rs.undertheandes-第44部分

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　I　held　Harry　back；　almost　shouting：　〃You　stay　here；　guard　the　entrance。　I'll　get　her。〃
　〃No；〃　he　cried；　pushing　forward。　〃I　can't　stay。〃
　〃Fool！〃　I　cried；　dashing　him　back。　〃We　would　be　caught　like　rats　in　a　trap。　Defend　that　entrance…with　your　life！〃
　I　saw　him　hesitate；　and；　knowing　that　he　would　obey；　I　dashed　forward　into　the　tunnel。　When　nearly　to　its　end　I　made　a　misstep　on　the　uneven　ground　and　precipitated　myself　against　the　wall。　A　sharp　pain　shot　through　my　left　shoulder；　but　at　the　time　I　was　scarcely　conscious　of　it　as　I　picked　myself　up　and　leaped　forward。
　The　end　was　in　sight。
　Just　as　I　reached　the　foot　of　the　spiral　stairway　I　saw　a　black　form　descending　from　it。　That　Inca　never　knew　what　hit　him。
　I　did　not　use　my　spear；　time　was　too　precious。　He　disappeared　in　the　whirlpool　beneath　the　base　of　the　column　through　which　Harry　and　I　had　once　miraculously　escaped。
　But　despair　filled　my　heart　as；　with　my　feet　on　the　first　step　of　the　spiral　stairway；　I　cast　a　quick　glance　upward。　The　upper　half　of　the　inside　of　the　column　was　a　raging　furnace　of　fire。　How　or　from　what　it　came　I　did　not　stop　to　inquire；　I　bounded　up　the　stairway　in　desperate　fury。
　I　did　not　know　then　that　the　stone　steps　were　baking　and　blistering　my　feet；　I　did　not　know；　as　I　came　level　with　the　base　of　the　flames；　that　every　hair　was　being　singed　from　my　head　and　body…I　only　knew　that　I　must　reach　the　top　of　the　column。
　Then　I　saw　the　source　of　the　flames　as　I　reached　them。　Huge　vats　of　oil…six；　a　dozen；　twenty…I　know　not　how　many…were　ranged　in　a　circle　on　a　ledge　of　stone　encircling　the　column；　and　from　their　tops　the　fire　leaped　upward　to　a　great　height。　I　saw　what　must　be　done；　how　I　did　it　God　only　knows；　I　shut　my　eyes　now　as　I　remember　it。
　Hooking　the　rim　of　the　vat　nearest　me　with　the　point　of　my　spear；　I　sent　it　tumbling　down　the　length　of　the　column　into　the　whirlpool；　many　feet　below。　Then　another；　and　another；　and　another；　until　the　ledge　was　empty。
　Some　of　the　burning　oil；　flying　from　the　overturned　vats；　alighted　on　the　stairway；　casting　weird　patches　of　light　up　and　down　the　whole　length　of　the　column。　Some　of　it　landed　on　my　body；　my　face；　my　hands。　It　was　a　very　hell　of　heat；　my　lungs；　all　the　inside　of　me；　was　on　fire。
　My　brain　sang　and　whirled。　My　eyes　felt　as　though　they　were　being　burned　from　their　sockets　with　red…hot　irons。　I　bounded　upward。
　A　few　more　steps…I　could　not　see；　I　could　hardly　feel…and　my　head　bumped　against　the　stone　at　the　top　of　the　column。　I　put　out　my　hand；　groping　around　half　crazily；　and　by　some　wild　chance　it　came　in　contact　with　the　slide　that　moved　the　stone　stab。　I　pushed；　hardly　knowing　what　I　did；　and　the　stone　flew　to　one　side。
　I　stuck　my　head　through　the　opening　and　saw　Desiree。
　Her　back　was　toward　me。　As　I　emerged　from　the　opening　the　Incas　seated　round　the　vast　amphitheater　and　the　king；　seated　on　the　golden　throne　in　the　alcove；　rose　involuntarily　from　their　seats　in　astonished　wonder。
　Desiree　saw　the　movement　and；　turning；　caught　sight　of　me。　A　sudden　cry　of　amazement　burst　from　her　lips；　she　made　a　hasty　step　forward　and　fell　fainting　into　my　arms。
　I　shook　her　violently；　but　she　remained　unconscious；　and　this　added　catastrophe　all　but　unnerved　me。　For　a　moment　I　stood　on　the　upper　step　with　the　upper　half　of　my　body；　swaying　from　side　to　side；　extending　beyond　the　top　of　the　column；　then　I　turned　and　began　to　descend　with　Desiree　in　my　arms。
