“Oh, that!” Billy retorted contemptuously. “It was of no importance. I didn’t bother to tell you.”
“Do you mean,” Saxe demanded, in astonishment7, “that you know already?”
“Certainly,” was the crisp answer. “It[289] was Chris.”
“But how——”
“Elimination. There was no problem of interest.”
“But——”
“Only a kindergarten form of ratiocination8 required,” the sage went on, with an air of extreme boredom9. “Cause—family devotion. Aged10 and faithful servitor didn’t mean to let you deprive daughter of his mistress of her share of the money—meant to beat you to it, like Masters, but from a different motive11, merely to keep it away from you until the time limit should expire. Then, he observed symptoms between you and the said daughter that convinced him of error in his plans—made him realize that keeping the money away from you would end in depriving her of half the gold while giving her a half. Being emotional and devoted12, he confessed to the girl. The girl felt it her duty to confess to you. It is probable that Chris was the one to discover the secret vault13 in the wall there, whom Roy, without due reasoning, took to be Masters. Was it Chris?”
[290]“Yes,” Saxe admitted. He was greatly disconcerted by his failure to add anything to the seer’s knowledge.
“Bully for Chris!” David exclaimed. “Crafty old critter, too, to dig into that safe. Huh! I’ve heard about that sort of devotion on the part of old family servants, but it’s the first instance I’ve struck in my own experience. Don’t have ’em in Wyoming.”
“Awful nuisance,” Billy Walker grumbled14, “aged family retainers—doddering remnants, always butting15 in!” He gaped16 shamelessly, with a great noise.
Saxe, outraged17 by the sage’s flippant reference to sacred things of his heart, felt himself indisposed for the further companionship of his friends just then. It was this mood, rather than any anxiety concerning the treasure, that led him to devise an excuse for separation.
“Let’s get to bed,” he said, “and then make an early start for the island in the morning.”
Billy Walker, whose lids were weighted by the day’s activities, grinned contentedly18 at the first phrase, and scowled19 portentously20 at the second.
[291]“That’s the idea,” David agreed. “We’ll be off as soon as it gets to be light. I’ll tell Jake to call us, and Mrs. Dustin to have our breakfast ready.” He bustled21 out of the room, eager for the mission.
“Dave is too precipitate24,” he growled25; “too precipitate by far.” He rose and started for his room. “If we’re to arise at some ghastly hour,” he explained to Saxe, “I musn’t lose an instant in getting to bed. Brain-workers require ten hours of sleep. It’s different with you others.” His feelings somewhat soothed26 by this gibe27, he departed.
In consequence of David’s alertness, they were routed out of bed the following morning while yet there was only the most pallid28 hint of gray in the east to foretell29 the dawn. When Billy Walker found that he required a lamp to direct the process of his toilet, he was in a state of revolt. He was thoroughly30 disgusted when he discovered artificial light a necessity at the breakfast-table. He made it plain to all and sundry31 that nocturnal ramblings were not to his mind. But he sank into wordless grief when the party set[292] forth32 in the launch, for darkness still prevailed, and he heard Jake announce that there would be a full hour before the rising of the sun.
David, for his part, was all eagerness to be at work. Saxe, too, now that he was in the open, gave over for a time his dreams of the one woman, and was filled with zeal33 toward this final struggle for the attainment34 of fortune. He believed that the day would determine success or failure in the quest for Abernethey’s gold. He had seen to it that the equipment contained whatever might be necessary for thorough exploration of the cavern35. In the launch were lanterns, ropes, pickaxes, shovels36, and a miscellany of things, selected by himself, David and Jake in council. There was, too, a big hamper37 of food, so that they would not need to return to the cottage for luncheon38.
