rs.undertheandes-第16章

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was　probably　a　most　agreeable　sensation　to　feel　her　soft；　white　flesh　under　his　black；　hairy　hand；　and　he　kept　it　there；　while　with　the　other　arm　he　made　a　series　of　sweeping　gestures　which　I　understood　at　once；　but　which　had　no　meaning　for　Desiree。
　By　her　hand　he　meant　the　quipos　to　speak。
　We　had　a　friend　in　court；　but　she　was　dumb；　and　I　must　give　her　voice。　There　was　no　time　to　be　lost；　I　stepped　to　the　edge　of　the　column　and　spoke　in　a　voice　loud　enough　to　carry　across　the　cavern…which　was　not　difficult　in　the　universal　silence。
　〃He　means　that　you　are　to　judge　us　by　the　quipos。　The　meaning　is　this…yellow；　slavery；　white；　mercy；　purple；　reward；　black；　death。　The　lengths　of　the　cords　and　the　number　of　knots　indicate　the　degree　of　punishment　or　reward。　Attached　to　the　frame　you　will　find　a　knife。　With　that　detach　the　cord　of　judgment　and　lay　it　at　the　feet　of　the　king。〃
　Again　silence；　and　not　one　of　the　vast　throng；　nor　the　king　himself；　appeared　to　pay　the　slightest　attention　to　my　voice。　The　king　continued　his　gestures　to　Desiree。
　She　rose　and　walked　to　the　frame　of　quipos　and　took　in　her　hand　the　knife　which　she　found　there　suspended　by　a　cord。
　There　she　hesitated；　with　the　knife　poised　in　the　air；　while　her　eyes　sought　mine…and　found　them。
　I　felt　a　tug　at　my　arm；　but　I　had　no　time　for　Harry　then。　I　was　looking　at　Desiree；　and　what　I　saw　caused　a　cold　shudder　to　flutter　through　my　body。　Not　of　fear；　it　was　the　utter　surprise　of　the　thing…its　incredible　horror。　To　die　by　the　hands　of　those　hairy　brutes　was　not　hard；　but　Desiree　to　be　the　judge！
　For　she　meant　death　for　us；　I　read　it　in　her　eyes。　One　of　the　old　stale　proverbs　of　the　stale　old　world　was　to　have　another　justification。　I　repeat　that　I　was　astounded；　taken　pletely　by　surprise；　and　yet　I　had　known　something　of　〃the　fury　of　a　woman　scorned。〃
　It　was　as　though　our　eyes　shot　out　to　meet　each　other　in　an　embrace　of　death。　She　saw　that　I　understood　and　she　smiled…what　a　smile！　It　was　triumphant；　and　yet　sad；　a　vengeance；　and　a　farewell。　She　put　forth　her　hand。
　It　wavered　among　the　quipos　as　though　uncertainly；　then　closed　firmly　on　the　black　cord　of　death。
　A　thought　flashed　through　my　mind　with　the　speed　of　lightning。
　I　raised　my　voice　and　sang　out：
　〃Desiree！〃
　She　hesitated；　the　hand　which　held　the　knife　fell　to　her　side　and　again　her　eyes　sought　mine。
　〃What　of　Harry？〃　I　called。　〃Take　two…the　white　for　him；　the　black　for　me。〃
　She　shook　her　head　and　again　raised　the　knife；　and　I　played　my　last　card。
　〃Bah！　Who　are　you？　For　you　are　not　Le　Mire！〃　I　weighted　my　voice　with　contempt。　〃Le　Mire　is　a　child　of　fortune；　but　not　of　hell！〃
　At　last　she　spoke。
　〃I　play　a　fair　hand；　monsieur！〃　she　cried；　and　her　voice　trembled。
　〃With　marked　cards！〃　I　exclaimed　scornfully。　〃The　advantage　is　yours；　madame；　may　you　find　pleasure　in　it。〃
　There　was　a　silence；　while　our　eyes　met。　I　thought　I　had　lost。　Le　Mire　stood　motionless。　Not　a　sound　came　from　the　audience。　I　felt　Harry　pulling　at　my　arm；　but　shook　myself　free；　without　taking　my　eyes　from　Le　Mire's　face。
　Suddenly　she　spoke：
　〃You　are　right；　my　friend　Paul。　I　take　no　advantage。　Leave　it　to　Fortune。　Have　you　a　coin？〃
　I　had　won　my　chance。　That　was　all…a　chance…but　that　was　better　than　nothing。　I　took　a　silver　peseta　from　my　pocket…by　luck　it　had　not　been　lost…and　held　it　in　the　air　above　my　head。
　〃Heads！〃　cried　Desiree。
　I　let　the　coin　fall。　It　rolled　half…way　across　the　top　of　the　column　and　stopped　at　the　very　edge。　I　crossed　and　stooped　over　it。　It　lay　heads　up！
　Harry　was　behind　me；　as　I　straightened　up　I　saw　his　white；　set　face　and　eyes　of　horror。　He；　too；　had　seen　the　verdict；　but　he　was　moved　not　by　that；　but　by　the　thought　of　Desiree；　for　Harry　was　not　a　man　to　flinch　at　sight　of　death。
