下载辰思小说免费APP
TheMungananoticedhisfearandwhispered:
“Wemustswimthewater。Ifyouhaveagod，whiteman，prayhimtoprotectyoufromBonsa。“
“Leadon，“answeredAlan，“Idonotdreadafoulfetish，onlythelookofit。Butistherenowayround？“
TheMunganashookhisheadandbegantoenterthecanal。Jeekie，whoseteethwerechattering，hungback，butAlanpushedhimfrombehind，sosharplythathestumbledandmadeasplash。ThenAlanfollowed，andasthecold，blackwaterrosetohischest，lookedagainatBigBonsa。
Itseemedtohimthatthethinghadturnedroundandwasstaringatthem。Surelyafewsecondsagoitssnoutpointedtheotherway。No，thatmustbefancy。Hewasswimmingnow，theywereallswimming，AlanandJeekieholdingtheirpistolsandlittlestockofcartridgesabovetheirheadstokeepthemdry。ThegoldheadofBigBonsaappearedtobeliftingitselfupinthewater，asareptilemight，inordertogetabetterviewoftheseproceedings，butdoubtlessitwastheripplesthattheycausedwhichgaveitthisappearance。Onlywhydidtheripplesmakeitcometowardsthem，quitegently，likeaninvestigatingfish？
Itwasabouttenyardsoffandtheywereinthemiddleofthecanal。
TheMunganahadpassedit。ItwasinalinewithAlan’shead。OhHeavens！asuddensmotheroffoam，arushlikethatofatorpedo，andsetlowdownbetweentwocurvingwaves，aflashofgold。Thenagurgling，inhumanlaughandaweightuponhisback。DownwentAlan，downanddown！
Themoonlightabovevanished。Alanwasaloneinthedepthswiththisdevil，orwhateveritmightbe。Hecouldfeelhandsandfeetgrippingandtreadingonhim，buttheydidnotseemtobehuman，forthereweretoomanyofthem。Alsotheywereverycold。HegavehimselfupfordeadandthoughtofBarbara。
Thensomethingflashedintohismind。Inhishandhestillheldtherevolver。Hepresseditupwardsagainstthethingthatwassmotheringhim，andpulledthetrigger。Againhepulledit，andagain，foritwasaself-cockingweapon，andeventheredeepdowninthewaterheheardthethudoftheexplosionofthedamp-proofcoppercartridges。Hislungswerebursting，hissensesreeled，onlyenoughofthemremainedtotellhimthathewasfreeofthatstranglinggripandfloatingupwards。Hisheadroseabovethesurface，andthroughthemouthofhismaskhedrewinthesweetairwithquickgasps。DownbelowhimintheclearwaterhesawtheyellowheadofBigBonsarockingandquiveringlikeagreatreflectedmon，sawtoothatitwasbeginningtorise。Yethecouldnotswimawayfromit，thefetishseemedtohavehypnotizedhim。HeheardJeekiecallingtohimfromtheshallowwaternearthefurtherbank，butstillhefloatedtherelikealogandstareddownatBigBonsawallowingbeneath。
Jeekieplungedbackintothecanalandwithafewstrongstrokesreachedhim，grippedhimbythearmandbegantotowhimtotheshore。
BeforetheycamethereBigBonsaroselikeahugefishandtriedtofollowthem，butcouldnot，orsoitseemed。Atanyrateitonlywhirledroundandrounduponthesurface，whilefromitpouredawhitefluidthatturnedtheblackwatertothehueofmilk。Thenitbegantoscream，makingathinanddreadfulsoundmorelikethatofaninfantinpainthananythingtheyhadeverheard，averysic
