the lost continent-第8部分

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shooter　unless　I　chanced　to　place　my　first　bullet　in　a　vital　spot。

Unless　you　had　seen　it　you　could　not　believe　credible　the　speed　of　a　charging　lion。　　Apparently　the　animal　is　not　built　for　speed；　nor　can　he　maintain　it　for　long。　　But　for　a　matter　of　forty　or　fifty　yards　there　is；　I　believe；　no　animal　on　earth　that　can　overtake　him。

Like　a　bolt　he　bore　down　upon　me；　but；　fortunately　for　me；　I　did　not　lose　my　head。　　I　guessed　that　no　bullet　would　kill　him　instantly。　　I　doubted　that　I　could　pierce　his　skull。　There　was　hope；　though；　in　finding　his　heart　through　his　exposed　chest；　or；　better　yet；　of　breaking　his　shoulder　or　foreleg；　and　bringing　him　up　long　enough　to　pump　more　bullets　into　him　and　finish　him。

I　covered　his　left　shoulder　and　pulled　the　trigger　as　he　was　almost　upon　me。　　It　stopped　him。　　With　a　terrific　howl　of　pain　and　rage；　the　brute　rolled　over　and　over　upon　the　ground　almost　to　my　feet。　　As　he　came　I　pumped　two　more　bullets　into　him；　and　as　he　struggled　to　rise；　clawing　viciously　at　me；　I　put　a　bullet　in　his　spine。

That　finished　him；　and　I　am　free　to　admit　that　I　was　mighty　glad　of　it。　　There　was　a　great　tree　close　behind　me；　and；　stepping　within　its　shade；　I　leaned　against　it；　wiping　the　perspiration　from　my　face；　for　the　day　was　hot；　and　the　exertion　and　excitement　left　me　exhausted。

I　stood　there；　resting；　for　a　moment；　preparatory　to　turning　and　retracing　my　steps　to　the　launch；　when；　without　warning；　something　whizzed　through　space　straight　toward　me。　　There　was　a　dull　thud　of　impact　as　it　struck　the　tree；　and　as　I　dodged　to　one　side　and　turned　to　look　at　the　thing　I　saw　a　heavy　spear　imbedded　in　the　wood　not　three　inches　from　where　my　head　had　been。

The　thing　had　come　from　a　little　to　one　side　of　me；　and；　without　waiting　to　investigate　at　the　instant；　I　leaped　behind　the　tree；　and；　circling　it；　peered　around　the　other　side　to　get　a　sight　of　my　would…be　murderer。

This　time　I　was　pitted　against　menthe　spear　told　me　that　all　too　plainlybut　so　long　as　they　didn't　take　me　unawares　or　from　behind　I　had　little　fear　of　them。

Cautiously　I　edged　about　the　far　side　of　the　trees　until　I　could　obtain　a　view　of　the　spot　from　which　the　spear　must　have　come；　and　when　I　did　I　saw　the　head　of　a　man　just　emerging　from　behind　a　bush。

The　fellow　was　quite　similar　in　type　to　those　I　had　seen　upon　the　Isle　of　Wight。　　He　was　hairy　and　unkempt；　and　as　he　finally　stepped　into　view　I　saw　that　he　was　garbed　in　the　same　primitive　fashion。

He　stood　for　a　moment　gazing　about　in　search　of　me；　and　then　he　advanced。　　As　he　did　so　a　number　of　others；　precisely　like　him；　stepped　from　the　concealing　verdure　of　nearby　bushes　and　followed　in　his　wake。　　Keeping　the　trees　between　them　and　me；　I　ran　back　a　short　distance　until　I　found　a　clump　of　underbrush　that　would　effectually　conceal　me；　for　I　wished　to　discover　the　strength　of　the　party　and　its　armament　before　attempting　to　parley　with　it。

The　useless　destruction　of　any　of　these　poor　creatures　was　the　farthest　idea　from　my　mind。　　I　should　have　liked　to　have　spoken　with　them；　but　I　did　not　care　to　risk　having　to　use　my　high…powered　rifle　upon　them　other　than　in　the　last　extremity。

Once　in　my　new　place　of　concealment；　I　watched　them　as　they　approached　the　tree。　　There　were　about　thirty　men　in　the　party　and　one　womana　girl　whose　hands　seemed　to　be　bound　behind　her　and　who　was　being　pulled　along　by　two　of　the　men。

