rs.undertheandes-第10章

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akened　hope　rather　than　fear。　There　is　a　choice　even　in　death。
　But　when　I　had　pulled　Harry　up　and　descended　myself　I　soon　found　that　there　was　no　danger…or　chance。　The　water　had　a　touch　of　alkali；　but　nothing　more。
　Then　we　crept　back　up　the　wet　ledge；　and　once　more　stood　on　dry　ground。
　The　surface　was　perfectly　level；　and　we　set　off　at　a　brisk　pace；　hand　in　hand；　directly　away　from　the　lake。　But　when；　about　a　hundred　yards　off；　we　suddenly　bumped　our　heads　against　a　solid　wall　of　rock；　we　decided　to　proceed　with　more　caution。
　The　darkness　was　intensified；　if　anything。　We　turned　to　the　right　and　groped　along　the　wall；　which　was　smooth　as　glass　and　higher　than　my　best　reach。　It　seemed　to　the　touch　to　be　slightly　convex；　but　that　may　have　been　delusion。
　We　had　proceeded　in　this　manner　some　hundred　yards　or　more；　advancing　cautiously；　when　we　came　to　a　break　in　the　wall。　A　few　feet　farther　the　wall　began　again。
　〃It's　a　tunnel；〃　said　Harry。
　I　nodded；　forgetting　he　could　not　see　me。　〃Shall　we　take　it？〃
　〃Anything　on　a　chance；〃　he　answered；　and　we　entered　the　passage。
　It　was　quite　narrow…so　narrow　that　we　were　forced　to　advance　very　slowly；　feeling　our　way　to　avoid　colliding　with　the　walls。
　The　ground　was　strewn　with　fragments　of　rock；　and　a　hasty　step　meant　an　almost　certain　fall　and　a　bruised　shin。　It　was　tedious　work　and　incredibly　fatiguing。
　We　had　not　rested　a　sufficient　length　of　time　to　allow　our　bodies　to　recuperate　from　the　struggle　with　the　torrent；　also；　we　began　to　feel　the　want　of　food。　Harry　was　the　first　to　falter；　but　I　spurred　him　on。　Then　he　stumbled　and　fell　and　lay　still。
　〃Are　you　hurt？〃　I　asked　anxiously；　bending　over　him。
　〃No；〃　was　the　answer。　〃But　I'm　tired…tired　to　death…and　I　want　to　sleep。〃
　I　was　tempted　myself；　but　I　brought　him　to　his　feet；　from　some　impulse　I　know　not　what。　For　what　was　the　use？　One　spot　was　as　good　as　another。　However；　we　struggled　on。
　Another　hour　and　the　passage　broadened　into　a　clearing。　At　least　so　it　seemed；　the　walls　abruptly　parted　to　the　right　and　left。　And　still　the　impenetrable；　maddening　darkness　and　awful　silence！
　We　gave　it　up；　we　could　go　no　farther。　A　few　useless　minutes　we　wasted；　searching　for　a　soft　spot　to　lie　on…moss；　reeds；　anything。　We　found　none；　of　course；　but　even　the　hard；　unyielding　rock　was　grateful　to　our　exhausted　bodies。　We　lay　side　by　side；　using　our　ponchos　for　pillows；　our　clothing　at　least　was　dry。
　I　do　not　know　how　long　I　slept；　but　it　seemed　to　me　that　I　had　barely　dozed　off　when　I　was　awakened　by　something…what？
　There　was　no　sound　to　my　strained　ears。　I　sat　up；　gazing　intently　into　the　darkness；　shuddering　without　apparent　reason。
　Then　I　reflected　that　nothing　is　dangerous　to　a　man　who　faces　death；　and　I　laughed　aloud…then　trembled　at　the　sound　of　my　own　voice。　Harry　was　in　sound　sleep　beside　me；　his　regular　breathing　told　of　its　depth。
　Again　I　lay　down；　but　I　could　not　sleep。　Some　instinct；　long　forgotten；　quivered　within　me；　telling　me　that　we　were　no　longer　alone。　And　soon　my　ear　justified　it。
　At　first　it　was　not　a　sound；　but　the　mere　shadow　of　one。　It　was　rhythmic；　low；　beating　like　a　pulse。　What　could　it　be？　Again　I　sat　up；　listening　and　peering　into　the　darkness。　And　this　time　I　was　not　mistaken…there　was　a　sound；　rustling；　sibilant。
　Little　by　little　it　increased；　or　rather　approached；　until　it　sounded　but　a　few　feet　from　me　on　every　side；　sinister　and　menacing。　It　was　the　silent；　suppressed　breathing　of　something　living…whether　animal　or　man…creeping　ever　nearer。
　Then　was　the　darkness　doubly　horrible。　I　sat　paralyzed　with　my　utter　helplessness；　though　fear；　thank　Heaven；　did　not　strike　me！　I　could　hear　no　footstep；　no　sound　of　any　kind　but　that　low；　rushing　breathing；　but　it　now　was　certain　that　whatever　the　thing　was；　it　was　not　alone。
