rs.undertheandes-第44部分
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he very walls of the cavern。
I found the stream with little difficulty； not far away； and returned to Harry。 Together we carried Desiree to its edge。 The blood was stubborn； and for a long time refused to move； but the cold water at length revived her； her eyes slowly opened； and she raised her hand to her head with a faltering gesture。
But she was extremely weak； and we saw that the end was near unless nourishment could be found for her。
I stayed by her side； with my arms round her shoulders； and Harry set out with one of the spears。 He bore off to the left； toward the spot where the body of the immense reptile lay； I was too far away to see it in the darkness。
〃It isn't possible that the thing is fit to eat；〃 I had objected； and he had answered me with a look which I understood； and was silenced。
Soon a sound as of a scuffle on the rocks came through the darkness from the direction he had taken。 I called out to ask if he needed me； but there was no answer。 Ten minutes longer I waited； while the sound continued unabated。 Once I heard the clatter of his spear on the rock。
I was just rising to my feet to run to the scene when suddenly he appeared in the semidarkness。 He was ing slowly； and was dragging along the ground what appeared to be the form of some animal。 Another minute and he stood at my side as I sat holding Desiree。
〃A peccary！〃 I cried； bending over the body of the four…footed creature that lay at his feet。 〃How the deuce did it ever get down here？〃
〃Peccary…my aunt！〃 observed Harry； bending down to look at Desiree。 〃Do peccaries live in the water？ Do they have snouts like catfish？ This animal is my own invention。 There's about ten million more of 'em over there making a gorgeous banquet off our late lamented friend。 And now； let's see。〃
He knelt down by the still warm body and with the point of his spear ripped it open from neck to rump。 Desiree stirred about in my arms。
〃Gad； that smells good！〃 cried Harry。
I shuddered。
He dragged the thing a few feet away； and I heard him slashing away at it with his spear。 A minute later he came running over to us with his hands full of something。
That was not exactly a pretty meal。 How Desiree； in her frightfully weakened condition； ever managed to get the stuff down and keep it there is beyond me。 But she did； and I was not behind her。 And； after all； it was fresh。 Harry said it was 〃sweet。〃 Well； perhaps it was。
We bathed Desiree's hands and face and gave her water to drink； and soon after she passed into a seemingly healthy sleep。
There was about ten pounds of meat left。 Harry washed it in the stream and stowed it away on a rock beneath the surface of the water。 Then he announced his intention of going back for more。
〃I'm going with you；〃 I declared。 〃Here…help me fix Desiree。〃
〃Hardly；〃 said Harry。 〃Didn't I say there are millions of those things over there？ Anyway； there are hundreds。 If they should happen to scatter in this direction and find her； she wouldn't stand a chance。 You take the other spear and stay here。〃
So I sat still； with Desiree's body in my arms； and waited for him。 My sensations were not unpleasant。 I could actually feel the blood quicken in my veins。
Civilization places the temple of life in the soul or the heart； as she speaks through the mouth of the preacher or the poet； but let civilization go for four or five days without anything to eat and see what happens。 The organ is vulgar； but its voice is loud。 I need not name it
In five minutes Harry returned； dragging two more of the creatures at his heels。 In half an hour there were a dozen of them lying in a heap at the edge of the water。
〃That's all；〃 he announced； panting heavily from his exertions。 〃The rest have taken to the woods； which； I imagine； is quite a journey from here。 You ought to see our friend…the one who couldn't make his eyes behave。 They've eaten him full of holes。 He's the most awful mess…sickening beast。 He didn't have a bone in him…all crumpled up like an accordion。 Utterly spineless。〃
