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The Lost Continent-Part41_C.J.Cutcliffe Hyne(1865-1944)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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broken down. In the fierceness of their rush, the foremost were



thrust over the brink by those pressing up behind, before the

advance could be halted, and these went screaming to a horrid death



in the great gulf below. But it was no position here that a lavish

spending of men could take, and presently all were drawn off, save



for some half-score who stood as outpost sentries, and dodged out

of arrow-shot behind angles of the rock.



It seems, too, that the Empress herself reconnoitered the place,

using due caution and quickness, and so got for herself a full



plan of its requirements without being obliged to trust the

measuring of another eye. With extraordinary nimbleness she must



have planned an engine such as was necessary to suit her purposes,

and given orders for its making; for even with the vast force and



resources at her disposal, the speed with which it was built was

prodigious.



There was very little noise made to tell of what was afoot.

All the woodwork and metalwork was cut, and tongued, and forged,



and fitted first by skilled craftsmen below, in the plain at the

foot of the cleft; and when each ponderous balk and each



crosspiece, and each plank was dragged up the steep pass through

the conquered gates, it was ready instantly for fitting into its



appointed place in the completed machine.

The cleft was straight where they set about their building,



and there was no curve or spur of the cliff to hide their handiwork

from those of the Priests who watched from the ramparts above our



one remaining gate. But Phorenice had a coyness lest her engine

should be seen before it was completed, and so to screen it she



had a vast fire built at the uppermost point where the causeway was

broken off, and fed diligently with wet sedge and green wood, so



that a great smoke poured out, rising like a curtain that shut out

all view. And so though the Priests on the rampart above the gate



picked off now and again some of those who tended the fire, they

could do the besiegers no further injury, and remained up to the



last quite in ignorance of their tactics.

The passage up the cleft was in shadow during the night hours,



for, though all the crest of the Sacred Mountain was always lit

brightly by the eternal fires which made its defence on the farther



side, their glow threw no gleam down that flank where the cliff ran

sheer to the plains beneath. And so it was under cover of the



darkness that Phorenice brought up her engine into position for

attack.



Planking had been laid down for its wheels, and the wheels

themselves well greased, and it may be that she hoped to march in



upon us whilst all slept. But there was a certain creaking and

groaning of timbers, and laboured panting of men, which gave



advertisement that something was being attempted, and the alarm

was spread quietly in the hope that if a surprise had been planned,



the real surprise might be turned the other way.

A messenger came to me running, where I sat in the house at



the side of my love, and she, like the soldier's wife she was made

to be, kissed me and bade me go quickly and care for my honour, and



bring back my wounds for her to mend.

On the rampart above the gate all was silence, save for the



faint rustle of armed men, and out of the black darkness ahead, and

from the other side of the broken causeway, came the sounds of



which the messenger bad warned me.

The captain of the gate came to me and whispered: "We have



made no light till the King came, not knowing the King's will in

the matter. Is it wished I send some of the throwing-fire down



yonder, on the chance that it does some harm, and at the same time

lights up the place? Or is it willed that we wait for their



surprise?"

"Send the fire," I said, "or we may find that Phorenice's



brain has been one too many for us."

The captain of the gate took one of the balls in his hand, lit



the fuse, and hurled it. The horrid thing burst amongst a mass of

men who were labouring with a huge engine, sputtering them with its



deadly fire, and lighting their garments. The plan of the engine

showed itself plainly. They had built them a vast great tower,



resting on wheels at its base, so that it might by pushed forward

from behind, and slanting at its foot to allow for the steepness of



the path and leave it always upright.

It was storeyed inside, with ladders joining each floor, and



through slits in the side which faced us bowmen could cover an

attack. From its top a great bridge reared high above it, being



carried vertically till the tower was brought near enough for its

use. The bridge was hinged at the third storey of the tower, and






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