rs.undertheandes-第25节

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！


　That　became　our　routine。　During　the　many　weary　hours　that　followed　there　was　never　a　moment　when　one　of　us　was　not　seated　with　his　back　against　the　stone　across　the　doorway；　we　dared　not　trust　our　eyes。　Usually　Harry　and　Desiree　watched　together；　and；　when　I　relieved　them；　slept　side　by　side　on　the　couch。
　Sometimes；　when　we　were　all　awake；　Desiree　was　left　on　guard　alone；　but　Harry　and　I　were　never　both　asleep　at　the　same　time。
　An　estimate　of　the　time　we　spent　thus　would　be　the　wildest　guess；　for　time　was　heavy　and　passed　on　leaden　feet。　But　I　should　say　we　had　been　imprisoned　for　something　like　four　days；　possibly　five；　when　the　monotony　came　to　an　abrupt　end。
　I　had　e　off　watch；　and　Harry　and　Desiree　had　taken　my　place。　Before　I　lay　down　I　had　taken　some　water　to　the　prisoner；　for　we　had　some　time　before　admitted　the　necessity　of　giving　him　drink。　But　of　food　he　had　had　none。
　Harry　told　me　afterward　that　I　had　slept　for　two　or　three　hours；　but　it　seemed　to　me　rather　as　many　minutes；　when　I　was　awakened　by　the　sound　of　his　voice　calling　my　name。　Glancing　at　the　doorway；　I　sprang　to　my　feet。
　The　stone　was　slowly　rising　from　the　floor；　already　there　was　a　space　of　a　foot　or　more。　Desiree　and　Harry　stood　facing　it　in　silence。
　〃You　have　seen　nothing？〃　I　asked；　joining　them。
　〃Nothing；〃　said　Harry。　〃Here；　take　one　of　these　clubs。　Something's　up。〃
　〃Of　course…the　stone；〃　I　observed　facetiously；　yawning。
　〃Probably　nothing　more　important　than　a　bundle　of　quipos。　Lord；　I'm　sleepy！〃
　Still　the　stone　moved　upward；　very　slowly。　It　reached　a　height　of　two　feet；　yet　did　not　halt。
　〃This　is　no　quipos〃　said　Harry；　〃or　if　it　is；　they　must　be　going　to　send　us　in　a　whole　library。　Six　inches　would　have　been　enough　for　that。〃
　I　nodded；　keeping　my　eyes　on　the　ever…widening　space　at　our　feet。
　〃This　means　business；　Hal。　Stand　ready　with　your　club。　Desiree；　go　to　the　further　corner；　behind　that　seat。〃
　She　refused；　I　insisted；　she　stamped　her　foot　in　anger。
　〃Do　you　think　I'm　a　child；　to　run　and　hide？〃　she　demanded　obstinately。
　I　wasted　no　time　in　argument。
　〃You　will　go〃；　I　said　sternly；　〃or　I　shall　carry　you　and　tie　you。　This　is　not　play。　We　must　have　room　and　know　that　you　are　safe。〃
　To　my　surprise；　she　made　no　reply；　but　quietly　obeyed。　Then；　struck　by　a　sudden　thought；　I　crossed　to　where　she　stood　behind　a　stone　seat　in　the　corner。
　〃Here；〃　I　said　in　a　low　tone；　taking　the　little　jeweled　dagger　from　my　pocket　and　holding　it　out　to　her；　〃in　case…〃
　〃I　understand；〃　she　said　simply；　and　her　hand　closed　over　the　hilt。
　By　that　time　the　stone　was　half…way　to　the　top　of　the　doorway；　leaving　a　space　over　three　feet　high；　and　was　still　rising。　I　stood　on　one　side　and　Harry　on　the　other；　not　caring　to　expose　ourselves　immediately　in　front。
　Suddenly　he　left　his　post　and　ran　to　one　of　the　stone　seats　and　began　prying　at　the　blocks　of　granite。　I　saw　at　once　his　intention　and　our　mistake；　we　should　have　long　before　barricaded　the　door　on　the　inside。　But　it　was　too　late　now；　I　knew　from　experience　the　difficulty　of　loosening　those　firmly　wedged　blocks；　and　I　called　out：
