rs.undertheandes-第16节

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ng　dwarfs；　nor　the　black；　motionless　lake；　nor　the　leaping　tongues　of　flame。　We　forgot　these　when　we　followed　the　gaze　of　that　terrifying　audience　and　saw　a　sight　that　printed　itself　on　my　brain　with　a　vividness　which　time　can　never　erase。　Closing　my　eyes；　I　see　it　even　now；　and　I　shudder。
　Exactly　in　the　center　of　the　lake；　in　the　midst　of　the　columns　of　fire；　was　a　fourth　column；　built　of　some　strangely　lustrous　rock。　Prisms　of　a　formation　new　to　me…innumerable　thousands　of　them…caused　its　sides　to　sparkle　and　glisten　like　an　immense　tower　of　whitest　diamonds；　blinding　the　eye。
　The　effect　was　indescribable。　The　huge　cavern　was　lined　and　dotted　with　the　rays　shot　forth　from　their　brilliant　angles。　The　height　of　this　column　was　double　that　of　the　others；　it　rose　straight　toward　the　unseen　dome　of　the　cavern　to　the　height　of　a　hundred　feet。
　It　was　cylindrical　in　shape；　not　more　than　ten　feet　in　diameter。　And　on　its　top；　high　above　the　surface　of　the　lake；　surrounded　by　the　mounting　tongues　of　flame；　whirled　and　swayed　and　bent　the　figure　of　a　woman。
　Her　limbs　and　body；　which　were　covered　only　by　long；　flowing　strands　of　golden　hair；　shone　and　glistened　strangely　in　the　lurid；　weird　light。　And　of　all　the　ten　thousand　reflections　that　shot　at　us　from　the　length　of　the　column　not　one　was　so　brilliant；　so　blinding；　as　the　wild　glow　of　her　eyes。
　Her　arms；　upraised　above　her　head；　kept　time　with　and　served　as　a　key　to　every　movement　of　her　white；　supple　body。　She　glided　across；　back　and　forth；　now　this　way；　now　that；　to　the　very　edge　of　the　dizzy　height；　with　wild　abandon；　or　slow；　measured　grace；　or　the　rushing　sweep　of　a　panther。
　The　thing　was　beauty　incarnate…the　very　idea　of　beauty　itself　realized　and　perfected。　It　was　staggering；　overwhelming。　Have　you　ever　stood　before　a　great　painting　or　a　beautiful　statue　and　felt　a　thrill…the　thrill　of　perception…run　through　your　body　to　the　very　tips　of　your　fingers？
　Well；　imagine　that　thrill　multiplied　a　thousandfold　and　you　will　understand　the　sensation　that　overpowered　me　as　I　beheld；　in　the　midst　of　that　dazzling　blaze　of　light；　the　matchless　Dance　of　the　Sun。
　For　I　recognized　it　at　once。　I　had　never　seen　it；　but　it　had　been　minutely　described　to　me…described　by　a　beautiful　and　famous　woman　as　I　sat　on　the　deck　of　a　yacht　steaming　into　the　harbor　of　Callao。
　She　had　promised　me　then　that　she　would　dance　it　for　me　some　day…　I　looked　at　Harry；　who　had　remained　standing　beside　me；　gazing　as　I　had　gazed。　His　eyes　were　opened　wide；　staring　at　the　swaying　figure　on　the　column　in　the　most　profound　astonishment。
　He　took　his　hand　from　my　shoulder　and　stood　erect；　alone；　and　I　saw　the　light　of　recognition　and　hope　and　deepest　joy　slowly　fill　his　eyes　and　spread　over　his　face。　Then　I　realized　the　danger；　and　I　endeavored　once　more　to　put　my　arm　round　his　shoulder；　but　he　shook　me　off　with　hot　impatience。　He　leaped　forward　with　the　quickness　of　lightning；　eluding　my　frantic　grasp；　and　dashed　straight　into　the　circle　of　blazing　light！