On the arrival of the party at the island, they made their way at once to the cavern, carrying only the lanterns. The other things were left in the launch, to be got as occasion should require after the preliminary search. None of them suspected that aught might[293] have befallen Roy in the cave. Although they had come to know something of the desperate nature of Masters, they were confident that Roy’s presence on watch would have sufficed to keep the engineer at a distance. So they were all in the best of spirits, even to Billy Walker who was at last fully39 awake, when, after lighting40 each a lantern, they pushed aside the bushes that hid the break in the cliff, and made their way through the rift41 into the great chamber. As they stepped within it, they lifted their voices in joyous42 greeting to their comrade. To their surprise, no answer came to the hail—only innumerable echoes flung back from the recesses43.
“He’s off, exploring on his own,” David remarked.
Billy Walker, who had been lurching clumsily here and there with inquisitive44 eyes, examining the unfamiliar45 surroundings by the light of his lantern, after the fashion of a modern Diogenes, now turned to Jake with a question.
“How many lanterns did Mr. Morton have?” he demanded.
[294]“Why,” drawled Jake, astonished at the interrogation, “he had jest one, o’ course. What about it, Mr. Walker?”
“Simply, the fact is sufficient evidence to the effect that Roy is not absent on an exploring expedition by himself, which was David’s suggestion. Here is his lantern.” He stooped, with a groan23 in response to the physical strain involved, picked up the lantern, which he had observed at his feet where it stood beside the blankets, and held it out for the others to see. “It’s quite cold,” he added. “It hasn’t been lighted for some time.”
The others stared in silence for a little. Even yet, they were far from suspecting any evil. It was Jake who spoke46 at last:
“I opine, he must have gone outside some’rs, to kind o’ stretch ’imself-like. Got too sleepy, maybe.”
But now, David shook his head decisively.
“No,” he declared. “Roy’s ears are mighty47 sharp, and we talked loudly enough in the launch to be heard a mile—specially Billy. If Roy had been anywhere on the island, top of the ground, he’d have heard us then, and have come a-running.” David’s expression[295] changed to one of perplexity, in which alarm mingled48. There was a new note of anxiety in his voice as he concluded: “And, if he was anywhere about this place, he’d have heard us, too, and have come a-running. And the lantern here—” David’s big eyes, shining weirdly49 through the lenses, went from one to another of the three men before him, as if seeking help against the trouble growing within him.
“There’s some mystery here,” Saxe exclaimed. Anxiety sounded in his voice. “We must search the cavern at once—for him. We already know he’s not in this room. We’ll look through the two passages that run down under the lake. Come on, Jake. You and I’ll take the one on the right.” He called over his shoulder to his friends, as he hurried forward: “You two take the passage on the left. If you find him, try to make us hear.”
It was David who found Roy, for impatience50 sent him far in advance of plodding51 Billy Walker. By the light of the lantern, David made out the huddled52 form lying on the floor of the passage, just at the turning.[296] He ran forward with a cry of grief, and knelt beside the body. It had come to him in a flash that the event was more serious than anything he had apprehended53. Masters had at last gained a victim. With the lantern set on the floor close at hand, David raised the body, which had been lying face downward. As he did so, he perceived the creased54 brow, with its matting of blood, now dried to a ruddy black. For an instant, David was stricken with a great fear lest his friend be dead. But, as he rested the head against him, a soft moan breathed from the lips, and at the sound hope sprang alive. He sent forth a shout, and Billy Walker, who was near, came running—for the first time in many years. No sooner had he learned of the injury to Roy than he set himself to summoning the others, and the vast voice rang thunderous through the subterranean55 ways. The mighty volume went rolling in sonorous56 waves throughout this secret place of the earth, penetrating57 every cranny and devious58 winding59 nook. Saxe and Jake felt the smiting60 of it on their ear-drums, and came racing61 through the break and into the[297] passage whence the roaring issued. Even the unconscious man was not impervious62 to the gigantic din3, he groaned, and his eyelids63 unclosed. David raised a hand for silence, and Billy Walker halted abruptly64 in his vociferation, his mouth wide. But, for a long time, the echoes clanged helter-skelter.