　Every　step　of　that　descent　was　unspeakable　agony。　Feeling　was　hardly　in　me；　my　whole　body　was　an　engine　of　pain。　Somehow；　I　staggered　and　stumbled　downward；　at　every　step　I　expected　to　fall　headlong　to　the　bottom　with　my　burden。　Desiree's　form　remained　limp　and　lifeless　in　my　arms。
　I　reached　the　ledge　on　which　the　vats　had　been　placed　and　passed　it；　air　entered　my　burning　lungs　like　a　breeze　from　the　mountains。　Every　step　now　made　the　next　one　easier。　I　began　to　think　that　I　might；　after　all；　reach　the　bottom　in　safety。　Another　twenty　steps　and　I　could　see　the　beginning　of　the　tunnel　below。
　Desiree's　form　stirred　slightly　in　my　arms。　A　glance　showed　me　her　eyes　looking　up　into　mine　as　her　head　lay　back　on　my　shoulder。
　〃Why？〃　she　moaned。　〃In　the　name　of　Heaven　above　us；　why？〃　I　had　no　time　for　answer；　my　lips　were　locked　tightly　together　as　I　sought　the　step　below　with　a　foot　that　had　no　feeling　even　for　the　stone。　We　were　nearly　to　the　bottom；　we　reached　it。
　I　placed　Desiree　on　her　feet。
　〃Can　you　stand？〃　I　gasped；　and　the　words　were　torn　from　my　throat　with　a　great　effort。
　〃But　you！〃　she　cried；　and　I　saw　that　her　eyes　were　filled　with　horror。　No　doubt　I　was　a　pitiful　thing　to　look　at。
　But　there　was　no　time　to　be　lost；　and；　seeing　that　her　feet　supported　her；　I　grasped　her　arm　and　started　down　the　tunnel　just　as　Harry's　voice；　raised　in　a　great　shout；　came　to　us　from　its　farther　end。
　〃No！〃　cried　Desiree；　shrinking　back　in　terror。　〃Paul…〃　I　dragged　her　forward。
　Then；　as　Harry's　cry　was　repeated；　she　seemed　to　understand　and　sprang　forward　beside　me。
　Another　second　wasted　and　we　would　have　been　too　late。　Just　as　we　reached　Harry's　side；　at　the　end　of　the　tunnel；　the　Incas；　warned　by　my　appearance　at　the　top　of　the　column；　appeared　above　on　the　stairway；　at　the　foot　of　which　Harry　had　made　his　stand。
　At　the　sight　of　Desiree　Harry　uttered　a　cry　of　joy；　then　gazed　in　astonishment　as　I　appeared　behind　her。
　〃Run　for　your　lives！〃　he　shouted；　pointing　down　the　passage　leading　to　the　apartments　beyond。　As　he　spoke　a　shower　of　spears　descended　from　above；　rattling　on　the　steps　and　on　the　ground　beside　us。　I　stooped　to　pick　up　two　of　them；　and　as　Desiree　and　I　darted　forward　into　the　passage；　with　Harry　bringing　up　the　rear；　the　Incas　dashed　down　the　stairway　after　us。
　We　found　ourselves　at　once　in　the　maze　of　lanes　and　passages　leading　to　the　royal　apartments。　That；　I　thought；　was　as　good　a　goal　as　any；　and；　besides；　the　way　led　to　the　cavern　where　we　had　once　before　successfully　withstood　our　enemies。　But　the　way　was　not　so　easy　to　find。
　Turn　and　twist　about　as　we　would；　we　could　not　shake　off　our　pursuers。　Harry　kept　urging　me　forward；　but　I　was　using　every　ounce　of　strength　that　was　left　to　me。　Desiree；　too；　was　being　weaker　at　every　step；　and　I　could　hear　Harry's　cry　of　despair　as　she　perceptibly　faltered　and　slackened　her　pace。
　I　soon　realized　that　we　were　no　longer　in　the　passage　or　group　of　passages　that　led　to　the　royal　apartments　and　the　cavern　beyond。
　But　there　was　no　time　to　seek　our　way；　well　enough　if　we　went　forward。　We　found　ourselves　in　a　narrow　lane；　strewn　with　rocks；　crooked　and　winding。
　Desiree　stumbled　and　would　have　fallen　but　for　my　outstretched　arm。　A　spear　from　behind　whistled　past　my　ear　as　we　again　bounded　forward。　Harry　was　shouting　to　us　that　the　Incas　were　upon　us。
