the darrow enigma(达罗之迷)-第16章
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The Darrow Enigma
dodged； closed his eyes； and raised his right hand； knife and all； to shield
his face。 I sprang upon him at the same instant I threw my hat； and so was
able to reach him before he opened his eyes。 I had well calculated his
movements； and had made no mistake。 As I reached him his head was
bent downward and forward to let the hat pass over him。 His position
could not have been better for my purpose。 I 〃swung on him；〃 as we
used to say at the gymnasium； catching him under his protruded jaw； not
far from the region of the carotid artery。 The blow was well placed； and
desperation lent me phenomenal strength。 It raised him bodily off his feet；
and hurled him backward out of the cave； where he lay motionless。 He
was now in my power。 I seized his knife and bent over him。 Words
cannot express the hatred； the loathing I felt for him then and always。
Between me and the light of my happiness he had ever stood； an
impenetrable black mass。 Twice had he sought my life； yet now； when he
was in my power； I could not plunge his weapon into his heart。 Would it
not be just； I thought； to drag him into the cave； and hurl him down the
abyss he had intended for me？ Yes； he certainly merited it； yet I could
not do that either。 I wished the snake a thousand times dead； yet I could
not stamp it into the earth。
He was beginning to slightly move now； and something must be done。
It was useless to run； for the way was long； and he could easily overtake
me。 You may wonder why I did not take to the thicket； but if you had
ever had any experience with Indian jungles you would know that； without
the use of fire and axe； they are practically impenetrable。 Professor
Haeckel； botanising near that same spot； spent an hour in an endeavour to
force his way into one of these jungles； but only succeeded in advancing a
few steps into the thicket； when； stung by mosquitoes； bitten by ants； his
clothing torn from his bleeding arms and legs； wounded by the thousands
of sharp thorns of the calamus； hibiscus； euphorbias； lantanas； and myriad
other jungle plants； he was obliged； utterly discomfited； to desist。 If this
were the result of his efforts； made in broad daylight； and with deliberation；
what might I expect rushing into the thicket at night； as a refuge from a
pursuer far my superior in physical strength and fleetness of foot； and who；
moreover； had known the jungle from his boyhood？ Once overtaken by
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my enemy； the long knife in my hands would be of no avail against a stick
in his。 I saw all this clearly； and realised that he must be prevented from
following me。
There was no time to be lost； for he was rapidly recovering possession
of his powers。 I seized a large rock and hurled it with all the force I
could command upon his left foot and ankle。 Notwithstanding his
immense strength his hands and feet were scarcely larger than a woman's；
and the small bones cracked like pipe…stems。 Though I had not the will to
kill him； my own safety demanded that I should maim him as the only
other means of making good my escape。 As the rock crushed his foot the
pain seemed to bring him immediately into full possession of his faculties；
and he roared like an enraged bull。 I turned and looked back as I beat a
hasty retreat down the hill。 He had seized one of the air…roots of the
banyan tree； and raised himself upon his right leg。 The expression of his
face as the moonlight fell upon it was something never to be forgotten。 It
riveted me to the spot with the fascination of horror。 He shook his fist at
me fiercely； as he shrieked from the back of his throat：
〃You infidel cur！ You may as well try to brush away the Himalyas
with a silk handkerchief as to escape the wrath of Rama Ragobah。 Go！
Bury yourself in seclusion at the farthermost corner of the earth； and on
one night Ragobah and the darkness shall be with you！〃
These were the last words this fiend incarnate ever spoke to me； but I
know they are prophetic； and that he will keep his oath。
The next day I learned that Lona was dead。 She had died with my
name upon her lips； and her secret … the explanation of her strange conduct
on that night … died with her。 I shall never know it。 Bitterly did I repent
my inability to reach her。 The thought that she had waited in vain for me；
that with her last breath she had called upon me； and I had answered not；
was unendurable torture； and I fled India and came to America in the futile
endeavour to forget it all。 Out of my black past there shone but one
