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！
moonlit glimpses； by daylight we lay very close。 As Terry said； we did
not wish to kill the old ladieseven if we could； and short of that they
were perfectly competent to pick us up bodily and carry us back； if
42
… Page 43…
HERLAND
discovered。 There was nothing for it but to lie low； and sneak out unseen
if we could do it。
There wasn't much talking done。 At night we had our
marathon…obstacle race； we 〃stayed not for brake and we stopped not for
stone；〃 and swam whatever water was too deep to wade and could not be
got around； but that was only necessary twice。 By day； sleep； sound and
sweet。 Mighty lucky it was that we could live off the country as we did。
Even that margin of forest seemed rich in foodstuffs。
But Jeff thoughtfully suggested that that very thing showed how
careful we should have to be； as we might run into some stalwart group of
gardeners or foresters or nut…gatherers at any minute。 Careful we were；
feeling pretty sure that if we did not make good this time we were not
likely to have another opportunity； and at last we reached a point from
which we could see； far below； the broad stretch of that still lake from
which we had made our ascent。
〃That looks pretty good to me！〃 said Terry； gazing down at it。
〃Now； if we can't find the 'plane； we know where to aim if we have to drop
over this wall some other way。〃
The wall at that point was singularly uninviting。 It rose so
straight that we had to put our heads over to see the base； and the country
below seemed to be a far…off marshy tangle of rank vegetation。 We did
not have to risk our necks to that extent； however； for at last； stealing
along among the rocks and trees like so many creeping savages； we came
to that flat space where we had landed； and there； in unbelievable good
fortune； we found our machine。
〃Covered； too； by jingo！ Would you think they had that much
sense？〃 cried Terry。
〃If they had that much； they're likely to have more；〃 I warned
him； softly。 〃Bet you the thing's watched。〃
We reconnoitered as widely as we could in the failing
moonlight moons are of a painfully unreliable nature； but the growing
dawn showed us the familiar shape； shrouded in some heavy cloth like
canvas； and no slightest sign of any watchman near。 We decided to make a
quick dash as soon as the light was strong enough for accurate work。
43
… Page 44…
HERLAND
〃I don't care if the old thing'll go or not；〃 Terry declared。 〃We
can run her to the edge； get aboard； and just plane downplop！ beside
our boat there。 Look theresee the boat！〃
Sure enoughthere was our motor； lying like a gray cocoon on
the flat pale sheet of water。
Quietly but swiftly we rushed forward and began to tug at the
fastenings of that cover。
〃Confound the thing！〃 Terry cried in desperate impatience。
〃They've got it sewed up in a bag！ And we've not a knife among us！〃
Then； as we tugged and pulled at that tough cloth we heard a
sound that made Terry lift his head like a war horsethe sound of an
unmistakable giggle； yesthree giggles。
There they wereCelis； Alima； Elladorlooking just as they had
when we first saw them； standing a little way off from us； as interested； as
mischievous as three schoolboys。
〃Hold on； Terryhold on！〃 I warned。 〃That's too easy。 Look
out for a trap。〃
〃Let us appeal to their kind hearts；〃 Jeff urged。 〃I think they
will help us。 Perhaps they've got knives。〃
〃It's no use rushing them； anyhow；〃 I was absolutely holding on
to Terry。 〃We know they can out…run and out…climb us。〃
He reluctantly admitted this； and after a brief parley among
ourselves； we all advanced slowly toward them； holding out our hands in
token of friendliness。
They stood their ground till we had come fairly near； and then
indicated that we should stop。 To make sure； we advanced a step or two
and they promptly and swiftly withdrew。 So we stopped at the distance
specified。 Then we used their language； as far as we were able； to
explain our plight； telling how we were imprisoned； how we had escaped
a good deal of pantomime here and vivid interest on their parthow we
had traveled by night and hidden by day； living on nutsand here Terry
pretended great hunger。
I know he could not have been hungry； we had found plenty to
eat and had not been sparing in helping ourselves。 But they seemed
44
… Page 45…
HERLAND
somewhat impressed； and after a murmured consultation they produced
from their pockets certain little packages； and with the utmost ease and
accuracy tossed them into our hands。
Jeff was most appreciative of this； and Terry made extravagant
gestures of admiration； which seemed to set them off； boy… fashion； to
show their skill。 While we ate the excellent biscuits they had thrown us；
and while Ellador kept a watchful eye on our movements； Celis ran off to
some distance； and set up a sort of 〃duck…on…a…rock〃 arrangement； a big
yellow nut on top of three balanced sticks； Alima； meanwhile； gathering
stones。
They urged us to throw at it； and we did； but the thing was a
long way off； and it was only after a number of failures； at which those
elvish damsels laughed delightedly； that Jeff succeeded in bringing the
whole structure to the ground。 It took me still longer； and Terry； to his
intense annoyance； came third。
Then Celis set up the little tripod again； and looked back at us；
knocking it down； pointing at it； and shaking her short curls severely。
〃No；〃 she said。 〃Badwrong！〃 We were quite able to follow her。
Then she set it up once more； put the fat nut on top； and returned
to the others； and there those aggravating girls sat and took turns throwing
little stones at that thing； while one stayed by as a setter…up； and they just
popped that nut off； two times out of three； without upsetting the sticks。
Pleased as Punch they were； too； and we pretended to be； but weren't。
We got very friendly over this game； but I told Terry we'd be
sorry if we didn't get off while we could； and then we begged for knives。 It
was easy to show what we wanted to do； and they each proudly produced
a sort of strong clasp…knife from their pockets。
〃Yes；〃 we said eagerly； 〃that's it！ Please〃 We had learned
quite a bit of their language； you see。 And we just begged for those
knives； but they would not give them to us。 If we came a step too near
they backed off； standing light and eager for flight。
〃It's no sort of use；〃 I said。 〃Come onlet's get a sharp stone or
somethingwe must get this thing off。〃
So we hunted about and found what edged fragments we could；
45
… Page 46…
HERLAND
and hacked away； but it was like trying to cut sailcloth with a clamshell。
Terry hacked and dug； but said to us under his breath。 〃Boys；
we're in pretty good conditionlet's make a life and death dash and get
hold of those girlswe've got to。〃
They had drawn rather nearer to watch our efforts； and we did
take them rather by surprise； also； as Terry said； our recent training had
strengthened us in wind and limb； and for a few desperate moments those
girls were scared and we almost triumphant。
But just as we stretched out our hands； the distance between us
widened； they had got their pace apparently； and then； though we ran a