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@@ -0,0 +1,11781 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Under the Andes, by Rex Stout + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Under the Andes + +Author: Rex Stout + +Posting Date: August 3, 2008 [EBook #546] +Release Date: June, 1996 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UNDER THE ANDES *** + + + + +Produced by Judith Boss. HTML version by Al Haines. + + + + + + + + +UNDER THE ANDES + + +by + +Rex Stout + + + +CONTENTS + +Chapter + + I. THE SWEETHEART OF A KING. + II. BEGINNING THE DANCE. + III. A MODERN MARANA. + IV. ALLONS! + V. THE CAVE OF THE DEVIL. + VI. CAPTURED. + VII. THE FIGHT IN THE DARK. + VIII. THE DANCE OF THE SUN. + IX. BEFORE THE COURT. + X. THE VERDICT. + XI. A ROYAL VISITOR. + XII. AT THE DOOR. + XIII. INTO THE WHIRLPOOL. + XIV. A FISHING PARTY. + XV. THE RESCUE. + XVI. THE ESCAPE. + XVII. THE EYES IN THE DARK. + XVIII. A VICTORY AND A CONVERSATION. + XIX. AFLOAT. + XX. AN INCA SPEAR. + XXI. THE MIDST OF THE ENEMY. + XXII. THE BEGINNING OF THE END. + XXIII. WE ARE TWO. + XXIV. CONCLUSION. + + + + +Chapter I. + +THE SWEETHEART OF A KING. + +The scene was not exactly new to me. Moved by the spirit of adventure, +or by an access of ennui which overtakes me at times, I had several +times visited the gaudy establishment of Mercer, on the fashionable +side of Fifth Avenue in the Fifties. In either case I had found +disappointment; where the stake is a matter of indifference there can +be no excitement; and besides, I had been always in luck. + +But on this occasion I had a real purpose before me, though not an +important one, and I surrendered my hat and coat to the servant at the +door with a feeling of satisfaction. + +At the entrance to the main room I met Bob Garforth, leaving. There +was a scowl on his face and his hand trembled as he held it forth to +take mine. + +"Harry is inside. What a rotten hole," said he, and passed on. I +smiled at his remark--it was being whispered about that Garforth had +lost a quarter of a million at Mercer's within the month--and passed +inside. + +Gaudy, I have said it was, and it needs no other word. Not in its +elements, but in their arrangement. + +The rugs and pictures and hangings testified to the taste of the man +who had selected them; but they were abominably disposed, and there +were too many of them. + +The room, which was unusually large, held two or three leather divans, +an English buffet, and many easy chairs. A smoking-table, covered, +stood in one corner. + +Groups of men were gathered about each of the three roulette wheels +ranged along the farther side. Through a door to the left could be +seen the poker tables, surrounded by grave or jocular faces. Above the +low buzz of conversation there sounded the continual droning voices of +the croupiers as they called the winning numbers, and an occasional +exclamation from a "customer." + +I made my way to the center wheel and stood at the rear of the crowd +surrounding it. + +The ball rolled; there was a straining of necks amid an intense +silence; then, as the little pellet wavered and finally came to a rest +in the hole number twenty-four a fervent oath of disappointment came +from some one in front of me. + +The next moment, rising on tiptoe to look over the intervening +shoulders, I found myself looking into the white face of my younger +brother Harry. + +"Paul!" he exclaimed, turning quickly away. + +I pushed my way through and stood at his side. There was no sound from +the group of onlookers; it is not to be wondered at if they hesitated +to offend Paul Lamar. + +"My dear boy," said I, "I missed you at dinner. And though this may +occupy your mind, it can scarcely fill your stomach. Haven't you had +enough?" + +Harry looked at me. His face was horribly pale and his eyes bloodshot; +they could not meet mine. + +"For Heaven's sake, Paul, let me alone," he said, hardly above a +whisper. "I have lost ninety thousand." + +In spite of myself I started. No wonder he was pale! And yet-- + +"That's nothing," I whispered back. "But you are making a show of +yourself. Just now you were swearing like a sailor. See how your hand +trembles! You were not made for this, Harry; it makes you forget that +you're a gentleman. They are laughing at you. Come." + +"But I say I have lost ninety thousand dollars," said the boy, and +there was wildness in his eye. "Let me alone, Paul." + +"I will repay you." + +"No. Let me alone!" + +"Harry!" + +"I say no!" + +His mouth was drawn tight and his eyes glared sullenly as those of a +stubborn child. Clearly it was impossible to get him away without +making a scene, which was unthinkable. For a moment I was at a +complete loss; then the croupier's voice sounded suddenly in my ear: + +"You are interrupting us, sir." + +I silenced him with a glance and turned to my brother, having decided +in an instant on the only possible course. + +"Here, let me have your chair. I will get it back for you. Come!" + +He looked at me for a moment in hesitation, then rose without a word +and I took his place. + +The thing was tiresome enough, but how could I have avoided it? The +blood that rushes to the head of the gambler is certainly not food for +the intellect; and, besides, I was forced by circumstances into an +heroic attitude--and nothing is more distasteful to a man of sense. +But I had a task before me; if a man lays bricks he should lay them +well; and I do not deny that there was a stirring of my pulse as I sat +down. + +Is it possible for a mind to directly influence the movements of a +little ivory ball? I do not say yes, but will you say no? I watched +the ball with the eye of an eagle, but without straining; I played with +the precision of a man with an unerring system, though my selections +were really made quite at random; and I handled my bets with the +sureness and swift dexterity with which a chess-master places his pawn +or piece in position to demoralize his opponent. + +This told on the nerves of the croupier. Twice I corrected a +miscalculation of his, and before I had played an hour his hand was +trembling with agitation. + +And I won. + +The details would be tiresome, but I won; and when, after six hours of +play without an instant's rest, I rose exhausted from my chair and +handed my brother the amount he had lost--I pocketed a few thousands +for myself in addition. There were some who tried to detain me with +congratulations and expressions of admiration, but I shook them off and +led Harry outside to my car. + +The chauffeur, poor devil, was completely stiff from the long wait, and +I ordered him into the tonneau and took the wheel myself. + +Partly was this due to pity for the driver, partly to a desire to leave +Harry to his own thoughts, which I knew must be somewhat turbulent. He +was silent during the drive, which was not long, and I smiled to myself +in the darkness of the early morning as I heard, now and then, an +uncontrollable sigh break through his dry lips. Of thankfulness, +perhaps. + +I preceded him up the stoop and into the hall of the old house on lower +Fifth Avenue, near Tenth Street, that had been the home of our +grandfather and our father before us. There, in the dim light, I +halted and turned, while Evans approached from the inner rooms, rubbing +eyes heavy with sleep. + +Good old Evans! Yet the faithfulness of such a servant has its +disadvantages. + +"Well?" said Harry in a thin, high voice. + +The boy's nerves were stretched tightly; two words from me would have +produced an explosion. So I clapped him on the shoulder and sent him +off to bed. He went sulkily, without looking round, and his shoulders +drooped like those of an old man; but I reflected that that would all +be changed after a few hours of sleep. + +"After all, he is a Lamar," I said to myself as I ordered Evans to +bring wine and sandwiches to the library. + +It was the middle of the following afternoon before Harry appeared +down-stairs. He had slept eleven hours. I was seated in the library +when I heard his voice in the hall: + +"Breakfast! Breakfast for five at once!" + +I smiled. That was Harry's style of wit. + +After he had eaten his "breakfast for five" he came in to see me with +the air of a man who was determined to have it out. + +I myself was in no mood for talk; indeed, I scarcely ever am in such a +mood, unless it be with a pretty woman or a great sinner. You may +regard that sentence as tautological if you like; I sha'n't quarrel +about it. + +What I mean to say is that it was with a real effort I set myself to +the distasteful task before me, rendered necessary by the +responsibility of my position as elder brother and head of the family. + +Harry began by observing with assumed indifference: "Well, and now +there's the deuce to pay, I suppose." + +"As his representative I am not a hard creditor," I smiled. + +"I know, I know--" he began impetuously and stopped. + +I continued: + +"My boy, there is always the deuce to pay. If not for one thing, then +for another. So your observation would serve for any other time as +well as now. The point is this: you are ten years younger than I, and +you are under my care; and much as I dislike to talk, we must reach an +understanding." + +"Well?" said Harry, lighting a cigarette and seating himself on the arm +of a chair. + +"You have often thought," I continued, "that I have been trying to +interfere with your freedom. But you are mistaken; I have merely been +trying to preserve it--and I have succeeded." + +"When our father and mother died you were fifteen years of age. You +are now twenty-two; and I take some credit for the fact that those +seven years have left no stain, however slight, on the name of Lamar." + +"Do I deserve that?" cried Harry. "What have I done?" + +"Nothing irremediable, but you must admit that now and then I have been +at no small pains to--er--assist you. But there, I don't intend to +speak of the past; and to tell the truth, I suspect that we are of one +mind. You regard me as more or less of an encumbrance; you think your +movements are hampered; you consider yourself to be treated as a child +unjustly. + +"Well, for my part, I find my duty--for such I consider it--grows more +irksome every day. If I am in your way, you are no less in mine. To +make it short, you are now twenty-two years old, you chafe at +restraint, you think yourself abundantly able to manage your own +affairs. Well--I have no objection." + +Harry stared at me. + +"You mean--" he began. + +"Exactly." + +"But, Paul--" + +"There is no need to discuss it. For me, it is mostly selfishness." + +But he wanted to talk, and I humored him. For two hours we sat, +running the scale from business to sentiment, and I must confess that I +was more than once surprised by a flash from Harry. Clearly he was +developing, and for the first time I indulged a hope that he might +prove himself fit for self-government. + +At least I had given him the rope; it remained for time to discover +whether or not he would avoid getting tangled up in it. When we had +finished we understood each other better, I think, than we ever had +before; and we parted with the best of feeling. + +Three days later I sailed for Europe, leaving Harry in New York. It +was my first trip across in eighteen months, and I aimed at pleasure. +I spent a week in London and Munich, then, disgusted with the actions +of some of my fellow countrymen with whom I had the misfortune to be +acquainted, I turned my face south for Madrid. + +There I had a friend. + +A woman not beautiful, but eminently satisfying; not loose, but +liberal, with a character and a heart. In more ways than one she was +remarkable; she had an affection for me; indeed, some years previously +I had been in a way to play Albert Savaron to her Francesca Colonna, an +arrangement prevented only by my constitutional dislike for any +prolonged or sustained effort in a world the slave of vanity and folly. + +It was from the lips of this friend that I first heard the name of +Desiree Le Mire. + +It was late in the afternoon on the fashionable drive. Long, broad, +and shady, though scarcely cool, it was here that we took our daily +carriage exercise; anything more strenuous is regarded with horror by +the ladies of Spain. + +There was a shout, and a sudden hush; all carriages were halted and +their occupants uncovered, for royalty was passing. The coach, a +magnificent though cumbersome affair, passed slowly and gravely by. On +the rear seat were the princess and her little English cousin, while +opposite them sat the great duke himself. + +By his side was a young man of five and twenty with a white face and +weak chin, and glassy, meaningless eyes. I turned to my companion and +asked in a low tone who he was. Her whispered answer caused me to +start with surprise, and I turned to her with a question. + +"But why is he in Madrid?" + +"Oh, as to that," said my friend, smiling, "you must ask Desiree." + +"And who is Desiree?" + +"What! You do not know Desiree! Impossible!" she exclaimed. + +"My dear," said I, "you must remember that for the past year and a half +I have been buried in the land of pork and gold. The gossip there is +neither of the poet nor the court. I am ignorant of everything." + +"You would not have been so much longer," said my friend, "for Desiree +is soon going to America. Who is she? No one knows. What is she? +Well, she is all things to some men, and some things to all men. She +is a courtesan among queens and a queen among courtesans. + +"She dances and loves, and, I presume, eats and sleeps. For the past +two years she has bewitched him"--she pointed down the drive to where +the royal coach was disappearing in the distance--"and he has given her +everything. + +"It was for her that the Duke of Bellarmine built the magnificent +chalet of which I was telling you on Lake Lucerne. You remember that +Prince Dolansky shot himself 'for political reasons' in his Parisian +palace? But for Desiree he would be alive to-day. She is a witch and +a she-devil, and the most completely fascinating woman in the world." + +I smiled. + +"What a reputation! And you say she is going to America?" + +"Yes. It is to be supposed that she has heard that every American is a +king, and it is no wonder if she is tired of only one royal lover at a +time. And listen, Paul--" + +"Well?" + +"You--you must not meet her. Oh, but you do not know her power!" + +I laughed and pressed her hand, assuring her that I had no intention of +allowing myself to be bewitched by a she-devil; but as our carriage +turned and started back down the long drive toward the hotel I found +myself haunted by the white face and staring eyes of the young man in +the royal coach. + +I stayed two weeks longer in Madrid. At the end of that time, finding +myself completely bored (for no woman can possibly be amusing for more +than a month at a time), I bade my friend au revoir and departed for +the East. But I found myself just too late for an archeological +expedition into the heart of Egypt, and after a tiresome week or so in +Cairo and Constantinople I again turned my face toward the west. + +At Rome I met an old friend, one Pierre Janvour, in the French +diplomatic service, and since I had nothing better to do I accepted his +urgent invitation to join him on a vacation trip to Paris. + +But the joys of Paris are absurd to a man of thirty-two who has seen +the world and tasted it and judged it. Still I found some amusement; +Janvour had a pretty wife and a daughter eight years old, daintily +beautiful, and I allowed myself to become soaked in domestic sentiment. + +I really found myself on the point of envying him; Mme. Janvour was a +most excellent housekeeper and manager. Little Eugenie and I would +often walk together in the public gardens, and now and then her mother +would join us; and, as I say, I found myself on the point of envying my +friend Janvour. + +This diversion would have ended soon in any event; but it was brought +to an abrupt termination by a cablegram from my New York lawyers, +asking me to return to America at once. Some rascality it was, on the +part of the agent of my estate, which had alarmed them; the cablegram +was bare of detail. At any rate, I could not afford to disregard it, +and arranged passage on a liner sailing from Cherbourg the following +day. + +My hostess gave me a farewell dinner, which heightened my regret at +being forced to leave, and little Eugenie seemed really grieved at my +departure. It is pleasant to leave a welcome behind you; that is +really the only necessary axiom of the traveler. + +Janvour took me to the railroad station, and even offered to accompany +me to Cherbourg; but I refused to tear him away from his little +paradise. + +We stood on the platform arguing the matter, when I suddenly became +aware of that indistinct flutter and bustle seen in public places at +some unusual happening or the unexpected arrival of a great personage. + +I turned and saw that which was worthy of the interest it had excited. + +In the first place, the daintiest little electric brougham in the +world, fragile and delicate as a toy--a fairy's chariot. Then the +fairy herself descended. She cannot be described in detail. + +I caught a glimpse of glorious golden hair, softly massive; gray-blue +eyes shot with lightning, restless, devouring, implacable, +indescribably beautiful; a skin wondrously fine, with the purity of +marble and the warmth of velvet; nose and mouth rather too large, but +perfectly formed and breathing the fire and power of love. Really it +was rather later that I saw all this; at the time there was but a +confused impression of elegance and beauty and terrible power. + +She passed from the brougham to her railway carriage supremely +unconscious of the hundreds of eyes turned on her, and a general sigh +of satisfaction and appreciation came from the throng as she +disappeared within her compartment. I turned to Janvour. + +"Who is she?" + +"What?" he exclaimed in surprise. "But my dear Lamar, not to know her +argues one a barbarian." + +"Nevertheless, I do not know her." + +"Well, you will have an opportunity. She is going to America, and, +since she is on this train, she will, of course, take the same boat as +yourself. But, my friend, beware!" + +"But who is she?" + +"Desiree Le Mire." + + + +Chapter II. + +BEGINNING THE DANCE. + +It developed, luckily for me, that my lawyers had allowed themselves to +become unduly excited over a trifle. A discrepancy had been discovered +in my agent's accounts; it was clearly established that he had been +speculating; but the fellow's excessive modesty and moderation had +saved me from any serious inconvenience or loss. + +Some twenty thousand or so was the amount, and I did not even put +myself to the trouble of recovering it. I placed a friend of mine, a +plodder and one of those chaps who are honest on account of lack of +imagination, in the position thus vacated and sighed with mild relief. + +My experiment with Harry had proved a complete success. Left to the +management of his own affairs, he had shown a wisdom and restraint none +the less welcome because unexpected. He was glad to see me, and I was +no less glad to see him. + +There was little new in town. + +Bob Garforth, having gambled away his entire patrimony, had shot and +killed himself on the street; Mrs. Ludworth had publicly defied gossip +and smiled with favor on young Driscoll; the new director of the +Metropolitan Museum had announced himself an enemy to tradition and a +friend of progress; and Desiree Le Mire had consented to a two weeks' +engagement at the Stuyvesant. + +The French dancer was the favorite topic of discussion in all circles. + +The newspapers were full of her and filled entire columns with lists of +the kings, princes, and dukes who had been at her feet. + +Bets were made on her nationality, the color of her eyes, the value of +her pearls, the number of suicides she had caused--corresponding, in +some sort, to the notches on the gun of a Western bad man. Gowns and +hats were named for her by the enterprising department stores. + +It was announced that her engagement at the Stuyvesant would open in +ten days, and when the box-office opened for the advance sale every +seat for every performance was sold within a few hours. + +In the mean time the great Le Mire kept herself secluded in her hotel. +She had appeared but once in the public dining-room, and on that +occasion had nearly caused a riot, whereupon she had discreetly +withdrawn. She remained unseen while the town shouted itself hoarse. + +I had not mentioned her name to Harry, nor had I heard him speak of +her, until one evening about two weeks after my return. + +We were at dinner and had been discussing some commonplace subject, +from which, by one of the freaks of association, the conversation +veered and touched on classical dancing. + +"The Russians are preeminent," said I, "because they possess both the +inspiration--the fire--and the training. In no other nation or school +are the two so perfectly joined. In the Turkish dancers there is +perfect grace and freedom, but no life. In Desiree Le Mire, for +example, there is indeed life; but she has not had the necessary +training." + +"What? Le Mire! Have you seen her?" cried Harry. + +"Not on the stage," I answered; "but I crossed on the same ship with +her, and she was kind enough to give me a great deal of her time. She +seems to understand perfectly her own artistic limitations, and I am +taking her word for it." + +But Harry was no longer interested in the subject of dancing. I was +besieged on the instant with a thousand questions. + +Had I known Le Mire long? What was she like? Was it true that Prince +Dolansky had shot himself in despair at losing her? Was she beautiful? +How well did I know her? Would I take him to see her? + +And within half an hour the last question was repeated so many times +and with such insistence that I finally consented and left Harry +delighted beyond words. + +My own experience with Desiree Le Mire had been anything but exciting. +The woman was interesting; there could be no doubt of that; but she +possessed little attraction for me. Her charms, on close inspection, +were really quite too evident. + +I require subtlety in a woman, and so far as I could discover Le Mire +knew not the meaning of the word. We had spent many hours during the +trip across in pleasant companionship; she had done me the honor to +tell me that she found my conversation amusing; and, after all, she was +undeniably a pretty woman. She had invited me with evident sincerity +to call on her in New York; but I had not as yet taken advantage of the +invitation. + +I did not then think, and I do not now believe, that I acted foolishly +when I took Harry to see her. In any event, he would have seen her +sooner or later, and since all temptations meet us at one time or +another, it is best to have it out with them at as early a date as +possible. At the time, indeed, I gave the subject no thought whatever; +but if I had I should not have hesitated. + +We took tea with her the following afternoon in her apartment, and I +must confess that I myself was more than a little impressed when I +entered. I realized then that on the ship nothing had been in her +favor; she had been completely out of her element, and she was not a +good sailor. + +Here all was different. The stiffly ostentatious hotel rooms, by her +own genius or that of her maid, had been transformed into something +very nearly approaching perfection. I was amazed at the excellent +taste displayed in her furniture and its arrangement, for it was clear +that these were no hotel properties. Certainly a woman is at her best +only when she is able to choose or create her own surroundings. + +Harry was captivated, and I can scarcely blame him. But the poor lad +betrayed himself so frankly! Though I suppose Le Mire was more or less +accustomed to immediate surrender. + +On that day, at least, she had reason to expect it. She satisfied the +eye, which is saying a great deal and is the highest praise possible +for a woman's beauty, when you consider the full strength of the word. + +She was radiant, adorable, irresistible; I had to own that my first +impression of her had been far too weak. + +We talked for an hour. Harry had little to say as he sat devouring Le +Mire with his eyes, and whenever she turned to him for an answer to a +question or confirmation of an opinion he stammered and kept his +composure with difficulty. Never, I suppose, did woman have clearer +evidence of her power, nor sweeter, for Harry was by no means a fool to +be carried away by the first pretty face that came in his way. + +She simply overwhelmed him, and I repeat that I do not wonder at it, +for my own pulse was not exactly steady. She asked us to dine with her. + +I pleaded an engagement at the club and signed to Harry to do likewise; +but he was completely gone and paid no attention to me. + +He accepted the invitation gratefully, with frank delight, and I left +them together. + +It was about ten o'clock when he came home that evening. I was seated +in the library and, hearing him enter the hall, called to him. + +What a face was his! His lips trembled with nervous feeling, his eyes +glowed like the eyes of a madman. I half started from my chair in +amazement. + +"I have no time," said he in answer to my invitation to join me with a +bottle. "I have a letter or two to write, and--and I must get some +sleep." + +"Did you just leave Le Mire?" + +"Yes." + +I looked at my watch. + +"What under the sun did you find to talk about?" + +"Oh, anything--nothing. I say, she's charming." + +His essay at indifference was amusing. + +"You find her so?" + +"Rather." + +"She seems to have taken a fancy to you." + +Harry actually grew red. + +"Hardly," he said; but there was hope in the word. + +"She is hardly your kind, Harry. You know that. You aren't going in +for this sort of thing?" + +"This sort--I don't know what you mean." + +"Yes, you do, Hal. You know exactly what I mean. To put the thing +plainly, Le Mire is a dangerous woman--none more so in all the world; +and, Harry boy, be sure you keep your head and watch your step." + +He stood for a moment looking at me in silence with a half-angry frown, +then opened his mouth as though to speak, and finally turned, without a +word, and started for the door. There he turned again uncertainly, +hesitating. + +"I am to ride with Desiree in the morning," said he, and the next +moment was gone. + +"Desiree!" + +He called her Desiree! + +I think I smiled for an hour over that; and, though my reflections were +not free from apprehension, I really felt but little anxiety. Not that +I underrated Le Mire's fascination and power; to confess the truth, my +ease of mind was the result of my own vanity. Le Mire had flattered me +into the belief that she was my friend. + +A week passed--a dull week, during which I saw little of Harry and Le +Mire not at all. At the time, I remember, I was interested in some +chemical experiments--I am a dabbler with the tubes--and went out but +little. Then--this was on Friday--Harry sought me out in the +laboratory to tell me he was going away. In answer to my question, +"Where?" he said, "I don't know." + +"How long will you be gone?" + +"Oh, a week--perhaps a month." + +I looked at him keenly, but said nothing. It would have done no good +to force him into an equivocation by questions. Early the next morning +he departed, with three trunks, and with no further word to me save a +farewell. No sooner was he gone than I started for the telephone to +call up Le Mire; but thought better of it and with a shrug of the +shoulders returned to the laboratory. + +It was the following Monday that was to see the first appearance of Le +Mire at the Stuyvesant. I had not thought of going, but on Monday +afternoon Billy Du Mont telephoned me that he had an extra ticket and +would like to have me join him. I was really a little curious to see +Le Mire perform and accepted. + +We dined at the club and arrived at the theater rather late. The +audience was brilliant; indeed, though I had been an ardent +first-nighter for a year or two in my callow youth, I think I have +never seen such a representation of fashion and genius in America, +except at the opera. + +Billy and I sat in the orchestra--about the twelfth row--and half the +faces in sight were well known to me. Whether Le Mire could dance or +not, she most assuredly was, or had, a good press-agent. We were soon +to receive an exemplification of at least a portion of the reputation +that had preceded her. + +Many were the angry adjectives heaped on the head of the dancer on that +memorable evening. Mrs. Frederick Marston, I remember, called her an +insolent hussy; but then Mrs. Frederick Marston was never original. +Others: rash, impudent, saucy, impertinent; in each instance +accompanied by threats. + +Indeed, it is little wonder if those people of fashion and wealth and +position were indignant and sore. For they had dressed and dined +hastily and come all the way down-town to see Le Mire; they waited for +her for two hours and a half in stuffy theater seats, and Le Mire did +not appear. + +The announcement was finally made by the manager of the theater at a +little before eleven-o'clock. He could not understand, he said--the +poor fellow was on the point of wringing his hands with agitation and +despair--he could not understand why the dancer did not arrive. + +She had rehearsed in the theater on the previous Thursday afternoon, +and had then seemed to have every intention of fulfilling her +engagement. No one connected with the theater had seen her since that +time, but everything had gone smoothly; they had had no reason to fear +such a contretemps as her nonappearance. + +They had sent to her hotel; she was gone, bag and baggage. She had +departed on Friday, leaving no word as to her destination. They had +asked the police, the hotels, the railroads, the steamship +companies--and could find no trace of her. + +The manager only hoped--he hoped with all his heart--that his frank and +unreserved explanation would appease his kind patrons and prevent their +resentment; that they would understand-- + +I made my way out of the theater as rapidly as possible, with Billy Du +Mont at my side, and started north on Broadway. + +My companion was laughing unrestrainedly. + +"What a joke!" he exclaimed. "And gad, what a woman! She comes in and +turns the town upside down and then leaves it standing on its head. +What wouldn't I give to know her!" + +I nodded, but said nothing. At Forty-Second Street we turned east to +Fifth Avenue, and a few minutes later were at the club. I took Du Mont +to a secluded corner of the grill, and there, with a bottle of wine +between us, I spoke. + +"Billy," said I, "there's the deuce to pay. You're an old friend of +mine, and you possess a share of discretion, and you've got to help me. +Le Mire is gone. I must find her." + +"Find Le Mire?" He stared at me in amazement. "What for?" + +"Because my brother Harry is with her." + +Then I explained in as few words as possible, and I ended, I think, +with something like this: + +"You know, Billy, there are very few things in the world I consider of +any value. She can have the lad's money, and, if necessary, my own +into the bargain. But the name of Lamar must remain clean; and I tell +you there is more than a name in danger. Whoever that woman touches +she kills. And Harry is only a boy." + +Billy helped me, as I knew he would; nor did he insist on unnecessary +details. I didn't need his assistance in the search, for I felt that I +could accomplish that as well alone. + +But it was certainly known that Harry had been calling on Le Mire at +her hotel; conjectures were sure to be made, leading to the assertions +of busy tongues; and it was the part of my friend to counteract and +smother the inevitable gossip. This he promised to do; and I knew +Billy. As for finding Harry, it was too late to do anything that +night, and I went home and to bed. + +The next morning I began by calling at her hotel. But though the +manager of the theater had gotten no information from them, he had +pumped them dry. They knew nothing. + +I dared not go to the police, and probably they would have been unable +to give me any assistance if I had sought it. The only other possible +source of information I disliked to use; but after racking my brain for +the better part of the day I decided that there was nothing else for +it, and started on a round of the ticket offices of the railroads and +steamship companies. + +I had immediate success. My first call was at the office where Harry +and I were accustomed to arrange our transportation. As I entered the +head clerk--or whatever they call him--advanced to greet me with a +smile. + +"Yes," said he in response to my question; "Mr. Lamar got his tickets +from me. Let's see--Thursday, wasn't it? No, Friday. That's +right--Friday." + +"Tickets!" I muttered to myself. And in my preoccupation I really +neglected to listen to him. Then aloud: "Where were the--tickets for?" + +"Denver." + +"For Friday's train?" + +"Yes. The Western Express." + +That was all I wanted to know. I hurried home, procured a couple of +hastily packed bags, and took the afternoon train for the West. + + + +Chapter III. + +A MODERN MARANA. + +My journey westward was an eventful one; but this is not a "History of +Tom Jones," and I shall refrain from detail. Denver I reached at last, +after a week's stop-over in Kansas City. It was a delightful +adventure--but it had nothing to do with the story. + +I left the train at the Rocky Mountain city about the middle of the +afternoon. And now, what to do? I think I am not a fool, but I +certainly lack the training of a detective, and I felt perfectly +rudderless and helpless as I ordered the taxi-driver to take me to the +Alcazar Hotel. + +I was by no means sure that Harry had come to Denver. He was traveling +with a bundle of animated caprice, a creature who would have hauled him +off the train at Rahway, New Jersey, if she had happened to take a +fancy to the place. At the moment, I reflected, they might be driving +along Michigan Boulevard, or attending a matinee at the Willis Wood, or +sipping mint juleps at the Planters'. + +Even if they were in Denver, how was I to find them? I keenly +regretted the week I had lost. I was sure that Harry would avoid any +chance of publicity and would probably shun the big hotels. And Denver +is not a village. + +It was the beauty of Le Mire that saved me. Indeed, I might have +foreseen that; and I have but poorly portrayed the force of her +unmatchable fascination unless you have realized that she was a woman +who could pass nowhere without being seen; and, seen, remembered. + +I made inquiries of the manager of the hotel, of course, but was +brought up sharply when he asked me the names of my friends for whom I +was asking. I got out of it somehow, some foolish evasion or other, +and regarded my task as more difficult than ever. + +That same evening I dined at the home of my cousin, Hovey Stafford, who +had come West some years before on account of weak lungs, and stayed +because he liked it. I met his wife that evening for the first time; +she may be introduced with the observation that if she was his reason +for remaining in the provinces, never did man have a better one. + +We were on the veranda with our after-dinner cigars. I was +congratulating Hovey on the felicity of his choice and jocularly +sympathizing with his wife. + +"Yes," said my cousin, with a sigh, "I never regretted it till last +week. It will never be the same again." + +Mrs. Hovey looked at him with supreme disdain. + +"I suppose you mean Senora Ramal," said she scornfully. + +Her husband, feigning the utmost woe, nodded mournfully; whereupon she +began humming the air of the Chanson du Colonel, and was stopped by a +smothering kiss. + +"And who is the Senora Ramal?" I asked. + +"The most beautiful woman in the world," said Mrs. Hovey. + +This from a woman who was herself beautiful! Amazing! I suppose my +face betrayed my thought. + +"It isn't charity," she smiled. "Like John Holden, I have seen +fire-balloons by the hundred, I have seen the moon, and--then I saw no +more fire-balloons." + +"But who is she?" + +Hovey explained. "She is the wife of Senor Ramal. They came here some +ten days ago, with letters to one or two of the best families, and +that's all we know about them. The senora is an entrancing mixture of +Cleopatra, Sappho, Helen of Troy, and the devil. She had the town by +the ears in twenty-four hours, and you wouldn't wonder at it if you saw +her." + +Already I felt that I knew, but I wanted to make sure. + +"Byron has described her," I suggested, "in Childe Harold." + +"Hardly," said Hovey. "No midnight beauty for hers, thank you. Her +hair is the most perfect gold. Her eyes are green; her skin remarkably +fair. What she may be is unknowable, but she certainly is not Spanish; +and, odder still, the senor himself fits the name no better." + +But I thought it needless to ask for a description of Harry; for I had +no doubt of the identity of Senor Ramal and his wife. I pondered over +the name, and suddenly realized that it was merely "Lamar" spelled +backward! + +The discovery removed the last remaining shadow of doubt. + +I asked in a tone of assumed indifference for their hotel, expressing a +desire to meet them--and was informed by Hovey that they had left +Denver two days previously, nor did he know where they had gone. + +Thus did I face another obstacle. But I was on the track; and the +perfume of a woman's beauty is the strongest scent in the world as well +as the sweetest. I thanked my cousin for a pleasant evening--though he +did not know the extent of my debt to him--and declined his urgent +invitation to have my luggage brought to his home. + +On my way to the hotel I was struck by a sudden thought: Senor Ramal +could not be my brother or my cousin would have recognized him! But I +immediately reflected that the two had not seen each other for some ten +years, at which time Harry had been a mere boy. + +The following morning, with little difficulty, I ascertained the fact +that the Ramals had departed--at least ostensibly--for Colorado Springs. + +I followed. That same evening, when I registered at the Antlers Hotel, +a few minutes before the dinner hour, I turned over two pages of the +book, and there before me was the entry, "Senor and Senora Ramal, +Paris." It was in Harry's handwriting. + +After dinner--a most excellent dinner, with melons from La Junta and +trout from the mountain streams--I descended on the hotel clerk with +questions. He