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！
Then he unwound the lariat from about his waist； tied it to the rope that
had been a halter； and having fastened a stone to one end； lowered it into
the black space。 The length of the lariat slipped through his fingers and the
rope was following when suddenly the rock found lodgment at the bottom。
On making this discovery he drew up the lariat； opened the cloth
containing the food； and began to eat rapidly and with evident excitement。
He did not fail to watch on all sides as he enjoyed his long delayed meal；
and while he ate and thus watched； he thought rapidly。 When the first
cravings of appetite were partly satisfied； he left his baker's bread and
bacon on a stone； tied up the rest of the food in its cloth； rolled this in the
22
… Page 23…
LAHOMA
tarpaulin； and lowered it by means of the lariat into the crevice。 Then；
having tied the end of the rope to the gun…barrel； he placed the gun across
the crevice and swung himself down into the gloom。
The walls of the crevice were so close together that he was able to
steady his knees against them； but as he neared the bottom they widened
perceptibly。 His first act on setting foot to the stone flooring was to open
the tarpaulin； draw forth a candle and a box of matches； and strike a light。
The chamber of granite in which he stood was indeed narrow； but full of
interest and romance。 The floor was about the same width in all its length；
wide enough for Willock； tall as he was； to stretch across the passage。 It
extended perhaps a hundred feet into the heart of the rock； showing the
same smooth walls on either side。 The ceiling； however； was varied； as the
outward examination had promised。 Overhead the stars were seen at ease
through the two feet of space at the top； but as he carried his candle
forward； this opening decreased； to be succeeded presently by a roof； at
first of jumbled stones crushed together by outward weight； then of a
smooth red surface extending to the end。
The floor was the same everywhere save at its extremities。 At the point
of Willock's descent； it dipped away in a narrow line that would not have
admitted a man's body。 At the other end； where he now stood； it suddenly
gave way to empty space。 It came to an end so abruptly that there was no
means of discovering how deep was the narrow abyss beyond。 Possibly it
descended a sheer three hundred feet； the depth of the ridge at that place。
On the smooth floor which melted to nothingness with such sinister and
startling suddenness； the candlelight revealed the skeleton of a man lying
at the margin of the unknown depths。 Mingled with the bones that had
fallen apart with the passing of centuries； was a drawn sword of blackened
hilt and rusted bladea sword of old Spanish makeand in the dust of a
rotted purse lay a small heap of gold coins of strange design。
〃Well； pard；〃 said Brick Willock grimly； 〃you come here first and
much obliged to you。 You've told me two things： that once in here； no
getting outunless you bring along your ladder； and what's better still；
nobody has been here since you come； or that wouldn't be my money！ And
now having told me all you got to say； my cavalier； I guess we'd better
23
… Page 24…
LAHOMA
part。〃 He raked the bones into a heap； and dashed them into the black gulf。
He did not hear them when they struck bottom； and the sinister silence
gave him an odd thrill。 He shook his head。 〃If I ever roll out of bed here；〃
he said； 〃me and you will spend the rest of the time together； pardner。〃
He did not linger for idle speculation； hut drew himself up his dangling
rope； and in a short time was once more outside the place of refuge。
Always on the lookout for possible watchers； he snatched up his bread and
meat； and ate as he hastened over the outer ridge and down the rugged side
toward the wagon。 Here he filled a box with canned provisions and a side
of bacon； and on top of this he secured a sack of flour。 It made a heavy
burden； but his long sleep had restored him to his wonted strength； and he
could not be sure but this trip to the wagon would be his last。 With some
difficulty he hoisted the box to his herculean shoulder； and grasping a
spade and an ax in his disengaged hand； toiled upward to his asylum。
When the crevice in the mountain…top was reached； he threw the
contents of the box down into the tarpaulin which he had spread out to
receive it； and having broken up the box with the ax； cast the boards down
that they might fall to one side of the provisions。 This done； he returned to
the wagon； from above invisible； but which； when he stood on the plain；
loomed dim and shapeless against the night。
There were great stores of comforts and even some luxuries in the
wagon； and it was hard for him to decide what to take next； evidently
Henry Gledware and his wife had expected to live in their wagon after
reaching their destination； for there was a stove under the seat； and a
stovepipe fastened to one side of the wagon。
〃If the Indians don't catch me at this business；〃 said Willock； looking
at the stove； 〃I'll get you too！〃 He believed it could be lowered between
the stone lips of his cave…mouth； for it was the smallest stove he had ever
seen； surely less than two feet in width。 〃I'll get you in；〃 said the plunderer
decidedly； 〃or something will be broke！〃
For the present； however； he took objects more appropriate to summer：
the mattress upon which he had passed the afternoon； a bucket in which he
packed boxes of matches； a quantity of candles； soap； and the like。 This
bucket he put in the middle of the mattress and flanked it with towels and
24
… Page 25…
LAHOMA
pillows； between which were inserted plates； cups and saucers。 〃I'll just
take 'em all；〃 he muttered； groping for more dishes； 〃I might have
company！〃
The mattress once doubled over its ill…assorted contents； he was
obliged to rope both ends before he could carry it in safety。 This load；
heavier than the last； he s