登陆注册
5371300000164

第164章

ADVANCING, as men grope for escape in a dungeon, Ione and her lover continued their uncertain way. At the moments when the volcanic lightnings lingered over the streets, they were enabled, by that awful light, to steer and guide their progress: yet, little did the view it presented to them cheer or encourage their path. In parts, where the ashes lay dry and uncommixed with the boiling torrents, cast upward from the mountain at capricious intervals, the surface of the earth presented a leprous and ghastly white. In other places, cinder and rock lay matted in heaps, from beneath which emerged the half-hid limbs of some crushed and mangled fugitive. The groans of the dying were broken by wild shrieks of women's terror--now near, now distant--which, when heard in the utter darkness, were rendered doubly appalling by the crushing sense of helplessness and the uncertainty of the perils around; and clear and distinct through all were the mighty and various noises from the Fatal Mountain; its rushing winds;its whirling torrents; and, from time to time, the burst and roar of some more fiery and fierce explosion. And ever as the winds swept howling along the street, they bore sharp streams of burning dust, and such sickening and poisonous vapors, as took away, for the instant, breath and consciousness, followed by a rapid revulsion of the arrested blood, and a tingling sensation of agony trembling through every nerve and fibre of the frame.

'Oh, Glaucus! my beloved! my own!--take me to thy arms! One embrace! let me feel thy arms around me--and in that embrace let me die--I can no more!'

'For my sake, for my life--courage, yet, sweet Ione--my life is linked with thine: and see--torches--this way! Lo! how they brave the Wind! Ha! they live through the storm--doubtless, fugitives to the sea! we will join them.'

As if to aid and reanimate the lovers, the winds and showers came to a sudden pause; the atmosphere was profoundly still--the mountain seemed at rest, gathering, perhaps, fresh fury for its next burst; the torch-bearers moved quickly on. 'We are nearing the sea,' said, in a calm voice, the person at their head. 'Liberty and wealth to each slave who survives this day! Courage! I tell you that the gods themselves have assured me of deliverance. On!'

Redly and steadily the torches flashed full on the eyes of Glaucus and Ione, who lay trembling and exhausted on his bosom. Several slaves were bearing, by the light, panniers and coffers, heavily laden; in front of them--a drawn sword in his hand--towered the lofty form of Arbaces.

'By my fathers!' cried the Egyptian, 'Fate smiles upon me even through these horrors, and, amidst the dreadest aspects of woe and death, bodes me happiness and love. Away, Greek! I claim my ward, Ione!'

'Traitor and murderer!' cried Glaucus, glaring upon his foe, 'Nemesis hath guided thee to my revenge!--a just sacrifice to the shades of Hades, that now seem loosed on earth. Approach--touch but the hand of Ione, and thy weapon shall be as a reed--I will tear thee limb from limb!'

同类推荐
  • 上方大洞真元阴阳陟降图书后解

    上方大洞真元阴阳陟降图书后解

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 菩萨戒本宗要

    菩萨戒本宗要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说五十颂圣般若波罗蜜经

    佛说五十颂圣般若波罗蜜经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 王阳明集

    王阳明集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 三十六水法

    三十六水法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 魔王升职记

    魔王升职记

    人人皆羡慕,万人之上霸气无比的大魔王之位,可那又如何?我不想成为啊!人生可是没有选择的!有些人转生了就得成为大魔王!
  • 我在漫威无限抽卡

    我在漫威无限抽卡

    魂穿漫威二战时期,凯尔看着眼前的美国队长,对方身上正浮现一连串密密麻麻的卡牌。【手枪精通】【拳击精通】……【真·盾击精通】【稀有·超级士兵】是否选择抽取?等等,不单单能力,连任何黑科技和毒液类生物都能抽?!————新书:【漫威里的国王】、【在海贼掌控六道】书友群:877693220
  • 剑道纯阳

    剑道纯阳

    一剑西来,天外飞仙!我有一剑,可斩魔,诛仙!一款能够升级,融合技能的游戏外挂,让主角登上了剑道巅峰。
  • 三依为命

    三依为命

    原本只是想约一个固定情人,却不想自己却无可救药的爱上了这个离婚女人,她很普通,但又很特别,小屁孩也很可爱,他最后还是决定和女人在一起,想照顾她,即使很辛苦,即使会有很多人反对最后会是怎么样?
  • 如何创办美容美发店

    如何创办美容美发店

    本书为《“金阳光”新农村丛书》之一,围绕农民朋友所关心的话题展开,主要讲述了美容与美发、筹办美容美发店、美容基础知识、美容化妆技术、美容运用实例、美发的操作、发型设计运用实例及美容美发店的经营与管理,全书新颖实用,简明易懂。
  • 紫色童话书

    紫色童话书

    安德鲁·兰十二色童话全集,让孩子在最美的故事里学会善良、乐观、勇敢。小朋友们好!想和哈里·波特一样吗?知道英国小朋友都在看什么书吗?嘘!这个秘密可从不轻易告诉别人。记清楚啦,是安德鲁·兰爷爷的十二色童话。想认识美丽的仙女吗?想学神奇魔法吗?想和王子去打巨人吗……小心,有可怕的食人妖和大飞龙!不多说了,还等什么——欢迎你来到安德鲁·兰的彩色神奇世界!
  • 剩女甜园

    剩女甜园

    剩女林雨穿越了!可是穿越后为毛还是个大龄剩女!剩女嘛,最不缺的就是挑剔!家不好——发家,房不好——盖房,独守空房不好——那就找个优质暖男暖暖床...黄花大小伙她是不指望了,找个厚道的小鳏夫还是可以的吧?林雨觉得这个应该不难...呃...不难?
  • 好身体离不开养生学

    好身体离不开养生学

    中医养生虽然听起来似乎很陌生,但是如果能把其中的方式方法为己所用,确实有着不可低估的功效。要不为什么在漫长的封建社会里,皇亲贵族们都有自己秘不外传的“私家医生”呢?翻开本书中的内容你会发现,原来中医其实是一本好玩的故事书,而养生更是在日常的闲话中就可以轻轻松松实现的。
  • 良训传家:中国文化的根基与传承

    良训传家:中国文化的根基与传承

    本书跳脱出以个别古代家训为主的说教式或文字释读式的写作方法,而将中国古代家训中的精髓提炼出来,将重要的家训内容与历史人物、典故融为一体,点面结合、寓理于情。作者身为大学教授,长期关注我国的教育体制,他主张现代教育应从中国古代传统文化,尤其要从家训家教中获得启示,汲取古人的智慧,促进学生的健康成长,改进家庭教育与学校教育的思路与方法。本书荣获2018第13届“文津图书奖”。
  • 死亡代言人

    死亡代言人

    不知道过去的我,在大都市中徘徊,靠着奇异的能力生存着。地狱的画面时常在我眼前闪起,面对厉鬼时,我会感觉饥饿。我是谁?我只知道自己的名字叫做薛贵,其他一无所知。我来至于地狱吗?我在搜寻着。神奇的事情在我身边发生着,带血的玉佩能预言彩票,却会害人。诡异的图书,看过后必死。墙上的画会突然多出死去之人的脸。惊悚的世界里充满了未知的领域,我在其间徘徊,前进,寻找属于我的答案。