benita-第42节
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their material was ample。 Before the evening they had blocked it
completely with a wall several feet in thickness； which wall they
supported on the inside with lengths of the firewood lashed across to
the old hinges and bolt…holes； or set obliquely against its face。
It was done； and they regarded their work with pride； although it
seemed probable that they were building up their own tomb。 Because of
its position at an angle of the passage； they knew that Meyer could
not get to it with a pole to batter it down。 Also； there was no loose
powder left； so his only chance would be to pull it to pieces with his
hands； and this； they thought； might be beyond his power。 At least；
should he attempt it； they would have ample warning。 Yet that day was
not to pass without another trouble。
Just as they had rolled up and levered into place a long fragment of
rock designed to prevent the ends of their supporting pieces of wood
from slipping on the cement floor； Mr。 Clifford uttered an
exclamation； then said：
〃I have wrung my back badly。 Help me to the tent。 I must lie down。〃
Slowly and with great pain they staggered up the cave； Mr。 Clifford
leaning on Benita and a stick； till； reaching the tent at last； he
almost fell on to the blankets and remained there practically
crippled。
Now began Benita's terrible time； the worst of all her life。 Every
hour her father became more ill。 Even before they took refuge in the
cave he was completely broken down； and now after this accident he
began to suffer very much。 His rheumatism or sciatica； or whatever it
was； seemed to settle upon the hurt muscles of his back； causing him
so much pain that he could scarcely sleep for ten minutes at a
stretch。 Moreover； he would swallow but little of the rough food which
was all Benita was able to prepare for him； nothing； indeed； except
biscuit soaked in black coffee； which she boiled over a small fire
made of wood that they had brought with them； and occasionally a
little broth； tasteless stuff enough； for it was only the essence of
biltong； or sun…dried flesh； flavoured with some salt。
Then there were two other terrors against she must fight； the darkness
and the dread of Jacob Meyer。 Perhaps the darkness was the worse of
them。 To live in that hideous gloom in which their single lamp； for
she dared burn no more lest the oil should give out； seemed but as one
star to the whole night； ah！ who that had not endured it could know
what it meant？ There the sick man； yonder the grinning skeletons；
around the blackness and the silence； and beyond these again a
miserable death； or Jacob Meyer。 But of him Benita saw nothing； though
once or twice she thought that she heard his voice raving outside the
wall which they had built。 If so； either he did not try to pull it
down； or he failed in the attempt； or perhaps he feared that should he
succeed； he would be greeted by a bullet。 So at last she gave up
thinking about him。 Should he force his way into the cave she must
deal with the situation as best she could。 Meanwhile； her father's
strength was sinking fast。
Three awful days went by in this fashion； and the end drew near。
Although she tried to force herself to it； Benita could not swallow
enough food to keep up her strength。 Now that the passage was closed
the atmosphere of this old vault； for it was nothing more； thickened
by the smoke of the fire which she was obliged to burn； grew poisonous
and choked her。 Want of sleep exhausted her； dread of what the morrow
might bring forth crushed her strong spirit。 She began to break down；
knowing that the hour was near when she and her father must die
together。
Once； as she slept awhile at his side； being wakened by his groaning；
Benita looked at her watch。 It was midnight。 She rose； and going to
the embers of the little fire； warmed up some of her biltong broth
which she poured into a tin pannikin。 With difficulty she forced him
to swallow a few mouthfuls of it； then； feeling a sudden weakness；
drank the rest herself。 It gave her power to think； and her father
dozed off into an uneasy sleep。
Alas！ thinking was of no use； nothing could be done。 There was no hope
save in prayer。 Restlessness seized Benita； and taking the lantern she
wandered round the cave。 The wall that they had built remained intact；
and oh！ to think that beyond it flowed the free air and shone the
