the lost continent(消失的大陆)-第18章
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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。
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〃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
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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 Buckingham； and you
have seen； for the second time in two days； that lions are harmless before
my weapons。 Then； too； I can find my friends easiest in this direction；
for the River Thames runs through this place you call the Camp of the
Lions； and it is farther down the Thames that my friends are awaiting me。
Do you not dare come with me？〃
〃I dare follow wherever you lead；〃 she answered simply。
And so I turned and passed beneath the great arch into the city of
London。
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5
As we entered deeper into what had once been the city； the evidences
of man's past occupancy became more frequent。 For a mile from the arch
there was only a riot of weeds and undergrowth and trees covering small
mounds and little hillocks that； I was sure； were formed of the ruins of
stately buildings of the dead past。
But presently we came upon a district where shattered walls still raised
their crumbling tops in sad silence above the grass…grown sepulchers of
their fallen fellows。 Softened and mellowed by ancient ivy stood these
sentinels of sorrow； their scarred faces still revealing the rents and gashes
of shrapnel and of bomb。
Contrary to our expectations； we found little indication that lions in
any great numbers laired in this part of ancient London。 Well…worn
pathways； molded by padded paws； led through the cavernous windows or
doorways of a few of the ruins we passed； and once we saw the savage
face of a great； black…maned lion scowling down upon us from a shattered
stone balcony。
We followed down the bank of the Thames after we came upon it。 I
was anxious to look with my own eyes upon the famous bridge； and I
guessed； too； that the river would lead me into the part of London where
stood Westminster Abbey and the Tower。
Realizing that the section through which we had been passing was
doubtless outlying； and therefore not so built up with large structures as
the more centrally located part of the old town； I felt sure that farther
down the river I should find the ruins larger。 The bridge would be there
in part； at least； and so would remain the walls of many of the great
edifices of the past。 There would be no such complete ruin of large
structures as I had seen among the smaller buildings。
But when I had come to that part of the city which I judged to have
contained the relics I sought I found havoc that had been wrought there
even greater than elsewhere。
At one point upon the bosom of the Thames there rises a few feet
above the water a single； disintegrating mound of masonry。 Opposite it；
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upon either bank of the river； are tumbled piles of ruins overgrown with
vegetation。
These； I am forced to believe； are all that remain of London Bridge；
for nowhere else along the river is there any other slightest sign of pier or
abutment。
Rounding the base of a large pile of grass…covered debris； we came
suddenly upon the best preserved ruin we had yet discovered。 The entire
lower story and part of the second story of what must once have been a
splendid public building rose from a great knoll of shrubbery and trees；
while ivy； thick and luxuriant； clambered upward to the summit of the
broken walls。
In many places the gray stone was still exposed； its smoothly chiseled
face pitted with the scars of battle。 The massive portal yawned； somber
and sorrowful； before us； giving a glimpse of marble halls within。
The temptation to enter was too great。 I wished to explore the
interior of this one remaining monument of civilization now dead beyond
recall。 Through this same portal； within these very marble halls； had
Gray and Chamberlin and Kitchener and Shaw； perhaps； come and gone
with the other great ones of the past。
I took Victory's hand in mine。
〃Come！〃 I said。 〃I do not know the name by which this great pile
was known； nor the purposes it fulfilled。 It may have be