　I　stood　straight；　and　my　voice　was　calm。　It　cost　me　an　effort　to　clear　it　of　bitterness　and　reproach。　I　could　not　avoid　the　reflection　that　but　for　Desiree　we　would　never　have　seen　the　cave　of　the　devil　and　the　Children　of　the　Sun；　but　I　said　simply　and　clearly：
　〃You　win；　madame。〃
　Desiree　stared　at　me　in　the　most　profound　surprise。　I　understood　her；　and　I　laughed　scornfully　aloud；　and　held　my　head　high；　and　I　think　a　voice　never　held　so　plete　a　disdain　as　did　mine　as　I　called　to　her：
　〃I　am　one　who　plays　fair；　even　with　death；　Le　Mire。　The　coin　fell　heads…you　win　your　black　cord　fairly。〃
　She　made　no　sign　that　she　had　heard；　she　was　raising　the　knife。　Suddenly　she　stopped；　again　her　hand　fell；　and　she　said：
　〃You　say　the　purple　for　reward；　Paul？〃
　I　nodded…I　could　not　speak。　Her　hand　touched　the　white　cord　and　passed　on；　the　yellow；　and　again　passed　on。　Then　there　was　a　flash　of　the　knife…another…and　she　approached　the　king　and　laid　at　his　feet　the　purple　cord。
　Then；　without　a　glance　toward　us；　she　resumed　her　seat　on　the　golden　throne。
　A　lump　rose　to　my　throat　and　tears　to　my　eyes。　Which　was　very　foolish；　for　the　thing　had　been　pletely　theatrical。　It　was　merely　a　tribute　from　one　of　nature's　gamblers　to　the　man　who　〃played　fair；　even　with　death〃；　nevertheless；　there　was　feeling　in　it；　and　the　eternal　mercy　of　woman。
　For　all　that　was　visible　to　the　eye　the　verdict　made　not　the　slightest　impression　on　the　rows　of　silent　Incas。　Not　a　movement　was　seen；　they　might　have　been　carved　from　the　stone　on　which　they　were　seated。
　Their　black；　hairy　bodies；　squat　and　thick；　threw　back　the　light　from　the　flaming　torches　as　though　even　those　universal　rays　could　not　penetrate　such　grossness。
　Suddenly　they　rose…the　king　had　moved。　He　picked　the　purple　cord　from　the　ground；　and；　after　passing　his　hand　over　it　three　times；　handed　it　to　an　attendant　who　approached。
　Then　he　stretched　out　his　hand；　and　the　Incas；　who　had　remained　standing；　turned　about　and　began　to　disappear。　As　before；　the　cavern　was　emptied　in　an　incredibly　short　space　of　time；　in　two　minutes　we　were　alone　with　those　in　the　alcove。
　There　was　a　sound　behind　us。　We　turned　and　saw　a　great　slab　of　stone　slowly　slide　to　one　side　in　the　floor；　leaving　an　aperture　some　three　feet　square。　Evidently　it　had　been　closed　behind　us　when　we　had　ascended；　we　had　had　no　time　to　notice　it　then。　In　this　hole　presently　appeared　the　head　and　shoulders　of　our　guide；　who　beckoned　to　us　to　follow　and　then　disappeared　below。
　I　started　to　obey；　but　turned　to　wait　for　Harry；　who　was　gazing　at　Desiree。　His　back　was　toward　me　and　I　could　not　see　his　face；　his　eyes　must　have　held　an　appeal；　for　I　saw　Desiree's　lips　part　in　a　smile　and　heard　her　call：
　〃You　will　see　me！〃
　Then　he　joined　me；　and　we　began　the　descent　together。
　I　found　myself　wondering　how　these　half…civilized　brutes　had　possibly　managed　to　conceive　the　idea　of　the　spiral　stair。　It　was　known　to　neither　the　Aztecs　nor　the　Incas；　in　America；　nor　to　any　of　the　primitive　European　or　Asiatic　civilizations。　But　they　had　found　a　place　where　nothing　else　would　do…and　they　made　it。
　Another　of　the　innumerable　offspring　of　Mother　Necessity。
　I　took　time　to　note　its　construction。　It　was　rude　enough；　but　a　good　job　for　all　that。　It　was　not　exactly　circular；　there　were　many　angles；　evidently　following　the　softer　strata　in　the　rock；　they　had　bowed　to　their　material…the　way　of　the　artist。
　Even　the　height　of　the　steps　was　irregular；　some　were　scarcely　more　than　three　inches；　while　others　were　twelve　or　fourteen。　You　may　know　we　descended　slowly　and　with　care；　especially　when　we　had　reached　the　point　where　no　light　came　from　above　to　aid　us。　We　found　our　guide　waiting　for　us　at　the　bottom；　alone。
