the lost continent-第13部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



It　was　a　gruesome　sighta　pitiful　sightthis　lone　inhabitant　of　mighty　London。

I　picked　up　the　metal　covered　memoranda　book。　　Its　pages　were　rotten　and　stuck　together。　　Only　here　and　there　was　a　sentence　or　a　part　of　a　sentence　legible。　　The　first　that　I　could　read　was　near　the　middle　of　the　little　volume：

〃His　majesty　left　for　Tunbridge　Wells　today；　he　。　。　。　　jesty　was　stricken　。　。　。　terday。　　God　give　she　does　not　die　。　。　。　am　military　governor　of　Lon　。　。　。〃

And　farther　on：

〃It　is　awful　。　。　。　hundred　deaths　today　。　。　。　worse　than　the　bombardm　。　。　。〃

Nearer　the　end　I　picked　out　the　following：

〃I　promised　his　maj　。　。　。　e　will　find　me　here　when　he　ret　。　。　。　alone。〃

The　most　legible　passage　was　on　the　next　page：

〃Thank　God　we　drove　them　out。　　There　is　not　a　single　。　。　。　man　on　British　soil　today；　but　at　what　awful　cost。　　I　tried　to　persuade　Sir　Phillip　to　urge　the　people　to　remain。　　But　they　are　mad　with　fear　of　the　Death；　and　rage　at　our　enemies。　　He　tells　me　that　the　coast　cities　are　packed　。　。　。　waiting　to　be　taken　across。　　What　will　become　of　England；　with　none　left　to　rebuild　her　shattered　cities！〃

And　the　last　entry：

〃。　。　。　alone。　　Only　the　wild　beasts　。　。　。　　A　lion　is　roaring　now　beneath　the　palace　windows。　　I　think　the　people　feared　the　beasts　even　more　than　they　did　the　Death。　　But　they　are　gone；　all　gone；　and　to　what？　　How　much　better　conditions　will　they　find　on　the　continent？　All　goneonly　I　remain。　　I　promised　his　majesty；　and　when　he　returns　he　will　find　that　I　was　true　to　my　trust；　for　I　shall　be　awaiting　him。　　God　save　the　King！〃

That　was　all。　　This　brave　and　forever　nameless　officer　died　nobly　at　his　posttrue　to　his　country　and　his　king。　　It　was　the　Death；　no　doubt；　that　took　him。

Some　of　the　entries　had　been　dated。　　From　the　few　legible　letters　and　figures　which　remained　I　judge　the　end　came　some　time　in　August；　1937；　but　of　that　I　am　not　at　all　certain。

The　diary　has　cleared　up　at　least　one　mystery　that　had　puzzled　me　not　a　little；　and　now　I　am　surprised　that　I　had　not　guessed　its　solution　myselfthe　presence　of　African　and　Asiatic　beasts　in　England。

Acclimated　by　years　of　confinement　in　the　zoological　gardens；　they　were　fitted　to　resume　in　England　the　wild　existence　for　which　nature　had　intended　them；　and　once　free；　had　evidently　bred　prolifically；　in　marked　contrast　to　the　captive　exotics　of　twentieth　century　Pan…America；　which　had　gradually　become　fewer　until　extinction　occurred　some　time　during　the　twenty…first　century。

The　palace；　if　such　it　was；　lay　not　far　from　the　banks　of　the　Thames。　　The　room　in　which　we　were　imprisoned　overlooked　the　river；　and　I　determined　to　attempt　to　escape　in　this　direction。

To　descend　through　the　palace　was　out　of　the　question；　but　outside　we　could　discover　no　lions。　　The　stems　of　the　ivy　which　clambered　upward　past　the　window　of　the　room　were　as　large　around　as　my　arm。　　I　knew　that　they　would　support　our　weight；　and　as　we　could　gain　nothing　by　remaining　longer　in　the　palace；　I　decided　to　descend　by　way　of　the　ivy　and　follow　along　down　the　river　in　the　direction　of　the　launch。

Naturally　I　was　much　handicapped　by　the　presence　of　the　girl。　　But　I　could　not　abandon　her；　though　I　had　no　idea　what　I　should　do　with　her　after　rejoining　my　companions。　That　she　would　prove　a　burden　and　an　embarrassment　I　was　certain；　but　she　had　made　it　equally　plain　to　me　that　she　would　never　return　to　her　people　to　mate　with　Buckingham。

