　and　legs　and　a　pressure　against　my　body；　and　I　realized；　as　in　a　dream；　that　I　had　entered　the　stream　of　water！
　I　was　crawling　toward　the　thing　on　my　hands　and　knees；　without　having　even　been　conscious　that　I　had　moved。
　That　brought　despair　and　a　last　supreme　struggle　to　resist　whatever　mysterious　power　it　was　that　dragged　me　forward。
　Cold　beads　of　sweat　rolled　from　my　forehead。　Beneath　the　surface　of　the　water　my　hands　gripped　the　rocks　as　in　a　vise。　My　teeth　had　sunk　deep　into　my　lower　lip　and　covered　my　chin　with　blood；　though　I　did　not　know　that　till　afterward。
　But　I　was　pulled　loose　from　my　hold；　and　forward。　I　bent　the　whole　force　of　my　will　to　the　effort　not　to　move；　but　my　hand　left　the　rock　and　crept　forward。　I　was　fully　conscious　of　what　I　was　doing。　I　knew　that　if　I　could　once　draw　my　eyes　away　from　that　pelling　gaze　the　spell　would　be　broken；　but　the　power　to　do　so　was　not　in　me。
　The　thing　had　halted　on　the　farther　bank　of　the　stream。　Still　I　moved　forward。　The　water　now　lapped　against　my　chest；　soon　it　was　about　my　shoulders。
　I　was　fully　conscious　of　the　fact　that　in　another　ten　feet　the　surface　would　close　over　my　head；　and　that　I　had　not　the　strength　to　swim　or　fight　the　current；　but　still　I　went　forward。　I　tried　to　cry　out；　but　could　force　no　sound　through　my　lips。
　Then　suddenly　the　eyes　began　to　disappear。　But　that　at　least　was　prehensible；　for　I　could　distinctly　see　the　black　and　heavy　lids　closing　over　them；　like　the　curtain　on　a　stage。　They　fell　slowly。
　The　eyes　became　half　moons；　then　narrowed　to　a　thin　slit。　I　rose；　panting　like　a　man　exhausted　with　extreme　and　prolonged　physical　exertion。
　The　eyes　were　gone。
　A　mad　impulse　rushed　into　my　brain　to　dash　forward　and　touch　the　monster；　to　see　if　that　dim；　black　form　were　really　a　thing　of　flesh　and　blood　or　some　contrivance　of　the　devil。　I　smile　at　that　phrase　as　I　write　it　now　in　my　study；　but　I　did　not　smile　then。　I　was　standing　above　my　knees　in　the　water；　trembling　from　head　to　foot；　divided　between　the　impulse　to　go　forward　and　the　inclination　to　flee　in　terror。
　I　did　neither；　I　stood　still。　I　could　see　the　thing　with　a　fair　amount　of　distinctness　and　forced　my　brain　to　take　the　record　of　my　eyes。　But　I　could　make　nothing　of　it。
　I　guessed　at　rather　than　saw　a　hideous　head　rolling　from　side　to　side　at　the　end　of　a　long　and　sinuous　neck；　and　writhing；　reptilian　coils　lashing　the　rock　at　the　edge　of　the　water；　like　the　tentacles　of　an　octopus；　only　many　times　larger。　The　body　itself　was　larger　than　that　of　any　animal　I　had　ever　seen；　and　blacker　even　than　the　darkness。
　Suddenly　the　h