rs.undertheandes-第41章

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　〃It　is　useless。　I　am　done　for！〃
　〃That　isn't　true；〃　she　denied；　in　a　voice　almost　of　anger。
　〃You　will　get　well。　You　are…injured　badly…〃　After　a　short　pause　she　added；　〃for　me。〃
　There　was　a　long　silence…I　thought　it　hardly　worth　while　to　contradict　her…and　then　I　said　simply；　〃Why　are　you　crying；　Desiree？〃
　She　looked　at　me　as　though　she　had　not　heard；　then；　after　another　silence；　her　voice　came；　so　low　that　it　barely　reached　my　ears：
　〃For　this…and　for　what　might　have　been；　my　friend。〃
　〃But　you　have　said…〃
　〃I　know！　Would　you　make　me　doubt　again？　Do　not！　Ah〃…she　passed　her　hand　gently　over　my　forehead　and　touched　the　tips　of　her　fingers　to　my　burning　eyes…〃you　must　have　cared　for　me　in　that　other　world。　I　will　not　doubt　it；　unless　you　speak；　and　you　must　not。　Nothing　would　have　been　too　high　for　us。　We　could　have　opened　any　door…even　the　door　to　happiness。〃
　〃But　you　said　once…forgive　me　if　I　remind　you　of　it　now…you　said　that　you　are…you　called　yourself　'La　Marana。'〃
　She　shrank　back；　exclaiming：　〃Paul！　Indeed；　I　need　to　forgive　you！〃
　〃Still；　it　is　true；〃　I　persisted；　turning　to　look　at　her。　The　movement　caused　me　to　halt；　closing　my　eyes；　while　a　great　wave　of　pain　swept　over　me　from　head　to　foot。　Then　I　went　on：　〃Could　you　expect　to　confine　your　heart？　You　say　we　could　have　opened　any　door…well；　tell　me；　what　could　we　have　done；　you　and　I？〃
　〃But　that　is　what　I　do　not　think　of！〃　cried　Desiree　impatiently。　〃I　would　perhaps　have　placed　my　hand　on　your　heart；　as　I　do　now；　you　would　perhaps　have　fought　for　me；　as　you　have　done。　I　might　even…〃　She　hesitated；　while　the　ghost　of　a　smile　that　had　died　before　it　reached　the　light　appeared　on　her　lips；　as　her　head　was　lowered　close；　quite　close；　to　mine。
　A　long　moment；　and　then；　〃Must　I　ask　for　it？〃　I　breathed。
　She　jerked　her　head　up　sharply。
　〃You　do　not　want　it；〃　she　said　dryly。
　I　raised　my　hand；　groping　for　her　fingers；　but　could　not　find　them。　She　saw；　and　slowly；　very　slowly；　her　hand　crept　to　mine　and　was　caught　and　held　there。
　〃Desiree…I　want　it；〃　I　said　half　fiercely；　and　I　forgot　my　pain　and　our　danger…forgot　everything　but　her　white　face　in　dim　outline　above　me；　and　her　eyes；　glowing　and　tender　against　her　wish；　and　her　hand　that　nestled　in　my　hand。　〃Be　merciful　to　me…I　want　it　as　I　have　never　wanted　anything　in　my　life。　Desiree；　I　love　you。〃
　At　that　I　felt　her　hand　move　quickly；　as　for　freedom；　but　I　held　it　fast。　And　then　slowly　her　head　was　lowered。　I　waited　breathlessly。　I　felt　her　quick　breath　on　my　face；　and　the　next　moment　her　lips　had　found　my　lips；　hot　and　dry；　and　remained　there。
　Then　she　raised　her　head；　saying　tremulously：
　〃That　was　my　soul；　and　it　is　the　first　time　it　has　ever　escaped　me。〃
　At　the　same　instant　we　were　startled　by　the　sound　of　Harry's　voice　in　the　darkness：
　〃Desiree！　Where　are　you？〃
　I　waited　for　her　to　answer；　but　she　was　silent；　and　I　called　out　to　him　our　direction。　A　moment　later　his　form　appeared　at　a　distance；　and　soon　he　had　joined　us。
　〃How　about　it；　old　man？〃　he　asked；　bending　over　me。
　Then　he　told　us　that　he　had　found　no　water。　He　had　explored　two　sides　of　the　cavern；　one　at　a　distance　of　half　a　mile　or　more；　and　was　crossing　to　find　the　third　when　he　had　called　to　us。
　〃But　there　is　little　use；〃　he　finished　gloomily。　〃The　place　is　silent　as　the　grave。　If　there　were　water　we　would　hear　it。
　I　can't　even　find　an　exit　except　the　crevice　that　let　us　in。〃
　Desiree's　hand　was　still　in　mine。
　〃It　may　be…perhaps　I　can　go　with　you；〃　I　suggested。　But　he　would　not　hear　of　it；　and　set　out　again　alone　in　the　opposite　direction　to　that　which　he　had　taken　previously。