They　came　forward　warily；　peering　cautiously　into　every　bush　and　halting　often。　　At　the　body　of　the　lion；　they　paused；　and　I　could　see　from　their　gesticulations　and　the　higher　pitch　of　their　voices　that　they　were　much　excited　over　my　kill。

But　presently　they　resumed　their　search　for　me；　and　as　they　advanced　I　became　suddenly　aware　of　the　unnecessary　brutality　with　which　the　girl's　guards　were　treating　her。　She　stumbled　once；　not　far　from　my　place　of　concealment；　and　after　the　balance　of　the　party　had　passed　me。　　As　she　did　so　one　of　the　men　at　her　side　jerked　her　roughly　to　her　feet　and　struck　her　across　the　mouth　with　his　fist。

Instantly　my　blood　boiled；　and　forgetting　every　consideration　of　caution；　I　leaped　from　my　concealment；　and；　springing　to　the　man's　side；　felled　him　with　a　blow。

So　unexpected　had　been　my　act　that　it　found　him　and　his　fellow　unprepared；　but　instantly　the　latter　drew　the　knife　that　protruded　from　his　belt　and　lunged　viciously　at　me；　at　the　same　time　giving　voice　to　a　wild　cry　of　alarm。

The　girl　shrank　back　at　sight　of　me；　her　eyes　wide　in　astonishment；　and　then　my　antagonist　was　upon　me。　　I　parried　his　first　blow　with　my　forearm；　at　the　same　time　delivering　a　powerful　blow　to　his　jaw　that　sent　him　reeling　back；　but　he　was　at　me　again　in　an　instant；　though　in　the　brief　interim　I　had　time　to　draw　my　revolver。

I　saw　his　companion　crawling　slowly　to　his　feet；　and　the　others　of　the　party　racing　down　upon　me。　　There　was　no　time　to　argue　now；　other　than　with　the　weapons　we　wore；　and　so；　as　the　fellow　lunged　at　me　again　with　the　wicked…looking　knife；　I　covered　his　heart　and　pulled　the　trigger。

Without　a　sound；　he　slipped　to　the　earth；　and　then　I　turned　the　weapon　upon　the　other　guard；　who　was　now　about　to　attack　me。　　He；　too；　collapsed；　and　I　was　alone　with　the　astonished　girl。

The　balance　of　the　party　was　some　twenty　paces　from　us；　but　coming　rapidly。　　I　seized　her　arm　and　drew　her　after　me　behind　a　nearby　tree；　for　I　had　seen　that　with　both　their　comrades　down　the　others　were　preparing　to　launch　their　spears。

With　the　girl　safe　behind　the　tree；　I　stepped　out　in　sight　of　the　advancing　foe；　shouting　to　them　that　I　was　no　enemy；　and　that　they　should　halt　and　listen　to　me。　　But　for　answer　they　only　yelled　in　derision　and　launched　a　couple　of　spears　at　me；　both　of　which　missed。

I　saw　then　that　I　must　fight；　yet　still　I　hated　to　slay　them；　and　it　was　only　as　a　final　resort　that　I　dropped　two　of　them　with　my　rifle；　bringing　the　others　to　a　temporary　halt。　　Again；　I　appealed　to　them　to　desist。　　But　they　only　mistook　my　solicitude　for　them　for　fear；　and；　with　shouts　of　rage　and　derision；　leaped　forward　once　again　to　overwhelm　me。

It　was　now　quite　evident　that　I　must　punish　them　severely；　ormyselfdie　and　relinquish　the　girl　once　more　to　her　captors。　　Neither　of　these　things　had　I　the　slightest　notion　of　doing；　and　so　I　again　stepped　from　behind　the　tree；　and；　with　all　the　care　and　deliberation　of　target　practice；　I　commenced　picking　off　the　foremost　of　my　assailants。

One　by　one　the　wild　men　dropped；　yet　on　came　the　others；　fierce　and　vengeful；　until；　only　a　few　remaining；　these　seemed　to　realize　the　futility　of　combating　my　modern　weapon　with　their　primitive　spears；　and；　still　howling　wrathfully；　withdrew　toward　the　west。

Now；　for　the　first　time；　I　had　an　opportunity　to　turn　my　attention　toward　the　girl；　who　had　stood；　silent　and　motionless；　behind　me　as　I　pumped　death　into　my　enemies　and　hers　from　my　automatic　rifle。

