the research magnificent-第89部分

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ean　man；　hatless　and　collarless；　greyhaired　and　wild…eyed。　　On　he　came；　gesticulating　gauntly；　past　the　hotel。　And　then　up　the　street　something　happened。　　Benham's　attention　was　turned　round　to　it　by　a　checking；　by　a　kind　of　catch　in　the　breath；　on　the　part　of　the　advancing　procession　under　the　verandah。　The　roadway　beyond　the　club　had　suddenly　become　clear。　　Across　it　a　dozen　soldiers　had　appeared　and　dismounted　methodically　and　lined　out；　with　their　carbines　in　readiness。　　The　mounted　men　at　the　club　corner　had　vanished；　and　the　people　there　had　swayed　about　towards　this　new　threat。　　Quite　abruptly　the　miscellaneous　noises　of　the　crowd　ceased。　　Understanding　seized　upon　every　one。　These　soldiers　were　going　to　fire。　。　。　。　The　brown　uniformed　figures　moved　like　automata；　the　rifle　shots　rang　out　almost　in　one　report。　。　。　。　There　was　a　rush　in　the　crowd　towards　doorways　and　side　streets；　an　enquiring　pause；　the　darting　s　is　a　stupid　game；〃　said　Benham。　　〃Why　did　they　fire　at　all？〃　The　tall　man　who　had　led　the　mob　had　run　out　into　the　middle　of　the　road。　　His　commando　was　a　little　disposed　to　assume　a　marginal　position；　and　it　had　to　be　reassured。　　He　was　near　enough　for　Benham　to　see　his　face。　　For　a　time　it　looked　anxious　and　thoughtful。　　Then　he　seemed　to　jump　to　his　decision。　　He　unbuttoned　and　opened　his　coat　wide　as　if　defying　the　soldiers。　　〃Shoot；〃　he　bawled；　〃Shoot；　if　you　dare！〃　A　little　uniform　movement　of　the　soldiers　answered　him。　　The　small　figure　of　the　officer　away　there　was　inaudible。　　The　coat　of　the　man　below　flapped　like　the　wings　of　a　crowing　cock　before　a　breast　of　dirty　shirt；　the　hoarse　voice　cracked　with　excitement；　〃Shoot；　if　you　dare。　　Shoot；　if　you　dare！　　See！〃　Came　the　metallic　bang　of　the　carbines　again；　and　in　the　instant　the　leader　collapsed　in　the　road；　a　sprawl　of　clothes；　hit　by　half　a　dozen　bullets。　　It　was　an　extraordinary　effect。　　As　though　the　figure　had　been　deflated。　　It　was　incredible　that　a　moment　before　this　thing　had　been　a　man；　an　individual；　a　hesitating　complicated　purpose。　〃Good　God！〃　cried　Benham；　〃butthis　is　horrible！〃　The　heap　of　garments　lay　still。　　The　red　hand　that　stretched　out　towards　the　soldiers　never　twitched。　The　spectacular　silence　broke　into　a　confusion　of　sounds；　women　shrieked；　men　cursed；　some　fled；　some　sought　a　corner　from　which　they　might　still　see；　others　pressed　forward。　　〃Go　for　the　swine！〃　bawled　a　voice；　a　third　volley　rattled　over　the　heads　of　the　people；　and　in　the　road　below　a　man　with　a　rifle　halted；　took　aim；　and　answered　the　soldiers'　fire。　　〃Look　out！〃　cried　White　who　was　watching　the　soldiers；　and　ducked。　　〃This　isn't　in　the　air！〃　Came　a　straggling　volley　again；　like　a　man　running　a　metal　hammer　very　rapidly　along　iron　corrugations；　and　this　time　people　were　dropping　all　over　the　road。　　One　white…faced　man　not　a　score　of　yards　away　fell　with　a　curse　and　a　sob；　struggled　up；　staggered　for　some　yards　with　blood　running　abundantly　from　his　neck；　and　fell　and　never　stirred　again。　　Another　went　down　upon　his　back　clumsily　in　the　roadway　and　lay　wringing　his　hands　faster　and　faster　until　suddenly　with　a　movement　like　a　sigh　they　dropped　inert　by　his　side。　A　straw…hatted　youth　in　a　flannel　suit　ran　and　stopped　and　ran　again。　　He　seemed　to　be　holding　somethieen　his　fingers。　　He　went　right　past　the　hotel　and　stumbled　and　suddenly　sprawled　headlong　at　the　opposite　corner。　The　majority　of　the　crowd　had　already　vanished　into　doorways　and　side　streets。　　But　there　was　still　shouting　and　there　was　still　a　remnant　of　amazed　and　angry　men　in　the　roadwayand　one　or　two　angry　women。　　They　were　not　fighting。　　Indeed　they　were　unarmed；　but　if　they　had　had　weapons　now　they　would　certainly　have　used　them。　〃But　this　is　preposterous！〃　cried　Benham。　　〃Preposterous。　　Those　soldiers　are　never　going　to　shoot　again！　This　must　stop。〃　He　stood　hesitating　for　a　moment　and　then　turned　about　and　dashed　for　the　staircase。　　〃Good　Heaven！〃　cried　White。　　〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃　Benham　was　going　to　stop　that　conflict　very　much　as　a　man　might　go　to　stop　a　clock　that　is　striking　unwarrantably　and　amazingly。　　He　was　going　to　stop　it　because　it　annoyed　his　sense　of　human　dignity。　White　hesitated　for　a　moment　and　then　followed；　crying　〃Benham！〃　But　there　was　no　arresting　this　last　outbreak　of　Benham's　all　too　impatient　kingship。　　He　pushed　aside　a　ducking　German　waiter　who　was　peeping　through　the　glass　doors；　and　rushed　out　of　the　hotel。　　With　a　gesture　of　authority　he　ran　forward　into　the　middle　of　the　street；　holding　up　his　hand；　in　which　he　still　held　his　dinner　napkin　clenched　like　a　bomb。　　White　believes　firmly　that　Benham　thought　he　would　be　able　to　dominate　everytt　up。　　I　will　sit　here　a　moment　and　pull　myself　together。　　Perhaps　I'mI　must　be　shot。　　But　it　seemed　to　comeinside　me。　。　。　。　　If　I　should　be　hurt。　　Am　I　hurt？　。　。　。　Will　you　see　to　that　book　of　mine；　White？　　It's　odd。　　A　kind　of　fainthness。　。　。　。　　What？〃　〃I　will　see　after　your　book；〃　said　White　and　glanced　at　his　hand　because　it　felt　wet；　and　was　astonished　to　discover　it　bright　red。　He　forgot　about　himself　then；　and　the　fresh　flight　of　bullets　down　the　street。　The　immediate　effect　of　this　blood　was　that　he　said　something　more　about　the　book；　a　promise；　a　definite　promise。　　He　could　never　recall　his　exact　words；　but　their　intention　was　binding。　　He　conveyed　his　absolute　acquiescence　with　Benham's　wishes　whatever　they　were。　　His　life　for　that　moment　was　unreservedly　at　his　friend's　disposal。　。　。　。　White　never　knew　if　his　promise　was　heard。　　Benham　had　stopped　speaking　quite　abruptly　with　that　〃What？〃　He　stared　in　front　of　him　with　a　doubtful　expression；　like　a　man　who　is　going　to　be　sick；　and　then；　in　an　instant；　every　muscle　seemed　to　give　way；　he　shuddered；　his　head　flopped；　and　White　held　a　dead　man　in　his　arms。


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