rs.undertheandes-第11章

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！


　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　came　from　our　assailants　save　their　heavy；　labored　breathing。
　I　remember　that；　even　while　they　were　sitting　on　my　head　and　chest　and　body；　I　noted　their　silence　with　a　sort　of　impersonal　curiosity　and　wondered　if　they　were；　after　all；　human。　Nor　were　they　unnecessarily　violent；　they　merely　subdued　us；　rebound　our　wrists　and　ankles　more　tightly　than　before；　and　departed。
　But…faugh！　The　unspeakable　odor　of　their　hairy　bodies　is　in　my　nostrils　yet。
　〃Are　you　hurt；　Paul？〃
　〃Not　a　bit；　Harry　lad。　How　do　you　like　the　perfume？〃
　〃To　the　deuce　with　your　perfume！　But　we're　done　for。　What's　the　use？　They've　lived　in　this　infernal　hole　so　long　they　can　see　in　the　dark　better　than　we　can　in　the　light。〃
　Of　course　he　was　right；　and　I　was　a　fool　not　to　have　thought　of　it　before　and　practised　caution。　The　knowledge　was　decidedly　unpleasant。　No　doubt　our　every　movement　was　being　watched　by　a　hundred　pairs　of　eyes；　while　we　lay　helpless　in　the　darkness；　bound　even　more　tightly　than　before。
　〃Look　here；〃　said　Harry　suddenly；　〃why　can't　we　see　their　eyes？　Why　don't　they　shine。〃
　〃My　dear　boy；〃　said　I；　〃in　this　darkness　you　couldn't　see　the　Kohinoor　diamond　if　it　were　hanging　on　your　nose；　drawing…room　travelers　to　the　contrary　notwithstanding。　We　have　one　advantage…they　can't　understand　what　we　say；　but　they　even　up　for　it　by　not　saying　anything。〃
　There　was　a　short　silence；　then　Harry's　voice：
　〃Paul…〃
　〃Well？〃
　〃I　wonder…do　you　think　Desiree…〃　He　hesitated；　his　voice　faltering。
　〃I　think　the　same　as　you　do；〃　said　I。
　〃But　I　don't　know…after　all；　there　is　a　chance。　Just　a　bare　chance；　isn't　there？〃
　〃You　know　as　well　as　I　do；　Harry。　The　chances　are　a　million　to　one　that　Desiree…thank　Heaven…has　escaped　all　this！　And　isn't　that　best！　Would　you　have　her　here　with　us？〃
　〃No…no。　Only…〃
　〃Lying　here；　bound　hand　and　foot？　She　would　make　a　dainty　morsel　for　our　friends。〃
　〃For　the　Lord's　sake；　Paul…〃
　〃Well；　let　us　forget　her…for　the　present。　Nor　do　we　want　to　make　a　dainty　morsel　if　we　can　help　it。　e；　brace　up；　Hal。　It's　up　to　us　to　turn　a　trick。〃
　〃Well？〃
　〃I　don't　know　why　I　didn't　think　of　it　before。　I　guess　we　were　both　too　dazed　to　have　good　sense。　What　have　you　got　strapped　to　your　belt？〃
　〃A　gun；〃　said　Harry。　〃Of　course　I　thought　of　that。　But　what　good　is　it　after　that　ducking？　And　I　have　only　six　cartridges。〃
　〃Nothing　else？〃
　I　could　almost　feel　his　silent　gaze；　then　suddenly　he　cried
　out：
　〃A　knife！〃
　〃At　last！〃　said　I　sarcastically。　〃And　so　have　I。　A　six…inch；
　double…edged　knife；　sharp　as　a　razor　and　pointed　like　a　needle。
　They　didn't　have　sense　enough　to　search　us；　and　we　didn't　have
　sense　enough　to　realize　it。　I　can　feel　mine　under　me　now　against　the　ground。〃
　〃But　they'll　see　us。〃
　〃Not　if　we　use　a　decent　amount　of　caution。　The　trouble　is；　I　can't　reach　my　knife　with　my　wrists　bound。　There's　only　one　way。
　Lie　perfectly　still；　let　them　think　we've　given　it　up。　I'm　going　to　try　something。〃
　I　drew　up　my　knees；　twisted　over　on　the　hard　rock；　and　lay　flat　on　my　belly。　Then　I　drew　up　my　hands　and　let　my　face　rest　on　them；　like　a　dog　with　his　head　on　his　paws。　And　then；　keeping　my　body　perfectly　still；　and　with　as　little　movement　of　the　jaws　as　possible；　I　sought　the　tough　thongs　with　my　teeth。
　That　was　a　tedious　job　and　a　distasteful　one。　For　many　minutes　I　gnawed　away　at　those　thick　cords　like　a　dog　on　a　bone。
　It　was　considerably　later　that　I　discovered　what　those　cords　were　made　of；　thank　Heaven；　I　was　ignorant　of　it　at　the　time！　All　I　knew　was　that　they　were；　to　use　one　of　Harry's　phrases；　〃tough　as　rats。〃
