rs.undertheandes-第43章

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me。
　One　more　leap　to　safety；　and　we　turned　just　in　time　to　see　the　floor　of　the　passage　which　we　had　traversed　disappear　into　some　abyss　beneath　with　a　shattering　roar。
　We　stood　at　the　very　edge　of　the　chasm　thus　suddenly　formed；　gazing　at　each　other　in　silent　wonder　and　awe。
　〃The　beggars　are　stopped　now；〃　said　Harry　finally。　〃That　break　in　the　game　is　ours。〃
　Looking　back　across　the　chasm；　we　saw　the　Incas　tumbling　by　twos　and　threes　over　the　boulder　on　the　other　side。　As　they　saw　the　yawning　abyss　that　separated　them　from　their　prey　they　stopped　short　and　gazed　across　in　profound　astonishment。
　Others　came　to　join　them；　until　there　were　several　hundred　of　the　black；　ugly　forms　huddled　together　on　the　opposite　rim　of　the　chasm；　a　hundred　feet　away。
　I　ran　over　the　group　with　a　keen　eye；　seeking　the　figure　of　the　Inca　king；　and　soon　my　search　was　successful。　He　stood　a　step　in　front　of　the　others；　a　little　to　the　right。　I　pointed　him　out　to　Harry　and　Desiree。
　〃It's　up　to　him　to　walk　right　out　again；〃　said　Harry。
　Desiree　shivered；　and　proceeded　to　send　her　last　invitation　to　the　devil。
　Turning　suddenly；　she　grasped　Harry's　spear　and　tore　it　from　his　hand。　Before　we　realized　her　purpose；　she　stepped　forward　until　her　foot　rested　on　the　very　edge　of　the　chasm；　and　had　hurled　the　spear　across　straight　at　the　Inca　king。
　It　missed　him；　but　struck　another　Inca　standing　near　full　in　the　breast。　Quick　as　lightning　the　king　turned；　grasped　the　shaft　of　the　spear；　and　pulled　it　forth；　and　with　his　white　teeth　gleaming　in　a　snarl　of　furious　hate；　sent　it　whistling　through　the　air　straight　at　Desiree。
　Harry　and　I　sprang　forward　with　a　shout　of　warning；　Desiree　stood　motionless　as　a　statue。　We　grasped　her　frantically　and　pulled　her　back；　but　too　late。
　She　came；　but　only　to　fall　lifeless　into　our　arms　with　the　spear　buried　deep　in　her　white　throat。
　We　laid　her　on　the　ground　and　knelt　beside　her　for　a　moment；　then　Harry　arose　to　his　feet　with　a　face　white　as　death；　and　I　uttered　a　silent　and　vengeful　prayer　as　I　saw　him　level　a　spear　at　the　Inca　king　across　the　chasm。　But　it　went　wide　of　its　mark；　striking　the　ground　at　his　feet。
　〃There　was　another！〃　cried　Harry；　and　soon　he　had　found　it　where　it　lay　on　the　ground　and　sent　it；　too；　hurtling　across。
　This　time　he　missed　by　inches。　The　spear　flew　just　past　the　shoulder　of　the　king　and　caught　one　who　stood　behind　him　full　in　the　face。　The　stricken　savage　threw　his　arms　spasmodically　above　his　head；　reeling　forward　against　the　king。
　There　was　a　startled　movement　along　the　black　line；　hands　were　outstretched　in　a　vain　effort　at　rescue；　a　savage　cry　burst　from　Harry's　lips；　and　the　next　instant　the　king　had　toppled　over　the　edge　of　the　chasm　and　fallen　into　the　bottomless　pit　below。
　Harry　turned；　quivering　from　head　to　foot。
　〃Little　enough；〃　he　said　between　his　teeth；　and　again　he　knelt　beside　the　body　of　Desiree　and　took　her　in　his　arms。
　But　her　fate　spoke　eloquently　of　our　own　danger；　and　I　roused　him　to　action。　Together　we　picked　up　the　form　of　our　dead　rade　and　carried　it　to　the　rear。　I　hesitated　to　pull　forth　the　barbed　head　of　the　spear；　and　instead　broke　off　the　shaft；　leaving　the　point　buried　in　the　soft　throat；　from　which　a　crimson　line　extended　over　the　white　shoulder。
　A　short　distance　ahead　we　came　to　a　projecting　boulder；　and　behind　that　we　gently　laid　her　on　the　hard　rock。　Neither　of　us　had　spoken　a　word。　Harry's　lips　were　locked　tightly　together；　a　lump　rose　in　my　throat；　choking　all　utterance　and　filling　my　eyes　with　tears。
　Harry　knelt　beside　the　white　form　and；　gathering　it　gently　in　his　arms；　held　it　against　his　breast。　I　stood　at　his　side；　gazing　down　at　him　in　mute　sympathy　and　sorrow。
