the lost continent-第19部分

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　from　the　south　and　westno；　these　others　came　in　covered　wagons；　blood…soaked　and　suffering。　　They　came　at　first　in　little　parties　of　eight　or　ten；　and　then　they　came　in　fifties；　in　hundreds；　and　one　day　a　thousand　maimed　and　dying　men　were　carted　into　New　Gondar。

It　was　then　that　Menelek　XIV　became　uneasy。　　For　fifty　years　his　armies　had　conquered　wherever　they　had　marched。　　At　first　he　had　led　them　in　person；　lately　his　presence　within　a　hundred　miles　of　the　battle　line　had　been　sufficient　for　large　engagementsfor　minor　ones　only　the　knowledge　that　they　were　fighting　for　the　glory　of　their　sovereign　was　necessary　to　win　victories。

One　morning；　New　Gondar　was　awakened　by　the　booming　of　cannon。　　It　was　the　first　intimation　that　the　townspeople　had　received　that　the　enemy　was　forcing　the　imperial　troops　back　upon　the　city。　　Dust　covered　couriers　galloped　in　from　the　front。　　Fresh　troops　hastened　from　the　city；　and　about　noon　Menelek　rode　out　surrounded　by　his　staff。

For　three　days　thereafter　we　could　hear　the　cannonading　and　the　spitting　of　the　small　arms；　for　the　battle　line　was　scarce　two　leagues　from　New　Gondar。　　The　city　was　filled　with　wounded。　　Just　outside；　soldiers　were　engaged　in　throwing　up　earthworks。　　It　was　evident　to　the　least　enlightened　that　Menelek　expected　further　reverses。

And　then　the　imperial　troops　fell　back　upon　these　new　defenses；　or；　rather；　they　were　forced　back　by　the　enemy。　Shells　commenced　to　fall　within　the　city。　　Menelek　returned　and　took　up　his　headquarters　in　the　stone　building　that　was　called　the　palace。　　That　night　came　a　lull　in　the　hostilitiesa　truce　had　been　arranged。

Colonel　Belik　summoned　me　about　seven　o'clock　to　dress　him　for　a　function　at　the　palace。　　In　the　midst　of　death　and　defeat　the　emperor　was　about　to　give　a　great　banquet　to　his　officers。　　I　was　to　accompany　my　master　and　wait　upon　him　I；　Jefferson　Turck；　lieutenant　in　the　Pan…American　navy！

In　the　privacy　of　the　colonel's　quarters　I　had　become　accustomed　to　my　menial　duties；　lightened　as　they　were　by　the　natural　kindliness　of　my　master；　but　the　thought　of　appearing　in　public　as　a　common　slave　revolted　every　fine　instinct　within　me。　　Yet　there　was　nothing　for　it　but　to　obey。

I　cannot；　even　now；　bring　myself　to　a　narration　of　the　humiliation　which　I　experienced　that　night　as　I　stood　behind　my　black　master　in　silent　servility；　now　pouring　his　wine；　now　cutting　up　his　meats　for　him；　now　fanning　him　with　a　large；　plumed　fan　of　feathers。

As　fond　as　I　had　grown　of　him；　I　could　have　thrust　a　knife　into　him；　so　keenly　did　I　feel　the　affront　that　had　been　put　upon　me。　　But　at　last　the　long　banquet　was　concluded。　　The　tables　were　removed。　　The　emperor　ascended　a　dais　at　one　end　of　the　room　and　seated　himself　upon　a　throne；　and　the　entertainment　commenced。　　It　was　only　what　ancient　history　might　have　led　me　to　expectmusicians；　dancing　girls；　jugglers；　and　the　like。

Near　midnight；　the　master　of　ceremonies　announced　that　the　slave　women　who　had　been　presented　to　the　emperor　since　his　arrival　in　New　Gondar　would　be　exhibited；　that　the　royal　host　would　select　such　as　he　wished；　after　which　he　would　present　the　balance　of　them　to　his　guests。　　Ah；　what　royal　generosity！

