Ziffak and King Haffgo placed their backs against the face of the rocks, along which the ledge1 ran, so as to open a clear course for the archer2. The latter fitted his arrow with great care and then straightening up drew back the string and slowly levelled, the missile at the head and breast of the American.
"Does that fool imagine I am going to keep still and let him practice on me?" the latter asked himself, an instant before discharging his rifle, whose bullet went straight through the dusky miscreant3 and sent him toppling off the side of the ledge as dead as dead could be.
Not only that, but the ball wounded the warrior4 directly behind him, causing him to utter a howl which rang with piercing force from side to side of the cavern5 of diamonds.
This prompt act caused something like a panic, Ziffak seemed the most terrified of any. Facing about, he flung his arms aloft and shouted to the rest to hurry away before the white man killed them all.
They lost no time in obeying, and it was noticeable that King Haffgo, being well at the rear, added his frenzied6 commands for his warriors7 to lose no time in leaving the fatal spot.
Ashman could have sent a succession of shots along the ridge8, as the party scrambled9 away, which would have toppled the dusky barbarians10 off like so many ten-pins; but he had no desire to inflict11 needless slaughter12, and, in answer to the appeal of the shrinking Ariel, he had promised her that, so far as he was concerned, her parent should receive no harm.
He therefore contented13 himself with watching them, until a bend in the ledge hid them from sight, with the exception of their heads, and they, too, soon disappeared; because the frightened warriors, glancing back, and seeing their peril14, crouched15 low to escape the bullets which they seemed to expect would come whistling about their crowns.
As long as the natives kept at such a distance, they could do no harm to the defenders16; for they were too far off to make use of their javelins18, and the single archer left was not likely to attempt to bring his weapon into play.
Naturally, Ashman and Ariel, finding they were left to themselves for a time, fell to speculating upon what was likely to be the next move of their enemies. He believed they would make an attempt to bridge the chasm19 separating them, a task which, as will be seen, was comparatively easy of accomplishment20.
But should such a structure be laid, it must be so strait that only one could pass at a time, and the American could pick them off as often as they presented themselves. There were now no firearms at the command of the Murhapas, unless some one recovered the weapon of Burkhardt, and even then, Ashman would feel little fear of harm from the savages21.
Ariel thought her parent and his little company would simply keep guard at the entrance of the cavern, in order to intercept22 them, if they discovered some way of re-crossing the chasm and attempted to leave.
But both were wrong.
The young man was resolved that no march should be stolen upon him. It was impossible for the Murhapas to pass far enough around to leave the place, without being seen, provided he kept unremitting watch, which he felt competent to do for a number of hours to come.
If the siege was prolonged, he could take turns with Ariel, whose bright eyes were quicker of perception than his.
In the cavern of diamonds, there was no means of telling when it was day or night on the earth outside. Lit by the eternal fires of the volcano, it was always day; but he carried a watch, which told him that the night was far advanced, and that the bright sun would soon shine upon mountain, forest, and river again, though his heart sank at the faint prospect23 of it ever being his privilege to greet the orb24 again.
The incidents of the next hour mystified both Ashman and Ariel.
The first movement which attracted their notice, was Ziffak, who, rising to the upright posture25, so that his immense shoulders were in plain sight, was seen picking his way along the ledge, until he reached the opening on the other side. Through this he passed and was seen no more.
It was useless to speculate as to the meaning of this proceeding26, which could not be explained until made clear by occurrences themselves. It was safe to assume, however, that it was ostensibly in the interests of King Haffgo, and therefore against those of the fugitive27 lovers.
Probably a half-hour after the disappearance28 of the chieftain, two of the party were seen stealing along the ledge in the direction of the entrance to the cavern. These, however, were of such slight stature29, when compared with Ziffak, and they made such efforts to conceal30 their movements, that it was hard to follow or identify them. Ashman thought that Haffgo was one of the number, but he could not make certain, and, since Ariel did not catch as favoring a glimpse as he, she could give no help in solving the question.