　We　followed　him　down　the　low　and　narrow　passage　through　which　we　had　previously　e。　But　when　we　reached　the　steps　which　led　up　to　the　passage　above　and　to　the　cave　where　we　had　formerly　been　confined；　he　ignored　them　and　turned　to　the　right。　We　hesitated。
　〃He's　alone；〃　said　Harry。　〃Shall　we　chuck　the　beggar？〃
　〃We　shall　not；　for　that　very　reason；〃　I　answered。　〃It　means　that　we　are　guests　instead　of　captives；　and　far　be　it　from　us　to　outrage　the　laws　of　hospitality。　But　seriously；　the　safest　thing　we　can　do　is　to　follow　him。〃
　The　passage　in　which　we　now　found　ourselves　was　evidently　no　work　of　nature。　Even　in　the　semidarkness　the　mark　of　man's　hand　was　apparent。　And　the　ceiling　was　low；　another　proof；　for　dwarfs　do　not　build　for　the　acmodation　of　giants。　But　I　had　some　faint　idea　of　the　pitiful　inadequacy　of　their　tools；　and　I　found　myself　reflecting　on　the　stupendous　courage　of　the　men　who　had　undertaken　such　a　task；　even　allowing　for　the　fact　that　four　hundred　years　had　been　allowed　them　for　its　pletion。
　Soon　we　reached　a　veritable　maze　of　these　passages。　We　must　have　taken　a　dozen　or　more　turns；　first　to　the　right；　then　to　the　left。　I　had　been　marking　our　way　on　my　memory　as　well　as　possible；　but　I　soon　gave　up　the　attempt　as　hopeless。
　Several　times　our　guide　turned　so　quickly　that　we　could　scarcely　follow　him。　When　we　signified　by　gestures　our　desire　to　go　slower　he　seemed　surprised；　of　course；　he　expected　us　to　see　in　the　dark　as　well　as　he。
　Then　a　dim　light　appeared；　growing　brighter　as　we　advanced。
　Soon　I　saw　that　it　came　through　an　opening　in　the　wall　to　our　left；　which　we　were　approaching。　Before　the　opening　the　guide　halted；　motioning　us　to　enter。
　We　did　so；　and　found　ourselves　in　an　apartment　no　less　than　royal。
　Several　blazing　urns　attached　to　the　walls　furnished　the　light；　wavering　but　brilliant。　There　were　tables　and　rude　seats；　fashioned　from　the　same　prismatic　stones　which　covered　the　column　in　the　lake；　and　from　their　surfaces　a　thousand　points　of　color　shone　dazzlingly。
　At　one　side　was　a　long　slab　of　granite　covered　with　the　skins　of　some　animal；　dry；　thick；　and　soft。　The　walls　themselves　were　of　the　hardest　granite；　studded　to　a　height　of　four　or　five　feet　with　tiny；　innumerable　spots　of　gold。
　Harry　crossed　to　the　middle　of　the　apartment　and　stood　gazing　curiously　about　him。　I　turned　to　the　door　and　looked　down　the　outer　passage　in　both　directions…our　guide　had　disappeared。
　〃We　appear　to　be　friends　of　the　family；〃　said　Harry　with　a　grin。
　〃Thanks　to　Desiree；　yes。〃
　〃Thanks　to　the　devil！　What　did　she　mean…what　could　she　mean？
　Was　it　one　of　her　jokes？　For　I　can't　believe　that　she　would…would…〃
　〃Have　sent　us　to　death？　Well…who　knows？　Yes；　it　may　have　been　one　of　her　jokes；〃　I　lied。
　For；　of　course；　Harry　knew　nothing　of　the　cause　of　Desiree's　desire　for　revenge　on　me；　and　it　would　have　served　no　good　purpose　to　tell　him。
　We　talked　for　an　hour　or　more；　examining　our　apartment　meanwhile　with　considerable　curiosity。
　The　gold　excited　our　wonder；　had　it　e　from　Huanuco　four　hundred　years　ago；　or　had　they　found　it　here　in　the　mountain？
　I　examined　the　little　blocks　of　metal　or　gems　with　which　the　tables　and　seats　were　inlaid；　but　could　make　nothing　of　them。　They　resembled　a　carbon　formation　sometimes　found　in　quartzite；　but　were　many　times　more　brilliant　than　anything　I　had　ever　seen；　excepting　precious　stones。
　The　hides　which　covered　the　granite　couch　were　also　unknown　to　me；　they　were　of　an　amazing　thickness　and　incredibly　soft。
　We　were　amusing　ourselves　with　an　attempt　to　pry　one　of　the　bits　of　gold　from　the　wall　when　we　heard　a　sound　behind　us。
　We　turned　and　saw　Desiree。
　She　stood　in　the　entrance；　smil