I　owed　my　life　to　her；　and；　all　other　considerations　aside；　that　was　sufficient　demand　upon　my　gratitude　and　my　honor　to　necessitate　my　suffering　every　inconvenience　in　her　service。　Too；　she　was　queen　of　England。　　But；　by　far　the　most　potent　argument　in　her　favor；　she　was　a　woman　in　distressand　a　young　and　very　beautiful　one。

And　so；　though　I　wished　a　thousand　times　that　she　was　back　in　her　camp；　I　never　let　her　guess　it；　but　did　all　that　lay　within　my　power　to　serve　and　protect　her。　　I　thank　God　now　that　I　did　so。

With　the　lions　still　padding　back　and　forth　beyond　the　closed　door；　Victory　and　I　crossed　the　room　to　one　of　the　windows。　　I　had　outlined　my　plan　to　her；　and　she　had　assured　me　that　she　could　descend　the　ivy　without　assistance。　　In　fact；　she　smiled　a　trifle　at　my　question。

Swinging　myself　outward；　I　began　the　descent；　and　had　come　to　within　a　few　feet　of　the　ground；　being　just　opposite　a　narrow　window；　when　I　was　startled　by　a　savage　growl　almost　in　my　ear；　and　then　a　great　taloned　paw　darted　from　the　aperture　to　seize　me；　and　I　saw　the　snarling　face　of　a　lion　within　the　embrasure。

Releasing　my　hold　upon　the　ivy；　I　dropped　the　re…maining　distance　to　the　ground；　saved　from　laceration　only　because　the　lion's　paw　struck　the　thick　stem　of　ivy。

The　creature　was　making　a　frightful　racket　now；　leaping　back　and　forth　from　the　floor　at　the　broad　window　ledge；　tearing　at　the　masonry　with　his　claws　in　vain　attempts　to　reach　me。　But　the　opening　was　too　narrow；　and　the　masonry　too　solid。

Victory　had　commenced　the　descent；　but　I　called　to　her　to　stop　just　above　the　window；　and；　as　the　lion　reappeared；　growling　and　snarling；　I　put　a　。33　bullet　in　his　face；　and　at　the　same　moment　Victory　slipped　quickly　past　him；　dropping　into　my　upraised　arms　that　were　awaiting　her。

The　roaring　of　the　beasts　that　had　discovered　us；　together　with　the　report　of　my　rifle；　had　set　the　balance　of　the　fierce　inmates　of　the　palace　into　the　most　frightful　uproar　I　have　ever　heard。

I　feared　that　it　would　not　be　long　before　intelligence　or　instinct　would　draw　them　from　the　interiors　and　set　them　upon　our　trail；　the　river。　　Nor　had　we　much　more　than　reached　it　when　a　lion　bounded　around　the　corner　of　the　edifice　we　had　just　quitted　and　stood　looking　about　as　though　in　search　of　us。

Following；　came　others；　while　Victory　and　I　crouched　in　hiding　behind　a　clump　of　bushes　close　to　the　bank　of　the　river。　　The　beasts　sniffed　about　the　ground　for　a　while；　but　they　did　not　chance　to　go　near　the　spot　where　we　had　stood　beneath　the　window　that　had　given　us　escape。

Presently　a　black…maned　male　raised　his　head；　and；　with　cocked　ears　and　glaring　eyes；　gazed　straight　at　the　bush　behind　which　we　lay。　　I　could　have　sworn　that　he　had　discovered　us；　and　when　he　took　a　few　short　and　stately　steps　in　our　direction　I　raised　my　rifle　and　covered　him。　But；　after　a　long；　tense　moment　he　looked　away；　and　turned　to　glare　in　another　direction。

I　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief；　and　so　did　Victory。　　I　could　feel　her　body　quiver　as　she　lay　pressed　close　to　me；　our　cheeks　almost　touching　as　we　both　peered　through　the　same　small　opening　in　the　foliage。

I　turned　to　give　her　a　reassuring　smile　as　the　lion　indicated　that　he　had　not　seen　us；　and　as　I　did　so　she；　too；　turned　her　face　toward　mine；　for　the　same　purpose；　doubtless。　　Anyway；　as　our　heads　turned　simultaneously；　our　lips　brushed　together。　　A　startled　expression　came　into　Victory's　eyes　as　she　drew　back　in　evident　confusion。

