my buried treasure(我的地下宝藏)-第4节
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sand； while below on the damper and firmer shingle we walked by the
edge of the water。
The tide was coming in and the spent waves； spreading before them an
advance guard of tiny shells and pebbles； threatened our boots' and at the
same time in soothing； lazy whispers warned us of their attack。 These
lisping murmurs and the crash and roar of each incoming wave as it broke
were the only sounds。 And on the beach we were the only human figures。
At last the scene began to bear some resemblance to one set for an
adventure。 The rolling ocean； a coast steamer dragging a great column of
black smoke； and cast high upon the beach the wreck of a schooner； her
masts tilting drunkenly； gave color to our purpose。 It became filled with
greater promise of drama； more picturesque。 I began to thrill with
excitement。 I regarded Edgar appealingly； in eager supplication。 At last he
broke the silence that was torturing me。
〃We will now walk higher up；〃 he commanded。 〃If we get our feet wet；
we may take cold。〃
My spirit was too far broken to make reply。 But to my relief I saw that
in leaving the beach Edgar had some second purpose。 With each heavy
step he was drawing toward two high banks of sand in a hollow behind
which； protected by the banks； were three stunted； wind…driven pines。 His
words came back to me。
〃So many what…you…may…call…'ems。〃 Were these pines the three
somethings from something； the what…you…may…call…'ems？ The thought
chilled me to the spine。 I gazed at them fascinated。 I felt like falling on my
knees in the sand and tearing their secret from them with my bare hands。 I
was strong enough to dig them up by the roots； strong enough to dig the
Panama Canal！ I glanced tremulously at Edgar。 His eyes were wide open
and； eloquent with dismay； his lower jaw had fallen。 He turned and looked
at me for the first time with consideration。 Apology and remorse were
written in every line of his countenance。
I'm sorry； he stammered。 I had a cruel premonition。 I exclaimed with
distress。
〃You have lost the map！〃 I hissed。
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MY BURIED TREASURE
〃No； no；〃 protested Edgar； 〃but I entirely forgot to bring any lunch！〃
With violent mutterings I tore off my upper and outer garments and
tossed them into the hack。
〃Where do I begin？〃 I asked。
Edgar pointed to a spot inside the triangle formed by the three trees
and equally distant from each。
〃Put that horse behind the bank；〃 I commanded； 〃where no one can see
him！ And both you and Rupert keep off the sky…line！〃 From the north and
south we were now all three hidden by the two high banks of sand； to the
east lay the beach and the Atlantic Ocean； and to the west stretches of
marshes that a mile away met a wood of pine trees and the railroad round…
house。
I began to dig。 I knew that weary hours lay before me； and I attacked
the sand leisurely and with deliberation。 It was at first no great effort； but
as the hole grew in depth； and the roots of the trees were exposed； the
work was sufficient for several men。 Still； as Edgar had said； it is not every
day that one can dig for treasure； and in thinking of what was to come I
forgot my hands that quickly blistered； and my breaking back。 After an
hour I insisted that Edgar should take a turn； but he made such poor
headway that my patience could not contain me； and I told him I was
sufficiently rested and would continue。 With alacrity he scrambled out of
the hole； and； taking a cigar from my case； seated himself comfortably in
the hack。 I took my comfort in anticipating the thrill that would be mine
when the spade would ring on the ironbound chest； when； with a blow of
the axe； I would expose to view the hidden jewels； the pieces of eight；
coated with verdigris； the string of pearls； the chains of yellow gold。 Edgar
had said a million dollars。 That must mean there would be diamonds；
many diamonds。 I would hold them in my hands； watch them； at the
sudden sunshine； blink their eyes and burst into tiny； burning fires。 In
imagination I would replace them in the setting； from which； years before；
they had been stolen。 I would try to guess whence they came from a
jewelled chalice in some dim cathedral； from the breast of a great lady；
from the hilt of an admiral's sword。
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MY BURIED TREASURE
After another hour I lifted my aching shoulders and； wiping the sweat
from my eyes； looked over the edge of the hole。 Rupert； with his back to
the sand…hill； was asleep。 Edgar with one hand was waving away the
mosquitoes and in the other was holding one of the magazines he had
bought on the way down。 I could even see the page upon which his eyes
were riveted。 It was an advertisement for breakfast food。 In my
indignation the spade slipped through my cramped and perspiring fingers；
and as it struck the bottom of the pit； something a band of iron； a steel
lock； an iron ring gave forth a muffled sound。 My heart stopped beating
as suddenly as though Mr。 Corbett had hit it with his closed fist。 My blood
turned to melted ice。 I drove the spade down as fiercely as though it was a
dagger。 It sank into rotten wood。 I had made no sound； for I could hardly
breathe。 But the slight noise of the blow had reached Edgar。 I heard the
springs of the hack creak as he vaulted from it； and the next moment he
was towering above me； peering down into the pit。 His eyes were wide
with excitement； greed； and fear。 In his hands he clutched the two suit…
cases。 Like a lion defending his cubs he glared at me。
〃Get out！〃 he shouted。
〃Like hell！〃 I said。
〃Get out！〃 he roared。 〃I'll do the rest。
That's mine； not yours！ GET OUT！〃
With a swift kick I brushed away the sand。 I found I was standing on a
squat wooden box； bound with bands of rusty iron。 I had only to stoop to
touch it。 It was so rotten that I could have torn it apart with my bare hands。
Edgar was dancing on the edge of the pit； incidentally kicking sand into
my mouth and nostrils。
〃You PROMISED me！〃 he roared。 〃You PROMISED to obey me！〃
〃You ass！〃 I shouted。 〃Haven't I done all the work？ Don't I get〃
〃You get out！〃 roared Edgar。
Slowly； disgustedly； with what dignity one can display in crawling out
of a sand…pit； I scrambled to the top。
〃Go over there；〃 commanded Edgar pointing； 〃and sit down。〃
In furious silence I seated myself beside Rupert。 He was still
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MY BURIED TREASURE
slumbering and snoring happily。 From where I sat I could see nothing of
what was going forward in the pit； save once； when the head of Edgar； his
eyes aflame and his hair and eye…glasses sprinkled with sand； appeared
above it。 Apparently he was fearful lest I had moved from the spot where
he had placed me。 I had not； but had he known my inmost feelings he
would have taken the axe into the pit with him。
I must have sat so for half an hour。 In the sky above me a fish…hawk
drifted lazily。 From the beach sounded the steady beat of the waves； and
from the town across the marshes came the puffing of a locomotive and
the clanging bells of the freight trains。 The breeze from the sea cooled the
sweat on my aching body； but it could not cool the rage in my heart。 If I
had the courage of my feelings； I would have cracked Edgar over head
with the spade； buried him in the pit； bribed Rupert； and forever after lived
happily on my ill…gotten gains。 That was how Kidd； or Morgan； or
Blackbeard would have acted。 I cursed the effete civilization which had
taught me to want many pleasures but had left me with a conscience that
would not let me take human life to obtain them； not even Edgar's life。
In half an hour a suit…case was lifted into view and dropped on the
edge of the pit。 It was followed by the other； and then by Edgar。 Without
asking me to help him； because he probably knew I would not； he
shovelled the sand into the hole； and then
