rs.undertheandes-第55部分
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Some of the burning oil； flying from the overturned vats； alighted on the stairway； casting weird patches of light up and down the whole length of the column。 Some of it landed on my body； my face； my hands。 It was a very hell of heat； my lungs； all the inside of me； was on fire。
My brain sang and whirled。 My eyes felt as though they were being burned from their sockets with red…hot irons。 I bounded upward。
A few more steps…I could not see； I could hardly feel…and my head bumped against the stone at the top of the column。 I put out my hand； groping around half crazily； and by some wild chance it came in contact with the slide that moved the stone stab。 I pushed； hardly knowing what I did； and the stone flew to one side。
I stuck my head through the opening and saw Desiree。
Her back was toward me。 As I emerged from the opening the Incas seated round the vast amphitheater and the king； seated on the golden throne in the alcove； rose involuntarily from their seats in astonished wonder。
Desiree saw the movement and； turning； caught sight of me。 A sudden cry of amazement burst from her lips； she made a hasty step forward and fell fainting into my arms。
I shook her violently； but she remained unconscious； and this added catastrophe all but unnerved me。 For a moment I stood on the upper step with the upper half of my body； swaying from side to side； extending beyond the top of the column； then I turned and began to descend with Desiree in my arms。
Every step of that descent was unspeakable agony。 Feeling was hardly in me； my whole body was an engine of pain。 Somehow； I staggered and stumbled downward； at every step I expected to fall headlong to the bottom with my burden。 Desiree's form remained limp and lifeless in my arms。
I reached the ledge on which the vats had been placed and passed it； air entered my burning lungs like a breeze from the mountains。 Every step now made the next one easier。 I began to think that I might； after all； reach the bottom in safety。 Another twenty steps and I could see the beginning of the tunnel below。
Desiree's form stirred slightly in my arms。 A glance showed me her eyes looking up into mine as her head lay back on my shoulder。
〃Why？〃 she moaned。 〃In the name of Heaven above us； why？〃 I had no time for answer； my lips were locked tightly together as I sought the step below with a foot that had no feeling even for the stone。 We were nearly to the bottom； we reached it。
I placed Desiree on her feet。
〃Can you stand？〃 I gasped； and the words were torn from my throat with a great effort。
〃But you！〃 she cried； and I saw that her eyes were filled with horror。 No doubt I was a pitiful thing to look at。
But there was no time to be lost； and； seeing that her feet supported her； I grasped her arm and started down the tunnel just as Harry's voice； raised in a great shout； came to us from its farther end。
〃No！〃 cried Desiree； shrinking back in terror。 〃Paul…〃 I dragged her forward。
Then； as Harry's cry was repeated； she seemed to understand and sprang forward beside me。
Another second wasted and we would have been too late。 Just as we reached Harry's side； at the end of the tunnel； the Incas； warned by my appearance at the top of the column； appeared above on the stairway； at the foot of which Harry had made his stand。
At the sight of Desiree Harry uttered a cry of joy； then gazed in astonishment as I appeared behind her。
〃Run for your lives！〃 he shouted； pointing down the passage leading to the apartments beyond。 As he spoke a shower of spears descended from above； rattling on the steps and on the ground beside us。 I stooped to pick up two of them； and as Desiree and I darted forward into the passage； with Harry bringing up the rear； the Incas dashed down the stairway after us。
We found ourselves at once in the maze of lanes and passages leading to the royal apartments。 That； I thought； was as good a goal as any； and； besides； the way led to the cavern where we had once before successfully withstood our enemies。 But the way was not so easy to find。
Turn and twist about as we would； we could not shake off our pursuers。 Harry kept urging me forward； but I was using every ounce of strength that was left to me。 Desiree； too； was being weaker at every step； and I could hear Harry's cry of despair as she perceptibly faltered and slackened her pace。
I soon realized that we were no longer in the passage or group of passages that led to the royal apartments and the cavern beyond。
But there was no time to seek our way； well enough if we went forward。 We found ourselves in a narrow lane； strewn with rocks； crooked and winding。
Desiree stumbled and would have fallen but for my outstretched arm。 A spear from behind whistled past my ear as we again bounded forward。 Harry was shouting to us that the Incas were upon us。
I caught Desiree's arm and pulled her on with a last great effort。 The lane became narrower still； we brushed the wall on either side； and I pushed Desiree ahead of me and followed behind。
Suddenly she stopped short； turning to face me so suddenly that I was thrown against her； nearly knocking her down。
〃Your spear！〃 she cried desperately。 〃I can go no farther；〃 and she sank to the ground。
At the same moment there came a cry from Harry in the rear…a cry that held joy and wonder…and I turned to see him standing some distance away； gazing down the lane through which we had e。
〃They've given up！〃 he called。 〃They're gone！〃
And I saw that it was true。 No sound came； and no Inca was to be seen。
Then； seeing Desiree on the ground； Harry ran to us and sprang to her side。 〃Desiree！〃 he cried； lifting her in his arms。 She opened her eyes and smiled at him； and he kissed her many times…her hair； her lips； her eyes。 Then he placed her gently on her feet； and； supporting her with his arm； moved forward slowly。
I led the way。
The lane ahead of us was scarcely more than a crevice between the rocks； I squeezed my way through with difficulty。 Then the walls ended abruptly； just when I had begun to think we could go no farther； and we found ourselves at the entrance to a cavern so large that no wall was to be seen on any side save the one behind us。
On the instant I guessed at the reason why the Incas had ceased their pursuit so abruptly； and I turned to Harry：
〃I'm afraid we've jumped from the frying…pan into the fire。
If this cavern holds anything like that other…you remember…〃
〃If it does； we shall see；〃 he replied。
Supporting Desiree on either side； we struck out directly across the cavern； halting every few steps to listen for a sound； either of the Incas； which we feared； or of running water； which we desired。 We heard neither。 All was blackness and the most plete silence。
Then I became aware； for the first time； of intolerable pains shooting up through my legs into my body。 The danger past； reason returned and feeling。 I could not suppress a low cry； wrung inexorably from my chest； and I halted； leaning my whole weight on Desiree's shoulder。
〃What is it？〃 she cried； and for answer…though I strained every atom of my will and strength to prevent it…I toppled to the ground； dragging her with me。
What followed came to me as in a dream； though I was not wholly unconscious。 I was aware that Harry and Desiree were bending over me； then I felt my head and shoulders being lifted from the ground； and a soft； warm arm supporting me。
A minute passed； or an hour…I did not know…and I felt hot drops of moisture fall on my cheek。 I struggled to open my eyes； and saw Desiree's face quite near my own； my head was resting on her shoulder。 She was weeping silently； and great tears rolled down her cheeks unrestrained。
To have seen the sun or stars shining down upon me would not have astonished me more。 I gazed at her a long moment in silence； she saw that I did so； but made no effort to turn her head or avoid my gaze。 Finally I found my tongue。
〃Where is Harry？〃 I asked。
〃He is gone to look for water；〃 she replied； and； curiously enough； her voice was quite steady。
I smiled。
〃It is useless。 I am done for！〃
〃That isn't true；〃 she denied； in a voice almost of anger。
〃You will get well。 You are…injured badly
