the lost continent-第10部分

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covered　with　skins　and　grasses　and　sometimes　plastered　with　mud。　　All　about　the　camp　they　had　erected　a　wall　of　saplings　pointed　at　the　tops　and　fire　hardened。

This　palisade　was　a　protection　against　both　man　and　beasts；　and　within　it　dwelt　upward　of　two　thousand　persons；　the　shelters　being　built　very　close　together；　and　sometimes　partially　underground；　like　deep　trenches；　with　the　poles　and　hides　above　merely　as　protection　from　the　sun　and　rain。

The　older　part　of　the　camp　consisted　almost　wholly　of　trenches；　as　though　this　had　been　the　original　form　of　dwellings　which　was　slowly　giving　way　to　the　drier　and　airier　surface　domiciles。　　In　these　trench　habitations　I　saw　a　survival　of　the　military　trenches　which　formed　so　famous　a　part　of　the　operation　of　the　warring　nations　during　the　twentieth　century。

The　women　wore　a　single　light　deerskin　about　their　hips；　for　it　was　summer；　and　quite　warm。　　The　men；　too；　were　clothed　in　a　single　garment；　usually　the　pelt　of　some　beast　of　prey。　The　hair　of　both　men　and　women　was　confined　by　a　rawhide　thong　passing　about　the　forehead　and　tied　behind。　　In　this　leathern　band　were　stuck　feathers；　flowers；　or　the　tails　of　small　mammals。　　All　wore　necklaces　of　the　teeth　or　claws　of　wild　beasts；　and　there　were　numerous　metal　wristlets　and　anklets　among　them。

They　wore；　in　fact；　every　indication　of　a　most　primitive　peoplea　race　which　had　not　yet　risen　to　the　heights　of　agriculture　or　even　the　possession　of　domestic　animals。　They　were　huntersthe　lowest　plane　in　the　evolution　of　the　human　race　of　which　science　takes　cognizance。

And　yet　as　I　looked　at　their　well　shaped　heads；　their　handsome　features；　and　their　intelligent　eyes；　it　was　difficult　to　believe　that　I　was　not　among　my　own。　　It　was　only　when　I　took　into　consideration　their　mode　of　living；　their　scant　apparel；　the　lack　of　every　least　luxury　among　them；　that　I　was　forced　to　admit　that　they　were；　in　truth；　but　ignorant　savages。

Buckingham　had　relieved　me　of　my　weapons；　though　he　had　not　the　slightest　idea　of　their　purpose　or　uses；　and　when　we　reached　the　camp　he　exhibited　both　me　and　my　arms　with　every　indication　of　pride　in　this　great　capture。

The　inhabitants　flocked　around　me；　examining　my　clothing；　and　exclaiming　in　wonderment　at　each　new　discovery　of　button；　buckle；　pocket；　and　flap。　　It　seemed　incredible　that　such　a　thing　could　be；　almost　within　a　stone's　throw　of　the　spot　where　but　a　brief　two　centuries　before　had　stood　the　greatest　city　of　the　world。

They　bound　me　to　a　small　tree　that　grew　in　the　middle　of　one　of　their　crooked　streets；　but　the　girl　they　released　as　soon　as　we　had　entered　the　enclosure。　　The　people　greeted　her　with　every　mark　of　respect　as　she　hastened　to　a　large　hut　near　the　center　of　the　camp。

Presently　she　returned　with　a　fine　looking；　white…haired　woman；　who　proved　to　be　her　mother。　　The　older　woman　carried　herself　with　a　regal　dignity　that　seemed　quite　remarkable　in　a　place　of　such　primitive　squalor。

The　people　fell　aside　as　she　approached；　making　a　wide　way　for　her　and　her　daughter。　　When　they　had　come　near　and　stopped　before　me　the　older　woman　addressed　me。

〃My　daughter　has　told　me；〃　she　said；　〃of　the　manner　in　which　you　rescued　her　from　the　men　of　the　elephant　country。　　If　Wettin　lived　you　would　be　well　treated；　but　Buckingham　has　taken　me　now；　and　is　king。　　You　can　hope　for　nothing　from　such　a　beast　as　Buckingham。〃

The　fact　that　Buckingham　stood　within　a　pace　of　us　and　was　an　interested　listener　appeared　not　to　temper　her　expressions　in　the　slightest。