　For　a　long　minute　there　was　silence…a　most　intense　silence　throughout　the　cavern；　during　which　the　painful　throbbing　of　my　heart　was　plainly　audible；　then　Harry　murmured；　in　a　voice　of　the　utmost　tenderness：　〃Desiree！〃　And　again；　〃Desiree！　Desiree！〃　until　I　half　expected　the　very　strength　and　sweetness　of　his　emotion　to　bring　our　rade　back　to　life。
　Suddenly；　with　a　quick；　impulsive　movement；　he　raised　his　head　to　glance　at　me。
　〃She　loved　you；〃　he　said；　and　though　there　was　neither　jealousy　nor　anger　in　his　voice；　somehow　I　could　not　meet　his　gaze。
　〃She　loved　you；〃　he　repeated　in　a　tone　half　of　wonder。　〃And　you…you…〃
　I　answered　his　eyes。
　〃She　was　yours；〃　I　said；　with　a　touch　of　bitterness　that　persuaded　him　of　the　truth。　〃All　her　beauty；　all　her　loveliness；　all　her　charm；　to　be　buried…Ah！　God　help　us…〃
　My　voice　broke；　and　I　knelt　on　the　ground　beside　Harry　and　pressed　my　lips　to　the　white　forehead　and　golden　hair　of　what　had　been　Le　Mire。
　Thus　we　remained　for　a　long　time。
　It　was　hard　to　believe　that　death　had　in　reality　taken　possession　of　the　still　form　stretched　as　in　repose　before　us。　Her　body；　still　warm；　seemed　quivering　with　the　instinct　of　life；　but　the　eyes　were　not　the　eyes　of　Desiree。　I　closed　them；　and　arranged　the　tangled　mass　of　hair　as　well　as　possible　over　her　shoulders。
　As　I　did　so　the　air；　set　in　motion　by　my　hand；　caused　some　of　the　golden　strands　to　tremble　gently　across　her　lips；　and　Harry　bent　forward　with　a　painful　eagerness；　thinking　that　she　had　breathed。
　〃Dearest；〃　he　murmured；　〃dearest；　speak　to　me！〃
　His　hand　sought　her　swelling　bosom　gropingly；　and　his　eyes；　as　they　looked　pleadingly　even　into　mine；　shot　into　my　heart　and　unnerved　me。
　I　rose　to　my　feet；　scarcely　able　to　stand；　and　moved　away。
　But　the　fate　that　had　finally　intervened　for　us…too　late；　alas！　for　one…did　not　leave　us　long　with　our　dead。　Even　now　I　do　not　know　what　happened；　at　the　time　I　knew　even　less。　Harry　told　me　afterward　that　the　first　shock　came　at　the　instant　he　had　taken　Desiree　in　his　arms　and　pressed　his　lips　to　hers。
　I　had　crossed　to　the　other　side　of　the　passage　and　was　gazing　back　toward　the　chasm　at　the　Incas　on　the　other　side；　when　again　I　felt　the　ground；　absolutely　without　warning；　tremble　violently　under　my　feet。　At　the　same　moment　there　was　a　low；　curious　rumble　as　of　the　thundering　of　distant　cannon。
　I　sprang　toward　Harry　with　a　cry　of　alarm；　and　had　crossed　about　to　the　middle　of　the　passage；　when　a　deafening　roar　smote　my　ear；　and　the　entire　wall　of　the　cavern　appeared　to　be　failing　in　upon　us。　At　the　same　time　the　ground　seemed　to　sink　directly　away　beneath　my　feet　with　an　easy；　rocking　motion　as　of　a　wave　of　the　ocean。　Then　I　felt　myself　plunging　downward　with　a　velocity　that　stunned　my　senses　and　took　away　my　breath；　and　then　all　was　confusion　and　chaos…and　oblivion。
　When　I　awoke　I　was　lying　flat　on　my　back；　and　Harry　was　kneeling　at　my　side。　I　opened　my　eyes；　and　felt　that　it　would　be　impossible　to　make　a　greater　exertion。
　〃Paul！〃　cried　Harry。　〃Speak　to　me！　Not　you；　too…I　shall　go　mad！〃
　He　told　me　afterward　that　I　had　lain　unconscious　for　many　hours；　but　that　appeared　to　be　all　that　he　knew。　How　far　we　had　fallen；　or　how　he　had　found　me；　or　how　he　himself　had　escaped　being　crushed　to　pieces　by　the　falling　rock；　he　was　unable　to　say；　and　I　concluded　that　he；　too；　had　been　rendered　unconscious　by　the　fall；　and　for　some　time　dazed　and　bewildered　by　the　shock。
　Well！　We　were　alive…that　was　all。
　For　we　were　weak　and　faint　from　hunger　and　fatigue；　and　one　mass　of　bruises　and　blisters　from　head　to　foot。　And　we　had　had　no　water　for　something　like　twenty…four　hours。　Heaven　only　knows　where　we　found　the　energy　to　rise　and　go　in　search　of　it；　it　is　incredible　that　any　creatures　in　such　a　pitiable　and　miserable　condition　as　we　were　could　have　been　propelled　by　hope；　unless　it　is　indeed　immortal。