　I　followed；　but　too　late。　At　the　edge　of　the　lake　he　stopped；　and；　stretching　forth　his　arms　toward　the　dancer　on　the　column；　he　cried　out　in　a　voice　that　made　the　cavern　ring：
　〃Desiree！　Desiree！　Desiree！〃
　
　
　Chapter　IX。
　BEFORE　THE　COURT。
　
　I　expected　I　know　not　what　result　from　Harry's　hysterical　rashness：　confusion；　pandemonium；　instant　death；　but　none　of　these　followed。
　I　had　reached　his　side　and　stood　by　him　at　the　edge　of　the　lake；　where　he　had　halted。　Desiree　Le　Mire　stopped　short　in　the　midst　of　the　mad　sweep　of　the　Dance　of　the　Sun。
　For　ten　silent；　tense　seconds　she　looked　down　at　us　from　the　top　of　the　lofty　column；　bending　dangerously　near　its　edge。　Her　form　straightened　and　was　stretched　to　its　fullest　height；　her　white；　superb　body　was　distinctly　outlined　against　the　black　background　of　the　upper　cavern。　Then　she　stepped　backward　slowly；　without　taking　her　eyes　from　us。
　Suddenly　as　we　gazed　she　appeared　to　sink　within　the　column　itself　and　in　another　instant　disappeared　from　view。
　We　stood　motionless；　petrified；　how　long　I　know　not。　Then　I　turned　and　faced　our　own　danger。　It　was　time。
　The　Incas…for　I　was　satisfied　of　the　identity　of　the　creatures…had　left　their　seats　of　granite　and　advanced　to　the　edge　of　the　lake。　Not　a　sound　was　heard…no　mand　from　voice　or　trumpet　or　reed；　they　moved　as　with　one　impulse　and　one　brain。
　We　were　utterly　helpless；　for　they　numbered　thousands。　And　weak　and　starving　as　we　were；　a　single　pair　of　them　would　have　been　more　than　a　match　for　us。
　I　looked　at　Harry；　the　reaction　from　his　moment　of　superficial　energy　was　already　upon　him。　His　body　swayed　slightly　from　side　to　side；　and　he　would　have　fallen　if　I　had　not　supported　him　with　my　arm。　There　we　stood；　waiting。
　Then　for　the　first　time　I　saw　the　ruler　of　the　scene。　The　Incas　had　stopped　and　stood　motionless。　Suddenly　they　dropped　to　their　knees　and　extended　their　arms…I　thought…toward　us；　but　something　in　their　attitude　told　me　the　truth。　I　wheeled　sharply　and　saw　the　object　of　their　adoration。
　Built　into　the　granite　wall　of　the　cavern；　some　thirty　feet　from　the　ground；　was　a　deep　alcove。　At　each　side　of　the　entrance　was　an　urn　resting　on　a　ledge；　similar　to　those　on　the　columns；　only　smaller；　from　which　issued　a　mounting　flame。
　On　the　floor　of　the　alcove　was　a　massive　chair；　or　throne；　which　seemed　to　be　itself　of　fire；　so　brilliant　was　the　glow　of　the　metal　of　which　it　was　constructed。　It　could　have　been　nothing　but　gold。　And　seated　on　this　throne　was　an　ugly；　misshapen　dwarf。
　〃God　save　the　king！〃　I　cried；　with　a　hysterical　laugh；　and　in　the　profound　silence　my　voice　rang　from　one　side　of　the　cavern　to　the　other　in　racing　echoes。
　Immediately　following　my　cry　the　figure　on　the　throne　arose；　and　as　he　did　so　the　creatures　round　us　fell　flat　on　their　faces　on　the　ground。　For　several　seconds　the　king　surveyed　them　thus；　without　a　sound　or　movement；　then　suddenly　he　stretched　forth　his　hand　in　a　gesture　of　dismissal。　They　rose　as　one　man　and　with　silent　swiftness　disappeared；　seemingly　melting　away　into　the　walls　of　rock。　At　the　time　the　effect　was　amazing；　later；　when　I　discovered　the　innumerable　lanes　and　passages　which　served　as　exits；　it　was　not　so　difficult　to　understand。
