She had saved him, but at what a fearful cost! The agonized2 lover realized it all, as he tenderly placed her on the rock beside which they were standing3. Then, like the man who, knowing he has been fatally struck by the rattlesnake or cobra, turns to stamp the life out of the reptile4, before looking after his own wound, he faced about and brought his rifle to his shoulder. The dusky miscreant5 cowered6 low, but he could not save himself, for the bullet which left the Winchester, entering at the skull7, ranged through the length of his body, and he rolled off the ledge8 like a rotten log and went down the yawning abyss that afforded a fit sepulture for such as he.
King Haffgo was standing erect9, as if defying the white man to fire at him. He had seen the result of the shot and he did not regret it.
"Die the death you deserve!" he called out in English; "for you are not the daughter of Haffgo!"
Then he turned about and moved along the ledge, while Ashman stood for an instant, with weapon levelled, feeling that the awful occurrence had absolved10 him from the pledge made a short time before.
He was aiming, when a faint voice at his side said:
"No, hurt him not; I shall get well!"
Letting the rifle fall from his grasp, he wheeled around as if he had been shot himself.
What did he see?
The brave Ariel had drawn11 the arrow from her arm, and was sitting erect. In her right hand, was a small earthen bottle such as was in common use among the Murhapas.
"Great heaven! what does this mean?" demanded her lover, uncertain whether he was awake or dreaming.
She smiled faintly, and said:
"I feel a little faint, but the danger is past."
"But,—but,"—he added, "the arrow was poisoned!"
"Yes, but the poison has a remedy; it is in that," she added, holding up the bottle; "my parent always carried it; I brought it with me when I left home."
The overjoyed lover could not repress a shout of joy,—a shout which penetrated12 every portion of the cavern13 of diamonds, but whose meaning, fortunately for the couple, was not understood by the ears on which it fell.
He knelt beside her, so that the bowlders shut both from the view of any prowlers who might seek to reach them. He kissed the happy face again and again; he called her the sweetest names that ever mortal uttered, and he assured her that they should both live and be happy forever.
In his overflowing14 bliss15, he could not realize that they were still walled in on every hand. All that he could know and feel, was, that she was spared from a dreadful death,—that she had interposed her own precious body to protect him from harm.
Enwrapped in his arms, she was obliged to confess that the bringing of the potent16 remedy was an inspiration, when she stole out of her father's house, for she never dreamed of the use to which it would be put.
She had forgotten all about it, until the sharp twinge in her arm apprised17 her that she was struck by the fearful missile. Then, as she was about to swoon, she recalled that she carried the remedy in her bosom18.
Drawing it quickly forth19, while her lover's face was turned away, she drank the whole contents, which were sufficient to save the lives of three or four persons. Not a drop, however, was left; and she remarked in her own peculiar20 manner, that they must be careful not to be struck by any more such missiles, since the remedy was gone, and it would be hard to secure more.
With a full realization21 of the remarkable22 deliverance of his beloved, Ashman was roused to a stronger resolution than before of making a desperate effort to extricate23 themselves from their perilous24 situation, which looked indeed as if without hope.
Rising to his feet, but screening his body as he could, he carefully peered around the cavern of diamonds. He cautioned Ariel to keep out of sight, for, if it should become know that her life was saved, her father and his warriors26 would doubtless make another attempt to reach them.
Looking in the direction of the opening on the other side, he saw Haffgo pass out, followed the next minute or two by the rest of the Murhapas. To Ashman this was proof that the party had decided27 to withdraw from the cavern, but would keep watch of the egress28 to make sure that the white man did not get away by some freak of fortune.
Since they were sure he was caught in a trap from which there was no escape, he had his choice of remaining and starving to death, of coming forth and giving himself up, or of ending it all by precipitating29 himself down the rocks.
A terrible punishment indeed for the white man that had dared to defy the king of the Murhapas, and had been the cause of the death of the beloved princess!
Ashman was still studying the insoluble problem, when a strange impulse led him to look aloft. It will be remembered that he was near the roof of the cavern, among a mass of bowlders and rocks which touched the dome30.
