[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
us," he answered. " Our adventure begins to grow interesting."
"But are you prepared for all the questions they will ask?"
Dr. Nikola Returns
Chapter XIII. The Monastery
99
"I cannot say," said Nikola. " I am remembering what I have been taught and
leaving the rest to Fate. The luck which has attended us hitherto ought
surely to carry us on to the end."
"Well, let us hope nothing will go wrong," I continued. " But I must confess
I am not happy. I have seen more cheerful places than this monastery, and as
far as diet is concerned, commend me to the cheapest
Whitechapel restaurant."
"Help me through to the end, and you shall live in luxury for the rest of
your days."
We talked for a little while and then retired to bed. For one day we had
surely had enough excitement!
Next day we rose early, breakfasted on a small portion of rice, received no
visitors, and did not leave our rooms all day. Only the monk who had brought
us our food on the previous evening visited us, and, as on that occasion, he
had nothing to say for himself. Our evening meal was served at sundown, and
consisted of the same meagre soup as before. Then darkness fell, and about
the same time as on the previous evening the dwarf appeared to conduct us to
the rendezvous.
Chapter XIV. An Ordeal
When we left our rooms on this occasion we turned to the right hand instead
of to the left, and proceeded to a long corridor running below that in which
our cells were situated. Whereabouts in the monastery this particular passage
was placed, and how its bearings lay with regard to the staircase by which we
Page 101
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
had ascended from the valley on the previous day, I could not discover. Like
all the others, however, it was innocent of daylight, but was lighted by
enormous torches, which again were upheld by iron brackets driven into the
walls. Once during our march an opportunity was vouchsafed me of examining
these walls for myself, when to my astonishment I discovered that they were
not hewn out of the rock as I had supposed, but were built of dressed stone
of a description, remarkably resembling granite. This being so, I realized,
for the first time, that the cells and the corridors were built by human
hands, but how long it could have taken the builders to complete such an
enormous task was a calculation altogether beyond my powers. But to return to
my narrative.
From the corridor just described we passed down another flight of steps, then
across a narrow landing, after which came another staircase. As we reached it
our ears were assailed by a noise resembling distant thunder.
"What sound is that? " asked Nikola of our guide.
The dwarf did not answer in words, but, leading us along a side passage, held
his torch above his head, and bade us look.
For a moment the dancing flame prevented us from seeing anything. Then our
eyes became accustomed to the light, and to our amazement we discovered that
we were standing on the very brink of an enormous precipice. In the abyss, the
wind, which must have come in through some passage from the open air, tore
and shrieked with a most dismal noise, while across the way, not more than
twelve yards distant, fell the waters of a magnificent cataract. Picture to
yourself that great volume of water crashing and roaring down through the
darkness into the very bowels of the earth. The fall must have been
tremendous, for no spray came up to us.
All we could see was a mass of black water rushing past us. We stood and
looked, openmouthed, and when our wonder and curiosity were satisfied as much
as it ever would be, turned and followed our guide back to the place where we
had been standing when we had first heard the noise. At the other end of this
corridor or landing, whichever you may please to term it, was a large stone
archway, resembling a tunnel more than anything else, and at its mouth stood
a monk. The dwarf went forward to him and said something in a low
Dr. Nikola Returns
Chapter XIV. An Ordeal
100
voice, whereupon he took a torch from the wall at his side and signed to us
to follow him. The dwarf returned to the higher regions, while we plunged
deeper still below the surface of the earth. Whether we were really as far
down as we imagined, or whether the dampness was caused by some leakage from
the cataract we had just seen, I cannot say; at any rate, the walls and
floors were all streaming wet.
The passage, or tunnel, as I have more fittingly termed it, was a long one,
measuring at least fifty feet from entrance to exit. When we had passed
through it we stood in the biggest cave I have yet had the good fortune to
behold; indeed, so large was it that in the halfdark it was with the utmost
difficulty I could see the other side. Our guide led us across the first
transept into the main aisle and then left us. No sign of furniture of any
kindeither stool, altar, or daiswas to be seen, and as far as we could judge
there was not a living soul within call. The only sound to be heard was the
faint dripping of water, which seemed to come from every part of the cave.
"This is eerie enough to suit any one," I whispered to Nikola. " I hope the
performance will soon commence."
"Hush!" he said. " Be careful what you say, for you don't know who may
overhear you."
He had hardly spoken before the first mysterious incident of the evening
occurred. We were standing facing that part of the cavern which had been on
our right when we entered. The light was better in that particular spot than
Page 102
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
anywhere else, and I am prepared to swear that at that instant, to the best
of my belief, there was not a human being between ourselves and the wall. Yet
as we looked a shadow seemed to rise out of the ground before us; it came
closer, and as it came it took human shape. The trick was a clever one and
its working puzzles me to this day. Of course the man may have made his
appearance from behind a pillar, specially arranged for the purpose, or he
may have risen from a trapdoor in the floor, though personally I consider
both these things unlikely; the fact however remains, come he did.