　I　did　not　dare　pull　with　my　wrists；　for　fear　they　would　fly　suddenly　apart　and　betray　me　to　the　unseen　watchers。　It　was　necessary　to　cut　clear　through　with　my　teeth；　and　more　than　once　I　was　on　the　point　of　giving　it　up。　There　was　a　nauseating；　rancid　taste　to　the　stuff；　but　I　dared　not　even　raise　my　head　to　expectorate。
　Finally　my　teeth　met；　the　cords　were　severed。　I　felt　carefully　about　with　my　tongue　to　make　sure　there　were　no　others；　then；　without　moving　my　hands　in　the　slightest　degree；　carefully　raised　my　head。
　It　was　then　that　I　first　noticed…not　light；　but　a　thinning　out　of　the　darkness。　It　was；　of　course；　merely　the　adjustment　of　my　eyes　to　the　new　conditions。　I　could　make　out　no　forms　surrounding　me；　but；　looking　down；　I　could　clearly　distinguish　the　outline　of　my　hands　as　they　lay　on　the　ground　before　me。
　And；　again　looking　up；　I　fancied　that　I　could　see；　some　twenty　or　thirty　feet　to　the　right；　that　the　darkness　again　became　suddenly　dense　and　impenetrable。
　〃That　must　be　a　wall；〃　I　muttered；　straining　my　eyes　toward　it。
　〃What's　that？〃　asked　Harry　sharply。
　Obedient　to　my　instructions；　the　lad　had　lain　perfectly　motionless　and　silent　for　over　an　hour；　for　it　must　have　taken　me　at　least　that　long　to　gnaw　through　the　cords。
　〃I　said　that　must　be　a　wall。　Look；　Harry；　about　thirty　feet　to　the　right。　Doesn't　it　appear　to　you　that　way？〃
　〃By　Jove；〃　he　exclaimed　after　a　moment　of　silence；　〃it's　getting　light！　Look！〃
　I　explained　that；　instead　of　〃it's　getting　light；〃　his　eyes　were　merely　being　accustomed　to　the　darkness。
　〃But　what　do　you　think　of　that？　Is　it　a　wall？〃
　After　a　moment's　silence　he　answered：　〃Ye…es；〃　and　then　more　positively：　〃Yes。　But　what　good　does　that　do　us？〃
　〃That's　what　I　am　about　to　tell　you。　Listen！　I've　cut　the　cords　on　my　wrists；　and　I'm　going　to　get　my　knife…〃
　〃How　the　deuce　did　you　manage　that？〃　Harry　interrupted。
　〃With　my　teeth。　I've　been　rather　busy。　I'm　going　to　get　my　knife…cautiously；　so　they　won't　suspect　if　they　are　watching　us。
　We　must　lie　close　together　on　our　sides；　facing　each　other；　so　I　can　cut　the　thongs　on　your　wrists　without　being　seen。　Then　you　are　to　get　your　knife…carefully。　Do　you　understand？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　For　the　first　time　there　was　fight　in　Harry's　voice；　the　curious；　barely　perceptible　tremor　of　the　man　of　courage。
　〃All　right。　Go　easy。〃
　We　went　about　the　thing　slowly；　turning　but　an　inch　at　a　time；　a　second　mistake　might　prove　fatal。　We　heard　no　sound　of　any　kind；　and　ten　minutes　later　we　were　lying　flat　on　our　backs　side　by　side；　keeping　our　hands　hidden　between　our　bodies；　that　the　absence　of　the　thongs　might　not　be　discovered。　Each　of　us　held　in　his　right　hand　the　hilt　of　a　six　inch　knife。　Cold　steel　is　by　no　means　the　favorite　weapon　of　an　American；　but　there　are　times…　〃Have　you　got　your　knife；　Harry？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Good！　Now　listen　close　and　act　quick。　When　I　give　the　word　reach　down　and　grasp　the　cords　round　your　ankles　in　your　left　hand；　then　cut　them　through　with　one　stroke。　Then　to　your　feet；　grasp　my　jacket；　and　together　to　the　wall…that's　for　our　backs。　And　then…let　'em　e！〃
　〃All　right；　old　man。〃
　〃Don't　waste　any　time；　they'll　probably　start　for　us　the　instant　we　sit　up。　Be　sure　you　get　your　feet　free　at　the　first　stroke；　feel　them　well　with　your　left　hand　first。　Are　you　ready？〃
　〃Yes。〃　And　his　voice　was　now　calm　and　perfectly　steady。
　〃Then…one；　two；　three…go！〃
　We　bent　and　cut　and　sprang　to　our　feet；　and　dashed　for　the　wall。　There　was　a　sound　of　rushing　feet…our　backs　hugged　the　kindly　rock…I　heard　Harry's　shout；　〃Here　they　e！〃…dim；　rushing　forms…fingers　clutching　at　my　throat。
　I　felt　the　blade　of　my　knife　sink　into　soft　and　yielding　flesh；　and　a　warm；　thick　liquid　flow　over　my　hand　and　arm。
