she-第71章
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For a few seconds I swung to and fro； while he
gathered himself for the effort； and then I heard his
sinews cracking above me； and felt myself lifted up as
though I were a little child； till I got my left arm
around the rock； and my chest was resting on it。 The
rest was easy； in two or three more seconds I was up；
and we were lying panting side by side； trembling like
leaves； and with the cold perspiration of terror
pouring from our skins。
And then； as before； the light went out like a lamp。
For some half…hour we lay thus without speaking a
word； and then at length began to creep along the
great spur as best we might in the dense gloom。 As we
drew towards the face of the cliff； however； from
which the spur sprang out like a spike from a wall；
the light increased； though only a very little； for it
was night overhead。 After that the gusts of wind
decreased； and we got along rather better； and at last
reached the mouth of the first cave or tunnel。 But now
a fresh trouble stared us in the face： our oil was
gone； and the lamps were； no doubt； crushed to powder
beneath the fallen rocking…stone。 We were even without
a drop of water to stay our thirst； for we had drunk
the last in the chamber of Noot。 How were we to see to
make our way through this last boulder…strewn tunnel？
Clearly all that we could do was to trust to our sense
of feeling； and attempt the passage in the dark； so in
we crept； fearing that if we delayed to do so our
exhaustion would overcome us； and we should probably
lie down and die where we were。
Oh； the horrors of that last tunnel！ The place was
strewn with rocks； and we fell over them； and knocked
ourselves up against them till we were bleeding from a
score of wounds。 Our only guide was the side of the
cavern； which we kept touching； and so bewildered did
we grow in the darkness that we were several times
seized with the terrifying thought that we had turned；
and were travelling the wrong way。 On we went； feebly；
and still more feebly； for hour after hour； stopping
every few minutes to rest； for our strength was spent。
Once we fell asleep； and； I think； must have slept for
some hours； for； when we woke； our limbs were quite
stiff； and the blood from our blows and scratches had
caked； and was hard and dry upon our skin。 Then we
dragged ourselves on again； till at last； when despair
was entering into our hears； we once more saw the
light of day； and found ourselves outside the tunnel
in the rocky fold on the outer surface of the cliff
that； it will be remembered； led into it。
It was early morningthat we could tell by the feel
of the sweet air and the look of the blessed sky；
which we had never hoped to see again。 It was； so near
as we knew； an hour after sunset when we entered the
tunnel； so it followed that it had taken us the entire
night to crawl through that dreadful place。
〃One more effort； Leo；〃 I gasped； 〃and we shall reach
the slope where Billali is； if he hasn't gone。 Come；
don't give way；〃 for he had cast himself upon his
face。 He got up； and； leaning on each other； we got
down that fifty feet or so of cliffsomehow； I have
not the least notion how。 I only remember that we
found ourselves lying in a heap at the bottom； and
then once more began to drag ourselves along on our
hands and knees towards the grove where _i_ She _i_
had told Billali to wait her rearrival； for we could
not walk another foot。 We had not gone fifty yards in
this fashion when suddenly one of the mutes emerged
from some trees on our left； through which； I presume；
he had been taking a morning stroll； and came running
up to see what sort of strange animals we were。 He
stared and stared； and then held up his hands in
horror； and nearly fell to the ground。 Next； he
started off as hard as he could for the grove； some
two hundred yards away。 No wonder that he was
horrified at our appearance； for we must have been a
shocking sight。 To begin； Leo； with his golden curls
turned a snowy white； his clothes nearly rent from his
body； his worn face and his hands a mass of bruises；
cuts； and blood…encrusted filth； was a sufficiently
alarming spectacle； as he painfully dragged himself
along the ground； and I have no doubt that I was
little better to look on。 I know that two days
afterwards when I looked at my face in some water I
scarcely recognized myself。 I have never been famous
for beauty； but there was something besides ugliness
stamped upon my features that I have never got rid of
until this day； something resembling that wild look
with which a startled person wakes from deep sleep
more than anything else that I can think of。 And
really it is not to be wondered at。 What I do wonder
at is that we escaped at all with our reason。
Presently； to my intense relief； I saw old Billali
hurrying towards us； and even then I could scarcely
help smiling at the expression of consternation on his
dignified countenance。
〃Oh； my Baboon； my Baboon！〃 he cried； 〃my dear son； is
it indeed thee and the Lion？ Why； his mane that was
ripe as corn is white like the snow。 Whence come ye？
and where is the Pig and where too _i_ She _i_ …who…
must…be…obeyed？〃
〃Dead； both dead；〃 I answered； 〃but ask no questions；
help us； and give us food and water； or we too shall
die before thine eyes。 Seest thou not that our tongues
are black for want of water？ How can we talk then？〃
〃Dead！〃 he gasped。 〃impossible。 _i_ She _i_ who never
diesdead； how can it be？〃 and then； perceiving； I
think； that his face was being watched by the mutes
who had come running up； he checked himself； and
motioned to them to carry us to the camp； which they
did。
Fortunately when we arrived some broth was boiling on
the fire； and with this Billali fed us； for we were
too weak to feed ourselves； thereby； I firmly believe；
saving us from death by exhaustion。 Then he bade the
mutes wash the blood and grime from us with wet
cloths； and after that we were laid down upon piles of
aromatic grass； and instantly fell into the dead sleep
of absolute exhaustion of mind and body。
CHAPTER XXVIII
OVER THE MOUNTAIN
THE next thing I recollect is a feeling of the most
dreadful stiffness； and a sort of vague idea passing
through my half…awakened brain that I was a carpet
that had just been beaten。 I opened my eyes； and the
first thing they fell on was the venerable countenance
of our old friend Billali； who was seated by the side
of the improvised bed upon which I was sleeping； and
thoughtfully stroking his long beard。 The sight of him
at once brought back to my mind a recollection of all
that we had recently passed through； which was
accentuated by the vision of poor Leo lying opposite
to me； his face knocked almost to a jelly； and his
beautiful crown of curls turned from yellow to white；
and I shut my eyes again and groaned。
〃Thou hast slept long； my Baboon；〃 said old Billali。
〃How long； my father？〃 I asked。
〃A round of the sun and a round of the moon； a day and
a night hast thou slept； and the Lion also。 See； he
sleepeth yet。〃
〃Blessed is sleep；〃 I answered； 〃for it swallows up
recollection。〃
〃Tell me；〃 he said； 〃what hath befallen ye； and what
is this strange story of the death of her who dieth
not。 Bethink thee； my son： if this be true； then is
thy danger and the danger of the Lion very greatnay；
almost is the pot red wherewith ye shall be potted；
and the stomachs of those who shall eat ye are already
hungry for the feast。 Knowest thou not that these
Amahagger； my children； these dwellers in the caves；
hate ye？ They hate ye as strangers； they hate ye more
because of their brethren whom _i_ She _i_ put to the
torment for your sake。 Assuredly； if once they learn
that there is naught to fear from Hiya； from the
terrible _i_ One…who…must…be…obeyed _i_ ； they will
slay ye by the pot。 But let me hear thy tale； my poor
Baboon。〃
Thus adjured； I set to work and told himnot
everything； indeed； for I did not think it desirable
to do so； but sufficient for my purpose； which was to
make him understand that _i_
