rs.undertheandes-第34章

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　I　then　first　tried　my　hand　at　the　task　of　skinning　and　cleaning　them；　and　by　the　time　I　had　finished　was　thoroughly　disgusted　with　it　and　myself。　Harry　had　bee　hardened　to　it；　he　whistled　over　the　job　as　though　he　had　been　born　in　a　butcher's　shop。
　〃I'd　rather　go　hungry；〃　I　declared；　washing　my　hands　and　arms　in　the　cool　water。
　〃Oh；　sure；〃　said　Harry；　〃my　efforts　are　never　appreciated。
　I've　fed　you　up　till　you've　finally　graduated　from　the　skeleton　class；　and　you　immediately　begin　to　criticize　the　table。　I　know　now　what　it　means　to　run　a　boarding…house。　Why　don't　you　change　your　hotel？〃
　By　the　time　we　had　finished　we　were　pretty　well　tired　out；　but　Harry　wouldn't　hear　of　rest。　I　was　eager　myself　for　another　look　at　the　exit　of　that　stream。　So；　again　taking　up　our　spears；　we　set　out　across　the　cavern；　this　time　with　Desiree　between　us。　She　swallowed　Harry's　ridicule　of　her　fear　and　refused　to　stay　behind。
　Again　we　stood　at　the　point　where　the　stream　left　the　cavern　through　the　broad　arch　of　a　tunnel。
　〃There's　a　chance　there；〃　said　Harry；　turning　to　me。　〃It　looks　good。〃
　〃Yes；　if　we　had　a　boat；〃　I　agreed。　〃But　that's　a　ten…mile　current；　and　probably　deep。〃
　I　waded　out　some　twenty　feet　and　was　nearly　swept　beneath　the　surface　as　the　water　circled　about　my　shoulders。
　〃We　couldn't　follow　that　on　our　feet；〃　I　declared；　returning　to　the　shore。　〃But　it　does　look　promising。　At　ten　miles　an　hour　we'd　reach　the　western　slope　in　four　hours。　Four　hours　to　sunshine…but　it　might　as　well　be　four　hundred。　It's　impossible。〃
　We　turned　then　and　retraced　our　steps　to　our　camp；　if　I　may　give　it　so　dignified　a　title。　I　hated　to　give　up　the　idea　of　following　the　bed　of　the　stream；　for　it　was　certain　that　somewhere　it　found　the　surface　of　the　earth；　and　I　revolved　in　my　brain　every　conceivable　means　to　do　so。　The　same　thought　was　in　Harry's　mind；　for　he　turned　to　me　suddenly：
　〃If　we　only　had　something　for　stringers；　I　could　make　a　raft　that　would　carry　us　to　the　Pacific　and　across　it。　The　hide　of　that　thing　over　yonder　would　be　just　the　stuff；　and　we　could　get　a　piece　as　big　as　we　wanted。〃
　I　shook　my　head。
　〃I　thought　of　that。　But　we　have　absolutely　nothing　to　hold　it。　There　wasn't　a　bone　in　his　body；　you　know　that。〃
　But　the　idea　was　peculiarly　tempting；　and　we　spent　an　hour　discussing　it。　Desiree　was　asleep　on　her　pile　of　skins。　We　sat　side　by　side　on　the　ground　some　distance　away；　talking　in　low　tones。
　Suddenly　there　was　a　loud　splash　in　the　stream；　which　was　quite　close　to　us。
　〃By　gad！〃　exclaimed　Harry；　springing　to　his　feet。　〃Did　you　hear　that？　It　sounded　like…remember　the　fish　we　pulled　in　from　the　Inca's　raft？〃
　〃Which　has　nothing　to　do　with　this；〃　I　answered。　〃It's　nothing　but　the　water…pigs。　I've　heard　'em　a　thousand　times　in　the　last　few　days。　And　the　Lord　knows　we　have　enough　of　them。〃
　But　Harry　protested　that　the　splash　was　much　too　loud　to　have　been　caused　by　any　water…pig　and　waded　into　the　stream　to　investigate。　I　rose　to　my　feet　and　followed　him　leisurely；　for　no　reason　in　particular；　but　was　suddenly　startled　by　an　excited　cry　from　his　lips：
　〃Paul…the　spear！　Quick！　It's　a　whale！〃
　I　ran　as　swiftly　as　I　could　to　the　shore　and　returned　with　our　spears；　but　when　I　reached　Harry　he　greeted　me　with　an　oath　of　disappointment　and　the　information　that　the　〃whale〃　had　disappeared。　He　was　greatly　excited。
　〃I　tell　you　he　was　twenty　feet　long！　A　big　black　devil；　with　a　head　like　a　cow。〃
　〃You're　sure　it　wasn't　like　a　pig？〃　I　asked　skeptically。
　Harry　looked　at　me。
　〃I　have　drunk　nothing　but　water　for　a　month；〃　he　said　dryly。
　〃It　was　a　fish；　and　some　fish。〃
　〃Well；　there's　probably　more　like　him；〃　I　observed。　〃But　they　can　wait。　e　on　and　get　some　sleep；　and　then…we'll　see。〃