　〃No　good；　Hal。　We　were　fools　not　to　have　thought　of　it　before；　but　there　is　no　time　for　it　now。　e　back；　I　couldn't　stop　'em　alone。〃
　Nevertheless；　he　continued　his　exertions；　and　succeeded　in　getting　one　of　the　blocks　partially　free；　but　by　that　time　the　doorway　was　almost　pletely　uncovered；　and　he　saw　the　folly　of　attempting　further。
　He　resumed　his　post　on　the　right　of　the　door…I　was　on　the　left。
　The　stone　appeared　to　be　going　faster。　It　reached　the　top…passed　it…and　quickly　swung　in　toward　the　wall　and　disappeared；　probably　to　rest　on　a　ledge　above。
　We　stood　waiting；　tense　and　alert。　The　open　doorway　gaped　on　the　black；　empty　corridor；　into　which　the　light　from　our　single　urn　shone　dimly。　We　could　see　or　hear　nothing；　no　indication　that　any　one　was　in　the　passage；　but　we　dared　not　look　out　in　that　darkness。
　The　suspense　was　trying　enough；　Harry　ripped　out　an　impatient　oath　and　made　a　movement　as　though　to　step　in　the　entrance；　but　I　waved　him　back。
　Then　came　the　avalanche；　with　a　suddenness　and　fury　that　nigh　overwhelmed　us。
　Crouching；　rushing　forms　filled　the　doorway　from　both　directions　and　leaped　savagely　at　us。　After　so　many　weary　days　of　dull　inaction　and　helpless；　hopeless　apathy；　a　mad　joy　fired　my　brain　and　thrilled　my　heart　as　I　raised　my　club　on　high　and　struck　a　blow　for　freedom　and　life。
　That　blow　crushed　the　skull　of　one　whose　fingers　were　at　my　throat；　and　he　dropped　like　a　log　at　my　feet；　but　his　place　was　already　filled。　Again　I　swung　the　club；　another　swayed；　toppling　against　the　doorway　and　leaning　there　with　the　blood　streaming　from　his　broken　head；　quite　dead；　but　held　erect　by　the　pressure　of　his　fellows　from　behind。
　If　the　doorway　had　been　but　a　foot　wider　we　would　have　been　overwhelmed　almost　instantly。　As　it　was；　but　three　or　four　could　get　to　us　at　once；　and　they　found　the　gold　which　their　ancestors　had　carried　from　the　temples　of　Huanuco　waiting　for　them。　My　arm　seemed　to　have　the　strength　of　a　hundred　arms；　it　swung　the　heavy　club　as　though　it　had　been　a　feather；　and　with　deadly　accuracy。
　Harry　fought　like　a　demon。　I　think　I　did　all　that　a　man　could　do；　but　he　did　more；　and　withal　more　coolly。　I　brought　down　my　club　on　heads；　shoulders；　chests；　and　rarely　failed　to　get　my　man。
　But　the　impact　of　Harry's　blows　was　like　the　popping　of　a　Maxim。　I　saw　him　reach　over　and　grasp　the　throat　of　one　who　had　his　teeth　set　in　my　shoulder；　and；　holding　him　straight　before　him　with　his　arm　extended；　break　his　neck　with　one　blow。　Again；　his　club　descended　on　one　black　skull　with　a　glancing　blow　and　shot　off　to　the　head　of　another　with　the　force　of　a　sledge…hammer。
　At　the　time　I　did　not　know　that　I　saw　these　things；　it　was　all　one　writhing；　struggling；　bloody　horror；　but　afterward　the　eyes　of　memory　showed　them　to　me。
　Still　they　came。　My　arm　rose　and　fell　seemingly　without　order　from　the　brain；　I　was　not　conscious　that　it　moved。　It　seemed　to　me　that　ever　since　the　beginning　of　time　I　had　stood　in　that　butcher's　doorway　and　brought　down　that　bar　of　gold　on　thick；　black　skulls　and　distorted；　grinning　faces。　But　they　would　not　disappear。　One　fell；　another　took　his　place；　and　another；　and　another；　and　another。