As　for　me；　the　strangest　sensation　that　I　have　ever　experienced　claimed　me　for　an　instant。　　A　peculiar；　tingling　thrill　ran　through　my　veins；　and　my　head　swam。　　I　could　not　account　for　it。

Naturally；　being　a　naval　officer　and　consequently　in　the　best　society　of　the　federation；　I　have　seen　much　of　women。　With　others；　I　have　laughed　at　the　assertions　of　the　savants　that　modern　man　is　a　cold　and　passionless　creation　in　comparison　with　the　males　of　former　agesin　a　word；　that　love；　as　the　one　grand　passion；　had　ceased　to　exist。

I　do　not　know；　now；　but　that　they　were　more　nearly　right　than　we　have　guessed；　at　least　in　so　far　as　modern　civilized　woman　is　concerned。　　I　have　kissed　many　womenyoung　and　beautiful　and　middle　aged　and　old；　and　many　that　I　had　no　business　kissingbut　never　before　had　I　experienced　that　remarkable　and　altogether　delightful　thrill　that　followed　the　accidental　brushing　of　my　lips　against　the　lips　of　Victory。

The　occurrence　interested　me；　and　I　was　tempted　to　experiment　further。　　But　when　I　would　have　essayed　it　another　new　and　entirely　unaccountable　force　restrained　me。　For　the　first　time　in　my　life　I　felt　embarrassment　in　the　presence　of　a　woman。

What　further　might　have　developed　I　cannot　say；　for　at　that　moment　a　perfect　she…devil　of　a　lioness；　with　keener　eyes　than　her　lord　and　master；　discovered　us。　　She　came　trotting　toward　our　place　of　concealment；　growling　and　baring　her　yellow　fangs。

I　waited　for　an　instant；　hoping　that　I　might　be　mistaken；　and　that　she　would　turn　off　in　some　other　direction。　　But　noshe　increased　her　trot　to　a　gallop；　and　then　I　fired　at　her；　but　the　bullet；　though　it　struck　her　full　in　the　breast；　didn't　stop　her。

Screaming　with　pain　and　rage；　the　creature　fairly　flew　toward　us。　　Behind　her　came　other　lions。　　Our　case　looked　hopeless。　　We　were　upon　the　brink　of　the　river。　　There　seemed　no　avenue　of　escape；　and　I　knew　that　even　my　modern　automatic　rifle　was　inadequate　in　the　face　of　so　many　of　these　fierce　beasts。

To　remain　where　we　were　would　have　been　suicidal。　　We　were　both　standing　now；　Victory　keeping　her　place　bravely　at　my　side；　when　I　reached　the　only　decision　open　to　me。

Seizing　the　girl's　hand；　I　turned；　just　as　the　lioness　crashed　into　the　opposite　side　of　the　bushes；　and；　dragging　Victory　after　me；　leaped　over　the　edge　of　the　bank　into　the　river。

I　did　not　know　that　lions　are　not　fond　of　water；　nor　did　I　know　if　Victory　could　swim；　but　death；　immediate　and　terrible；　stared　us　in　the　face　if　we　remained；　and　so　I　took　the　chance。

At　this　point　the　current　ran　close　to　the　shore；　so　that　we　were　immediately　in　deep　water；　and；　to　my　intense　satisfaction；　Victory　struck　out　with　a　strong；　overhand　stroke　and　set　all　my　fears　on　her　account　at　rest。

But　my　relief　was　short…lived。　　That　lioness；　as　I　have　said　before；　was　a　veritable　devil。　　She　stood　for　a　moment　glaring　at　us；　then　like　a　shot　she　sprang　into　the　river　and　swam　swiftly　after　us。

Victory　was　a　length　ahead　of　me。

〃Swim　for　the　other　shore！〃　I　called　to　her。

I　was　much　impeded　by　my　rifle；　having　to　swim　with　one　hand　while　I　clung　to　my　precious　weapon　with　the　other。　　The　girl　had　seen　the　lioness　take　to　the　water；　and　she　had　also　seen　that　I　was　swimming　much　more　slowly　than　she；　and　what　did　she　do？　　She　started　to　drop　back