the lost continent(消失的大陆)-第32章
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struggle。
〃But I do love a barbarian； Victory！〃 I cried； 〃the dearest barbarian in
the world。〃
She raised her eyes to mine； and then her smooth； brown arms
encircled my neck and drew my lips down to hers。
〃I love youI have loved you always！〃 she said； and then she buried
her face upon my shoulder and sobbed。 〃I have been so unhappy；〃 she
said； 〃but I could not die while I thought that you might live。〃
As we stood there； momentarily forgetful of all else than our new
found happiness； the ferocity of the bombardment increased until scarce
thirty seconds elapsed between the shells that rained about the palace。
To remain long would be to invite certain death。 We could not escape
the way that we had entered the apartment； for not only was the corridor
now choked with debris； but beyond the corridor there were doubtless
many members of the emperor's household who would stop us。
Upon the opposite side of the room was another door； and toward this I
led the way。 It opened into a third apartment with windows overlooking
an inner court。 From one of these windows I surveyed the courtyard。
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Apparently it was empty； and the rooms upon the opposite side were
unlighted。
Assisting Victory to the open； I followed； and together we crossed the
court； discovering upon the opposite side a number of wide； wooden doors
set in the wall of the palace； with small windows between。 As we stood
close behind one of the doors； listening； a horse within neighed。
〃The stables！〃 I whispered； and； a moment later； had pushed back a
door and entered。 From the city about us we could hear the din of great
commotion； and quite close the sounds of battlethe crack of thousands of
rifles； the yells of the soldiers； the hoarse commands of officers； and the
blare of bugles。
The bombardment had ceased as suddenly as it had commenced。 I
judged that the enemy was storming the city； for the sounds we heard were
the sounds of hand…to…hand combat。
Within the stables I groped about until I had found saddles and bridles
for two horses。 But afterward； in the darkness； I could find but a single
mount。 The doors of the opposite side； leading to the street； were open；
and we could see great multitudes of men； women； and children fleeing
toward the west。 Soldiers； afoot and mounted； were joining the mad
exodus。 Now and then a camel or an elephant would pass bearing some
officer or dignitary to safety。 It was evident that the city would fall at
any momenta fact which was amply proclaimed by the terror…stricken
haste of the fear… mad mob。
Horse； camel； and elephant trod helpless women and children beneath
their feet。 A common soldier dragged a general from his mount； and；
leaping to the animal's back； fled down the packed street toward the west。
A woman seized a gun and brained a court dignitary； whose horse had
trampled her child to death。 Shrieks； curses； commands； supplications
filled the air。 It was a frightful sceneone that will be burned upon my
memory forever。
I had saddled and bridled the single horse which had evidently been
overlooked by the royal household in its flight； and； standing a little back
in the shadow of the stable's interior； Victory and I watched the surging
throng without。
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To have entered it would have been to have courted greater danger
than we were already in。 We decided to wait until the stress of blacks
thinned； and for more than an hour we stood there while the sounds of
battle raged upon the eastern side of the city and the population flew
toward the west。 More and more numerous became the uniformed
soldiers among the fleeing throng； until； toward the last； the street was
packed with them。 It was no orderly retreat； but a rout； complete and
terrible。
The fighting was steadily approaching us now； until the crack of rifles
sounded in the very street upon which we were looking。 And then came
a handful of brave mena little rear guard backing slowly toward the west；
working their smoking rifles in feverish haste as they fired volley after
volley at the foe we could not see。
But these were pressed back and back until the first line of the enemy
came opposite our shelter。 They were men of medium height； with olive
complexions and almond eyes。 In them I recognized the descendants of
the ancient Chinese race。
They were well uniformed and superbly armed； and they fought
bravely and under perfect discipline。 So rapt was I in the exciting events
transpiring in the street that I did not hear the approach of a body of men
from behind。 It was a party of the conquerors who had entered the palace
and were searching it。
They came upon us so unexpectedly that we were prisoners before we
realized what had happened。 That night we were held under a strong
guard just outside the eastern wall of the city； and the next morning were
started upon a long march toward the east。
Our captors were not unkind to us； and treated the women prisoners
with respect。 We marched for many daysso many that I lost count of
themand at last we came to another citya Chinese city this timewhich
stands upon the site of ancient Moscow。
It is only a small frontier city； but it is well built and well kept。 Here
a large military force is maintained； and here also； is a terminus of the
railroad that crosses modern China to the Pacific。
There was every evidence of a high civilization in all that we saw
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within the city； which； in connection with the humane treatment that had
been accorded all prisoners upon the long and tiresome march； encouraged
me to hope that I might appeal to some high officer here for the treatment
which my rank and birth merited。
We could converse with our captors only through the medium of
interpreters who spoke both Chinese and Abyssinian。 But there were
many of these； and shortly after we reached the city I persuaded one of
them to carry a verbal message to the officer who had commanded the
troops during the return from New Gondar； asking that I might be given a
hearing by some high official。
The reply to my request was a summons to appear before the officer to
whom I had addressed my appeal。 A sergeant came for me along with
the interpreter； and I managed to obtain his permission to let Victory
accompany meI had never left her alone with the prisoners since we had
been captured。
To my delight I found that the officer into whose presence we were
conducted spoke Abyssinian fluently。 He was astounded when I told him
that I was a
