the lost continent-第11部分

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〃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　hurry；〃　she　went　on；　as　she　fumbled　with　the　hard　knots　in　the　stiffened　rawhide；　〃for　Buckingham　will　be　after　you　soon。　　He　must　make　an　offering　to　the　lions　at　dawn　before　he　can　take　Victory。　　The　taking　of　a　queen　requires　a　human　offering！〃

〃And　I　am　to　be　the　offering？〃　I　asked。

〃Yes；〃　she　said；　tugging　at　a　knot。　　〃Buckingham　has　been　wanting　a　sacrifice　ever　since　he　killed　Wettin；　that　he　might　slay　my　mother　and　take　Victory。〃

The　thought　was　horrible；　not　solely　because　of　the　hideous　fate　to　which　I　was　condemned；　but　from　the　contemplation　it　engendered　of　the　sad　decadence　of　a　once　enlightened　race。　To　these　depths　of　ignorance；　brutality；　and　superstition　had　the　vaunted　civilization　of　twentieth　century　England　been　plunged；　and　by　what？　　War！　　I　felt　the　structure　of　our　time…honored　militaristic　arguments　crumbling　about　me。

Mary　labored　with　the　thongs　that　confined　me。　　They　proved　refractorydefying　her　tender；　childish　fingers。　　She　assured　me；　however；　that　she　would　release　me；　if　〃they〃　did　not　come　too　soon。

But；　alas；　they　came。　　We　heard　them　coming　down　the　trench；　and　I　bade　Mary　hide　in　a　corner；　lest　she　be　discovered　and　punished。　　There　was　naught　else　she　could　do；　and　so　she　crawled　away　into　the　Stygian　blackness　behind　me。

Presently　two　warriors　entered。　　The　leader　exhibited　a　unique　method　of　discovering　my　whereabouts　in　the　darkness。　He　advanced　slowly；　kicking　out　viciously　before　him。　Finally　he　kicked　me　in　the　face。　　Then　he　knew　where　I　was。

A　moment　later　I　had　been　jerked　roughly　to　my　feet。　　One　of　the　fellows　stopped　and　severed　the　bonds　that　held　my　ankles。　　I　could　scarcely　stand　alone。　　The　two　pulled　and　hauled　me　through　the　low　doorway　and　along　the　trench。　　A　party　of　forty　or　fifty　warriors　were　awaiting　us　at　the　brink　of　the　excavation　some　hundred　yards　from　the　hut。

Hands　were　lowered　to　us；　and　we　were　dragged　to　the　surface。　　Then　commenced　a　long　march。　　We　stumbled　through　the　underbrush　wet　with　dew；　our　way　lighted　by　a　score　of　torchbearers　who　surrounded　us。　　But　the　torches　were　not　to　light　the　waythat　was　but　incidental。　　They　were　carried　to　keep　off　the　huge　Carnivora　that　moaned　and　coughed　and　roared　about　us。

The　noises　were　hideous。　　The　whole　country　seemed　alive　with　lions。　　Yellow…green　eyes　blazed　wickedly　at　us　from　out　the　surrounding　darkness。　　My　escort　carried　long；　heavy　spears。　　These　they　kept　ever　pointed　toward　the　beast　of　prey；　and　I　learned　from　snatches　of　the　conversation　I　overheard　that　occasionally　there　might　be　a　lion　who　would　brave　even　the　terrors　of　fire　to　leap　in　upon　human　prey。　It　was　for　such　that　the　spears　were　always　couched。

But　nothing　of　the　sort　occurred　during　this　hideous　death　march；　and　with　the　first　pale　heralding　of　dawn　we　reached　our　goalan　open　place　in　the　midst　of　a　tangled　wildwood。　Here　rose　in　crumbling　grandeur　the　first　evidences　I　had　seen　of　the　ancient　civilization　which　once　had　graced　fair　Albiona　single；　time…worn　arch　of　masonry。

〃The　entrance　to　the　Camp　of　the　Lions！〃　murmured　one　of　the　party　in　a　voice　husky　with　awe。

Here　the　party　knelt；　while　Buckingham　recited　a　weird；　prayer…like　chant。　　It　was　rather　long；　and　I　recall　only　a　portion　of　it；　which　ran；　if　my　memory　serves　me；　somewhat　as　follows：


