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！
hobbled into the cave。 Whitson drew his knife and cut the thong with
which Langley was vainly struggling； and then the two men； pale as death；
looked silently at each other with staring eyes。
Whitson replaced his revolver； and then made a sort of torch out of dry
reeds； a pile of which lay close at hand。 He then； leaving Langley to guard
the cave； carefully examined all the passages and spaces between the rocks；
but he could find no trace of any one。 The two men thereupon entered the
cave； Whitson holding the torch high over his head。 They found that it ran
straight in for about fifteen paces； and then curved sharply to the left。
It was about four paces in width； and about eight feet high； the roof
being roughly arched。 The walls and roof were covered with thick black
greasy soot； and an indescribably horrible stench； which increased the
farther they advanced； made them almost vomit。 They found that where
the cave curved to the left it ended in a circular chamber about eight paces
in diameter； and at one side of this crouched the four old hags； huddled
together； and mowing and chattering horribly。
Across a cleft about two feet wide； in the right…hand wall of the cave； a
stick was fixed transversely； and hanging to this were some lumps of half…
dried and smoked flesh。 Whitson went up close and examined these
carefully。 He drew back with a shudder； and his face changed from pale to
ashen gray。
He and Langley then went outside and stood for a while in the fresh air。
They could endure； just then； no more of the fetid atmosphere inside。 After
a short time they gathered up some dry twigs and reeds； and set several
little heaps alight at different spots inside。 This had the effect of making
the atmosphere more bearable in the course of a few minutes。 They then
made a larger fire in the middle of the cave； and proceeded to examine it
more closely。
They found several old iron picks； such as are used by natives in
63
… Page 64…
STORIES
cultivating their fields； some very filthy skins； a number of earthenware
pots； a few knives； and an axe； but nothing more。
The floor of the cave was of clay； and at one spot it appeared to have
been recently disturbed。 Here Langley began to dig with a pick； which；
just below the surface； struck against some hard substance。 This； when
uncovered； proved to be a bone。 He threw it to one side and dug deeper；
uncovering more bonessome old； and others comparatively fresh； but
emitting a horrible smell。 He stooped and picked one up； but dropped it
immediately； as if it burned him。 It was the lower jawbone of a human
being。
〃Great God！〃 he gasped。 〃What is the meaning of this？〃
〃It means；〃 said Whitson； 〃that we are in a nest of bloody cannibals！〃
Langley dropped like a stone； in a dead faint； so Whitson dragged him
outside； and； leaving him to recover in the open air； returned to the cave。
He then seized the pick and began digging； unearthing some new horror at
every stroke。 A glittering object caught his eye； he picked this up and
found it to be the steel buckle of a woman's belt。 He glanced toward the
cleft in the rock where the lumps of flesh were hanging； and caught his
breath short。 Going outside he made another torch； which he lit； and then
he returned and carefully examined the loosened surface。 Another
glittering object caught his eye。 This； when examined； proved to be an old
silver watch； the appearance of which seemed familiar。 He forced open the
case； and saw； roughly scratched on the inside； the letter D。 He now
recognised it； he remembered having once fixed a glass in this very watch
for Dollond； about a month before the latter's disappearance。 Continuing
his search Whitson found the iron heel…plate of a boot； and a small bunch
of keys。
Whitson drew his revolver； and picking up the torch went into the
terminal chamber。 Four shots； fired in quick succession； reverberated
immediately afterward through the cavern。
Whitson then went outside to Langley； whom he found sitting down
near the fire； looking if possible； more ghastly than before。 The presence
of Whitson seemed； however； to act on him as a kind of tonic； and he soon
pulled himself together sufficiently to assist in piling a quantity of fuel
64
… Page 65…
STORIES
upon the already sinking fire； which soon blazed brightly； lighting up the
mouth of the cavern and the space in front of it。 One of the bodies of the
men who had been shot was lying on its side； with the face toward the fire。
Whitson examined the mouth； pushing back the upper lip with a piece of
stick。 He found that the shape of the mouth and the development of the
teeth were the same as Ghamba's。 The other bodies were lying on their
faces； so he did not trouble to examine them。
Whitson then told Langley to follow him； and the two walked down
the foot…path toward where they had left Ghamba。 Him they found lying
motionless in the position in which he had been left about an hour
previously。 They removed the sack and the gag and untied his feet； first
taking the precaution to fasten the belt by one end to his bound hands；
Whitson holding the other。 They then signed to him to proceed toward the
cave； and this he silently did； without making any resistance。 He looked
calmly at the three dead bodies； but said not a word。 Langley held him；
while Whitson again tied his feet together with the belt； and then they
placed him with his back against a rock； facing the fire； which was still
blazing brightly。 His lips were drawn back in a ghastly； mirthless； grin； and
the tusks were revealed from point to insertion。
Langley questioned Ghamba； but he would not speak。 After several
attempts to force him to answer had been vainly made； Whitson said：
〃Now tell him that if he speaks and tells the whole truth he will only
be shot； but if he does not speak he will be burned alive。〃
This was interpreted； but the threat had no apparent effect。 So Whitson
seized Ghamba and dragged him to the fire； where he flung him down on
the very edge of the glowing embers。
〃Now；〃 said Whitson； holding him down with his foot； so that he got
severely scorched； 〃for the last