按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Chapter XIX。
AFLOAT。
As we ran swiftly； following the edge of the stream； the cries continued； filling the cavern with racing echoes。 They could not quicken our step； we were already straining every muscle as we bounded over the rock。 Luckily； the way was clear； for in the darkness we could see but a few feet ahead。 Desiree's voice was sufficient guide for us。
Finally we reached her。 I don't know what I expected to see； but certainly not that which met our eyes。
〃Your spear！〃 cried Harry； dashing off to the right； away from the stream。
My spear was ready。 I followed。
Desiree was standing exactly in the spot where we had left her； screaming at the top of her voice。
Around her； on every side； was a struggling； pushing mass of the animals we had frightened away from the carcass of the reptile。
There were hundreds of them packed tightly together； crowding toward her； some leaping on the backs of others； some trampled to the ground beneath the feet of their fellows。 They did not appear to be actually attacking her； but we could not see distinctly。
This we saw in a flash and an instant later had dashed forward into the mass with whirling spears。 It was a farce； rather than a fight。
We brought our spears down on the swarm of heads and backs without even troubling to take aim。 They pressed against our legs； we waded through as though it were a current of water。 Those we hit either fell or ran； they waited for no second blow。
Desiree had ceased her cries。
〃They won't hurt you！〃 Harry had shouted。 〃Where's your spear？〃
〃Gone。 They came on me before I had time to get it。〃
〃Then kick 'em； push 'em…anything。 They're nothing but pigs。〃
They had the senseless stubbornness of pigs； at least。 They seemed absolutely unable to realize that their presence was not desired till they actually felt the spear…utterly devoid even of instinct。
〃So this is what you captured for us at the risk of your life！〃 I shouted to Harry in disgust。 〃They haven't even sense enough to squeal。〃
We finally reached Desiree's side and cleared a space round her。 But it took us another fifteen minutes of pushing and thrusting and indiscriminate massacre before we routed the brutes。
When they did decide to go they lost no time； but scampered away toward the water with a sliding； tumbling rush。
〃Gad！〃 exclaimed Harry； resting on his spear。 〃And here's a pretty job。 Look at that！ I wish they'd carry off the dead ones。〃
〃Ugh！ The nasty brutes！ I was never so frightened in my life；〃 said Desiree。
〃You frightened us； all right；〃 Harry retorted。 〃Utterly fungoed。 I never ran so fast in my life。 And all you had to do was shake your spear at 'em and say boo！ I thought it was the roommate of our friend with the eyes。〃
〃Have I been eating those things？〃 Desiree demanded。
Harry grinned。
〃Yes； and that isn't all。 You'll continue to eat 'em as long as I'm the cook。 e on； Paul； it's a day's work。〃
We dragged the bodies down to the edge of the stream and tossed them into the current； saving three or four for the replenishment of the larder。
I then first tried my hand at the task of skinning and cleaning them； and by the time I had finished was thoroughly disgusted with it and myself。 Harry had bee hardened to it； he whistled over the job as though he had been born in a butcher's shop。
〃I'd rather go hungry；〃 I declared； washing my hands and arms in the cool water。
〃Oh； sure；〃 said Harry； 〃my efforts are never appreciated。
I've fed you up till you've finally graduated from the skeleton class； and you immediately begin to criticize the table。 I know now what it means to run a boarding…house。 Why don't you change your hotel？〃
By the time we had finished we were pretty well tired out； but Harry wouldn't hear of rest。 I was eager myself for another look at the exit of that stream。 So； again taking up our spears； we set out across the cavern； this time with Desiree between us。 She swallowed Harry's ridicule of her fear and refused to stay behind。
Again we stood at the point where the stream left the cavern through the broad arch of a tunnel。
〃There's a chance there；〃 said Harry； turning to me。 〃It looks good。〃
〃Yes； if we had a boat；〃 I agreed。 〃But that's a ten…mile current； and probably deep。〃
I waded out some twenty feet and was nearly swept beneath the surface as the water circled about my shoulders。
〃We couldn't follow that on our feet；〃 I declared； returning to the shore。 〃But it does look promising。 At ten miles an hour we'd reach the western slope in four hours。 Four hours to sunshine…but it might as well be four hundred。 It's impossible。〃
We turned then and retraced our steps to our camp； if I may give it so dignified a title。 I hated to give up the idea of following the bed of the stream； for it was certain that somewhere it found the surface of the earth； and I revolved in my brain every conceivable means to do so。 The same thought was in Harry's mind； for he turned to me suddenly：
〃If we only had something for stringers； I could make a raft that would carry us to the Pacific and across it。 The hide of that thing over yonder would be just the stuff； and we could get a piece as big as we wanted。〃
I shook my head。
〃I thought of that。 But we have absolutely nothing to hold it。 There wasn't a bone in his body； you know that。〃
But the idea was peculiarly tempting； and we spent an hour discussing it。 Desiree was asleep on her pile of skins。 We sat side by side on the ground some distance away； talking in low tones。
Suddenly there was a loud splash in the stream； which was quite close to us。
〃By gad！〃 exclaimed Harry； springing to his feet。 〃Did you hear that？ It sounded like…remember the fish we pulled in from the Inca's raft？〃
〃Which has nothing to do with this；〃 I answered。 〃It's nothing but the water…pigs。 I've heard 'em a thousand times in the last few days。 And the Lord knows we have enough of them。〃
But Harry protested that the splash was much too loud to have been caused by any water…pig and waded into the stream to investigate。 I rose to my feet and followed him leisurely； for no reason in particular； but was suddenly startled by an excited cry from his lips：
