the lost continent(消失的大陆)-第20节
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shelter which would protect us from attack while we slept。
Toward morning I dozed； and the sun was well up when Victory
aroused me by gently shaking my shoulder。
〃Antelope！〃 she whispered in my ear； and； as I raised my head； she
pointed up…river。 Crawling to my knees； I looked in the direction she
indicated； to see a buck standing upon a little knoll some two hundred
yards from us。 There was good cover between the animal and me； and so；
though I might have hit him at two hundred yards； I preferred to crawl
closer to him and make sure of the meat we both so craved。
I had covered about fifty yards of the distance； and the beast was still
feeding peacefully； so I thought that I would make even surer of a hit by
going ahead another fifty yards； when the animal suddenly raised his head
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and looked away； up…river。 His whole attitude proclaimed that he was
startled by something beyond him that I could not see。
Realizing that he might break and run and that I should then probably
miss him entirely； I raised my rifle to my shoulder。 But even as I did so
the animal leaped into the air； and simultaneously there was a sound of a
shot from beyond the knoll。
For an instant I was dumbfounded。 Had the report come from down…
river； I should have instantly thought that one of my own men had fired。
But coming from up…river it puzzled me considerably。 Who could there
be with firearms in primitive England other than we of the Coldwater？
Victory was directly behind me； and I motioned for her to lie down； as
I did； behind the bush from which I had been upon the point of firing at
the antelope。 We could see that the buck was quite dead； and from our
hiding place we waited to discover the identity of his slayer when the
latter should approach and claim his kill。
We had not long to wait； and when I saw the head and shoulders of a
man appear above the crest of the knoll； I sprang to my feet； with a
heartfelt cry of joy； for it was Delcarte。
At the sound of my voice； Delcarte half raised his rifle in readiness for
the attack of an enemy； but a moment later he recognized me； and was
coming rapidly to meet us。 Behind him was Snider。 They both were
astounded to see me upon the north bank of the river； and much more so at
the sight of my companion。
Then I introduced them to Victory； and told them that she was queen of
England。 They thought； at first； that I was joking。 But when I had
recounted my adventures and they realized that I was in earnest； they
believed me。
They told me that they had followed me inshore when I had not
returned from the hunt； that they had met the men of the elephant country；
and had had a short and one…sided battle with the fellows。 And that
afterward they had returned to the launch with a prisoner； from whom they
had learned that I had probably been captured by the men of the lion
country。
With the prisoner as a guide they had set off up…river in search of me；
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but had been much delayed by motor trouble； and had finally camped after
dark a half mile above the spot where Victory and I had spent the night。
They must have passed us in the dark； and why I did not hear the sound of
the propeller I do not know； unless it passed me at a time when the lions
were making an unusually earsplitting din upon the opposite side。
Taking the antelope with us； we all returned to the launch； where we
found Taylor as delighted to see me alive again as Delcarte had been。 I
cannot say truthfully that Snider evinced much enthusiasm at my rescue。
Taylor had found the ingredients for chemical fuel； and the distilling of
them had； with the motor trouble； accounted for their delay in setting out
after me。
The prisoner that Delcarte and Snider had taken was a powerful young
fellow from the elephant country。 Notwithstanding the fact that they had
all assured him to the contrary； he still could not believe that we would not
kill him。
He assured us that his name was Thirty…six； and； as he could not count
above ten； I am sure that he had no conception of the correct meaning of
the word； and that it may have been handed down to him either from the
military number of an ancestor who had served in the English ranks during
the Great War； or that originally it was the number of some famous
regiment with which a forbear fought。
Now that we were reunited； we held a council to determine what
course we should pursue in the immediate future。 Snider was still for
setting out to sea and returning to Pan…America； but the better judgment of
Delcarte and Taylor ridiculed the suggestionwe should not have lived a
fortnight。
To remain in England； constantly menaced by wild beasts and men
equally as wild； seemed about as bad。 I suggested that we cross the
Channel and ascertain if we could not discover a more enlightened and
civilized people upon the continent。 I was sure that some trace of the
ancient culture and greatness of Europe must remain。 Germany； probably；
would be much as it was during the twentieth century； for； in common
with most Pan…Americans； I was positive that Germany had been
victorious in the Great War。
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Snider demurred at the suggestion。 He said that it was bad enough to
have come this far。 He did not want to make it worse by going to the
continent。 The outcome of it was that I finally lost my patience； and told
him that from then on he would do what I thought bestthat I proposed to
assume command of the party； and that they might all consider themselves
under my orders； as much so as though we were still aboard the Coldwater
and in Pan…American waters。
Delcarte and Taylor immediately assured me that they had not for an
instant assumed anything different； and that they were as ready to follow
and obey me here as they would be upon the other side of thirty。
Snider said nothing； but he wore a sullen scowl。 And I wished then；
as I had before； and as I did to a much greater extent later； that fate had not
decreed that he should have chanced to be a member of the launch's party
upon that memorable day when last we quitted the Coldwater。
Victory； who was given a voice in our councils； was all for going to the
continent； or anywhere else； in fact； where she might see new sights and
experience new adventures。
〃Afterward we can come back to Grabritin；〃 she said； 〃and if
Buckingham is not dead and we can catch him away from his men and kill
him； then I can return to my people； and we can all live in peace and
happiness。〃
She spoke of killing Buckingham with no greater concern than one
might evince in the contemplated destruction of a sheep； yet she was
neither cruel nor vindictive。 In fact； Victory is a very sweet and womanly
woman。 But human life is of small account beyond thirtya legacy from
the bloody days when thousands of men perished in the trenches between
the rising and the setting of a sun； when they laid them lengthwise in these
same trenches and sprinkled dirt over them； when the Germans corded
their corpses like wood and set fire to them； when women and children
and old men were butchered； and great passenger ships were torpedoed
without warning。
Thirty…six； finally assured that we did not intend slaying him； was as
keen to accompany us as was Victory。
The crossing to the continent was uneventful； its monotony being
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relieved； however； by the