was most obliging--a sharp, pleasant fellow, with +prominent ears and a Rocky Mountain twang. + +"Senor and Senora Ramal? Most assuredly, sir. They have been here +several days. No, they are not now in the hotel. They left this +afternoon for Manitou, to take dinner there, and are going to make the +night trip up the Peak." + +An idea immediately suggested itself to me. They would, of course, +return to the hotel in the morning. All I had to do was to sit down +and wait for them; but that would have been dull sport. My idea was +better. + +I sought out the hotel's wardrobe--there is nothing the Antlers will +not do for you--and clothed myself in khaki, leggings, and boots. Then +I ordered a car and set out for Manitou, at the foot of the mountain. + +By ten o'clock I was mounted on a donkey, headed for the top, after +having been informed by a guide that "the man and the beautiful lady" +had departed an hour previous. + +Having made the ascent twice before, I needed no guide. So I decided; +but I regretted the decision. Three times I lost the path; once I came +perilously near descending on the village below--well, without +hesitation. It was well after midnight when I passed the Half-way +House, and I urged my donkey forward with a continual rat-a-tat-tat of +well-directed kicks in the effort to make my goal. + +You who have experienced the philosophical calm and superb indifference +of the Pike's Peak donkey may imagine the vocabulary I used on this +occasion--I dare not print it. Nor did his speed increase. + +I was, in fact, a quarter of an hour late. I was still several hundred +yards from the summit when the sun's first rays shot through the thin +atmosphere, creating colorful riot among the clouds below, and I +stopped, holding my breath in awe. + +There is no art nor poetry in that wonderful sight; it is glorious war. +The sun charges forth in a vast flame of inconceivable brilliance; you +can almost hear the shout of victory. He who made the universe is no +artist; too often He forgets restraint, and blinds us. + +I turned, almost regretting that I had come, for I had been put out of +tune with my task. Then I mounted the donkey and slowly traversed the +few remaining yards to the Peak. + +There, seated in the dazzling sunshine on the edge of a huge boulder +near the eastern precipice, were the two I sought. + +Le Mire's head was turned from me as she sat gazing silently at the +tumbling, gorgeous mass of clouds that seemed almost to be resting on +her lap; Harry was looking at her. And such a look! + +There was no rival even in nature that could conquer Le Mire; never, I +believe, did woman achieve a more notable victory than hers of that +morning. I watched them for several minutes before I moved or spoke; +and never once did Harry's eyes leave her face. + +Then I advanced a step, calling his name; and they turned and caught +sight of me. + +"Paul!" cried Harry, leaping to his feet; then he stopped short and +stared at me half defiantly, half curiously, moving close to Le Mire +and placing his hand on her shoulder like a child clinging to a toy. + +His companion had not moved, except to turn her head; but after the +first swift shadow of surprise her face brightened with a smile of +welcome, for all the world as though this were a morning call in her +boudoir. + +"Senor and Senora Ramal, I believe?" said I with a smile, crossing to +them with an exaggerated bow. + +I could see Harry cocking his ear to catch the tone of my first words, +and when he heard their friendliness a grin overspread his face. He +took his hand from Le Mire's shoulder and held it out to me. + +"How did you come here? How did you find us?" + +"You forgot to provide Le Mire with a veil," said I by way of answer. + +Harry looked at me, then at his companion. "Of course," he agreed--"of +course. By Jove! that was stupid of us." + +Whereupon Le Mire laughed with such frank enjoyment of the boy's +simplicity that I couldn't help but join her. + +"And now," said Harry, "I suppose you want to know--" + +"I want to know nothing--at present," I interrupted. "It's nearly six +o'clock, and since ten last night I've been on top of the most +perfectly imbecile donkey ever devised by nature. I want breakfast." + +Velvet lids were upraised from Le Mire's eyes. "Here?" she queried. + +I pointed to the place--extreme charity might give it the title of +inn--where smoke was rising from a tin chimney. + +Soon we were seated inside with a pot of steaming black coffee before +us. Harry was bubbling over with gaiety and good will, evidently +occasioned by my unexpected friendliness, while Le Mire sat for the +most part silent. It was easy to see that she was more than a little +disturbed by my arrival, which surprised me. + +I gazed at her with real wonder and increasing admiration. It was six +in the morning; she had had no sleep, and had just finished a most +fatiguing journey of some eight hours; but I had never seen her so +beautiful. + +Our host approached, and I turned to him: + +"What have you?" + +There was pity in his glance. + +"Aigs," said he, with an air of finality. + +"Ah!" said Le Mire. "I want them--let's see--au beurre noire, if you +please." + +The man looked at her and uttered the single word: "Fried." + +"Fried?" said she doubtfully. + +"Only fried," was the inexorable answer. "How many?" + +Le Mire turned to me, and I explained. Then she turned again to the +surly host with a smile that must have caused him to regret his +gruffness. + +"Well, then, fr-r-ied!" said she, rolling the "r" deliciously. "And +you may bring me five, if you please." + +It appeared that I was not the only hungry one. We ate leisurely and +smoked more leisurely still, and started on our return journey a little +before eight o'clock. + +It was late in the afternoon when we arrived at the Antlers. The trip +was accomplished without accident, but Le Mire was thoroughly exhausted +and Harry was anything but fresh. That is the worst of mountain +climbing: the exaltation at the summit hardly pays you for the reaction +at the foot. We entered the broad portico with frank sighs of relief. + +I said something about joining them at dinner and left for my own rooms. + +At dinner that evening Harry was in high spirits and took great delight +in everything that was said, both witty and dull, while Le Mire +positively sparkled. + +She made her impression; not a man in the well-filled room but sent his +tribute of admiring glances as she sat seemingly unconscious of all but +Harry and myself. That is always agreeable; a man owes something to +the woman who carries a room for him. + +I had intended to have a talk with Harry after dinner, but I postponed +it; the morning would assuredly be better. There was dancing in the +salon, but we were all too tired to take advantage of it; and after +listening to one or two numbers, during which Le Mire was kept busy +turning aside the importunities of would-be partners, we said good +night and sought our beds. + +It was late the next morning when the precious pair joined me in the +garden, and when we went in for breakfast we found the dining-room +quite empty. We did not enjoy it as on the morning previous; the +cuisine was of the kind usually--and in this case justly--described as +"superior," but we did not have the same edge on our appetite. + +We were not very talkative; I myself was almost taciturn, having before +me the necessity of coming to an understanding with Harry, a task which +I was far from relishing. But there were certain things I must know. + +"What do you say to a ride down the valley?" said Harry. "They have +excellent horses here; I tried one of 'em the other day." + +"I trust that they bear no resemblance to my donkey," said I with +feeling. + +"Ugh!" said Le Mire with a shudder. "Never shall I forget that ride. +Besides," she added, turning to Harry, "this morning I would be in the +way. Don't you know that your brother has a thousand things to say to +you? He wants to scold you; you must remember that you are a very bad +boy." + +And she sent me a glance half defiant, half indifferent, which plainly +said: "If I fight you, I shall win; but I really care very little about +it one way or the other." + +After breakfast she went to her room--to have her hair dressed, she +said--and I led Harry to a secluded corner of the magnificent grounds +surrounding the hotel. During the walk we were both silent: Harry, I +suppose, was wondering what I was going to say, while I was trying to +make up my own mind. + +"I suppose," he began abruptly, "you are going to tell me I have acted +like a fool. Go ahead; the sooner it's over the better." + +"Nothing of the sort," said I, glad that he had opened it. + +He stopped short, demanding to know what I meant. + +"Of course," I continued, "Le Mire is a most amazing prize. Not +exactly my style perhaps, but there are few men in the world who +wouldn't envy you. I congratulate you. + +"But there were two things I feared for several reasons--Le Mire's +fascination, your own youth and impulsive recklessness, and the rather +curious mode of your departure. I feared first and most that you would +marry her; second, that you would achieve odium and publicity for our +name." + +Harry was regarding me with a smile which had in it very little of +amusement; it held a tinge of bitterness. + +"And so," he burst out suddenly, "you were afraid I would marry her! +Well, I would. The last time I asked her"--again the smile--"was this +morning." + +"And--" + +"She won't have me." + +"Bah!" I concealed my surprise, for I had really not thought it +possible that the lad could be such a fool. "What's her game, Harry?" + +"Game the deuce! I tell you she won't have me." + +"You have asked her?" + +"A thousand times. I've begged her on my knees. Offered +her--anything." + +"And she refuses?" + +"Positively." + +"Refuses?" + +"With thanks." + +I stared at him for a moment in silence. Then I said: "Go and get her +and bring her here. I'll find out what she wants," and sat down on a +bench to wait. Harry departed for the hotel without a word. + +In a few minutes he returned with Le Mire. I rose and proffered her a +seat on the bench, which she accepted with a smile, and Harry sat down +at her side. I stood in front of them. + +"Le Mire," said I, and I believe I frowned, "my brother tells me that +you have been offered the name of Lamar in marriage." + +"I have thanked him for it," said she with a smile. + +"And declined it." + +"And--declined it," she agreed. + +"Well," said I, "I am not a man of half measures, as you will soon see, +Le Mire. Besides, I appreciate your power. On the day," I continued +with slow precision--"on the day that you give me a contract to adhere +to that refusal you may have my check for one million dollars." + +She surprised me; I admit it. I had expected a burst of anger, with a +touch of assumed hauteur; the surrender to follow, for I had made the +stake high. But as I stood looking down at her, waiting for the flash +of her eye, I was greeted by a burst of laughter--the frank laughter of +genuine mirth. Then she spoke: + +"Oh, you Americans! You are so funny! A million dollars! It is +impossible that I should be angry after such a compliment. Besides, +you are so funny! Do you not know Le Mire? Am I not a princess if I +desire it--tomorrow--today? Bah! There is the world--is it not mine? +Mrs. Lamar? Ugh! Pardon me, my friend, but it is an ugly name. + +"You know my ancestors? De L'Enclos, Montalais, Maintenon, La Marana! +They were happy--in their way--and they were great. I must do nothing +unworthy of them. Set your mind at rest, Mr. Lamar; but, really, you +should have known better--you who have seen the world and Le Mire in +Paris! And now our amusement is perhaps ended? Now we must return to +that awful New York? Voila!" + +Indeed I had not understood her. And how could I? There is only one +such woman in a generation; sometimes none, for nature is sparing of +her favorites. By pure luck she sat before me, this twentieth-century +Marana, and I acknowledged her presence with a deep bow of apology and +admiration. + +"If you will forgive me, madame," I said, "I will--not attempt to make +reparation, for my words were not meant for you. Consider them +unspoken. As for our amusement, why need it end? Surely, we can +forget? I see plainly I am not a St. Evremond, but neither am I a +fool. My brother pleases you--well, there he is. As for myself, I +shall either stay to take care of you two children, or I shall return +to New York, as you desire." + +Le Mire looked at me uncertainly for a moment, then turned to Harry and +with a fluttering gesture took his hand in her own and patted it gaily. +Then she laughed the happy laugh of a child as she said: + +"Then it is well! And, monsieur, you are less an American than I +thought. By all means, stay--we shall be so jolly! Will we not, my +little friend?" + +Harry nodded, smiling at her. But there was a troubled look in his +face. + + + +Chapter IV. + +ALLONS! + +The events of the month that followed, though exciting enough, were of +a similarity that would make their narration tedious, and I shall pass +over them as speedily as possible. + +We remained at Colorado Springs only two days after that morning in the +garden. Le Mire, always in search of novelty, urged us away, and, +since we really had nothing in view save the satisfaction of her whims, +we consented. Salt Lake City was our next resting-place, but Le Mire +tired of it in a day. + +"I shall see the Pacific," she said to Harry and me, and we immediately +set out for San Francisco. + +Is it necessary for me to explain my attitude? But surely it explains +itself. For one thing, I was disinclined to leave Harry in a position +where he was so abundantly unable to take care of himself. For +another, I take amusement wherever it offers itself, and I was most +certainly not bored. + +The vagaries and caprices of a beautiful woman are always interesting, +and when you are allowed to study them at close range without being +under the necessity of acting the part of a faithful lover they become +doubly so. + +Le Mire managed Harry with wonderful tact and finesse; I sat back and +laughed at the performance, now and then applying a check when her +riotous imagination seemed likely to run away with us. + +At San Francisco she achieved a triumph, notorious to the point of +embarrassment. Paul Lamar, of New York, had introduced himself into +the highest circle of society, and in turn had introduced his friends, +Senor and Senora Ramal. The senora captured the town in a single night +at a reception and ball on Telegraph Hill. + +The day following there were several dozens of cards left for her at +our hotel; invitations arrived by the score. She accepted two or three +and made the fortune of two drawing-rooms; then suddenly tired of the +sport and insulted a most estimable lady, our hostess, by certain +remarks which inadvertently reached the ears of the lady's husband. + +"You have done for yourself, Le Mire," I told her. + +She answered me with a smile--straightway proceeded to issue +invitations for an "entertainment" at our hotel. I had no idea what +she meant to do; but gave the thing no thought, feeling certain that +few, or none, of the invitations would be accepted--wherein I was badly +mistaken, for not one was refused. + +Well, Le Mire danced for them. + +For myself it was barely interesting; I have passed the inner portals +of the sacred temples of India, and the human body holds no surprises +for me. But the good people of San Francisco were shocked, astonished, +and entranced. Not a man in the room but was Le Mire's slave; even the +women were forced to applaud. She became at once a goddess and an +outcast. + +The newspapers of the following morning were full of it, running the +scale of eulogy, admiration, and wonder. And one of the articles, +evidently written by a man who had been considerably farther east than +San Francisco, ended with the following paragraph: + + +In short, it was sublime, and with every movement and every gesture +there was a something hidden, a suggestion of a personality and +mysterious charm that we have always heretofore considered the +exclusive property of just one woman in the world. But Desiree Le Mire +is not in San Francisco; though we declare that the performance of last +evening was more than enough to rouse certain suspicions, especially in +view of Le Mire's mysterious disappearance from New York. + + +I took the paper to Desiree in her room, and while she read the article +stood gazing idly from a window. It was about eleven in the morning; +Harry had gone for a walk, saying that he would return in half an hour +to join us at breakfast. + +"Well?" said Desiree when she had finished. + +"But it is not well," I retorted, turning to face her. "I do not +reproach you; you are being amused, and so, I confess, am I. But your +name--that is, Le Mire--has been mentioned, and discovery is sure to +follow. We must leave San Francisco at once." + +"But I find it entertaining." + +"Nevertheless, we must leave." + +"But if I choose to stay?" + +"No; for Harry would stay with you." + +"Well, then--I won't go." + +"Le Mire, you will go?" + +She sent me a flashing glance, and for a moment I half expected an +explosion. Then, seeming to think better of it, she smiled: + +"But where? We can't go west without falling into the ocean, and I +refuse to return. Where?" + +"Then we'll take the ocean." + +She looked up questioningly, and I continued: + +"What would you say to a yacht--a hundred and twenty foot steamer, with +a daredevil captain and the coziest little cabins in the world?" + +"Bah!" Le Mire snapped her fingers to emphasize her incredulity. "It +does not exist." + +"But it does. Afloat and in commission, to be had for the asking and +the necessary check. Dazzling white, in perfect order, a second +Antoine for a chef, rooms furnished as you would your own villa. What +do you say?" + +"Really?" asked Le Mire with sparkling eyes. + +"Really." + +"Here--in San Francisco?" + +"In the harbor. I saw her myself this morning." + +"Then I say--allons! Ah, my friend, you are perfection! I want to see +it. Now! May I? Come!" + +I laughed at her eager enthusiasm as she sprang up from her chair. + +"Le Mire, you are positively a baby. Something new to play with! +Well, you shall have it. But you haven't had breakfast. We'll go out +to see her this afternoon; in fact, I have already made an appointment +with the owner." + +"Ah! Indeed, you are perfection. And--how well you know me." She +paused and seemed to be searching for words; then she said abruptly: +"M. Lamar, I wish you to do me a favor." + +"Anything, Le Mire, in or out of reason." + +Again she hesitated; then: + +"Do not call me Le Mire." + +I laughed. + +"But certainly, Senora Ramal. And what is the favor?" + +"That." + +"That--" + +"Do not call me Le Mire--nor Senora Ramal." + +"Well, but I must address you occasionally." + +"Call me Desiree." + +I looked at her with a smile. + +"But I thought that that was reserved for your particular friends." + +"So it is." + +"Then, my dear senora, it would be impertinent of me." + +"But if I request it?" + +"I have said--anything in or out of reason. And, of course, I am one +of the family." + +"Is that the only reason?" + +I began to understand her, and I answered her somewhat dryly: "My dear +Desiree, there can be none other." + +"Are you so--cold?" + +"When I choose." + +"Ah!" It was a sigh rather than an exclamation. "And yet, on the +ship--do you remember? Look at me, M. Lamar. Am I not--am I so +little worthy of a thought?" + +Her lips were parted with tremulous feeling; her eyes glowed with a +strange fire, and yet were tender. Indeed, she was "worthy of a +thought"--dangerously so; I felt my pulse stir. It was necessary to +assume a stoicism I was far from feeling, and I looked at her with a +cynical smile and spoke in a voice as carefully deliberate as I could +make it. + +"Le Mire," I said, "I could love you, but I won't." And I turned and +left her without another word. + +Why? I haven't the slightest idea. It must have been my vanity. Some +few men had conquered Le Mire; others had surrendered to her; certainly +none had ever been able to resist her. There was a satisfaction in it. +I walked about the lobby of the hotel till Harry returned, idiotically +pleased with myself. + +At the breakfast table I acquainted Harry with our plans for a cruise, +and he was fully as eager about it as Le Mire had been. He wanted to +weigh anchor that very afternoon. I explained that it was necessary to +wait for funds from New York. + +"How much?" said he. "I'm loaded." + +"I've sent for a hundred thousand," said I. + +"Are you going to buy her?" he demanded with astonishment. + +Then we fell to a discussion of routes. Harry was for Hawaii; Le Mire +for South America. + +We tossed a coin. + +"Heads," said Desiree, and so it fell. + +I requested Le Mire to keep to the hotel as closely as possible for the +days during which it was necessary for us to remain in San Francisco. +She did so, but with an apparent effort. + +I have never seen a creature so full of nervous energy and fire; only +by severe restraint could she force herself to even a small degree of +composure. Harry was with her nearly every minute, though what they +found to talk about was beyond my comprehension. Neither was exactly +bubbling over with ideas, and one cannot say "I love you" for +twenty-four hours a day. + +It was a cool, sunny day in the latter part of October when we weighed +anchor and passed through the Golden Gate. I had leased the yacht for +a year, and had made alternative plans in case Le Mire should tire of +the sport, which I thought extremely probable. + +She and Harry were delighted with the yacht, which was not surprising, +for she was as perfect a craft as I have seen. Sides white as +sea-foam; everything above decks of shining brass, below mahogany, and +as clean and shipshape as a Dutch kitchen. There were five rooms +besides the captain's, and a reception-room, dining-room, and library. +We had provisioned her well, and had a jewel of a cook. + +Our first port was Santa Catalina. We dropped anchor there at about +five o'clock in the afternoon of such a day as only southern California +can boast of, and the dingey was lowered to take us ashore. + +"What is there?" asked Le Mire, pointing to the shore as we stood +leaning on the rail waiting for the crew to place the ladder. + +I answered: "Tourists." + +Le Mire shrugged her shoulders. "Tourists? Bah! Merci, non. Allons!" + +I laughed and went forward to the captain to tell him that madame did +not approve of Santa Catalina. In another minute the dingey was back +on its davits, the anchor up, and we were under way. Poor captain! +Within a week he became used to Le Mire's sudden whims. + +At San Diego we went ashore. Le Mire took a fancy to some Indian +blankets, and Harry bought them for her; but when she expressed an +intention to take an Indian girl--about sixteen or seventeen years +old--aboard the yacht as a "companion," I interposed a firm negative. +And, after all, she nearly had her way. + +For a month it was "just one port after another." Mazatlan, San Bias, +Manzanillo, San Salvador, Panama City--at each of these we touched, and +visited sometimes an hour, sometimes two or three days. Le Mire was +loading the yacht with all sorts of curious relics. Ugly or beautiful, +useful or worthless, genuine or faked, it mattered not to her; if a +thing suited her fancy she wanted it--and got it. + +At Guayaquil occurred the first collision of wills. It was our second +evening in port. We were dining on the deck of the yacht, with half a +dozen South American generals and admirals as guests. + +Toward the end of the dinner Le Mire suddenly became silent and +remained for some minutes lost in thought; then, suddenly, she turned +to the bundle of gold lace at her side with a question: + +"Where is Guayaquil?" + +He stared at her in amazement. + +"It is there, senora," he said finally, pointing to the shore lined +with twinkling lights. + +"I know, I know," said Le Mire impatiently; "but where is it? In what +country?" + +The poor fellow, too surprised to be offended, stammered the name of +his native land between gasps, while Harry and I had all we could do to +keep from bursting into laughter. + +"Ah," said Desiree in the tone of one who has made an important +discovery, "I thought so. Ecuador. Monsieur, Quito is in Ecuador." + +The general--or admiral, I forget which--acknowledged the correctness +of her geography with a profound bow. + +"But yes. I have often heard of Quito, monsieur. It is a very +interesting place. I shall go to Quito." + +There ensued immediately a babel. Each of our guests insisted on the +honor of accompanying us inland, and the thing would most assuredly +have ended in a bloody quarrel on the captain's polished deck, if I had +not interposed in a firm tone: + +"But, gentlemen, we are not going to Quito." + +Le Mire looked at me--and such a look! Then she said in a tone of the +utmost finality: + +"I am going to Quito." + +I shook my head, smiling at her, whereupon she became furious. + +"M. Lamar," she burst forth, "I tell you I am going to Quito! In +spite of your smile! Yes! Do you hear? I shall go!" + +Without a word I took a coin from my pocket and held it up. I had come +to know Le Mire. She frowned for a moment in an evident attempt to +maintain her anger, then an irresistible smile parted her lips and she +clapped her hands gaily. + +"Very well," she cried, "toss, monsieur! Heads!" + +The coin fell tails, and we did not go to Quito, much to the +disappointment of our guests. Le Mire forgot all about it in ten +minutes. + +Five days later we dropped anchor at Callao. + +This historic old port delighted Le Mire at once. I had told her +something of its story: its successive bombardments by the liberators +from Chile, the Spanish squadron, buccaneering expeditions from Europe +and the Chilean invaders; not to mention earthquakes and tidal waves. +We moored alongside the stone pier by the lighthouse; the old clock at +its top pointed to the hour of eight in the morning. + +But as soon as Le Mire found out that Lima was but a few miles away, +Callao no longer held any interest for her. We took an afternoon train +and arrived at the capital in time for dinner. + +There it was, in picturesque old Lima, that Le Mire topped her career. +On our first afternoon we betook ourselves to the fashionable paseo, +for it was a band day, and all Lima was out. + +In five minutes every eye in the gay and fashionable crowd was turned +on Le Mire. Then, as luck would have it, I met, quite by chance, a +friend of mine who had come to the University of San Marcos some years +before as a professor of climatology. He introduced us, with an air of +importance, to several of the groups of fashion, and finally to the +president himself. That night we slept as guests under the roof of a +luxurious and charming country house at Miraflores. + +Le Mire took the capital by storm. Her style of beauty was peculiarly +fitted for their appreciation, for pallor is considered a mark of +beauty among Lima ladies. But that could scarcely account for her +unparalleled triumph. I have often wondered--was it the effect of a +premonition? + +The president himself sat by her at the opera. There were two duels +attributed to her within a week; though how the deuce that was possible +is beyond me. + +On society day at the bull-ring the cues were given by Le Mire; her +hand flung the rose to the matador, while the eight thousand excited +spectators seemed uncertain whether they were applauding her or him. +Lima was hers, and never have I seen a fortnight so crowded with +incidents. + +But Le Mire soon tired of it, as was to be expected. She greeted me +one morning at the breakfast table: + +"My friend Paul, let us go to Cerro de Pasco. They have +silver--thousands and thousands of tons--and what you call them? +Ornaments." + +"And then the Andes?" I suggested. + +"Why not?" + +"But, my dear Desiree, what shall we do with the yacht?" + +"Pooh! There is the captain. Come--shall I say please?" + +So we went to Cerro de Pasco. I wrote to Captain Harris, telling him +not to expect us for another month or so, and sending him sufficient +funds to last till our return. + +I verily believe that every one of note in Lima came to the railroad +station to see us off. + +Our compartment was a mass of flowers, which caused me to smile, for Le +Mire, curiously enough, did not like them. When we had passed out of +the city she threw them out of the window, laughing and making jokes at +the expense of the donors. She was in the best of humor. + +We arrived at Oroya late in the afternoon, and departed for Cerro de +Pasco by rail on the following morning. + +This ride of sixty-eight miles is unsurpassed in all the world. +Snow-capped peaks, bottomless precipices, huge masses of boulders that +seem ready to crush the train surround you on every side, and now and +then are directly above or beneath you. + +Le Mire was profoundly impressed; indeed, I had not supposed her to +possess the sensibility she displayed; and as for me, I was most +grateful to her for having suggested the trip. You who find yourselves +too well-acquainted with the Rockies and the Alps and the Himalayas +should try the Andes. There is a surprise waiting for you. + +But for the story. + +We found Cerro de Pasco, interesting as its situation is, far short of +our expectations. It is a mining town, filled with laborers and +speculators, noisy, dirty, and coarse. We had been there less than +forty-eight hours when I declared to Harry and Le Mire my intention of +returning at once. + +"But the Andes!" said Le Mire. "Shall we not see them?" + +"Well--there they are." + +I pointed through the window of the hotel. + +"Bah! And you call yourself a traveler? Look! The snow! My friend +Paul, must I ask twice for a favor?" + +Once again we tossed a coin. + +Ah, if Le Mire had only seen the future! And yet--I often +wonder--would she have turned her back? For the woman craved novelty +and adventure, and the gameness of centuries was in her blood--well, +she had her experience, which was shared only in part by Harry and +myself. + +Those snow-capped peaks! Little did we guess what they held for us. +We were laughing, I remember, as we left behind us the edge of +civilization represented by Cerro de Pasco. + +We found it impossible to procure a complete outfit in the mining town, +and were forced to despatch a messenger to Lima. He returned in two +days with mules, saddles, saddle-bags, boots, leather leggings, +knickerbockers, woolen ponchos, and scores of other articles which he +assured us were absolutely necessary for any degree of comfort. By the +time we were ready to start we had a good-sized pack-train on our hands. + +The proprietor of the hotel found us an arriero, whom he declared to be +the most competent and trustworthy guide in all the Andes--a long, +loose-jointed fellow with an air of complete indifference habitually +resting on his yellow, rather sinister-looking face. Le Mire did not +like him, but I certainly preferred the hotel proprietor's experience +and knowledge to her volatile fancy, and engaged the arriero on the +spot. + +Our outfit was complete, and everything in readiness, when Harry +suddenly announced that he had decided not to go, nor to allow Le Mire +to do so. + +"I don't like it," he said in troubled tones. "I tell you, Paul, I +don't like it. I've been talking to some of the miners and arrieros, +and the thing is foolhardy and dangerous." + +Then, seeing the expression on my face, he continued hastily: "Oh, not +for myself. You know me; I'll do anything that any one else will do, +and more, if I can. But Desiree! I tell you, if anything happened to +her I--well--" + +I cut him short: + +"My dear boy, the idea is Desiree's own. And to talk of danger where +she is concerned! She would laugh at you." + +"She has," Harry confessed with a doubtful smile. + +I clapped him roughly on the shoulder. + +"Come, brace up! Our caravan awaits us--and see, the fairy, too. Are +you ready, Desiree?" + +She came toward us from the inner rooms of the hotel, smiling, radiant. +I shall never forget the picture she presented. She wore white +knickerbockers, a white jacket, tan-leather boots and leggings and a +khaki hat. + +Her golden hair, massed closely about her ears and upon her forehead, +shimmered in the bright sun dazzlingly; her eyes sparkled; her little +white teeth gleamed in a happy, joyous smile. + +We lifted her to the back of her mule, then mounted our own. Suddenly +a recollection shot through my brain with remarkable clearness, and I +turned to Le Mire: + +"Desiree, do you know the first time I ever saw you? It was in an +electric brougham at the Gare du Nord. This is somewhat different, my +lady." + +"And infinitely more interesting," she answered. "Are you ready? See +that stupid arriero! Ah! After all, he knew what he was about. Then, +messieurs--allons!" + +The arriero, receiving my nod uttered a peculiar whistle through his +teeth. The mules pricked up their ears, then with one common movement +started forward. + +"Adios! Adios, senora! Adios, senores!" + +With the cry of our late host sounding in our ears we passed down the +narrow little street of Cerro de Pasco on our way to the snow-capped +peaks of the Andes. + + + +Chapter V. + +THE CAVE OF THE DEVIL. + +You may remember that I made some remark concerning the difficulty of +the ascent of Pike's Peak. Well, that is mere child's play--a morning +constitutional compared to the paths we found ourselves compelled to +follow in the great Cordillera. + +Nor was it permitted us to become gradually accustomed to the danger; +we had not been two hours out of Cerro de Pasco before we found +ourselves creeping along a ledge so narrow there was scarcely room for +the mules to place their hoofs together, over a precipice three +thousand feet in the air--straight. And, added to this was the +discomfort, amounting at times to positive pain, caused by the soroche. + +Hardly ever did we find ground sufficiently broad for a breathing +space, save when our arriero led us, almost by magic it seemed, to a +camping place for the night. We would ascend the side of a narrow +valley; on one hand roared a torrent some hundreds of feet below; on +the other rose an uncompromising wall of rock. So narrow would be the +track that as I sat astride my mule my outside leg would be hanging +over the abyss. + +But the grandeur, the novelty, and the variety of the scenery repaid +us; and Le Mire loved the danger for its own sake. Time and again she +swayed far out of her saddle until her body was literally suspended in +the air above some frightful chasm, while she turned her head to laugh +gaily at Harry and myself, who brought up the rear. + +"But Desiree! If the girth should break!" + +"Oh, but it won't." + +"But if it should?" + +"Tra-la-la! Come, catch me!" + +And she would try to urge her mule into a trot--a futile effort, since +the beast had a much higher regard for his skin than she had for hers; +and the mule of the arriero was but a few feet ahead. + +Thus we continued day after day, I can't say how many. There was a +fascination about the thing that was irresistible. However high the +peak we had ascended, another could be seen still higher, and that, +too, must be scaled. + +The infinite variety of the trail, its surprises, its new dangers, its +apparent vanishings into thin air, only to be found, after an all but +impossible curve, up the side of another cliff, coaxed us on and on; +and when or where we would have been able to say, "thus far and no +farther" is an undecided problem to this day. + +About three o'clock one afternoon we camped in a small clearing at the +end of a narrow valley. Our arriero, halting us at that early hour, +had explained that there was no other camping ground within six hours' +march, and no hacienda or pueblo within fifty miles. We received his +explanation with the indifference of those to whom one day is like +every other day, and amused ourselves by inspecting our surroundings +while he prepared the evening meal and arranged the camp beds. + +Back of us lay the trail by which we had approached--a narrow, sinuous +ribbon clinging to the side of the huge cliffs like a snake fastened to +a rock. On the left side, immediately above us, was a precipice some +thousand feet in height; on the right a series of massive boulders, of +quartzite and granite, misshapen and lowering. + +There were three, I remember, placed side by side like three giant +brothers; then two or three smaller ones in a row, and beyond these +many others ranged in a mass unevenly, sometimes so close together that +they appeared to be jostling one another out of the way. + +For several days we had been in the region of perpetual snow; and soon +we gathered about the fire which the arriero had kindled for our camp. +Its warmth was grateful, despite our native woolen garments and heavy +ponchos. + +The wind whistled ominously; a weird, senseless sound that smote the +ear with madness. The white of the snow and the dull gray of the rocks +were totally unrelieved by any touch of green or play of water; a spot +lonely as the human soul and terrifying as death. + +Harry had gone to examine the hoofs of his mule, which had limped +slightly during the afternoon; Le Mire and I sat side by side near the +fire, gazing at the play of the flames. For some minutes we had been +silent. + +"In Paris, perhaps--" she began suddenly, then stopped short and became +again silent. + +But I was fast dropping into melancholy and wanted to hear her voice, +and I said: + +"Well? In Paris--" + +She looked at me, her eyes curiously somber, but did not speak. I +insisted: + +"You were saying, Desiree, in Paris--" + +She made a quick movement and laughed unpleasantly. + +"Yes, my friend--but it is useless. I was thinking of you. 