“And to think of them, off adventuring now, this very minute!” she exclaimed, pouting2 a little. “It was rather horrid3 of them to go at such an unearthly hour, when of course we weren’t up.”
May nodded cheerfully.
“Yes, I’d have enjoyed being in at the finish—if only I’d been invited.”
“And I, too,” Margaret declared. “Anyhow, it’s my affair in a way, so I think I’m entitled to a spectator’s privilege, at least.”
“It must be horribly exciting for you, with so much money involved,” May ventured, somewhat timidly.
“I don’t wish Mr. Temple to fail. I don’t really need the money. Besides—” she broke off in confusion.
[346]“And, besides, everything may come out right, after all, for everybody concerned,” May said slily.
“Except the poor musicians,” she remarked; and then the two girls laughed joyously6. As a matter of fact, each of them understood perfectly7 the progress of the other’s love-affair, but their intimacy8 was too new for the most sacred confidences. Then, Margaret received an inspiration:
“Why, we’ll go,” she exclaimed. Her expression showed surprised triumph over the idea.
“Where?” May questioned, at a loss.
“To the island, of course,” came the brisk answer. “I’ll run and tell mother, and then we’ll paddle up there, and see everything that’s to be seen.”
“Splendid!” May cried with enthusiasm. She was interested in the outcome of the treasure-hunt, but at this moment her sole thought was a thrilling one to the effect that by the plan she would see Roy the sooner.
So, it came about that in mid-afternoon the[347] two girls beached the canoe on the strip of sand at the island, and started toward the cavern9. They were a little puzzled by the absence of the launch, and wondered if the fact were significant of good or ill fortune for the searchers. As they came to the top of the low bluff10 that rose from the shore, Margaret paused, and turned to look out over the lake.
“No, the launch isn’t in sight anywhere,” she said.
As she would have faced about to go on, a faint muffled11 sound came to her ears; the ground trembled very slightly; a movement of the lake’s surface caught her glance. A moment before, the tiny waves, glistening12 prisms under the sunlight, had made a scene of quiet beauty. Now, in the twinkling of an eye, there had come a change—a change curious, inexplicable13, sinister14. Out there in the lake, only a little way from the shore, the water, which had been so placid15 when they skimmed over it hardly a minute before, was now writhing16 in a horrible convulsion. Yet, no unwarned tempest racked the lake. The warm air was floating as languidly as hitherto. Nothing had been hurled17 into the water. There had been[348] no crash of fallen meteor. Naught18 showed as the cause of this amazing contrast. Nevertheless, under her eyes, the erstwhile tranquil19 bosom20 of the lake heaved in rage. Fifty yards from the shore, the water raced, lashing21 itself in wrath22 about the sunken center of its vortex. Margaret, thrilled, astounded23, terrified, caught May by the arm, pulled her about.
“See! See!” she cried, wildly. “What is it? What can it mean?”
May, too, was stupefied by the spectacle. She stared at it in wordless confusion. She could make no guess as to the cause of this extraordinary event, nor tried to. She merely watched the mad carouse24 of the flood, and stood aghast. A great fear of this uncanny thing fell on the two girls, so that they clung together for protection, shuddering25, their faces pallid26.
It seemed to the watchers as if that mysterious turmoil27 in the waters of the lake continued for hours, though, as Billy Walker might have explained to them, it was doubtless no more than a matter of minutes. The commotion28 spread over a broad area, but the girls had eyes only for the central place of the[349] movement, the maelstrom29 near the shore, where the waters whirled in funnel30 shape, with the swaying hollow pointing the downward rush. An engineer would have known at first glance the reason for this churning of the lake, would have understood that some sudden vent1 below had set the tide racing31 to new liberty. But the girls had no such learning in physics. They could only look on in fascinated wonder, in awe32. Haphazard33, fantastic ideas darted34 in their brains, vague guesses concerning sea-serpents, earthquakes, tidal waves, waterspouts, which their own native sense rejected. Throughout the experience, neither was able to contrive35 any explanation of the extraordinary event. They were as confounded at the end as at the beginning.
Little by little, the waters of the lake ran slowly, and more slowly, in the path set them by the whorl. At last, there was scarcely a ripple36 to mark the spot where the cauldron had seethed37 hottest. Once again, there was nothing to see save the light tossing of the waves, dancing to the rhythm of the breeze toward the kisses of the sun. Margaret and May set their faces once more toward the[350] cavern.
They were garrulous38 over the mystery—hardly concerned with the treasure-quest, for the moment. But the new interest had not lessened39 the desire of their hearts, and they quickened their steps, each at thought of the man she loved, now so near at hand. So they came soon to the cliff in the ravine, where was the entrance to the cave. Margaret had brought her torch, which Jake had recharged for her the night before from his own supplies. She pressed the button, pushed aside the concealing40 branches, and made her way within the opening, followed closely by May, who experienced a pleasurable excitement as she thus penetrated41 into the earth. The two came duly to the chamber42, which they crossed to where the black openings into the tunnels showed. Now, May’s heart beat faster, as she found herself deep in this grim abode43 of darkness, where the limited radiance of the torch served but to make more grotesquely44 menacing the shadowy unknown on every side. Yet, she would not confess the fear that clutched at her—only, held fast to Margaret’s arm, and chatted with unusual volubility, while a little[351] quaver crept in her voice. They entered the passage on the right, which Margaret had traversed with Saxe, and went forward with what speed they might over the rocks that cumbered the floor. They had descended45 for some distance, but had not yet reached the rift46 that led across into the other tunnel, when Margaret halted abruptly47, with a gasp48 of amazement49.
