rs.undertheandes-第9章

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lf　out　of　the　water　and　fell　pletely　exhausted　on　the　ground。
　Under　such　circumstances　time　has　no　place　in　a　man's　calculations；　he　is　satisfied　to　breathe。　I　believe　that　I　lay　barely　conscious　for　several　hours；　but　it　may　have　been　merely　as　many　minutes。　Then　I　felt　life　stir　within　me；　I　stretched　my　arms　and　legs　and　sat　up。　Gradually　entered　my　mind　the　thought　of　Desiree　and　Harry　and　the　Andes　above　and　Felipe　shuddering　with　terror　as　he　flew　from　the　cave　of　the　devil。
　First　came　Harry；　but　hope　did　not　enter。　It　was　inconceivable　that　he；　too；　should　have　escaped　that　fearful　torrent；　stupendous　luck　alone　had　saved　me　from　being　dashed　senseless　against　the　rocks　and　guided　me　to　the　ledge　on　which　I　rested。
　Then　he　was　gone！　I　had　no　thought　of　my　own　peril。　I　had　gone　through　the　world　with　but　little　regard　for　what　it　held；　nothing　had　been　sacred　to　me；　no　affection　had　been　more　than　a　day's　caprice；　I　had　merely　sucked　amusement　from　its　bitter　fruit。
　But　I　loved　Harry；　I　realized　it　with　something　like　astonishment。　He　was　dear　to　me；　a　keen；　intense　pain　contracted　my　chest　at　the　thought　of　having　lost　him；　tears　filled　my　eyes；　and　I　raised　up　my　voice　and　sang　out　wildly：
　〃Harry！　Harry；　lad！　Harry！〃
　The　cavern　resounded。　The　call　went　from　wall　to　wall；　then　back　again；　floating　through　black　space　with　a　curious　tremor；　and　finally　died　away　in　some　dim；　unseen　corridor。　And　then…then　came　an　answering　call！
　Owing　to　the　conflicting　echoes　of　the　cavern；　the　tone　could　not　be　recognized。　But　the　word　was　unmistakable；　it　was　〃Paul。〃
　I　sprang　to　my　feet　with　a　shout；　then　stood　listening。　Out　of　the　blackness　surrounding　me　came　the　words；　in　Harry's　voice；　much　lower；　but　distinct：
　〃Paul！　Paul；　where　are　you？〃
　〃Thank　Heaven！〃　I　breathed；　and　I　answered：
　〃Here；　Harry　boy；　here。〃
　〃But　where？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　On　a　ledge　of　rock　at　the　edge　of　the　water。
　Where　are　you？〃
　〃Same　place。　Which　side　are　you　on？〃
　〃The　right　side；〃　I　answered　with　heartfelt　emphasis。
　〃That　is　to　say；　the　outside。　If　it　weren't　for　this　infernal　darkness…Listen！　How　far　away　does　my　voice　sound？〃
　But　the　innumerable　echoes　of　the　cavern　walls　made　it　impossible　to　judge　of　distance　by　sound。　We　tried　it　over　and　over；　sometimes　it　seemed　that　we　were　only　a　few　feet　apart；　sometimes　a　mile　or　more。
　Then　Harry　spoke　in　a　whisper；　and　his　voice　appeared　to　be　directly　in　my　ear。　Never　have　I　seen　a　night　so　pletely　black　as　that　cavern；　we　had　had　several　hours；　presumably；　for　our　eyes　to　adjust　themselves　to　the　phenomenon；　but　when　I　held　my　hand　but　six　inches　in　front　of　my　face　I　could　not　get　even　the　faintest　suggestion　of　its　outline。
　〃This　is　useless；〃　I　declared　finally。　〃We　must　experiment。
　Harry！〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Turn　to　your　left　and　proceed　carefully　along　the　edge。　I'll　turn　to　my　right。　Go　easy；　lad；　feel　your　way。〃
　I　crawled　on　my　hands　and　knees；　no　faster　than　a　snail；　feeling　every　inch　of　the　ground。　The　surface　was　wet　and　slippery；　and　in　places　sloped　at　an　angle　that　made　me　hang　on　for　dear　life　to　keep　from　shooting　off　into　space。
　Meantime　I　kept　calling　to　Harry　and　he　to　me；　but；　on　account　of　our　painfully　slow　progress；　it　was　half　an　hour　or　more　before　we　discovered　that　the　distance　between　us　was　being　increased　instead　of　lessened。
　He　let　fly　an　oath　at　this；　and　his　tone　was　dangerous；　no　wonder　if　the　lad　was　half　crazed！　I　steadied　him　as　well　as　I　could　with　word　of　encouragement；　and　instructed　him　to　turn　about　and　proceed　to　the　right　of　his　original　position。　I；　also；　turned　to　the　left。