'Ah! A +card! Mr. Paul Lamar. Show him in, Julie. But no, let him wait--I am +not at home.' That, my friend, would be in Paris." + +I stared at her. + +"For Heaven's sake, Desiree, what nonsense is this?" + +She disregarded my question as she continued: + +"Yes, that is how it would be. Why do I talk thus? The mountains +hypnotize me. The snow, the solitude--for I am alone. Your brother, +what is he? And you, Paul, are scarcely aware of my existence. + +"I had my opportunity with you, and I laughed it away. And as for the +future--look! Do you see that waste of snow and ice, glittering, cold, +pitiless? Ha! Well, that is my grave." + +I tried to believe that she was merely amusing herself, but the glow in +her eyes did not proceed from mirth. I followed her fixed gaze across +the trackless waste and, shivering, demanded: + +"What morbid fancy is this, Desiree? Come, it is scarcely pleasant." + +She rose and crossed the yard or so of ground between us to my side. I +felt her eyes above me, and try as I would I could not look up to meet +them. Then she spoke, in a voice low but curiously distinct: + +"Paul, I love you." + +"My dear Desiree!" + +"I love you." + +At once I was myself, calm and smiling. I was convinced that she was +acting, and I dislike to spoil a good scene. So I merely said: + +"I am flattered, senora." + +She sighed, placing her hand on my shoulder. + +"You laugh at me. You are wrong. Have I chosen this place for a +flirtation? Before, I could not speak; now you must know. There have +been many men in my life, Paul; some fools, some not so, but none like +you. I have never said, 'I love you.' I say it now. Once you held my +hand--you have never kissed me." + +I rose to my feet, smiling, profoundly fatuous, and made as if to put +my arm around her. + +"A kiss? Is that all, Desiree? Well--" + +But I had mistaken her tone and overreached. Not a muscle did she +move, but I felt myself repulsed as by a barrier of steel. She +remained standing perfectly still, searching me with a gaze that left +me naked of levity and cynicism and the veneer of life; and finally she +murmured in a voice sweet with pain: + +"Must you kill me with words, Paul? I did not mean that--now. It is +too late." + +Then she turned swiftly and called to Harry, who came running over to +her only to meet with some trivial request, and a minute later the +arriero announced dinner. + +I suppose that the incident had passed with her, as it had with me; +little did I know how deeply I had wounded her. And when I discovered +my mistake, some time later and under very different circumstances, it +very nearly cost me my life, and Harry's into the bargain. + +During the meal Le Mire was in the jolliest of moods apparently. She +retold the tale of Balzac's heroine who crossed the Andes in the guise +of a Spanish officer, performing wondrous exploits with her sword and +creating havoc among the hearts of the fair ladies who took the dashing +captain's sex for granted from his clothing. + +The story was a source of intense amusement to Harry, who insisted on +the recital of detail after detail, until Desiree allowed her memory to +take a vacation and substitute pure imagination. Nor was the +improvisation much inferior to the original. + +It was still light when we finished dinner, a good three hours till +bedtime. And since there was nothing better to do, I called to the +arriero and asked him to conduct us on a tour of exploration among the +mass of boulders, gray and stern, that loomed up on our right. + +He nodded his head in his usual indifferent manner, and fifteen minutes +later we started, on foot. The arriero led the way, with Harry at his +heels, and Desiree and I brought up the rear. + +Thrice I tried to enter into conversation with her; but each time she +shook her head without turning round, and I gave it up. I was frankly +puzzled by her words and conduct of an hour before; was it merely one +of the trickeries of Le Mire or-- + +I was interested in the question as one is always interested in a +riddle; but I tossed it from my mind, promising myself a solution on +the morrow, and gave my attention to the vagaries of nature about me. + +We were passing through a cleft between two massive rocks, some three +or four hundred yards in length. Ahead of us, at the end of the +passage, a like boulder fronted us. + +Our footfalls echoed and reechoed from wall to wall; the only other +sound was the eery moaning of the wind that reached our ears with a +faintness which only served to increase its effect. Here and there +were apertures large enough to admit the entrance of a horse and rider, +and in many places the sides were crumbling. + +I was reflecting, I remember, that the formation was undoubtedly one of +limestone, with here and there a layer of quartzite, when I was aroused +by a shout from Harry. + +I approached. Harry and Desiree, with Felipe, the arriero, had halted +and were gazing upward at the wall of rock which barred the exit from +the passage. Following their eyes, I saw lines carved on the rock, +evidently a rude and clumsy attempt to reproduce the form of some +animal. + +The thing was some forty feet or so above us and difficult to see +clearly. + +"I say it's a llama," Harry was saying as I stopped at his side. + +"My dear boy," returned Desiree, "don't you think I know a horse when I +see one?" + +"When you see one, of course," said Harry sarcastically. "But who ever +saw a horse with a neck like that?" + +As for me, I was really interested, and I turned to the arriero for +information. + +"Si, senor," said Felipe, "Un caballo." + +"But who carved it?" + +Felipe shrugged his shoulders. + +"Is it new--Spanish?" + +Another shrug. I became impatient. + +"Have you no tongue?" I demanded. "Speak! If you don't know the +author of that piece of equine art say so." + +"I know, senor." + +"You know?" + +"Si, senor." + +"Then, for Heaven's sake, tell us." + +"His story?" pointing to the figure on the rock. + +"Yes, idiot!" + +Without a sign of interest, Felipe turned twice around, found a +comfortable rock, sat down, rolled a cigarette, lighted it, and began. +He spoke in Spanish dialect; I shall preserve the style as far as +translation will permit. + +"Many, many years ago, senor, Atahualpa, the Inca, son of Huayna-Capac, +was imprisoned at Cajamarco. Four, five hundred years ago, it was. By +the great Pizarro. And there was gold at Cuzco, to the south, and +Atahualpa, for his ransom, ordered that this gold be brought to Pizarro. + +"Messengers carried the order like the wind, so swift that in five days +the priests of the sun carried their gold from the temples to save the +life of Atahualpa." + +Felipe paused, puffing at his cigarette, glanced at his audience, and +continued: + +"But Hernando Pizarro, brother of the great Pizarro, suspected a delay +in the carriers of gold. From Pachacamac he came with twenty horsemen, +sowing terror in the mountains, carrying eighty loads of gold. Across +the Juaja River and past Lake Chinchaycocha they came, till they +arrived at the city of Huanuco. + +"There were temples and gold and priests and soldiers. But when the +soldiers of the Inca saw the horses of the Spaniards and heard the +guns, they became frightened and ran away like little children, +carrying their gold. Never before had they seen white men, or guns, or +horses. + +"With them came many priests and women, to the snow of the mountains. +And after many days of suffering they came to a cave, wherein they +disappeared and no more were seen, nor could Hernando Pizarro and his +twenty horsemen find them to procure their gold. + +"And before they entered the cave they scaled a rock near its entrance +and carved thereon the likeness of a horse to warn their Inca brethren +of the Spaniards who had driven them from Huanuco. That is his story, +senor." + +"But who told you all this, Felipe?" + +The arriero shrugged his shoulders and glanced about, as much as to +say, "It is in the wind." + +"But the cave?" cried Desiree. "Where is the cave?" + +"It is there, senora," said Felipe, pointing through a passage to the +right. + +Then nothing would do for Desiree but to see the cave. The arriero +informed her that it was difficult of access, but she turned the +objection aside with contempt and commanded him to lead. + +Harry, of course, was with her, and I followed somewhat unwillingly; +for, though Felipe's history was fairly accurate, I was inclined to +regard his fable of the disappearing Incas as a wild tradition of the +mountains. + +He had spoken aright--the path to the cave was not an easy one. Here +and there deep ravines caused us to make a wide detour or risk our +necks on perilous steeps. + +Finally we came to a small clearing, which resembled nothing so much as +the bottom of a giant well, and in the center of one of the steep walls +was an opening some thirty or forty feet square, black and rugged, and +somehow terrifying. + +It was the entrance to the cave. + +There Felipe halted. + +"Here, senor. Here entered the Incas of Huanuco with their gold." + +He shivered as he spoke, and I fancied that his face grew pale. + +"We shall explore it!" cried Desiree, advancing. + +"But no, senora!" The arriero was positively trembling. "No! Senor, +do not let her go within! Many times have my countrymen entered in +search of the gold, and americanos, too, and never did they return. It +is a cave of the devil, senor. He hides in the blackness and none who +enter may escape him." + +Desiree was laughing gaily. + +"Then I shall visit the devil!" she exclaimed, and before either Harry +or I could reach her she had sprung across the intervening space to the +entrance and disappeared within. + +With shouts of consternation from Felipe ringing in our ears, we leaped +after her. + +"Desiree!" cried Harry. "Come back, Desiree!" + +There was no answer, but echoing back from the night before us came +faint reverberations--could they be footsteps! What folly! For I had +thought that she had merely intended to frighten poor Felipe, and now-- + +"Desiree!" Harry called again with all the strength of his lungs. +"Desiree!" + +Again there was no answer. Then we entered the cave together. I +remember that as we passed within I turned and saw Felipe staring with +white face and eyes filled with terror. + +A hundred feet and we were encompassed by the most intense darkness. I +muttered: "This is folly; let us get a light," and tried to hold Harry +back. But he pushed me aside and groped on, crying: "Desiree! Come +back, Desiree!" + +What could I do? I followed. + +Suddenly a scream resounded through the cavern. Multiplied and echoed +by the black walls, it was inhuman, shot with terror, profoundly +horrible. + +A tremor ran through me from head to foot; beside me I heard Harry gasp +with a nameless fear. An instant later we dashed forward into the +darkness. + +How long we ran I could never tell; probably a few seconds, possibly as +many minutes. + +On we rushed, blindly, impelled not by reason, but by the memory of +that terrible cry, side by side, gasping, fearful. And then-- + +A step into thin air--a mighty effort to recover a footing--a wild +instant of despair and pawing helpless agony. Then blackness and +oblivion. + + + +Chapter VI. + +CAPTURED. + +The fall--was it ten feet or a thousand? I shall never know. Hurtling +headlong through space, a man can scarcely be expected to keep his wits +about him. + +Actually, my only impression was of righteous indignation; my memory is +that I cursed aloud, but Harry denies it. + +But it could not have been for long, for when we struck the water at +the bottom we were but slightly stunned by the impact. To this Harry +has since agreed; he must have been as lucky as myself, for I took it +headlong with a clean cleavage. + +I rose to the top, sputtering, and flung out my arms in the attempt to +swim--or, rather, to keep afloat--and was overjoyed to find my arms and +legs answer to the call of the brain. + +About me was blackest night and utter silence, save a low, unbroken +murmur, unlike any other sound, hardly to be heard. It was in my +effort to account for it that I first became aware of the fact that the +water was a stream, and a moving one--moving with incredible swiftness, +smooth and all but silent. As soon as I became convinced of this I +gave up all attempt to swim, and satisfied myself with keeping my head +above the surface and drifting with the current. + +Then I thought of Harry, and called his name aloud many times. The +reverberations throughout the cave were as the report of a thousand +cannon; but there was no response. + +The echoes became fainter and fainter and died away, and again all was +silence and impenetrable night, while I battled with the strong suction +of the unseen current, which was growing swifter and swifter, and felt +my strength begin to leave me. + +Terror, too, began to call to me as the long minutes passed endlessly +by. I thought, "If I could only see!" and strained my eyes in the +effort till I was forced to close them from the dizzy pain. The utter, +complete darkness hid from me all knowledge of what I passed or what +awaited me beyond. + +The water, carrying me swiftly onward with its silent, remorseless +sweep, was cold and black; it pressed with tremendous power against me; +now and then I was forced beneath the surface and fought my way back, +gasping and all but exhausted. + +I forgot Desiree and Harry; I lost all consciousness of where I was and +what I was doing; the silent fury of the stream and the awful blackness +maddened me; I plunged and struggled desperately, blindly, sobbing with +rage. This could not have lasted much longer; I was very near the end. + +Suddenly, with a thrill of joy, I realized that the speed of the +current was decreasing. Then a reaction of despair seized me; I tried +to strangle hope and resign myself to the worst. But soon there was no +longer any doubt; the water carried me slower and slower. + +I floated with little difficulty, wondering--could it be an approach to +a smaller outlet which acted as a dam? Or was it merely a lessening of +the incline of the bed of the stream? I cursed the darkness for my +helplessness. + +Finally the water became absolutely still, as I judged by the absence +of pressure on my body, and I turned sharply at a right angle and began +to swim. My weariness left me as by magic, and I struck out with bold +and sweeping strokes; and by that lack of caution all but destroyed +myself when my head suddenly struck against a wall of stone, unseen in +the darkness. + +I was stunned completely and sank; but the ducking revived me; and when +I returned to the surface I swam a few careful strokes, searching for +the wall. It was not there, and I had no idea of its direction. But I +had now learned caution; and by swimming a few feet first one way, then +another, and taking care not to go far in any one direction, I finally +discovered it. + +My hand easily reached the top, and, grasping the slippery surface with +a grip made firm by despair, and concentrating every ounce of strength +in one final effort, I drew myself out of the water and fell completely +exhausted on the ground. + +Under such circumstances time has no place in a man's calculations; he +is satisfied to breathe. I believe that I lay barely conscious for +several hours, but it may have been merely as many minutes. Then I +felt life stir within me; I stretched my arms and legs and sat up. +Gradually entered my mind the thought of Desiree and Harry and the +Andes above and Felipe shuddering with terror as he flew from the cave +of the devil. + +First came Harry; but hope did not enter. It was inconceivable that +he, too, should have escaped that fearful torrent; stupendous luck +alone had saved me from being dashed senseless against the rocks and +guided me to the ledge on which I rested. + +Then he was gone! I had no thought of my own peril. I had gone +through the world with but little regard for what it held; nothing had +been sacred to me; no affection had been more than a day's caprice; I +had merely sucked amusement from its bitter fruit. + +But I loved Harry; I realized it with something like astonishment. He +was dear to me; a keen, intense pain contracted my chest at the thought +of having lost him; tears filled my eyes; and I raised up my voice and +sang out wildly: + +"Harry! Harry, lad! Harry!" + +The cavern resounded. The call went from wall to wall, then back +again, floating through black space with a curious tremor, and finally +died away in some dim, unseen corridor. And then--then came an +answering call! + +Owing to the conflicting echoes of the cavern, the tone could not be +recognized. But the word was unmistakable; it was "Paul." + +I sprang to my feet with a shout, then stood listening. Out of the +blackness surrounding me came the words, in Harry's voice, much lower, +but distinct: + +"Paul! Paul, where are you?" + +"Thank Heaven!" I breathed; and I answered: + +"Here, Harry boy, here." + +"But where?" + +"I don't know. On a ledge of rock at the edge of the water. Where are +you?" + +"Same place. Which side are you on?" + +"The right side," I answered with heartfelt emphasis. "That is to say, +the outside. If it weren't for this infernal darkness--Listen! How +far away does my voice sound?" + +But the innumerable echoes of the cavern walls made it impossible to +judge of distance by sound. We tried it over and over; sometimes it +seemed that we were only a few feet apart, sometimes a mile or more. + +Then Harry spoke in a whisper, and his voice appeared to be directly in +my ear. Never have I seen a night so completely black as that cavern; +we had had several hours, presumably, for our eyes to adjust themselves +to the phenomenon; but when I held my hand but six inches in front of +my face I could not get even the faintest suggestion of its outline. + +"This is useless," I declared finally. "We must experiment. Harry!" + +"Yes." + +"Turn to your left and proceed carefully along the edge. I'll turn to +my right. Go easy, lad; feel your way." + +I crawled on my hands and knees, no faster than a snail, feeling every +inch of the ground. The surface was wet and slippery, and in places +sloped at an angle that made me hang on for dear life to keep from +shooting off into space. + +Meantime I kept calling to Harry and he to me; but, on account of our +painfully slow progress, it was half an hour or more before we +discovered that the distance between us was being increased instead of +lessened. + +He let fly an oath at this, and his tone was dangerous; no wonder if +the lad was half crazed! I steadied him as well as I could with word +of encouragement, and instructed him to turn about and proceed to the +right of his original position. I, also, turned to the left. + +Our hope of meeting lay in the probability that the ledge surrounded a +circular body of water and was continuous. At some point, of course, +was the entrance of the stream which had carried us, and at some other +point there was almost certainly an outlet; but we trusted to luck to +avoid these. Our chances were less than one in a thousand; but, +failing that, some other means must be invented. + +The simplest way would have been for me to take to the water and swim +across to Harry, counting on his voice as a guide; but the conflicting +echoes produced by the slightest sound rendered such an attempt +dangerous. + +I crept along that wet, slimy, treacherous surface, it seemed, for +hours. I could see nothing--absolutely nothing; everything was black +void; it was hard to appreciate reality in such a nightmare. On the +one side, nameless dangers; on the other, the unseen, bottomless lake; +enough, surely, to take a man's nerve. My fear for Harry killed +anxiety on my own account. We kept continually calling: + +"Harry!" + +"Yes." + +"Steady." + +"Yes. I'm coming along. I say, we're closer, Paul." + +I hesitated to agree with him, but finally there was no longer any +doubt of it. His voice began to reach me almost in natural tones, +which meant that we were near enough for the vibrations to carry +without interference from the walls. + +Nearer still it came; it was now only a matter of a few feet; Harry +gave a cry of joy, and immediately afterward I heard his low gasp of +terror and the sound of his wild scrambling to regain a foothold. In +his excitement he had forgotten caution and had slipped to the edge of +the water. + +I dared not try to go to his assistance; so I crouched perfectly still +and called to him to throw himself flat on his face. How my eyes +strained despairingly as I cursed the pitiless darkness! Then the +scrambling ceased and the boy's voice sounded: + +"All right, Paul! All right! Gad, I nearly went!" + +A minute later I held his hand in mine. At that point the incline was +at a sharp angle, and we lay flat on our backs. For many minutes we +lay silently gripping hands; Harry was trembling violently from nervous +fatigue, and I myself was unable to speak. + +What strength is there in companionship! Alone, either of us would +probably have long before succumbed to the strain of our horrible +situation; but we both took hope and courage from that hand-clasp. + +Finally he spoke: + +"In Heaven's name, where are we, Paul?" + +"You know as much as I do, Harry. This cursed darkness makes it +impossible even to guess at anything. According to Felipe, we are +being entertained by the devil." + +"But where are we? What happened? My head is dizzy--I don't know--" + +I gripped his hand. + +"And no wonder. 'Tis hardly an every-day occurrence to ride an +underground river several miles under the Andes. Above us a mountain +four miles high, beneath us a bottomless lake, round us darkness. Not +a very cheerful prospect, Hal; but, thank Heaven, we take it together! +It is a grave--ours and hers. I guess Desiree knew what she was +talking about." + +There came a cry from Harry's lips--a cry of painful memory: + +"Desiree! I had forgotten, Desiree!" + +"She is probably better off than we are," I assured him. + +I felt his gaze--I could not see it--and I continued: + +"We may as well meet the thing squarely like men. Pull yourself +together, Harry; as for Desiree, let us hope that she is dead. It's +the best thing that could happen to her." + +"Then we are--no, it isn't possible." + +"Harry boy, we're buried alive! There! That's the worst of it. +Anything better than that is velvet." + +"But there must be a way out, Paul! And Desiree--Desiree--" + +His voice faltered. I clapped him roughly on the shoulder. + +"Keep your nerve. As for a way out--at the rate that stream descends +it must have carried us thousands of feet beneath the mountain. There +is probably a mile of solid rock between us and the sunshine. You felt +the strength of that current; you might as well try to swim up Niagara." + +"But there must be an outlet at the other end." + +"Yes, and most probably forty or fifty miles away--that's the distance +to the western slope. Besides, how can we find it? And there may be +none. The water is most probably gradually absorbed by the porous +formation of the rocks, and that is what causes this lake." + +"But why isn't it known? Felipe said that the cave had been explored. +Why didn't they discover the stream?" + +Well, it was better to talk of that than nothing; at least, it kept +Harry from his childish cries for Desiree. So I explained that the +precipice over which we had fallen was presumably of recent origin. + +Geologically the Andes are yet in a chaotic and formative condition; +huge slides of Silurian slates and diorite are of frequent occurrence. +A ridge of one of these softer stones had most probably been encased in +the surrounding granite for many centuries; then, loosened by water or +by time, had crumbled and slid into the stream below. + +"And," I finished, "we followed it." + +"Then we may find another," said Harry hopefully. + +I agreed that it was possible. Then he burst out: + +"In the name of Heaven, don't be so cool! We can't get out till we +try. Come! And who knows--we may find Desiree." + +Then I decided it was best to tell him. Evidently the thought had not +entered his mind, and it was best for him to realize the worst. I +gripped his hand tighter as I said: + +"Nothing so pleasant, Harry. Because we're going to starve to death." + +"Starve to death?" he exclaimed. Then he added simply, with an oddly +pathetic tone: "I hadn't thought of that." + +After that we lay silent for many minutes in that awful darkness. +Thoughts and memories came and went in my brain with incredible +swiftness; pictures long forgotten presented themselves; an endless, +jumbled panorama. They say that a drowning man reviews his past life +in the space of a few seconds; it took me a little more time, but the +job was certainly a thorough one. Nor did I find it more interesting +in retrospect than it had been in reality. + +I closed my eyes to escape the darkness. It was maddening; easy enough +then to comprehend the hysterics of the blind and sympathize with them. +It finally reached a point where I was forced to grit my teeth to keep +from breaking out into curses; I could lie still no longer, exhausted +as I was, and Harry, too. I turned on him: + +"Come on, Hal; let's move." + +"Where?" he asked in a tone devoid of hope. + +"Anywhere--away from this beastly water. We must dry out our clothing; +no use dying like drowned rats. If I only had a match!" + +We rose to our hands and knees and crawled painfully up the slippery +incline. Soon we had reached dry ground and stood upright; then, +struck by a sudden thought, I turned to Harry: + +"Didn't you drink any of that water?" + +He answered: "No." + +"Well, let's try it. It may be our last drink, Hal; make it a good +one." + +We crept back down to the edge of the lake (I call it that in my +ignorance of its real nature), and, settling myself as firmly as +possible, I held Harry's hand while he lowered himself carefully into +the water. He was unable to reach its surface with his mouth without +letting go of my hand, and I shook off my poncho and used it as a line. + +"How does it taste?" I asked. + +"Fine!" was the response. "It must be clear as a bell. Lord. I +didn't know I was so thirsty!" + +I was not ignorant of the fact that there was an excellent chance of +the water being unhealthful, possibly poisoned, what with the tertiary +deposits of copper ores in the rock-basins; but the thought awakened +hope rather than fear. There is a choice even in death. + +But when I had pulled Harry up and descended myself I soon found that +there was no danger--or chance. The water had a touch of alkali, but +nothing more. + +Then we crept back up the wet ledge, and once more stood on dry ground. + +The surface was perfectly level, and we set off at a brisk pace, hand +in hand, directly away from the lake. But when, about a hundred yards +off, we suddenly bumped our heads against a solid wall of rock, we +decided to proceed with more caution. + +The darkness was intensified, if anything. We turned to the right and +groped along the wall, which was smooth as glass and higher than my +best reach. It seemed to the touch to be slightly convex, but that may +have been delusion. + +We had proceeded in this manner some hundred yards or more, advancing +cautiously, when we came to a break in the wall. A few feet farther +the wall began again. + +"It's a tunnel," said Harry. + +I nodded, forgetting he could not see me. "Shall we take it?" + +"Anything on a chance," he answered, and we entered the passage. + +It was quite narrow--so narrow that we were forced to advance very +slowly, feeling our way to avoid colliding with the walls. The ground +was strewn with fragments of rock, and a hasty step meant an almost +certain fall and a bruised shin. It was tedious work and incredibly +fatiguing. + +We had not rested a sufficient length of time to allow our bodies to +recuperate from the struggle with the torrent; also, we began to feel +the want of food. Harry was the first to falter, but I spurred him on. +Then he stumbled and fell and lay still. + +"Are you hurt?" I asked anxiously, bending over him. + +"No," was the answer. "But I'm tired--tired to death--and I want to +sleep." + +I was tempted myself, but I brought him to his feet, from some impulse +I know not what. For what was the use? One spot was as good as +another. However, we struggled on. + +Another hour and the passage broadened into a clearing. At least so it +seemed; the walls abruptly parted to the right and left. And still the +impenetrable, maddening darkness and awful silence! + +We gave it up; we could go no farther. A few useless minutes we +wasted, searching for a soft spot to lie on--moss, reeds, anything. We +found none, of course; but even the hard, unyielding rock was grateful +to our exhausted bodies. We lay side by side, using our ponchos for +pillows; our clothing at least was dry. + +I do not know how long I slept, but it seemed to me that I had barely +dozed off when I was awakened by something--what? + +There was no sound to my strained ears. I sat up, gazing intently into +the darkness, shuddering without apparent reason. Then I reflected +that nothing is dangerous to a man who faces death, and I laughed +aloud--then trembled at the sound of my own voice. Harry was in sound +sleep beside me; his regular breathing told of its depth. + +Again I lay down, but I could not sleep. Some instinct, long +forgotten, quivered within me, telling me that we were no longer alone. +And soon my ear justified it. + +At first it was not a sound, but the mere shadow of one. It was +rhythmic, low, beating like a pulse. What could it be? Again I sat +up, listening and peering into the darkness. And this time I was not +mistaken--there was a sound, rustling, sibilant. + +Little by little it increased, or rather approached, until it sounded +but a few feet from me on every side, sinister and menacing. It was +the silent, suppressed breathing of something living--whether animal or +man--creeping ever nearer. + +Then was the darkness doubly horrible. I sat paralyzed with my utter +helplessness, though fear, thank Heaven, did not strike me! I could +hear no footstep; no sound of any kind but that low, rushing breathing; +but it now was certain that whatever the thing was, it was not alone. + +From every side I heard it--closer, closer--until finally I felt the +hot, fetid breath in my very face. My nerves quivered in disgust, not +far from terror. + +I sprang to my feet with a desperate cry to Harry and swung toward him. + +There was no answering sound, no rush of feet, nothing; but I felt my +throat gripped in monstrous, hairy fingers. + +I tried to struggle, and immediately was crushed to the ground by the +overpowering weight of a score of soft, ill-smelling bodies. + +The grasp on my throat tightened; my arms relaxed, my brain reeled, and +I knew no more. + + + +Chapter VII. + +THE FIGHT IN THE DARK. + +I returned to consciousness with a sickening sensation of nausea and +unreality. Only my brain was alive; my entire body was numb and as +though paralyzed. Still darkness and silence, for all my senses told +me I might have been still in the spot where I had fallen. + +Then I tried to move my arms, and found that my hands and feet were +firmly bound. I strained at the thongs, making some slight sound; and +immediately I heard a whisper but a few feet away: + +"Are you awake, Paul?" + +I was still half dazed, but I recognized Harry's voice, and I answered +simply: "Yes. Where are we?" + +"The Lord knows! They carried us. You have been unconscious for +hours." + +"They carried us?" + +"Yes. A thousand miles, I think, on their backs. What--what are they, +Paul?" + +"I don't know. Did you see them?" + +"No. Too dark. They are strong as gorillas and covered with hair; I +felt that much. They didn't make a sound all the time. No more than +half as big as me, and yet one of them carried me as if I were a +baby--and I weigh one hundred and seventy pounds." + +"What are we bound with?" + +"Don't know; it feels like leather; tough as rats. I've been working +at it for two hours, but it won't give." + +"Well, you know what that means. Dumb brutes don't tie a man up." + +"But it's impossible." + +"Nothing is impossible. But listen!" + +There was a sound--the swift patter of feet; they were approaching. +Then suddenly a form bent over me close; I could see nothing, but I +felt a pressure against my body and an ill-smelling odor, +indescribable, entered my nostrils. I felt a sawing movement at my +wrists; the thongs pulled back and forth, and soon my hands were free. +The form straightened away from me, there was a clatter on the ground +near my head, and then silence. + +There came an oath from Harry: + +"Hang the brute! He's cut my wrist. Are your hands free, Paul?" + +"Yes." + +"Then bind this up; it's bleeding badly. What was that for?" + +"I have an idea," I answered as I tore a strip from my shirt and +bandaged the wound, which proved to be slight. Then I searched on the +ground beside me, and found my surmise correct. + +"Here you go, Hal! here's some grub. But what the deuce is it? By +Jove, it's dried fish! Now, where in the name of--" + +But we wasted no more time in talk, for we were half starved. The +stuff was not bad; to us who had been fasting for something like +thirty-six hours--for our idea of time was extremely hazy--it was a +gorgeous banquet. And close by there was a basin full of water. + +"Pretty decent sort of beggars, I say," came Harry's voice in the +darkness. "But who are they?" + +"Ask Felipe," I answered, for by this time I was well convinced of the +nature and identity of our captors. "As I said, dumb brutes don't bind +men with thongs, nor feed them on dried fish. Of course it's +incredible, but a man must be prepared to believe anything." + +"But, Paul! You mean--" + +"Exactly. We are in the hands of the Incas of Huanuco--or rather their +descendants." + +"But that was four hundred years ago!" + +"Your history is perfect, like Desiree's geography," said I dryly. +"But what then? They have merely chosen to live under the world +instead of on it; a rather wise decision, a cynic might say--not to +mention the small circumstance that they are prisoners. + +"My dear Hal, never allow yourself to be surprised at anything; it is a +weakness. Here we are in total darkness, buried in the Andes, +surrounded by hairy, degenerate brutes that are probably allowing us to +eat in order that we may be in condition to be eaten, with no +possibility of ever again beholding the sunshine; and what is the +thought that rises to the surface of my mind? Merely this: that I most +earnestly desire and crave a Carbajal perfecto and a match." + +"Paul, you say--eat--" + +"Most probably they are cannibals. The Lord knows they must have some +sort of mild amusement in this fearful hole. Of course, the idea is +distasteful; before they cut us up they'll have to knock us down." + +"That's a darned silly joke," said Harry with some heat. + +"But it's sober truth, my boy. You know me; I never pose. There is +nothing particularly revolting in the thought of being eaten; the +disadvantage of it lies in the fact that one must die first. We all +want to live; Heaven knows why. And we stand a chance. + +"We know now that there is food to be had here and sufficient air. It +is nearly certain that we won't get out, but that can come later. And +what an experience! I know a dozen anthropologists that would give +their degrees for it. I can feel myself getting enthusiastic about it." + +"But what if they--they--" + +"Say it. Eat us? We can fight. It will be strange if we can't outwit +these vermin. And now silence; I'm going to begin. Listen hard--hard! +The brutes are noiseless, but if they are near we can hear their +breathing." + +"But, Paul--" + +"No more talk. Listen!" + +We lay silent for many minutes, scarcely breathing. Not the slightest +sound reached our ears through the profound darkness; utter, intense +silence. Finally I reached over and touched Harry on the shoulder, and +arose to my knees. + +"Good enough! We're alone. We'll have to crawl for it. Keep close +behind me; we don't want to get separated. The first thing is to find +a sharp stone to cut through these thongs. Feel on the ground with +your hands as we go." + +It was not easy to rise at all, and still harder to make any progress, +for our ankles were bound together most effectively; but we managed +somehow to drag ourselves along. I was in front; suddenly I felt Harry +pull at my coat, and turned. + +"Just the thing, Paul. Sharp as a knife. Look!" + +I groped for his hand in the darkness and took from it the object he +held out to me--a small flat stone with a sharp-saw edge. + +"All right; let me work on you first." + +I bent down to the thongs which bound his ankles. I was convinced that +they were not of leather, but they were tough as the thickest hide. +Twice my overeagerness caused the tool to slip and tear the skin from +my hand; then I went about it more carefully with a muttered oath. +Another quarter of an hour and Harry was free. + +"Gad, that feels good!" he exclaimed, rising to his feet. "Here, Paul; +where's the stone?" + +I handed it to him and he knelt down and began sawing away at my feet. + +What followed happened so quickly that we were hardly aware that it had +begun when it was already finished. + +A quick, pattering rush of many feet warned us, but not in time. +Hurtling, leaping bodies came at us headlong through the air and +crushed us to the ground, buried beneath them, gasping for breath; +there must have been scores of them. Resistance was impossible; we +were overwhelmed. + +I heard Harry give a despairing cry, and the scuffle followed; I myself +was utterly helpless, for the thongs which bound my ankles had not been +cut through. Not a sound came from our assailants save their heavy, +labored breathing. + +I remember that, even while they were sitting on my head and chest and +body, I noted their silence with a sort of impersonal curiosity and +wondered if they were, after all, human. Nor were they unnecessarily +violent; they merely subdued us, rebound our wrists and ankles more +tightly than before, and departed. + +But--faugh! The unspeakable odor of their hairy bodies is in my +nostrils yet. + +"Are you hurt, Paul?" + +"Not a bit, Harry lad. How do you like the perfume?" + +"To the deuce with your perfume! But we're done for. What's the use? +They've lived in this infernal hole so long they can see in the dark +better than we can in the light." + +Of course he was right, and I was a fool not to have thought of it +before and practised caution. The knowledge was decidedly unpleasant. +No doubt our every movement was being watched by a hundred pairs of +eyes, while we lay helpless in the darkness, bound even more tightly +than before. + +"Look here," said Harry suddenly, "why can't we see their eyes? Why +don't they shine." + +"My dear boy," said I, "in this darkness you couldn't see the Kohinoor +diamond if it were hanging on your nose, drawing-room travelers to the +contrary notwithstanding. We have one advantage--they can't understand +what we say, but they even up for it by not saying anything." + +There was a short silence, then Harry's voice: + +"Paul--" + +"Well?" + +"I wonder--do you think Desiree--" He hesitated, his voice faltering. + +"I think the same as you do," said I. + +"But I don't know--after all, there is a chance. Just a bare chance, +isn't there?" + +"You know as well as I do, Harry. The chances are a million to one +that Desiree--thank Heaven--has escaped all this! And isn't that best! +Would you have her here with us?" + +"No--no. Only--" + +"Lying here, bound hand and foot? She would make a dainty morsel for +our friends." + +"For the Lord's sake, Paul--" + +"Well, let us forget her--for the present. Nor do we want to make a +dainty morsel if we can help it. Come, brace up, Hal. It's up to us +to turn a trick." + +"Well?" + +"I don't know why I didn't think of it before. I guess we were both +too dazed to have good sense. What have you got strapped to your belt?" + +"A gun," said Harry. "Of course I thought of that. But what good is +it after that ducking? And I have only six cartridges." + +"Nothing else?" + +I could almost feel his silent gaze; then suddenly he cried out: + +"A knife!" + +"At last!" said I sarcastically. "And so have I. A six-inch, +double-edged knife, sharp as a razor and pointed like a needle. They +didn't have sense enough to search us, and we didn't have sense enough +to realize it. I can feel mine under me now against the ground." + +"But they'll see us." + +"Not if we use a decent amount of caution. The trouble is, I can't +reach my knife with my wrists bound. There's only one way. Lie +perfectly still; let them think we've given it up. I'm going to try +something." + +I drew up my knees, twisted over on the hard rock, and lay flat on my +belly. Then I drew up my hands and let my face rest on them, like a +dog with his head on his paws. And then, keeping my body perfectly +still, and with as little movement of the jaws as possible, I sought +the tough thongs with my teeth. + +That was a tedious job and a distasteful one. For many minutes I +gnawed away at those thick cords like a dog on a bone. It was +considerably later that I discovered what those cords were made of; +thank Heaven, I was ignorant of it at the time! All I knew was that +they were, to use one of Harry's phrases, "tough as rats." + +I did not dare pull with my wrists, for fear they would fly suddenly +apart and betray me to the unseen watchers. It was necessary to cut +clear through with my teeth, and more than once I was on the point of +giving it up. There was a nauseating, rancid taste to the stuff, but I +dared not even raise my head to expectorate. + +Finally my teeth met; the cords were severed. I felt carefully about +with my tongue to make sure there were no others; then, without moving +my hands in the slightest degree, carefully raised my head. + +It was then that I first noticed--not light, but a thinning out of the +darkness. It was, of course, merely the adjustment of my eyes to the +new conditions. I could make out no forms surrounding me, but, looking +down, I could clearly distinguish the outline of my hands as they lay +on the ground before me. + +And, again looking up, I fancied that I could see, some twenty or +thirty feet to the right, that the darkness again became suddenly dense +and impenetrable. + +"That must be a wall," I muttered, straining my eyes toward it. + +"What's that?" asked Harry sharply. + +Obedient to my instructions, the lad had lain perfectly motionless and +silent for over an hour, for it must have taken me at least that long +to gnaw through the cords. + +"I said that must be a wall. Look, Harry, about thirty feet to the +right. Doesn't it appear to you that way?" + +"By Jove," he exclaimed after a moment of silence, "it's getting light! +Look!" + +I explained that, instead of "it's getting light," his eyes were merely +becoming accustomed to the darkness. + +"But what do you think of that? Is it a wall?" + +After a moment's silence he answered: "Ye-es," and then more +positively: "Yes. But what good does that do us?" + +"That's what I am about to tell you. Listen! I've cut the cords on my +wrists, and I'm going to get my knife--" + +"How the deuce did you manage that?" Harry interrupted. + +"With my teeth. I've been rather busy. I'm going to get my +knife--cautiously, so they won't suspect if they are watching us. We +must lie close together on our sides, facing each other, so I can cut +the thongs on your wrists without being seen. Then you are to get your +knife--carefully. Do you understand?" + +"Yes." + +For the first time there was fight in Harry's voice; the curious, +barely perceptible tremor of the man of courage. + +"All right. Go easy." + +We went about the thing slowly, turning but an inch at a time; a second +mistake might prove fatal. We heard no sound of any kind, and ten +minutes later we were lying flat on our backs side by side, keeping our +hands hidden between our bodies, that the absence of the thongs might +not be discovered. Each of us held in his right hand the hilt of a six +inch knife. Cold steel is by no means the favorite weapon of an +American, but there are times-- + +"Have you got your knife, Harry?" + +"Yes." + +"Good! Now listen close and act quick. When I give the word reach +down and grasp the cords round your ankles in your left hand, then cut +them through with one stroke. Then to your feet; grasp my jacket, and +together to the wall--that's for our backs. And then--let 'em come!" + +"All right, old man." + +"Don't waste any time; they'll probably start for us the instant we sit +up. Be sure you get your feet free at the first stroke; feel them well +with your left hand first. Are you ready?" + +"Yes." And his voice was now calm and perfectly steady. + +"Then--one, two, three--go!" + +We bent and cut and sprang to our feet, and dashed for the wall. There +was a sound of rushing feet--our backs hugged the kindly rock--I heard +Harry's shout, "Here they come!"