rs.undertheandes-第25章

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　We　expected　them　to　arrive　at　any　moment；　and　we　waited　for　hours。　We　had　about　given　up　watching　from　our　vantage　point　behind　the　boulder　when　two　Incas　appeared　at　the　mouth　of　the　passage。　But　they　brought　only　oil　to　fill　the　urns；　and　after　performing　this　duty　departed；　without　a　glance　at　the　lake　or　any　exhibition　of　surprise　at　the　absence　of　their　fellows。
　Every　now　and　then　there　was　a　motion　in　some　part　of　the　lake；　and　we　could　occasionally　see　a　black；　glistening　body　leap　into　the　air　and　fall　again　into　the　water。
　〃I'm　hungry；〃　Harry　announced　suddenly。　〃I　wonder　if　we　couldn't　turn　the　trick　on　that　raft　ourselves？〃
　The　same　thought　had　occurred　to　me；　but　Harry's　impulsiveness　had　made　me　fearful　of　expressing　it。　I　hesitated。
　〃We've　got　to　do　something；〃　he　continued。
　I　suggested　that　it　might　be　best　to　wait　another　hour　or　two。
　〃And　why？　Now　is　as　good　a　time　as　any。　If　we　intend　to　find　Desiree…〃
　〃In　the　name　of　Heaven；　how　can　we？〃　I　interrupted。
　〃You　don't　mean　to　say　you　don't　intend　to　try？〃　he　exclaimed。
　〃Hal；　I　don't　know。　In　the　first　place；　it's　impossible。　And　where　could　we　take　her　and　what　could　we　do…in　short；　what's　the　use？　Why　the　deuce　should　we　prolong　the　thing　any　further？
　〃In　the　world　I　refused　to　struggle　because　nothing　tempted　me；　in　this　infernal　hole　I　have　fought　when　there　was　nothing　to　fight　for。　If　civilization　held　no　prize　worth　an　effort；　why　should　I　exert　myself　to　preserve　the　life　of　a　rat？　Faugh！　It's　sickening！　I　wondered　why　I　wanted　those　spears。　Now　I　know。　I　have　an　idea　I'm　going　to　be　coward　enough　to　use　one…or　enough　of　a　philosopher。〃
　〃Paul；　that　isn't　like　you。〃
　〃On　the　contrary；　it　is　consistent　with　my　whole　life。　I　have　never　been　overly　keen　about　it。　To　end　it　in　a　hole　like　this…well；　that　isn't　exactly　what　I　expected；　but　it　is　all　one…after。
　Understand　me；　Hal；　I　don't　want　to　desert　you；　haven't　I　stuck？
　And　I　would　still　if　there　were　the　slightest　possible　chance。
　Where　can　we　go？　What　can　we　do？〃
　There　was　a　long　silence；　then　Harry's　voice　came　calmly：
　〃I　can　stay　in　the　game。　You　call　yourself　a　philosopher。　I　won't　quarrel　about　it；　but　the　world　would　call　you　a　quitter。
　Whichever　it　is；　it's　not　for　me。　I　stay　in　the　game。　I'm　going　to　find　Desiree　if　I　can；　and；　by　the　Lord；　some　day　I'm　going　to　cock　my　feet　up　on　the　fender　at　the　Midlothian　and　make　'em　open　their　mouths　and　call　me　a　liar！〃
　〃A　worthy　ambition。〃
　〃My　own。　And；　Paul；　you　can't…you're　not　a　quitter。〃
　〃Personally；　yes。　If　I　were　here　alone；　Hal〃…I　picked　up　one　of　the　spears　and　passed　my　palm　over　its　sharp　point…〃I　would　quit　cold。　But　not…not　with　you。　I　can't　share　your　enthusiasm；　but　I'll　go　fifty…fifty　on　the　rest　of　it；　including　the　fender…when　we　see　it。〃
　〃That's　the　talk；　old　man。　I　knew　you　would。〃
　〃But　understand　me。　I　expect　nothing。　It's　all　rot。　If　by　any　wild　chance　we　should　pull　out　in　the　end　I'll　admit　you　were　right。　But　I　eat　under　pulsion；　and　I　fight　for　you。　You're　the　leader　unless　you　ask　my　advice。〃
　〃And　I　begin　right　now；〃　said　Harry　with　a　grin。　〃First；　to　get　Desiree。　What　about　it？〃
　We　discussed　plans　all　the　way　from　the　impossible　to　the　miraculous　and　arrived　nowhere。　One　thing　only　we　decided…that　before　we　tried　to　find　our　way　back　to　the　great　cavern　and　the　royal　apartments　we　would　lay　in　a　supply　of　food　and　cache　it　among　the　boulders　and　ledges　where　we　then　were。　For　if　ever　a　place　were　designed　for　a　successful　defense　by　two　men　against　thousands　it　was　that　one。　And　we　had　the　spears。