〃Paul…the spear！ Quick！ It's a whale！〃
I ran as swiftly as I could to the shore and returned with our spears； but when I reached Harry he greeted me with an oath of disappointment and the information that the 〃whale〃 had disappeared。 He was greatly excited。
〃I tell you he was twenty feet long！ A big black devil； with a head like a cow。〃
〃You're sure it wasn't like a pig？〃 I asked skeptically。
Harry looked at me。
〃I have drunk nothing but water for a month；〃 he said dryly。
〃It was a fish； and some fish。〃
〃Well； there's probably more like him；〃 I observed。 〃But they can wait。 e on and get some sleep； and then…we'll see。〃
Some hours afterward； having filled ourselves with sleep and food （I had decided； after mature deliberation； not to change my hotel）； we started out； armed with our spears。 Desiree acpanied us。 Harry told her bluntly that she would be in the way； but she refused to stay behind。
We turned upstream； thinking our chances better in that direction than toward the swifter current； and were surprised to find that the cavern was much larger than any we had before seen。
In something over a mile we had not yet reached the farther wall； for we walked at a brisk pace for a quarter of an hour or more。
At this point the stream was considerably wider than it was below； and there was very little current。 Desiree stood on the bank while Harry and I waded out above our waists。
There was a long and weary wait before anything occurred。 The water was cold； and my limbs became stiff and numb； I called to Harry that it was useless to wait longer； and was turning toward the shore when there was a sudden motion in the water not far from where he stood。
I turned and saw Harry plunge forward with his spear。
〃I've got him！〃 he yelled。 〃e on！〃
I went。 But I soon saw that Harry didn't have him。 He had Harry。 They were all of ten yards away from me； and by the time I reached the spot there was nothing to be seen but flying water thrashed into foam and fury。
I caught a glimpse of Harry being jerked through the air； he was holding on for dear life with both hands to the shaft of his spear。 The water was over my head there； I was swimming with all the strength I had。
〃I've got him…through the belly；〃 Harry gasped as I fought my way through the spray to his side。 〃His head！ Find his head！〃
I finally succeeded in getting my hand on Harry's spear…shaft near where it entered the body of the fish； but the next instant it was jerked from me； dragging me beneath the surface。 I came up puffing and made another try； but missed it by several feet。
Harry kept shouting： 〃His head！ Get him in the head！〃
For that I was saving my spear。 But I could make nothing of either head or tail as the immense fish leaped furiously about in the water； first this way； then that。
Once he came down exactly on top of me and carried me far under； I felt his slippery； smooth body glide over me； and the tail struck me a heavy blow in the face as it passed。 Blinded and half choked； I fought my way back to the surface and saw that they had got fifty feet away。
I swam to them； breathing hard and nearly exhausted。 The water foamed less furiously about them now。 As I came near the fish leaped half out of the water and came down flat on his side； I saw his ugly black head pointed directly toward me。
〃He's about gone！〃 Harry gasped。
He was still clinging to the spear。
I set myself firmly against the water and waited。 Soon it parted violently not ten feet in front of me； and again the head appeared； he was ing straight for me。 I could see the dull beady eyes on either side； and I let him have the spear right between them。
There was little force to the blow； but the fish himself furnished that； he was ing like lightning。 I hurled my body aside with a great effort and felt him sweep past me。
I turned to swim after them and heard Harry's great shout： 〃You got him！〃
By the time I reached him the fish had turned over on his back and was floating on the surface； motionless。
We had still to get him ashore； and； exhausted as we were； it was no easy task。 But there was very little current； and after half an hour of pulling and shoving we got him into shallow water； where we could find the bottom with our feet。 Then it was easier。
Desiree waded out to us and lent a hand； and in another ten minutes we had him high and dry on the rock。
He was even larger than I had thought。 No wonder Harry had called him…or one like him…a whale。 It was all of fifteen feet from his snout to the tip of his tail。 The skin was dead black on top and mottled irregularly on the belly。
As we sat sharpening the points of our spears on the rock； preparatory to skinning him； Desiree stood regarding the fish with unqualified approval。 She turned to us：
〃Well； I'd rather eat that than those other nasty things。〃
〃Oh； that isn't what we want him for；〃 said Harry； rubbing his finger against the edge of his spear…point。 〃He's probably not fit to eat。〃
〃Then why all this trouble？〃 asked Desiree。
〃Dear lady； we expect to ride him home；〃 said Harry； rising to his feet。
Then he explained our purpose； and you may believe that Desiree was the most excited of the lot as we ripped down the body of the fish from tail to snout and began to peel off the tough skin。
〃If you succeed you may choose the new hangings for my boudoir；〃 she said； with an attempt at lightness not altogether successful。
〃As for me；〃 I declared； 〃I shall eat fish every day of my life out of pure gratitude。〃
〃You'll do it out of pure necessity；〃 Harry put in； 〃if you don't get busy。〃
It took us three hours of whacking and slashing and tearing to pull the fish to pieces； but we worked with a purpose and a will。
When we had finished； this is what we had to show： A long strip of bone； four inches thick and twelve feet long； and tough as hickory； from either side of which the smaller bones projected at right angles。 They were about an inch in thickness and two inches apart。
The lower end of the backbone； near the tail； we had bro