--dim, rushing forms--fingers clutching +at my throat. + +I felt the blade of my knife sink into soft and yielding flesh, and a +warm, thick liquid flow over my hand and arm. + + + +Chapter VIII. + +THE DANCE OF THE SUN. + +It seemed to me then in the minutes that followed that there were +thousands of black demons in that black hole. At the first rushing +impact I shouted to Harry: "Keep your back to the wall," and for +response I got a high, ringing laugh that breathed the joy of battle. + +The thing was sickening. Harry is a natural fighting man; I am not. +Without the wall at our backs we would have been overpowered in thirty +seconds; as it was, we were forced to handle half a dozen of them at +once, while the others surged in from behind. They had no weapons, but +they had the advantage of being able to see us. + +They clutched my throat, my arms, my legs, my body; there was no room +to strike; I pushed the knife home. They fastened themselves to my +legs and feet and tried to bring me down from beneath; once, in +slashing at the head of one whose teeth were set in my calf, I cut +myself on the knee. It was difficult to stand in the wet, slippery +pool that formed at my feet. + +Suddenly I heard a sound that I understood too well--the curious, +rattling sound of a man who is trying to call out when he is being +strangled. + +"Harry!" I cried, and I fought like a wild man to get to him, with +knife, feet, hands, teeth. I reached his coat, his arm; it was +dangerous to strike so near him in the dark, but I felt him sinking to +the ground. + +Then I found the taut, straining fingers about his throat, and lunged +forward with the knife--and the fingers relaxed. + +Again we were fighting together side by side. + +As their bodies fell in front of us we were pressed harder, for those +behind climbed up on the corpses of their fellows and literally +descended on our heads from the air. We could not have held out much +longer; our breath was coming in quick, painful gasps; Harry stumbled +on one of the prostrate brutes and fell; I tried to lift him and was +unequal to the task. + +It appeared to be the end. + +Suddenly there rang throughout the cavern a sound as of a gigantic, +deep-toned bell. The walls sent it back and forth with deafening +echoes; it was as though the mountain had descended with one tremendous +crash into its own bowels. + +As though by magic, the assault ceased. + +The effect was indescribable. We could see nothing; we merely became +suddenly aware that there were no longer hands clutching at our throats +or hairy bodies crushing us to the ground. It was as though the horde +of unseen devils had melted into thin air. There were movements on the +ground, for many of them had been wounded; a man cannot always reach +the spot in the dark. This lasted for two or three minutes; they were +evidently removing those who still had life in them, for the straining +breath of men dragging or lifting burdens was plainly audible. + +Gradually that, too, died away with the last reverberations of the +mysterious sound that had saved us, and we found ourselves alone--or at +least unmolested--for in the darkness we could see nothing, except the +dim outlines of the prostrate forms at our feet. + +The cavern was a shambles. The smell was that of a slaughter-house. I +had had no idea of the desperateness of our defense until I essayed to +scramble over the heap of bodies to dry ground; I shuddered and grew +faint, and Harry was in no better case. + +Worse, he had dropped his knife when we stumbled, and we were forced to +grope round in that unspeakable mess for many minutes before we found +it. + +"Are you hurt, lad?" I asked when once we stood clear. + +"Nothing bad, I think," he answered. "My throat is stiff, and two or +three of the brutes got their teeth in me. In the name of Heaven, +Paul, what are they? And what was that bell?" + +These were foolish questions, and I told him so. My leg was bleeding +badly where I had slashed myself, and I, too, had felt their teeth. +But, despite our utter weariness and our wounds, we wanted nothing--not +even rest--so badly as we wanted to get away from that awful heap of +flesh and blood and the odor of it. + +Besides, we did not know at what moment they might return. So I spoke, +and Harry agreed. I led the way; he followed. + +But which way to turn? We wanted water, both for our dry and burning +throats and for our wounds; and rest and food. We thought little of +safety. One way seemed as likely as another, so we set out with our +noses as guides. + +A man encounters very few misfortunes in this world which, later in +life, he finds himself unable to laugh at; well, for me that endless +journey was one of the few. + +Every step was torture. I had bandaged the cut on my leg as well as +possible, but it continued to bleed. But it was imperative that we +should find water, and we struggled on, traversing narrow passages and +immense caverns, always in complete darkness, stumbling over unseen +rocks and encountering sharp corners of cross passages. + +It lasted I know not how many hours. Neither of us would have survived +alone. Time and again Harry sank to the ground and refused to rise +until I perforce lifted him; once we nearly came to blows. And I was +guilty of the same weakness. + +But the despair of one inspired the other with fresh strength and +courage, and we struggled forward, slower and slower. It was +soul-destroying work. I believe that in the last hour we made not more +than half a mile. I know now that for the greater part of the time we +were merely retracing our steps in a vicious circle! + +It was well that it ended when it did, for we could not have held out +much longer. Harry was leading the way, for I had found that that +slight responsibility fortified him. We no longer walked, we barely +went forward, staggering and reeling like drunken men. + +Suddenly Harry stopped short, so suddenly that I ran against him; and +at the same time I felt a queer sensation--for I was too far gone to +recognize it--about my feet. + +Then Harry stooped over quickly, half knocking me down as he did so, +and dropped to his knees; and the next instant gave an unsteady cry of +joy: + +"Water! Man, it's water!" + +How we drank and wallowed, and wallowed and drank! That water might +have contained all the poisons in the world and we would have neither +known nor cared. But it was cool, fresh, living--and it saved our +lives. + +We bathed our wounds and bandaged them with strips from our shirts. +Then we arranged our clothing for cushions and pillows as well as +possible, took another drink, and lay down to sleep. + +We must have slept a great many hours. There was no way to judge of +time, but when we awoke our joints were as stiff as though they had +gotten rusty with the years. I was brought to consciousness by the +sound of Harry's voice calling my name. + +Somehow--for every movement was exquisite pain--we got to our feet and +reached the water, having first removed our clothing. But we were now +at that point where to drink merely aggravated our hunger. Harry was +in a savage humor, and when I laughed at him he became furious. + +"Have some sense. I tell you, I must eat! If it were not for your--" + +"Go easy, Hal. Don't say anything you'll be sorry for. And I refuse +to consider the sordid topic of food as one that may rightfully contain +the elements of tragedy. We seem to be in the position of the king of +vaudeville. If we had some ham we'd have some ham and eggs--if we had +some eggs." + +"You may joke, but I am not made of iron!" he cried. + +"And what can we do but die?" I demanded. "Do you think there is any +chance of our getting out of this? Take it like a man. Is it right +for a man who has laughed at the world to begin to whine when it +becomes necessary to leave it? + +"You know I'm with you; I'll fight, and what I find I'll take; in the +mean time I prefer not to furnish amusement for the devil. There comes +a time, I believe, when the stomach debases us against our wills. May +I die before I see it." + +"But what are we to do?" + +"That's more like it. There's only one hope. We must smell out the +pantry that holds the dried fish." + +We talked no more, but set about bathing and dressing our wounds. Gad, +how that cold water took them! I was forced to set my teeth deep into +my lip to keep from crying out, and once or twice Harry gave an +involuntary grunt of pain that would not be suppressed. + +When we had finished we waded far to the right to take a last deep +drink; then sought our clothing and prepared to start on our all but +hopeless search. We had become fairly well limbered up by that time +and set out with comparative ease. + +We had gone perhaps a hundred yards, bearing off to the right, when +Harry gave a sudden cry: "My knife is gone!" and stopped short. I +clapped my hand to my own belt instinctively, and found it empty both +of knife and gun! For a moment we stood in silence; then: + +"Have you got yours?" he demanded. + +When I told him no he let out an oath. + +His gun was gone, also. We debated the matter, and decided that to +attempt a search would be a useless waste of time; it was next to +certain that the weapons had been lost in the water when we had first +plunged in. And so, doubly handicapped by this new loss, we again set +out. + +There was but one encouragement allowed to us: we were no longer in +total darkness. Gradually our eyes were becoming accustomed to the +absence of light; and though we could by no means see clearly, nor even +could properly be said to see at all, still we began to distinguish the +outlines of walls several feet away; and, better than that, each of us +could plainly mark the form and face of the other. + +Once we stood close, less than a foot apart, for a test; and when Harry +cried eagerly, "Thank Heaven, I can see your nose!" our strained +feelings were relieved by a prolonged burst of genuine laughter. + +There was little enough of it in the time that followed, for our +sufferings now became a matter not of minutes or hours, but of days. +The assault of time is the one that unnerves a man, especially when it +is aided by gnawing pain and weariness and hunger; it saps the courage +and destroys the heart and fires the brain. + +We dragged ourselves somehow ever onward. We found water; the mountain +was honeycombed with underground streams; but no food. More than once +we were tempted to trust ourselves to one of those rushing torrents, +but what reason we had left told us that our little remaining strength +was unequal to the task of keeping our heads above the surface. And +yet the thought was sweet--to allow ourselves to be peacefully swept +into oblivion. + +We lost all idea of time and direction, and finally hope itself +deserted us. What force it was that propelled us forward must have +been buried deep within the seat of animal instinct, for we lost all +rational power. The thing became a nightmare, like the crazy +wanderings of a lost soul. + +Forward--forward--forward! It was a mania. + +Then Harry was stricken with fever and became delirious. And I think +it was that seeming misfortune that saved us, for it gave me a spring +for action and endowed me with new life. As luck would have it, a +stream of water was near, and I half carried and half dragged him to +its edge. + +I made a bed for him with my own clothing on the hard rock, and bathed +him and made him drink, while all the time a string of delirious drivel +poured forth from his hot, dry lips. + +That lasted many hours, until finally he fell into a deep, calm sleep. +But his body was without fuel, and I was convinced he would never +awaken; yet I feared to touch him. Those were weary hours, squatting +by his side with his hand gripped in my own, with the ever-increasing +pangs of hunger and weariness turning my own body into a roaring +furnace of pain. + +Suddenly I felt a movement of his hand; and then came his voice, weak +but perfectly distinct: + +"Well, Paul, this is the end." + +"Not yet, Harry boy; not yet." + +I tried to put cheer and courage into my own voice, but with poor +success. + +"I--think--so. I say, Paul--I've just seen Desiree." + +"All right, Hal." + +"Oh, you don't need to talk like that; I'm not delirious now. I guess +it must have been a dream. Do you remember that morning on the +mountain--in Colorado--when you came on us suddenly at sunrise? Well, +I saw her there--only you were with her instead of me. So, of course, +she must be dead." + +His logic was beyond me, but I pressed his hand to let him know that I +understood. + +"And now, old man, you might as well leave me. This is the end. +You've been a good sport. We made a fight, didn't we? If only +Desiree--but there! To Hades with women, I say!" + +"Not that--don't be a poor loser, Hal. And you're not gone yet. When +a man has enough fight in him to beat out an attack of fever he's very +much alive." + +But he would not have it so. I let him talk, and he rambled on, with +scarcely an idea of what he was saying. The old days possessed his +mind, and, to tell the truth, the sentiment found a welcome in my own +bosom. I said to myself, "This is death." + +And then, lifting my head to look down the dark passage that led away +before us, I sprang to my feet with a shout and stood transfixed with +astonishment. And the next instant there came a cry of wonder from +Harry: + +"A light! By all the gods, a light!" + +So it was. The passage lay straight for perhaps three hundred yards. +There it turned abruptly; and the corner thus formed was one blaze of +flickering but brilliant light which flowed in from the hidden corridor. + +It came and went, and played fitfully on the granite walls; still it +remained. It was supernaturally brilliant; or so it seemed to us, who +had lived in utter darkness for many days. + +I turned to Harry, and the man who had just been ready to die was +rising to his feet! + +"Wait a minute--not so fast!" I said half angrily, springing to support +him. "And, for Heaven's sake, don't make any noise! We're in no +condition to fight now, and you know what that light means." + +"But what is it?" demanded the boy excitedly. "Come on, man--let's go!" + +To tell the truth, I felt as eager as he. For the first time I +understood clearly why the Bible and ancient mythology made such a fuss +about the lighting up of the world. Modern civilization is too far +away from its great natural benefits to appreciate them properly. + +And here was a curious instance of the force of habit--or, rather, +instinct--in man. So long as Harry and I had remained in the dark +passage and byways of the cavern we had proceeded almost entirely +without caution, with scarcely a thought of being discovered. + +But the first sight of light made us wary and careful and silent; and +yet we knew perfectly well that the denizens of this underworld could +see as well in the darkness as in the light--perhaps even better. So +difficult is it to guide ourselves by the human faculty of pure reason. + +Harry was so weak he was barely able to stand, even in the strength of +this new excitement and hope, and we were forced to go very slowly; I +supported him as well as I was able, being myself anything but an +engine of power. But the turn in the passage was not far away, and we +reached it in a quarter of an hour or less. + +Before we made the turn we halted. Harry was breathing heavily even +from so slight an exertion, and I could scarcely suppress a cry of +amazement when, for the first time in many days, the light afforded me +a view of his face. + +It was drawn and white and sunken; the eyes seemed set deep in his +skull as they blinked painfully; and the hair on his chin and lip and +cheeks had grown to a length incredible in so short a space of time. I +soon had reason to know that I probably presented no better an +appearance, for he was staring at me as though I were some strange +monster. + +"Good Heavens, man, you took like a ghost!" he whispered. + +I nodded; my arm was round his shoulder. + +"Now, let's see what this light means. Be ready for anything, +Harry--though Heaven knows we can find nothing worse than we've had. +Here, put your arm on my shoulder. Take it easy." + +We advanced to the corner together within the patch of light and turned +to the right, directly facing its source. + +It is impossible to convey even a faint idea of the wild and hugely +fantastic sight that met our gaze. With us it was a single, vivid +flash to the astonished brain. These are the details: + +Before us was an immense cavern, circular in shape, with a diameter of +some half a mile. It seemed to me then much larger; from where we +stood it appeared to be at least two miles to the opposite side. There +was no roof to be seen; it merely ascended into darkness, though the +light carried a great distance. + +All round the vast circumference, on terraced seats of rock, squatted +row after row of the most completely hideous beings within possibility. + +They were men; I suppose they must have the name. They were about four +feet tall, with long, hairy arms and legs, bodies of a curious, bloated +appearance, and eyes--the remainder of the face was entirely concealed +by thick hair--eyes dull and vacant, of an incredibly large size; they +had the appearance of ghouls, apes, monsters--anything but human beings. + +They sat, thousands of them, crouched silently on their stone seats, +gazing, motionless as blocks of wood. + +The center of the cavern was a lake, taking up something more than half +of its area. The water was black as night, and curiously smooth and +silent. Its banks sloped by degrees for a hundred feet or so, but at +its edge there was a perpendicular bank of rock fifteen or twenty feet +in height. + +Near the middle of the lake, ranged at an equal distance from its +center and from each other, were three--what shall I call +them?--islands, or columns. They were six or eight feet across at +their top, which rose high above the water. + +On top of each of these columns was a huge vat or urn, and from each of +the urns arose a steady, gigantic column of fire. These it was that +gave the light, and it was little wonder we had thought it brilliant, +since the flames rose to a height of thirty feet or more in the air. + +But that which left us speechless with profound amazement was not the +endless rows of silent, grinning dwarfs, nor the black, motionless +lake, nor the leaping tongues of flame. We forgot these when we +followed the gaze of that terrifying audience and saw a sight that +printed itself on my brain with a vividness which time can never erase. +Closing my eyes, I see it even now, and I shudder. + +Exactly in the center of the lake, in the midst of the columns of fire, +was a fourth column, built of some strangely lustrous rock. Prisms of +a formation new to me--innumerable thousands of them--caused its sides +to sparkle and glisten like an immense tower of whitest diamonds, +blinding the eye. + +The effect was indescribable. The huge cavern was lined and dotted +with the rays shot forth from their brilliant angles. The height of +this column was double that of the others; it rose straight toward the +unseen dome of the cavern to the height of a hundred feet. + +It was cylindrical in shape, not more than ten feet in diameter. And +on its top, high above the surface of the lake, surrounded by the +mounting tongues of flame, whirled and swayed and bent the figure of a +woman. + +Her limbs and body, which were covered only by long, flowing strands of +golden hair, shone and glistened strangely in the lurid, weird light. +And of all the ten thousand reflections that shot at us from the length +of the column not one was so brilliant, so blinding, as the wild glow +of her eyes. + +Her arms, upraised above her head, kept time with and served as a key +to every movement of her white, supple body. She glided across, back +and forth, now this way, now that, to the very edge of the dizzy +height, with wild abandon, or slow, measured grace, or the rushing +sweep of a panther. + +The thing was beauty incarnate--the very idea of beauty itself realized +and perfected. It was staggering, overwhelming. Have you ever stood +before a great painting or a beautiful statue and felt a thrill--the +thrill of perception--run through your body to the very tips of your +fingers? + +Well, imagine that thrill multiplied a thousandfold and you will +understand the sensation that overpowered me as I beheld, in the midst +of that dazzling blaze of light, the matchless Dance of the Sun. + +For I recognized it at once. I had never seen it, but it had been +minutely described to me--described by a beautiful and famous woman as +I sat on the deck of a yacht steaming into the harbor of Callao. + +She had promised me then that she would dance it for me some day-- + +I looked at Harry, who had remained standing beside me, gazing as I had +gazed. His eyes were opened wide, staring at the swaying figure on the +column in the most profound astonishment. + +He took his hand from my shoulder and stood erect, alone; and I saw the +light of recognition and hope and deepest joy slowly fill his eyes and +spread over his face. Then I realized the danger, and I endeavored +once more to put my arm round his shoulder; but he shook me off with +hot impatience. He leaped forward with the quickness of lightning, +eluding my frantic grasp, and dashed straight into the circle of +blazing light! + +I followed, but too late. At the edge of the lake he stopped, and, +stretching forth his arms toward the dancer on the column, he cried out +in a voice that made the cavern ring: + +"Desiree! Desiree! Desiree!" + + + +Chapter IX. + +BEFORE THE COURT. + +I expected I know not what result from Harry's hysterical rashness: +confusion, pandemonium, instant death; but none of these followed. + +I had reached his side and stood by him at the edge of the lake, where +he had halted. Desiree Le Mire stopped short in the midst of the mad +sweep of the Dance of the Sun. + +For ten silent, tense seconds she looked down at us from the top of the +lofty column, bending dangerously near its edge. Her form straightened +and was stretched to its fullest height; her white, superb body was +distinctly outlined against the black background of the upper cavern. +Then she stepped backward slowly, without taking her eyes from us. + +Suddenly as we gazed she appeared to sink within the column itself and +in another instant disappeared from view. + +We stood motionless, petrified; how long I know not. Then I turned and +faced our own danger. It was time. + +The Incas--for I was satisfied of the identity of the creatures--had +left their seats of granite and advanced to the edge of the lake. Not +a sound was heard--no command from voice or trumpet or reed; they moved +as with one impulse and one brain. + +We were utterly helpless, for they numbered thousands. And weak and +starving as we were, a single pair of them would have been more than a +match for us. + +I looked at Harry; the reaction from his moment of superficial energy +was already upon him. His body swayed slightly from side to side, and +he would have fallen if I had not supported him with my arm. There we +stood, waiting. + +Then for the first time I saw the ruler of the scene. The Incas had +stopped and stood motionless. Suddenly they dropped to their knees and +extended their arms--I thought--toward us; but something in their +attitude told me the truth. I wheeled sharply and saw the object of +their adoration. + +Built into the granite wall of the cavern, some thirty feet from the +ground, was a deep alcove. At each side of the entrance was an urn +resting on a ledge, similar to those on the columns, only smaller, from +which issued a mounting flame. + +On the floor of the alcove was a massive chair, or throne, which seemed +to be itself of fire, so brilliant was the glow of the metal of which +it was constructed. It could have been nothing but gold. And seated +on this throne was an ugly, misshapen dwarf. + +"God save the king!" I cried, with a hysterical laugh; and in the +profound silence my voice rang from one side of the cavern to the other +in racing echoes. + +Immediately following my cry the figure on the throne arose; and as he +did so the creatures round us fell flat on their faces on the ground. +For several seconds the king surveyed them thus, without a sound or +movement; then suddenly he stretched forth his hand in a gesture of +dismissal. They rose as one man and with silent swiftness disappeared, +seemingly melting away into the walls of rock. At the time the effect +was amazing; later, when I discovered the innumerable lanes and +passages which served as exits, it was not so difficult to understand. + +We were apparently left alone, but not for long. From two stone +stairways immediately in front of us, which evidently led to the alcove +above, came forth a crowd of rushing forms. In an instant they were +upon us; but if they expected resistance they were disappointed. + +At the first impact we fell. And in another moment we had been raised +in their long, hairy arms and were carried swiftly from the cavern. +Scarcely five minutes had elapsed since we had first entered it. + +They did not take us far. Down a broad passage directly away from the +cavern, then a turn to the right, and again one to the left. There +they dropped us, quite as though we were bundles of merchandise, +without a word. + +By this time I had fairly recovered my wits--small wonder if that +amazing scene had stunned them--and I knew what I wanted. As the brute +that had been carrying me turned to go I caught his arm. He hesitated, +and I could feel his eyes on me, for we were again in darkness. + +But he could see--I thanked Heaven for it--and I began a most +expressive pantomime, stuffing my fingers in my mouth and gnawing at +them energetically. This I alternated with the action of one drinking +from a basin. I hadn't the slightest idea whether he understood me; he +turned and disappeared without a sign--at least, without an audible one. + +But the creature possessed intelligence, for I had barely had time to +turn to Harry and ascertain that he was at least alive, when the patter +of returning footsteps was heard. They approached; there was the +clatter of stone on the ground beside us. + +I stood eagerly; a platter, heaped, and a vessel, full! I think I +cried out with joy. + +"Come, Harry lad; eat!" + +He was too weak to move; but when I tore some of the dried fish into +fragments and fed it to him he devoured it ravenously. Then he asked +for water, and I held the basin to his lips. + +We ate as little as it is possible for men to eat who have fasted for +many days, for the stuff had a sharp, concentrated taste that +recommended moderation. And, besides, we were not certain of getting +more. + +I wrapped the remainder carefully in my poncho, leaving the platter +empty, and lay down to rest, using the poncho for a pillow. I had +enough, assuredly, to keep me awake, but there are bounds beyond which +nature cannot go. I slept close by Harry's side, with my arm across +his body, that any movement of his might awaken me. + +When I awoke Harry was still asleep, and I did not disturb him. I +myself must have slept many hours, for I felt considerably refreshed +and very hungry. And thirsty; assuredly the provender of those hairy +brutes would have been most excellent stuff for the free-lunch counter +of a saloon. + +I unwrapped the poncho; then, crawling on my hands and knees, searched +about the ground. As I had expected, I found another full platter and +basin. I had just set the latter down after taking a hearty drink when +I heard Harry's voice. + +"Paul." + +"Here, lad." + +"I was afraid you had gone. I've just had the most devilish dream +about Desiree. She was doing some crazy dance on top of a mountain or +something, and there was fire, and--Paul! Paul, was it a dream?" + +"No, Hal; I saw it myself. But come, we'll talk later. Here's some +dried fish for breakfast." + +"Ah! That--that--now I remember! And she fell! I'm going--" + +But I wanted no more fever or delirium, and I interrupted him sternly: + +"Harry! Listen to me! Are you a baby or a man? Talk straight or shut +up, and don't whine like a fool. If you have any courage, use it." + +It was stiff medicine, but he needed it, and it worked. There was a +silence, then his voice came, steady enough: + +"You know me better than that, Paul. Only--if it were not for +Desiree--but I'll swallow it. I think I've been sick, haven't I?" + +Poor lad! I wanted to take his hand in mine and apologize. But that +would have been bad for both of us, and I answered simply: + +"Yes, a little fever. But you're all right now. And now you must eat +and drink. Not much of a variety, but it's better than nothing." + +I carried the platter and basin over to him, and sat down by his side, +and we fell to together. + +But he would talk of Desiree, and I humored him. There was little +enough to say, but he pressed my hand hopefully and gratefully when I +expressed my belief that her disappearance had been a trick of some +sort and no matter for apprehension. + +"We must find her, Paul." + +"Yes." + +"At once." + +But there I objected. + +"On the contrary, we must delay. Right now we are utterly helpless +from our long fast. They would handle us like babies if it came to a +fight. Try yourself; stand up." + +He rose to his hands and knees, then sank back to the ground. + +"You see. To move now would be folly. And of course they are watching +us at this minute--every minute. We must wait." + +His only answer was a groan of despair. + +In some manner the weary hours passed by. + +Harry lay silent, but not asleep; now and then he would ask me some +question, but more to hear my voice than to get an answer. We heard or +saw nothing of our captors, for all our senses told us we were quite +alone, but our previous experience with them had taught us better than +to believe it. + +I found myself almost unconsciously reflecting on the character and +nature of the tribe of dwarfs. + +Was it possible that they were really the descendants of the Incas +driven from Huanuco by Hernando Pizarro and his horsemen nearly four +hundred years before? Even then I was satisfied of it, and I was soon +to have that opinion confirmed by conclusive evidence. + +Other questions presented themselves. Why did they not speak? What +fuel could they have found in the bowels of the Andes for their vats of +fire? And how did sufficient air for ten thousand pairs of lungs find +its way miles underground? Why, in the centuries that had passed, had +none of them found his way to the world outside? + +Some of these questions I answered for myself, others remained unsolved +for many months, until I had opportunity to avail myself of knowledge +more profound than my own. Easy enough to guess that the hidden +deposits of the mountain had yielded oil which needed only a spark from +a piece of flint to fire it; and any one who knows anything of the +geological formation of the Andes will not wonder at their supply of +air. + +Nature is not yet ready for man in those wild regions. Huge upheavals +and convulsions are of continual occurrence; underground streams are +known which rise in the eastern Cordillera and emerge on the side of +the Pacific slope. And air circulates through these passages as well +as water. + +Their silence remains inexplicable; but it was probably the result of +the nature of their surroundings. I have spoken before of the +innumerable echoes and reverberations that followed every sound of the +voice above a whisper. At times it was literally deafening; and time +may have made it so in reality. + +The natural effect through many generations of this inconvenience or +danger would be the stoppage of speech, leading possibly to a complete +loss of the faculty. I am satisfied that they were incapable of +vocalization, for even the women did not talk! But that is ahead of +the story. + +I occupied myself with these reflections, and found amusement in them; +but it was impossible to lead Harry into a discussion. His mind was +anything but scientific, anyway; and he was completely obsessed by fear +for the safety of Desiree. And I wasn't sorry for it; it is better +that a man should worry about some one else than about himself. + +Our chance of rescuing her, or even of saving ourselves, appeared to me +woefully slim. One fear at least was gone, for the descendants of +Incas could scarcely be cannibals; but there are other fates equally +final, if less distasteful. The fact that they had not even taken the +trouble to bind us was an indication of the strictness of their watch. + +The hours crept by. At regular intervals our food was replenished and +we kept the platter empty, storing what we could not eat in our ponchos +against a possible need. + +It was always the same--dried fish of the consistency of leather and a +most