　　　　　　　　Lord　of　Grabritin；　we　　　　　　　　　Fall　on　our　knees　to　thee；　　　　　　　　　This　gift　to　bring。　　　　　　　　　　Greatest　of　kings　are　thou！　　　　　　　　　To　thee　we　humbly　bow！　　　　　　　　　Peace　to　our　camp　allow。　　　　　　　　　　God　save　thee；　king！


Then　the　party　rose；　and　dragging　me　to　the　crumbling　arch；　made　me　fast　to　a　huge；　corroded；　copper　ring　which　was　dangling　from　an　eyebolt　imbedded　in　the　masonry。

None　of　them；　not　even　Buckingham；　seemed　to　feel　any　personal　animosity　toward　me。　　They　were　naturally　rough　and　brutal；　as　primitive　men　are　supposed　to　have　been　since　the　dawn　of　humanity；　but　they　did　not　go　out　of　their　way　to　maltreat　me。

With　the　coming　of　dawn　the　number　of　lions　about　us　seemed　to　have　greatly　diminishedat　least　they　made　less　noise　and　as　Buckingham　and　his　party　disappeared　into　the　woods；　leaving　me　alone　to　my　terrible　fate；　I　could　hear　the　grumblings　and　growlings　of　the　beasts　diminishing　with　the　sound　of　the　chant；　which　the　party　still　continued。　　It　appeared　that　the　lions　had　failed　to　note　that　I　had　been　left　for　their　breakfast；　and　had　followed　off　after　their　worshippers　instead。

But　I　knew　the　reprieve　would　be　but　for　a　short　time；　and　though　I　had　no　wish　to　die；　I　must　confess　that　I　rather　wished　the　ordeal　over　and　the　peace　of　oblivion　upon　me。

The　voices　of　the　men　and　the　lions　receded　in　the　distance；　until　finally　quiet　reigned　about　me；　broken　only　by　the　sweet　voices　of　birds　and　the　sighing　of　the　summer　wind　in　the　trees。

It　seemed　impossible　to　believe　that　in　this　peaceful　woodland　setting　the　frightful　thing　was　to　occur　which　must　come　with　the　passing　of　the　next　lion　who　chanced　within　sight　or　smell　of　the　crumbling　arch。

I　strove　to　tear　myself　loose　from　my　bonds；　but　succeeded　only　in　tightening　them　about　my　arms。　　Then　I　remained　passive　for　a　long　time；　letting　the　scenes　of　my　lifetime　pass　in　review　before　my　mind's　eye。

I　tried　to　imagine　the　astonishment；　incredulity；　and　horror　with　which　my　family　and　friends　would　be　overwhelmed　if；　for　an　instant；　space　could　be　annihilated　and　they　could　see　me　at　the　gates　of　London。

The　gates　of　London！　　Where　was　the　multitude　hurrying　to　the　marts　of　trade　after　a　night　of　pleasure　or　rest？　　Where　was　the　clang　of　tramcar　gongs；　the　screech　of　motor　horns；　the　vast　murmur　of　a　dense　throng？

Where　were　they？　　And　as　I　asked　the　question　a　lone；　gaunt　lion　strode　from　the　tangled　jungle　upon　the　far　side　of　the　clearing。　　Majestically　and　noiselessly　upon　his　padded　feet　the　king　of　beasts　moved　slowly　toward　the　gates　of　London　and　toward　me。

Was　I　afraid？　　I　fear　that　I　was　almost　afraid。　　I　know　that　I　thought　that　fear　was　coming　to　me；　and　so　I　straightened　up　and　squared　my　shoulders　and　looked　the　lion　straight　in　the　eyesand　waited。

It　is　not　a　nice　way　to　diealone；　with　one's　hands　fast　bound；　beneath　the　fangs　and　talons　of　a　beast　of　prey。　　No；　it　is　not　a　nice　way　to　die；　not　a　pretty　way。

The　lion　was　halfway　across　the　clearing　when　I　heard　a　slight　sound　behind　me。　　The　great　cat　stopped　in　his　tracks。　　He　lashed　his　tail　against　his　sides　now；　instead　of　simply　twitching　its　tip；　and　his　low　moan　became　a　thunderous　roar。

As　I　craned　my　neck　to　catch　a　glimpse　of　the　thing　that　had　aroused　the　fury　of　the　beast　before　me；　it　sprang　through　the　arched　gateway　and　was　at　my　sidewith　parted　lips　and　heaving　bosom　and　disheveled　haira　bronzed　and　lovely　vision　to　eyes　that　had　never　harbored　hope　of　rescue。