bright star … her love！ All these long years have I oriented my soul by
that sweet； unforgettable radiance； prizing it above a galaxy of lesser joys。
There is little more to be said。 I shall meet death as I have stated … I
am sure of it … and no man will see the blow given。 Remember； as I loved
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that Indian maiden with a passion which death has not chilled； so I loathe
my rival with a hatred infinite and all…consuming； for； somehow； I know
that demon crushed out the life of my fragile lotus…flower。 He will work
his will upon me； but if his cunning enable him to escape the gallows； my
soul； if there be a conscious hereafter； will never rest in peace。
Remember this； my dear child； and your promise； that God may bless you
even as I bless you。
It was some time after Gwen had finished this interesting document
before any of us spoke。 The narrative； and the peculiar circumstances
under which it had been read； deeply impressed us。 At length Maitland
said in a subdued voice； as if he feared to break some spell：
〃The Indian girl's letter； let us find that； and also the will。〃
Gwen went to the drawer in which her father kept his private papers；
and soon produced them both。 Maitland glanced hastily at the letter； and
said： 〃You have already heard its contents〃； then turning to Gwen； he said：
〃I will keep it with your permission。 Now for the will。〃 It was handed
to him； and his face fell as he read it。 In a moment he turned to us； and
said： 〃The interest on the insurance money is to go to Miss Darrow； the
entire principal to be held in trust and paid to the person bringing the
assassin to justice； unless said person shall wed Miss Darrow； in which
case half of the fund shall go to the husband； and the other half to the wife
in her own right。 The balance of the estate； which； by the way； is
considerable； despite the reports given to Osborne； is to go to Miss Darrow。
This is all the will contains having any bearing upon the case in hand。 Let
us proceed with the rest of the papers。〃 We made a long and diligent
search； but nothing of importance came to light。 When we had finished
Maitland said：
〃Our friend Osborne would say the document we have just perused
made strongly for his theory； and was simply another fabrication to blind
the eyes of the insurance company。 That's what comes of wedding one's
self to a theory founded on imperfect data。〃
〃And what do you think？〃 Gwen inquired。
〃That Rama Ragobah has small hands and feet；〃 he replied。 〃That his
left foot has met with an injury； and is probably deformed； that most likely
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he is lame in the left leg； that he had the motive for which we have been
looking； that he may or may not have the habit of biting his nails； that he
is crafty； and that if he were to do murder it is almost certain his methods
would be novel and surprising； as well as extremely difficult to fathom … in
short； that suspicion points unmistakably to Rama Ragobah。 That is
easily said； but to bring the deed home to him is quite another thing。 I
shall analyse the poison of the wound and microscopically examine the
nature of the abrasion this afternoon。 To…night I take the midnight train
for New York。 To…morrow I shall sail for Bombay； via London and the
Continent。 I will keep you informed of my address。 While I am away I
would ask that you close the house here； leaving everything just as it is
now dismiss the servants； and take up your abode with the Doctor and his
sister。〃 He rose to go as he said this； and then continued； as he turned to
me： 〃I shall depend upon you to look after Miss Darrow's immediate
interests in my absence。〃 I knew this meant that I was to guard her
health； not permitting her to be much by herself； and I readily acquiesced。
The look of amazement which had at first overspread Gwen's face at
the mention of this precipitate departure gave place to one of modest
concern； as she said softly to Maitland： 〃Is it necessary that you should
encounter the dangers of such a journey； to say nothing； of the time and
inconvenience it will cost？〃 He looked down at her quickly； and then
said reassuringly： 〃Do you know one is； by actual statistics； safer in an
English railway carriage than when walking the crowded streets of
London？ I am daily subjecting myself to laboratory dangers which； I
believe； are graver than any I am likely to meet between here and Bombay；
or； for that matter； even at Bombay in the presence of our recent
acquaintance Ragobah。〃
〃I deeply appreciate；〃 she replied； 〃the generous sacrifice you would
make in my interests … hut Bombay is such a long way … and