When Saxe and Jake came, they with David lifted the sufferer, and bore him along the passage, while Billy went before, bearing the four lanterns. In this manner, they were able to make rapid progress, and soon Roy was placed comfortably on the turf of the ravine, just outside the cavern entrance, with a coat to pillow his head. David brought water in one of the vessels65 from the hamper in the launch. Billy Walker, however, bethought himself of a flask66 which he had, and a little sup of the spirits was got into the wounded man’s mouth. The effect of the stimulant67 was apparent almost at once. More was administered, with such excellent results that soon Roy’s eyes opened, and his lips moved in a vain attempt to speak. A moment later, he made a feeble movement, as if to sit up. Saxe assisted him to a reclining[298] posture68. When the flask was proffered69 a third time, the sufferer was able to swallow a considerable portion of the liquor. David now appeared with the water, of which Roy drank thirstily. He remained quiet while David bathed his forehead, and, after it had been thoroughly cleansed70, soaked a handkerchief in the whiskey, and bound it over the wound. Then finally, Roy spoke intelligibly71.
“Masters!” Saxe repeated the name mechanically. There was no need to question—all knew.
Roy nodded assent73; and his jaw74 moved forward, a bit tremulously, but none the less a proclamation of his mood.
David shook his head, in frank astonishment over the outcome of the encounter between the two men.
“Didn’t suppose he was quick enough on the draw to get you,” he said, dispiritedly. “Huh!”
“Give the devil his due! He’s quick, all right. I didn’t mean to use a gun. I chased[299] him in the dark down there, and came up to him. I was watching for a chance to jump him, when, somehow, he knew that I was there. I don’t know what could have given him a hint. I didn’t even guess that he had any suspicion. He fired two shots in a flash. I didn’t see him so much as pull the gun. With the first shot, he put out the lantern, which was a little way off from him. The second got me.”
“But—in the dark!” David’s exclamation76 was incredulous.
“In the dark!” Roy repeated, weakly.
“Some class to that shooting,” David admitted, with manifest reluctance77.
“Nonsense!” he exclaimed; and the bourdon tone went reverberating79 afar. “You should exercise your reasoning powers, my dear David—if you have them—the enemy had the devil’s own luck, that’s all.”
“In the dark!” David repeated, disputatiously.
“Exactly—in the dark,” Billy conceded. “Why was the place in darkness? Because Masters shot out the light. Why did he[300] shoot out the light? In order to be invisible to Roy, and so to avoid being killed himself. He didn’t wish to serve as a mark to the other man. That means, he wasn’t at all sure of hitting the other man. He chanced it, and he had the luck—better luck than he expected.”
Roy’s expression lightened greatly, as Billy presented this view of the matter. It took something from the hurt to his pride sustained in the encounter.
Roy’s injury was no worse than a scalp-wound, and he was soon sufficiently81 recovered to be hungry. Afterward82, he solaced83 himself with a cigarette, and declared that he would speedily be himself again. He insisted that, in the meantime, the others should busy themselves with the work in hand. He would remain where he was in the pleasant sunshine, and the luxurious84 idleness of it would hasten the restoration of his strength. Since there was no valid85 objection that could be urged to this plan, it was followed. Pickaxes were secured from the[301] launch, and then Saxe led the way into the cavern. It was the common mind that they should first investigate the passage in which Roy had suffered defeat at the hands of the engineer.
The four hurried into the tunnel, and by the light of their lanterns made good progress along the rough and winding way. In about ten minutes, they reached the corner where Roy had stationed himself in his pursuit of Masters. They knew that the enemy had been engaged over something only a little distance beyond this point, and, as they advanced, they kept careful watch for the opening in the floor of the cavern. Presently, Saxe, who was still in the lead, uttered a shout.
“Here it is!”
As the others came up to him, he pointed86 to where, a few feet in front, a break yawned in the flooring of the tunnel. Immediately, all were grouped about the edge of the opening, staring down into it with intense excitement. By this time, they had come to respect the resourcefulness of the engineer and his ability. The fact that the spot had[302] held him absorbed appeared to them of high significance. Since the man had searched here before their coming, was it not probable that he had found the gold in this very place?
