rs.undertheandes-第59部分
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engeful prayer as I saw him level a spear at the Inca king across the chasm。 But it went wide of its mark； striking the ground at his feet。
〃There was another！〃 cried Harry； and soon he had found it where it lay on the ground and sent it； too； hurtling across。
This time he missed by inches。 The spear flew just past the shoulder of the king and caught one who stood behind him full in the face。 The stricken savage threw his arms spasmodically above his head； reeling forward against the king。
There was a startled movement along the black line； hands were outstretched in a vain effort at rescue； a savage cry burst from Harry's lips； and the next instant the king had toppled over the edge of the chasm and fallen into the bottomless pit below。
Harry turned； quivering from head to foot。
〃Little enough；〃 he said between his teeth； and again he knelt beside the body of Desiree and took her in his arms。
But her fate spoke eloquently of our own danger； and I roused him to action。 Together we picked up the form of our dead rade and carried it to the rear。 I hesitated to pull forth the barbed head of the spear； and instead broke off the shaft； leaving the point buried in the soft throat； from which a crimson line extended over the white shoulder。
A short distance ahead we came to a projecting boulder； and behind that we gently laid her on the hard rock。 Neither of us had spoken a word。 Harry's lips were locked tightly together； a lump rose in my throat； choking all utterance and filling my eyes with tears。
Harry knelt beside the white form and； gathering it gently in his arms； held it against his breast。 I stood at his side； gazing down at him in mute sympathy and sorrow。
For a long minute there was silence…a most intense silence throughout the cavern； during which the painful throbbing of my heart was plainly audible； then Harry murmured； in a voice of the utmost tenderness： 〃Desiree！〃 And again； 〃Desiree！ Desiree！〃 until I half expected the very strength and sweetness of his emotion to bring our rade back to life。
Suddenly； with a quick； impulsive movement； he raised his head to glance at me。
〃She loved you；〃 he said； and though there was neither jealousy nor anger in his voice； somehow I could not meet his gaze。
〃She loved you；〃 he repeated in a tone half of wonder。 〃And you…you…〃
I answered his eyes。
〃She was yours；〃 I said； with a touch of bitterness that persuaded him of the truth。 〃All her beauty； all her loveliness； all her charm； to be buried…Ah！ God help us…〃
My voice broke； and I knelt on the ground beside Harry and pressed my lips to the white forehead and golden hair of what had been Le Mire。
Thus we remained for a long time。
It was hard to believe that death had in reality taken possession of the still form stretched as in repose before us。 Her body； still warm； seemed quivering with the instinct of life； but the eyes were not the eyes of Desiree。 I closed them； and arranged the tangled mass of hair as well as possible over her shoulders。
As I did so the air； set in motion by my hand； caused some of the golden strands to tremble gently across her lips； and Harry bent forward with a painful eagerness； thinking that she had breathed。
〃Dearest；〃 he murmured； 〃dearest； speak to me！〃
His hand sought her swelling bosom gropingly； and his eyes； as they looked pleadingly even into mine； shot into my heart and unnerved me。
I rose to my feet； scarcely able to stand； and moved away。
But the fate that had finally intervened for us…too late； alas！ for one…did not leave us long with our dead。 Even now I do not know what happened； at the time I knew even less。 Harry told me afterward that the first shock came at the instant he had taken Desiree in his arms and pressed his lips to hers。
I had crossed to the other side of the passage and was gazing back toward the chasm at the Incas on the other side； when again I felt the ground； absolutely without warning； tremble violently under my feet。 At the same moment there was a low； curious rumble as of the thundering of distant cannon。
I sprang toward Harry with a cry of alarm； and had crossed about to the middle of the passage； when a deafening roar smote my ear； and the entire wall of the cavern appeared to be failing in upon us。 At the same time the ground seemed to sink directly away beneath my feet with an easy； rocking motion as of a wave of the ocean。 Then I felt myself plunging downward with a velocity that stunned my senses and took away my breath； and then all was confusion and chaos…and oblivion。
When I awoke I was lying flat on my back； and Harry was kneeling at my side。 I opened my eyes； and felt that it would be impossible to make a greater exertion。
〃Paul！〃 cried Harry。 〃Speak to me！ Not you； too…I shall go mad！〃
He told me afterward that I had lain unconscious for many hours； but that appeared to be all that he knew。 How far we had fallen； or how he had found me； or how he himself had escaped being crushed to pieces by the falling rock； he was unable to say； and I concluded that he； too； had been rendered unconscious by the fall； and for some time dazed and bewildered by the shock。
Well！ We were alive…that was all。
For we were weak and faint from hunger and fatigue； and one mass of bruises and blisters from head to foot。 And we had had no water for something like twenty…four hours。 Heaven only knows where we found the energy to rise and go in search of it； it is incredible that any creatures in such a pitiable and miserable condition as we were could have been propelled by hope； unless it is indeed immortal。
Half walking； half crawling； we went forward。
The place where we had found ourselves was a jumbled mass of boulders and broken rock； but we soon discovered a passage； level and straight as any tunnel built by man。
Down this we made our way。 Every few feet we stopped to rest。
Neither of us spoke a word。 I really had no sense of any purpose in our progress； I crept on exactly as some animals； wounded to death； move on and on until there is no longer strength for another step； when they lie down for the final breath。
We saw no water nor promise of any； nothing save the long stretch of dim vista ahead and the grim； black walls on either side。 That； I think； for hours； it seemed to me then for years。
I dragged one leg after the other with infinite effort and pain； Harry was ahead； and sometimes； glancing back over his shoulder to find me at some distance behind； he would turn over and lie on his back till I approached。 Then again to his knees and again forward。 Neither of us spoke。
Suddenly； at a great distance down the passage； much further than I had been able to see before； I saw what appeared to be a white wall extending directly across our path。
I called to Harry and pointed it out to him。 He nodded vaguely； as though in wonder that I should have troubled him about so slight an object of interest； and crawled on。
But the white wall became whiter still； and soon I saw that it was not a wall。 A wild hope surged through me； I felt the blood mount dizzily to my head； and I stilled the clamor that beat at my temples by an extreme effort of the will。 〃It can't be；〃 I said to myself aloud； over and over； 〃it can't be； it can't be。〃
Harry turned； and his face was as white as when he had knelt by the body of Desiree； and his eye was wild。
〃You fool；〃 he roared； 〃it is！〃
We went faster then。 Another hundred yards； and the thing was certain； there it was before us。 We scrambled to our feet and tried to run； I reeled and fell； then picked myself up again and followed Harry； who had not even halted as I had fallen。 The mouth of the passage was now but a few feet away； I reached Harry's side； blinking and stunned with amazement and the incredible wonder of it。
I tried to shout； to cry aloud to the heavens； but a great lump in my throat choked me and my head was singing dizzily。
Harry； at my side； was crying like a child； with great tears streaming down his face； as together we staggered forth from the mouth of the passage into the bright and dazzling sunshine of the Andes。
Chapter XXIV。
CONCLUSION。
Never； I believe； were misery and joy so curiously mingled