Several times it had seemed to him that a felt a slight, upward draught31, as though a portion of the air found vent32 in that direction. When he mentioned it to Ariel she admitted that she had noticed the same thing, and urged him to investigate.
Leaving his Winchester with her, he began a cautious ascent33 of the rugged34 stairs. He had about twenty feet to climb, and the greatest care was necessary. Not until at the very top, did he pass from the sight of the maiden35 who was attentively36 watching his movements.
Five minutes later, he let go his hold and dropped, down beside her. His face was flushed and his eyes glowing with excitement.
"Thank heaven!" he exclaimed, greatly agitated37; "there is an opening by which we can reach the outer world."
"I was sure of it," she replied with a happy smile.
During his brief absence, she had bandaged her arm as best she could by tearing a slip from her dress. The wound bled less than would be supposed, and caused her little pain.
Taking her other hand, Ashman began helping38 her up among the rocks and bowlders. She needed little aid, however, for she was lighter39 and more graceful40 on her feet than he.
Sure enough, when they arrived at the top, they came upon a broader opening than that by which they had entered the cavern. It was hidden from sight by a projecting table of rock, and when they came to pass through, the outer opening was seen to be so covered by bushes that it never could have been found except by the accident which first showed Ariel the way into the cavern.
But with hearts overflowing with gratitude41 to heaven, they found themselves on the earth again, with the sun shining and the pure air of heaven fanning their fevered faces.
They had emerged at the crest42 of the mountainous mass, which covered a portion of the enchanted43 lake and the cavern of diamonds. Fortunately, too, they were among the woods, where they could not see far in any direction. This rendered them less liable to discovery by their enemies in the neighborhood.
Ashman held his position until the two could study their location and gain an idea of the points of the compass. The rising sun helped them to do this, and, by moving carefully about until they gained sight of the lake and the Upper Xingu, they soon ascertained44 in what direction the Murhapa village lay, and the course necessary to take in order to avoid it.
It was decided to put back in the forest and thread their way through the dense45 wilderness46, striking the Xingu at a point below the rapids. There, if they found nothing of their friends, they would manage to secure a boat in which they could press their flight in the direction of the Amazon.
The forests abounded47 with wild animals and huge serpents, but the ardent48 lover was admirably armed and confident that he could protect his beloved from all harm, provided they could escape discovery by the Murhapas and Aryks.
If Haffgo should venture on an approach to the rocks, where the fugitives49 made their stand, he could not fail to find out the extraordinary manner in which they had eluded50 him, and he would be certain to organize instant pursuit.
But this was not likely to take place for a considerable time, though the possibility led Ashman to push forward with all vigor51, often pausing to listen for sounds of pursuit.
The extreme caution of the lovers led them to trend much further into the woods than was really necessary, and they were a long time, therefore, in reaching the Xingu.
Neither had eaten food for an unusual while, but they cared nothing for that. They were too anxious for any thought except that of getting forward as fast as possible.
As they progressed, startled now and then by the prowling wild beasts which threatened attack more than once, and by the sight of enormous serpents, some in trees and some on the ground, Fred Ashman's thoughts naturally went forward, and he speculated as to what was the result of the attack on his friends the preceding night in the village.
He could comprehend the frightful52 situation in which they were placed by the enmity of the king, and it seemed incredible that any, or at least all of them, could have extricated53 themselves from their peril25. Gladly would he have risked everything in their defence, but, as has been shown, that was beyond his power at any time.
The young American shrank from firing his gun, through fear of the report reaching the ears of the Murhapas. If that should take place, it would be sure to excite their suspicions, and prompt an investigation54 which the fugitives dreaded55.
Once a jaguar56 became so threatening, that he leveled his weapon convinced that he must fire or be attacked, but the snarling57 beast finally withdrew, after sneaking58 behind them for a long distance.
The sun had passed the meridian59 when the wanderers caught the gleam of water among the trees in front. They hastened forward, and a moment's survey of the stream convinced them that they had reached the Xingu beyond all question.
