the darrow enigma-第17章
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would…be suicide； caught in the act of hanging himself； would
struggle madly for his life were someone else to forcibly adjust the
noose about his neck。 At all events； I found myself unwilling； at
the last moment； to have someone else launch me into eternity and；
as I wished to gain time to think what I should do to escape； I
said to him：
〃Why do you bear me such malice？ Can you not see that any injury I
may have done you was purely in self…defence？ You sought the quarrel；
and I took the only means at hand to protect myself。 I did not； as
you know； seek to kill you； a thing I could easily have done； but
was content merely to make good my escape。 I …〃
〃Bah！〃 he said； interrupting me savagely。 〃That has nothing to do
with it。 Had you only pounded my head you might live； but you have
pounded my heart！ It is for that I hate you； and for that you die！〃
〃What have I done？〃 I asked。
〃What have you done？〃 he roared； furious with rage。 〃I will tell
you。 You have by magic possessed the mind of my wife。 Your name；
your cursed name is ever upon her lips！ My entreaties； my
supplications are answered by nothing else。 Even in her sleep she
starts up and calls for you。 You have cast a spell upon her。 Day
by day she droops and withers like a lotus…flower whose root is
severed； yet ever and always； is your cursed name upon her lips；
goading me to madness； until at last I have registered a sacred oath
to kill you； and remove the accursed spell you have thrown upon her。〃
Had he advanced upon me at this moment he would have found me as
helpless as a child； so overcome was I by the sudden joy which seized
upon me； and seemed to turn my melancholy inside out。 Those words of
hatred had been as a torch illumining the gloom of my despair； for
they had shown me that my existence was not altogether barren and
unproductive。 The life which has known the heaven of true love
cannot be called a failure。 There is no wall so high； no distance
so great； no separation so complete as to defy the ineffable commerce
of two loving hearts！ Lona； then； was still mine； despite all
obstacles。 What a change this knowledge made！ In an instant life
became an inexpressible benefaction； for it permitted me to realise
I was beloved； … and death was dowered with a new horror … the fear
that I should cease to know it。
I was roughly aroused from my reflections by Rama Ragobah。
〃Come； Sahib；〃 he said； as his thick lips curled sneeringly； 〃suppose
you try your spells upon me？ You will never have a better chance
than now to show your power；〃 and again he made a slight movement
toward me with the gleaming knife。 The moon； low down upon the
horizon； sent a broad beam of light into the entrance of the cave
and over the head and shoulders of the Indian。 Its cold light
shimmered along the blade which was now held threateningly toward
me。 The crisis had been reached。
In times of such great urgency one has frequently an inspiration
… instantaneous； disconnected； unbidden … which no amount of quiet；
peaceful thought would suggest。 Such extraordinary flashes are the
result of reasoning too rapid for consciousness to note。 The Indian
had already laid bare his right arm to the elbow before I had
determined upon the desperate course I would pursue； and upon which
I must hazard all。 As he advanced upon me I seized the large； white
sola hat from my head； and hurled it full in his face。 It was a
schoolboy trick； yet upon its success depended my life。
Instinctively； and in spite of himself； Ragobah dodged； closed his
eyes； and raised his right hand； knife and all； to shield his face。
I sprang upon him at the same instant I threw my hat； and so was
able to reach him before he opened his eyes。 I had well calculated
his movements； and had made no mistake。 As I reached him his head
was bent downward and forward to let the hat pass over him。 His
position could not have been better for my purpose。 I 〃swung on
him；〃 as we used to say at the gymnasium； catching him under his
protruded jaw； not far from the region of the carotid artery。 The
blow was well placed； and desperation lent me phenomenal strength。
It raised him bodily off his feet； and hurled him backward out
of the cave； where he lay motionless。 He was now in my power。 I
seized his knife and bent over him。 Words cannot express the hatred；
the loathing I felt for him then and always。 Between me and the
light of my happiness he had ever stood； an impenetrable black mass。
Twice had he sought my life； yet now； when he was in my power； I
could not plunge his weapon into his heart。 Would it not be just；
I thought； to drag him into the cave； and hurl him down the abyss
he had intended for me？ Yes； he certainly merited it； yet I could
not do that either。 I wished the snake a thousand times dead； yet
I could not stamp it into the earth。
He was beginning to slightly move now； and something must be done。
It was useless to run； for the way was long； and he could easily
overtake me。 You may wonder why I did not take to the thicket；
but if you had ever had any experience with Indian jungles you
would know that； without the use of fire and axe； they are
practically impenetrable。 Professor Haeckel； botanising near that
same spot； spent an hour in an endeavour to force his way into
one of these jungles； but only succeeded in advancing a few steps
into the thicket； when； stung by mosquitoes； bitten by ants； his
clothing torn from his bleeding arms and legs； wounded by the
thousands of sharp thorns of the calamus； hibiscus； euphorbias；
lantanas； and myriad other jungle plants； he was obliged； utterly
discomfited； to desist。 If this were the result of his efforts；
made in broad daylight； and with deliberation； what might I expect
rushing into the thicket at night； as a refuge from a pursuer far
my superior in physical strength and fleetness of foot； and who；
moreover； had known the jungle from his boyhood？ Once overtaken
by my enemy； the long knife in my hands would be of no avail
against a stick in his。 I saw all this clearly； and realised that
he must be prevented from following me。
There was no time to be lost； for he was rapidly recovering
possession of his powers。 I seized a large rock and hurled it with
all the force I could command upon his left foot and ankle。
Notwithstanding his immense strength his hands and feet were scarcely
larger than a woman's； and the small bones cracked like pipe…stems。
Though I had not the will to kill him； my own safety demanded that
I should maim him as the only other means of making good my escape。
As the rock crushed his foot the pain seemed to bring him immediately
into full possession of his faculties； and he roared like an enraged
bull。 I turned and looked back as I beat a hasty retreat down the
hill。 He had seized one of the air…roots of the banyan tree； and
raised himself upon his right leg。 The expression of his face as
the moonlight fell upon it was something never to be forgotten。 It
riveted me to the spot with the fascination of horror。 He shook his
fist at me fiercely； as he shrieked from the back of his throat：
〃You infidel cur！ You may as well try to brush away the Himalyas
with a silk handkerchief as to escape the wrath of Rama Ragobah。
Go！ Bury yourself in seclusion at the farthermost corner of the
earth； and on one night Ragobah and the darkness shall be with you！〃
These were the last words this fiend incarnate ever spoke to me； but
I know they are prophetic； and that he will keep his oath。
The next day I learned that Lona was dead。 She had died with my
name upon her lips； and her secret … the explanation of her strange
conduct on that night … died with her。 I shall never know it。
Bitterly did I repent my inability to reach her。 The thought that
she had waited in vain for me； that with her last breath she had
called upon me； and I had answered not； was unendurable torture；
and I fled India and came to America in the futile endeavour to
forget it all。 Out of my black past there shone but one bright star
… her love！ All these long years have I oriented my soul by that
sweet； unforgettable radiance； prizing it abov
