rs.undertheandes-第7章

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epresented　by　Cerro　de　Pasco。
　We　found　it　impossible　to　procure　a　plete　outfit　in　the　mining　town；　and　were　forced　to　despatch　a　messenger　to　Lima。　He　returned　in　two　days　with　mules；　saddles；　saddle…bags；　boots；　leather　leggings；　knickerbockers；　woolen　ponchos；　and　scores　of　other　articles　which　he　assured　us　were　absolutely　necessary　for　any　degree　of　fort。　By　the　time　we　were　ready　to　start　we　had　a　good…sized　pack…train　on　our　hands。
　The　proprietor　of　the　hotel　found　us　an　arriero；　whom　he　declared　to　be　the　most　petent　and　trustworthy　guide　in　all　the　Andes…a　long；　loose…jointed　fellow　with　an　air　of　plete　indifference　habitually　resting　on　his　yellow；　rather　sinister…looking　face。　Le　Mire　did　not　like　him；　but　I　certainly　preferred　the　hotel　proprietor's　experience　and　knowledge　to　her　volatile　fancy；　and　engaged　the　arriero　on　the　spot。
　Our　outfit　was　plete；　and　everything　in　readiness；　when　Harry　suddenly　announced　that　he　had　decided　not　to　go；　nor　to　allow　Le　Mire　to　do　so。
　〃I　don't　like　it；〃　he　said　in　troubled　tones。　〃I　tell　you；　Paul；　I　don't　like　it。　I've　been　talking　to　some　of　the　miners　and　arrieros；　and　the　thing　is　foolhardy　and　dangerous。〃
　Then；　seeing　the　expression　on　my　face；　he　continued　hastily：　〃Oh；　not　for　myself。　You　know　me；　I'll　do　anything　that　any　one　else　will　do；　and　more；　if　I　can。　But　Desiree！　I　tell　you；　if　anything　happened　to　her　I…well…〃
　I　cut　him　short：
　〃My　dear　boy；　the　idea　is　Desiree's　own。　And　to　talk　of　danger　where　she　is　concerned！　She　would　laugh　at　you。〃
　〃She　has；〃　Harry　confessed　with　a　doubtful　smile。
　I　clapped　him　roughly　on　the　shoulder。
　〃e；　brace　up！　Our　caravan　awaits　us…and　see；　the　fairy；　too。　Are　you　ready；　Desiree？〃
　She　came　toward　us　from　the　inner　rooms　of　the　hotel；　smiling；　radiant。　I　shall　never　forget　the　picture　she　presented。　She　wore　white　knickerbockers；　a　white　jacket；　tan…leather　boots　and　leggings　and　a　khaki　hat。
　Her　golden　hair；　massed　closely　about　her　ears　and　upon　her　forehead；　shimmered　in　the　bright　sun　dazzlingly；　her　eyes　sparkled；　her　little　white　teeth　gleamed　in　a　happy；　joyous　smile。
　We　lifted　her　to　the　back　of　her　mule；　then　mounted　our　own。
　Suddenly　a　recollection　shot　through　my　brain　with　remarkable　clearness；　and　I　turned　to　Le　Mire：
　〃Desiree；　do　you　know　the　first　time　I　ever　saw　you？　It　was　in　an　electric　brougham　at　the　Gare　du　Nord。　This　is　somewhat　different；　my　lady。〃
　〃And　infinitely　more　interesting；〃　she　answered。　〃Are　you　ready？　See　that　stupid　arriero！　Ah！　After　all；　he　knew　what　he　was　about。　Then；　messieurs…allons！〃
　The　arriero；　receiving　my　nod　uttered　a　peculiar　whistle　through　his　teeth。　The　mules　pricked　up　their　ears；　then　with　one　mon　movement　started　forward。
　〃Adios！　Adios；　senora！　Adios；　senores！〃
　With　the　cry　of　our　late　host　sounding　in　our　ears　we　passed　down　the　narrow　little　street　of　Cerro　de　Pasco　on　our　way　to　the　snow…capped　peaks　of　the　Andes。
　
　Chapter　V。
　THE　CAVE　OF　THE　DEVIL。
　
　You　may　remember　that　I　made　some　remark　concerning　the　difficulty　of　the　ascent　of　Pike's　Peak。　Well；　that　is　mere　child's　play…a　morning　constitutional　pared　to　the　paths　we　found　ourselves　pelled　to　follow　in　the　great　Cordillera。
　Nor　was　it　permitted　us　to　bee　gradually　accustomed　to　the　danger；　we　had　not　been　two　hours　out　of　Cerro　de　Pasco　before　we　found　ourselves　creeping　along　a　ledge　so　narrow　there　was　scarcely　room　for　the　mules　to　place　their　hoofs　together；　over　a　precipice　three　thousand　feet　in　the　air…straight。　And；　added　to　this　was　the　disfort；　amounting　at　times　to　positive　pain；　caused　by　the　soroche。