　Half　walking；　half　crawling；　we　went　forward。
　The　place　where　we　had　found　ourselves　was　a　jumbled　mass　of　boulders　and　broken　rock；　but　we　soon　discovered　a　passage；　level　and　straight　as　any　tunnel　built　by　man。
　Down　this　we　made　our　way。　Every　few　feet　we　stopped　to　rest。
　Neither　of　us　spoke　a　word。　I　really　had　no　sense　of　any　purpose　in　our　progress；　I　crept　on　exactly　as　some　animals；　wounded　to　death；　move　on　and　on　until　there　is　no　longer　strength　for　another　step；　when　they　lie　down　for　the　final　breath。
　We　saw　no　water　nor　promise　of　any；　nothing　save　the　long　stretch　of　dim　vista　ahead　and　the　grim；　black　walls　on　either　side。　That；　I　think；　for　hours；　it　seemed　to　me　then　for　years。
　I　dragged　one　leg　after　the　other　with　infinite　effort　and　pain；　Harry　was　ahead；　and　sometimes；　glancing　back　over　his　shoulder　to　find　me　at　some　distance　behind；　he　would　turn　over　and　lie　on　his　back　till　I　approached。　Then　again　to　his　knees　and　again　forward。　Neither　of　us　spoke。
　Suddenly；　at　a　great　distance　down　the　passage；　much　further　than　I　had　been　able　to　see　before；　I　saw　what　appeared　to　be　a　white　wall　extending　directly　across　our　path。
　I　called　to　Harry　and　pointed　it　out　to　him。　He　nodded　vaguely；　as　though　in　wonder　that　I　should　have　troubled　him　about　so　slight　an　object　of　interest；　and　crawled　on。
　But　the　white　wall　became　whiter　still；　and　soon　I　saw　that　it　was　not　a　wall。　A　wild　hope　surged　through　me；　I　felt　the　blood　mount　dizzily　to　my　head；　and　I　stilled　the　clamor　that　beat　at　my　temples　by　an　extreme　effort　of　the　will。　〃It　can't　be；〃　I　said　to　myself　aloud；　over　and　over；　〃it　can't　be；　it　can't　be。〃
　Harry　turned；　and　his　face　was　as　white　as　when　he　had　knelt　by　the　body　of　Desiree；　and　his　eye　was　wild。
　〃You　fool；〃　he　roared；　〃it　is！〃
　We　went　faster　then。　Another　hundred　yards；　and　the　thing　was　certain；　there　it　was　before　us。　We　scrambled　to　our　feet　and　tried　to　run；　I　reeled　and　fell；　then　picked　myself　up　again　and　followed　Harry；　who　had　not　even　halted　as　I　had　fallen。　The　mouth　of　the　passage　was　now　but　a　few　feet　away；　I　reached　Harry's　side；　blinking　and　stunned　with　amazement　and　the　incredible　wonder　of　it。
　I　tried　to　shout；　to　cry　aloud　to　the　heavens；　but　a　great　lump　in　my　throat　choked　me　and　my　head　was　singing　dizzily。
　Harry；　at　my　side；　was　crying　like　a　child；　with　great　tears　streaming　down　his　face；　as　together　we　staggered　forth　from　the　mouth　of　the　passage　into　the　bright　and　dazzling　sunshine　of　the　Andes。
　
　Chapter　XXIV。
　CONCLUSION。
　
　Never；　I　believe；　were　misery　and　joy　so　curiously　mingled　in　the　human　breast　as　when　Harry　and　I　stood…barely　able　to　stand…gazing　speechlessly　at　the　world　that　had　so　long　been　hidden　from　us。
　We　had　found　the　light；　but　had　lost　Desiree。　We　were　alive；　but　so　near　to　death　that　our　first　breath　of　the　mountain　air　was　like　to　be　our　last。
　The　details　of　our　painful　journey　down　the　mountain；　over　the　rocks　and　crags；　and　through　rushing　torrents　that　more　than　once　swept　us　from　our　feet；　cannot　be　written；　for　I　do　not　know　them。
　The　memory　of　the　thing　is　but　an　indistinct　nightmare　of　suffering。　But　the　blind　luck　that　seemed　to　have　fallen　over　our　shoulders　as　a　protecting　mantle　at　the　death　of　Desiree　stayed　with　us；　and　after　endless　hours　of　incredible　toil　and　labor；　we　came　to　a　narrow　pass　leading　at　right　angles　to　our　course。
　Night　was　ready　to　fall　over　the　bleak　and　barren　mountain　as　we　entered　it。　Darkness　had　long　since　overtaken　us；　when　we　saw　at　a　distance　a　large　clearing；　in　the　middle　of　which　lights　shone　from　the　windows　of