the lost continent(消失的大陆)-第15章
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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
no offering for a long time； and Buckingham would seize upon the first
stranger as a gift to them。〃
I did not perfectly understand what she meant； and was about to ask
her when a heavy body leaped upon me from behind； and great arms
44
… Page 45…
THE LOST CONTINENT
encircled my neck。 I struggled to free myself and turn upon my
antagonist； but in another instant I was overwhelmed by a half dozen
powerful； half…naked men； while a score of others surrounded me； a couple
of whom seized the girl。
I fought as best I could for my liberty and for hers； but the weight of
numbers was too great； though I had the satisfaction at least of giving
them a good fight。
When they had overpowered me； and I stood； my hands bound behind
me； at the girl's side； she gazed commiseratingly at me。
〃It is too bad that you did not do as I bid you；〃 she said； 〃for now it has
happened just as I fearedBuckingham has you。〃
〃Which is Buckingham？〃 I asked。
〃I am Buckingham；〃 growled a burly； unwashed brute； swaggering
truculently before me。 〃And who are you who would have stolen my
woman？〃
The girl spoke up then and tried to explain that I had not stolen her；
but on the contrary I had saved her from the men from the 〃Elephant
Country〃 who were carrying her away。
Buckingham only sneered at her explanation； and a moment later gave
the command that started us all off toward the west。 We marched for a
matter of an hour or so； coming at last to a collection of rude huts；
fashioned from branches of trees 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。
45
… Page 46…
THE LOST CONTINENT
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
46
… Page 47…
THE LOST CONTINENT
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