　
　Chapter　VIII。
　THE　DANCE　OF　THE　SUN。
　
　It　seemed　to　me　then　in　the　minutes　that　followed　that　there　were　thousands　of　black　demons　in　that　black　hole。　At　the　first　rushing　impact　I　shouted　to　Harry：　〃Keep　your　back　to　the　wall；〃　and　for　response　I　got　a　high；　ringing　laugh　that　breathed　the　joy　of　battle。
　The　thing　was　sickening。　Harry　is　a　natural　fighting　man；　I　am　not。　Without　the　wall　at　our　backs　we　would　have　been　overpowered　in　thirty　seconds；　as　it　was；　we　were　forced　to　handle　half　a　dozen　of　them　at　once；　while　the　others　surged　in　from　behind。　They　had　no　weapons；　but　they　had　the　advantage　of　being　able　to　see　us。
　They　clutched　my　throat；　my　arms；　my　legs；　my　body；　there　was　no　room　to　strike；　I　pushed　the　knife　home。　They　fastened　themselves　to　my　legs　and　feet　and　tried　to　bring　me　down　from　beneath；　once；　in　slashing　at　the　head　of　one　whose　teeth　were　set　in　my　calf；　I　cut　myself　on　the　knee。　It　was　difficult　to　stand　in　the　wet；　slippery　pool　that　formed　at　my　feet。
　Suddenly　I　heard　a　sound　that　I　understood　too　well…the　curious；　rattling　sound　of　a　man　who　is　trying　to　call　out　when　he　is　being　strangled。
　〃Harry！〃　I　cried；　and　I　fought　like　a　wild　man　to　get　to　him；　with　knife；　feet；　hands；　teeth。　I　reached　his　coat；　his　arm；　it　was　dangerous　to　strike　so　near　him　in　the　dark；　but　I　felt　him　sinking　to　the　ground。
　Then　I　found　the　taut；　straining　fingers　about　his　throat；　and　lunged　forward　with　the　knife…and　the　fingers　relaxed。
　Again　we　were　fighting　together　side　by　side。
　As　their　bodies　fell　in　front　of　us　we　were　pressed　harder；　for　those　behind　climbed　up　on　the　corpses　of　their　fellows　and　literally　descended　on　our　heads　from　the　air。　We　could　not　have　held　out　much　longer；　our　breath　was　ing　in　quick；　painful　gasps；　Harry　stumbled　on　one　of　the　prostrate　brutes　and　fell；　I　tried　to　lift　him　and　was　unequal　to　the　task。
　It　appeared　to　be　the　end。
　Suddenly　there　rang　throughout　the　cavern　a　sound　as　of　a　gigantic；　deep…toned　bell。　The　walls　sent　it　back　and　forth　with　deafening　echoes；　it　was　as　though　the　mountain　had　descended　with　one　tremendous　crash　into　its　own　bowels。
　As　though　by　magic；　the　assault　ceased。
　The　effect　was　indescribable。　We　could　see　nothing；　we　merely　became　suddenly　aware　that　there　were　no　longer　hands　clutching　at　our　throats　or　hairy　bodies　crushing　us　to　the　ground。　It　was　as　though　the　horde　of　unseen　devils　had　melted　into　thin　air。　There　were　movements　on　the　ground；　for　many　of　them　had　been　wounded；　a　man　cannot　always　reach　the　spot　in　the　dark。　This　lasted　for　two　or　three　minutes；　they　were　evidently　removing　those　who　still　had　life　in　them；　for　the　straining　breath　of　men　dragging　or　lifting　burdens　was　plainly　audible。
　Gradually　that；　too；　died　away　with　the　last　reverberations　of　the　mysterious　sound　that　had　saved　us；　and　we　found　ourselves　alone…or　at　least　unmolested…for　in　the　darkness　we　could　see　nothing；　except　the　dim　outlines　of　the　prostrate　forms　at　our　feet。
　The　cavern　was　a　shambles。　The　smell　was　that　of　a　slaughter…house。　I　had　had　no　idea　of　the　desperateness　of　our　defense　until　I　essayed　to　scramble　over　the　heap　of　bodies　to　dry　ground；　I　shuddered　and　grew　faint；　and　Harry　was　in　no　better　case。
　Worse；　he　had　dropped　his　knife　when　we　stumbled；　and　we　were　forced　to　grope　round　in　that　unspeakable　mess　for　many　minutes　before　we　found　it。
　〃Are　you　hurt；　lad？〃　I　asked　when　once　we　stood　clear。
　〃Nothing　bad；　I　think；〃　he　answered。　〃My　throat　is　stiff；　and　two　or　three　of　the　brutes　got　their　teeth　in　me。　In　the　name　of　Heaven；　Paul；　what　are　they？　And　what　was　that　bell？〃
　These　were　foolish　questions；　and　I　told　him　so。　My　leg　was　bleeding　badly　w