　Still　no　one　had　appeared　in　the　cavern；　and　we　decided　to　wait　no　longer。　We　carried　the　raft　back　to　the　ledge。　It　was　fairly　light；　being　made　of　hide　stretched　tightly　across　stringers　of　bone；　but　was　exceedingly　clumsy。　Once　Harry　fell；　and　the　thing　nearly　toppled　over　into　the　lake　with　him　on　top　of　it；　but　I　caught　his　arm　just　in　time。
　Another　trip　for　the　oars　and　spears；　and　everything　was　ready。　We　launched　the　raft　awkwardly；　nearly　shipping　it　beneath；　but　finally　got　it　afloat　with　ourselves　aboard。　We　had　fastened　the　loose　ends　of　the　spear…thongs　about　our　waists。
　I　think　that　raft　was　the　craziest　thing　that　ever　touched　water。　It　was　a　most　excellent　diver；　but　was　in　profound　ignorance　of　the　first　principle　of　the　art　of　floating。
　After　a　quarter　of　an　hour　of　experimentation　we　found　that　by　standing　exactly　in　a　certain　position；　one　on　each　side　and　paddling　with　one　hand；　it　was　possible　to　keep　fairly　level。　If　either　of　us　shifted　his　foot　a　fraction　of　an　inch　the　thing　ducked　like　a　stone。
　We　finally　got　out　a　hundred　feet　or　so　and　ceased　paddling。
　Then；　exchanging　our　oars　for　the　spears；　we　waited。
　The　surface　of　the　lake　was　perfectly　still；　save　for　a　barely　perceptible　ripple；　caused　no　doubt　by　the　undercurrent　which　was　fed　by　the　stream　at　the　opposite　side。　The　urns　were　so　far　away　that　the　light　was　very　dim；　no　better　than　half　darkness。　The　silence　was　broken　by　the　sound　of　the　rushing　stream。
　Suddenly　the　raft　swayed　gently；　there　was　a　parting　of　the　water　not　a　foot　away　toward　the　front；　and　then…well；　the　ensuing　events　happened　so　quickly　that　their　order　is　uncertain。
　A　black　form　arose　from　the　water　with　a　leap　like　lightning　and　landed　squarely　on　the　raft；　which　proceeded　to　perform　its　favorite　dive。　It　would　have　done　so　with　much　less　persuasion；　for　the　fish　was　a　monster…it　appeared　to　me　at　that　moment　to　be　twenty　feet　long。
　On　the　instant；　as　the　raft　capsized；　Harry　and　I　lunged　with　our　spears；　tumbling　forward　and　landing　on　each　other　and　on　top　of　the　fish。　I　felt　my　spear　sinking　into　the　soft　fish　almost　without　resistance。
　The　raft　slipped　from　under；　and　we　found　ourselves　floundering　in　the　water。
　I　have　said　the　spear…thongs　were　fastened　about　our　waists。
　Otherwise；　we　would　have　let　the　fish　go；　but　we　could　hardly　allow　him　to　take　us　along。　That　is；　we　didn't　want　to　allow　it；　but　we　soon　found　that　we　had　nothing　to　say　in　the　matter。　Before　we　had　time　to　set　ourselves　to　stroke　we　were　being　towed　as　though　we　had　been　corks　toward　the　opposite　shore。
　But　it　was　soon　over；　handicapped　as　he　was　by　four　feet　of　spears　in　his　body。　We　felt　the　pull　lessen　and　twisted　ourselves　about；　and　in　another　minute　had　caught　the　water　with　a　steady　dog…stroke　and　were　holding　our　own。　Soon　we　made　headway；　but　it　was　killing　work。
　〃He　weighs　a　thousand　tons；〃　panted　Harry；　and　I　nodded。
　Pulling　and　puffing　side　by　side；　we　gradually　neared　the　center　of　the　lake；　passed　it；　and　approached　the　ledge。　We　were　well…nigh　exhausted　when　we　finally　touched　bottom　and　were　able　to　stand　erect。
　Hauling　the　fish　onto　the　ledge；　we　no　longer　wondered　at　his　strength。　He　could　not　have　been　an　ounce　under　four　hundred　pounds；　and　was　fully　seven　feet　long。　One　of　the　spears　ran　through　the　gills；　the　other　was　in　his　middle；　just　below　the　backbone。　We　got　them　out　with　some　difficulty　and　rolled　him　up　high　and　dry。
　We　straightened　to　return　for　the　spears　which　we　had　left　at　the　edge　of　the　water。
　〃He's　got　a　hide　like　an　elephant；〃　said　Harry。　〃What　can　we　skin　him　with？〃
　But　I　did　not　answer。
　I　was　gazing　straight　ahead　at　the　mouth　of　the　passage　where　stood　two　Incas；　spear　in　hand；　returning　my　gaze　stolidly。
　
　Chapter　XV。
　THE　RESCUE。
　