Ashman recognized several features along the banks which he had noticed on his way up the river. Ariel was equally positive, so they dismissed the question from their minds.
Both were nearly exhausted60, for they had had a tiresome61 tramp, during all of which they were under a severe mental strain. They felt that, at last, they could sit down and rest themselves before resuming their journey.
"The next thing to be done," said Ashman as he imprisoned62 the hand of Ariel and drew her head upon his shoulder, "is to find some boat in which we can float down stream. It will be less work than we had in ascending63 it."
"I suppose," she replied, "that there are people all the way along the river until you reach the end of it."
"There are; but we found most of them unfriendly long before we struck the region of the Aryks."
"Are they likely to attack us?" she asked, raising her head and looking at her lover with an alarmed expression.
"We had little difficulty, so long as we kept in the middle of the stream, and one discharge from our guns was generally enough to drive them away."
"And for how far does this prevail?"
"Two or three days ought to take us out of the danger. Then it will be plain sailing all the rest of the way. The river is long, but, dearest, we shall be with each other, and it will seem brief."
She parted her lips to make a suitable reply, when a startled expression came upon her lovely countenance64 and she whispered:
"They must have followed us through the woods."
"What do you mean?" he asked, grasping his rifle.
"I hear some one moving behind us."
"It is a wild animal——"
He checked himself, for, to his unspeakable amazement65, Professor Grimcke at that instant stepped to view.
The two men caught sight of each other at the same moment. They stared as if in doubt, and then, with exclamations66 of delight, clasped hands.
By great good fortune, the lovers had emerged from the forest within a stone's throw of the point where Grimcke, Long, Bippo, and Pedros were waiting with the canoe hidden among the trees.
After this reunion they set out for home.
A few days carried them beyond danger, and in good time the Amazon was reached. Bippo and Pedros were left at Marcapa, at which port the explorers secured passage for home, where they arrived in safety. And in that land, so strange to the beauteous Ariel, daughter of Haffgo, king of the Murhapas, we bid good-by to our friends. But to her, Ashman was all the world; and in the sunshine of their mutual67 love they dwell to-day, happy, grateful, contented68, and envying no one, assured, as they are, that none can be more blessed than they.
The End
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1
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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agonized
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| v.使（极度）痛苦，折磨( agonize的过去式和过去分词 )；苦斗；苦苦思索；感到极度痛苦 | |
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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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reptile
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| n.爬行动物；两栖动物 | |
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miscreant
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| n.恶棍 | |
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cowered
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的过去式 ) | |
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skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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10
absolved
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| 宣告…无罪，赦免…的罪行，宽恕…的罪行( absolve的过去式和过去分词 )； 不受责难，免除责任 [义务] ,开脱（罪责） | |
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11
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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12
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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13
cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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14
overflowing
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| n. 溢出物,溢流 adj. 充沛的，充满的 动词overflow的现在分词形式 | |
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15
bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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16
potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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17
apprised
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| v.告知，通知( apprise的过去式和过去分词 )；评价 | |
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18
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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19
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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21
realization
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| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
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22
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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extricate
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| v.拯救，救出；解脱 | |
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24
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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26
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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27
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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28
egress
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| n.出去；出口 | |
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29
precipitating
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| adj.急落的，猛冲的v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的现在分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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30
dome
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| n.圆屋顶，拱顶 | |
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31
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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38
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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39
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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40
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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41
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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42
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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43
enchanted
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| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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44
ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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46
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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47
abounded
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| v.大量存在，充满，富于( abound的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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49
fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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50
eluded
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| v.（尤指机敏地）避开( elude的过去式和过去分词 )；逃避；躲避；使达不到 | |
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51
vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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52
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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53
extricated
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| v.使摆脱困难，脱身( extricate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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55
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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56
jaguar
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| n.美洲虎 | |
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57
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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58
sneaking
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| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
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59
meridian
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| adj.子午线的；全盛期的 | |
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60
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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61
tiresome
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| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
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62
imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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63
ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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64
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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65
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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66
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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67
mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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