　From　every　side　I　heard　it…closer；　closer…until　finally　I　felt　the　hot；　fetid　breath　in　my　very　face。　My　nerves　quivered　in　disgust；　not　far　from　terror。
　I　sprang　to　my　feet　with　a　desperate　cry　to　Harry　and　swung　toward　him。
　There　was　no　answering　sound；　no　rush　of　feet；　nothing；　but　I　felt　my　throat　gripped　in　monstrous；　hairy　fingers。
　I　tried　to　struggle；　and　immediately　was　crushed　to　the　ground　by　the　overpowering　weight　of　a　score　of　soft；　ill…smelling　bodies。
　The　grasp　on　my　throat　tightened；　my　arms　relaxed；　my　brain　reeled；　and　I　knew　no　more。
　
　Chapter　VII。
　THE　FIGHT　IN　THE　DARK。
　
　I　returned　to　consciousness　with　a　sickening　sensation　of　nausea　and　unreality。　Only　my　brain　was　alive；　my　entire　body　was　numb　and　as　though　paralyzed。　Still　darkness　and　silence；　for　all　my　senses　told　me　I　might　have　been　still　in　the　spot　where　I　had　fallen。
　Then　I　tried　to　move　my　arms；　and　found　that　my　hands　and　feet　were　firmly　bound。　I　strained　at　the　thongs；　making　some　slight　sound；　and　immediately　I　heard　a　whisper　but　a　few　feet　away：
　〃Are　you　awake；　Paul？〃
　〃I　was　still　half　dazed；　but　I　recognized　Harry's　voice；　and　I　answered　simply：　〃Yes。　Where　are　we？〃
　〃The　Lord　knows！　They　carried　us。　You　have　been　unconscious　for　hours。〃
　〃They　carried　us？〃
　〃Yes。　A　thousand　miles；　I　think；　on　their　backs。　What…what　are　they；　Paul？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　Did　you　see　them？〃
　〃No。　Too　dark。　They　are　strong　as　gorillas　and　covered　with　hair；　I　felt　that　much。　They　didn't　make　a　sound　all　the　time。　No　more　than　half　as　big　as　me；　and　yet　one　of　them　carried　me　as　if　I　were　a　baby…and　I　weigh　one　hundred　and　seventy　pounds。〃
　〃What　are　we　bound　with？〃
　〃Don't　know；　it　feels　like　leather；　tough　as　rats。　I've　been　working　at　it　for　two　hours；　but　it　won't　give。〃
　〃Well；　you　know　what　that　means。　Dumb　brutes　don't　tie　a　man　up。〃
　〃But　it's　impossible。〃
　〃Nothing　is　impossible。　But　listen！〃
　There　was　a　sound…the　swift　patter　of　feet；　they　were　approaching。　Then　suddenly　a　form　bent　over　me　close；　I　could　see　nothing；　but　I　felt　a　pressure　against　my　body　and　an　ill…smelling　odor；　indescribable；　entered　my　nostrils。　I　felt　a　sawing　movement　at　my　wrists；　the　thongs　pulled　back　and　forth；　and　soon　my　hands　were　free。　The　form　straightened　away　from　me；　there　was　a　clatter　on　the　ground　near　my　head；　and　then　silence。
　There　came　an　oath　from　Harry：
　〃Hang　the　brute！　He's　cut　my　wrist。　Are　your　hands　free；　Paul？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Then　bind　this　up；　it's　bleeding　badly。　What　was　that　for？〃
　〃I　have　an　idea；〃　I　answered　as　I　tore　a　strip　from　my　shirt　and　bandaged　the　wound；　which　proved　to　be　slight。　Then　I　searched　on　the　ground　beside　me；　and　found　my　surmise　correct。
　〃Here　you　go；　Hal！　here's　some　grub。　But　what　the　deuce　is　it？　By　Jove；　it's　dried　fish！　Now；　where　in　the　name　of…〃
　But　we　wasted　no　more　time　in　talk；　for　we　were　half　starved。
　The　stuff　was　not　bad；　to　us　who　had　been　fasting　for　something　like　thirty…six　hours…for　our　idea　of　time　was　extremely　hazy…it　was　a　gorgeous　banquet。　And　close　by　there　was　a　basin　full　of　water。
　〃Pretty　decent　sort　of　beggars；　I　say；〃　came　Harry's　voice　in　the　darkness。　〃But　who　are　they？〃
　〃Ask　Felipe；〃　I　answered；　for　by　this　time　I　was　well　convinced　of　the　nature　and　identity　of　our　captors。　〃As　I　said；　dumb　brutes　don't　bind　men　with　thongs；　nor　feed　them　on　dried　fish。　Of　course　it's　incredible；　but　a　man　must　be　prepared　to　believe　anything。〃
　〃But；　Paul！　You　mean…〃
　〃Exactly。　We　are　in　the　hands　of　the　Incas　of　Huanuco…or　rather　their　descendants。〃
　〃But　that　was　four　hundred　years　ago！〃