“It’s—it’s water!” she cried, dumfounded. She stood staring with dilated50 eyes, her lips parted, stupefied with astonishment51, pointing with her free hand to the space before her, where the glow of the torch shone on a softly rippling52 level of water, which filled the tunnel like the contents of a well seen down the slope.
May, who had held her eyes fixed53 on the floor to save herself from stumbling, looked forward at the exclamation54, and perceived the water. But the sight was not especially impressive to her. She supposed that here was merely a well in the path. She did not understand her friend’s dismay.
“What is it?” she asked, with no great interest. She wondered in which direction they would turn to pass by the pool.
[352]Margaret, however, was thinking with desperate energy. Her mind was naturally keen, and it had enjoyed advantages of careful training. She began, at last, to suspect something as to the true significance of the catastrophe55 in the lake, which hitherto had baffled comprehension. The presence of water in the cavern, where before had been no water, stunned56 her at first; then, as she apprehended57 vaguely58 the meaning of it, it appalled59. There where the tunnel was steep, the water filled it completely. She went forward until the water was at her very feet, and stared down at it, her face colorless, her pulse bounding wildly, in the grip of cold horror. Finally, she began stammering60 affrightedly:
“The lake—the water out there—it’s broken into the cavern—they’re drowned—drowned—Saxe!” Her voice rose to a wail61 on the last word.
Margaret’s terror, rather than her words, had filled the other girl with dismay at the first. But “drowned” gave form to fear. May, in turn, was stricken with horror.
“Drowned?” she repeated, in a whisper. “Roy?” Her memory went back to the scene[353] she had just witnessed on the lake. The utterance62 of Margaret, broken, uncomprehended, became hideously64 plain. It meant that the lake had somehow entered this cavern, which ran beneath the waters. In that case, the men down within the earth there must have been overwhelmed by the in-pouring flood. But, even as conviction came, her spirit refused credence65 to the truth. She cried aloud in revolt:
“No, no! No, I tell you! They are safe—safe!”
“Come!” she exclaimed. She whirled, and ran swiftly over the rubble68, back the way they had come. Her thoughts were chaotic69, but through them ran refusal to believe the worst. He—they—Saxe must have received warning—must be safe, somewhere, somehow—must be—must be! May, hard on Margaret’s heels, was sore pressed to keep the pace over the jumble70 of fragments.
When they had come to the great chamber, Margaret, without pause, turned into the passage[354] on the left. With the same speed, she hurried along this, panting now. May ran just behind. Then, finally, the horror, against which Margaret had hoped, burst full on her. She halted, reeling, a shriek71 of despair wavering on her palsied lips. A few feet away, down the tunnel’s slope, lay the level black of water, shining gently under the beams of the torch, serene72, implacable. May, too, saw and understood, and rested frozen in dumb anguish73 over this ending of all things.
There are certain calamities74 so unexpected, so monstrous75, that the mind refuses to accept them as fact at first announcement, no matter what the proof. It was so here. The two girls—freshly stirring to the most subtle and the most potent76 of human emotions, love, come forth77 in the morning with gladness of heart to meet the men of their choice, gaily78 eager to learn of an adventure—were now, in a flash, confronted with an inconceivable disaster. They would not accept the fact—they could not. There was, there must be, some hideous63 mistake, soon to be cleared away. Despite all evidence, those they loved had not been done to death, down there within the abysses of the[355] earth. Somewhere, somehow, they had escaped. They would come forth presently, and then there would be only laughter, where now was terror.
It was this refusal to believe that gave Margaret inspiration to action at last. Of a sudden, she bethought herself of that other entrance to the cavern, concerning which she had spoken to Saxe. On the instant, she again turned, and fled back through the tunnel without a word. May, not understanding, yet still defiant80 of fate, followed. The time was marvelously short until they were again in the ravine outside the cavern. But Margaret did not pause here—she did not even trouble to cut off the current of her torch, of which the glow showed wanly81 against the sunlight, as she went running swiftly through the ravine, and out on the little plateau that lay at its mouth. There, she hesitated, but only for a second, her eyes sweeping82 the undulations of the island while memory struggled for assurance. Certainty flashed on her, and again she leaped forward, May always close beside in the flight. Across the plateau Margaret sped, into a gully that ran toward the shore, up a[356] stiff slope to the crest83 of a ridge84, which was part of the bluff overlooking the lake. The summit was boulder-strewn, a medley85 of masses lying topsy-turvy. She threaded a way among the rocks, perforce more slowly, yet still with feverish86 haste. At last, she halted, with a great cry of joy.