The opening was perhaps eight feet in length, by half as many in width. The depth was irregular. On the south end, it was hardly more than a foot below the level of the floor, running thus for a yard; then, it sloped sharply and unevenly87 until it was a full two yards in depth at the wall of the tunnel, on the side nearer the other passage. The light of the lanterns shone on a litter of earth and fragments of stone. There was no sign of either chest or bags that might contain treasure. The four stared down in silence for a long minute.
“We must dig here,” David said, eagerly. “The money must be buried here.”
Jake leaped down into the pit, and inspected the confused mass of fragments, while the others looked on curiously88. Presently, he raised his head, and spoke:
“I calc’late we’re a mite89 behindhand, as it were. This hole’s been dug all over mighty careful—and mighty lately, too!”
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1
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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discomfiture
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| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
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solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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sage
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| n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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ratiocination
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| n.推理；推断 | |
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boredom
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| n.厌烦，厌倦，乏味，无聊 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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butting
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| 用头撞人（犯规动作） | |
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gaped
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| v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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outraged
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| a.震惊的，义愤填膺的 | |
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contentedly
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| adv.心满意足地 | |
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scowled
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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portentously
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bustled
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| 闹哄哄地忙乱，奔忙( bustle的过去式和过去分词 )； 催促 | |
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groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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precipitate
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| adj.突如其来的；vt.使突然发生；n.沉淀物 | |
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growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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26
soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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gibe
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| n.讥笑；嘲弄 | |
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pallid
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| adj.苍白的，呆板的 | |
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foretell
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| v.预言，预告，预示 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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attainment
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| n.达到，到达；［常pl.］成就，造诣 | |
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cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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shovels
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| n.铲子( shovel的名词复数 )；锹；推土机、挖土机等的)铲；铲形部份v.铲子( shovel的第三人称单数 )；锹；推土机、挖土机等的)铲；铲形部份 | |
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hamper
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| vt.妨碍，束缚，限制；n.(有盖的)大篮子 | |
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luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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40
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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rift
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| n.裂口，隙缝，切口；v.裂开，割开，渗入 | |
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joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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recesses
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| n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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44
inquisitive
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| adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的 | |
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45
unfamiliar
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| adj.陌生的，不熟悉的 | |
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46
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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47
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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48
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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49
weirdly
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| 古怪地 | |
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50
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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51
plodding
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| a.proceeding in a slow or dull way | |
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52
huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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53
apprehended
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| 逮捕，拘押( apprehend的过去式和过去分词 )； 理解 | |
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54
creased
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| （使…）起折痕，弄皱( crease的过去式和过去分词 )； （皮肤）皱起，使起皱纹； 皱皱巴巴 | |
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55
subterranean
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| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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56
sonorous
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| adj.响亮的，回响的；adv.圆润低沉地；感人地；n.感人，堂皇 | |
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57
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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58
devious
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| adj.不坦率的，狡猾的；迂回的，曲折的 | |
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59
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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60
smiting
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的现在分词 ) | |
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61
racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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62
impervious
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| adj.不能渗透的，不能穿过的，不易伤害的 | |
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63
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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65
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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66
flask
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| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
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67
stimulant
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| n.刺激物，兴奋剂 | |
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68
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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69
proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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cleansed
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| 弄干净，清洗( cleanse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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intelligibly
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| adv.可理解地，明了地，清晰地 | |
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72
skunk
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| n.臭鼬，黄鼠狼；v.使惨败，使得零分；烂醉如泥 | |
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assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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snarling
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的现在分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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79
reverberating
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| 回响，回荡( reverberate的现在分词 )； 使反响，使回荡，使反射 | |
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80
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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81
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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solaced
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| v.安慰，慰藉( solace的过去分词 ) | |
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luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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85
valid
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| adj.有确实根据的；有效的；正当的，合法的 | |
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86
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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unevenly
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| adv.不均匀的 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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mite
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| n.极小的东西；小铜币 | |
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