〃Buckingham　is　a　pig；〃　she　continued。　　〃He　is　a　coward。　　He　came　upon　Wettin　from　behind　and　ran　his　spear　through　him。　He　will　not　be　king　for　long。　　Some　one　will　make　a　face　at　him；　and　he　will　run　away　and　jump　into　the　river。〃

The　people　began　to　titter　and　clap　their　hands。　　Buckingham　became　red　in　the　face。　　It　was　evident　that　he　was　far　from　popular。

〃If　he　dared；〃　went　on　the　old　lady；　〃he　would　kill　me　now；　but　he　does　not　dare。　　He　is　too　great　a　coward。　　If　I　could　help　you　I　should　gladly　do　so。　　But　I　am　only　queenthe　vehicle　that　has　helped　carry　down；　unsullied；　the　royal　blood　from　the　days　when　Grabritin　was　a　mighty　country。〃

The　old　queen's　words　had　a　noticeable　effect　upon　the　mob　of　curious　savages　which　surrounded　me。　　The　moment　they　discovered　that　the　old　queen　was　friendly　to　me　and　that　I　had　rescued　her　daughter　they　commenced　to　accord　me　a　more　friendly　interest；　and　I　heard　many　words　spoken　in　my　behalf；　and　demands　were　made　that　I　not　be　harmed。

But　now　Buckingham　interfered。　　He　had　no　intention　of　being　robbed　of　his　prey。　　Blustering　and　storming；　he　ordered　the　people　back　to　their　huts；　at　the　same　time　directing　two　of　his　warriors　to　confine　me　in　a　dugout　in　one　of　the　trenches　close　to　his　own　shelter。

Here　they　threw　me　upon　the　ground；　binding　my　ankles　together　and　trussing　them　up　to　my　wrists　behind。　　There　they　left　me；　lying　upon　my　stomacha　most　uncomfortable　and　strained　position；　to　which　was　added　the　pain　where　the　cords　cut　into　my　flesh。

Just　a　few　days　ago　my　mind　had　been　filled　with　the　anticipation　of　the　friendly　welcome　I　should　find　among　the　cultured　Englishmen　of　London。　　Today　I　should　be　sitting　in　the　place　of　honor　at　the　banquet　board　of　one　of　London's　most　exclusive　clubs；　feted　and　lionized。

The　actuality！　　Here　I　lay；　bound　hand　and　foot；　doubtless　almost　upon　the　very　site　of　a　part　of　ancient　London；　yet　all　about　me　was　a　primeval　wilderness；　and　I　was　a　captive　of　half…naked　wild　men。

I　wondered　what　had　become　of　Delcarte　and　Taylor　and　Snider。　　Would　they　search　for　me？　　They　could　never　find　me；　I　feared；　yet　if　they　did；　what　could　they　accomplish　against　this　horde　of　savage　warriors？

Would　that　I　could　warn　them。　　I　thought　of　the　girl　doubtless　she　could　get　word　to　them；　but　how　was　I　to　communicate　with　her？　　Would　she　come　to　see　me　before　I　was　killed？　　It　seemed　incredible　that　she　should　not　make　some　slight　attempt　to　befriend　me；　yet；　as　I　recalled；　she　had　made　no　effort　to　speak　with　me　after　we　had　reached　the　village。　　She　had　hastened　to　her　mother　the　moment　she　had　been　liberated。　　Though　she　had　returned　with　the　old　queen；　she　had　not　spoken　to　me；　even　then。　　I　began　to　have　my　doubts。

Finally；　I　came　to　the　conclusion　that　I　was　absolutely　friendless　except　for　the　old　queen。　　For　some　unaccountable　reason　my　rage　against　the　girl　for　her　ingratitude　rose　to　colossal　proportions。

For　a　long　time　I　waited　for　some　one　to　come　to　my　prison　whom　I　might　ask　to　bear　word　to　the　queen；　but　I　seemed　to　have　been　forgotten。　　The　strained　position　in　which　I　lay　became　unbearable。　　I　wriggled　and　twisted　until　I　managed　to　turn　myself　partially　upon　my　side；　where　I　lay　half　facing　the　entrance　to　the　dugout。

Presently　my　attention　was　attracted　by　the　shadow　of　something　moving　in　the　trench　without；　and　a　moment　later　the　figure　of　a　child　appeared；　creeping　upon　all　fours；　as；　wide…eyed；　and　prompted　by　childish　curiosity；　a　little　girl　crawled　to　the　entrance　of　my　hut　and　peered　cautiously　and　fearfully　in。

