the lost continent(消失的大陆)-第23节
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interest between us。
This line of reflection I discovered to be as distressing as the former；
but； though I tried to turn my mind to other things； it persisted in returning
to the vision of an oval face； sun…tanned； of smiling lips； revealing white
and even teeth； of brave eyes that harbored no shadow of guile； and of a
tumbling mass of wavy hair that crowned the loveliest picture on which
my eyes had ever rested。
Every time this vision presented itself I felt myself turn cold with rage
and hate against Snider。 I could forgive the launch； but if he had
wronged her he should diehe should die at my own hands； in this I was
determined。
For two days we followed the river northward； cutting off where we
could； but confined for the most part to the game trails that paralleled the
stream。 One afternoon； we cut across a narrow neck of land that saved us
many miles； where the river wound to the west and back again。
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Here we decided to halt； for we had had a hard day of it； and； if the
truth were known； I think that we had all given up hope of overtaking the
launch other than by the merest accident。
We had shot a deer just before our halt； and； as Taylor and Delcarte
were preparing it； I walked down to the water to fill our canteens。 I had
just finished； and was straightening up； when something floating around a
bend above me caught my eye。 For a moment I could not believe the
testimony of my own senses。 It was a boat。
I shouted to Delcarte and Taylor； who came running to my side。
〃The launch！〃 cried Delcarte； and； indeed； it was the launch； floating
down…river from above us。 Where had it been？ How had we passed it？
And how were we to reach it now； should Snider and the girl discover us？
〃It's drifting；〃 said Taylor。 〃I see no one in it。〃
I was stripping off my clothes； and Delcarte soon followed my
example。 I told Taylor to remain on shore with the clothing and rifles。
He might also serve us better there； since it would give him an opportunity
to take a shot at Snider should the man discover us and show himself。
With powerful strokes we swam out in the path of the oncoming
launch。 Being a stronger swimmer than Delcarte； I soon was far in the
lead； reaching the center of the channel just as the launch bore down upon
me。 It was drifting broadside on。 I seized the gunwale and raised
myself quickly； so that my chin topped the side。 I expected a blow the
moment that I came within the view of the occupants； but no blow fell。
Snider lay upon his back in the bottom of the boat alone。 Even before I
had clambered in and stooped above him I knew that he was dead。
Without examining him further； I ran forward to the control board and
pressed the starting button。 To my relief； the mechanism respondedthe
launch was uninjured。 Coming about； I picked up Delcarte。 He was
astounded at the sight that met his eyes； and immediately fell to examining
Snider's body for signs of life or an explanation of the manner in which he
met his death。
The fellow had been dead for hourshe was cold and still。 But
Delcarte's search was not without results； for above Snider's heart was a
wound； a slit about an inch in length such a slit as a sharp knife would
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make； and in the dead fingers of one hand was clutched a strand of long
brown hairVictory's hair was brown。
They say that dead men tell no tales； but Snider told the story of his
end as clearly as though the dead lips had parted and poured forth the truth。
The beast had attacked the girl； and she had defended her honor。
We buried Snider beside the Rhine； and no stone marks his last resting
place。 Beasts do not require headstones。
Then we set out in the launch； turning her nose upstream。 When I had
told Delcarte and Taylor that I intended searching for the girl； neither had
demurred。
〃We had her wrong in our thoughts；〃 said Delcarte； 〃and the least that
we can do in expiation is to find and rescue her。〃
We called her name aloud every few minutes as we motored up the
river； but； though we returned all the way to our former camping place； we
did not find her。 I then decided to retrace our journey； letting Taylor
handle the launch； while Delcarte and I； upon opposite sides of the river；
searched for some sign of the spot where Victory had landed。
We found nothing until we had reached a point a few miles above the
spot where I had first seen the launch drifting down toward us； and there I
discovered the remnants of a recent camp fire。
That Victory carried flint and steel I was aware； and that it was she
who built the fire I was positive。 But which way had she gone since she
stopped here？
Would she go on down the river； that she might thus bring herself
nearer her own Grabritin； or would she have sought to search for us
upstream； where she had seen us last？
I had hailed Taylor； and sent him across the river to take in Delcarte；
that the two might join me and discuss my discovery and our future plans。
While waiting for them； I stood looking out over the river； my back
toward the woods that stretched away to the east behind me。 Delcarte
was just stepping into the launch upon the opposite side of the stream；
when； without the least warning； I was violently seized by both arms and
about the waistthree or four men were upon me at once； my rifle was
snatched from my hands and my revolver from my belt。
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I struggled for an instant； but finding my efforts of no avail； I ceased
them； and turned my head to have a look at my assailants。 At the same
time several others of them walked around in front of me； and； to my
astonishment； I found myself looking upon uniformed soldiery； armed
with rifles； revolvers； and sabers； but with faces as black as coal。
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8
Delcorte and Taylor were now in mis…stream； coming toward us； and
I called to them to keep aloof until I knew whether the intentions of my
captors were friendly or otherwise。 My good men wanted to come on
and annihilate the blacks。 But there were upward of a hundred of the
latter； all well armed； and so I commanded Delcarte to keep out of harm's
way； and stay where he was till I needed him。
A young officer called and beckoned to them。 But they refused to
come； and so he gave orders that resulted in my hands being secured at my
back； after which the company marched away； straight toward the east。
I noticed that the men wore spurs； which seemed strange to me。 But
when； late in the afternoon； we arrived at their encampment； I discovered
that my captors were cavalrymen。
In the center of a plain stood a log fort； with a block… house at each of
its four corners。 As we approached； I saw a herd of cavalry horses
grazing under guard outside the walls of the post。 They were small；
stocky horses； but the telltale saddle galls proclaimed their calling。 The
flag flying from a tall staff inside the palisade was one which I had never
before seen nor heard of。
We marched directly into the compound； where the company was
dismissed； with the exception of a guard of four privates； who escorted me
in the wake of the young officer。 The latter led us across a small parade
ground； where a battery of light field guns was parked； and toward a log
building； in front of which rose the flagstaff。
I was escorted within the building into the presence of an old negro； a
fine looking man； with a dignified and military bearing。 He was a
colonel； I was to learn