　Our　hope　of　meeting　lay　in　the　probability　that　the　ledge　surrounded　a　circular　body　of　water　and　was　continuous。　At　some　point；　of　course；　was　the　entrance　of　the　stream　which　had　carried　us；　and　at　some　other　point　there　was　almost　certainly　an　outlet；　but　we　trusted　to　luck　to　avoid　these。　Our　chances　were　less　than　one　in　a　thousand；　but；　failing　that；　some　other　means　must　be　invented。
　The　simplest　way　would　have　been　for　me　to　take　to　the　water　and　swim　across　to　Harry；　counting　on　his　voice　as　a　guide；　but　the　conflicting　echoes　produced　by　the　slightest　sound　rendered　such　an　attempt　dangerous。
　I　crept　along　that　wet；　slimy；　treacherous　surface；　it　seemed；　for　hours。　I　could　see　nothing…absolutely　nothing；　everything　was　black　void；　it　was　hard　to　appreciate　reality　in　such　a　nightmare。
　On　the　one　side；　nameless　dangers；　on　the　other；　the　unseen；　bottomless　lake；　enough；　surely；　to　take　a　man's　nerve。　My　fear　for　Harry　killed　anxiety　on　my　own　account。　We　kept　continually　calling：
　〃Harry！〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Steady。〃
　〃Yes。　I'm　ing　along。　I　say；　we're　closer；　Paul。〃
　I　hesitated　to　agree　with　him；　but　finally　there　was　no　longer　any　doubt　of　it。　His　voice　began　to　reach　me　almost　in　natural　tones；　which　meant　that　we　were　near　enough　for　the　vibrations　to　carry　without　interference　from　the　walls。
　Nearer　still　it　came；　it　was　now　only　a　matter　of　a　few　feet；　Harry　gave　a　cry　of　joy；　and　immediately　afterward　I　heard　his　low　gasp　of　terror　and　the　sound　of　his　wild　scrambling　to　regain　a　foothold。　In　his　excitement　he　had　forgotten　caution　and　had　slipped　to　the　edge　of　the　water。
　I　dared　not　try　to　go　his　assistance；　so　I　crouched　perfectly　still　and　called　to　him　to　throw　himself　flat　on　his　face。　How　my　eyes　strained　despairingly　as　I　cursed　the　pitiless　darkness！　Then　the　scrambling　ceased　and　the　boy's　voice　sounded：
　〃All　right；　Paul！　All　right！　Gad；　I　nearly　went！〃
　A　minute　later　I　held　his　hand　in　mine。　At　that　point　the　incline　was　at　a　sharp　angle；　and　we　lay　flat　on　our　backs。　For　many　minutes　we　lay　silently　gripping　hands；　Harry　was　trembling　violently　from　nervous　fatigue；　and　I　myself　was　unable　to　speak。
　What　strength　is　there　in　panionship！　Alone；　either　of　us　would　probably　have　long　before　succumbed　to　the　strain　of　our　horrible　situation；　but　we　both　took　hope　and　courage　from　that　hand…clasp。
　Finally　he　spoke：
　〃In　Heaven's　name；　where　are　we；　Paul？〃
　〃You　know　as　much　as　I　do；　Harry。　This　cursed　darkness　makes　it　impossible　even　to　guess　at　anything。　According　to　Felipe；　we　are　being　entertained　by　the　devil。〃
　〃But　where　are　we？　What　happened？　My　head　is　dizzy…I　don't　know…〃
　I　gripped　his　hand。
　〃And　no　wonder。　'Tis　hardly　an　every…day　occurrence　to　ride　an　underground　river　several　miles　under　the　Andes。　Above　us　a　mountain　four　miles　high；　beneath　us　a　bottomless　lake；　round　us　darkness。　Not　a　very　cheerful　prospect；　Hal；　but；　thank　Heaven；　we　take　it　together！　It　is　a　grave…ours　and　hers。　I　guess　Desiree　knew　what　she　was　talking　about。〃
　There　came　a　cry　from　Harry's　lips…a　cry　of　painful　memory：
　〃Desiree！　I　had　forgotten；　Desiree！〃
　〃She　is　probably　better　off　than　we　are；〃　I　assured　him。
　I　felt　his　gaze…I　could　not　see　it…and　I　continued：
　〃We　may　as　well　meet　the　thing　squarely　like　men。　Pull　yourself　together；　Harry；　as　for　Desiree；　let　us　hope　that　she　is　dead。　It's　the　best　thing　that　could　happen　to　her。〃
　〃Then　we　are…no；　it　isn't　possible。〃
　〃Harry　boy；　we're　buried　alive！　There！　That's　the　worst　of　it。　Anything　better　than　that　is　velvet。〃
　〃But　there　must　be　a　way　out；　Paul！　And　Desiree…Desiree…〃
　His　voice　faltered。　I　clapped　him　roughly　on　the　shoulder。
