the lost continent(消失的大陆)-第27节
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that brave girl of my own race！ Instinctively I took a forward step to
place myself in the man's path。 But at the same instant Menelek raised
his hand in a gesture that halted the officer。 The emperor seemed
interested； but in no way angered at the girl's attitude。
〃Let us inquire；〃 he said in a smooth； pleasant voice； 〃why this young
woman refuses to do homage to her sovereign；〃 and he put the question
himself directly to her。
She answered him in Abyssinian； but brokenly and with an accent that
betrayed how recently she had acquired her slight knowledge of the
tongue。
〃I go on my knees to no one；〃 she said。 〃I have no sovereign。 I
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myself am sovereign in my own country。〃
Menelek； at her words； leaned back in his throne and laughed
uproariously。 Following his example； which seemed always the correct
procedure； the assembled guests vied with one another in an effort to
laugh more noisily than the emperor。
The girl but tilted her chin a bit higher in the aireven her back
proclaimed her utter contempt for her captors。 Finally Menelek restored
quiet by the simple expedient of a frown； whereupon each loyal guest
exchanged his mirthful mien for an emulative scowl。
〃And who；〃 asked Menelek； 〃are you； and by what name is your
country called？〃
〃I am Victory； Queen of Grabritin；〃 replied the girl so quickly and so
unexpectedly that I gasped in astonishment。
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9
Victory！ She was here； a slave to these black conquerors。 Once
more I started toward her； but better judgment held me backI could do
nothing to help her other than by stealth。 Could I even accomplish aught
by this means？ I did not know。 It seemed beyond the pale of possibility；
and yet I should try。
〃And you will not bend the knee to me？〃 continued Menelek； after she
had spoken。 Victory shook her head in a most decided negation。
〃You shall be my first choice； then；〃 said the emperor。 〃I like your
spirit； for the breaking of it will add to my pleasure in you； and never fear
but that it shall be broken this very night。 Take her to my apartments；〃
and he motioned to an officer at his side
I was surprised to see Victory follow the man off in apparent quiet
submission。 I tried to follow； that I might be near her against some
opportunity to speak with her or assist in her escape。 But； after I had
followed them from the throne room； through several other apartments；
and down a long corridor； I found my further progress barred by a soldier
who stood guard before a doorway through which the officer conducted
Victory。
Almost immediately the officer reappeared and started back in the
direction of the throne room。 I had been hiding in a doorway after the
guard had turned me back； having taken refuge there while his back was
turned； and； as the officer approached me； I withdrew into the room
beyond； which was in darkness。 There I remained for a long time；
watching the sentry before the door of the room in which Victory was a
prisoner； and awaiting some favorable circumstance which would give me
entry to her。
I have not attempted to fully describe my sensations at the moment I
recognized Victory； because； I can assure you； they were entirely
indescribable。 I should never have imagined that the sight of any human
being could affect me as had this unexpected discovery of Victory in the
same room in which I was； while I had thought of her for weeks either as
dead； or at best hundreds of miles to the west； and as irretrievably lost to
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me as though she were； in truth； dead。
I was filled with a strange； mad impulse to be near her。 It was not
enough merely to assist her； or protect herI desired to touch herto take
her in my arms。 I was astounded at myself。 Another thing puzzled me
it was my incomprehensible feeling of elation since I had again seen her。
With a fate worse than death staring her in the face； and with the
knowledge that I should probably die defending her within the hour； I was
still happier than I had been for weeksand all because I had seen again
for a few brief minutes the figure of a little heathen maiden。 I couldn't
account for it； and it angered me； I had never before felt any such
sensations in the presence of a woman； and I had made love to some very
beautiful ones in my time。
It seemed ages that I stood in the shadow of that doorway； in the ill…lit
corridor of the palace of Menelek XIV。 A sickly gas jet cast a sad pallor
upon the black face of the sentry。 The fellow seemed rooted to the spot。
Evidently he would never leave； or turn his back again。
I had been in hiding but a short time when I heard the sound of distant
cannon。 The truce had ended； and the battle had been resumed。 Very
shortly thereafter the earth shook to the explosion of a shell within the city；
and from time to time thereafter other shells burst at no great distance
from the palace。 The yellow men were bombarding New Gondar again。
Presently officers and slaves commenced to traverse the corridor on
matters pertaining to their duties； and then came the emperor； scowling
and wrathful。 He was followed by a few personal attendants； whom he
dismissed at the doorway to his apartmentsthe same doorway through
which Victory had been taken。 I chafed to follow him； but the corridor
was filled with people。 At last they betook themselves to their own
apartments； which lay upon either side of the corridor。
An officer and a slave entered the very room in which I hid； forcing
me to flatten myself to one side in the darkness until they had passed。
Then the slave made a light； and I knew that I must find another hiding
place。
Stepping boldly into the corridor； I saw that it was now empty save for
the single sentry before the emperor's door。 He glanced up as I emerged
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from the room； the occupants of which had not seen me。 I walked
straight toward the soldier； my mind made up in an instant。 I tried to
simulate an expression of cringing servility； and I must have succeeded；
for I entirely threw the man off his guard； so that he permitted me to
approach within reach of his rifle before stopping me。 Then it was too
latefor him。
Without a word or a warning； I snatched the piece from his grasp； and；
at the same time struck him a terrific blow between the eyes with my
clenched fist。 He staggered back in surprise； too dumbfounded even to
cry out； and then I clubbed his rifle and felled him with a single mighty
blow。
A moment later； I had burst into the room beyond。 It was empty！
I gazed about； mad with disappointment。 Two doors opened from
this to other rooms。 I ran to the nearer and listened。 Yes； voices were
coming from beyond and one was a woman's； level and cold and filled
with scorn。 There was no terror in it。 It was Victory's。
I turned the knob and pushed the door inward just in time to see
Menelek seize the girl and drag her toward the far end of the apartment。
At the same instant there was a deafening roar just outside the palacea
shell had struck much nearer than any of its predecessors。 The noise of it
drowned my rapid rush across the room。
But in her struggles； Vic