A　small　door　at　one　side　of　the　room　opened；　and　the　poor　creatures　filed　in　and　were　ranged　in　a　long　line　before　the　throne。　　Their　backs　were　toward　me。　　I　saw　only　an　occasional　profile　as　now　and　then　a　bolder　spirit　among　them　turned　to　survey　the　apartment　and　the　gorgeous　assemblage　of　officers　in　their　brilliant　dress　uniforms。　They　were　profiles　of　young　girls；　and　pretty；　but　horror　was　indelibly　stamped　upon　them　all。　　I　shuddered　as　I　contemplated　their　sad　fate；　and　turned　my　eyes　away。

I　heard　the　master　of　ceremonies　command　them　to　prostrate　themselves　before　the　emperor；　and　the　sounds　as　they　went　upon　their　knees　before　him；　touching　their　foreheads　to　the　floor。　　Then　came　the　official's　voice　again；　in　sharp　and　peremptory　command。

〃Down；　slave！〃　he　cried。　　〃Make　obeisance　to　your　sovereign！〃

I　looked　up；　attracted　by　the　tone　of　the　man's　voice；　to　see　a　single；　straight；　slim　figure　standing　erect　in　the　center　of　the　line　of　prostrate　girls；　her　arms　folded　across　her　breast　and　little　chin　in　the　air。　　Her　back　was　toward　meI　could　not　see　her　face；　though　I　should　like　to　see　the　countenance　of　this　savage　young　lioness；　standing　there　defiant　among　that　herd　of　terrified　sheep。

〃Down！　　Down！〃　shouted　the　master　of　ceremonies；　taking　a　step　toward　her　and　half　drawing　his　sword。

My　blood　boiled。　　To　stand　there；　inactive；　while　a　negro　struck　down　that　brave　girl　of　my　own　race！　　Instinctively　I　took　a　forward　step　to　place　myself　in　the　man's　path。　　But　at　the　same　instant　Menelek　raised　his　hand　in　a　gesture　that　halted　the　officer。　　The　emperor　seemed　interested；　but　in　no　way　angered　at　the　girl's　attitude。

〃Let　us　inquire；〃　he　said　in　a　smooth；　pleasant　voice；　〃why　this　young　woman　refuses　to　do　homage　to　her　sovereign；〃　and　he　put　the　question　himself　directly　to　her。

She　answered　him　in　Abyssinian；　but　brokenly　and　with　an　accent　that　betrayed　how　recently　she　had　acquired　her　slight　knowledge　of　the　tongue。

〃I　go　on　my　knees　to　no　one；〃　she　said。　　〃I　have　no　sovereign。　　I　myself　am　sovereign　in　my　own　country。〃

Menelek；　at　her　words；　leaned　back　in　his　throne　and　laughed　uproariously。　　Following　his　example；　which　seemed　always　the　correct　procedure；　the　assembled　guests　vied　with　one　another　in　an　effort　to　laugh　more　noisily　than　the　emperor。

The　girl　but　tilted　her　chin　a　bit　higher　in　the　aireven　her　back　proclaimed　her　utter　contempt　for　her　captors。　Finally　Menelek　restored　quiet　by　the　simple　expedient　of　a　frown；　whereupon　each　loyal　guest　exchanged　his　mirthful　mien　for　an　emulative　scowl。

〃And　who；〃　asked　Menelek；　〃are　you；　and　by　what　name　is　your　country　called？〃

〃I　am　Victory；　Queen　of　Grabritin；〃　replied　the　girl　so　quickly　and　so　unexpectedly　that　I　gasped　in　astonishment。



9


Victory！　　She　was　here；　a　slave　to　these　black　conquerors。　Once　more　I　started　toward　her；　but　better　judgment　held　me　backI　could　do　nothing　to　help　her　other　than　by　stealth。　Could　I　even　accomplish　aught　by　this　means？　　I　did　not　know。　　It　seemed　beyond　the　pale　of　possibility；　and　yet　I　should　try。

〃And　you　will　not　bend　the　knee　to　me？〃　continued　Menelek；　after　she　had　spoken。　　Victory　shook　her　head　in　a　most　decided　negation。

〃You　shall　be　my　first　choice；　then；〃　said　the　emperor。　　〃I　like　your　spirit；　for　the　breaking　of　it　will　add　to　my　pleasure　in　you；　and　never　fear　but　that　it　shall　be　broken　this　very　night。　　Take　her　to　my　apartments；〃　and　he　motioned　to　an　officer　at　his　side

