rs.undertheandes-第35部分

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　Harry　had　again　caught　up　with　us；　and　as　he　ran　at　my　side　I　saw　him　raise　his　spear　aloft；　but　I　caught　his　arm　and　held　it。
　〃Desiree！〃　I　panted。
　Her　body　covered　the　only　part　of　the　thing　that　presented　a　fair　mark。　Harry　swore；　but　his　arm　fell。
　〃To　the　side！〃　he　gasped。　〃We　can't　get　at　it　here！〃
　I　saw　his　meaning　and　followed　at　his　heels　as　he　swerved　suddenly　to　the　right　and　sprang　forward　in　an　attempt　to　get　past　the　reptile's　head。
　But　in　our　eagerness　we　forgot　caution　and　went　too　close。　I　felt　one　of　the　snaky　tentacles　wrap　itself　round　my　legs　and　body；　and　raised　my　voice　in　a　warning　to　Harry；　but　too　late。　He；　too；　was　ensnared；　and　a　moment　later　we　had　both　been　lifted　bodily　from　the　ground　and　swung　through　the　air　to　the　side　of　Desiree。
　She　was　still　unconscious。
　I　writhed　and　twisted　desperately；　but　that　muscular　coil　held　me　firmly　as　a　band　of　steel；　tight　against　the　huge　and　hideous　head。
　Harry　was　on　the　other　side　of　Desiree；　not　three　feet　from　me。　I　could　see　his　muscles　strain　and　pull　in　his　violent　efforts　to　tear　himself　free。　I　had　given　it　up。
　But　suddenly；　quite　near　my　shoulder；　I　saw　the　lid　suddenly　begin　to　raise　itself　from　one　of　the　terrible　eyes。　I　was　almost　on　top　of　the　thing　and　a　little　above　it。　I　turned　my　head　aside　and　called　to　Harry。
　〃The　eye！〃　I　gasped。　〃To　your　right！　The　spear！　Are　your　arms　free？〃
　Then　as　I　saw　he　understood；　I　turned　a　quarter　of　the　way　round…as　far　as　I　could　get…and　raised　my　spear　the　full　extent　of　my　arm；　and　brought　it　down　with　every　ounce　of　my　strength　into　the　very　center　of　the　glowing　eye　beneath　me。
　At　the　same　moment　I　saw　Harry's　arm　descend　and　the　flash　of　his　spear。　The　point　of　my　own　had　sunk　until　the　copper　head　was　pletely　buried。
　I　grasped　the　shaft　and　pulled　and　twisted　it　about　until　it　finally　was　jerked　forth。　From　the　opening　it　had　made　there　issued　a　black　stream。
　Suddenly　the　body　of　the　reptile　quivered　convulsively。　The　head　rolled　from　side　to　side。　There　was　a　quick　tightening　of　the　tentacle　round　my　body　until　my　bones　felt　as　though　they　were　being　crushed　into　shapelessness；　and　as　suddenly　it　loosened。
　Other　tentacles　lashed　and　beat　on　the　ground　furiously。　The　reptile's　swift　backward　movement　halted　jerkily。　I　made　a　desperate　effort　to　tear　myself　free。　The　tentacle　quivered　and　throbbed　violently；　and　suddenly　flew　apart　like　a　released　spring；　and　I　fell　to　the　ground。
　In　an　instant　Harry　was　at　my　side；　and　we　both　leaped　forward　with　our　spears；　slashing　at　the　tentacle　which　still　held　Desiree　in　its　grasp。　Others　writhed　on　the　ground　about　our　feet；　but　feebly。　There　came　a　sudden　cry　from　Harry；　and　his　spear　clattered　on　the　ground　as　he　opened　his　arms　to　receive　Desiree's　unconscious　body；　which　came　tumbling　down　with　the　severed　coil　still　wrapped　about　it。
　But　there　was　life　in　the　reptile's　immense　body。　It　staggered　and　swayed　from　side　to　side　in　drunken　agony。　Its　monstrous　head　rolled　about；　sweeping　the　air　in　a　prodigious　circle。　The　poison　of　its　breath　came　to　us　in　great　puffs。　There　was　something　supremely　horrible　about　the　thing　in　its　very　helplessness；　and　I　was　shuddering　violently　as　I　stooped　to　help　Harry　lift　Desiree　from　the　ground　and　carry　her　away。
