the lost continent(消失的大陆)-第18节
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British soil today； but at what awful cost。 I tried to persuade Sir Phillip
to urge the people to remain。 But they are mad with fear of the Death；
and rage at our enemies。 He tells me that the coast cities are packed 。 。 。
waiting to be taken across。 What will become of England； with none left
to rebuild her shattered cities！〃
And the last entry：
〃。 。 。 alone。 Only the wild beasts 。 。 。 A lion is roaring now beneath
the palace windows。 I think the people feared the beasts even more than
they did the Death。 But they are gone； all gone； and to what？ How
much better conditions will they find on the continent？ All goneonly I
remain。 I promised his majesty； and when he returns he will find that I
was true to my trust； for I shall be awaiting him。 God save the King！〃
That was all。 This brave and forever nameless officer died nobly at
his posttrue to his country and his king。 It was the Death； no doubt； that
took him。
Some of the entries had been dated。 From the few legible letters and
figures which remained I judge the end came some time in August； 1937；
but of that I am not at all certain。
The diary has cleared up at least one mystery that had puzzled me not
a little； and now I am surprised that I had not guessed its solution myself
the presence of African and Asiatic beasts in England。
Acclimated by years of confinement in the zoological gardens； they
were fitted to resume in England the wild existence for which nature had
intended them； and once free； had evidently bred prolifically； in marked
contrast to the captive exotics of twentieth century Pan…America； which
had gradually become fewer until extinction occurred some time during
the twenty…first century。
The palace； if such it was； lay not far from the banks of the Thames。
The room in which we were imprisoned overlooked the river； and I
determined to attempt to escape in this direction。
To descend through the palace was out of the question； but outside we
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could discover no lions。 The stems of the ivy which clambered upward
past the window of the room were as large around as my arm。 I knew
that they would support our weight； and as we could gain nothing by
remaining longer in the palace； I decided to descend by way of the ivy and
follow along down the river in the direction of the launch。
Naturally I was much handicapped by the presence of the girl。 But I
could not abandon her； though I had no idea what I should do with her
after rejoining my companions。 That she would prove a burden and an
embarrassment I was certain； but she had made it equally plain to me that
she would never return to her people to mate with Buckingham。
I owed my life to her； and； all other considerations aside； that was
sufficient demand upon my gratitude and my honor to necessitate my
suffering every inconvenience in her service。 Too； she was queen of
England。 But； by far the most potent argument in her favor； she was a
woman in distressand a young and very beautiful one。
And so； though I wished a thousand times that she was back in her
camp； I never let her guess it； but did all that lay within my power to serve
and protect her。 I thank God now that I did so。
With the lions still padding back and forth beyond the closed door；
Victory and I crossed the room to one of the windows。 I had outlined my
plan to her； and she had assured me that she could descend the ivy without
assistance。 In fact； she smiled a trifle at my question。
Swinging myself outward； I began the descent； and had come to within
a few feet of the ground； being just opposite a narrow window； when I was
startled by a savage growl almost in my ear； and then a great taloned paw
darted from the aperture to seize me； and I saw the snarling face of a lion
within the embrasure。
Releasing my hold upon the ivy； I dropped the re…maining distance to
the ground； saved from laceration only because the lion's paw struck the
thick stem of ivy。
The creature was making a frightful racket now； leaping back and forth
from the floor at the broad window ledge； tearing at the masonry with his
claws in vain attempts to reach me。 But the opening was too narrow； and
the masonry too solid。
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Victory had commenced the descent； but I called to her to stop just
above the window； and； as the lion reappeared； growling and snarling； I
put a 。33 bullet in his face； and at the same moment Victory slipped
quickly past him； dropping into my upraised arms that were awaiting her。
The roaring of the beasts that had discovered us； together with the
report of my rifle； had set the balance of the fierce inmates of the palace
into the most frightful uproar I have ever heard。
I feared that it would not be long before intelligence or instinct would
draw them from the interiors and set them upon our trail； the river。 Nor
had we much more than reached it when a lion bounded around the corner
of the edifice we had just quitted and stood looking about as though in
search of us。
Following； came others； while Victory and I crouched in hiding behind
a clump of bushes close to the bank of the river。 The beasts sniffed about
the ground for a while； but they did not chance to go near the spot where
we had stood beneath the window that had given us escape。
Presently a black…maned male raised his head； and； with cocked ears
and glaring eyes； gazed straight at the bush behind which we lay。 I could
have sworn that he had discovered us； and when he took a few short and
stately steps in our direction I raised my rifle and covered him。 But； after a
long； tense moment he looked away； and turned to glare in another
direction。
I breathed a sigh of relief； and so did Victory。 I could feel her body
quiver as she lay pressed close to me； our cheeks almost touching as we
both peered through the same small opening in the foliage。
I turned to give her a reassuring smile as the lion indicated that he had
not seen us； and as I did so she； too； turned her face toward mine； for the
same purpose； doubtless。 Anyway； as our heads turned simultaneously；
our lips brushed together。 A startled expression came into Victory's eyes
as she drew back in evident confusion。
As for me； the strangest sensation that I have ever experienced claimed
me for an instant。 A peculiar； tingling thrill ran through my veins； and
my head swam。 I could not account for it。
Naturally； being a naval officer and consequently in the best society of
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the federation； I have seen much of women。 With others； I have laughed at
the assertions of the savants that modern man is a cold and passionless
creation in comparison with the males of former agesin a word； that love；
as the one grand passion； had ceased to exist。
I do not know； now； but that they were more nearly right than we have
guessed； at least in so far as modern civilized woman is concerned。 I
have kissed many womenyoung and beautiful and middle aged and old；
and many that I had no business kissingbut never before had I
experienced that remarkable and altogether delightful thrill that followed
the accidental brushing of my lips against the lips of Victory。
The occurrence interested me； and I was tempted to experiment further。
But when I would have essayed it another new and entirely unaccountable
force restrained me。 For the first time in my life I felt embarrassment in
the presence of a woman。
What further might have developed I cannot say； for at that moment a
perfect she…devil of a lioness； with keener eyes than her lord and master；
discovered us。 She came trotting toward our place of concealment
