the lost continent(消失的大陆)-第30章
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Gondar would be exhibited； that the royal host would select such as he
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wished； after which he would present the balance of them to his guests。
Ah； what royal generosity！
A small door at one side of the room opened； and the poor creatures
filed in and were ranged in a long line before the throne。 Their backs
were toward me。 I saw only an occasional profile as now and then a
bolder spirit among them turned to survey the apartment and the gorgeous
assemblage of officers in their brilliant dress uniforms。 They were profiles
of young girls； and pretty； but horror was indelibly stamped upon them all。
I shuddered as I contemplated their sad fate； and turned my eyes away。
I heard the master of ceremonies command them to prostrate
themselves before the emperor； and the sounds as they went upon their
knees before him； touching their foreheads to the floor。 Then came the
official's voice again； in sharp and peremptory command。
〃Down； slave！〃 he cried。 〃Make obeisance to your sovereign！〃
I looked up； attracted by the tone of the man's voice； to see a single；
straight； slim figure standing erect in the center of the line of prostrate
girls； her arms folded across her breast and little chin in the air。 Her back
was toward meI could not see her face； though I should like to see the
countenance of this savage young lioness； standing there defiant among
that herd of terrified sheep。
〃Down！ Down！〃 shouted the master of ceremonies； taking a step
toward her and half drawing his sword。
My blood boiled。 To stand there； inactive； while a negro struck down
that brave girl of my own race！ Instinctively I took a forward step to
place myself in the man's path。 But at the same instant Menelek raised
his hand in a gesture that halted the officer。 The emperor seemed
interested； but in no way angered at the girl's attitude。
〃Let us inquire；〃 he said in a smooth； pleasant voice； 〃why this young
woman refuses to do homage to her sovereign；〃 and he put the question
himself directly to her。
She answered him in Abyssinian； but brokenly and with an accent that
betrayed how recently she had acquired her slight knowledge of the
tongue。
〃I go on my knees to no one；〃 she said。 〃I have no sovereign。 I
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myself am sovereign in my own country。〃
Menelek； at her words； leaned back in his throne and laughed
uproariously。 Following his example； which seemed always the correct
procedure； the assembled guests vied with one another in an effort to
laugh more noisily than the emperor。
The girl but tilted her chin a bit higher in the aireven her back
proclaimed her utter contempt for her captors。 Finally Menelek restored
quiet by the simple expedient of a frown； whereupon each loyal guest
exchanged his mirthful mien for an emulative scowl。
〃And who；〃 asked Menelek； 〃are you； and by what name is your
country called？〃
〃I am Victory； Queen of Grabritin；〃 replied the girl so quickly and so
unexpectedly that I gasped in astonishment。
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9
Victory！ She was here； a slave to these black conquerors。 Once
more I started toward her； but better judgment held me backI could do
nothing to help her other than by stealth。 Could I even accomplish aught
by this means？ I did not know。 It seemed beyond the pale of possibility；
and yet I should try。
〃And you will not bend the knee to me？〃 continued Menelek； after she
had spoken。 Victory shook her head in a most decided negation。
〃You shall be my first choice； then；〃 said the emperor。 〃I like your
spirit； for the breaking of it will add to my pleasure in you； and never fear
but that it shall be broken this very night。 Take her to my apartments；〃
and he motioned to an officer at his side
I was surprised to see Victory follow the man off in apparent quiet
submission。 I tried to follow； that I might be near her against some
opportunity to speak with her or assist in her escape。 But； after I had
followed them from the throne room； through several other apartments；
and down a long corridor； I found my further progress barred by a soldier
who stood guard before a doorway through which the officer conducted
Victory。
Almost immediately the officer reappeared and started back in the
direction of the throne room。 I had been hiding in a doorway after the
guard had turned me back； having taken refuge there while his back was
turned； and； as the officer approached me； I withdrew into the room
beyond； which was in darkness。 There I remained for a long time；
watching the sentry before the door of the room in which Victory was a
prisoner； and awaiting some favorable circumstance which would give me
entry to her。
I have not attempted to fully describe my sensations at the moment I
recognized Victory； because； I can assure you； they were entirely
indescribable。 I should never have imagined that the sight of any human
being could affect me as had this unexpected discovery of Victory in the
same room in which I was； while I had thought of her for weeks either as
dead； or at best hundreds of miles to the west； and as irretrievably lost to
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me as though she were； in truth； dead。
I was filled with a strange； mad impulse to be near her。 It was not
enough merely to assist her； or protect herI desired to touch herto take
her in my arms。 I was astounded at myself。 Another thing puzzled me
it was my incomprehensible feeling of elation since I had again seen her。
With a fate worse than death staring her in the face； and with the
knowledge that I should probably die defending her within the hour； I was
still happier than I had been for weeksand all because I had seen again
for a few brief minutes the figure of a little heathen maiden。 I couldn't
account for it； and it angered me； I had never before felt any such
sensations in the presence of a woman； and I had made love to some very
beautiful ones in my time。
It seemed ages that I stood in the shadow of that doorway； in the ill…lit
corridor of the palace of Menelek XIV。 A sickly gas jet cast a sad pallor
upon the black face of the sentry。 The fellow seemed rooted to the spot。
Evidently he would never leave； or turn his back again。
I had been in hiding but a short time when I heard the sound of distant
cannon。 The truce had ended； and the battle had been resumed。 Very
shortly thereafter the earth shook to the explosion