　In　a　few　minutes　he　returned；　reporting　no　better　success　than　before。　On　that　side；　he　said；　the　wall　of　the　cavern　was　quite　close。　There　was　no　sign　anywhere　of　water；　but　to　the　left　there　were　several　narrow　lanes　leading　at　angles　whose　sides　were　nearly　parallel　to　each　other；　and　some　distance　to　the　right　there　was　a　broad　and　clear　passage　sloping　downward　directly　away　from　the　cavern。
　〃Is　the　passage　straight？〃　I　asked；　struck　with　a　sudden　idea。
　〃Could　you　see　far　within？〃
　〃A　hundred　feet　or　so；〃　was　the　answer。　〃Why？　Shall　we　follow　it？　Can　you　walk？〃
　〃I　think　so；〃　I　answered。　〃At　any　rate；　I　must　find　some　water　soon　or　quit　the　game。　But　that　isn't　why　I　asked。　Perhaps　it　explains　the　sudden　disappearance　of　the　Incas。　They　knew　they　couldn't　follow　us　through　that　narrow　crevice；　what　if　they　have　made　for　the　passage？〃
　Harry　grumbled　that　we　had　enough　trouble　without　trying　to　borrow　more。
　We　decided　to　wait　a　little　longer　before　starting　out　from　the　cavern；　Harry　helped　me　to　my　feet　to　give　them　a　trial；　and　though　I　was　able　to　stand　it　was　only　by　a　tremendous　effort　and　exertion　of　the　will。
　〃Not　yet；〃　I　murmured　between　clenched　teeth；　and　again　Desiree　sat　on　the　hard　rock　and　supported　my　head　and　shoulders　in　her　arms；　despite　my　earnest　remonstrances。　Harry　stood　before　us；　leaning　on　his　spear。
　Soon　he　left　us　again；　departing　in　the　direction　of　the　crevice　by　which　we　had　entered；　I　detected　his　uneasiness　in　the　tone　with　which　he　directed　us　to　keep　a　lookout　around　in　every　direction。
　〃We　could　move　to　the　wall；〃　I　had　suggested；　but　he　shook　his　head；　saying　that　where　we　were　we　at　least　had　room　to　turn。
　When　he　had　gone　Desiree　and　I　sat　silent　for　many　minutes。
　Then　I　tried　to　rise；　insisting　that　she　must　be　exhausted　with　the　long　strain　she　had　undergone；　but　she　denied　it　vehemently；　and　refused　to　allow　me　to　move。
　〃It　is　little　enough；〃　she　said；　and　though　I　but　half　understood　her；　I　made　no　answer。
　I　myself　was　convinced　that　we　were　at　last　near　the　end。　It　was　certain　that　the　Incas　had　merely　delayed；　not　abandoned；　the　pursuit；　and　our　powers　and　means　of　resistance　had　been　worn　to　nothing。
　Our　curious　apathy　and　half　indifference　spoke　for　itself；　it　was　as　though　we　had　at　length　recognized　the　hand　of　fate　and　seen　the　futility　of　further　struggle。　For；　weak　and　injured　as　I　was；　I　still　had　strength　in　me；　it　was　a　listlessness　of　the　brain　and　hopelessness　of　the　heart　that　made　me　content　to　lie　and　wait　for　whatever　might　e。
　The　state　of　my　feelings　toward　Desiree　were　even　then　elusive；　they　are　more　so　now。　I　had　told　her　I　loved　her；　well；　I　had　told　many　women　that。　But　Desiree　had　moved　me；　with　her　it　was　not　the　same…that　I　felt。　I　had　never　so　admired　a　woman；　and　the　thrill　of　that　kiss　is　in　me　yet；　I　can　recall　it　and　tremble　under　its　power　by　merely　closing　my　eyes。
　Her　warm　hand；　pressed　tightly　in　my　own；　seemed　to　send　an　electric　munication　to　every　nerve　in　my　body　and　eased　my　suffering　and　stilled　my　pain。　That；　I　know；　is　not　love；　and　perhaps　I　was　mistaken　when　I　imagined　that　it　was　there。
　〃Are　you　asleep？〃　she　asked　presently；　after　I　had　lain　perfectly　quiet　for　many　minutes。　Her　voice　was　so　low　that　it　entered　my　ear　as　the　faintest　breath。
　〃Hardly；〃　I　answered。　〃To　tell　the　truth；　I　expect　never　to　sleep　again…I　suppose　you　understand　me。　I　can't　say　why…I　feel　it。〃
　Desiree　nodded。
　〃Do　you　remember；　Paul；　what　I　said　that　evening　on　the　mountain？〃　Then…I　suppose　my　face　must　have　betrayed　my　thought…she　added　quickly：　〃Oh；　I　didn't　mean　that…other　thing。
　I　said　this　mountain　would　be　my　grave；　do　you　remember？　You　see；　I　knew。〃
　I　started　to　reply；　but　was　interrupted　by　Harry；　calling　to　ask　where　we　were。　I　answered；　and　soon　he　had　joined　us　and　seated　himself　beside　Desiree　on　the　ground。