　I　caught　Desiree's　arm　and　pulled　her　on　with　a　last　great　effort。　The　lane　became　narrower　still；　we　brushed　the　wall　on　either　side；　and　I　pushed　Desiree　ahead　of　me　and　followed　behind。
　Suddenly　she　stopped　short；　turning　to　face　me　so　suddenly　that　I　was　thrown　against　her；　nearly　knocking　her　down。
　〃Your　spear！〃　she　cried　desperately。　〃I　can　go　no　farther；〃　and　she　sank　to　the　ground。
　At　the　same　moment　there　came　a　cry　from　Harry　in　the　rear…a　cry　that　held　joy　and　wonder…and　I　turned　to　see　him　standing　some　distance　away；　gazing　down　the　lane　through　which　we　had　e。
　〃They've　given　up！〃　he　called。　〃They're　gone！〃
　And　I　saw　that　it　was　true。　No　sound　came；　and　no　Inca　was　to　be　seen。
　Then；　seeing　Desiree　on　the　ground；　Harry　ran　to　us　and　sprang　to　her　side。　〃Desiree！〃　he　cried；　lifting　her　in　his　arms。　She　opened　her　eyes　and　smiled　at　him；　and　he　kissed　her　many　times…her　hair；　her　lips；　her　eyes。　Then　he　placed　her　gently　on　her　feet；　and；　supporting　her　with　his　arm；　moved　forward　slowly。
　I　led　the　way。
　The　lane　ahead　of　us　was　scarcely　more　than　a　crevice　between　the　rocks；　I　squeezed　my　way　through　with　difficulty。　Then　the　walls　ended　abruptly；　just　when　I　had　begun　to　think　we　could　go　no　farther；　and　we　found　ourselves　at　the　entrance　to　a　cavern　so　large　that　no　wall　was　to　be　seen　on　any　side　save　the　one　behind　us。
　On　the　instant　I　guessed　at　the　reason　why　the　Incas　had　ceased　their　pursuit　so　abruptly；　and　I　turned　to　Harry：
　〃I'm　afraid　we've　jumped　from　the　frying…pan　into　the　fire。
　If　this　cavern　holds　anything　like　that　other…you　remember…〃
　〃If　it　does；　we　shall　see；〃　he　replied。
　Supporting　Desiree　on　either　side；　we　struck　out　directly　across　the　cavern；　halting　every　few　steps　to　listen　for　a　sound；　either　of　the　Incas；　which　we　feared；　or　of　running　water；　which　we　desired。　We　heard　neither。　All　was　blackness　and　the　most　plete　silence。
　Then　I　became　aware；　for　the　first　time；　of　intolerable　pains　shooting　up　through　my　legs　into　my　body。　The　danger　past；　reason　returned　and　feeling。　I　could　not　suppress　a　low　cry；　wrung　inexorably　from　my　chest；　and　I　halted；　leaning　my　whole　weight　on　Desiree's　shoulder。
　〃What　is　it？〃　she　cried；　and　for　answer…though　I　strained　every　atom　of　my　will　and　strength　to　prevent　it…I　toppled　to　the　ground；　dragging　her　with　me。
　What　followed　came　to　me　as　in　a　dream；　though　I　was　not　wholly　unconscious。　I　was　aware　that　Harry　and　Desiree　were　bending　over　me；　then　I　felt　my　head　and　shoulders　being　lifted　from　the　ground；　and　a　soft；　warm　arm　supporting　me。
　A　minute　passed；　or　an　hour…I　did　not　know…and　I　felt　hot　drops　of　moisture　fall　on　my　cheek。　I　struggled　to　open　my　eyes；　and　saw　Desiree's　face　quite　near　my　own；　my　head　was　resting　on　her　shoulder。　She　was　weeping　silently；　and　great　tears　rolled　down　her　cheeks　unrestrained。
　To　have　seen　the　sun　or　stars　shining　down　upon　me　would　not　have　astonished　me　more。　I　gazed　at　her　a　long　moment　in　silence；　she　saw　that　I　did　so；　but　made　no　effort　to　turn　her　head　or　avoid　my　gaze。　Finally　I　found　my　tongue。
　〃Where　is　Harry？〃　I　asked。
　〃He　is　gone　to　look　for　water；〃　she　replied；　and；　curiously　enough；　her　voice　was　quite　steady。
　I　smiled。
　〃It　is　useless。　I　am　done　for！〃
　〃That　isn't　true；〃　she　denied；　in　a　voice　almost　of　anger。
　〃You　will　get　well。　You　are…injured　badly…〃　After　a　short　pause　she　added；　〃for　me。〃