It　was　Victory；　and　in　her　arms　she　clutched　my　rifle　and　revolver。　　A　long　knife　was　in　the　doeskin　belt　that　supported　the　doeskin　skirt　tightly　about　her　lithe　limbs。　She　dropped　my　weapons　at　my　feet；　and；　snatching　the　knife　from　its　resting　place；　severed　the　bonds　that　held　me。　　I　was　free；　and　the　lion　was　preparing　to　charge。

〃Run！〃　I　cried　to　the　girl；　as　I　bent　and　seized　my　rifle。　But　she　only　stood　there　at　my　side；　her　bared　blade　ready　in　her　hand。

The　lion　was　bounding　toward　us　now　in　prodigious　leaps。　　I　raised　the　rifle　and　fired。　　It　was　a　lucky　shot；　for　I　had　no　time　to　aim　carefully；　and　when　the　beast　crumpled　and　rolled；　lifeless；　to　the　ground；　I　went　upon　my　knees　and　gave　thanks　to　the　God　of　my　ancestors。

And；　still　upon　my　knees；　I　turned；　and　taking　the　girl's　hand　in　mine；　I　kissed　it。　　She　smiled　at　that；　and　laid　her　other　hand　upon　my　head。

〃You　have　strange　customs　in　your　country；〃　she　said。

I　could　not　but　smile　at　that　when　I　thought　how　strange　it　would　seem　to　my　countrymen　could　they　but　see　me　kneeling　there　on　the　site　of　London；　kissing　the　hand　of　England's　queen。

〃And　now；〃　I　said；　as　I　rose；　〃you　must　return　to　the　safety　of　your　camp。　　I　will　go　with　you　until　you　are　near　enough　to　continue　alone　in　safety。　　Then　I　shall　try　to　return　to　my　comrades。〃

〃I　will　not　return　to　the　camp；〃　she　replied。

〃But　what　shall　you　do？〃　I　asked。

〃I　do　not　know。　　Only　I　shall　never　go　back　while　Buckingham　lives。　　I　should　rather　die　than　go　back　to　him。　　Mary　came　to　me；　after　they　had　taken　you　from　the　camp；　and　told　me。　I　found　your　strange　weapons　and　followed　with　them。　　It　took　me　a　little　longer；　for　often　I　had　to　hide　in　the　trees　that　the　lions　might　not　get　me；　but　I　came　in　time；　and　now　you　are　free　to　go　back　to　your　friends。〃

〃And　leave　you　here？〃　I　exclaimed。

She　nodded；　but　I　could　see　through　all　her　brave　front　that　she　was　frightened　at　the　thought。　　I　could　not　leave　her；　of　course；　but　what　in　the　world　I　was　to　do；　cumbered　with　the　care　of　a　young　woman；　and　a　queen　at　that；　I　was　at　a　loss　to　know。　　I　pointed　out　that　phase　of　it　to　her；　but　she　only　shrugged　her　shapely　shoulders　and　pointed　to　her　knife。

It　was　evident　that　she　felt　entirely　competent　to　protect　herself。

As　we　stood　there　we　heard　the　sound　of　voices。　　They　were　coming　from　the　forest　through　which　we　had　passed　when　we　had　come　from　camp。

〃They　are　searching　for　me；〃　said　the　girl。　　〃Where　shall　we　hide？〃

I　didn't　relish　hiding。　　But　when　I　thought　of　the　innumerable　dangers　which　surrounded　us　and　the　comparatively　small　amount　of　ammunition　that　I　had　with　me；　I　hesitated　to　provoke　a　battle　with　Buckingham　and　his　warriors　when；　by　flight；　I　could　avoid　them　and　preserve　my　cartridges　against　emergencies　which　could　not　be　escaped。

〃Would　they　follow　us　there？〃　I　asked；　pointing　through　the　archway　into　the　Camp　of　the　Lions。

〃Never；〃　she　replied；　〃for；　in　the　first　place；　they　would　know　that　we　would　not　dare　go　there；　and　in　the　second　they　themselves　would　not　dare。〃

〃Then　we　shall　take　refuge　in　the　Camp　of　the　Lions；〃　I　said。

She　shuddered　and　drew　closer　to　me。

〃You　dare？〃　she　asked。

〃Why　not？〃　I　returned。　　〃We　shall　be　safe　from　Buc