　We　did　not　go　far；　for　we　were　barely　able　to　carry　her。　We　laid　her　on　the　hard　rock　with　her　head　in　Harry's　lap。　Her　body　was　limp　as　a　rag。
　For　many　minutes　we　worked　over　her；　rubbing　her　temples　and　wrists；　and　pressing　the　nerve　centers　at　the　back　of　the　neck；　but　without　effect。
　〃She　is　dead；〃　said　Harry　with　a　curious　calm。
　I　shook　my　head。
　〃She　has　a　pulse…see！　But　we　must　find　that　water。　I　think　she　isn't　injured；　it　is　her　weakened　condition　from　the　lack　of　food　that　keeps　her　so。　Wait　for　me。〃
　I　started　out　across　the　cavern　in　the　direction　from　which　the　sound　of　the　water　appeared　to　e；　bearing　off　to　the　right　from　the　huge；　quivering　form　of　the　monster　whose　gigantic　body　rose　and　fell　on　the　ground　with　a　force　that　seemed　to　shake　the　very　walls　of　the　cavern。
　I　found　the　stream　with　little　difficulty；　not　far　away；　and　returned　to　Harry。　Together　we　carried　Desiree　to　its　edge。　The　blood　was　stubborn；　and　for　a　long　time　refused　to　move；　but　the　cold　water　at　length　revived　her；　her　eyes　slowly　opened；　and　she　raised　her　hand　to　her　head　with　a　faltering　gesture。
　But　she　was　extremely　weak；　and　we　saw　that　the　end　was　near　unless　nourishment　could　be　found　for　her。
　I　stayed　by　her　side；　with　my　arms　round　her　shoulders；　and　Harry　set　out　with　one　of　the　spears。　He　bore　off　to　the　left；　toward　the　spot　where　the　body　of　the　immense　reptile　lay；　I　was　too　far　away　to　see　it　in　the　darkness。
　〃It　isn't　possible　that　the　thing　is　fit　to　eat；〃　I　had　objected；　and　he　had　answered　me　with　a　look　which　I　understood；　and　was　silenced。
　Soon　a　sound　as　of　a　scuffle　on　the　rocks　came　through　the　darkness　from　the　direction　he　had　taken。　I　called　out　to　ask　if　he　needed　me；　but　there　was　no　answer。　Ten　minutes　longer　I　waited；　while　the　sound　continued　unabated。　Once　I　heard　the　clatter　of　his　spear　on　the　rock。
　I　was　just　rising　to　my　feet　to　run　to　the　scene　when　suddenly　he　appeared　in　the　semidarkness。　He　was　ing　slowly；　and　was　dragging　along　the　ground　what　appeared　to　be　the　form　of　some　animal。　Another　minute　and　he　stood　at　my　side　as　I　sat　holding　Desiree。
　〃A　peccary！〃　I　cried；　bending　over　the　body　of　the　four…footed　creature　that　lay　at　his　feet。　〃How　the　deuce　did　it　ever　get　down　here？〃
　〃Peccary…my　aunt！〃　observed　Harry；　bending　down　to　look　at　Desiree。　〃Do　peccaries　live　in　the　water？　Do　they　have　snouts　like　catfish？　This　animal　is　my　own　invention。　There's　about　ten　million　more　of　'em　over　there　making　a　gorgeous　banquet　off　our　late　lamented　friend。　And　now；　let's　see。〃
　He　knelt　down　by　the　still　warm　body　and　with　the　point　of　his　spear　ripped　it　open　from　neck　to　rump。　Desiree　stirred　about　in　my　arms。
　〃Gad；　that　smells　good！〃　cried　Harry。
　I　shuddered。
　He　dragged　the　thing　a　few　feet　away；　and　I　heard　him　slashing　away　at　it　with　his　spear。　A　minute　later　he　came　running　over　to　us　with　his　hands　full　of　something。
　That　was　not　exactly　a　pretty　meal。　How　Desiree；　in　her　frightfully　weakened　condition；　ever　managed　to　get　the　stuff　down　and　keep　it　there　is　beyond　me。　But　she　did；　and　I　was　not　behind　her。　And；　after　all；　it　was　fresh。　Harry　said　it　was　〃sweet。〃　Well；　perhaps　it　was。
　We　bathed　Desiree's　hands　and　face　and　gave　her　water　to　drink；　and　soon　after　she　passed　into　a　seemingly　healthy　sleep。
　There　was　about　ten　pounds　of　meat　left。　Harry　washed　it　in　the　stream　and　stowed　it　away　on　a　rock　beneath　the　surface　of　the　water。　Then　he　announced　his　intention　of　going　back　for　more。