aggressive taste. I tried to convey to one of our captors the +idea that a change of diet would be agreeable, but either he did not +understand me or didn't want to. + +Gradually our strength returned, and with it hope. Harry began to be +impatient, urging action. I was waiting for two things besides the +return of strength; first, to lay in a supply of food that would be +sufficient for many days in case we escaped, and second, to allow our +eyes to accustom themselves better to the darkness. + +Already we were able to see with a fair amount of clearness; we could +easily distinguish the forms of those who came to bring us food and +water when they were fifteen or twenty feet away. But the cavern in +which we were confined must have been a large one, for we were unable +to see a wall in any direction, and we did not venture to explore for +fear our captors would be moved to bind us. + +But Harry became so insistent that I finally consented to a scouting +expedition. Caution seemed useless; if the darkness had eyes that +beheld us, doubly so. We strapped our ponchos, heavy with their food, +to our backs, and set out at random across the cavern. + +We went slowly, straining our eyes ahead and from side to side. It was +folly, of course, in the darkness--like trying to beat a gambler at his +own game. But we moved on as noiselessly as possible. + +Suddenly a wall loomed up before us not ten feet away. I gave a tug at +Harry's arm, and he nodded. We approached the wall, then turned to the +right and proceeded parallel with it, watching for a break that would +mean the way to freedom. + +I noticed a dark line that extended along the base of the wall, +reaching up its side to a height of about two feet and seemingly +melting away into the ground. At first I took it for a separate strata +of rock, darker than that above. But there was a strange brokenness +about its appearance that made me consider it more carefully. + +It appeared to be composed of curious knots and protuberances. I +stopped short, and, advancing a step or two toward the wall, gazed +intently. Then I saw that the dark line was not a part of the wall at +all; and then--well, then I laughed aloud in spite of myself. The +thing was too ludicrous. + +For that "dark line" along the bottom of the wall was a row of +squatting Incas! There they sat, silent, motionless; even when my +laugh rang out through the cavern they gave not the slightest sign that +they either heard or saw. Yet it was certain that they had watched our +every move. + +There was nothing for it but retreat. With our knives we might have +fought our way through; but we were unarmed, and we had felt one or two +proofs of their strength. + +Harry took it with more philosophy than I had expected. As for me, I +had not yet finished my laugh. We sought our former resting-place, +recognizing it by the platter and basin which we had emptied before our +famous and daring attempt to escape. + +Soon Harry began: + +"I'll tell you what they are, Paul; they're frogs. Nothing but frogs. +Did you see 'em? The little black devils! And Lord, how they smell!" + +"That," I answered, "is the effect of--" + +"To the deuce with your mineralogy or anthromorphism or whatever you +call it. I don't care what makes 'em smell. I only know they do--as +Kipling says of the oonts--'most awful vile.' And there the beggars +sit, and here we sit!" + +"If we could only see--" I began. + +"And what good would that do us? Could we fight? No. They'd smother +us in a minute. Say, wasn't there a king in that cave the other day?" + +"Yes; on a golden throne. An ugly little devil--the ugliest of all." + +"Sure; that why he's got the job. Did he say anything?" + +"Not a word; merely stuck out his arm and out we went." + +"Why the deuce don't they talk?" + +I explained my theory at some length, with many and various scientific +digressions. Harry listened politely. + +"I don't know what you mean," said he when I had finished, "but I +believe you. Anyway, it's all a stupendous joke. In the first place, +we shouldn't be here at all. And, secondly, why should they want us to +stay?" + +"How should I know? Ask the king. And don't bother me; I'm going to +sleep." + +"You are not. I want to talk. Now, they must want us for something. +They can't intend to eat us, because there isn't enough to go around. +And there is Desiree. What the deuce was she doing up there without +any clothes on? I say, Paul, we've got to find her." + +"With pleasure. But, first, how are we going to get out of this?" + +"I mean, when we get out." + +Thus we rattled on, arriving nowhere. Harry's loquacity I understood; +the poor lad meant to show me that he had resolved not to "whine." Yet +his cheerfulness was but partly assumed, and it was most welcome. My +own temper was getting sadly frayed about the edge. + +We slept through another watch uneventfully, and when we woke found our +platter of fish and basin of water beside us. I estimated that some +seventy-two hours had then passed since we had been carried from the +cavern; Harry said not less than a hundred. + +However that may be, we had almost entirely recovered our strength. +Indeed, Harry declared himself perfectly fit; but I still felt some +discomfort, caused partly by the knife-wound on my knee, which had not +entirely healed, and partly, I think, by the strangeness and monotony +of our diet. Harry's palate was less particular. + +On awaking, and after breaking our fast, we were both filled with an +odd contentment. I really believe that we had abandoned hope, and that +the basis of our listlessness was despair; and surely not without +reason. For what chance had we to escape from the Incas, handicapped +as we were by the darkness, and our want of weapons, and their +overwhelming numbers? + +And beyond that--if by some lucky chance we did escape--what remained? +To wander about in the endless caves of darkness and starve to death. +At the time I don't think I stated the case, even to myself, with such +brutal frankness, but facts make their impression whether you invite +them or not. But, as I say, we were filled with an odd contentment. +Though despair may have possessed our hearts, it was certainly not +allowed to infect our tongues. + +Breakfast was hilarious. Harry sang an old drinking-song to the +water-basin with touching sentiment; I gave him hearty applause and +joined in the chorus. The cavern rang. + +"The last time I sang that," said Harry as the last echoes died away, +"was at the Midlothian. Bunk Stafford was there, and Billy Du Mont, +and Fred Marston--I say, do you remember Freddie? And his East Side +crocodiles? + +"My, but weren't they daisies? And polo? They could play it in their +sleep. And--what's this? Paul! Something's up! Here they come--Mr. +and Mrs. Inca and all the children!" + +I sprang hastily to my feet and stood by Harry's side. He was right. + +Through the half darkness they came, hundreds of them, and, as always, +in utter silence. Dimly we could see their forms huddled together +round us on every side, leaving us in the center of a small circle in +their midst. + +"Now, what the deuce do they want?" I muttered. "Can't they let us eat +in peace?" + +Harry observed: "Wasn't I right? 'Most awful vile!'" + +I think we both felt that we were joking in the face of death. + +The forms surrounding us stood silent for perhaps ten seconds. Then +four of their number stepped forward to us, and one made gestures with +a hairy arm, pointing to our rear. We turned and saw a narrow lane +lined on either side by our captors. Nothing was distinct; still we +could see well enough to guess their meaning. + +"It's up to us to march," said Harry. + +I nodded. + +"And step high, Hal; it may be our last one. If we only had our +knives! But there are thousands of 'em." + +"But if it comes to the worst--" + +"Then--I'm with you. Forward!" + +We started, and as we did so one of the four who had approached darted +from behind and led the way. Not a hand had touched us, and this +appeared to me a good sign, without knowing exactly why. + +"They seem to have forgotten their manners," Harry observed. "The +approved method is to knock us down and carry us. I shall speak to the +king about it." + +We had just reached the wall of the cavern and entered a passage +leading from it, when there came a sound, sonorous and ear-destroying, +from the farther end. We had heard it once before; it was the same +that had ended our desperate fight some days before. Then it had saved +our lives; to what did it summon us now? + +The passage was not a long one. At its end we turned to the right, +following our guide. Once I looked back and saw behind us the crowd +that had surrounded us in the cave. There was no way but obedience. + +We had advanced perhaps a hundred, possibly two hundred yards along the +second passage when our guide suddenly halted. We stood beside him. + +He turned sharply to the left, and, beckoning to us to follow, began to +descend a narrow stairway which led directly from the passage. It was +steep, and the darkness allowed a glimpse only of black walls and the +terrace immediately beneath our feet; so we went slowly. I counted the +steps; there were ninety-six. + +At the bottom we turned again to the right. Just as we turned I heard +Harry's voice, quite low: + +"There are only a dozen following us, Paul. Now--" + +But I shook my head. It would have been mere folly, for, even if we +had succeeded in breaking through, we could never have made our way +back up the steps. This I told Harry; he admitted reluctantly that I +was right. + +We now found ourselves in a lane so low and narrow that it was +necessary for us to stoop and proceed in single file. Our progress was +slow; the guide was continually turning to beckon us on with gestures +of impatience. + +At length he halted and stood facing us. The guard that followed +gathered close in the rear, the guide made a curious upward movement +with his arm, and when we stood motionless repeated it several times. + +"I suppose he wants us to fly," said Harry with so genuine a tone of +sarcasm that I gave an involuntary smile. + +The guide's meaning was soon evident. It took some seconds for my eye +to penetrate the darkness, and then I saw a spiral stair ascending +perpendicularly, apparently carved from the solid rock. Harry must +have perceived it at the same moment, for he turned to me with a short +laugh: + +"Going up? Not for me, thank you. The beggar means for us to go +alone." + +For a moment I hesitated, glancing round uncertainly at the dusky forms +that were ever pressing closer upon us. We were assuredly between the +devil and the deep sea. + +Then I said, shrugging my shoulders: "It's no good pulling, Harry. +Come on; take a chance. You said it--going up!" + +I placed my foot on the first step of the spiral stair. + +Harry followed without comment. Up we went together, but slowly. The +stair was fearfully steep and narrow, and more than once I barely +escaped a fall. + +Suddenly I became aware that light was descending on us from above. +With every step upward it became brighter, until finally it was as +though a noonday sun shone in upon us. + +There came an exclamation from Harry, and we ascended faster. I +remember that I counted a hundred and sixty steps--and then, as a +glimmering of the truth shot through my brain into certainty, I counted +no more. + +Harry was crowding me from below, and we took the last few steps almost +at a run. Then the end, and we stumbled out into a blaze of light and +surveyed the surrounding scene with stupefaction and wonder. + +It was not new to us; we had seen it before, but from a different angle. + +We were on the top of the column in the center of the lake; on the spot +where Desiree had whirled in the dance of the sun. + + + +Chapter X. + +THE VERDICT. + +For many seconds we stood bewildered, too dazed to speak or move. The +light dazzled our eyes; we seemed surrounded by an impenetrable wall of +flame. There was no sensation of heat, owing, no doubt, to the immense +height of the cavern and our comparatively distant removal from the +flames, which mounted upward in narrow tongues. + +Then the details began to strike me. + +I have said the scene was the same as that we had previously beheld. +Round the walls of the immense circular cavern squatted innumerable +rows of the Incas on terraced seats. + +Below, at a dizzy distance, was the smooth surface of the lake, black +and gloomy save where the reflections from the blazing urns pierced its +depths. And directly facing us, set in the wall of the cavern, was the +alcove containing the throne of gold. + +And on the throne was seated--not the diminutive, misshapen king, but +Desiree Le Mire! + +She sat motionless, gazing directly at us. Her long gold hair streamed +over her shoulders in magnificent waves; a stiffly flowing garment of +some unknown texture covered her limbs and the lower part of her body; +her shoulders and breasts and arms were bare, and shone with a dazzling +whiteness. + +Beside her was a smaller seat, also of gold, and on this crouched the +form of an Inca--the king. About them, at a respectful distance, were +ranged attendants and guards--a hundred or more, for the alcove was of +an impressive size. The light from the four urns shone in upon it with +such brightness that I could clearly distinguish the whites of +Desiree's eyes. + +All this I saw in a single flash, and I turned to Harry: + +"Not a word, on your life! This is Desiree's game; trust her to play +it." + +"But what the deuce is she doing there?" + +I shrugged my shoulders. + +"She seems to have found another king. You know her fondness for +royalty." + +"Paul, for Heaven's sake--" + +"All right, Hal. But we're safe enough, I think. Most probably our +introduction to court. This is what they call 'the dizzy heights of +prominence.' Now keep your eyes open--something is going to happen." + +There was a movement in the alcove. Four of the attendants came +forward, carrying a curious framework apparently composed of reeds and +leather, light and flexible, from the top bar of which hung suspended +several rope-like ribbons, of various lengths and colors and tied in +curious knots. They placed it on the ground before the double throne, +at the feet of Desiree. + +All doubt was then removed from my mind concerning the identity of our +captors and their king. For these bundles of knotted cords of +different sizes and colors I recognized at once. + +They were the famous Inca quipos--the material for their remarkable +mnemonic system of communication and historical record. At last we +were to receive a message from the Child of the Sun. + +But of what nature? Every cord and knot and color had its meaning--but +what? I searched every avenue of memory to assist me; for I had +latterly confined my studies exclusively to Eastern archeology, and +what I had known of the two great autochthonous civilizations of the +American Continent was packed in some dim and little used corner of my +brain. But success came, with an extreme effort. + +I recollected first the different disposition of the quipos for +different purposes--historical, sacred, narrative, et cetera. Then the +particulars came to me, and immediately I recognized the formula of the +quipos before the throne. They were arranged for adjudication--for the +rendering of a verdict. + +Harry and I were prisoners before the bar of the quipos! I turned to +him, but there was not time for talk. The king had risen and stretched +out his hand. + +Immediately the vast assemblage rose from their stone seats and fell +flat on their faces. It was then that I noticed, for the first time, +an oval or elliptical plate of shining gold set in the wall of the +cavern just above the outer edge of the alcove. + +This, of course, was the representation of Pachacamac, the "unknown +god" in the Inca religion. Well, I would as soon worship a plate of +gold as that little black dwarf. + +For perhaps a minute the king stood with outstretched arm and the Incas +remained motionless on their faces. Then he resumed his seat and they +rose. And then the trial began. + +The king turned on his throne and laid his hand on Desiree's arm; we +could see her draw away from his touch with an involuntary shudder. +But this apparent antipathy bothered his kingship not at all; it was +probably a most agreeable sensation to feel her soft, white flesh under +his black, hairy hand, and he kept it there, while with the other arm +he made a series of sweeping gestures which I understood at once, but +which had no meaning for Desiree. By her hand he meant the quipos to +speak. + +We had a friend in court, but she was dumb, and I must give her voice. +There was no time to be lost; I stepped to the edge of the column and +spoke in a voice loud enough to carry across the cavern--which was not +difficult in the universal silence. + +"He means that you are to judge us by the quipos. The meaning is +this--yellow, slavery, white, mercy; purple, reward; black, death. The +lengths of the cords and the number of knots indicate the degree of +punishment or reward. Attached to the frame you will find a knife. +With that detach the cord of judgment and lay it at the feet of the +king." + +Again silence; and not one of the vast throng, nor the king himself, +appeared to pay the slightest attention to my voice. The king +continued his gestures to Desiree. + +She rose and walked to the frame of quipos and took in her hand the +knife which she found there suspended by a cord. There she hesitated, +with the knife poised in the air, while her eyes sought mine--and found +them. + +I felt a tug at my arm, but I had no time for Harry then. I was +looking at Desiree, and what I saw caused a cold shudder to flutter +through my body. Not of fear; it was the utter surprise of the +thing--its incredible horror. To die by the hands of those hairy +brutes was not hard, but Desiree to be the judge! + +For she meant death for us; I read it in her eyes. One of the old +stale proverbs of the stale old world was to have another +justification. I repeat that I was astounded, taken completely by +surprise; and yet I had known something of "the fury of a woman +scorned." + +It was as though our eyes shot out to meet each other in an embrace of +death. She saw that I understood and she smiled--what a smile! It was +triumphant, and yet sad; a vengeance, and a farewell. She put forth +her hand. + +It wavered among the quipos as though uncertainly, then closed firmly +on the black cord of death. + +A thought flashed through my mind with the speed of lightning. I +raised my voice and sang out: + +"Desiree!" + +She hesitated; the hand which held the knife fell to her side and again +her eyes sought mine. + +"What of Harry?" I called. "Take two--the white for him, the black for +me." + +She shook her head and again raised the knife; and I played my last +card. + +"Bah! Who are you? For you are not Le Mire!" I weighted my voice with +contempt. "Le Mire is a child of fortune, but not of hell!" + +At last she spoke. + +"I play a fair hand, monsieur!" she cried, and her voice trembled. + +"With marked cards!" I exclaimed scornfully. "The advantage is yours, +madame; may you find pleasure in it." + +There was a silence, while our eyes met. I thought I had lost. Le +Mire stood motionless. Not a sound came from the audience. I felt +Harry pulling at my arm, but shook myself free, without taking my eyes +from Le Mire's face. + +Suddenly she spoke: + +"You are right, my friend Paul. I take no advantage. Leave it to +Fortune. Have you a coin?" + +I had won my chance. That was all--a chance--but that was better than +nothing. I took a silver peseta from my pocket--by luck it had not +been lost--and held it in the air above my head. + +"Heads!" cried Desiree. + +I let the coin fall. It rolled half-way across the top of the column +and stopped at the very edge. I crossed and stooped over it. It lay +heads up! + +Harry was behind me; as I straightened up I saw his white, set face and +eyes of horror. He, too, had seen the verdict; but he was moved not by +that, but by the thought of Desiree, for Harry was not a man to flinch +at sight of death. + +I stood straight, and my voice was calm. It cost me an effort to clear +it of bitterness and reproach. I could not avoid the reflection that +but for Desiree we would never have seen the cave of the devil and the +Children of the Sun; but I said simply and clearly: + +"You win, madame." + +Desiree stared at me in the most profound surprise. I understood her, +and I laughed scornfully aloud, and held my head high; and I think a +voice never held so complete a disdain as did mine as I called to her: + +"I am one who plays fair, even with death, Le Mire. The coin fell +heads--you win your black cord fairly." + +She made no sign that she had heard; she was raising the knife. +Suddenly she stopped, again her hand fell, and she said: + +"You say the purple for reward, Paul?" + +I nodded--I could not speak. Her hand touched the white cord and +passed on; the yellow, and again passed on. Then there was a flash of +the knife--another--and she approached the king and laid at his feet +the purple cord. + +Then, without a glance toward us, she resumed her seat on the golden +throne. + +A lump rose to my throat and tears to my eyes. Which was very foolish, +for the thing had been completely theatrical. It was merely a tribute +from one of nature's gamblers to the man who "played fair, even with +death"; nevertheless, there was feeling in it, and the eternal mercy of +woman. + +For all that was visible to the eye the verdict made not the slightest +impression on the rows of silent Incas. Not a movement was seen; they +might have been carved from the stone on which they were seated. + +Their black, hairy bodies, squat and thick, threw back the light from +the flaming torches as though even those universal rays could not +penetrate such grossness. + +Suddenly they rose--the king had moved. He picked the purple cord from +the ground, and, after passing his hand over it three times, handed it +to an attendant who approached. + +Then he stretched out his hand, and the Incas, who had remained +standing, turned about and began to disappear. As before, the cavern +was emptied in an incredibly short space of time; in two minutes we +were alone with those in the alcove. + +There was a sound behind us. We turned and saw a great slab of stone +slowly slide to one side in the floor, leaving an aperture some three +feet square. Evidently it had been closed behind us when we had +ascended; we had had no time to notice it then. In this hole presently +appeared the head and shoulders of our guide, who beckoned to us to +follow and then disappeared below. + +I started to obey, but turned to wait for Harry, who was gazing at +Desiree. His back was toward me and I could not see his face; his eyes +must have held an appeal, for I saw Desiree's lips part in a smile and +heard her call: + +"You will see me!" + +Then he joined me, and we began the descent together. + +I found myself wondering how these half-civilized brutes had possibly +managed to conceive the idea of the spiral stair. It was known to +neither the Aztecs nor the Incas, in America; nor to any of the +primitive European or Asiatic civilizations. But they had found a +place where nothing else would do--and they made it. Another of the +innumerable offspring of Mother Necessity. + +I took time to note its construction. It was rude enough, but a good +job for all that. It was not exactly circular; there were many angles, +evidently following the softer strata in the rock; they had bowed to +their material--the way of the artist. + +Even the height of the steps was irregular; some were scarcely more +than three inches, while others were twelve or fourteen. You may know +we descended slowly and with care, especially when we had reached the +point where no light came from above to aid us. We found our guide +waiting for us at the bottom, alone. + +We followed him down the low and narrow passage through which we had +previously come. But when we reached the steps which led up to the +passage above and to the cave where we had formerly been confined, he +ignored them and turned to the right. We hesitated. + +"He's alone," said Harry. "Shall we chuck the beggar?" + +"We shall not, for that very reason," I answered. "It means that we +are guests instead of captives, and far be it from us to outrage the +laws of hospitality. But seriously, the safest thing we can do is to +follow him." + +The passage in which we now found ourselves was evidently no work of +nature. Even in the semidarkness the mark of man's hand was apparent. +And the ceiling was low; another proof, for dwarfs do not build for the +accommodation of giants. But I had some faint idea of the pitiful +inadequacy of their tools, and I found myself reflecting on the +stupendous courage of the men who had undertaken such a task, even +allowing for the fact that four hundred years had been allowed them for +its completion. + +Soon we reached a veritable maze of these passages. We must have taken +a dozen or more turns, first to the right, then to the left. I had +been marking our way on my memory as well as possible, but I soon gave +up the attempt as hopeless. + +Several times our guide turned so quickly that we could scarcely follow +him. When we signified by gestures our desire to go slower he seemed +surprised; of course, he expected us to see in the dark as well as he. + +Then a dim light appeared, growing brighter as we advanced. Soon I saw +that it came through an opening in the wall to our left, which we were +approaching. Before the opening the guide halted, motioning us to +enter. + +We did so, and found ourselves in an apartment no less than royal. + +Several blazing urns attached to the walls furnished the light, +wavering but brilliant. There were tables and rude seats, fashioned +from the same prismatic stones which covered the column in the lake, +and from their surfaces a thousand points of color shone dazzlingly. + +At one side was a long slab of granite covered with the skins of some +animal, dry, thick, and soft. The walls themselves were of the hardest +granite, studded to a height of four or five feet with tiny, +innumerable spots of gold. + +Harry crossed to the middle of the apartment and stood gazing curiously +about him. I turned to the door and looked down the outer passage in +both directions--our guide had disappeared. + +"We appear to be friends of the family," said Harry with a grin. + +"Thanks to Desiree, yes." + +"Thanks to the devil! What did she mean--what could she mean? Was it +one of her jokes? For I can't believe that she would--would--" + +"Have sent us to death? Well--who knows? Yes, it may have been one of +her jokes," I lied. + +For, of course, Harry knew nothing of the cause of Desiree's desire for +revenge on me, and it would have served no good purpose to tell him. + +We talked for an hour or more, examining our apartment meanwhile with +considerable curiosity. + +The gold excited our wonder; had it come from Huanuco four hundred +years ago, or had they found it here in the mountain? + +I examined the little blocks of metal or gems with which the tables and +seats were inlaid, but could make nothing of them. They resembled a +carbon formation sometimes found in quartzite, but were many times more +brilliant than anything I had ever seen, excepting precious stones. + +The hides which covered the granite couch were also unknown to me; they +were of an amazing thickness and incredibly soft. + +We were amusing ourselves with an attempt to pry one of the bits of +gold from the wall when we heard a sound behind us. + +We turned and saw Desiree. + +She stood in the entrance, smiling at us as though we had been caught +in her boudoir examining the articles on her dressing-table. She was +clothed as she had been on the throne; a rope girdle held her single +garment, and her hair fell across her shoulders, reaching to her knees. +Her arms and shoulders appeared marvelously white, but they may have +been by way of contrast. + +Harry sprang across to her with a single bound. In another moment his +arms were round her; she barely submitted to the embrace, but she gave +him her lips, then drew herself away and crossed to me, extending her +hands in a sort of wavering doubt. + +But that was no time for hostilities, and I took the hands in my own +and bent over them till my lips touched the soft fingers. + +"A visit from the queen!" I said with a smile. "This is an honor, your +majesty." + +"A doubtful one," said Desiree. "First of all, my friend, I want to +congratulate you on your savoir faire. Par Bleu, that was the part of +a man!" + +"But you!" cried Harry. "What the deuce did you mean by pretending to +play the black? I tell you, that was a shabby trick. Most unpleasant +moment you gave us." + +Desiree sent me a quick glance; she was plainly surprised to find Harry +in ignorance of what had passed between us that evening in the camp on +the mountain. Wherein she was scarcely to be blamed, for her surprise +came from a deep knowledge of the ways of men. + +"I am beginning to know you, Paul," she said, looking into my eyes. + +"Now what's up?" demanded Harry, looking from her to me and back again. +"For Heaven's sake, don't talk riddles. What does that mean?" + +But Desiree silenced him with a gesture, placing her fingers playfully +on his lips. They were seated side by side on the granite couch; I +stood in front of them, and there flitted across my memory a picture of +that morning scene in the grounds of the Antlers at Colorado Springs, +when Desiree and I had had our first battle. + +We talked; or, rather, Harry and Desiree talked, and I listened. First +he insisted on a recital of her experiences since her reckless dash +into the "cave of the devil," and she was most obliging, even eager, +for she had had no one to talk to for many days, and she was a woman. +She found in Harry a perfect audience. + +Her experience had been much the same as our own. She, too, had fallen +down the unseen precipice into the torrent beneath. + +She asserted that she had been carried along by its force scarcely more +than a quarter of an hour, and had been violently thrown upon a ledge +of rock. It was evident that this must have been long before the +stream reached the lake where Harry and I had found each other, for we +had been in the water hardly short of an hour. + +She had been found on the ledge by our hairy friends, who had carried +her on their backs for many hours. I remembered the sensations of +Harry and myself, who were men, and together, and gave a shudder of +sympathy as Desiree described her own horror and fear, and her one +attempt to escape. + +Still the brutes had shown her no great violence, evidently recognizing +the preciousness of their burden. They had carried her as gently as +possible, but had absolutely refused to allow her to walk. At regular +intervals they gave her an opportunity to rest, and food and water. + +"Dried fish?" I asked hopefully. + +Desiree nodded, with a most expressive grimace, and Harry burst into +laughter. + +Then of the elevation to her evident authority. Brought before the +king, she had inspired the most profound wonder and curiosity. Easy, +indeed, to understand how the whiteness of her skin and the beauty of +her form and face had awakened the keenest admiration in the breast of +that black and hairy monarch. He had shown her the most perfect +respect; and she had played up to the role of goddess by displaying to +the utmost her indifferent contempt for royalty and its favors. + +Here her remarks grew general and evasive, and when pressed with +questions she refused details. She declared that nothing had happened; +she had been fed and fawned upon, nor been annoyed by any violence or +unwelcome attentions. + +"That is really too bad," said I, with a smile. "I was, then, mistaken +when I said 'your majesty'?" + +"Faugh!" said Desiree. "That is hardly witty. For a time I was +amused, but I am becoming bored. And yet--" + +"Well?" + +"I--don't--know. They are mine, if you know what I mean. Eh, bien, +since you ask me--for I see the question in your eye, friend Paul--I am +content. If the world is behind me forever, so be it. Yes, they are +unattractive to the eye, but they have power. And they worship me." + +"Desiree!" cried Harry in astonishment; and I was myself a little +startled. + +"Why not?" she demanded. "They are men. And besides, it is impossible +for us to return. With all your cleverness, M. Paul, can you find the +sunlight? To remain is a necessity; we must make the best of it; and I +repeat that I am satisfied." + +"That's bally rot," said Harry, turning on her hotly. "Satisfied? You +are nothing of the sort. I'll tell you one thing--Paul and I are going +to find our way out of this, and you are coming with us." + +For reply Desiree laughed at him--a laugh that plainly said, "I am my +own mind, and obey no other." It is one of the most familiar cards of +the woman of beauty, and the most effective. It conquered Harry. + +He gazed at her for a long moment in silence, while his eyes filled +with an expression which one man should never show to another man. It +is the betrayal of the masculine sex and the triumph of the feminine. + +Suddenly he threw himself on his knees before her and took her hands in +his own. She attempted to withdraw them; he clasped her about the +waist. + +"Do you not love me, Desiree?" he cried, and his lips sought hers. + +They met; Desiree ceased to struggle. + +At that moment I heard a sound--the faintest sound--behind me. + +I turned. + +The king of the Incas was standing within the doorway, surveying the +lovers with beadlike, sparkling eyes. + + + +Chapter XI. + +A ROYAL VISITOR. + +If it had not been for the manifest danger, I could have laughed aloud +at what I read in the eyes of the king. Was it not supremely +ridiculous for Desiree Le Mire, who had been sought after by the great +and the wealthy and the powerful of all Europe, to be regarded with +desire by that ugly dwarf? And it was there, unmistakably. + +I sang out a sharp warning, but it was unnecessary; Desiree had already +caught sight of the royal visitor. She pushed Harry from her bodily. +He sprang to his feet in angry surprise; then, enlightened by the +confusion in her face, turned quickly and swore as he, too, saw the +intruder. + +How critical the situation was I did not know, despite Desiree's +assertions. His eyes were human and easily read; they held jealousy; +and when power is jealous there is danger. + +But Desiree proved herself equal to the occasion. She remained seated +on the granite couch for a long minute without moving; confusion left +her eyes as she gazed at us apparently with the utmost composure; but I +who knew her could see that her brain was working with the rapidity of +lightning. Then her glance passed to the figure at the doorway, and +with a gesture commanding and truly royal in its simplicity, she held +her hand forth, palm down, to the Inca king. + +Like an obedient trained monkey he trotted across the intervening +space, grasped her soft white hand in his monstrous paw, and touched +his lips to her fingers. + +That was all, but it spoke volumes to one who could divine the springs +of action. I remember that at the time there shot through my mind a +story I had heard concerning Desiree in Paris. The Duke of Bellarmine, +then her protector, had one evening entered her splendid apartment on +the Rue Jonteur--furnished, of course, by himself--and had found his +divinity entertaining one Jules Chavot, a young and beautiful poet. +Whereupon he had launched forth into the most bitter reproaches and +scornful denunciations. + +"Monsieur," Desiree had said, with the look of a queen outraged, when +he had finished, "you are annoying. Little Chavot amuses me. You are +aware that I never refuse myself anything which I consider necessary to +my amusement, and just now I find you very dull." + +And the noble duke, conquered by that glance of fire and those terrible +words, had retired with humble apologies, after receiving a gracious +permission to call on the following day! + +In short, Desiree was irresistible; the subjection of the Inca king was +but another of her triumphs, and not the most remarkable. + +And then I looked at Harry, and was aware of a new danger. He was +glaring at the Inca with eyes which told their own story of the fire +within, and which were waiting only for suspicion to become certainty. +I called to him: + +"Harry! Hold fast!" + +He glanced at me, gave a short laugh, and nodded. + +Then came Desiree's voice, in a low tone of warning: + +"On your knees!" + +Her meaning was clear; it was to us she spoke. The king had turned +from her and was regarding us steadily with eyes so nearly closed that +their meaning was impenetrable. Harry and I glanced at each other and +remained standing. Then Desiree's voice again: + +"Harry! If you love me!" + +It was the appeal to a child; but love is young. Immediately Harry +dropped to his knees, facing the king; and I followed him, wondering at +myself. To this day I do not know what the compelling force was that +pulled me down. Was it another instance of the power of Desiree? + +For perhaps a minute we remained motionless on our knees while the king +stood gazing at us, it seemed to me with an air of doubt. Then slowly, +and with a gait that smacked of majesty despite his ungainly appearance +and diminutive stature, he stalked across to the doorway and +disappeared in the corridor without. + +Harry and I looked at each other, kneeling like two heathen idols, and +burst into unrestrained laughter. But with it was mixed a portion of +anger, and I turned to Desiree. + +"In the name of Heaven, was that necessary?" + +"You do it very prettily," said she, with a smile. + +"That is well, but I don't care to repeat it. Harry, for the sake of +my dignity, employ a little discretion. And what do you suppose the +beggar will do about it?" + +"Nothing," said Desiree, shrugging her shoulders. "Only he must be +pacified. I must go. I wonder if you know you are lodged in the royal +apartments? His majesty's room--he has but one--is in the corridor to +the left of this. + +"Mine is on the right--and he is probably stamping the place to pieces +at this moment." She left the granite couch and advanced half way to +the door. "Au revoir, messieurs. Till later--I shall come to see you." + +The next moment she was gone. + +Harry and I, left alone, had enough to think and talk about, but there +was ten minutes of silence before we spoke. I sat on one of the stone +seats, wondering what the result