rs.undertheandes-第41部分
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wall； and she sat there with her back propped against it； breathing heavily from the exhaustion of terror。
〃We must find water；〃 I said； and Harry nodded； hesitating。
I understood him。 Danger could not have stayed him nor fear； but the horror of the thing which roamed about the cavern； dark as darkness itself and possessed of some strange power that could not be withstood； was enough to make him pause。 For myself it was impossible； I was barely able to stand。 So Harry went off alone in search of water and I stayed with Desiree。
It was perhaps half an hour before he returned； and we were shaken with fear for him long before he appeared。 When he did so it was with a white face and trembling limbs； in spite of his evident effort at steadiness。
〃There is water over there；〃 said he； pointing across the cavern。 〃A stream runs across the corner and disappears beneath the wall。 There is nothing to carry it in。 You must e with me。〃
〃What has happened？〃 I asked； for even his voice was unsteady。
〃I saw it；〃 he replied simply； but expressing enough in those three words to cause a shudder to run through me。
Then； speaking in a low tone that Desiree might not hear； he told me that the thing had confronted him suddenly as he was following the opposite wall； and that he； too； had been drawn forward； as it were； by a spell impossible to shake off。 He had tried to cry aloud； but had been unable to utter a sound。 And suddenly； as before； the eyes had disappeared； leaving him barely able to stand。
〃No wonder the Incas wouldn't follow us in here；〃 he finished。
〃We must get out of this。 I'm not a coward； but I wouldn't go through that again for my life。〃
〃You take Desiree；〃 said I。 〃I want that water。〃
He led us around the wall several hundred feet。 The ground was level and clear of obstruction； but we went slowly； for I could scarcely move。 Harry kept his eyes strained intently on all sides； his experience had left him more profoundly impressed even than he had been willing to admit to me。
Soon we heard the low music of running water； and a minute later we reached the stream Harry had found。
The fact that there was something to be done seemed to infuse a new spirit into Desiree； and soon her deft fingers were bathing my wounds and bandaging them as well as her poor material would allow。
The cold water took the heat from my pumping veins and left me almost fortable。 Harry had e off much easier than I； since I had so often sent him ahead with Desiree； and myself brought up the rear and withstood the brunt of the attack。
As Harry had said； the stream cut across a corner of the cavern； disappearing beneath the opposite wall； forming a triangle bound by two sides of the cavern and the stream itself。 I saw plainly that it would be impossible for me to move any distance for at least a few days； and that triangle appeared to offer the safest and most fortable retreat。
I spoke to Harry； and he waded across the stream to try its depth。 From the other side he called that the water was at no point more than waist…high； and Desiree and I started to cross； but about the middle I felt the current about to sweep me off my feet。
Harry waded in and helped me ashore。
On that hard rock we lay for many weary hours。 We had no food； but for that I would soon have been myself again； for； though my wounds were numerous； they were little more than scratches； with the exception of the gash on my shoulder。 Weakened as I was by loss of blood； and lacking nourishment； I improved but slowly； and only the cold water kept the fever from me。
Twice Harry went out in search of food and of an exit from the cavern。 The first time he was away for several hours； and returned exhausted and empty…handed and without having found any exit other than the one by which we had entered。
He had ventured through that far enough to see a group of Incas on watch at the other end。 They had seen him and sprung after him； but he had returned without injury； and at the entrance into the cavern where we lay they had halted abruptly。
The second time he was gone out more than half an hour； and the instant I saw his face when he returned I knew what had happened。
But I was not in the best of humor； his terror appeared to me to be ridiculously childish； and I said so in no uncertain terms。
But he was too profoundly agitated to show any anger。
〃You don't know； you don't know；〃 was all he said in answer to me； then he added； 〃I can't stand this any longer。 I tell you we've got to get out of here。 You don't know how awful…〃
〃Yes；〃 said Desiree； looking at me。
〃But I can scarcely walk；〃 I objected。
〃True；〃 said Harry。 〃I know。 But we can help you。 There must be another exit； and we'll start now。〃
〃Very well；〃 I said quite calmly； and I picked up one of the spears which we had carried with us； and； rising to my knees； placed the butt of the shaft against the wall near which I lay。
But Harry saw my purpose； and was too quick for me。 He sprang across and snatched the spear from my hand and threw it on the ground a dozen feet away。
〃Are you crazy？〃 he shouted angrily。
〃No；〃 I answered； 〃but I am little better； and I doubt if I shall be。 e…why not？ I hinder you and bee bored with myself。〃
〃You blame me；〃 he said bitterly； 〃but I tell you you don't know。 Very well…we stay。 You must give me your promise not to act the fool。〃
〃In any event； you must go soon；〃 I answered； 〃or starve to death。 Perhaps in another twenty…four hours I shall be stronger。
e； Desiree； will that satisfy you？〃
She did not answer； her back was turned to us as she stood gazing across the stream into the depths of the cavern。 There was a curious tenseness in her attitude that made me follow her gaze； and what I saw left me with no wonder at it…a huge； black； indistinct form that moved slowly toward us through the darkness。
Harry caught sight of it at the same moment as myself； and on the instant he turned about； covering his face with his hands； and called to Desiree and me to do likewise。
Desiree obeyed； I had risen to my knees and remained so； gazing straight ahead； ready for a bat if it were not a physical one。 I will not say that a certain feeling of dread did not rise in my heart； but I intended to show Desiree and Harry the childishness of their terror。
Nothing could be seen but the uncertain outline of the immense bulk； but the same penetrating； sickening odor that had before all but suffocated me came faintly across the surface of the stream； growing stronger with each second that passed。 Suddenly the eyes appeared…two glowing orbs of fire that caught my gaze and held it as with a chain。
I did not attempt to avoid it； but returned the gaze with another as steadfast。 I was telling myself： 〃Let us see this trick and play one stronger。〃 My nerves centered throbbingly back of my eyes； and I gave them the whole force of my will。
The thing came closer and the eyes seemed to burn into my very brain。 With a great effort I brought myself back to control； dropping to my hands and knees and gripping the ground for strength。
〃This is nothing； this is nothing；〃 I kept saying to myself aloud…until I realized suddenly that my voice had risen almost to a scream； and I locked my teeth tight on my lip。
I no longer returned the gaze from my own power； it held me of itself。 I felt my brain grow curiously numb and every muscle in my body contracted with a pain almost unbearable。 Still the thing came closer and closer； and it seemed to me； half dazed as I was； that it advanced much faster than before。
Then suddenly I felt a sensation of cold and moisture on my arms and legs and a pressure against my body； and I realized； as in a dream； that I had entered the stream of water！
I was crawling toward the thing on my hands and knees； without having even been conscious that I had moved。
That brought despair and a last supreme struggle to resist whatever mysterious power it was that dragged me forward。
Cold beads of sweat rolled from my forehead。 Beneath the surface of the water my hands gripped the rocks as in a vise。 My teeth had sunk deep into my lower lip and covered my chin with blood； though I did not know that till afterward。
But I