blessed stars！ Back she came again； skirting the pits that Jacob Meyer
had dug； and the grave of the old monk； till she reached the steps of
the crucifix； and holding up her candle； looked at the thorn…crowned
brow of the Christ above。
It was wonderfully carved； that dying face was full of pity。 Would not
He Whom it represented pity her？ She knelt down on the topmost step；
and clasping the pierced feet with her arms； began to pray earnestly；
not for herself but that she might save her father。 She prayed as she
had never prayed before； and so praying； sank into a torpor or a
swoon。
It seemed to Benita that this sleep of hers suddenly became alive； in
it she saw many things。 For instance； she saw herself seated in a
state of trance upon that very step where now she knelt； while before
her stood her father and Jacob Meyer。 Moreover； something spoke in
her； she could not hear a voice； but she seemed to see the words
written in the air before her。 These were the words：
〃/Clasp the feet of the Christ and draw them to the left。 The
passage beneath leads to the chamber where the gold is hid； and
thence to the river bank。 That is the secret which ere I depart； I
the dead Benita； pass on to you； the living Benita； as I am
commanded。 In life and death peace be to your soul。/〃
Thrice did this message appear to repeat itself in the consciousness
of Benita。 Then； suddenly as she had slept； she woke again with every
letter of it imprinted on her mind。 Doubtless it was a dream； nothing
but a dream bred by the fact that her arms were clasping the feet of
the crucifix。 What did it say？ 〃Draw them to the left。〃
She did so； but nothing stirred。 Again she tried； and still nothing
stirred。 Of course it was a dream。 Why had such been sent to mock her？
In a kind of mad irritation she put out all her remaining strength and
wrestled with those stony feet。 /They moved a little/then of a
sudden； without any further effort on her part； swung round as high as
the knees where drapery hung； concealing the join in them。 Yes； they
swung round； revealing the head of a stair； up which blew a cold wind
that it was sweet to breathe。
Benita rose； gasping。 Then she seized her lantern and ran to the
little tent where her father lay。
XXII
THE VOICE OF THE LIVING
Mr。 Clifford was awake again now。
〃Where have you been？〃 he asked querulously in a thin voice。 〃I wanted
you。〃 Then as the light from the candle shone upon it； he noted the
change that had come over her pale face； and added： 〃What has
happened？ Is Meyer dead？ Are we free？〃
Benita shook her head。 〃He was alive a few hours ago； for I could hear
him raving and shouting outside the wall we built。 But； father； it has
all come back to me； I believe that I have found it。〃
〃What has come back？ What have you found？ Are you mad； too； like
Jacob？〃
〃What something told me when I was in the trance which afterwards I
forgot； but now remember。 And I have found the passage which leads to
where they hid the gold。 It begins behind the crucifix； where no one
ever thought of looking。〃
This matter of the gold did not seem to interest Mr。 Clifford。 In his
state all the wealth beneath the soil of Africa would not have
appealed to him。 Moreover； he hated the name of that accursed
treasure； which was bringing them to such a miserable end。
〃Where does the passage run？ Have you looked？〃 he asked。
〃Not yet； but the voice in me saidI mean； I dreamedthat it goes
down to the river…side。 If you leant on me do you think that you could
walk？〃
〃Not one inch；〃 he answered。 〃Here where I am I shall die。〃
〃No； no； don't talk like that。 We may be saved now that I have found a
way。 Oh； if only you couldif only you could walk； or if I had the
strength to carry you！〃 and she wrung her hands and began to weep； so
weak was she。
Her father looked at her searchingly。 Then he said：
〃Well； love； I cannot； so there's an end。 But you can； and you had
better go。〃
〃What！ And leave you？ Never。〃
〃Yes； and leave me。 Look； there is but a little oil left and only a
few candles。 The biscuits are done and neither of us can swallow that
biltong any more。 I suppose that I am dying； and your health and
strength are failing you quickly in this darkness； if you stop here
you must soon follow me。 And what is the alternative？ The madman
outsidethat is； if you could find strength to pull down the wall；
which I doubt。 You had best go； Benita。〃
But still she said she w