　The　bodies　of　those　who　fell　were　dragged　away　from　underneath。　I　did　not　see　it；　but　it　must　have　been　so；　or　soon　we　would　have　raised　our　own　barricade　for　defense…a　barricade　of　flesh。　And　there　was　none。
　I　began　to　weaken；　and　Harry　saw　it；　for　he　gasped　out：　〃Steady…Paul。　Take　it…easy。　They　can't…last…forever。〃
　His　blows　were　redoubled　in　fury　as　he　moved　closer　to　me；　taking　more　than　his　share　of　the　attack；　so　that　I　almost　had　time　to　breathe。
　But　we　could　not　have　held　out　much　longer。　My　brain　was　whirling　madly　and　a　weight　of　a　thousand　tons　seemed　dragging　me　remorselessly；　inevitably　to　the　ground。　I　kept　my　feet　through　the　force　of　some　crazy　instinct；　for　will　and　reason　were　gone。
　And　then；　for　an　instant；　Harry's　eyes　met　mine；　and　I　read　in　them　what　neither　of　us　could　say；　nor　would。　With　the　fury　of　despair　we　struck　out　together　in　one　last　effort。
　Whether　the　Incas　saw　in　that　effort　a　renewed　strength　that　spoke　of　immortality；　or　whether　it　happened　just　at　that　moment　that　the　pressure　from　behind　was　removed；　no　longer　forcing　them　to　their　death；　I　do　not　know。　It　may　have　been　that；　like　some　better　men；　they　had　merely　had　enough。
　From　whatever　cause；　the　attack　ceased　almost　with　the　suddenness　with　which　it　had　begun；　they　fell　back　from　the　doorway；　Harry　lunged　forward　with　raised　club；　and　the　forms　melted　away　into　the　darkness　of　the　corridor。
　Harry　turned　and　looked　at　me　as　I　stood　swaying　from　side　to　side　in　the　doorway。　Neither　of　us　could　speak。　Together　we　staggered　back　across　the　room；　but　I　had　not　gone　more　than　half　way　when　my　legs　bent　under　me　and　I　sank　to　the　floor。　Dimly　I　saw　Harry's　face　above　me；　as　though　through　a　veil…then　another　face　that　came　close　to　my　own…and　a　voice：
　〃Paul！　My　love！　They　have　killed　him！〃
　Soft　white　arms　were　about　my　neck；　and　a　velvet　cheek　was　pressed　against　my　own。
　〃Desiree！〃　I　gasped。　〃Don't！　Harry！　No；　they　have　not　killed　me…〃
　Then　Harry's　voice：
　〃That's　all　right；　old　fellow。　I　know…I　have　known　she　loves　you。　This　is　no　time　to　talk　of　that。　Listen；　Paul…what　you　were　going　to　do　for　Desiree…if　you　can…they　will　be　back　at　any　moment…〃
　That　thought　kindled　my　brain；　I　raised　myself　onto　my　elbow。
　〃I　haven't　the　strength；〃　I　said；　hardly　knowing　how　I　spoke。
　〃You　must　do　it；　Harry；　you　must。　And　quick；　lad！　The　dagger！
　Desiree…the　dagger！〃
　What　followed　came　to　me　as　in　a　dream；　my　eyes　were　dim　with　the　exhaustion　that　had　overe　my　body。　Desiree's　face　disappeared　from　before　my　face…then　a　silence…then　the　sound　of　her　voice　as　though　from　a　distance：
　〃Harry…e！　I　can't　find　it！　I　dropped　it　when　I　ran　across…it　must　be　here…on　the　floor…〃
　And　then　another　sound　came　that　I　knew　only　too　well…the　sound　of　rushing；　pattering　feet。
　I　think　I　tried　to　rise　to　my　own　feet。　I　heard　Harry's　voice　crying　in　a　frenzy：　〃Quick…here　they　e！　Desire