　〃I'm　going　with　you；〃　I　declared。　〃Here…help　me　fix　Desiree。〃
　〃Hardly；〃　said　Harry。　〃Didn't　I　say　there　are　millions　of　those　things　over　there？　Anyway；　there　are　hundreds。　If　they　should　happen　to　scatter　in　this　direction　and　find　her；　she　wouldn't　stand　a　chance。　You　take　the　other　spear　and　stay　here。〃
　So　I　sat　still；　with　Desiree's　body　in　my　arms；　and　waited　for　him。　My　sensations　were　not　unpleasant。　I　could　actually　feel　the　blood　quicken　in　my　veins。
　Civilization　places　the　temple　of　life　in　the　soul　or　the　heart；　as　she　speaks　through　the　mouth　of　the　preacher　or　the　poet；　but　let　civilization　go　for　four　or　five　days　without　anything　to　eat　and　see　what　happens。　The　organ　is　vulgar；　but　its　voice　is　loud。　I　need　not　name　it
　In　five　minutes　Harry　returned；　dragging　two　more　of　the　creatures　at　his　heels。　In　half　an　hour　there　were　a　dozen　of　them　lying　in　a　heap　at　the　edge　of　the　water。
　〃That's　all；〃　he　announced；　panting　heavily　from　his　exertions。　〃The　rest　have　taken　to　the　woods；　which；　I　imagine；　is　quite　a　journey　from　here。　You　ought　to　see　our　friend…the　one　who　couldn't　make　his　eyes　behave。　They've　eaten　him　full　of　holes。　He's　the　most　awful　mess…sickening　beast。　He　didn't　have　a　bone　in　him…all　crumpled　up　like　an　accordion。　Utterly　spineless。〃
　〃And　who；　in　the　name　of　goodness；　do　you　think　is　going　to　eat　all　that？〃　I　demanded；　pointing　to　the　heap　of　bodies。
　Harry　grinned。
　〃I　don't　know。　I　was　so　excited　at　the　very　idea　of　a　square　meal　that　I　didn't　know　when　to　stop。　I'd　give　five　fingers　for　a　fire　and　some　salt。　Just　a　nickel's　worth　of　salt。　Now；　you　lie　down　and　sleep　while　I　cut　these　things　up；　and　then　I'll　take　a　turn　at　it　myself？〃
　He　brought　me　one　of　the　hides　for　a　pillow；　and　I　lay　back　as　gently　as　possible　that　I　might　not　awaken　Desiree。　Her　head　and　shoulders　rested　against　my　body　as　she　lay　peacefully　sleeping。
　I　was　awakened　by　Harry's　hand　tugging　at　my　arm。　Rising　on　my　elbows；　I　demanded　to　know　how　long　I　had　slept。
　〃Six　or　seven　hours；〃　said　Harry。　〃I　waited　as　long　as　I　could。　Keep　a　lookout。〃
　Desiree　stirred　uneasily；　but　seemed　to　be　still　asleep。　I　sat　up；　rubbing　my　eyes。　The　heap　of　bodies　had　disappeared；　no　wonder　Harry　was　tired！　I　reproached　myself　for　having　slept　so　long。
　Harry　had　arranged　himself　a　bed　that　was　really　fortable　with　the　skins　of　his　kill。
　〃That　is　great　stuff；〃　I　heard　him　murmur　wearily；　then　all　was　still。
　I　sat　motionless；　stiff　and　numb；　but　afraid　to　move　for　fear　of　disturbing　Desiree。
　Presently　she　stirred　again；　and；　bending　over　her；　I　saw　her　eyes　slowly　open。　They　met　my　own　with　a　curious；　steadfast　gaze…she　was　still　half　asleep。
　〃Is　that　you；　Paul？〃　she　murmured。
　〃Yes。〃
　〃I　am　glad。　I　seem　to　feel…what　is　it？〃
　〃I　don't　know；　Desiree。　What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃Nothing…nothing。　Oh。　it　feels　so　good…good…to　have　you　hold　me　like　this。〃
　〃Yes？〃　I　smiled。
　〃But；　yes。　Where　is　Harry？〃
　〃Asleep。　Are　you　hungry？〃
　〃Yes…no。　Not　now。　I　don't　know　why。　I　want　to　talk。　What　has　happened？〃
　I　told　her　of　everything　that　had　occurred　since　she　had　swooned；　she　shuddered　as　memory　returned；　but　forgot　herself　in　my　attempt　at　a　humorous　description　of　Harry's　valor　as　a　hunter　of　food。
　〃You　don't　need　to　turn　up　your　nose；〃　I　retorted　to　her　expressive　grimace；　〃you　ate　some　of　the　stuff　yourself。〃
　There　was　a　silence；　then　suddenly　Desiree's　voic