would be--if any--of the king's visit +and his discovery. + +Harry paced up and down the length of the apartment with lowered head. +Presently he spoke abruptly: + +"Paul, I want to know exactly what you think of our chances for getting +out of this." + +"Why--" I hesitated. "Harry, I don't know." + +"But you've thought about it, and you know something about these +things. What do you think?" + +"Well, I think they are slim." + +"What are they?" + +"Nothing less than miracles. There are just two. First--and I've +spoken of this before--we might find an underground stream that would +carry us to the western slope." + +"That is impossible--at least, for Desiree. And the second?" + +"Nature herself. She plays queer tricks in the Andes. She might turn +the mountain upside down, in which case we would find ourselves on top. +Seriously, the formation here is such that almost anything is possible. +Upheavals of vast masses of rock are of ordinary occurrence. A passage +might be opened in that way to one of the lower peaks. + +"We are surrounded by layers of limestone, granite, and quartzite, +which are of marked difference both in the quality of hardness and in +their ability to withstand the attacks of time. When one finds itself +unable to support the other, something happens." + +"But it might not happen for a hundred years." + +"Or never," I agreed. + +Again silence. Harry stood gazing at one of the flaming urns, buried +in thought--easy to guess of what nature. I did not think fit to +disturb him, till presently he spoke again. + +"What do you suppose that ugly devil will do about--what he saw in +here?" + +I smiled. "Nothing." + +"But if he should? We are helpless." + +"Trust Desiree. It's true that she can't even talk to him, but she'll +manage him somehow. You saw what happened just now." + +"But the creature is no better than a dumb brute. He is capable of +anything. I tell you, we ought to get her away from here." + +"To starve?" + +"And we're none too safe ourselves. As for starving, we could carry +enough of their darned fish to last a year. And one thing is sure: we +won't get back to New York lying round here waiting for something to +turn up--even a mountain." + +"What do you want to do?" + +"Clear out. Get Desiree away from that ugly brute. If we only had our +knives!" + +"Where would we go?" + +In that question was the whole matter. To escape with Desiree was +possible--but then what? We knew by experience what it meant to wander +hopelessly about in the darkness of those desolate caverns, without +food, and depending on Providence for water. Neither of us cared to +repeat that trial, especially with the added difficulty of a woman to +care for. But what to do? + +We decided to wait for the future, and in the mean time lay in a supply +of provisions, and, if possible, devise some sort of weapons. + +It is worth remarking here that the Incas, so far as we had seen, used +no weapons whatever. This was most probably the result of their total +isolation and consequent freedom from foreign hostility. + +In the matter of food we were soon to receive an agreeable surprise. +It was about an hour after Desiree had left us that the royal +steward--I give him the title on my own responsibility--arrived, with +pots and pans on a huge tray. + +In the first place, the pots and pans were of solid gold. Harry stared +in amazement as they were placed in brilliant array on one of the stone +tables; and when we essayed to lift the empty tray from another table +on which it had been placed we understood why the steward had found it +necessary to bring four assistants along as cup-bearers. + +There was a king's ransom on that table, in sober truth, for there +could be no doubt but that this was part of the gold which had been +carried from Huanuco when it had been demanded by Pizarro as payment +for the life of Atahualpa. + +But better even than the service was that which it contained. It may +not have been such as would enhance the reputation of a French chef, +but to us then it seemed that the culinary art could go no farther. + +There was a large platter; Harry lifted its cover in an ecstasy of +hope; but the next instant his face fell ludicrously. + +"Our old friend, Mr. Dried Fish," he announced sadly, and gave it up. + +Then I tried my luck, and with better success. + +First I uncovered a dish of stew, steaming hot! To be sure, it was +fish, but it was hot. Then a curious, brittle kind of bread; I call it +that, though on trial it appeared to be made from the roe of some kind +of fish. Also there was some excellent fish-soup, also hot, and quite +delicious. + +Four hundred years of development had taught the royal chefs to prepare +fish in so many different ways that we almost failed to recognize them +as of the same family. + +"Couldn't be better," said Harry, helping himself liberally to the +stew. "We can eat this, and cache the dried stuff. We'll have enough +for an army in a week." + +"As for me, I saw before me the raw material for our weapons. When we +had emptied the golden platter that held our bread," I secreted it +under the cover of the granite couch. When the serving-men called to +remove the dishes they apparently did not notice its absence. So far, +success. + +Some hours later Desiree paid us a second call. She appeared to be in +the gayest of spirits, and I eyed her curiously from a seat in the +corner as she and Harry sat side by side, chatting for all the world as +though they had been in her own Paris drawing-room. + +Was it possible that she was really satisfied, as she had said? What +imaginable food could these black dwarfs find to appease her tremendous +vanity? Or was she merely living the motto of the French philosopher? + +Harry was demanding that he be allowed to visit her apartment; this she +refused, saying that if he were found there by the king nothing could +avert a catastrophe. Harry's brow grew black; I could see his effort +to choke back his anger. Then Desiree led him away from the topic, and +soon they were both again laughing merrily. + +Some forty-eight hours passed; in that perpetual blackness there was no +such thing as day. We saw no one save Desiree and the serving men. +Once a messenger appeared carrying a bundle of quipos; I was able to +decipher their meaning sufficiently to understand that we were invited +to some religious ceremony in the great cavern. But I thought it +injudicious to allow a meeting between Harry and the king, and returned +a polite refusal. + +It may be of interest to some to know the method, which was extremely +simple, as in ordinary communications the quipos are easy to read. I +removed two knots from the white cord--the sign of affirmative--and +placed two additional ones on the black cord--the sign of negative. +Then on the yellow cord--the sign of the Child of the Sun and +submission to him--I tied two more knots to show that our refusal meant +no lack of respect to their deity. + +Which, by the way, was not a little curious. + +Here were the descendants of the subjects of Manco-Capac, himself a son +of the orb of day, still holding to their worship of the sun, though +they had not seen its light for four centuries. Deserted by their god, +they did not abandon him; an example from which the followers of +another and more "civilized" religion might learn something of the +potency of faith. + +But to the story. + +As I say, I was anxious to avoid a meeting between Harry and the king, +and subsequent events proved my wisdom. Harry was acting in a manner +quite amazing; it was impossible for me to mention the king even in +jest without him flying into a violent temper. + +As I look back now I am not surprised; for our harrowing experiences +and the hopelessness of our situation and the wilfulness of Desiree +were enough, Heaven knows, to jerk his nerves; but at the time I +regarded his actions as those of a thoughtless fool, and told him so, +thinking to divert his anger to myself. He took no notice of me. + +We were left entirely to ourselves. At regular intervals our food was +brought to us, and within a week we had accumulated a large supply of +the dried fish against necessity, besides my collection of six golden +platters, of which more later. + +Once in about twenty-four hours two Incas, who appeared to be our +personal attendants--for we were actually able to recognize them after +half a dozen visits--arrived to perform the offices of chambermaid and +valet. The floor of the apartment was scrubbed, the urns refilled with +oil, and the skin cover of the granite couch was changed. It seemed +that another belief--in cleanliness--had refused to be dislodged from +the Inca breast. + +When I managed, by dint of violent and expressive gestures, to convey +to our valet the idea that we desired a bath, he led us down the +corridor some two hundred feet to a stream of cool running water. We +took advantage of the opportunity to scrub our clothing, which was +sadly in need of the operation. + +I had early made an examination of the urns which furnished our light. +They were of gold and perfect in form, which convinced me that they had +been brought by the fugitives from Huanuco, as, indeed, the quipos +also, and several other articles we found, including our golden table +service. + +The urns were filled with an oil which I was unable to recognize. +There was no wick, but round the rim or lip of each was set a broad +ring carved of stone, which made the opening at the top only about two +inches in diameter. Through this the flame arose to a height of about +two feet. + +Of smoke there was none, or very little, a circumstance which was +inexplicable, as there seemed to be no possibility of the generation of +gas within so small space. But the oil itself was strange to me, and +its properties may be charged to nature. + +As I say, I had collected six of the golden platters, one at a time. +Together they weighed about twenty pounds--for they were small and +rather thin--which was near the amount required for my purpose. I +explained the thing to Harry, and we set to work. + +We first procured a vessel of granite from the attendant on some +pretext or other--this for melting the gold. Then we pried a slab of +limestone from a corner of one of the seats; luckily for us it was very +soft, having been selected by the Incas for the purpose of inserting in +its face the crystal prisms. Then we procured a dozen or more of the +prisms themselves, and, using them as chisels, and small blocks of +granite as hammers, set to work at the block of limestone. + +It was slow work, but we finally succeeded in hollowing out a groove in +its surface about eighteen inches long and two inches deep. That was +our mold. + +Then to melt the golden platters. We took four of the urns, placing +them in a group on the floor, and just at the tip of the flames placed +the granite vessel, supported by four blocks of stone which we pried +loose from one of the seats. In the vessel we placed the golden +platters. + +But we found, after several hours, that we did not have sufficient +heat--or rather that the vessel was too thick to transmit it. And +again we set to work with our improvised chisels and hammers, to shave +off its sides and bottom. That was more difficult and required many +hours for completion. + +Finally, with the profane portion of our vocabularies completely +exhausted and rendered meaningless by repetition, and with bruised and +bleeding hands, we again arranged our furnace and sat down to wait. We +had waited until the dishes from our dinner had been removed, and we +were fairly certain to be alone for several hours. + +Finally the gold was melted, stubbornly but surely. We took the thick +hide cover from the couch and, one on each side, lifted the vessel of +liquid metal and filled our mold. In an hour it was hardened into a +bar the shape of a half-cylinder. We removed it and poured in the +remainder of the gold. + +It would appear that the gain was hardly worth the pains, and I admit +it. But at the least I had kept Harry occupied with something besides +his amatory troubles, and at the best we had two heavy, easily handled +bars of metal that would prove most effective weapons against foes who +had none whatever. + +We had just removed the traces of our work as completely as possible +and secreted the clubs of yellow metal in a corner of the apartment +when the sound of pattering footsteps came from the corridor. + +Harry gave me a quick glance; I moved between him and the door. But it +was Desiree. + +She entered the room hurriedly and crossed to the farther side, then +turned to face the door. Her cheeks were glowing brightly, her eyes +flashed fire, and her breast heaved with unwonted agitation. Before +either she or I had time to speak Harry had sprung to her side and +grasped her arm. + +"What has he done now?" he demanded in a tone scarcely audible in its +intensity. + +"I--don't--know," said Desiree without removing her eyes from the door. +"Let me go, Harry; let me sit down. Paul! Ah! I was afraid." + +"For us?" I asked. + +"Yes--partly. The brute! But then, he is human, and that is his way. +And you--I was right--you should have gone to the Cave of the Sun when +he required your presence." + +"But it was merely an invitation. Cannot one refuse an invitation?" I +protested. + +"But, my dear Paul, the creature is royal--his invitations are +commands." + +"Well, we were busy, and we've already seen the Cave of the Sun." + +"Still it was an error, and I think you will pay for it. There have +been unusual preparations under way for many hours. The king has been +in my apartment, and messengers and guards have been arriving +constantly, each with his little bundle of quipos, as you call them." + +"Did you see the quipos?" + +"Yes." + +"Did any of them contain a red cord, suspended alone, with a single +knot at either end?" + +"Yes, all of them," said Desiree without an instant's hesitation. + +"That means Harry and me," I observed. "But the message! Can you +remember any of them?" + +She tried, but without success. Which will not surprise any one who +has ever seen the collection at the museum at Lima. + +Then Harry broke in: + +"Something else has happened, Desiree. No bunch of cords tied in silly +knots ever made you look as you did just now. What was it?" + +"Nothing--nothing, Harry." + +"I say yes! And I want to know! And if it's what I think it is we're +going to clear out of here now!" + +"As though we could!" + +"We can! We have enough provisions to last for weeks. And see here," +he ran to the corner where he had hidden the golden clubs and returned +with them in his hands, "with these we could make our way through them +all. Tell me!" + +There was a strange smile on Desiree's lips. + +"And so you would fight for me, Harry?" she said half-wistfully, +half--I know not what. Then she continued in a tone low but quite +distinct: "Well, it is too late. I am the king's." + +She lied--I saw it in her eyes. Perhaps she meant to save Harry from +his folly, to quiet him by the knowledge that he need not fight for +what was no longer his own; but she was mistaken in her man. + +Harry did not stop to read her eyes--he heard her words. He took two +slow steps backward, then stood quite still, while his face grew deadly +white and his eyes were fastened on hers with a look that made me turn +my own away. His soul looked out from them--how he loved the +woman--and I could not bear it! + +Nor, after a moment, could Desiree. She took a step forward, extending +her arms to him and cried out: + +"Harry! No! It was a lie, Harry! Don't--don't!" + +And they gazed at each other, and I at Desiree, and thus we were +unaware that a fourth person had entered the room, until he had crossed +its full length and stood before me. It was the Inca king. + +I took no time for thought, but jumped straight for Harry and threw my +arms round him, dragging him back half-way across the room. Taken +completely by surprise, he did not struggle. I noticed that he still +held in his hands the bars of gold he had shown to Desiree. + +The king regarded us for a second with a scowl, then turned to her. + +She stood erect, with flashing eyes. The king approached; she held out +her hand to him with an indescribable gesture of dignity. + +For a moment he looked at her, then his lips curled in an ugly snarl, +and, dashing her hand aside, he leaped forward in swift fury and +grasped her white throat with his fingers. + +There was a strangled scream from Desiree, a frantic cry from +Harry--and the next instant he had torn himself free from my arms, +dropping the bars of gold at my feet. + +A single bound and he was across the room; a single blow with his fist +and the king of the Incas dropped senseless to the floor. + + + +Chapter XII. + +AT THE DOOR. + +Desiree shrank back against the wall, covering her face with her hands. +Harry stood above the prostrate figure of the king, panting and furious. + +As for me, I gave no thought to what had been done--the imminent peril +of the situation possessed my mind and stung my brain to action. + +I ran to the figure on the floor and bent over him. There was no +movement--his eyes were closed. Calling to Harry to watch the corridor +without, I quickly tore my woolen jacket into strips--my fingers seemed +to be made of steel--and bound the wrists and ankles of the Inca +firmly, trussing him up behind. + +Then with another strip I gagged him, thinking it best to err on the +side of prudence. In another moment I had dragged him to the corner of +the room behind the granite couch and covered him with its hide-cover. + +Then I turned to Harry: + +"Is the coast clear?" + +"Yes," he answered from the doorway. + +"Then here--quick, man! Get the clubs and the grub. Desiree--come! +There's not a second to lose." + +"But, Paul--" she began; then, seeing the utter folly of any other +course than instant flight, she sprang to Harry's side to assist him +with the bundles of provisions. + +There was more than we could carry. Harry and I each took a bundle +under our left arm, carrying the clubs in the other hand. Desiree +attempted to take two bundles, but they were too heavy for her, and she +was forced to drop one. + +With a last hasty glance at the motionless heap in the corner we +started, Harry leading and myself in the rear, with Desiree between us. + +But it was not to be so easy. We were nearly to the door when there +came a grating, rumbling sound from above, and a huge block of granite +dropped squarely across the doorway with a crash that made the ground +tremble beneath our feet. + +Stupefied, we realized in a flash that the cunning of the Incas had +proved too much for us. Harry and I ran forward, but only to invite +despair; the doorway was completely covered by the massive rock, an +impenetrable curtain of stone weighing many tons, and on neither side +was there an opening more than an inch wide. We were imprisoned beyond +all hope of escape. + +We stood stunned; Desiree even made no sound, but gazed at the blocked +doorway in a sort of stupid wonder. It was one of those sudden and +overwhelming catastrophes that deprive us for a moment of all power to +reason or even to realize. + +Then Harry said quietly: + +"Well, the game's up." + +And Desiree turned to me with the calm observation: + +"They must have been watching us. We were fools not to have known it." + +"Impossible!" Harry asserted; but I agreed with Desiree; and though I +could see no opening or crevice of any sort in the walls or ceiling, I +was convinced that even then the eyes of the Incas were upon us. + +Our situation was indeed desperate. With our every movement spied +upon, surrounded by four solid walls of stone, and beyond them ten +thousand savage brutes waiting to tear us to pieces--what wildest fancy +could indulge in hope? + +Then, glancing up, my eye was arrested by the heap under the cover in +the corner. There, in the person of the Inca king, lay our only +advantage. But how could we use it? + +Desiree's voice came in the calm tones of despair: + +"We are lost." + +Harry crossed to her and took her in his arms. + +"I thank Heaven," he said, "that you are with us." Then he turned to +me: "I believe it is for the best, Paul. There never was a chance for +us; we may as well say it now. And it is better to die here, together, +than--the other way." + +I smiled at his philosophy, knowing its source. It came not from his +own head, but from Desiree's arms. But it was truth. + +We sat silent. The thing was beyond discussion; too elemental to need +speech for its explanation or understanding. I believe it was not +despair that kept back our words, but merely the dumb realization that +where all hope is gone words are useless--worse, a mockery. + +Finally I crossed the room and removed the cover from the body of the +Child of the Sun. He had recovered consciousness; his little wicked +eyes gleamed up at me with an expression that would have been +terrifying in the intensity of its malignant hatred if he had not been +utterly helpless. I turned to Harry: + +"What are we going to do with him?" + +"By Jove, I had forgotten!" exclaimed the lad. "Paul, perhaps if we +could communicate with them--" He stopped, glancing at the closed +doorway; then added: "But it's impossible." + +"I believe it is possible," I contradicted. "If the Incas were able to +lower that stone at any moment you may be sure they are prepared to +raise it. How, Heaven only knows; but the fact is certain. Do you +think they would have condemned their precious king to starvation?" + +"Then the king can save us!" + +"And how?" + +"Our lives for his. We'll give him nothing to eat, and if, as you say, +they have some way of watching us, they'll be forced to negotiate. You +can talk with the quipos, and tell them that unless they give us our +freedom and let us go in safety they'll have a dead king. From the way +they seem to worship him they'd come through in a minute." + +"Oh, they'd promise, all right," I agreed; "but how could we hold them +to it?" + +"Well, a promise is a promise. And it's our only chance." + +"No, Harry; to trust them would be folly. The minute we stepped +through that doorway they would be on us--the whole beggarly, smelly +lot of them." + +"Then there is no chance--none whatever?" put in Desiree. + +"None. We may as well admit the worst. And the worst is best for us +now. Really, we are in luck; we die in our own way and at our own +time. But there is one difficulty." + +Then, in answer to their glances of inquiry, I added significantly: "We +have no weapons. We cannot allow ourselves to starve--the end must +come before that, for as soon as they saw us weakening we would be at +their mercy." + +There was comprehension and horror in Desiree's eyes, but she looked at +me with a brave attempt to smile as she took from her hair something +which gleamed and shone in the light from the flaming urns. It was a +tiny steel blade with a handle of pearl studded with diamonds. + +I had seen it before many times--a present, Desiree had told me, from +the young man I had seen in the royal coach on that day in Madrid when +I had first heard the name of Le Mire. + +"Will that do?" she asked calmly, holding it out to me with a firm hand. + +Brave Le Mire! I took the dagger and placed it in my pocket, and, +looking at Harry, exchanged with him a nod of understanding. No words +were necessary. + +"But I must confess I am a coward," said Desiree. "When the time comes +I--I could not bear to see--to wait--" + +I looked at her and said simply: "You shall be first," and she gave me +a smile of thanks that spoke of a heart that would not fail when the +final moment arrived. And in my admiration of her high courage I +forgot the horror of the task that must be mine. + +It was a relief to have admitted the worst and discussed it calmly; +there is no torment like suspense, and ours was at an end. A load was +lifted from our hearts, and a quiet sympathy created between us, +sincere as death itself. And it was in our power to choose for +ourselves the final moment--we were yet masters of our fates. + +All action seems useless when hope is dead, but certain things needed +to be done, and Harry and I bestirred ourselves. We extinguished the +flame in all the urns but one to save the oil, not caring to depart in +darkness. + +Our supply of water, we found, was quite sufficient to last for several +days, if used sparingly; for we intended to support life so long as we +had the fuel. Then responsibility ceases; man has a right to hasten +that which fortune has made inevitable. + +The hours passed by. + +We talked very little; at times Desiree and Harry conversed in subdued +tones which I did not overhear; I was engaged with my own thoughts. +And they were not unpleasant; if, looking death in the face, a man can +preserve his philosophy unchanged, he has made the only success in life +that is worth while. + +We ate and drank, but gave neither water nor food to our fellow +prisoner. Not because I really expected to force negotiations with the +Incas--but the thing was possible and was worth a trial. I knew them +well enough to appraise correctly the value of any safe-conduct they +might give us. + +I was a little surprised to find in Desiree no levity, the vulgar prop +for courage based on ignorance. There was a tenderness in her manner, +especially toward Harry, that spoke of something deeper and awoke in my +own breast a deeper respect for her. The world had not known Desiree +Le Mire--it had merely been fascinated and amused by her. + +Many hours had passed in this tomblike apathy. Two or three times I +had advised Desiree to lie down to rest and, if possible, to sleep. +She had refused, but I became insistent, and Harry added his voice to +my own. Then, to please us, she consented; we arranged the cover on +the granite couch and made her as comfortable as possible. + +In five minutes she was fast asleep. Harry stood a few feet away from +the couch, looking down at her. I spoke to him, in a low tone: + +"And you must rest too, Hal. One of us must remain on watch; I'll take +it first and call you when I feel drowsy. It may be a needless +precaution, but I don't care to wake up and find myself in the +condition of our friend yonder." + +He wanted to take the first watch himself, but I insisted, and he +arranged our ponchos on the ground, and soon he too was sleeping easily +and profoundly. I looked from him to Desiree with a smile, and +reflection that Socrates himself could not have met misfortune with +more sublime composure. + +It was possible that the stone curtain across the doorway could be +raised noiselessly, and that made it necessary to keep my eyes fastened +on it almost continuously. This became irksome; besides, twice I awoke +to the fact that my thoughts had carried me so far away from my +surroundings that the stone could have been raised to the roof and I +would not have noticed it. + +So, using my jacket for a cushion, I seated myself on the ground in the +threshold, leaning my back against the stone, and gave myself up to +meditation. + +I had sat thus for three hours or more, and was thinking of calling +Harry to relieve me, when I felt a movement at my back. I turned +quickly and saw that the stone was moving upward. + +Slowly it rose, by little frequent jerks, not more than an eighth of an +inch at a time. In fifteen minutes it was only about four inches from +the ground. There was no sound save a faint grating noise from above. + +I stood several feet away, holding one of the golden clubs in my hand, +thinking it unnecessary to rouse Harry until the space was wide enough +to cause apprehension. Or rather, because I had no fear of an +assault--I was convinced that our ruse had succeeded, and that they +were about to communicate with us by means of the quipos. + +The stone was raised a little over a foot, then became stationary. I +waited, expecting to see a bundle of quipos thrust through the opening, +but they did not appear. + +Instead, five golden vessels were pushed across the ground until they +were inside, clear of the stone; I could see the black, hairy hands and +arms, which were immediately withdrawn. + +Then the granite curtain fell with a crash that caused me to start with +its suddenness and awakened both Harry and Desiree. + +Two of the vessels contained water, two oil, and the other dried fish. +Harry, who had sprung to his feet excitedly, grumbled in disgust. + +"At least, they might have sent us some soup. But what's their idea?" + +"It means that Desiree was right," I observed. "They have some way of +watching us. And, seeing that we refused to provide their beloved +monarch with provender, they have sent him an allowance from the +pantry." + +Harry grinned. + +"Will he get it?" + +"Hardly," said I with emphasis. "We'll make 'em treat with us if it's +only to observe their diplomacy. There'll be a message from them +within twenty-four hours. You'll see." + +"Anyway, we know now that they can raise that stone whenever they feel +like it. But in the name of Archimedes, how?" + +He advanced to the doorway and examined the block of granite curiously, +but there was no clue to its weight or thickness from the inside. I +explained that there were several ways by which the thing could be +raised, but that the most probable one was by means of a rolling +pulley, which required merely some rounded stones and a flat surface +above, with ropes of hide for stays. + +It had been several hours since we had last eaten, and we decided to at +once convey to the spies without our intentions concerning our +prisoner. So we regaled ourselves with dried fish and water, taking +care not to approach the king, who had rolled over on his side and lay +facing us, looking for all the world, in the dim light, like a black +dog crouched on the floor. + +Harry relieved me at my post against the door, and I lay down to sleep. +Desiree had seated herself beside him, and the low tones of their +voices came to me as I lay on the couch (which Desiree had insisted I +should occupy) in an indistinct, musical murmur. This for perhaps ten +minutes; then I slept. + +That became our routine. During the many weary hours that followed +there was never a moment when one of us was not seated with his back +against the stone across the doorway; we dared not trust our eyes. +Usually Harry and Desiree watched together, and, when I relieved them, +slept side by side on the couch. + +Sometimes, when we were all awake, Desiree was left on guard alone; but +Harry and I were never both asleep at the same time. + +An estimate of the time we spent thus would be the wildest guess, for +time was heavy and passed on leaden feet. But I should say we had been +imprisoned for something like four days, possibly five, when the +monotony came to an abrupt end. + +I had come off watch, and Harry and Desiree had taken my place. Before +I lay down I had taken some water to the prisoner, for we had some time +before admitted the necessity of giving him drink. But of food he had +had none. + +Harry told me afterward that I had slept for two or three hours, but it +seemed to me rather as many minutes, when I was awakened by the sound +of his voice calling my name. Glancing at the doorway, I sprang to my +feet. + +The stone was slowly rising from the floor; already there was a space +of a foot or more. Desiree and Harry stood facing it in silence. + +"You have seen nothing?" I asked, joining them. + +"Nothing," said Harry. "Here, take one of these clubs. Something's +up." + +"Of course--the stone," I observed facetiously, yawning. "Probably +nothing more important than a bundle of quipos. Lord, I'm sleepy!" + +Still the stone moved upward, very slowly. It reached a height of two +feet, yet did not halt. + +"This is no quipos" said Harry, "or if it is, they must be going to +send us in a whole library. Six inches would have been enough for +that." + +I nodded, keeping my eyes on the ever-widening space at our feet. + +"This means business, Hal. Stand ready with your club. Desiree, go to +the further corner, behind that seat." + +She refused; I insisted; she stamped her foot in anger. + +"Do you think I'm a child, to run and hide?" she demanded obstinately. + +I wasted no time in argument. + +"You will go", I said sternly, "or I shall carry you and tie you. This +is not play. We must have room and know that you are safe." + +To my surprise, she made no reply, but quietly obeyed. Then, struck by +a sudden thought, I crossed to where she stood behind a stone seat in +the corner. + +"Here," I said in a low tone, taking the little jeweled dagger from my +pocket and holding it out to her, "in case--" + +"I understand," she said simply, and her hand closed over the hilt. + +By that time the stone was half-way to the top of the doorway, leaving +a space over three feet high, and was still rising. I stood on one +side and Harry on the other, not caring to expose ourselves immediately +in front. + +Suddenly he left his post and ran to one of the stone seats and began +prying at the blocks of granite. I saw at once his intention and our +mistake; we should have long before barricaded the door on the inside. +But it was too late now; I knew from experience the difficulty of +loosening those firmly wedged blocks, and I called out: + +"No good, Hal. We were fools not to have thought of it before, but +there is no time for it now. Come back; I couldn't stop 'em alone." + +Nevertheless, he continued his exertions, and succeeded in getting one +of the blocks partially free; but by that time the doorway was almost +completely uncovered, and he saw the folly of attempting further. + +He resumed his post on the right of the door--I was on the left. + +The stone appeared to be going faster. It reached the top--passed +it--and quickly swung in toward the wall and disappeared, probably to +rest on a ledge above. + +We stood waiting, tense and alert. The open doorway gaped on the +black, empty corridor, into which the light from our single urn shone +dimly. We could see or hear nothing, no indication that any one was in +the passage, but we dared not look out in that darkness. The suspense +was trying enough; Harry ripped out an impatient oath and made a +movement as though to step in the entrance, but I waved him back. + +Then came the avalanche, with a suddenness and fury that nigh +overwhelmed us. + +Crouching, rushing forms filled the doorway from both directions and +leaped savagely at us. After so many weary days of dull inaction and +helpless, hopeless apathy, a mad joy fired my brain and thrilled my +heart as I raised my club on high and struck a blow for freedom and +life. + +That blow crushed the skull of one whose fingers were at my throat, and +he dropped like a log at my feet; but his place was already filled. +Again I swung the club; another swayed, toppling against the doorway +and leaning there with the blood streaming from his broken head, quite +dead, but held erect by the pressure of his fellows from behind. + +If the doorway had been but a foot wider we would have been overwhelmed +almost instantly. As it was, but three or four could get to us at +once, and they found the gold which their ancestors had carried from +the temples of Huanuco waiting for them. My arm seemed to have the +strength of a hundred arms; it swung the heavy club as though it had +been a feather, and with deadly accuracy. + +Harry fought like a demon. I think I did all that a man could do, but +he did more, and withal more coolly. I brought down my club on heads, +shoulders, chests, and rarely failed to get my man. + +But the impact of Harry's blows was like the popping of a Maxim. I saw +him reach over and grasp the throat of one who had his teeth set in my +shoulder, and, holding him straight before him with his arm extended, +break his neck with one blow. Again, his club descended on one black +skull with a glancing blow and shot off to the head of another with the +force of a sledge-hammer. + +At the time I did not know that I saw these things; it was all one +writhing, struggling, bloody horror; but afterward the eyes of memory +showed them to me. + +Still they came. My arm rose and fell seemingly without order from the +brain; I was not conscious that it moved. It seemed to me that ever +since the beginning of time I had stood in that butcher's doorway and +brought down that bar of gold on thick, black skulls and distorted, +grinning faces. But they would not disappear. One fell; another took +his place; and another, and another, and another. + +The bodies of those who fell were dragged away from underneath. I did +not see it, but it must have been so, or soon we would have raised our +own barricade for defense--a barricade of flesh. And there was none. + +I began to weaken, and Harry saw it, for he gasped out: "Steady--Paul. +Take it--easy. They can't--last--forever." + +His blows were redoubled in fury as he moved closer to me, taking more +than his share of the attack, so that I almost had time to breathe. + +But we could not have held out much longer. My brain was whirling +madly and a weight of a thousand tons seemed dragging me remorselessly, +inevitably to the ground. I kept my feet through the force of some +crazy instinct, for will and reason were gone. + +And then, for an instant, Harry's eyes met mine, and I read in them +what neither of us could say, nor would. With the fury of despair we +struck out together in one last effort. + +Whether the Incas saw in that effort a renewed strength that spoke of +immortality, or whether it happened just at that moment that the +pressure from behind was removed, no longer forcing them to their +death, I do not know. It may have been that, like some better men, +they had merely had enough. + +From whatever cause, the attack ceased almost with the suddenness with +which it had begun; they fell back from the doorway; Harry lunged +forward with raised club, and the forms melted away into the darkness +of the corridor. + +Harry turned and looked at me as I stood swaying from side to side in +the doorway. Neither of us could speak. Together we staggered back +across the room, but I had not gone more than half way when my legs +bent under me and I sank to the floor. Dimly I saw Harry's face above +me, as though through a veil--then another face that came close to my +own--and a voice: + +"Paul! My love! They have killed him!" + +Soft white arms were about my neck, and a velvet cheek was pressed +against my own. + +"Desiree!" I gasped. "Don't! Harry! No, they have not killed me--" + +Then Harry's voice: + +"That's all right, old fellow. I know--I have known she loves you. +This is no time to talk of that. Listen, Paul--what you were going to +do for Desiree--if you can--they