　Some　hours　afterward；　having　filled　ourselves　with　sleep　and　food　（I　had　decided；　after　mature　deliberation；　not　to　change　my　hotel）；　we　started　out；　armed　with　our　spears。　Desiree　acpanied　us。　Harry　told　her　bluntly　that　she　would　be　in　the　way；　but　she　refused　to　stay　behind。
　We　turned　upstream；　thinking　our　chances　better　in　that　direction　than　toward　the　swifter　current；　and　were　surprised　to　find　that　the　cavern　was　much　larger　than　any　we　had　before　seen。
　In　something　over　a　mile　we　had　not　yet　reached　the　farther　wall；　for　we　walked　at　a　brisk　pace　for　a　quarter　of　an　hour　or　more。
　At　this　point　the　stream　was　considerably　wider　than　it　was　below；　and　there　was　very　little　current。　Desiree　stood　on　the　bank　while　Harry　and　I　waded　out　above　our　waists。
　There　was　a　long　and　weary　wait　before　anything　occurred。　The　water　was　cold；　and　my　limbs　became　stiff　and　numb；　I　called　to　Harry　that　it　was　useless　to　wait　longer；　and　was　turning　toward　the　shore　when　there　was　a　sudden　motion　in　the　water　not　far　from　where　he　stood。
　I　turned　and　saw　Harry　plunge　forward　with　his　spear。
　〃I've　got　him！〃　he　yelled。　〃e　on！〃
　I　went。　But　I　soon　saw　that　Harry　didn't　have　him。　He　had　Harry。　They　were　all　of　ten　yards　away　from　me；　and　by　the　time　I　reached　the　spot　there　was　nothing　to　be　seen　but　flying　water　thrashed　into　foam　and　fury。
　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　Harry　being　jerked　through　the　air；　he　was　holding　on　for　dear　life　with　both　hands　to　the　shaft　of　his　spear。　The　water　was　over　my　head　there；　I　was　swimming　with　all　the　strength　I　had。
　〃I've　got　him…through　the　belly；〃　Harry　gasped　as　I　fought　my　way　through　the　spray　to　his　side。　〃His　head！　Find　his　head！〃
　I　finally　succeeded　in　getting　my　hand　on　Harry's　spear…shaft　near　where　it　entered　the　body　of　the　fish；　but　the　next　instant　it　was　jerked　from　me；　dragging　me　beneath　the　surface。　I　came　up　puffing　and　made　another　try；　but　missed　it　by　several　feet。
　Harry　kept　shouting：　〃His　head！　Get　him　in　the　head！〃
　For　that　I　was　saving　my　spear。　But　I　could　make　nothing　of　either　head　or　tail　as　the　immense　fish　leaped　furiously　about　in　the　water；　first　this　way；　then　that。
　Once　he　came　down　exactly　on　top　of　me　and　carried　me　far　under；　I　felt　his　slippery；　smooth　body　glide　over　me；　and　the　tail　struck　me　a　heavy　blow　in　the　face　as　it　passed。　Blinded　and　half　choked；　I　fought　my　way　back　to　the　surface　and　saw　that　they　had　got　fifty　feet　away。
　I　swam　to　them；　breathing　hard　and　nearly　exhausted。　The　water　foamed　less　furiously　about　them　now。　As　I　came　near　the　fish　leaped　half　out　of　the　water　and　came　down　flat　on　his　side；　I　saw　his　ugly　black　head　pointed　directly　toward　me。
　〃He's　about　gone！〃　Harry　gasped。
　He　was　still　clinging　to　the　spear。
　I　set　myself　firmly　against　the　water　and　waited。　Soon　it　parted　violently　not　ten　feet　in　front　of　me；　and　again　the　head　appeared；　he　was　ing　straight　for　me。　I　could　see　the　dull　beady　eyes　on　either　side；　and　I　let　him　have　the　spear　right　between　them。
　There　was　little　force　to　the　blow；　but　the　fish　himself　furnished　that；　he　was　ing　like　lightning。　I　hurled　my　body　aside　with　a　great　effort　and　felt　him　sweep　past　me。
　I　turned　to　swim　after　them　and　heard　Harry's　great　shout：　〃You　got　him！〃
　By　the　time　I　reached　him　the　fish　had　turned　over　on　his　back　and　was　floating　on　the　surface；　motionless。
　We　had　still　to　get　him　ashore；　and；　exhausted　as　we　were；　it　was　no　easy　task。　But　there　was　very　little　current；　and　after　half　an　hour　of　pulling　and　shoving　we　got　him　into　shallow　water；　where　we　could　find　the　bottom　with　our　feet。　Then　it　was　easier。
　Desiree　waded　out　to　us　and　lent　a　hand；　and　in　another　ten　minutes　we　had　him　high　and　dry　on　the　rock。