She　was　of　medium　height；　well　formed；　and　with　fine；　clear…　cut　features。　　Her　forehead　was　high；　and　her　eyes　both　intelligent　and　beautiful。　　Exposure　to　the　sun　had　browned　a　smooth　and　velvety　skin　to　a　shade　which　seemed　to　enhance　rather　than　mar　an　altogether　lovely　picture　of　youthful　femininity。

A　trace　of　apprehension　marked　her　expressionI　cannot　call　it　fear　since　I　have　learned　to　know　herand　astonishment　was　still　apparent　in　her　eyes。　　She　stood　quite　erect；　her　hands　still　bound　behind　her；　and　met　my　gaze　with　level；　proud　return。

〃What　language　do　you　speak？〃　I　asked。　　〃Do　you　understand　mine？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　replied。　　〃It　is　similar　to　my　own。　　I　am　Grabritin。　　What　are　you？〃

〃I　am　a　Pan…American；〃　I　answered。　　She　shook　her　head。　〃What　is　that？〃

I　pointed　toward　the　west。　　〃Far　away；　across　the　ocean。〃

Her　expression　altered　a　trifle。　　A　slight　frown　contracted　her　brow。　　The　expression　of　apprehension　deepened。

〃Take　off　your　cap；〃　she　said；　and　when；　to　humor　her　strange　request；　I　did　as　she　bid；　she　appeared　relieved。　Then　she　edged　to　one　side　and　leaned　over　seemingly　to　peer　behind　me。　　I　turned　quickly　to　see　what　she　discovered；　but　finding　nothing；　wheeled　about　to　see　that　her　expression　was　once　more　altered。

〃You　are　not　from　there？〃　and　she　pointed　toward　the　east。　It　was　a　half　question。　　〃You　are　not　from　across　the　water　there？〃

〃No；〃　I　assured　her。　　〃I　am　from　Pan…America；　far　away　to　the　west。　　Have　you　ever　heard　of　Pan…America？〃

She　shook　her　head　in　negation。　　〃I　do　not　care　where　you　are　from；〃　she　explained；　〃if　you　are　not　from　there；　and　I　am　sure　you　are　not；　for　the　men　from　there　have　horns　and　tails。〃

It　was　with　difficulty　that　I　restrained　a　smile。

〃Who　are　the　men　from　there？〃　I　asked。

〃They　are　bad　men；〃　she　replied。　　〃Some　of　my　people　do　not　believe　that　there　are　such　creatures。　　But　we　have　a　legenda　very　old；　old　legend；　that　once　the　men　from　there　came　across　to　Grabritin。　　They　came　upon　the　water；　and　under　the　water；　and　even　in　the　air。　　They　came　in　great　numbers；　so　that　they　rolled　across　the　land　like　a　great　gray　fog。　　They　brought　with　them　thunder　and　lightning　and　smoke　that　killed；　and　they　fell　upon　us　and　slew　our　people　by　the　thousands　and　the　hundreds　of　thousands。　　But　at　last　we　drove　them　back　to　the　water's　edge；　back　into　the　sea；　where　many　were　drowned。　　Some　escaped；　and　these　our　people　followedmen；　women；　and　even　children；　we　followed　them　back。　　That　is　all。　　The　legend　says　our　people　never　returned。　　Maybe　they　were　all　killed。　　Maybe　they　are　still　there。　　But　this；　also；　is　in　the　legend；　that　as　we　drove　the　men　back　across　the　water　they　swore　that　they　would　return；　and　that　when　they　left　our　shores　they　would　leave　no　human　being　alive　behind　them。　　I　was　afraid　that　you　were　from　there。〃

〃By　what　name　were　these　men　called？〃　I　asked。

〃We　call　them　only　the　'men　from　there；'〃　she　replied；　pointing　toward　the　east。　　〃I　have　never　heard　that　they　had　another　name。〃

In　the　light　of　what　I　knew　of　ancient　history；　it　was　not　difficult　for　me　to　guess　the　nationality　of　those　she　described　simply　as　〃the　men　from　over　there。〃　　But　what　utter　and　appalling　devastation　the　Great　War　must　have　wrought　to　have　erased　not　only　every　sign　of　civilization　from　the　face　of　t