will be back at any moment--" + +That thought kindled my brain; I raised myself onto my elbow. + +"I haven't the strength," I said, hardly knowing how I spoke. "You +must do it, Harry; you must. And quick, lad! The dagger! +Desiree--the dagger!" + +What followed came to me as in a dream; my eyes were dim with the +exhaustion that had overcome my body. Desiree's face disappeared from +before my face--then a silence--then the sound of her voice as though +from a distance: + +"Harry--come! I can't find it! I dropped it when I ran across--it +must be here--on the floor--" + +And then another sound came that I knew only too well--the sound of +rushing, pattering feet. + +I think I tried to rise to my own feet. I heard Harry's voice crying +in a frenzy: "Quick--here they come! Desiree, where is it?" + +There was a ringing cry of despair from Desiree, a swinging oath from +Harry, and the next instant I found myself pinned to the floor by the +weight of a score of bodies. + + + +Chapter XIII. + +INTO THE WHIRLPOOL. + +I hardly know what happened after that. I was barely conscious that +there was movement round me, and that my wrists and ankles were being +tightly bound. Harry told me afterward that he made one last desperate +stand, and was halted by a cry from Desiree, imploring him to employ +the club in the intended office of the dagger. + +He wheeled about and raised it to strike; then his arm dropped, unable +to obey for the brutal horror of it. In another instant he and +Desiree, too, had been overpowered and carried to the floor by the +savage rush. + +This he told me as we lay side by side in a dark cavern, whither we had +been carried by the victorious Incas. I had expected instant death; +the fact that our lives had been spared could have but one meaning, I +thought: to the revenge of death was to be added the vindictiveness of +torture. + +We knew nothing of Desiree's fate. Harry had not seen her since he had +been crushed to the floor by that last assault. And instead of fearing +for her life, we were convinced that a still more horrible doom was to +be hers, and hoped only that she would find the means to avoid it by +the only possible course. + +I have said that we again found ourselves in darkness, but it was much +less profound than it had been before. We could distinctly see the +four walls of the cavern in which we lay; it was about twelve feet by +twenty, and the ceiling was very low. The ground was damp and cold, +and we had neither ponchos nor jackets to protect us. + +A description of our state of mind as we lay exhausted, wounded, and +bound so tightly that any movement was impossible, would seem to betray +a weakness. Perhaps it was so; but we prayed for the end--Harry with +curses and oaths, myself in silence. There is a time when misery +becomes so acute that a man wants only deliverance and gives no thought +to the means. + +That was reaction, and gradually it lessened. And when, after we had +lain unconscious for many hours (we can hardly be said to have slept) +they came to bathe our wounds and bruises and bring us food and drink, +the water was actually grateful to our hot, suffering flesh, and we ate +almost with relish. But before they left they again bound our wrists +firmly behind us, and tightened the cords on our ankles. + +If they meditated punishment they certainly seemed to be in no hurry +about it. The hours passed endlessly by. We were cared for as +tenderly as though we had been wounded comrades instead of vanquished +foes, and though we were allowed to remain on the damp, hard rock of +the cavern, we gradually recovered from the effects of that gruesome +struggle in the doorway, and our suffering bodies began to feel +comparative comfort. + +"What the deuce are they waiting for?" Harry growled, after one of +their visits with food and water. "Why don't they end it?" + +"Most likely because a well man can appreciate torture better than a +sick one," I answered, not having seen fit to speak of it before. "You +may be sure we'll get all that's coming to us." + +"But what will they do?" + +"Heaven knows. They are capable of anything. We'll get the worst." + +There was a silence; then Harry said slowly, hesitating: + +"Paul--do you think--Desiree--" + +"I don't think--I dare not think about her," I interrupted. "And it is +our fault; we failed her. I should have put her beyond their reach, as +I promised. I have reproached myself bitterly, Hal; you need add +nothing." + +"Do you think I would? Only--there is something else. About what she +said to you. I knew that, you know." + +I was silent; he continued: + +"I knew it long ago. Do you think I am blind? And I want to say this +while I have a chance--it was uncommon good of you. To take it the way +you did, I mean." + +His simplicity made me uncomfortable, and I made no answer. Indeed, +the thing was beyond discussion; it was merely a bare fact which, when +once stated, left nothing to be said. So I refused to humor Harry's +evident desire to thrash out the topic, and abruptly changed the +subject. + +We must have lain bound in that cavern little short of a week. Our +wounds and bruises were completely healed, save one gash on Harry's +side where he had been hurled against the sharp edge of one of the +stone seats as he had been borne to the floor. But it was not painful, +and was nearly closed. And we could feel the return of strength even +through the stiffness caused by the inactivity of our muscles. + +We had given up wondering at the delay by the time it came to an end. +When they finally came and cut our bonds and led us from the cavern we +felt nothing keener than a mere curiosity as to what awaited us at the +end of our journey. For myself, there was a distinct sensation of +thankfulness that uncertainty was to end. + +They took no chances with us, but paid us the compliment of a truly +royal escort--at least, in number. There could not have been less than +two hundred of them in front, behind, and on either side, as we left +the cavern and proceeded along a narrow, winding passage to the left. + +Once, as we started, we stretched our arms high and stood on tiptoe to +relieve the stiffness of our joints; and immediately found ourselves +clutched on every side by a score of hands. + +"Gad! We seem to have made an impression!" Harry grinned. On the way +down the passage we marched with the Prussian goose-step, and felt the +blood quickening to life in our legs and arms. + +We had proceeded in this manner for some ten minutes when we rounded a +corner which I recognized at once by the peculiar circular formation of +the walls. We were on our way to the great cavern--the cavern where we +had first seen Desiree, and where later she had won the toss for our +lives and then preserved them. + +Another minute and we had reached the steps leading to the tunnel under +the lake. Here our guards seemed in doubt as to just what to do; those +in front halted and stood hesitant, and it seemed to me that as they +gazed below down the stone stair their eyes held a certain shrinking +terror. Then one came up from behind and with a commanding gesture +ordered them to descend, and they obeyed. + +Harry and I still found ourselves surrounded by a full company; there +were fifty or sixty ahead of us and at least twice that number behind. +The idea of a successful struggle was so patently impossible that I +believe it never entered our minds. + +There was further delay at the bottom of the stairs, for, as I have +said before, the tunnel was extremely narrow and it was barely possible +to walk two abreast. None of them turned back, but Harry and I could +scarcely restrain a laugh at the sight of those immediately in front of +us treading on the toes of their fellows to keep out of our way. With +all their savage brutality I believe they possessed little real bravery. + +Five minutes more and we had reached the end of the tunnel and found +ourselves at the foot of the spiral stairway. The passage was so +blocked by those ahead that we were unable to approach it; they +flattened their squatty bodies against the wall and we were forced to +squeeze our way past them. + +There we stood, barely able to make out their black forms against the +blacker wall, when the one who appeared to be the leader approached and +motioned to us to ascend. We hesitated, feeling instinctively that +this was our last chance to make a stand, weighing our fate. + +That was a dark moment, but though I did not know it, Providence was +with us. For, happening to glance downward, beneath the spiral +stair--for there was no ground immediately beneath it--I saw a faint +glimmer and a movement as though of a dim light in the black, yawning +space at my feet. (You must understand that we were now inside the +base of the column in the center of the great cavern.) + +Moved either by curiosity or a command of Providence, I stooped and +peered intently downward, and saw that the movement was the almost +imperceptible reflection of a stray ray of light from above on the +surface of water. At the time I merely wondered idly if the water came +from the same source as that in the lake outside, not thinking it +sufficiently important to mention to Harry. + +Then a question came from him: + +"No good, Paul. They are a hundred to one, and we are empty-handed. +Do we go?" + +"There is nothing else to do," I answered, and I placed my foot on the +first step of the spiral stair. + +Behind us came the guide, with a dozen others at his heels. + +The ascent seemed even longer and more arduous than before, for then we +had been propelled by keen curiosity. Twice I stumbled in the +darkness, and would have fallen if it had not been for Harry's +supporting hand behind me. But finally we reached the top and stepped +out into the glare of the great cavern. I saw the stone slab close to +behind us, noiselessly, and wondered if I should ever see it open again. + +We looked about us, and as our eyes sought the alcove in the wall +opposite, we gave a simultaneous start of surprise, and from Harry's +lips came a cry, half of gladness, half of wonder. For, seated on the +golden throne, exactly as before, was Desiree. By her side was seated +the Inca king; round them, guards and attendants. + +We gazed at her in astonishment, but she did not look at us; even at +that distance we could see that her eyes were lowered to the ground. +Harry called her name--there was no answer. Again he called, and I +caught him by the arm. + +"Don't, Hal! She can't possibly do us any good, and you may do her +harm. If she doesn't answer, it is because she has a reason." + +He was silent, but not convinced, and would probably have argued the +matter if our attention had not been arrested by a movement in the +alcove. + +The king rose and extended an arm, and the Incas who filled the seats +surrounding the cavern fell flat on their faces. + +"We don't seem to have thinned them out any," I observed. "I believe +there are actually more than before. Where do they all come from?" + +"The Lord knows!" + +"And, by the way, it is now apparent why they waited so long to attend +to us. The king naturally wanted to be present at the entertainment, +and he had to take time to recover from his little fasting operation. +But now, what in the name of--my word, the thing is to be done in all +propriety! Look!" + +The king had dropped his arm, and the Incas were again sitting as +Nature had intended they should sit, instead of on their noses. And +four attendants had approached the throne, bearing a frame of quipos. + +"So we are to have a fair trial," Harry observed. + +"With the king for judge." + +"And a hundred dead rats as evidence." + +"Right; they can't get even with us, anyway; there are only two of us. +And as far as the other is concerned, I have an idea." + +The king had left his throne and approached the outer edge of the +alcove, until he stood almost directly under the oval plate of gold +representing Pachacamac or the unknown god. + +To this he knelt and made a succession of weird, uncouth gestures that +suggested a lunatic or a traveling hypnotist. Evidently the good +Pachacamac approved whatever suggestions the royal priest communicated, +for he rose to his feet with a solemn grin and strutted majestically to +the rear, facing the frame of quipos. + +It was evident that he no longer had faith in Desiree's interpretation +of the divine will of the great Pachacamac. It is a royal privilege to +be able to judge your own enemies. + +The hand of the Child of the Sun passed slowly up and down the frame of +quipos, betraying a commendable reluctance. It touched the yellow cord +and passed on; grasped the white and dropped it. + +"The old hypocrite!" exclaimed Harry in disgust. "Does he imagine he +is playing with us?" + +Then there was an imperceptible movement, rather felt than seen, +throughout the vast assemblage, and Desiree sank back on her throne of +gold with a shudder as the king severed with the knife the black cord +of death and laid it on the ground at her feet. + +I looked at Harry; his face became slightly pale, but his eyes met mine +firmly, speaking of a fortitude unconquerable. Then we again riveted +our gaze on the alcove opposite. + +An attendant approached from the rear and stood before the golden +throne, while the king motioned to Desiree to take up the black cord. +For a moment she did not understand him, then she drew back, shaking +her head firmly. + +The king did not wait to argue the matter, but stooped himself and +picked up the cord and handed it to the attendant, who received it with +a great show of respect and retired to the rear, where a commotion was +created by its appearance. + +The judgment was passed, but what was to be the nature of the +execution? That uncertainty and the weirdness of the scene gave to the +thing an air of unreality that shut out the tragic and admitted only +the grotesque. + +I have many times in my life felt nearer to death than when I stood on +the top of that lofty column, surrounded by the thousands of squatting +dwarfs, whose black bodies reflected dully the mounting light from the +flaming urns. + +I cannot say what we expected, for we knew not what to expect. Many +conjectures entered my mind, but none of them approached the fact. +But, thinking that our guide might now return at any moment to lead us +below, and not caring to be surprised by an attack from behind on that +narrow precipice, I moved across to the rear, where I could keep my +eyes on the alcove opposite, and at the same time watch the stone slab +which closed the opening to the spiral stairway. A word to Harry and +he joined me. + +"Perhaps we can open it from above," he suggested. + +"Not likely," I answered, "and, anyway, what's the use?" + +He knelt down and tugged at it, but there was no edge on which to +obtain a purchase. The thing was immovable. + +Five minutes passed, during which there was no movement, either in the +audience on the stone seats or in the alcove. But there was an +indefinable air of expectancy on the faces of the king and those +surrounding him, and I kept a sharp eye on the stone slab. + +Another five minutes and still nothing happened. Harry called across +to Desiree, or rather began to call, for I stopped him with a jerk. It +was impossible for her to aid us, and her situation was already +sufficiently perilous. + +Then, becoming impatient, I decided to try to move the stone slab +myself. Kneeling down, I placed the palms of my hands firmly against +its surface and pressed with all my weight. + +And then I knew. Complete comprehension flashed through my brain on +the instant. I sprang to my feet, and my thought must have shown on my +face, for Harry looked at me in surprise, demanding: + +"What is it? What is it, Paul?" + +And I answered calmly: + +"We're caught, Hal. Like rats in a trap. Oh, the black devils! +Listen! We have no time to lose. Bend over and touch the palm of your +hand to the ground." + +He did so, plainly puzzled. Then he drew his hand hastily away, +exclaiming: "It's hot!" + +"Yes." I spoke quickly. "Our boots kept us from feeling it before, and +the stone doesn't throw out enough heat to feel it in the air. They've +built a fire under us in the column. The stone is thick and heats +slowly." + +"But what--that means--" + +"It means one of two things. In a few minutes this floor will be +baking hot. Then we either fry on their stone griddle or drown in the +lake. You see the distance below--only a man crazed by suffering or +one incredibly brave would take that leap. This is their little +entertainment--they expect us to dance for them." + +"But the lake! If we could take it clean--" + +I saw that the lake was our only chance, if there could be said to be +any in so desperate a situation. To be sure, there seemed to be no +possibility of escaping, even if we took the water without injury. On +every side its bank was lined with the watching Incas, and the bank +itself was so steep that to ascend it would have required wings. + +The heat began to be felt even through the soles of our heavy boots; +involuntarily I lifted one foot, then the other. I saw the Child of +the Sun in the alcove lean forward with an appreciative grin. Another +minute-- + +I jerked my wits together--never did my brain answer with better speed. +And then I remembered that flash of water I had seen under the spiral +stairway at the base of the column. I had thought at the time that it +might be connected with the lake itself. If that were so-- + +I turned to Harry and conveyed my idea to him in as few words as +possible as we walked up and down, side by side. It was impossible +longer to stand still--the stone was so hot that the bare hand could +not be held against it for an instant. I saw that he did not +comprehend what I said about the water in the column, but he did +understand my instructions, and that was all that was necessary. + +We ran to the edge of the column nearest the alcove. + +Removing our woolen knickerbockers--for better ease in the water--we +placed them on the hot stone, and on top of them our boots, which we +had also removed. Thus our feet were protected as we stood on the +extreme edge of the column, taking a deep breath for strength and nerve. + +I saw the thousands of black savages--who had been cheated of their +dance--crane their necks forward eagerly. + +I saw the king gesture excitedly to an attendant, who turned and flew +from the alcove. + +I saw Desiree spring up from the golden throne and run to the edge of +the alcove, crying to us in a tone of despair. But I did not hear her +words, for I myself was calling: + +"Take it clean, Hal. Ready--go!" + +The next instant we were flying headlong through the air toward the +surface of the lake a hundred feet below. + +Men have told me since that I never made that dive, or that I greatly +overestimated the distance, and I admit that as I look back at it now +it appears incredible. Well, they are welcome to their opinion, but I +would not advise them to try to argue the matter with Harry. + +The impact with the water all but completely stunned me; as I struck +the surface it seemed that a thousand cannons had exploded in my ears. +Down, down I went--lucky for us that the lake was apparently bottomless! + +I seemed to have gone as far below the water as I had been above it +before I was able to twist myself about and meet it with my belly. +Then, striking out with every ounce of strength in me, I made for the +surface as rapidly as possible. I had started with my lungs full of +air, but that headlong plunge had emptied them. + +I made the surface at last and looked round for Harry, calling his +name. For perhaps thirty seconds I called in vain, then there came an +unanswering shout off to the left. The urns were far above us now, and +the light on the surface of the lake was very dim, but soon I made out +Harry's head. He was swimming easily toward me, apparently unhurt. + +"All right, Hal?" + +"Right. And you?" + +"Sound as a whistle. Now make for the column." + +At the instant that we turned to swim toward the column I became aware +of a strong current in the water carrying us off to the right. It was +inexplicable, but there was no time then for speculation, and we struck +out with bold, sweeping strokes. + +The Incas had left the stone seats and advanced to the water's edge. I +could see their black, sinister faces, thousands of them, peering +intently at us through the dim light, but they made no sound. + +Once I cast a glance over my shoulder and saw Desiree standing at the +edge of the alcove with her clenched fists pressed to her throat. +Beside her stood the Child of the Sun. Harry, too, saw her and sent +her a shout of farewell, but there was no answer. + +We were now less than thirty feet from the column. Its jeweled sides +sparkled and shone before us; looking up, our eyes were dazzled. +Something struck the water near me. I glanced to the right and saw +what moved me to hasten my stroke and call to Harry to do likewise. + +The black devils were increasing the fun by hurling stones at us from +the bank--apparently with the kind approval of Pachacamac. + +As we neared the column the current which tended to carry us to the +right became stronger, but still we seemed not to be approaching the +bank. What could it mean? The struggle against it was fast taking our +strength. + +Looking up, I saw that we had swung round to the other side of the +column--it was between us and the alcove. Then I understood. We were +in a whirlpool, ever increasing in force, which was carrying us swiftly +in a circle from left to right and approaching the column. + +I called a swift warning to Harry, who was some ten feet to my left, +and he answered that he understood. The stones from the bank were +falling thick about us now; one struck me on the shoulder, turning me +half round. + +The current became swifter--so swift that we were almost helpless +against it and were carried around and around the column, which was but +a few feet away. And always complete silence. + +Nearer and nearer we were carried, till, thrusting out my arm, the tips +of my fingers brushed against the side of the column. The water +whirled with the rapidity of a mill-stream; ten more seconds and our +brains would have been dashed against the unyielding stone. It was now +but half an arm's length away. I kept thrusting out my arm in a wild +endeavor to avoid it. + +Suddenly my outstretched hand found a purchase in a break in the wall, +but the force of the water tore it loose and swept me away. But when I +reached the same spot again I thrust out both hands, and, finding the +edge, held on desperately. The next instant Harry's body was swept +against mine, doubling the strain on my fingers. + +"The column!" I gasped. "Inside--through the wall--opening--I am +holding--" + +He understood, and the next moment he, too, had grasped the edge. +Together we pulled ourselves, little by little, toward the opening; for +our strength was nearly spent, and the force of the maelstrom was nigh +irresistible. + +It was as I had thought. The base of the column consisted merely of +two massive pillars, some twelve feet in length and circular in shape. +The water rushed in through each of the two openings thus left, and +inside of the column was the center of the whirlpool, sucking the water +from both sides. The water I had seen; I had not counted on the +whirlpool. + +We had pulled ourselves round till our bodies rested against the edge +of the opening, clinging to either side. Inside all was blackness, but +we could judge of the fury of the maelstrom by the force of the current +outside. Stones hurled by the Incas were striking against the sides of +the column and in the water near us. + +We were being hunted from life like dogs, and a hot, unreasoning anger +surged through my brain--anger at the grinning savages on the bank, at +the whirling black water, at Harry, at myself. + +Whichever way we looked was death, and none worth choosing. + +"I can't hold--much longer," Harry gasped. "What's the use--old +man--Paul--come--I'm going--" + +He disappeared into the black, furious whirlpool with that word. The +next instant my own fingers were torn from their hold by a sudden jerk +of the water, and I followed. + + + +Chapter XIV. + +A FISHING PARTY. + +Water, when whirling rapidly, has a keen distaste for any foreign +object; but when once the surface breaks, that very repulsion seems to +multiply the indescribable fury with which it endeavors to bury the +object beneath its center. + +Once in the whirlpool, I was carried in a swift circle round its +surface for what seemed an age, and I think could not have been less +than eight or ten seconds in reality. Then suddenly I was turned +completely over, my limbs seemed to be torn from my body, there was a +deafening roar in my ears, and a crushing weight pressed against me +from every side. + +Any effort of any kind was worse than useless, as well as impossible; +indeed, I could hardly have been said to be conscious, except for the +fact that I retained sufficient volition to avoid breathing or +swallowing the water. + +The pressure against my body was terrific; I wondered vaguely why life +had not departed, since--as I supposed--there was not a whole bone left +in my body. My head was bursting with dizziness and pain; my breast +was a furnace of torture. + +Suddenly the pressure lessened and the whirling movement gradually +ceased, but still the current carried me on. I struck out wildly with +both arms--in an effort, I suppose, to grasp the proverbial straw. + +I found no straw, but something better--space. Instinct led the fight +to reach it with my head to get air, but the swiftness of the current +carried me again beneath the surface. My arms seemed powerless; I was +unable to direct them. + +I hardly know what happened after that. A feeling of most intense +suffocation in my chest; a relaxation of all my muscles; a sensation of +light in my smarting eyes; a gentle pressure from the water beneath, +like the rising gait of a saddle-horse; and suddenly, without knowing +why or when or how, I found myself lying on hard ground, gasping, +choking, sputtering, not far from death, but nearer to life than I had +thought ever to be again. + +I lay for several minutes unable to move; then my brain awoke and +called for life. I twisted over on my face, and moved my arms out and +in with the motion of a swimmer; the most exquisite pains shot through +my chest and abdomen. My head weighed tons. + +Water ran from my nose and mouth in gurgling streams. The roaring, +scarcely abated, pounded in my ears. I was telling myself over and +over with a most intense earnestness: "But if I were really dead I +shouldn't be able to move." It appears that the first sense to leave a +drowning man, and the last to return, is the sense of humor. + +In another ten minutes, having rid my lungs of the water that had +filled them, I felt no pain and but little fatigue. My head was dizzy, +and there was still a feeling of oppression on my chest; but otherwise +I was little the worse for wear. I twisted carefully over on my side +and took note of my surroundings. + +I lay on a narrow ledge of rock at the entrance to a huge cavern. Not +two feet below rushed the stream which had carried me; it came down +through an opening in the wall at a sharp angle with tremendous +velocity, and must have hurled me like a cork from its foaming surface. +Below, it emptied into a lake which nearly filled the cavern, some +hundreds of yards in diameter. Rough boulders and narrow ledges +surrounded it on every side. + +This I saw in time, but the first thing that caught my eye was no work +of nature. Fastened to the wall on the opposite side of the cavern, +casting a dim, flickering light throughout its vast space, were two +golden, flaming urns. + +It was not fear, but a sort of nausea, that assailed me as I realized +that I was still in the domain of the Incas. + +The ledge on which I lay was exposed to view from nearly every point of +the cavern, and the sight of those urns caused me to make a swift +decision to leave it without delay. It was wet and slippery and not +over three feet in width; I rose to my feet cautiously, having no +appetite for another ducking. + +At a distance of several feet lay another ledge, broad and level, at +the farther end of which rose a massive boulder. I cleared the gap +with a leap, barely made my footing, and passed behind the boulder +through a crevice just wide enough to admit my body. + +Then through a narrow lane onto another ledge, and from that I found my +way into a dark recess which gave assurance at least of temporary +safety. The sides of the cavern were a veritable maze of boulders, +sloping ledges, and narrow crevices. Nature here scarcely seemed to +have known what to do with herself. + +I seated myself on a bit of projecting limestone, still wet and +shivering. I had no boots nor trousers; my feet were bruised and +swollen, and my flannel shirt and woolen underwear were but scanty +protection against the chill air, damp as they were. Also, I seemed to +feel a cold draft circling about me, and was convinced of the fact by +the flickering flames in the golden urns. + +Desolate, indeed, for I gave Harry up as lost. The thought generated +no particular feeling in me; death, by force of contrast, may even +appear agreeable; and I told myself that Harry had been favored of the +gods. + +And there I sat in the half-darkness, shrinking from a danger of whose +existence I was not certain, clinging miserably to the little that was +left of what the world of sunshine had known as Paul Lamar, gentleman, +scientist, and connoisseur of life; sans philosophy, sans hope, +and--sans-culotte. + +But the senses remain; and suddenly I became aware of a movement in the +water of the lake. It was as though an immense trout had leaped and +split the surface. This was repeated several times, and was followed +by a rhythmic sound like the regular splash of many oars. Then silence. + +I peered intently forth from my corner in the recess, but could see +nothing, and finally gave it up. + +As the minutes passed by my discomfort increased and stiffness began to +take my joints. I realized the necessity of motion, but lacked the +will, and sat in a sort of dumb, miserable apathy. This, I should say, +for an hour; then I saw something that roused me. + +I had before noticed that on the side of the cavern almost directly +opposite me, under the flaming urns, there was a ledge some ten or +twelve feet broad and easily a hundred in length. It met the surface +of the lake at an easy, gradual slope. In the rear, exactly between +the two urns, could be seen the dark mouth of a passage, evidently +leading directly away from the cavern. + +Out of this passage there suddenly appeared the forms of two Incas. In +the hand of each was what appeared to be a long spear--I had evidently +been mistaken in my presumption of their ignorance of weapons. + +They walked to one end of the long ledge and dragged out into the light +an object with a flat surface some six feet square. This they launched +on the surface of the lake; then embarked on it, placing their spears +by their sides and taking up, instead, two broad, short oars. With +these they began to paddle their perilous craft toward the center of +the lake with short, careful strokes. + +About a hundred feet from the shore they ceased paddling and exchanged +the oars for their spears, and stood motionless and silent, waiting, +apparently, for nothing. + +I, also, remained motionless, watching them in dull curiosity. There +was little danger of being seen; for, aside from the darkness of my +corner, which probably would have been no hindrance to them, a +projecting ledge partly screened my body from view. + +The wait was not a long one, and when it ended things happened with so +startling a suddenness that I scarcely grasped the details. + +There was a loud splash in the water like that I had heard before, a +swift ripple on the surface of the lake, and simultaneously the two +Indians lunged with their spears, which flew to their mark with deadly +accuracy. I had not before noticed the thongs, one end of which was +fastened to the shaft of the spear and the other about the waist of the +savage. + +There followed a battle royal. Whatever the thing was that had felt +the spears, it certainly lost no time in showing its resentment. It +thrashed the water into furious waves until I momentarily expected the +raft to be swamped. + +One Inca stood on the farther edge of the craft desperately plying an +oar; the other tugged lustily at the spear-thongs. I could see a +black, twisting form leap from the water directly toward the raft, and +the oarsman barely drew from under before it fell. It struck the +corner of the raft, which tipped perilously. + +That appeared to have been a final effort, for there the battle ended. +The oarsman made quickly for the shore, paddling with remarkable +dexterity and swiftness, while the other stood braced, holding firmly +to the spear-thongs. Another minute and they had leaped upon the +ledge, drawing the raft after them, and, by tugging together on the +lines, had landed their victim of the deep. + +It appeared to be a large black fish of a shape I had never before +seen. But it claimed little of my attention; my eye was on the two +spears which had been drawn from the still quivering body and which now +lay on the ground well away from the water's edge, while the two Incas +were dragging their catch toward the mouth of the passage leading from +the cavern. + +I wanted those spears. I did not stop to ask myself what I intended to +do with them; if I had I would probably have been hard put to it for an +answer. But I wanted them, and I sat in my dark corner gazing at them +with greedy eyes. + +The Incas had disappeared in the passage. + +Finally I rose and began to search for an exit from the recess in which +I had hidden myself. At first there appeared to be none, but at length +I found a small crevice between two boulders in the rear. Into this I +squeezed my body with some difficulty. + +The rock pressed tightly against me on both sides, and the sharp +corners bruised my body, but I wormed my way through for a distance of +fifteen or twenty feet. Then the crevice opened abruptly, and I found +myself on a broad ledge ending apparently in space. I advanced +cautiously to its edge, but intervening boulders shut off the light, +and I could see no ground below. + +Throwing prudence to the winds, I let myself over the outermost corner, +hung for a moment by my hands, and dropped. My feet touched ground +almost instantly--the supposedly perilous fall amounted to something +like twelve inches. + +I turned round, feeling a little foolish, and saw that from where I +stood the ledge and part of the lake were in full view. I could see +the spears still lying where they had been thrown down. + +But as I looked the two Incas emerged from the passage. They picked up +the spears, walked to the raft, and again launched it and paddled +toward the center of the lake. + +I thought, "Here is my chance; I must make that ledge before they +return," and I started forward so precipitately that I ran head on into +a massive boulder and got badly stunned for my pains. Half dazed, I +went on, groping my way through the semidarkness. + +The trail was one to try a llama. I climbed boulders and leaped across +chasms and clung to narrow, slippery edges with my finger-nails. +Several times I narrowly escaped dumping myself into the lake, and half +the time I was in plain view of the Incas on the raft. + +My hands and feet were bruised and bleeding, and I had bumped into +walls and boulders so often that I was surprised when I took a step +without getting a blow. I wanted those spears. + +I found myself finally within a few yards of my destination. A narrow +crevice led from where I stood directly to the ledge from which the +Incas had embarked. It was now necessary to wait till they returned to +the shore, and I drew back into the darkness of a near-by corner and +stood motionless. + +They were still on the raft in the middle of the lake, waiting, spear +in hand. I watched them in furious impatience, on the border of mania. + +Suddenly I saw a dark, crouching form outlined against a boulder not +ten feet away from where I stood. The form was human, but in some way +unlike the Incas I had seen. I could not see its face, but the +alertness suggested by its attitude made me certain that I had been +discovered. + +Vaguely I felt myself surrounded on every side; I seemed to feel eyes +gazing unseen from every direction, but I could not force myself to +search the darkness; my heart rose to my throat and choked me, and I +stood absolutely powerless to make a sound or movement, gazing in a +sort of dumb fascination at that silent, crouching figure. + +Suddenly it crouched lower still against the black background of the +boulder. + +"Another second and he will be at my throat," I thought--but I stood +still, unable to move. + +But the figure did not spring. Instead, it suddenly straightened up to +almost twice the height of an Inca, and I caught a glimpse of a white +face and ragged, clinging garments. + +"Harry!" I whispered. I wonder yet that it was not a shout. + +"Thank God!" came his voice, also in a whisper; and in another moment +he had reached my side. + +A hurried word or two--there was no time for more--and I pointed to the +Incas on the raft, saying: "We want those spears." + +"I was after them," he grinned. "What shall we do?" + +"There's no use taking them while the Incas are away," I replied, +"because they would soon return and find them gone. Surely we can +handle two of them." + +As I spoke there came a sound from the lake--a sudden loud splash +followed by a commotion in the water. I looked around the corner of +the boulder and saw that the spears again found their mark. + +"Come," I whispered, and began to pick my way toward the ledge. + +Harry followed close at my heels. It was easier here, and we soon +found ourselves close to the shore of the lake, with a smooth stretch +of rock between us and the fisherman's landing-place. The urns, whose +light was quite sufficient here, were about fifty feet to the right and +rear. + +The Incas had made their kill and were paddling for the shore. As they +came near, Harry and I sank back against the boulder, which extended to +the boundary of the ledge. Soon the raft was beached and pulled well +away from the water, and the fish--I was amazed at its size--followed. + +They drew forth the spears and laid them on the ground, as they had +done formerly; and, laying hold on the immense fish, still