　〃I　found　nothing；〃　was　all　he　said；　wearily；　and　he　lay　back　and　closed　his　eyes；　resting　his　head　on　his　hands。
　The　minutes　passed　slowly。　Desiree　and　I　talked　in　low　tones；　Harry　moved　about　uneasily　on　his　hard　bed；　saying　nothing。
　Finally；　despite　Desiree's　energetic　protests；　I　rose　to　my　knees　and　insisted　that　she　rest　herself。　We　seemed　none　of　us　to　be　scarcely　aware　of　what　we　were　doing；　our　movements　had　a　curious　purposelessness　about　them　that　gave　the　thing　an　appearance　of　unreality…I　know　not　what；　it　es　to　my　memory　as　some　indistinct　and　haunting　nightmare。
　Suddenly；　as　I　sat　gazing　dully　into　the　semidarkness　of　the　cavern；　I　saw　that　which　drove　the　apathy　from　my　brain　with　a　sudden　shock；　at　the　same　time　paralyzing　my　senses。　I　strained　my　eyes　ahead；　there　could　be　no　doubt　of　it；　that　black；　slowly　moving　line　was　a　band　of　Incas　creeping　toward　us　silently；　on　their　knees；　through　the　darkness。　Glancing　to　either　side　I　saw　that　the　line　extended　pletely　around　us；　to　the　right　and　left。
　The　sight　seemed　to　paralyze　me。　I　tried　to　call　to　Harry…no　sound　came　from　my　eager　lips。　I　tried　to　put　out　my　hand　to　rouse　him　and　to　pick　up　my　spear；　my　arms　remained　motionless　at　my　side。
　Desiree　lay　close　beside　me；　I　could　not　even　turn　my　head　to　see　if　she；　too；　saw；　but　kept　my　eyes；　as　though　fascinated；　on　that　silent　black　line　approaching　through　the　darkness。
　〃Will　they　leap　now…now…now？〃　I　asked　myself　with　every　beat　of　my　pulse。
　It　could　not　be　much　longer…they　were　now　so　close　that　each　black；　tense　form　was　in　clear　outline　not　fifty　feet　away。
　
　Chapter　XXIII。
　WE　ARE　TWO。
　
　Whether　I　would　have　been　able　to　rouse　myself　to　action　before　the　shock　of　the　assault　was　actually　upon　us；　I　shall　never　know。
　It　was　not　fear　that　held　me；　for　I　felt　none；　I　think　that　dimly　and　half　unconsciously　I　saw　in　that　black　line；　silently　creeping　upon　us；　the　final　and　inexorable　approach　of　the　remorseless　fate　that　had　pursued　us　ever　since　we　had　dashed　after　Desiree　into　the　cave　of　the　devil；　rendering　our　every　effort　futile；　our　most　desperate　struggles　the　laughing…stock　of　the　gods。
　I　was　not　even　conscious　of　danger。　I　sat　as　in　a　stupor。
　But　action　came；　though　not　from　me；　so　suddenly　that　I　scarcely　knew　what　had　happened。　There　was　a　cry　from　Desiree。
　Harry　sprang　to　his　feet。　The　Incas　leaped　forward。
　I　felt　myself　jerked　violently　from　the　ground；　and　a　spear　was　thrust　into　my　hand。　Harry's　form　flashed　past　me；　shouting　to　me　to　follow。　Desiree　was　at　his　heels；　but　I　saw　her　halt　and　turn　to　me；　and　I；　too；　sprang　forward。
　Harry's　spear　whirled　about　his　head；　leaving　a　gap　in　the　black　line　that　was　now　upon　us。　Through　it　we　plunged。　The　Incas　turned　and　came　at　us　from　behind；　one　whose　hands　were　upon　Desiree　got　my　spear　in　his　throat　and　sank　to　the　ground。
　〃Cross　to　the　left！〃　Harry　yelled。　He　was　fighting　them　off　from　every　direction　at　once。
　I　turned；　calling　to　Desiree　to　follow；　and　dashed　across　the　cavern。　We　saw　the　wall　just　ahead；　broken　and　rugged。　Again　turning　I　called　to　Harry；　but　could　not　see　him　for　the　black　forms　on　every　side；　and　I　was　starting　to　his　rescue　when　I　saw　him　plunge　toward　us；　cutting　his　way　through　the　solid　mass　of　Incas　as　though　they　had　been　stalks　of　corn。　He　was　not　a　man；　but　a　demon　possessed。
　〃Go　on；〃　he　shouted。　〃I'll　make　it！〃
　Then　I　turned　and　ran　with　Desiree　to　the　wall。　We　followed　it　a　short　distance　before　we　reached　one　of　the　lanes　of　which　Harry　had　spoken；　at　its　entrance　he　joined　us；　still　bidding　us　to　leave　him　to　cover　our　retreat。
　Once　within　the　narrow　lane　his　task　was　easier。　Boulders　and　projecting　rocks　obs