　Hardly　ever　did　we　find　ground　sufficiently　broad　for　a　breathing　space；　save　when　our　arriero　led　us；　almost　by　magic　it　seemed；　to　a　camping　place　for　the　night。　We　would　ascend　the　side　of　a　narrow　valley；　on　one　hand　roared　a　torrent　some　hundreds　of　feet　below；　on　the　other　rose　an　unpromising　wall　of　rock。　So　narrow　would　be　the　track　that　as　I　sat　astride　my　mule　my　outside　leg　would　be　hanging　over　the　abyss。
　But　the　grandeur；　the　novelty；　and　the　variety　of　the　scenery　repaid　us；　and　Le　Mire　loved　the　danger　for　its　own　sake。　Time　and　again　she　swayed　far　out　of　her　saddle　until　her　body　was　literally　suspended　in　the　air　above　some　frightful　chasm；　while　she　turned　her　head　to　laugh　gaily　at　Harry　and　myself；　who　brought　up　the　rear。
　〃But　Desiree！　If　the　girth　should　break！〃
　〃Oh；　but　it　won't。〃
　〃But　if　it　should？〃
　〃Tra…la…la！　e；　catch　me！〃
　And　she　would　try　to　urge　her　mule　into　a　trot…a　futile　effort；　since　the　beast　had　a　much　higher　regard　for　his　skin　than　she　had　for　hers；　and　the　mule　of　the　arriero　was　but　a　few　feet　ahead。
　Thus　we　continued　day　after　day；　I　can't　say　how　many。　There　was　a　fascination　about　the　thing　that　was　irresistible。　However　high　the　peak　we　had　ascended；　another　could　be　seen　still　higher；　and　that；　too；　must　be　scaled。
　The　infinite　variety　of　the　trail；　its　surprises；　its　new　dangers；　its　apparent　vanishings　into　thin　air；　only　to　be　found；　after　an　all　but　impossible　curve；　up　the　side　of　another　cliff；　coaxed　us　on　and　on；　and　when　or　where　we　would　have　been　able　to　say；　〃thus　far　and　no　farther〃　is　an　undecided　problem　to　this　day。
　About　three　o'clock　one　afternoon　we　camped　in　a　small　clearing　at　the　end　of　a　narrow　valley。　Our　arriero；　halting　us　at　that　early　hour；　had　explained　that　there　was　no　other　camping　ground　within　six　hours'　march；　and　no　hacienda　or　pueblo　within　fifty　miles。　We　received　his　explanation　with　the　indifference　of　those　to　whom　one　day　is　like　every　other　day；　and　amused　ourselves　by　inspecting　our　surroundings　while　he　prepared　the　evening　meal　and　arranged　the　camp　beds。
　Back　of　us　lay　the　trail　by　which　we　had　approached…a　narrow；　sinuous　ribbon　clinging　to　the　side　of　the　huge　cliffs　like　a　snake　fastened　to　a　rock。　On　the　left　side；　immediately　above　us；　was　a　precipice　some　thousand　feet　in　height；　on　the　right　a　series　of　massive　boulders；　of　quartzite　and　granite；　misshapen　and　lowering。
　There　were　three；　I　remember；　placed　side　by　side　like　three　giant　brothers；　then　two　or　three　smaller　ones　in　a　row；　and　beyond　these　many　others　ranged　in　a　mass　unevenly；　sometimes　so　close　together　that　they　appeared　to　be　jostling　one　another　out　of　the　way。
　For　several　days　we　had　been　in　the　region　of　perpetual　snow；　and　soon　we　gathered　about　the　fire　which　the　arriero　had　kindled　for　our　camp。　Its　warmth　was　grateful；　despite　our　native　woolen　garments　and　heavy　ponchos。
　The　wind　whistled　ominously；　a　weird；　senseless　sound　that　smote　the　ear　with　madness。　The　white　of　the　snow　and　the　dull　gray　of　the　rocks　were　totally　unrelieved　by　any　touch　of　green　or　play　of　water；　a　spot　lonely　as　the　human　soul　and　terrifying　as　death。
　Harry　had　gone　to　examine　the　hoofs　of　his　mule；　which　had　limped　slightly　during　the　afternoon；　Le　Mire　and　I　sat　side　by　side　near　the　fire；　gazing　at　the　play　of　the　flames。　For　some　minutes　we　had　been　silent。
　〃In　Paris；　perhaps…〃　she　began　suddenly；　then　stopped　short　and　became　again　silent。
　But　I　was　fast　dropping　into　melancholy　and　wanted　to　hear　her　voice；　and　I　said：
　〃Well？　In　Paris…〃
　She　looked　at　me；　her　eyes　curiously　somber；　but　did　not　speak。　I　insisted：
　〃You　were　saying；　Desiree；　in　Paris…〃
　She　made　a　quick　movement　and　laughed　unpleasantly。
　〃Yes；　my　friend…but　it　is　useless。　I　was　thinking　of　you。