　I　was　quick　to　act；　but　the　Incas　were　quicker　still。　I　turned　to　run　for　our　spears；　and　was　halted　by　a　cry　of　warning　from　Harry；　who　had　wheeled　like　a　flash　at　my　quick　movement。　I　turned　barely　in　time　to　see　the　Incas　draw　back　their　powerful　arms；　then　lunge　forward；　the　spears　shooting　from　their　hands。
　I　leaped　aside；　something　struck　my　leg；　I　stooped　swiftly　and　grasped　the　spear…thong　before　there　was　time　for　the　Inca　to　recover　and　jerk　it　out　of　my　reach。　The　other　end　was　fastened　about　his　waist；　I　had　him；　and　giving　an　instant　for　a　glance　at　Harry；　saw　that　he　had　adopted　the　same　tactics　as　myself。
　Seeing　that　escape　was　impossible；　they　dashed　straight　at　us。
　It　wasn't　much　of　a　fight。　One　came　at　me　with　his　head　lowered　like　a　charging　bull；　I　sidestepped　easily　and　floored　him　with　a　single　blow。　He　scrambled　to　his　feet；　but　by　that　time　I　had　recovered　the　spear　and　had　it　ready　for　him。
　I　waited　until　he　was　quite　close；　then　let　him　have　it　full　in　the　chest。　The　fool　literally　ran　himself　through；　hurling　himself　on　the　sharp　point　in　a　brutal　frenzy。　He　lay　on　his　back；　quite　still；　with　the　spear…head　buried　in　his　chest　and　the　shaft　sticking　straight　up　in　the　air。
　I　turned　to　Harry；　and　in　spite　of　myself　smiled　at　what　I　saw。　He　stood　with　his　right　arm　upraised；　holding　his　spear　ready。　His　left　foot　was　placed　well　and　gracefully　forward；　and　his　body　bent　to　one　side　like　the　classic　javelin…thrower。　And　ten　feet　in　front　of　him　the　other　Inca　had　fallen　flat　on　his　face　on　the　ground　with　arms　extended　in　mute　supplication　for　quarter。
　〃What　shall　I　do？〃　asked　Harry。　〃Let　him　have　it？〃
　〃Can　you？〃
　〃The　fact　is；　no。　Look　at　the　poor　beggar…scared　silly。　But　we　can't　let　him　go。〃
　It　was　really　a　question。　Mercy　and　murder　were　alike　impossible。　We　finally　promised　by　binding　his　wrists　and　ankles　and　trussing　him　up　behind；　using　a　portion　of　one　of　the　spear…thongs　for　the　purpose；　and　gagging　him。　Then　we　carried　him　behind　a　large　boulder　some　distance　from　the　ledge　and　tucked　him　away　in　a　dark　corner。
　〃And　when　we　get　back…if　we　ever　do…we　can　turn　him　loose；〃　said　Harry。
　〃In　that　case　I　wouldn't　give　much　for　his　chances　of　a　happy　existence；〃　I　observed。
　We　wasted　no　time　after　that；　for　we　wanted　no　more　interruptions。　Some　fifteen　precious　minutes　we　lost　trying　to　withdraw　the　spear　I　had　buried　in　the　body　of　the　Inca；　but　the　thing　had　bee　wedged　between　two　ribs　and　refused　to　e　out。
　Finally　we　gave　it　up　and　threw　the　corpse　in　the　lake。
　We　then　removed　the　oars　and　spears　and　raft…which　had　floated　so　near　to　the　ledge　that　we　had　no　difficulty　in　recovering　it…to　our　hiding…place；　and　last　we　tackled　our　fish。
　It　was　a　task　for　half　a　dozen　men；　but　we　dared　not　remain　on　the　ledge　to　skin　him　and　cut　him　up。　After　an　hour　of　exertion　and　toil　that　left　us　pletely　exhausted；　we　managed　to　get　him　behind　a　large　boulder　to　the　left　of　the　ledge；　but　it　was　impossible　to　carry　him　to　the　place　we　had　selected；　which　could　be　reached　only　by　passing　through　a　narrow　crevice。
　The　only　knives　we　had　were　the　points　of　the　spears；　but　they　served　after　a　fashion；　and　in　another　hour　we　had　him　skinned　and　pretty　well　separated。　He　was　meaty　and　sweet。　We　discovered　that　with　the　first　opportunity；　for　we　were　hungry　as　wolves。　Nor　did　we　waste　much　time　bewailing　our　lack　of　a　fire；　for　we　had　lived　so　long　on　dried　stuff　that　the　opposite　extreme　was　rather　pleasant　than　otherwise。
　We　tore　him　into　strips　as　neatly　as　possible；　stowing　them　away　beneath　a　ledge；　a　spot　kept　cool　by　the　water　but　a　foot　below。
　〃That'll　be　good　for　a　month；〃　said　Harry。　〃And　there's　more　where　that　came　from。　And　now…〃
　I　understood；　and　I　answered　simply：　〃I'm　ready。〃
　We　had　but　few　preparations　to　make。　The　solidest