the lost continent(消失的大陆)-第19章
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〃Come！〃 I said。 〃I do not know the name by which this great pile
was known； nor the purposes it fulfilled。 It may have been the palace of
your sires； Victory。 From some great throne within； your forebears may
have directed the destinies of half the world。 Come！〃
I must confess to a feeling of awe as we entered the rotunda of the
great building。 Pieces of massive furniture of another day still stood
where man had placed them centuries ago。 They were littered with dust
and broken stone and plaster； but； otherwise； so perfect was their
preservation I could hardly believe that two centuries had rolled by since
human eyes were last set upon them。
Through one great room after another we wandered； hand in hand；
while Victory asked many questions and for the first time I began to
realize something of the magnificence and power of the race from whose
loins she had sprung。
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Splendid tapestries； now mildewed and rotting； hung upon the walls。
There were mural paintings； too； depicting great historic events of the past。
For the first time Victory saw the likeness of a horse； and she was much
affected by a huge oil which depicted some ancient cavalry charge against
a battery of field guns。
In other pictures there were steamships； battleships； submarines； and
quaint looking railway trainsall small and antiquated in appearance to me；
but wonderful to Victory。 She told me that she would like to remain for the
rest of her life where she could look at those pictures daily。
From room to room we passed until presently we emerged into a
mighty chamber； dark and gloomy； for its high and narrow windows were
choked and clogged by ivy。 Along one paneled wall we groped； our eyes
slowly becoming accustomed to the darkness。 A rank and pungent odor
pervaded the atmosphere。
We had made our way about half the distance across one end of the
great apartment when a low growl from the far end brought us to a startled
halt。
Straining my eyes through the gloom； I made out a raised dais at the
extreme opposite end of the hall。 Upon the dais stood two great chairs；
highbacked and with great arms。
The throne of England！ But what were those strange forms about it？
Victory gave my hand a quick； excited little squeeze。
〃The lions！〃 she whispered。
Yes； lions indeed！ Sprawled about the dais were a dozen huge forms；
while upon the seat of one of the thrones a small cub lay curled in slumber。
As we stood there for a moment； spellbound by the sight of those
fearsome creatures occupying the very thrones of the sovereigns of
England； the low growl was repeated； and a great male rose slowly to his
feet。
His devilish eyes bored straight through the semi…darkness toward us。
He had discovered the interloper。 What right had man within this palace
of the beasts？ Again he opened his giant jaws； and this time there rumbled
forth a warning roar。
Instantly eight or ten of the other beasts leaped to their feet。 Already
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the great fellow who had spied us was advancing slowly in our direction。
I held my rifle ready； but how futile it appeared in the face of this savage
horde。
The foremost beast broke into a slow trot； and at his heels came the
others。 All were roaring now； and the din of their great voices
reverberating through the halls and corridors of the palace formed the
most frightful chorus of thunderous savagery imaginable to the mind of
man。
And then the leader charged； and upon the hideous pandemonium
broke the sharp crack of my rifle； once； twice； thrice。 Three lions rolled；
struggling and biting； to the floor。 Victory seized my arm； with a quick；
〃This way！ Here is a door；〃 and a moment later we were in a tiny
antechamber at the foot of a narrow stone staircase。
Up this we backed； Victory just behind me； as the first of the
remaining lions leaped from the throne room and sprang for the stairs。
Again I fired； but others of the ferocious beasts leaped over their fallen
fellows and pursued us。
The stairs were very narrowthat was all that saved usfor as I backed
slowly upward； but a single lion could attack me at a time； and the
carcasses of those I slew impeded the rushes of the others。
At last we reached the top。 There was a long corridor from which
opened many doorways。 One； directly behind us； was tight closed。 If
we could open it and pass into the chamber behind we might find a respite
from attack。
The remaining lions were roaring horribly。 I saw one sneaking very
slowly up the stairs toward us。
〃Try that door；〃 I called to Victory。 〃See if it will open。〃
She ran up to it and pushed。
〃Turn the knob！〃 I cried； seeing that she did not know how to open a
door； but neither did she know what I meant by knob。
I put a bullet in the spine of the approaching lion and leaped to
Victory's side。 The door resisted my first efforts to swing it inward。
Rusted hinges and swollen wood held it tightly closed。 But at last it gave；
and just as another lion mounted to the top of the stairway it swung in； and
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I pushed Victory across the threshold。
Then I turned to meet the renewed attack of the savage foe。 One lion
fell in his tracks； another stumbled to my very feet； and then I leaped
within and slammed the portal to。
A quick glance showed me that this was the only door to the small
apartment in which we had found sanctuary； and； with a sigh of relief； I
leaned for a moment against the panels of the stout barrier that separated
us from the ramping demons without。
Across the room； between two windows； stood a flat…topped desk。 A
little pile of white and brown lay upon it close to the opposite edge。
After a moment of rest I crossed the room to investigate。 The white was
the bleached human bonesthe skull； collar bones； arms； and a few of the
upper ribs of a man。 The brown was the dust of a decayed military cap
and blouse。 In a chair before the desk were other bones； while more still
strewed the floor beneath the desk and about the chair。 A man had died
sitting there with his face buried in his armstwo hundred years ago。
Beneath the desk were a pair of spurred military boots； green and
rotten with decay。 In them were the leg bones of a man。 Among the
tiny bones of the hands was an ancient fountain pen； as good； apparently；
as the day it was made； and a metal covered memoranda book； closed over
the bones of an index finger。
It was a gruesome sighta pitiful sightthis lone inhabitant of mighty
London。
I picked up the metal covered memo
