rs.undertheandes-第20部分
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Soon Harry began：
〃I'll tell you what they are； Paul； they're frogs。 Nothing but frogs。 Did you see 'em？ The little black devils！ And Lord； how they smell！〃
〃That；〃 I answered； 〃is the effect of…〃
〃To the deuce with your mineralogy or anthromorphism or whatever you call it。 I don't care what makes 'em smell。 I only know they do…as Kipling says of the oonts…'most awful vile。' And there the beggars sit； and here we sit！〃
〃If we could only see…〃 I began。
〃And what good would that do us？ Could we fight？ No。 They'd smother us in a minute。 Say； wasn't there a king in that cave the other day？〃
〃Yes； on a golden throne。 An ugly little devil…the ugliest of all。〃
〃Sure； that why he's got the job。 Did he say anything？〃
〃Not a word； merely stuck out his arm and out we went。〃
〃Why the deuce don't they talk？〃
I explained my theory at some length； with many and various scientific digressions。 Harry listened politely。
〃I don't know what you mean；〃 said he when I had finished； 〃but I believe you。 Anyway； it's all a stupendous joke。 In the first place； we shouldn't be here at all。 And； secondly； why should they want us to stay？〃
〃How should I know？ Ask the king。 And don't bother me； I'm going to sleep。〃
〃You are not。 I want to talk。 Now； they must want us for something。 They can't intend to eat us； because there isn't enough to go around。 And there is Desiree。 What the deuce was she doing up there without any clothes on？ I say； Paul； we've got to find her。〃
〃With pleasure。 But； first； how are we going to get out of this？〃
〃I mean； when we get out。〃
Thus we rattled on； arriving nowhere。 Harry's loquacity I understood； the poor lad meant to show me that he had resolved not to 〃whine。〃 Yet his cheerfulness was but partly assumed； and it was most wele。 My own temper was getting sadly frayed about the edge。
We slept through another watch uneventfully； and when we woke found our platter of fish and basin of water beside us。 I estimated that some seventy…two hours had then passed since we had been carried from the cavern； Harry said not less than a hundred。
However that may be； we had almost entirely recovered our strength。 Indeed； Harry declared himself perfectly fit； but I still felt some disfort； caused partly by the knife…wound on my knee； which had not entirely healed； and partly； I think； by the strangeness and monotony of our diet。 Harry's palate was less particular。
On awaking； and after breaking our fast； we were both filled with an odd contentment。 I really believe that we had abandoned hope； and that the basis of our listlessness was despair； and surely not without reason。 For what chance had we to escape from the Incas； handicapped as we were by the darkness； and our want of weapons； and their overwhelming numbers？
And beyond that…if by some chance lucky we did escape…what remained？ To wander about in the endless caves of darkness and starve to death。 At the time I don't think I stated the case； even to myself； with such brutal frankness； but facts make their impression whether you invite them or not。 But； as I say； we were filled with an odd contentment。 Though despair may have possessed our hearts； it was certainly not allowed to infect our tongues。
Breakfast was hilarious。 Harry sang an old drinking…song to the water…basin with touching sentiment； I gave him hearty applause and joined in the chorus。 The cavern rang。
〃The last time I sang that；〃 said Harry as the last echoes died away； 〃was at the Midlothian。 Bunk Stafford was there； and Billy Du Mont； and Fred Marston…I say； do you remember Freddie？
And his East Side crocodiles？
〃My； but weren't they daisies？ And polo？ They could play it in their sleep。 And…what's this？ Paul！ Something's up！ Here they e…Mr。 and Mrs。 Inca and all the children！〃
I sprang hastily to my feet and stood by Harry's side。 He was right。
Through the half darkness they came； hundreds of them； and； as always； in utter silence。 Dimly we could see their forms huddled together round us on every side； leaving us in the center of a small circle in their midst。
〃Now； what the deuce do they want？〃 I muttered。 〃Can't they let us eat in peace？〃
Harry observed： 〃Wasn't I right？ 'Most awful vile！'〃
I think we both felt that we were joking in the face of death。
The forms surrounding us stood silent for perhaps ten seconds。
Then four of their number stepped forward to us； and one made gestures with a hairy arm； pointing to our rear。 We turned and saw a narrow lane lined on either side by our captors。 Nothing was distinct； still we could see well enough to guess their meaning。
〃It's up to us to march；〃 said Harry。
I nodded。
〃And step high； Hal； it may be our last one。 If we only had our knives！ But there are thousands of 'em。〃
〃But if it es to the worst…〃
〃Then…I'm with you。 Forward！〃
We started； and as we did so one of the four who had approached darted from behind and led the way。 Not a hand had touched us； and this appeared to me a good sign； without knowing exactly why。
〃They seem to have forgotten their manners；〃 Harry observed。
〃The approved method is to knock us down and carry us。 I shall speak to the king about it。〃
We had just reached the wall of the cavern and entered a passage leading from it； when there came a sound； sonorous and ear…destroying； from the farther end。 We had heard it once before； it was the same that had ended our desperate fight some days before。 Then it had saved our lives； to what did it summon us now？
The passage was not a long one。 At its end we turned to the right； following our guide。 Once I looked back and saw behind us the crowd that had surrounded us in the cave。 There was no way but obedience。
We had advanced perhaps a hundred； possibly two hundred yards along the second passage when our guide suddenly halted。 We stood beside him。
He turned sharply to the left； and； beckoning to us to follow； began to descend a narrow stairway which led directly from the passage。 It was steep； and the darkness allowed a glimpse only of black walls and the terrace immediately beneath our feet； so we went slowly。 I counted the steps； there were ninety…six。
At the bottom we turned again to the right。 Just as we turned I heard Harry's voice； quite low：
〃There are only a dozen following us； Paul。 Now…〃
But I shook my head。 It would have been mere folly； for； even if we had succeeded in breaking through； we could never have made our way back up the steps。 This I told Harry； he admitted reluctantly that I was right。
We now found ourselves in a lane so low and narrow that it was necessary for us to stoop and proceed in single file。 Our progress was slow； the guide was continually turning to beckon us on with gestures of impatience。
At length he halted and stood facing us。 The guard that followed gathered close in the rear； the guide made a curious upward movement with his arm； and when we stood motionless repeated it several times。
〃I suppose he wants us to fly；〃 said Harry with so genuine a tone of sarcasm that I gave an involuntary smile。
The guide's meaning was soon evident。 It took some seconds for my eye to penetrate the darkness； and then I saw a spiral stair ascending perpendicularly； apparently carved from the solid rock。
Harry must have perceived it at the same moment； for he turned to me with a short laugh：
〃Going up？ Not for me； thank you。 The beggar means for us to go alone。〃
For a moment I hesitated； glancing round uncertainly at the dusky forms that were ever pressing closer upon us。 We were assuredly between the devil and； the deep sea。
Then I said； shrugging my shoulders： 〃It's no good pulling； Harry。 e on； take a chance。 You said it…going up！〃
I placed my foot on the first step of the spiral stair。
Harry followed without ment。 Up we went together； but slowly。 The stair was fearfully steep and narrow； and more than once I barely escaped a fall。
Suddenly I became aware that light was descending on us from above。 With every step upward it became brighter； until finally it was as though a noonday sun shone in upon us。
There came an exclamation from Harry； and we ascended faster。
I remember that I counted a hundred and sixty steps…a