　〃Your　history　is　perfect；　like　Desiree's　geography；〃　said　I　dryly。　〃But　what　then？　They　have　merely　chosen　to　live　under　the　world　instead　of　on　it；　a　rather　wise　decision；　a　cynic　might　say…not　to　mention　the　small　circumstance　that　they　are　prisoners。
　〃My　dear　Hal；　never　allow　yourself　to　be　surprised　at　anything；　it　is　a　weakness。　Here　we　are　in　total　darkness；　buried　in　the　Andes；　surrounded　by　hairy；　degenerate　brutes　that　are　probably　allowing　us　to　eat　in　order　that　we　may　be　in　condition　to　be　eaten；　with　no　possibility　of　ever　again　beholding　the　sunshine；　and　what　is　the　thought　that　rises　to　the　surface　of　my　mind？
　Merely　this：　that　I　most　earnestly　desire　and　crave　a　Carbajal　perfecto　and　a　match。〃
　〃Paul；　you　say…eat…〃
　〃Most　probably　they　are　cannibals。　The　Lord　knows　they　must　have　some　sort　of　mild　amusement　in　this　fearful　hole。　Of　course；　the　idea　is　distasteful；　before　they　cut　us　up　they'll　have　to　knock　us　down。〃
　〃That's　a　darned　silly　joke；〃　said　Harry　with　some　heat。
　〃But　it's　sober　truth；　my　boy。　You　know　me；　I　never　pose。
　There　is　nothing　particularly　revolting　in　the　thought　of　being　eaten；　the　disadvantage　of　it　lies　in　the　fact　that　one　must　die　first。　We　all　want　to　live；　Heaven　knows　why。　And　we　stand　a　chance。
　〃We　know　now　that　there　is　food　to　be　had　here　and　sufficient　air。　It　is　nearly　certain　that　we　won't　get　out；　but　that　can　e　later。　And　what　an　experience！　I　know　a　dozen　anthropologists　that　would　give　their　degrees　for　it。　I　can　feel　myself　getting　enthusiastic　about　it。〃
　〃But　what　if　they…they…〃
　〃Say　it。　Eat　us？　We　can　fight。　It　will　be　strange　if　we　can't　outwit　these　vermin。　And　now　silence；　I'm　going　to　begin。
　Listen　hard…hard！　The　brutes　are　noiseless；　but　if　they　are　near　we　can　hear　their　breathing。〃
　〃But；　Paul…〃
　〃No　more　talk。　Listen！〃
　We　lay　silent　for　many　minutes；　scarcely　breathing。　Not　the　slightest　sound　reached　our　ears　through　the　profound　darkness；　utter；　intense　silence。　Finally　I　reached　over　and　touched　Harry　on　the　shoulder；　and　arose　to　my　knees。
　〃Good　enough！　We're　alone。　We'll　have　to　crawl　for　it。　Keep　close　behind　me；　we　don't　want　to　get　separated。　The　first　thing　is　to　find　a　sharp　stone　to　cut　through　these　thongs。　Feel　on　the　ground　with　your　hands　as　we　go。〃
　It　was　not　easy　to　rise　at　all；　and　still　harder　to　make　any　progress；　for　our　ankles　were　bound　together　most　effectively；　but　we　managed　somehow　to　drag　ourselves　along。　I　was　in　front；　suddenly　I　felt　Harry　pull　at　my　coat；　and　turned。
　〃Just　the　thing；　Paul。　Sharp　as　a　knife。　Look！〃
　I　groped　for　his　hand　in　the　darkness　and　took　from　it　the　object　he　held　out　to　me…a　small　flat　stone　with　a　sharp…saw　edge。
　〃All　right；　let　me　work　on　you　first。〃
　I　bent　down　to　the　thongs　which　bound　his　ankles。　I　was　convinced　that　they　were　not　of　leather；　but　they　were　tough　as　the　thickest　hide。　Twice　my　overeagerness　caused　the　tool　to　slip　and　tear　the　skin　from　my　hand；　then　I　went　about　it　more　carefully　with　a　muttered　oath。　Another　quarter　of　an　hour　and　Harry　was　free。
　〃Gad；　that　feels　good！〃　he　exclaimed；　rising　to　his　feet。
　〃Here；　Paul；　where's　the　stone？〃
　I　handed　it　to　him　and　he　knelt　down　and　began　sawing　away　at　my　feet。
　What　followed　happened　so　quickly　that　we　were　hardly　aware　that　it　had　begun　when　it　was　already　finished。
　A　quick；　pattering　rush　of　many　feet　warned　us；　but　not　in　time。　Hurtling；　leaping　bodies　came　at　us　headlong　through　the　air　and　crushed　us　to　the　ground；　buried　beneath　them；　gasping　for　breath；　there　must　have　been　scores　of　them。　Resistance　was　impossible；　we　were　overwhelmed。
　I　heard　Harry　give　a　despairing　cry；　and　the　scuffle　followed；　I　myself　was　utterly　helpless；　for　the　thongs　which　bound　my　ankles　had　not　been　cut　through。　Not　a　sound　c