〃And who； in the name of goodness； do you think is going to eat all that？〃 I demanded； pointing to the heap of bodies。
Harry grinned。
〃I don't know。 I was so excited at the very idea of a square meal that I didn't know when to stop。 I'd give five fingers for a fire and some salt。 Just a nickel's worth of salt。 Now； you lie down and sleep while I cut these things up； and then I'll take a turn at it myself？〃
He brought me one of the hides for a pillow； and I lay back as gently as possible that I might not awaken Desiree。 Her head and shoulders rested against my body as she lay peacefully sleeping。
I was awakened by Harry's hand tugging at my arm。 Rising on my elbows； I demanded to know how long I had slept。
〃Six or seven hours；〃 said Harry。 〃I waited as long as I could。 Keep a lookout。〃
Desiree stirred uneasily； but seemed to be still asleep。 I sat up； rubbing my eyes。 The heap of bodies had disappeared； no wonder Harry was tired！ I reproached myself for having slept so long。
Harry had arranged himself a bed that was really fortable with the skins of his kill。
〃That is great stuff；〃 I heard him murmur wearily； then all was still。
I sat motionless； stiff and numb； but afraid to move for fear of disturbing Desiree。
Presently she stirred again； and； bending over her； I saw her eyes slowly open。 They met my own with a curious； steadfast gaze…she was still half asleep。
〃Is that you； Paul？〃 she murmured。
〃Yes。〃
〃I am glad。 I seem to feel…what is it？〃
〃I don't know； Desiree。 What do you mean？〃
〃Nothing…nothing。 Oh。 it feels so good…good…to have you hold me like this。〃
〃Yes？〃 I smiled。
〃But； yes。 Where is Harry？〃
〃Asleep。 Are you hungry？〃
〃Yes…no。 Not now。 I don't know why。 I want to talk。 What has happened？〃
I told her of everything that had occurred since she had swooned； she shuddered as memory returned； but forgot herself in my attempt at a humorous description of Harry's valor as a hunter of food。
〃You don't need to turn up your nose；〃 I retorted to her expressive grimace； 〃you ate some of the stuff yourself。〃
There was a silence； then suddenly Desiree's voice came：
〃Paul…〃 She hesitated and stopped。
〃Yes。〃
〃What do you think of me？〃
〃Do you want a lengthy review？〃 I smiled。
What a woman she was！ Under those circumstances； and amid those surroundings； she was still Desiree Le Mire。
〃Don't laugh at me；〃 she said。 〃I want to know。 I have never spoken of what I did that time in the cavern…you know what I mean。
I am sorry now。 I suppose you despise me。〃
〃But you did nothing；〃 I objected。 〃And you wouldn't。 You were merely amusing yourself。〃
She turned on me quickly with a flash of her old fire。
〃Don't play with me！〃 she burst out。 〃My friend； you have never yet given me a serious word。〃
〃Nor any one else；〃 I answered。 〃My dear Desiree； do you not know that I am incapable of seriousness？ Nothing in the world is worth it。〃
〃At least； you need not pretend；〃 she retorted。 〃I meant once for you to die。 You know it。 And since you pretend not to understand me； I ask you…these are strange words from my lips…will you forgive me？〃
〃There is nothing to forgive。〃
〃My friend； you are being dull。 An evasive answer should always be a witty one。 Must I ask you again？〃
〃That…depends；〃 I answered； hardly knowing what to say。
〃On…〃
〃On whether or not you were serious； once upon a time； when you made a…shall we call it a confession？ If you were； I offended you in my own conceit； but let us be frank。 I thought you were acting； and I played my role。 I do not yet believe that you were； I am not conceited enough to think it possible。〃
〃I do not say；〃 Desiree began； then she stopped and added hastily： 〃But that is past。 I shall not tell you that again。
Perhaps I forgot myself。 Perhaps it was a pretty play。 You have not answered me。〃
I looked at her。 Strange and terrible as her experiences and sufferings had been； she had lost little of her beauty。 Her face was rendered only the more delicate by its pallor。 Her white and perfect body； only half seen in the half…darkness； conveyed a sense of the purest beauty with no hint of immodesty。
But I was moved