May looked, wondering, and saw a small hole amid the rocks at her feet. It was less than a yard in length, and in breadth much narrower. She perceived that it was not quite vertical88, though almost. A short way below the surface, its course was hidden in blackness.
Margaret wasted not a moment.
“They’re in there, I know,” she explained, succinctly89, to May. “I’m going to show them the way out.”
As a matter of fact, the girl knew nothing as to the fact she stated so authoritatively90. She had no least idea as to that part of the cavern on which the chimney gave. Her cousin had pointed91 it out, and had told her that by it he first made his way within. Beyond that, she knew nothing whatever. Hope dictated[357] her claim to knowledge. She still denied any credence to the final catastrophe. Here, now, lay the sole avenue of escape. So she announced it with positiveness that admitted no question. Thus only might courage be held. May, for her part, eager to believe, received the declaration without doubt. Moreover, Roy had discoursed92 to her at length concerning the curious operations of the sixth sense. With that receptivity characteristic of the fond woman, she had accepted his pronouncements without hesitation93, glad to believe whatsoever94 he believed. Besides, she had great faith in feminine intuition—and what was intuition, if not that self-same psychic95 thing over which her lover rhapsodized? Now, instinct cried that the man she loved was safe, and she believed.
“Shall I go, too?” she asked.
Margaret shook her head. She turned to scan the lake.
“No,” she said; “you couldn’t help—and it may be bad climbing. But I’m used to that. You keep watch for Jake and the launch. He may be needed later on.” With that as the last word, she let herself down into the chimney[358] of the rocks. May from above gazed with wide eyes until the form of her friend disappeared into the blackness below. Then, she turned to look out over the lake, in anxious search for the coming of the launch. Standing79 alone there, with the dreadful mystery hidden within the earth under her feet, she felt a quick reaction of doubt, which welled swiftly to the torture of despair. The strength flowed from her. She sank to her knees, and stared down into the dark of the chasm96 with dull, unseeing eyes—rested motionless in the apathy97 of supreme98 misery99.
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1
vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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pouting
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| v.撅（嘴）( pout的现在分词 ) | |
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3
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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offense
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| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
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innuendo
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| n.暗指，讽刺 | |
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joyously
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| ad.快乐地, 高兴地 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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12
glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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13
inexplicable
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| adj.无法解释的，难理解的 | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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writhing
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| （因极度痛苦而）扭动或翻滚( writhe的现在分词 ) | |
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hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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lashing
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| n.鞭打；痛斥；大量；许多v.鞭打( lash的现在分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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carouse
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| v.狂欢；痛饮；n.狂饮的宴会 | |
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shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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26
pallid
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| adj.苍白的，呆板的 | |
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turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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maelstrom
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| n.大乱动；大漩涡 | |
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funnel
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| n.漏斗；烟囱；v.汇集 | |
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racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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haphazard
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| adj.无计划的，随意的，杂乱无章的 | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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contrive
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| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
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ripple
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| n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进 | |
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seethed
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| （液体）沸腾( seethe的过去式和过去分词 )； 激动，大怒； 强压怒火； 生闷气(~with sth|~ at sth) | |
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38
garrulous
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| adj.唠叨的，多话的 | |
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lessened
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| 减少的，减弱的 | |
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concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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41
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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42
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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43
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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44
grotesquely
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| adv. 奇异地,荒诞地 | |
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45
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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46
rift
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| n.裂口，隙缝，切口；v.裂开，割开，渗入 | |
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47
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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48
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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49
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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50
dilated
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| adj.加宽的，扩大的v.（使某物）扩大，膨胀，张大( dilate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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51
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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52
rippling
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| 起涟漪的，潺潺流水般声音的 | |
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53
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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54
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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55
catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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56
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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57
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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58
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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59
appalled
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| v.使惊骇，使充满恐惧( appall的过去式和过去分词)adj.惊骇的；丧胆的 | |
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60
stammering
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的现在分词 ) | |
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61
wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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62
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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63
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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64
hideously
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| adv.可怕地，非常讨厌地 | |
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65
credence
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| n.信用，祭器台，供桌，凭证 | |
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66
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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67
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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68
rubble
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| n.（一堆）碎石，瓦砾 | |
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69
chaotic
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| adj.混沌的，一片混乱的，一团糟的 | |
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70
jumble
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| vt.使混乱，混杂；n.混乱；杂乱的一堆 | |
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71
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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72
serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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73
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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74
calamities
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| n.灾祸，灾难( calamity的名词复数 )；不幸之事 | |
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monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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wanly
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| adv.虚弱地；苍白地，无血色地 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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medley
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| n.混合 | |
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feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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reverent
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| adj.恭敬的，虔诚的 | |
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vertical
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| adj.垂直的，顶点的，纵向的；n.垂直物，垂直的位置 | |
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succinctly
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| adv.简洁地；简洁地，简便地 | |
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authoritatively
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| 命令式地，有权威地，可信地 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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discoursed
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| 演说（discourse的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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psychic
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| n.对超自然力敏感的人；adj.有超自然力的 | |
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chasm
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| n.深坑，断层，裂口，大分岐，利害冲突 | |
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apathy
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| n.漠不关心，无动于衷；冷淡 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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