按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
They bound me to a small tree that grew in the middle of one of their
crooked streets； but the girl they released as soon as we had entered the
enclosure。 The people greeted her with every mark of respect as she
hastened to a large hut near the center of the camp。
Presently she returned with a fine looking； white…haired woman； who
proved to be her mother。 The older woman carried herself with a regal
dignity that seemed quite remarkable in a place of such primitive squalor。
The people fell aside as she approached； making a wide way for her
and her daughter。 When they had come near and stopped before me the
46
… Page 47…
THE LOST CONTINENT
older woman addressed me。
〃My daughter has told me；〃 she said； 〃of the manner in which you
rescued her from the men of the elephant country。 If Wettin lived you
would be well treated； but Buckingham has taken me now； and is king。
You can hope for nothing from such a beast as Buckingham。〃
The fact that Buckingham stood within a pace of us and was an
interested listener appeared not to temper her expressions in the slightest。
〃Buckingham is a pig；〃 she continued。 〃He is a coward。 He came
upon Wettin from behind and ran his spear through him。 He will not be
king for long。 Some one will make a face at him； and he will run away
and jump into the river。〃
The people began to titter and clap their hands。 Buckingham became
red in the face。 It was evident that he was far from popular。
〃If he dared；〃 went on the old lady； 〃he would kill me now； but he does
not dare。 He is too great a coward。 If I could help you I should gladly
do so。 But I am only queenthe vehicle that has helped carry down；
unsullied； the royal blood from the days when Grabritin was a mighty
country。〃
The old queen's words had a noticeable effect upon the mob of curious
savages which surrounded me。 The moment they discovered that the old
queen was friendly to me and that I had rescued her daughter they
commenced to accord me a more friendly interest； and I heard many
words spoken in my behalf； and demands were made that I not be harmed。
But now Buckingham interfered。 He had no intention of being
robbed of his prey。 Blustering and storming； he ordered the people back
to their huts； at the same time directing two of his warriors to confine me
in a dugout in one of the trenches close to his own shelter。
Here they threw me upon the ground； binding my ankles together and
trussing them up to my wrists behind。 There they left me； lying upon my
stomacha most uncomfortable and strained position； to which was added
the pain where the cords cut into my flesh。
Just a few days ago my mind had been filled with the anticipation of
the friendly welcome I should find among the cultured Englishmen of
London。 Today I should be sitting in the place of honor at the banquet
47
… Page 48…
THE LOST CONTINENT
board of one of London's most exclusive clubs； feted and lionized。
The actuality！ Here I lay； bound hand and foot； doubtless almost
upon the very site of a part of ancient London； yet all about me was a
primeval wilderness； and I was a captive of half…naked wild men。
I wondered what had become of Delcarte and Taylor and Snider。
Would they search for me？ They could never find me； I feared； yet if
they did； what could they accomplish against this horde of savage
warriors？
Would that I could warn them。 I thought of the girl doubtless she
could get word to them； but how was I to communicate with her？ Would
she come to see me before I was killed？ It seemed incredible that she
should not make some slight attempt to befriend me； yet； as I recalled； she
had made no effort to speak with me after we had reached the village。
She had hastened to her mother the moment she had been liberated。
Though she had returned with the old queen； she had not spoken to me；
even then。 I began to have my doubts。
Finally； I came to the conclusion that I was absolutely friendless
except for the old queen。 For some unaccountable reason my rage
against the girl for her ingratitude rose to colossal proportions。
For a long time I waited for some one to come to my prison whom I
might ask to bear word to the queen； but I seemed to have been forgotten。
The strained position in which I lay became unbearable。 I wriggled and
twisted until I managed to turn myself partially upon my side； where I lay
half facing the entrance to the dugout。
Presently my attention was attracted by the shadow of something
moving in the trench without； and a moment later the figure of a child
appeared； creeping upon all fours； as； wide…eyed； and prompted by
childish curiosity； a little girl crawled to the entrance of my hut and peered
cautiously and fearfully in。
I did not speak at first for fear of frightening the little one away。 But
when I was satisfied that her eyes had become sufficiently accustomed to
the subdued light of the interior； I smiled。
Instantly the expression of fear faded from her eyes to be replaced
with an answering smile。
48
… Page 49…
THE LOST CONTINENT
〃Who are you； little girl？〃 I asked。
〃My name is Mary；〃 she replied。 〃I am Victory's sister。〃
〃And who is Victory？〃
〃You do not know who Victory is？〃 she asked； in astonishment。
I shook my head in negation。
〃You saved her from the elephant country people； and yet you say you
do not know her！〃 she exclaimed。
〃Oh； so she is Victory； and you are her sister！ I have not heard her
name before。 That is why I did not know whom you meant；〃 I explained。
Here was just the messenger for me。 Fate was becoming more kind。
〃Will you do something for me； Mary？〃 I asked。
〃If I can。〃
〃Go to your mother； the queen； and ask her to come to me；〃 I said。 〃I
have a favor to ask。〃
She said that she would； and with a parting smile she left me。
For what seemed many hours I awaited her return； chafing with
impatience。 The afternoon wore on and night came； and yet no one came
near me。 My captors brought me neither food nor water。 I was
suffering considerable pain where the rawhide thongs cut into my swollen
flesh。 I thought that they had either forgotten me； or that it was their
intention to leave me here to die of starvation。
Once I heard a great uproar in the village。 Men were shouting
women were screaming and moaning。 After a time this subsided； and
again there was a long interval of silence。
Half the night must have been spent when I heard a sound in the trench
near the hut。 It resembled muffled sobs。 Presently a figure appeared；
silhouetted against the lesser darkness beyond the doorway。 It crept
inside the hut。
〃Are you here？〃 whispered a childlike voice。
It was Mary！ She had returned。 The thongs no longer hurt me。
The pangs of hunger and thirst disappeared。 I realized that it had been
loneliness from which I suffered most。
〃Mary！〃 I exclaimed。 〃You are a good girl。 You have come back；
after all。 I had commenced to think that you would not。 Did you give
49
… Page 50…
THE LOST CONTINENT
my message to the queen？ Will she come？ Where is she？〃
The child's sobs increased； and she flung herself upon the dirt floor of
the hut； apparently overcome by grief。
〃What is it？〃 I asked。 〃Why do you cry？〃
〃The queen； my mother； will no