　He　was　even　larger　than　I　had　thought。　No　wonder　Harry　had　called　him…or　one　like　him…a　whale。　It　was　all　of　fifteen　feet　from　his　snout　to　the　tip　of　his　tail。　The　skin　was　dead　black　on　top　and　mottled　irregularly　on　the　belly。
　As　we　sat　sharpening　the　points　of　our　spears　on　the　rock；　preparatory　to　skinning　him；　Desiree　stood　regarding　the　fish　with　unqualified　approval。　She　turned　to　us：
　〃Well；　I'd　rather　eat　that　than　those　other　nasty　things。〃
　〃Oh；　that　isn't　what　we　want　him　for；〃　said　Harry；　rubbing　his　finger　against　the　edge　of　his　spear…point。　〃He's　probably　not　fit　to　eat。〃
　〃Then　why　all　this　trouble？〃　asked　Desiree。
　〃Dear　lady；　we　expect　to　ride　him　home；〃　said　Harry；　rising　to　his　feet。
　Then　he　explained　our　purpose；　and　you　may　believe　that　Desiree　was　the　most　excited　of　the　lot　as　we　ripped　down　the　body　of　the　fish　from　tail　to　snout　and　began　to　peel　off　the　tough　skin。
　〃If　you　succeed　you　may　choose　the　new　hangings　for　my　boudoir；〃　she　said；　with　an　attempt　at　lightness　not　altogether　successful。
　〃As　for　me；〃　I　declared；　〃I　shall　eat　fish　every　day　of　my　life　out　of　pure　gratitude。〃
　〃You'll　do　it　out　of　pure　necessity；〃　Harry　put　in；　〃if　you　don't　get　busy。〃
　It　took　us　three　hours　of　whacking　and　slashing　and　tearing　to　pull　the　fish　to　pieces；　but　we　worked　with　a　purpose　and　a　will。
　When　we　had　finished；　this　is　what　we　had　to　show：　A　long　strip　of　bone；　four　inches　thick　and　twelve　feet　long；　and　tough　as　hickory；　from　either　side　of　which　the　smaller　bones　projected　at　right　angles。　They　were　about　an　inch　in　thickness　and　two　inches　apart。
　The　lower　end　of　the　backbone；　near　the　tail；　we　had　broken　off。
　We　examined　it　and　lifted　it　and　bent　it　half　double。
　〃Absolutely　perfect！〃　Harry　cried　in　jubilation。　〃Three　more　like　this　and　we'll　sail　down　the　coast　to　Callao。〃
　〃If　we　can　get　'em；〃　I　observed。　〃But　two　would　do。　We　could　make　it　a　triangle。〃
　Harry　looked　at　me。
　〃Paul；　you're　an　absolute　genius。　But　would　it　be　big　enough　to　hold　us？〃
　We　discussed　that　question　on　our　way　back　to　camp；　whither　we　carried　the　backbone　of　our　fish；　together　with　some　of　the　meat。
　Then；　after　a　hearty　meal；　we　slept。　After　seven　hours　of　the　hardest　kind　of　work　we　were　ready　for　it。
　That　was　our　program　for　the　time　that　followed…time　that　stretched　into　many　weary　hours；　for；　once　started；　we　worked　feverishly；　so　impatient　had　we　bee　by　dint　of　that　faint　glimmer　of　hope。　We　were　going　to　try　to　build　a　raft；　on　which　we　were　going　to　try　to　embark　on　the　stream；　by　which　we　were　going　to　try　to　find　our　way　out　of　the　mountain。　The　prospect　made　us　positively　hilarious；　so　slender　is　the　thread　by　which　hope　jerks　us　about。
　The　first　part　of　our　task　was　the　most　strenuous。　We　waited　and　waded　round　many　hours　before　another　fish　appeared；　and　then　he　got　away　from　us。　Another　attempt　was　crowned　with　success　after　a　hard　fight。　The　second　one　was　even　larger　than　the　first。
　The　next　two　were　too　small　to　be　of　use　in　the　raft；　but　we　saved　them　for　another　purpose。　Then；　after　another　long　search；　lasting　many　hours；　we　ran　into　half　a　dozen　of　them　at　once。
　By　that　time　we　were　fairly　expert　with　our　spears；　besides　having　discovered　their　vulnerable　spot…the　throat；　just　forward　from　the　gills。　To　this　day　I　don't　know　whether　or　not　they　were　man…eaters。　Their　jaws　were　roomy　and　strong　as　those　of　any　shark；　but　they　never　closed　on　us。
　Thus　we　had　four　of　the　large　backbones　and　two　smaller　ones。
　Next　we　wanted　a　covering；　and　for　that　purpose　we　visited　the　remains　of　the　reptile　which　had　first　led　us　into　the　cavern。
　Its　hide　was　half　an　inch　thick　and　tough　as　the　toughest　leather。　There　was　no　difficulty　in　l