' By your own desire, and of no force applied by human beings," he said, [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl akte20.pev.pl
us," he answered. " Our adventure begins to grow interesting."
"But are you prepared for all the questions they will ask?"
Dr. Nikola Returns
Chapter XIII. The Monastery
99
"I cannot say," said Nikola. " I am remembering what I have been taught and
leaving the rest to Fate. The luck which has attended us hitherto ought
surely to carry us on to the end."
"Well, let us hope nothing will go wrong," I continued. " But I must confess
I am not happy. I have seen more cheerful places than this monastery, and as
far as diet is concerned, commend me to the cheapest
Whitechapel restaurant."
"Help me through to the end, and you shall live in luxury for the rest of
your days."
We talked for a little while and then retired to bed. For one day we had
surely had enough excitement!
Next day we rose early, breakfasted on a small portion of rice, received no
visitors, and did not leave our rooms all day. Only the monk who had brought
us our food on the previous evening visited us, and, as on that occasion, he
had nothing to say for himself. Our evening meal was served at sundown, and
consisted of the same meagre soup as before. Then darkness fell, and about
the same time as on the previous evening the dwarf appeared to conduct us to
the rendezvous.
Chapter XIV. An Ordeal
When we left our rooms on this occasion we turned to the right hand instead
of to the left, and proceeded to a long corridor running below that in which
our cells were situated. Whereabouts in the monastery this particular passage
was placed, and how its bearings lay with regard to the staircase by which we
Page 101
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
had ascended from the valley on the previous day, I could not discover. Like
all the others, however, it was innocent of daylight, but was lighted by
enormous torches, which again were upheld by iron brackets driven into the
walls. Once during our march an opportunity was vouchsafed me of examining
these walls for myself, when to my astonishment I discovered that they were
not hewn out of the rock as I had supposed, but were built of dressed stone
of a description, remarkably resembling granite. This being so, I realized,
for the first time, that the cells and the corridors were built by human
hands, but how long it could have taken the builders to complete such an
enormous task was a calculation altogether beyond my powers. But to return to
my narrative.
From the corridor just described we passed down another flight of steps, then
across a narrow landing, after which came another staircase. As we reached it
our ears were assailed by a noise resembling distant thunder.
"What sound is that? " asked Nikola of our guide.
The dwarf did not answer in words, but, leading us along a side passage, held
his torch above his head, and bade us look.
For a moment the dancing flame prevented us from seeing anything. Then our
eyes became accustomed to the light, and to our amazement we discovered that
we were standing on the very brink of an enormous precipice. In the abyss, the
wind, which must have come in through some passage from the open air, tore
and shrieked with a most dismal noise, while across the way, not more than
twelve yards distant, fell the waters of a magnificent cataract. Picture to
yourself that great volume of water crashing and roaring down through the
darkness into the very bowels of the earth. The fall must have been
tremendous, for no spray came up to us.
All we could see was a mass of black water rushing past us. We stood and
looked, openmouthed, and when our wonder and curiosity were satisfied as much
as it ever would be, turned and followed our guide back to the place where we
had been standing when we had first heard the noise. At the other end of this
corridor or landing, whichever you may please to term it, was a large stone
archway, resembling a tunnel more than anything else, and at its mouth stood
a monk. The dwarf went forward to him and said something in a low
Dr. Nikola Returns
Chapter XIV. An Ordeal
100
voice, whereupon he took a torch from the wall at his side and signed to us
to follow him. The dwarf returned to the higher regions, while we plunged
deeper still below the surface of the earth. Whether we were really as far
down as we imagined, or whether the dampness was caused by some leakage from
the cataract we had just seen, I cannot say; at any rate, the walls and
floors were all streaming wet.
The passage, or tunnel, as I have more fittingly termed it, was a long one,
measuring at least fifty feet from entrance to exit. When we had passed
through it we stood in the biggest cave I have yet had the good fortune to
behold; indeed, so large was it that in the halfdark it was with the utmost
difficulty I could see the other side. Our guide led us across the first
transept into the main aisle and then left us. No sign of furniture of any
kindeither stool, altar, or daiswas to be seen, and as far as we could judge
there was not a living soul within call. The only sound to be heard was the
faint dripping of water, which seemed to come from every part of the cave.
"This is eerie enough to suit any one," I whispered to Nikola. " I hope the
performance will soon commence."
"Hush!" he said. " Be careful what you say, for you don't know who may
overhear you."
He had hardly spoken before the first mysterious incident of the evening
occurred. We were standing facing that part of the cavern which had been on
our right when we entered. The light was better in that particular spot than
Page 102
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
anywhere else, and I am prepared to swear that at that instant, to the best
of my belief, there was not a human being between ourselves and the wall. Yet
as we looked a shadow seemed to rise out of the ground before us; it came
closer, and as it came it took human shape. The trick was a clever one and
its working puzzles me to this day. Of course the man may have made his
appearance from behind a pillar, specially arranged for the purpose, or he
may have risen from a trapdoor in the floor, though personally I consider
both these things unlikely; the fact however remains, come he did.
' By your own desire, and of no force applied by human beings," he said, [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]