I　was　surprised　to　see　Victory　follow　the　man　off　in　apparent　quiet　submission。　　I　tried　to　follow；　that　I　might　be　near　her　against　some　opportunity　to　speak　with　her　or　assist　in　her　escape。　　But；　after　I　had　followed　them　from　the　throne　room；　through　several　other　apartments；　and　down　a　long　corridor；　I　found　my　further　progress　barred　by　a　soldier　who　stood　guard　before　a　doorway　through　which　the　officer　conducted　Victory。

Almost　immediately　the　officer　reappeared　and　started　back　in　the　direction　of　the　throne　room。　　I　had　been　hiding　in　a　doorway　after　the　guard　had　turned　me　back；　having　taken　refuge　there　while　his　back　was　turned；　and；　as　the　officer　approached　me；　I　withdrew　into　the　room　beyond；　which　was　in　darkness。　　There　I　remained　for　a　long　time；　watching　the　sentry　before　the　door　of　the　room　in　which　Victory　was　a　prisoner；　and　awaiting　some　favorable　circumstance　which　would　give　me　entry　to　her。

I　have　not　attempted　to　fully　describe　my　sensations　at　the　moment　I　recognized　Victory；　because；　I　can　assure　you；　they　were　entirely　indescribable。　　I　should　never　have　imagined　that　the　sight　of　any　human　being　could　affect　me　as　had　this　unexpected　discovery　of　Victory　in　the　same　room　in　which　I　was；　while　I　had　thought　of　her　for　weeks　either　as　dead；　or　at　best　hundreds　of　miles　to　the　west；　and　as　irretrievably　lost　to　me　as　though　she　were；　in　truth；　dead。

I　was　filled　with　a　strange；　mad　impulse　to　be　near　her。　　It　was　not　enough　merely　to　assist　her；　or　protect　herI　desired　to　touch　herto　take　her　in　my　arms。　　I　was　astounded　at　myself。　　Another　thing　puzzled　meit　was　my　incomprehensible　feeling　of　elation　since　I　had　again　seen　her。　　With　a　fate　worse　than　death　staring　her　in　the　face；　and　with　the　knowledge　that　I　should　probably　die　defending　her　within　the　hour；　I　was　still　happier　than　I　had　been　for　weeksand　all　because　I　had　seen　again　for　a　few　brief　minutes　the　figure　of　a　little　heathen　maiden。　　I　couldn't　account　for　it；　and　it　angered　me；　I　had　never　before　felt　any　such　sensations　in　the　presence　of　a　woman；　and　I　had　made　love　to　some　very　beautiful　ones　in　my　time。

It　seemed　ages　that　I　stood　in　the　shadow　of　that　doorway；　in　the　ill…lit　corridor　of　the　palace　of　Menelek　XIV。　　A　sickly　gas　jet　cast　a　sad　pallor　upon　the　black　face　of　the　sentry。　　The　fellow　seemed　rooted　to　the　spot。　　Evidently　he　would　never　leave；　or　turn　his　back　again。

I　had　been　in　hiding　but　a　short　time　when　I　heard　the　sound　of　distant　cannon。　　The　truce　had　ended；　and　the　battle　had　been　resumed。　　Very　shortly　thereafter　the　earth　shook　to　the　explosion　of　a　shell　within　the　city；　and　from　time　to　time　thereafter　other　shells　burst　at　no　great　distance　from　the　palace。　　The　yellow　men　were　bombarding　New　Gondar　again。

Presently　officers　and　slaves　commenced　to　traverse　the　corridor　on　matters　pertaining　to　their　duties；　and　then　came　the　emperor；　scowling　and　wrathful。　　He　was　followed　by　a　few　personal　attendants；　whom　he　dismissed　at　the　doorway　to　his　apartmentsthe　same　doorway　through　which　Victory　had　been　taken。　　I　chafed　to　follow　him；　but　the　corridor　was　filled　with　people。　　At　last　they　betook　themselves　to　their　own　apartments；　which　lay　upon　either　side　of　the　corridor。

An　officer　and　a　slave　entered　the　very　room　in　which　I　hid；　forcing　me　to　flatten　myself　to　one　side　in　the　darkness　until　they　had　passed。　　Then　the　slave　made　a　light；　and　I　knew　that　I　must　find　another　hiding　place。

Stepping　boldly　into　the　corridor；　I　saw　that　it　was　now　empty　sav