　We　were　apparently　left　alone；　but　not　for　long。　From　two　stone　stairways　immediately　in　front　of　us；　which　evidently　led　to　the　alcove　above；　came　forth　a　crowd　of　rushing　forms。　In　an　instant　they　were　upon　us；　but　if　they　expected　resistance　they　were　disappointed。
　At　the　first　impact　we　fell。　And　in　another　moment　we　had　been　raised　in　their　long；　hairy　arms　and　were　carried　swiftly　from　the　cavern。　Scarcely　five　minutes　had　elapsed　since　we　had　first　entered　it
　They　did　not　take　us　far。　Down　a　broad　passage　directly　away　from　the　cavern；　then　a　turn　to　the　right；　and　again　one　to　the　left。　There　they　dropped　us；　quite　as　though　we　were　bundles　of　merchandise；　without　a　word。
　By　this　time　I　had　fairly　recovered　my　wits…small　wonder　if　that　amazing　scene　had　stunned　them…and　I　knew　what　I　wanted。　As　the　brute　that　had　been　carrying　me　turned　to　go　I　caught　his　arm。
　He　hesitated；　and　I　could　feel　his　eyes　on　me；　for　we　were　again　in　darkness。
　But　he　could　see…I　thanked　Heaven　for　it…and　I　began　a　most　expressive　pantomime；　stuffing　my　fingers　in　my　mouth　and　gnawing　at　them　energetically。　This　I　alternated　with　the　action　of　one　drinking　from　a　basin。　I　hadn't　the　slightest　idea　whether　he　understood　me；　he　turned　and　disappeared　without　a　sign…at　least；　without　an　audible　one。
　But　the　creature　possessed　intelligence；　for　I　had　barely　had　time　to　turn　to　Harry　and　ascertain　that　he　was　at　least　alive；　when　the　patter　of　returning　footsteps　was　heard。　They　approached；　there　was　the　clatter　of　stone　on　the　ground　beside　us。
　I　stood　eagerly；　a　platter；　heaped；　and　a　vessel；　full！　I　think　I　cried　out　with　joy。
　〃e；　Harry　lad；　eat！〃
　He　was　too　weak　to　move；　but　when　I　tore　some　of　the　dried　fish　into　fragments　and　fed　it　to　him　he　devoured　it　ravenously。
　Then　he　asked　for　water；　and　I　held　the　basin　to　his　lips。
　We　ate　as　little　as　it　is　possible　for　men　to　eat　who　have　fasted　for　many　days；　for　the　stuff　had　a　sharp；　concentrated　taste　that　remended　moderation。　And；　besides；　we　were　not　certain　of　getting　more。
　I　wrapped　the　remainder　carefully　in　my　poncho；　leaving　the　platter　empty；　and　lay　down　to　rest；　using　the　poncho　for　a　pillow。
　I　had　enough；　assuredly；　to　keep　me　awake；　but　there　are　bounds　beyond　which　nature　cannot　go。　I　slept　close　by　Harry's　side；　with　my　arm　across　his　body；　that　any　movement　of　his　might　awaken　me。
　When　I　awoke　Harry　was　still　asleep；　and　I　did　not　disturb　him。　I　myself　must　have　slept　many　hours；　for　I　felt　considerably　refreshed　and　very　hungry。　And　thirsty；　assuredly　the　provender　of　those　hairy　brutes　would　have　been　most　excellent　stuff　for　the　free…lunch　counter　of　a　saloon。
　I　unwrapped　the　poncho；　then；　crawling　on　my　hands　and　knees；　searched　about　the　ground。　As　I　had　expected；　I　found　another　full　platter　and　basin。　I　had　just　set　the　latter　down　after　taking　a　hearty　drink　when　I　heard　Harry's　voice。
　〃Paul。〃
　〃Here；　lad。〃
　〃I　was　afraid　you　h