I　did　not　speak　at　first　for　fear　of　frightening　the　little　one　away。　　But　when　I　was　satisfied　that　her　eyes　had　become　sufficiently　accustomed　to　the　subdued　light　of　the　interior；　I　smiled。

Instantly　the　expression　of　fear　faded　from　her　eyes　to　be　replaced　with　an　answering　smile。

〃Who　are　you；　little　girl？〃　I　asked。

〃My　name　is　Mary；〃　she　replied。　　〃I　am　Victory's　sister。〃

〃And　who　is　Victory？〃

〃You　do　not　know　who　Victory　is？〃　she　asked；　in　astonishment。

I　shook　my　head　in　negation。

〃You　saved　her　from　the　elephant　country　people；　and　yet　you　say　you　do　not　know　her！〃　she　exclaimed。

〃Oh；　so　she　is　Victory；　and　you　are　her　sister！　　I　have　not　heard　her　name　before。　　That　is　why　I　did　not　know　whom　you　meant；〃　I　explained。　　Here　was　just　the　messenger　for　me。　Fate　was　becoming　more　kind。

〃Will　you　do　something　for　me；　Mary？〃　I　asked。

〃If　I　can。〃

〃Go　to　your　mother；　the　queen；　and　ask　her　to　come　to　me；〃　I　said。　　〃I　have　a　favor　to　ask。〃

She　said　that　she　would；　and　with　a　parting　smile　she　left　me。

For　what　seemed　many　hours　I　awaited　her　return；　chafing　with　impatience。　　The　afternoon　wore　on　and　night　came；　and　yet　no　one　came　near　me。　　My　captors　brought　me　neither　food　nor　water。　　I　was　suffering　considerable　pain　where　the　rawhide　thongs　cut　into　my　swollen　flesh。　　I　thought　that　they　had　either　forgotten　me；　or　that　it　was　their　intention　to　leave　me　here　to　die　of　starvation。

Once　I　heard　a　great　uproar　in　the　village。　　Men　were　shoutingwomen　were　screaming　and　moaning。　　After　a　time　this　subsided；　and　again　there　was　a　long　interval　of　silence。

Half　the　night　must　have　been　spent　when　I　heard　a　sound　in　the　trench　near　the　hut。　　It　resembled　muffled　sobs。　Presently　a　figure　appeared；　silhouetted　against　the　lesser　darkness　beyond　the　doorway。　　It　crept　inside　the　hut。

〃Are　you　here？〃　whispered　a　childlike　voice。

It　was　Mary！　　She　had　returned。　　The　thongs　no　longer　hurt　me。　　The　pangs　of　hunger　and　thirst　disappeared。　　I　realized　that　it　had　been　loneliness　from　which　I　suffered　most。

〃Mary！〃　I　exclaimed。　　〃You　are　a　good　girl。　　You　have　come　back；　after　all。　　I　had　commenced　to　think　that　you　would　not。　　Did　you　give　my　message　to　the　queen？　　Will　she　come？　Where　is　she？〃

The　child's　sobs　increased；　and　she　flung　herself　upon　the　dirt　floor　of　the　hut；　apparently　overcome　by　grief。

〃What　is　it？〃　I　asked。　　〃Why　do　you　cry？〃

〃The　queen；　my　mother；　will　not　come　to　you；〃　she　said；　between　sobs。　　〃She　is　dead。　　Buckingham　has　killed　her。　Now　he　will　take　Victory；　for　Victory　is　queen。　　He　kept　us　fastened　up　in　our　shelter；　for　fear　that　Victory　would　escape　him；　but　I　dug　a　hole　beneath　the　back　wall　and　got　out。　　I　came　to　you；　because　you　saved　Victory　once　before；　and　I　thought　that　you　might　save　her　again；　and　me；　also。　Tell　me　that　you　will。〃

〃I　am　bound　and　helpless；　Mary；〃　I　replied。　　〃Otherwise　I　would　do　what　I　could　to　save　you　and　your　sister。〃

〃I　will　set　you　free！〃　cried　the　girl；　creeping　up　to　my　side。　　〃I　will　set　you　free；　and　then　you　may　come　and　slay　Buckingham。〃

〃Gladly！〃　I　assented。

〃We　must　hurr