　〃Keep　your　nerve。　As　for　a　way　out…at　the　rate　that　stream　descends　it　must　have　carried　us　thousands　of　feet　beneath　the　mountain。　There　is　probably　a　mile　of　solid　rock　between　us　and　the　sunshine。　You　felt　the　strength　of　that　current；　you　might　as　well　try　to　swim　up　Niagara。〃
　〃But　there　must　be　an　outlet　at　the　other　end。〃
　〃Yes；　and　most　probably　forty　or　fifty　miles　away…that's　the　distance　to　the　western　slope。　Besides；　how　can　we　find　it？　And　there　may　be　none。　The　water　is　most　probably　gradually　absorbed　by　the　porous　formation　of　the　rocks；　and　that　is　what　causes　this　lake。〃
　〃But　why　isn't　it　known？　Felipe　said　that　the　cave　had　been　explored。　Why　didn't　they　discover　the　stream？〃
　Well；　it　was　better　to　talk　of　that　than　nothing；　at　least；　it　kept　Harry　from　his　childish　cries　for　Desiree。　So　I　explained　that　the　precipice　over　which　we　had　fallen　was　presumably　of　recent　origin。
　Geologically　the　Andes　are　yet　in　a　chaotic　and　formative　condition；　huge　slides　of　Silurian　slates　and　diorite　are　of　frequent　occurrence。　A　ridge　of　one　of　these　softer　stones　had　most　probably　been　encased　in　the　surrounding　granite　for　many　centuries；　then；　loosened　by　water　or　by　time；　had　crumbled　and　slid　into　the　stream　below。
　〃And；〃　I　finished；　〃we　followed　it。〃
　〃Then　we　may　find　another；〃　said　Harry　hopefully。
　I　agreed　that　it　was　possible。　Then　he　burst　out：
　〃In　the　name　of　Heaven；　don't　be　so　cool！　We　can't　get　out　till　we　try。　e！　And　who　knows…we　may　find　Desiree。〃
　Then　I　decided　it　was　best　to　tell　him。　Evidently　the　thought　had　not　entered　his　mind；　and　it　was　best　for　him　to　realize　the　worst。　I　gripped　his　hand　tighter　as　I　said：
　〃Nothing　so　pleasant；　Harry。　Because　we're　going　to　starve　to　death。〃
　〃Starve　to　death？〃　he　exclaimed。　Then　he　added　simply；　with　an　oddly　pathetic　tone：　〃I　hadn't　thought　of　that。〃
　After　that　we　lay　silent　for　many　minutes　in　that　awful　darkness。　Thoughts　and　memories　came　and　went　in　my　brain　with　incredible　swiftness；　pictures　long　forgotten　presented　themselves；　an　endless；　jumbled　panorama。　They　say　that　a　drowning　man　reviews　his　past　life　in　the　space　of　a　few　seconds；　it　took　me　a　little　more　time；　but　the　job　was　certainly　a　thorough　one。　Nor　did　I　find　it　more　interesting　in　retrospect　than　it　had　been　in　reality。
　I　closed　my　eyes　to　escape　the　darkness。　It　was　maddening；　easy　enough　then　to　prehend　the　hysterics　of　the　blind　and　sympathize　with　them。　It　finally　reached　a　point　where　I　was　forced　to　grit　my　teeth　to　keep　from　breaking　out　into　curses；　I　could　lie　still　no　longer；　exhausted　as　I　was；　and　Harry；　too。　I　turned　on　him：
　〃e　on；　Hal；　let's　move。〃
　〃Where？〃　he　asked　in　a　tone　devoid　of　hope。
　〃Anywhere…away　from　this　beastly　water。　We　must　dry　out　our　clothing；　no　use　dying　like　drowned　rats。　If　I　only　had　a　match！〃
　We　rose　to　our　hands　and　knees　and　crawled　painfully　up　the　slippery　incline。　Soon　we　had　reached　dry　ground　and　stood　upright；　then；　struck　by　a　sudden　thought；　I　turned　to　Harry：
　〃Didn't　you　drink　any　of　that　water？〃
　He　answered：　〃No。〃
　〃Well；　let's　try　it。　It　may　be　our　last　drink；　Hal；　make　it　a　good　one。〃
　We　crept　back　down　to　the　edge　of　the　lake　（I　call　it　that　in　my　ignorance　of　its　real　nature）；　and；　settling　myself　as　firmly　as　possible；　I　held　Harry's　hand　while　he　lowered　himself　carefully　into　the　water。　He　was　unable　to　reach　its　surface　with　his　mouth　without　letting　go　of　my　hand；　and　I　shook　off　my　poncho　and　used　it　as　a　line。
　〃How　does　it　taste？〃　I　asked。
　〃Fine！〃　was　the　response。　〃It　must　be　clear　as　a　bell。　Lord。
　I　didn't　know　I　was　so　thirsty！〃
　I　was　not　ignorant　of　the　fact　that　there　was　an　excellent　chance　of　the　water　being　unhealthful；　possibly　poisoned；　what　with　the　tertiary　deposits　of　copper　ores　in　the　rock…basins；　but　the　thought　awakened　hope　rather　than　fear。　There　is　a　choice　even　in　death。
　But　when　I　had　pulled　Harry　up　and