rs.undertheandes-第40部分

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　Once　through　that　lane　and　we　might　hold　our　own。
　〃In　Heaven's　name；　e　on！〃　Harry　shouted　suddenly；　for　I　had　turned　and　halted；　gazing　back　at　the　Incas　tumbling　over　the　cliff　and　rushing　toward　the　mouth　of　the　exit。
　But　I　did　not　heed　him；　for；　standing　on　the　top　of　the　cliff；　waving　his　arms　wildly　at　those　below；　I　had　seen　the　form　of　the　Inca　king。　He　was　less　than　thirty　feet　away。
　With　cries　from　Harry　and　Desiree　ringing　in　my　ears；　I　braced　my　feet　as　firmly　as　possible　on　the　uneven　rock　and　poised　my　spear　above　my　head。　The　Incas　saw　my　purpose　and　stopped　short。
　The　king　must　also　have　seen　me；　but　he　stood　absolutely　motionless。　I　lunged　forward；　the　spear　left　my　hand　and　flew　straight　for　his　breast。
　But　it　failed　to　reach　the　mark。　A　shout　of　triumph　was　on　my　lips；　but　was　suddenly　cut　short　when　an　Inca　standing　near　the　king　sprang　forward　and　hurled　himself　in　the　path　of　the　spear　just　as　its　point　was　ready　to　take　our　revenge。　The　Inca　fell　to　the　foot　of　the　cliff　with　the　spear　buried　deep　in　his　side。　The　king　stood　as　he　had　before；　without　moving。
　Then　there　was　a　wild　rush　into　the　mouth　of　the　exit；　and　I　turned　to　follow　Harry　and　Desiree。　With　extreme　difficulty　we　scrambled　forward　over　the　rocks　and　around　them。
　Desiree's　breath　was　ing　in　painful　gasps；　and　we　had　to　support　her　on　either　side。　The　Incas　approached　closer　at　our　rear；　I　felt　one　of　them　grasp　me　from　behind；　and　in　an　excess　of　fury　I　shook　him　off　and　dashed　him　backward　against　the　rocks。　We　were　able　to　make　little　headway；　or　none；　by　taking　to　the　exit　we　appeared　to　have　set　our　own　death…trap。
　Harry　went　on　with　Desiree；　and　I　stayed　behind　in　the　attempt　to　check　the　attack。　They　came　at　me　from　both　sides。　I　was　faint　and　bleeding；　and　barely　able　to　wield　my　spear…my　last　one。　I　gave　way　by　inches；　retreating　backward　step　by　step；　fighting　with　the　very　end　of　my　strength。
　Suddenly　Harry's　voice　came；　shouting　that　they　had　reached　the　end　of　the　passage。　I　turned　then　and　sprang　desperately　from　rock　to　rock　after　them；　with　the　Incas　crowding　close　after　me。
　I　stumbled　and　nearly　fell；　but　recovered　my　footing　and　staggered　on。　And　suddenly　the　mass　of　rocks　ended　abruptly；　and　I　fell　forward　onto　flat；　level　ground　by　the　side　of　Desiree　and　Harry。
　〃Your　spear！〃　I　gasped。　〃Quick…they　are　upon　us！〃
　But　they　grasped　my　arms　and　dragged　me　away　from　the　passage　to　one　side。　I　was　half　fainting　from　exhaustion　and　loss　of　blood；　and　scarcely　knew　what　they　did。　They　laid　me　on　the　ground　and　bent　over　me。
　〃The　Incas！〃　I　gasped。
　〃They　are　gone；〃　Harry　answered。
　At　that　I　struggled　to　rise　and　rested　my　body　on　my　elbows；　gazing　at　the　mouth　of　the　passage。　It　was　so；　the　Incas　were　not　to　be　seen！　Not　one　had　issued　from　the　passage。
　It　was　inprehensible　to　us　then；　later　we　understood。　And　we　had　not　long　to　wait。
　Harry　and　Desiree　were　bending　over　me；　attempting　to　stop　the　flow　of　blood　from　a　cut　on　my　shoulder。
　〃We　must　have　water；〃　said　Desiree。　Harry　straightened　up　to　look　about　the　cavern；　which　was　so　dark　that　we　could　barely　see　one　another's　faces　but　a　few　feet　away。
　Suddenly　an　exclamation　of　wonder　came　from　his　lips。
　Desiree　and　I　followed　the　direction　of　his　gaze；　and　saw　the　huge；　black；　indistinct　form　of　some　animal　suddenly　detach　itself　from　the　wall　of　the　cavern　and　move　slowly　toward　us　through　the　darkness。
　
　Chapter　XVII。
　THE　EYES　IN　THE　DARK。
　
　The　thing　was　at　a　considerable　distance；　we　could　barely　see　that　it　was　there　and　that　it　was　moving。　It　was　of　an　immense　size；　so　large　that　it　appeared　as　though　the　very　side　of　the　cavern　itself　had　moved　noiselessly　from　its　bed　in　the　mountain。
　At　the　same　moment　I　became　aware　of　a　penetrating；　disagreeable　odor；　nauseating　and　horrible。　I　had　risen　to　my　knees　and　remained　so；　while　Harry　and　Desiree　stood　on　either　side　of　me。
　The　thing　continued　to　move　toward　us；　very　slowly。　There　was　not　a　sound。　The　strength　of　the　odor　increased　until　it　was　almost　suffocating。