　'Ah！　A　card！　Mr。　Paul　Lamar。　Show　him　in；　Julie。　But　no；　let　him　wait…I　am　not　at　home。'　That；　my　friend；　would　be　in　Paris。〃
　I　stared　at　her。
　〃For　Heaven's　sake；　Desiree；　what　nonsense　is　this？〃
　She　disregarded　my　question　as　she　continued：
　〃Yes；　that　is　how　it　would　be。　Why　do　I　talk　thus？　The　mountains　hypnotize　me。　The　snow；　the　solitude…for　I　am　alone。
　Your　brother；　what　is　he？　And　you；　Paul；　are　scarcely　aware　of　my　existence。
　〃I　had　my　opportunity　with　you；　and　I　laughed　it　away。　And　as　for　the　future…look！　Do　you　see　that　waste　of　snow　and　ice；　glittering；　cold；　pitiless？　Ha！　Well；　that　is　my　grave。〃
　I　tried　to　believe　that　she　was　merely　amusing　herself；　but　the　glow　in　her　eyes　did　not　proceed　from　mirth。　I　followed　her　fixed　gaze　across　the　trackless　waste　and；　shivering；　demanded：
　〃What　morbid　fancy　is　this；　Desiree？　e；　it　is　scarcely　pleasant。〃
　She　rose　and　crossed　the　yard　or　so　of　ground　between　us　to　my　side。　I　felt　her　eyes　above　me；　and　try　as　I　would　I　could　not　look　up　to　meet　them。　Then　she　spoke；　in　a　voice　low　but　curiously　distinct：
　〃Paul；　I　love　you。〃
　〃My　dear　Desiree！〃
　〃I　love　you。〃
　At　once　I　was　myself；　calm　and　smiling。　I　was　convinced　that　she　was　acting；　and　I　dislike　to　spoil　a　good　scene。　So　I　merely　said：
　〃I　am　flattered；　senora。〃
　She　sighed；　placing　her　hand　on　my　shoulder。
　〃You　laugh　at　me。　You　are　wrong。　Have　I　chosen　this　place　for　a　flirtation？　Before；　I　could　not　speak；　now　you　must　know。
　There　have　been　many　men　in　my　life；　Paul；　some　fools；　some　not　so；　but　none　like　you。　I　have　never　said；　'I　love　you。'　I　say　it　now。
　Once　you　held　my　hand…you　have　never　kissed　me。〃
　I　rose　to　my　feet；　smiling；　profoundly　fatuous；　and　made　as　if　to　put　my　arm　around　her。
　〃A　kiss？　Is　that　all；　Desiree？　Well…〃
　But　I　had　mistaken　her　tone　and　overreached。　Not　a　muscle　did　she　move；　but　I　felt　myself　repulsed　as　by　a　barrier　of　steel。　She　remained　standing　perfectly　still；　searching　me　with　a　gaze　that　left　me　naked　of　levity　and　cynicism　and　the　veneer　of　life；　and　finally　she　murmured　in　a　voice　sweet　with　pain：
　〃Must　you　kill　me　with　words；　Paul？　I　did　not　mean　that…now。
　It　is　too　late。〃
　Then　she　turned　swiftly　and　called　to　Harry；　who　came　running　over　to　her　only　to　meet　with　some　trivial　request；　and　a　minute　later　the　arriero　announced　dinner。
　I　suppose　that　the　incident　had　passed　with　her；　as　it　had　with　me；　little　did　I　know　how　deeply　I　had　wounded　her。　And　when　I　discovered　my　mistake；　some　time　later　and　under　very　different　circumstances；　it　very　nearly　cost　me　my　life；　and　Harry's　into　the　bargain。
　During　the　meal　Le　Mire　was　in　the　jolliest　of　moods　apparently。　She　retold　the　tale　of　Balzac's　heroine　who　crossed　the　Andes　in　the　guise　of　a　Spanish　officer；　performing　wondrous　exploits　with　her　sword　and　creating　havoc　among　the　hearts　of　the　fair　ladies　who　took　the　dashing　captain's　sex　for　granted　from　his　clothing。
　The　story　was　a　source　of　intense　amusement　to　Harry；　who　insisted　on　the　recital　of　detail　after　detail；　until　Desiree　allowed　her　memory　to　take　a　vacation　and　substitute　pure　imagination。　Nor　was　the　improvisation　much　inferior　to　the　original。
　It　was　still　light　when　we　finished　dinner；　a　good　three　hours　till　bedtime。　And　since　there　was　nothing　better　to　do；　I　called　to　the　arriero　and　asked　him　to　conduct　us　on　a　tour　of　exploration　among　the　mass　of　boulders；　gray　and　stern；　that　loomed　up　on　our　right。
　He　nodded　his　head　in　his　usual　indifferent　manner；　and　fifteen　minutes　later　we　started；　on　foot。　The　arriero　led　the　way；　with　Harry　at　his　heels；　and　Desiree　and　I　brought　up　the　rear。
　Thrice　I　tried　to　enter　into　conversation　with　her；　but　each　time　she　shook　her　head　without　turning　round；　and　I　gave　it　up。
　I　was　frankly　puzzled　by　her