The best solution of the singular acts was that while the Murhapas seemed to try to hide themselves from the lovers, they still took pains to allow enough to be disclosed to reveal the movements, which they wished the couple to observe.
And here again, both Ashman and Ariel were in error.
Strange that a possibility which had once been thought of by the two did not occur again to them.
King Haffgo, despite his confidence in Ziffak, began to feel some distrust of him. His refusal to attempt the leap of the chasm, and his former friendship for the explorers, might have been reasonably explained, but his failure to drive his javelin17 through the white man, who was so near and who never stirred from his position, could not be an accident. He knew the marvellous skill of the head chieftain, who could have had but one cause for missing Ashman: that was an intentional31 deviation32 of his weapon, which, slight though it was, proved as effective as if hurled33 in the opposite direction.
And yet, shrewd as was Ziffak; he really believed he had deceived his royal brother. No suspicion of the distrust in the mind of the king came to the chieftain, when he was directed to return to the village and bring ten more warriors with him.
But this errand secured the absence of Ziffak for a couple of hours at least, and that was the sole purpose of Haffgo in sending him out of the cavern of diamonds.
When the chieftain was gone, the archer was directed to ascertain34 how far he could steal around the cavern, by taking the opposite course. Haffgo followed, directing the others to stay where they were until further orders were given them.
The archer set out at once, ahead of the king, both doing their best to avoid detection.
Fortune favored them in an unexpected manner. The ledge was found easier of travel than they expected, and, by using great care, they worked their way to a point less than two hundred feet from where the fugitives35 were standing36 on guard. They had traversed the whole distance, too, without detection.
When King Haffgo peered carefully over the shoulders of the crouching37 bowman, he saw the couple standing with their backs toward him, as they faced the chasm which had been found impassable for the Murhapas.
The slumbering38 anger in the parent's breast was kindled39 to a white heat, when he observed the white man holding the hand of his daughter, and he saw him lean over and touch his lips to hers. He whispered to the warrior to lose no time.
The latter quickly examined his arrows, and picked out the one which not only seemed the best, but was most plentifully40 provided with the deadly poison. This was speedily fitted to the string, and he deliberately41 took aim, his nerves like steel, for the king had whispered to him that he must not fail.
At the instant the string twanged, something caused Ariel to look behind them.
She uttered a faint scream as she caught sight of the two crouching figures. She descried42 a flitting shadow which she knew was the approaching missile on its deadly mission.
Knowing that it was aimed at her lover, she threw both her arms around his neck and interposed her body to protect him while he stood bewildered, not comprehending what it all meant.
Her figure was too slight to serve the purpose of a shield. The poisoned arrow whizzed straight at the breast of Ashman, who had turned about, but instead of entering his body, the point, surcharged with venom43, was imbedded in the snowy arm of Ariel herself!
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1
ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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archer
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| n.射手，弓箭手 | |
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miscreant
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| n.恶棍 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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barbarians
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| n.野蛮人( barbarian的名词复数 )；外国人；粗野的人；无教养的人 | |
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inflict
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| vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担 | |
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slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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javelin
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| n.标枪，投枪 | |
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javelins
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| n.标枪( javelin的名词复数 ) | |
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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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accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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intercept
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| vt.拦截，截住，截击 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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orb
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| n.太阳；星球；v.弄圆；成球形 | |
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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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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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intentional
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| adj.故意的，有意（识）的 | |
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32
deviation
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| n.背离，偏离；偏差，偏向；离题 | |
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33
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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34
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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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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crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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38
slumbering
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| 微睡，睡眠（slumber的现在分词形式） | |
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39
kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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40
plentifully
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| adv. 许多地，丰饶地 | |
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41
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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42
descried
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| adj.被注意到的，被发现的，被看到的 | |
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43
venom
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| n.毒液，恶毒，痛恨 | |
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