　Still　we　did　not　move。　I　could　not；　and　Harry　and　Desiree　seemed　rooted　to　the　spot　with　wonder。　The　thing　came　closer；　and　we　could　see　the　outlines　of　its　huge　form　looming　up　indistinctly　against　the　black　background　of　the　cavern。
　I　saw；　or　thought　I　saw；　a　grotesque　and　monstrous　slimy　head　stretched　toward　us　from　about　the　middle　of　its　bulk。
　That　doubt　became　a　certainty　when　suddenly；　as　though　they　had　been　lit　by　a　fire　from　within；　two　luminous；　glowing　spots　appeared　about　three　feet　apart。　The　creature's　eyes…if　eyes　they　were…were　turned　full　on　us；　growing　more　brilliant　as　the　thing　came　closer。　It　was　now　less　than　fifty　feet　away。　The　massive　form　blocked　our　view　of　the　entire　cavern。
　I　pinched　my　nostrils　to　exclude　the　horrible　odor　which；　like　the　fumes　of　some　deadly　poison；　choked　and　smothered　me。　It　came　now　in　puffs；　like　a　draft　of　a　fetid　wind；　and　I　realized　that　it　was　the　creature's　breath。　I　could　feel　it　against　my　body；　my　neck　and　face；　and　knew　that　if　I　breathed　it　full　into　my　lungs　I　should　be　overe。
　But　still　more　terrifying　were　the　eyes。　There　was　something　pelling；　supernaturally　pelling；　about　their　steadfast　and　brilliant　gaze。　A　mysterious　power　seemed　to　emanate　from　them；　a　power　that　hypnotized　the　mind　and　deadened　the　senses。　I　closed　my　eyes　to　avoid　it；　but　was　unable　to　keep　them　closed。　They　opened　despite　my　extreme　effort；　and　again　I　met　that　gaze　of　fire。
　There　was　a　movement　at　my　side。　I　turned　and　saw　that　it　came　from　Desiree。　Her　hands　were　raised　to　her　face；　she　was　holding　them　before　her　as　though　in　a　futile　attempt　to　cover　her　eyes。
　The　thing　came　closer　and　closer；　it　was　but　a　few　feet　away；　and　still　we　did　not　move；　as　though　rooted　to　the　spot　by　some　power　beyond　our　control。
　Suddenly　there　came　a　cry　from　Desiree's　lips…a　scream　of　terror　and　wild　fear。　Her　entire　form　trembled　violently。
　She　extended　her　arms　toward　the　thing；　now　almost　upon　us；　and　took　a　step　forward。　Her　feet　dragged　unwilling　along　the　ground；　as　though　she　were　being　drawn　forward　by　some　irresistible　force。
　I　tried　to　put　out　my　hand　to　pull　her　back；　but　was　absolutely　unable　to　move。　Harry　stood　like　a　man　of　rock；　immovable。
　She　took　another　step　forward；　with　arms　outstretched　in　front　of　her。　A　low　moan　of　terror　and　piteous　appeal　came　from　between　her　slightly　parted　lips。
　Suddenly　the　eyes　disappeared。　The　huge　form　ceased　to　advance　and　stood　perfectly　still。　Then　it　began　to　recede；　so　slowly　that　I　was　barely　conscious　of　the　movement。
　I　was　gasping　and　choking　for　air；　my　chest　seemed　swelling　with　the　poisonous　breath。　Still　slowly　the　thing　receded　into　the　dimness　of　the　cavern；　the　eyes　were　no　longer　to　be　seen…merely　the　huge；　formless　bulk。　Desiree　had　stopped　short　with　one　foot　advanced；　as　though　hesitating　and　struggling　with　the　desire　to　go　forward。
　The　thing　now　could　barely　be　seen　at　a　distance；　it　would　have　been　impossible　if　we　had　not　known　it　was　there。　Finally　it　disappeared；　melting　away　into　the　semi…darkness；　no　slightest　movement　was　discernible。　I　breathed　more　freely　and　stepped　forward。
　As　I　did　so　Desiree　threw　her　hands　gropingly　above　her　head　and　fell　fainting　to　the　ground。
　Harry　sprang　forward　in　time　to　keep　her　head　from　striking　on　the　rock　and　knelt　with　his　arms　round　her　shoulders。　We　had　nothing；　not　even　water；　with　which　to　revive　her；　he　called　her　name　aloud　appealingly。　Soon　her　eyes　opened；　she　raised　her　hand　and　passed　it　across　her　brow　wonderingly。
　〃God　help　me！〃　she　murmured　in　a　low　voice；　eloquent　of　distress　and　pain。
　Then　she　pushed　Harry　aside　and　rose　slowly　to　her　feet；　refusing　his　assistance。
　〃In　the　name　of　Heaven；　what　is　it？〃　Harry　demanded；　turning　to　me。
　〃We　have　found　the　devil　at　last；〃　I　answered；　with　an　attempt　to　laugh；　which　sounded　hollow　in　my　own　ears。
　Desiree　could　tell　us　nothing；　except　that　she　had　felt　herself　drawn　forward　by　some　strange　power　that　had　seemed　to　e　from　the　baneful；　glittering　eyes。　She　was　bewildered　and　stunned　and　unable　to　talk　coherently。　We　assisted　her　to　the　wall