the lost continent(消失的大陆)-第15节
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〃What is it？〃 I asked。 〃Why do you cry？〃
〃The queen； my mother； will not come to you；〃 she said； between sobs。
〃She is dead。 Buckingham has killed her。 Now he will take Victory； for
Victory is queen。 He kept us fastened up in our shelter； for fear that
Victory would escape him； but I dug a hole beneath the back wall and got
out。 I came to you； because you saved Victory once before； and I thought
that you might save her again； and me； also。 Tell me that you will。〃
〃I am bound and helpless； Mary；〃 I replied。 〃Otherwise I would do
what I could to save you and your sister。〃
〃I will set you free！〃 cried the girl； creeping up to my side。 〃I will set
you free； and then you may come and slay Buckingham。〃
〃Gladly！〃 I assented。
〃We must hurry；〃 she went on； as she fumbled with the hard knots in
the stiffened rawhide； 〃for Buckingham will be after you soon。 He must
make an offering to the lions at dawn before he can take Victory。 The
taking of a queen requires a human offering！〃
〃And I am to be the offering？〃 I asked。
〃Yes；〃 she said； tugging at a knot。 〃Buckingham has been wanting a
sacrifice ever since he killed Wettin； that he might slay my mother and
take Victory。〃
The thought was horrible； not solely because of the hideous fate to
which I was condemned； but from the contemplation it engendered of the
sad decadence of a once enlightened race。 To these depths of ignorance；
brutality； and superstition had the vaunted civilization of twentieth century
England been plunged； and by what？ War！ I felt the structure of our
time…honored militaristic arguments crumbling about me。
Mary labored with the thongs that confined me。 They proved
refractorydefying her tender； childish fingers。 She assured me；
however； that she would release me； if 〃they〃 did not come too soon。
But； alas； they came。 We heard them coming down the trench； and I
bade Mary hide in a corner； lest she be discovered and punished。 There
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was naught else she could do； and so she crawled away into the Stygian
blackness behind me。
Presently two warriors entered。 The leader exhibited a unique
method of discovering my whereabouts in the darkness。 He advanced
slowly； kicking out viciously before him。 Finally he kicked me in the face。
Then he knew where I was。
A moment later I had been jerked roughly to my feet。 One of the
fellows stopped and severed the bonds that held my ankles。 I could
scarcely stand alone。 The two pulled and hauled me through the low
doorway and along the trench。 A party of forty or fifty warriors were
awaiting us at the brink of the excavation some hundred yards from the
hut。
Hands were lowered to us； and we were dragged to the surface。 Then
commenced a long march。 We stumbled through the underbrush wet
with dew； our way lighted by a score of torchbearers who surrounded us。
But the torches were not to light the waythat was but incidental。 They
were carried to keep off the huge Carnivora that moaned and coughed and
roared about us。
The noises were hideous。 The whole country seemed alive with lions。
Yellow…green eyes blazed wickedly at us from out the surrounding
darkness。 My escort carried long； heavy spears。 These they kept ever
pointed toward the beast of prey； and I learned from snatches of the
conversation I overheard that occasionally there might be a lion who
would brave even the terrors of fire to leap in upon human prey。 It was for
such that the spears were always couched。
But nothing of the sort occurred during this hideous death march； and
with the first pale heralding of dawn we reached our goalan open place
in the midst of a tangled wildwood。 Here rose in crumbling grandeur the
first evidences I had seen of the ancient civilization which once had graced
fair Albiona single； time…worn arch of masonry。
〃The entrance to the Camp of the Lions！〃 murmured one of the party
in a voice husky with awe。
Here the party knelt； while Buckingham recited a weird； prayer…like
chant。 It was rather long； and I recall only a portion of it； which ran； if
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my memory serves me； somewhat as follows：
Lord of Grabritin； we Fall on our knees to thee；
This gift to bring。 Greatest of kings are thou！ To
thee we humbly bow！ Peace to our camp allow。 God
save thee； king！
Then the party rose； and dragging me to the crumbling arch； made me
fast to a huge； corroded； copper ring which was dangling from an eyebolt
imbedded in the masonry。
None of them； not even Buckingham； seemed to feel any personal
animosity toward me。 They were naturally rough and brutal； as primitive
men are supposed to have been since the dawn of humanity； but they did
not go out of their way to maltreat me。
With the coming of dawn the number of lions about us seemed to have
greatly diminishedat least they made less noise and as Buckingham and
his party disappeared into the woods； leaving me alone to my terrible fate；
I could hear the grumblings and growlings of the beasts diminishing with
the sound of the chant； which the party still continued。 It appeared that
the lions had failed to note that I had been left for their breakfast； and had
followed off after their worshippers instead。
But I knew the reprieve would be but for a short time； and though I
had no wish to die； I must confess that I rather wished the ordeal over and
the peace of oblivion upon me。
The voices of the men and the lions receded in the distance； until
finally quiet reigned about me； broken only by the sweet voices of birds
and the sighing of the summer wind in the trees。
It seemed impossible to believe that in this peaceful woodland setting
the frightful thing was to occur which must come with the passing of the
next lion who chanced within sight or smell of the crumbling arch。
I strove to tear myself loose from my bonds； but succeeded only in
tightening them about my arms。 Then I remained passive for a long time；
letting the scenes of my lifetime pass in review before my mind's eye。
I tried to imagine the astonishment； incredulity； and horror with which
my family and friends would be overwhelmed if； for an instant； space
could be annihilated and they could see me at the gates of London。
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The gates of London！ Where was the multitude hurrying to the marts
of trade after a night of pleasure or rest？ Where was the clang of tramcar
gongs； the screech of motor horns； the vast murmur of a dense throng？
Where were they？ And as I asked the question a lone； gaunt lion
strode from the tangled jungle upon the far side of the clearing。
Majestically and noiselessly upon his padded feet the king of beasts
moved slowly toward the gates of London and toward me。
Was I afraid？ I fear that I was almost afraid。 I know that I thought
that fear was coming to me； and so I straightened up and squared my
shoulders and looked the lion straight in the eyesand waited。
It is not a nice way to diealone； with one's hands fast bound； beneath
the fangs and talons of a beast of prey。 No； it is not a nice way to die； not
a pretty way。
The lion was halfway across the clearing when I heard a slight sound
behind me。 The great cat stopped in his tracks。 He lashed his tail
against his sides now； instead of simply twitching its tip； and his low moan
became a thunderous roar。
As I craned my neck to catch a glimpse of the thing that had aroused
the fury of the beast before me； it sprang through the arched gatewa