floundering +ponderously about, began to drag it toward the mouth of the passage. + +"Now," whispered Harry, and as he stood close at my side I could feel +his body draw together for the spring. + +I laid a hand on his arm. + +"Not yet. Others may be waiting for them in the passage. Wait till +they return." + +In a few minutes they reappeared in the light of the flaming urns. I +waited till they had advanced half-way to the water's edge, some thirty +feet away. Then I whispered to Harry: "You for the left, me for the +right," and released my hold on his arm, and the next instant we were +bounding furiously across the ledge. + +Taken by surprise, the Incas offered no resistance whatever. The +momentum of our assault carried them to the ground; their heads struck +the hard granite with fearful force and they lay stunned. + +Harry, kneeling over them, looked up at me with a question in his eyes. + +"The lake," said I, for it was no time for squeamishness. + +Our friend the king thought us dead, and we wanted no witnesses that we +had returned to life. We laid hold of the unconscious bodies, dragged +them to the edge of the lake, and pushed them in. The shock of the +cold water brought one of them to life, and he started to swim, and +we--well, we did what had to be done. + +We had our spears. I examined them curiously. + +The head appeared to be of copper and the shaft was a long, thin rod of +the same material. But when I tried it against a stone and saw its +hardness I found that it was much less soft, and consequently more +effective, than copper would have been. That those underground savages +had succeeded in combining metals was incredible, but there was the +evidence; and, besides, it may have been a trick of nature herself. + +The point was some six inches long and very sharp. It was set on the +shaft in a wedge, and bound with thin, tough strips of hide. +Altogether, a weapon not to be laughed at. + +We carried the spears, the raft, and the oars behind a large boulder to +the left of the ledge with considerable difficulty. The two latter not +because we expected them to be of any service, but in order not to +leave any trace of our presence, for if any searchers came and found +nothing they could know nothing. + +We expected them to arrive at any moment, and we waited for hours. We +had about given up watching from our vantage point behind the boulder +when two Incas appeared at the mouth of the passage. But they brought +only oil to fill the urns, and after performing this duty departed, +without a glance at the lake or any exhibition of surprise at the +absence of their fellows. + +Every now and then there was a commotion in some part of the lake, and +we could occasionally see a black, glistening body leap into the air +and fall again into the water. + +"I'm hungry," Harry announced suddenly. "I wonder if we couldn't turn +the trick on that raft ourselves?" + +The same thought had occurred to me, but Harry's impulsiveness had made +me fearful of expressing it. I hesitated. + +"We've got to do something," he continued. + +I suggested that it might be best to wait another hour or two. + +"And why? Now is as good a time as any. If we intend to find +Desiree--" + +"In the name of Heaven, how can we?" I interrupted. + +"You don't mean to say you don't intend to try?" he exclaimed. + +"Hal, I don't know. In the first place, it's impossible. And where +could we take her and what could we do--in short, what's the use? Why +the deuce should we prolong the thing any further? + +"In the world I refused to struggle because nothing tempted me; in this +infernal hole I have fought when there was nothing to fight for. If +civilization held no prize worth an effort, why should I exert myself +to preserve the life of a rat? Faugh! It's sickening! I wondered why +I wanted those spears. Now I know. I have an idea I'm going to be +coward enough to use one--or enough of a philosopher." + +"Paul, that isn't like you." + +"On the contrary, it is consistent with my whole life. I have never +been overly keen about it. To end it in a hole like this--well, that +isn't exactly what I expected; but it is all one--after. Understand +me, Hal; I don't want to desert you; haven't I stuck? And I would +still if there were the slightest possible chance. Where can we go? +What can we do?" + +There was a long silence; then Harry's voice came calmly: + +"I can stay in the game. You call yourself a philosopher. I won't +quarrel about it, but the world would call you a quitter. Whichever it +is, it's not for me. I stay in the game. I'm going to find Desiree if +I can, and, by the Lord, some day I'm going to cock my feet up on the +fender at the Midlothian and make 'em open their mouths and call me a +liar!" + +"A worthy ambition." + +"My own. And, Paul, you can't--you're not a quitter." + +"Personally, yes. If I were here alone, Hal"--I picked up one of the +spears and passed my palm over its sharp point--"I would quit cold. +But not--not with you. I can't share your enthusiasm, but I'll go +fifty-fifty on the rest of it, including the fender--when we see it." + +"That's the talk, old man. I knew you would." + +"But understand me. I expect nothing. It's all rot. If by any wild +chance we should pull out in the end I'll admit you were right. But I +eat under compulsion, and I fight for you. You're the leader unless +you ask my advice." + +"And I begin right now," said Harry with a grin. "First, to get +Desiree. What about it?" + +We discussed plans all the way from the impossible to the miraculous +and arrived nowhere. One thing only we decided--that before we tried +to find our way back to the great cavern and the royal apartments we +would lay in a supply of food and cache it among the boulders and +ledges where we then were. For if ever a place were designed for a +successful defense by two men against thousands it was that one. And +we had the spears. + +Still no one had appeared in the cavern, and we decided to wait no +longer. We carried the raft back to the ledge. It was fairly light, +being made of hide stretched tightly across stringers of bone, but was +exceedingly clumsy. Once Harry fell, and the thing nearly toppled over +into the lake with him on top of it; but I caught his arm just in time. + +Another trip for the oars and spears, and everything was ready. We +launched the raft awkwardly, nearly shipping it beneath; but finally +got it afloat with ourselves aboard. We had fastened the loose ends of +the spear-thongs about our waists. + +I think that raft was the craziest thing that ever touched water. It +was a most excellent diver, but was in profound ignorance of the first +principle of the art of floating. + +After a quarter of an hour of experimentation we found that by standing +exactly in a certain position, one on each side and paddling with one +hand, it was possible to keep fairly level. If either of us shifted +his foot a fraction of an inch the thing ducked like a stone. + +We finally got out a hundred feet or so and ceased paddling. Then, +exchanging our oars for the spears, we waited. + +The surface of the lake was perfectly still, save for a barely +perceptible ripple, caused no doubt by the undercurrent which was fed +by the stream at the opposite side. The urns were so far away that the +light was very dim; no better than half darkness. The silence was +broken by the sound of the rushing stream. + +Suddenly the raft swayed gently; there was a parting of the water not a +foot away toward the front, and then--well, the ensuing events happened +so quickly that their order is uncertain. + +A black form arose from the water with a leap like lightning and landed +squarely on the raft, which proceeded to perform its favorite dive. It +would have done so with much less persuasion, for the fish was a +monster--it appeared to me at that moment to be twenty feet long. + +On the instant, as the raft capsized, Harry and I lunged with our +spears, tumbling forward and landing on each other and on top of the +fish. I felt my spear sinking into the soft fish almost without +resistance. + +The raft slipped from under, and we found ourselves floundering in the +water. + +I have said the spear-thongs were fastened about our waists. +Otherwise, we would have let the fish go; but we could hardly allow him +to take us along. That is, we didn't want to allow it; but we soon +found that we had nothing to say in the matter. Before we had time to +set ourselves to stroke we were being towed as though we had been corks +toward the opposite shore. + +But it was soon over, handicapped as he was by four feet of spears in +his body. We felt the pull lessen and twisted ourselves about, and in +another minute had caught the water with a steady dog-stroke and were +holding our own. Soon we made headway, but it was killing work. + +"He weighs a thousand tons," panted Harry, and I nodded. + +Pulling and puffing side by side, we gradually neared the center of the +lake, passed it, and approached the ledge. We were well-nigh exhausted +when we finally touched bottom and were able to stand erect. + +Hauling the fish onto the ledge, we no longer wondered at his strength. +He could not have been an ounce under four hundred pounds, and was +fully seven feet long. One of the spears ran through the gills; the +other was in his middle, just below the backbone. We got them out with +some difficulty and rolled him up high and dry. + +We straightened to return for the spears which we had left at the edge +of the water. + +"He's got a hide like an elephant," said Harry. "What can we skin him +with?" + +But I did not answer. + +I was gazing straight ahead at the mouth of the passage where stood two +Incas, spear in hand, returning my gaze stolidly. + + + +Chapter XV. + +THE RESCUE. + +I was quick to act, but the Incas were quicker still. I turned to run +for our spears, and was halted by a cry of warning from Harry, who had +wheeled like a flash at my quick movement. I turned barely in time to +see the Incas draw back their powerful arms, then lunge forward, the +spears shooting from their hands. + +I leaped aside; something struck my leg; I stooped swiftly and grasped +the spear-thong before there was time for the Inca to recover and jerk +it out of my reach. The other end was fastened about his waist; I had +him, and giving an instant for a glance at Harry, saw that he had +adopted the same tactics as myself. + +Seeing that escape was impossible, they dashed straight at us. + +It wasn't much of a fight. One came at me with his head lowered like a +charging bull; I sidestepped easily and floored him with a single blow. +He scrambled to his feet, but by that time I had recovered the spear +and had it ready for him. + +I waited until he was quite close, then let him have it full in the +chest. The fool literally ran himself through, hurling himself on the +sharp point in a brutal frenzy. He lay on his back, quite still, with +the spear-head buried in his chest and the shaft sticking straight up +in the air. + +I turned to Harry, and in spite of myself smiled at what I saw. He +stood with his right arm upraised, holding his spear ready. His left +foot was placed well and gracefully forward, and his body bent to one +side like the classic javelin-thrower. And ten feet in front of him +the other Inca had fallen flat on his face on the ground with arms +extended in mute supplication for quarter. + +"What shall I do?" asked Harry. "Let him have it?" + +"Can you?" + +"The fact is, no. Look at the poor beggar--scared silly. But we can't +let him go." + +It was really a question. Mercy and murder were alike impossible. We +finally compromised by binding his wrists and ankles and trussing him +up behind, using a portion of one of the spear-thongs for the purpose, +and gagging him. Then we carried him behind a large boulder some +distance from the ledge and tucked him away in a dark corner. + +"And when we get back--if we ever do--we can turn him loose," said +Harry. + +"In that case I wouldn't give much for his chances of a happy +existence," I observed. + +We wasted no time after that, for we wanted no more interruptions. +Some fifteen precious minutes we lost trying to withdraw the spear I +had buried in the body of the Inca, but the thing had become wedged +between two ribs and refused to come out. Finally we gave it up and +threw the corpse in the lake. + +We then removed the oars and spears and raft--which had floated so near +to the ledge that we had no difficulty in recovering it--to our +hiding-place, and last we tackled our fish. + +It was a task for half a dozen men, but we dared not remain on the +ledge to skin him and cut him up. After an hour of exertion and toil +that left us completely exhausted, we managed to get him behind a large +boulder to the left of the ledge, but it was impossible to carry him to +the place we had selected, which could be reached only by passing +through a narrow crevice. + +The only knives we had were the points of the spears, but they served +after a fashion, and in another hour we had him skinned and pretty well +separated. He was meaty and sweet. We discovered that with the first +opportunity, for we were hungry as wolves. Nor did we waste much time +bewailing our lack of a fire, for we had lived so long on dried stuff +that the opposite extreme was rather pleasant than otherwise. + +We tore him into strips as neatly as possible, stowing them away +beneath a ledge, a spot kept cool by the water but a foot below. + +"That'll be good for a month," said Harry. "And there's more where +that came from. And now--" + +I understood, and I answered simply: "I'm ready." + +We had but few preparations to make. The solidest parts of the fish +which we had laid aside we now strapped together with one of the extra +spear-thongs and slung them on our backs. We secreted the oars and +raft and the extra spear as snugly as possible. + +Then, having filled ourselves with raw fish and a last hearty drink +from the lake, we each took a spear and started on a search wilder than +any ever undertaken by Amadis of Gaul or Don Quixote himself. Even the +Bachelor of Salamanca, in his saddest plight, did not present so +outrageous an appearance to the eye as we. We wore more clothing than +the Incas, which is the most that can be said for us. + +We were unable to even guess at the direction we should take; but that +was settled for us when we found that there were but two exits from the +cavern. One led through the boulders and crevices to a passage full of +twists and turns and strewn with rocks, almost impassable; the other +was that through which the Incas had entered. We chose the latter. + +Fifty feet from the cavern we found ourselves in darkness. I stopped +short. + +"Harry, this is impossible. We cannot mark our way." + +"But what can we do?" + +"Carry one of those urns." + +"Likely! They'd spot us before we even got started." + +"Well--let them." + +"No. You're in for the finish. I know that. I want to find Desiree. +And we'll find her. After that, if nothing else is left, I'll be with +you." + +"But I don't want a thousand of those brutes falling on us in the dark. +If they would end it I wouldn't care." + +"Keep your spear ready." + +I had given him my promise, so I pushed on at his side. I had no +stomach for it. In a fight I can avoid disgracing myself, because it +is necessary; but why seek it when there is nothing to be gained? Thus +I reflected, but I pushed on at Harry's side. + +As he had said, I was in for the finish. What I feared was to be taken +again by the Incas unseen in the darkness. But that fear was soon +removed when I found that we could see easily some thirty or forty feet +ahead--enough for a warning in case of attack. + +Our flannel shirts and woolen undergarments hung from us in rags and +tatters. Our feet were bare and bruised and swollen. Our faces were +covered with a thick, matted growth of hair. Placed side by side with +the Incas it is a question which of us would have been judged the most +terrifying spectacles by an impartial observer. + +I don't think either of us realized the extreme foolhardiness of that +expedition. The passage was open and unobstructed, and since it +appeared to be the only way to their fishing-ground, was certain to be +well traveled. The alarm once given, there was no possible chance for +us. + +We sought the royal apartments. Those we knew to be on a level some +forty or fifty feet below the surface of the great cavern, at the foot +of the flight of steps which led to the tunnel to the base of the +column. I had counted ninety-six of those steps, and allowing an +average height of six inches, they represented a distance of +forty-eight feet. + +How far the whirlpool and the stream which it fed had carried us +downward we did not know, but we estimated it at one hundred feet. +That calculation left us still fifty feet below the level of the royal +apartments. + +But we soon found that in this we were mistaken. We had advanced for +perhaps a quarter of an hour without incident when the passage came to +an abrupt end. To the right was an irregular, twisting lane that +disappeared around a corner almost before it started; to the left a +wide and straight passage, sloping gently upward. We took the latter. + +We had followed this for about a hundred yards when we saw a light +ahead. Caution was useless; the passage was straight and unbroken and +only luck could save us from discovery. We pushed on, and soon stood +directly within the light which came from an apartment adjoining the +passage. It was not that which we sought, however, and we gave it +barely a glance before we turned to the right down a cross passage, +finding ourselves again in darkness. + +Soon another light appeared. We approached. It came from a doorway +leading into an apartment some twenty feet square. It was empty, and +we entered. + +There were two flaming urns fastened to the wall above a granite couch. +Stone seats were placed here and there about the room. The walls were +studded with spots of gold to a height of four or five feet. + +We stopped short, gazing about us. + +"It looks like--" Harry whispered, and then exclaimed: "It is! See, +here is where we took the blocks from this seat!" + +So it was. We were in the room where we had imprisoned the Inca king +and where we ourselves had been imprisoned with Desiree. + +"She said her room was to the right of this," whispered Harry +excitedly. "What luck! If only--" + +He left the sentence unfinished, but I understood his fear. And with +me there was even no doubt; I had little hope of finding Desiree, and +was sorry, for Harry's sake, that we had been so far successful. + +Again we sought the passage. A little farther on it was crossed by +another, running at right angles in both directions. But to the right +there was nothing but darkness, and we turned to the left, where, some +distance ahead, we could see a light evidently proceeding from a +doorway similar to the one we had just left. + +We went rapidly, but our feet made scarcely any sound on the granite +floor. Still we were incautious, and it was purely by luck that I +glanced ahead and discovered that which made me jerk Harry violently +back and flatten myself against the wall. + +"What is it?" he whispered. + +In silence I pointed with my finger to where two Incas stood in the +passage ahead of us, just without the patch of light from the doorway, +which they were facing. They made no movement; we were as yet +undiscovered. They were about a hundred feet away from where we stood. + +"Then she's here!" whispered Harry. "They are on guard." + +I nodded; I had had the same thought. + +There was no time to lose; at any moment that they should chance to +glance in our direction they were certain to see us. I whispered +hastily and briefly to Harry. He nodded. + +The next instant we were advancing slowly and noiselessly, hugging the +wall. We carried our spears ready, though we did not mean to use them, +for a miss would have meant an alarm. + +"If she is alone!" I was saying within myself, almost a prayer, when +suddenly one of the Incas turned, facing us squarely, and gave a start +of surprise. We leaped forward. + +Half a dozen bounds and we were upon them, before they had had time to +realize their danger or move to escape it. With a ferocity taught us +by the Incas themselves we gripped their throats and bore them to the +floor. + +No time then for the decencies; we had work to do, and we crushed and +pounded their lives out against the stone floor. There had not been a +sound. They quivered and lay still; and then, looking up at some +slight sound in the doorway, we saw Desiree. + +She stood in the doorway, regarding us with an expression of terror +that I did not at first understand; then suddenly I realized that, +having seen us disappear beneath the surface of the take after our dive +from the column, she had thought us dead. + +"Bon Dieu!" she exclaimed in a hollow voice of horror. "This, too! Do +you come, messieurs?" + +"For you," I answered. "We are flesh and bone, Desiree, though in ill +repair. We have come for you." + +"Paul! Harry, is it really you?" + +Belief crept into her eyes, but nothing more, and she stood gazing at +us curiously. Harry had sprung to her side; she did not move as he +embraced her. + +"Are you alone?" + +"Yes." + +"Good. Here, Harry--quick! Help me. Stand aside, Desiree." + +We carried the bodies of the two Incas within the room and deposited +them in a corner. Then I ran and brought the spears, which we had +dropped when we attacked the Incas. Desiree stood just within the +doorway, seemingly half dazed. + +"Come," I said; "there is no time to be lost. Come!" + +"Where?" She did not move. + +"With us. Isn't that enough? Do you want to stay here?" + +She shuddered violently. + +"You don't know--what has happened. I want to die. Where are you +going to take me?" + +"Desiree," Harry burst out, "for Heaven's sake, come! Must we carry +you?" + +He grasped her arm. + +Then she moved and appeared to acquiesce. I started ahead; Harry +brought up the rear, with an arm round Desiree's shoulders. She +started once more to speak, but I wheeled sharply with a command for +silence, and she obeyed. + +We reached the turn in the corridor and passed to the right, moving as +swiftly and noiselessly as possible. Ahead of us was the light from +the doorway of the room in which we had formerly been imprisoned. + +We had nearly reached it when I saw, some distance down the corridor, +moving forms. The light was very dim, but there appeared to be a great +many of them. + +I turned, with a swift gesture to Harry and Desiree to follow, and +dashed forward to the light and through the doorway into the room. +Discovery was inevitable, I thought, in any event, but it was better to +meet them at the door to the room than in the open passage. And we had +our spears. + +But by a rare stroke of luck we had not been seen. As we stood within +the room on either side of the doorway, out of the line of view from +the corridor, we heard the patter of many footsteps approaching. + +They neared the doorway, and I glanced at Harry, pointing to his spear +significantly. He gave me a nod of understanding. Let them come; we +would not again fall into their hands alive. + +The footsteps sounded just without the doorway; I stood tense and +alert, with spear ready, expecting a rush momentarily. Then they +passed, passed altogether, and receded down the corridor in the +direction whence we had come. I wanted to glance out at their number, +but dared not. We stood still till all was again perfectly silent. + +Then Desiree spoke in a whisper: + +"It is useless; we are lost. That was the king. He is going to my +room. In ten seconds he will be there and find me gone." + +There was only one thing to do, and I wasted no time in discussing it. +A swift command to Harry, and we dashed from the doorway and down the +corridor to the left, each holding an arm of Desiree. But she needed +little of our assistance; the presence of the Inca king seemed to have +inspired her with a boundless terror, and she flew, rather than ran, +between us. + +We reached the bend in the passage, and just beyond it the light--the +first one we had seen on our way in. I had our route marked on my +memory with complete distinctness. Soon we found ourselves in the +wide, sloping passage that carried us to the level below, and in +another five seconds had reached its end and the beginning of the last +stretch. + +At the turn Harry stumbled and fell flat, dragging Desiree to her +knees. I lifted her, and he sprang to his feet unhurt. + +She was panting heavily. Harry had dropped his spear in the fall, and +we wasted a precious minute searching for it in the darkness, finally +finding it where it had slid, some twenty feet ahead. Again we dashed +forward. + +A light appeared ahead in the distance, dim but unmistakable--the light +of the urns in the cavern for which we were headed. Suddenly Desiree +faltered and would have fallen but for our supporting arms. + +"Courage!" I breathed. "We are near the end." + +She stopped short and sank to the ground. + +"It is useless," she gasped. "I hurt my ankle when I fell. I can go +no farther. Leave me!" + +Harry and I with one impulse stooped over to pick her up, and as we did +so she fainted away in our arms. We were then but a few hundred feet +from our goal; the light from the urns could be plainly seen gleaming +on the broad ledge by the lake. + +Suddenly the sound of many footsteps came from behind. I turned +quickly, but the passage was too dark. I could see nothing. The sound +came closer and closer; there seemed to be many of them, advancing +swiftly. I straightened and raised my spear. + +Harry grasped my arm. + +"Not yet!" he cried. "One more try; we can make it." + +He thrust his spear into my hand, and in another instant had thrown +Desiree's unconscious body over his shoulder and was staggering forward +toward the cavern. I followed, while the sound of the footsteps behind +grew louder and louder. + +We neared the end of the passage; we reached it; we were on the ledge. +Even with Desiree for a burden, Harry moved so swiftly that I found it +difficult to keep up with him. The strength of a god was in him, which +was but just, since he had his goddess in his arms. + +On the ledge, near the edge of the water, stood two Incas. They turned +at our approach and rushed at us. Unlucky for them, for Harry's +example had fired my brain and put the strength of a giant in me. + +To this day I don't know what followed--whether I used my spear or my +fists or my head. I know only that I leaped at them in irresistible +fury and left them stretched on the ground before they had reached +Harry or halted him. + +We crossed the ledge and made for the boulders to the left. The +crevice which led to our hiding-place was too narrow for Harry and his +burden. I sprang forward and grasped Desiree's shoulders; he held her +ankles, and we got her through to the ledge beyond. + +Then I leaped back through the crevice, and barely in time. As I +looked out a black, rushing horde emerged from the passage and dashed +across the ledge toward us. I stood at the entrance to the narrow +crevice, spear in hand. + +They appeared to have no sense of the fact that my position was +impregnable, but dashed blindly at me. The crevice in which I stood +and which was the only way through to the ledge where Harry had taken +Desiree, was not more than two feet wide. With unarmed savages for +foes, one man could have held it against a million. + +But they came and I met them. I stood within the crevice, some three +or four feet from its end, and when one appeared in the opening I let +him have the spear. Another rushed in and fell on top of the first. + +As I say, they appeared to be deprived of the power to reason. In five +minutes the mouth of the crevice was completely choked with bodies, +some, who were merely wounded, struggling and squirming to extricate +themselves from the bloody tangle. + +I heard Harry's voice at my back: + +"How about it? Want some help?" + +"Not unless they find some gunpowder," I answered. "The idiots eat +death as though it were candy. We're safe; they can never break +through here." + +"Are they still coming?" + +"They can't; they've blocked the way with their smelly black carcasses. +How is Desiree?" + +"Better; she's awake. I've been bathing her ankle with cold water. +She has a bad sprain; how the deuce she ever managed to hobble on it +even two steps is beyond me." + +"A sprain? Are you sure?" + +"I think so; it's badly swollen. Maybe only a twist; a few hours will +tell." + +I heard him return to the ledge back of me; I dared not turn my head. + +Thinking I heard a sound above, I looked up; but there was nothing to +fear in that direction. The boulders which formed the sides of the +crevice extended straight up to the roof of the cavern. We appeared, +in fact, to be fortified against any attack. + +With one exception--hunger. But there would be plenty of time to think +of that; for the present we had our fish, which was sufficient for the +three of us for a month, if we could keep it fresh that long. And the +water was at our very feet. + +The bodies wedged in the mouth of the crevice began to disappear, +allowing the light from the urns to filter through; they were removing +their dead. I could see the black forms swaying and pulling not five +feet away. But I stood motionless, saving my spear and my strength for +any who might try to force an entrance. + +Soon the crevice was clear, and from where I stood I commanded a view +of something like three-quarters of the ledge. It was one mass of +black forms, packed tightly together, gazing at our retreat. + +They looked particularly silly and helpless to me then, rendered +powerless as they were by a little bit of rock. Brute force was all +they had; and nature, being the biggest brute of all, laughed at them. + +But I soon found that they were not devoid of resource. For perhaps +fifteen minutes the scene remained unchanged; not one ventured to +approach the crevice. Then there was a sudden movement and shifting in +the mass; it split suddenly in the middle; they pressed off to either +side, leaving an open lane between them leading directly toward me. + +Down this lane suddenly dashed a dozen or more of the savages, with +spears aloft in their brawny arms. I was taken by surprise and barely +had time to cut and run for the ledge within. + +As it was I did not entirely escape; the spears came whistling through +the crevice, and one of them lodged in my leg just below the thigh. + +I jerked it out with an oath and turned to meet the attack. I was now +clear of the crevice, standing on the ledge inside, near Harry and +Desiree. I called to them to go to one side, out of the range of the +spears that might come through. Harry took Desiree in his arms and +carried her to safety. + +As I expected, the Incas came rushing through the crevice--that narrow +lane where a man could barely push through without squeezing. The +first got my spear full in the face--a blow rather than a thrust, for I +had once or twice had difficulty in retrieving it when I had buried it +deep. + +As he fell I struck at the one behind. He grasped the spear with his +hand, but I jerked it free and brought it down on his head, crushing +him to the ground. It was mere butchery; they hadn't a chance in the +world to get at me. Another fell, and the rest retreated. The crevice +was again clear, save for the bodies of the three who had fallen. + +I turned to where Harry and Desiree were seated on the further edge of +the ledge. Her body rested against his; her head lay on his shoulder. + +As I looked at them, smiling, her eyes suddenly opened wide and she +sprang to her feet and started toward me. + +"Paul! You are hurt! Harry, a bandage--quick; your shirt--anything!" + +I looked down at the gash on my leg, which was bleeding somewhat freely. + +"It's nothing," I declared; "a mere tear in the skin. But your ankle! +I thought it was sprained?" + +She had reached my side and bent over to examine my wound; but I raised +her in my arms and held her before me. + +"That," I said, "is nothing. Believe me, it isn't even painful. I +shall bandage it myself; Harry will take my place here. But your foot?" + +"That, too, is nothing," she answered with a half-smile. "I merely +twisted it; it is nearly well already. See!" + +She placed her weight on the injured foot, but could not suppress a +faint grimace of pain. + +Calling to Harry to watch the crevice, I took Desiree in my arms and +carried her back to her seat. + +"Now sit still," I commanded. "Soon we'll have dinner; in the mean +time allow me to say that you are the bravest woman in the world, and +the best sport. And some day we'll drink to that--from a bottle." + +But facts have no respect for sentiment and fine speeches. The last +words were taken from my very mouth by a ringing cry from Harry: + +"Paul! By gad, they're coming at us from the water!" + + + +Chapter XVI. + +THE ESCAPE. + +The ledge on which we rested was about forty feet square. Back of us +was a confused mass of boulders and chasms, across which I had come +when I first encircled the cavern and found Harry. + +In front was the crevice, guarded by the two massive boulders. On the +right the ledge met the solid wall of the cavern, and on the left was +the lake itself, whose waters rippled gently at our very feet. + +At sound of Harry's warning cry I ran to the water's edge and peered +round the side of the boulder. He was right; but what I saw was not +very alarming. + +Two rafts had been launched from the enemy's camp. Each raft held +three Incas--more would have sunk them. Two were paddling, while the +third balanced himself in the center, brandishing a spear aloft. + +Turning to Desiree, I called to her to move behind a projecting bit of +rock. Then, leaving Harry to guard the crevice in case of a double +attack, I took three of our four spears--one of which had made the +wound in my leg--and stood at the water's edge awaiting the approach of +the rafts. + +They came slowly, and their appearance was certainly anything but +terrifying. + +"Not much of a navy," I called to Harry; and he answered, with a laugh: +"Lucky for us! Look at our coast defense!" + +One of the rafts was considerably ahead of the other, and in another +minute it had approached within fifty feet of the ledge. The Inca in +the center stood with legs spread apart and his spear poised above his +head; I made no movement, thinking that on such precarious footing he +would have difficulty to hurl the thing at all. Wherein I underrated +his skill, and it nearly cost me dear. + +Suddenly, with hardly a movement of his body, his arm snapped forward. +I ducked to one side instinctively and heard the spear whistle past my +ear with the speed of a bullet, so close that the butt of the shaft +struck the side of my head a glancing blow and toppled me over. + +I sprang quickly to my feet, and barely in time, for I saw the Inca +stoop over, pick up another spear from the raft, and draw it back above +his head. At the same moment the second raft drew up alongside, and as +I fell to the ground flat on my face I heard the two spears whistle +shrewdly over me. + +At that game they were my masters; it would have been folly to have +tried conclusions with them with their own weapons. As the spears +clattered on the ground thirty feet away I sprang to my feet and ran to +the farther side of the ledge, where I had before noticed some loose +stones in a corner. + +With two or three of these in my hands I ran back to the water's edge, +meeting two more of the spears that came twisting at me through the +air, one of which tore the skin from my left shoulder. + +A quick glance at the crevice as I passed showed me Harry fighting at +its entrance; they were at us there, too. I heard Desiree shout +something at me, but didn't catch the words. + +My first stone found its goal. The two rafts, side by side not forty +feet away, were a fair mark. The stone was nearly the size of a man's +head and very heavy; I had all I could do to get the distance. + +It struck the raft on the right fairly; the thing turned turtle in a +flash, precipitating its occupants onto the other raft. The added +weight carried that, too, under the surface, and the six Incas were +floundering about in the water. + +I expected to see them turn and swim for the landing opposite; but, +instead, they headed directly toward me! + +The light from the urns was but faint, and it was not easy to +distinguish their black heads against the black water; still, I could +see their approach. Two of them held spears in their hands; I saw the +copper heads flash on high. + +I stood at the edge of the lake, wondering at their folly as I waited; +they were now scarcely ten feet away. Another few strokes and the +foremost stretched out his hand to grasp the slippery ledge; my spear +came down crushingly on his head and he fell back into the water. + +By that time another had crawled half onto the ledge, and another; a +blow and a quick thrust, and they, too, slipped back beneath the +surface, pawing in agony, not to rise again. + +Just in time I saw that one of the remaining three had lifted himself +in the water not five feet away, with his spear aimed at my breast. +But the poor devil had no purchase for his feet and the thing went wide. + +The next instant he had received a ten-pound stone full in the face and +went down with a gurgle. At that the remaining two, seeming to acquire +a glimmering of intelligence, turned and swam hastily away. I let them +go. + +Turning to Harry, I saw that the crevice also was clear. He had left +his post and started toward me, but I waved him back. + +"All right here, Hal: have they given it up?" + +There was an expression of the most profound disgust on his face. + +"Paul, it's rank butchery. I'm wading in blood. Will this thing never +stop?" + +I looked at him and said merely: "Yes." + +No need to ask when; he understood me; he sent me the glance of a man +who has become too familiar with death to fear it, and answered: + +"Another hour of this, and--I'm ready." + +I told him to keep an eye on both points of attack and went across to +where Desiree sat crouched on the ground. I hadn't many words. + +"How is your foot?" + +"Oh, it is better; well. But your leg--" + +"Never mind that. Could you sleep?" + +"Bon Dieu--no!" + +"We have only raw fish. Can you eat?" + +"I'll try," she answered, with a grimace. + +I went to the edge of the ledge where we had the fish stowed away near +the water and took some of it both to her and Harry. We ate, but with +little relish. The stuff did not seem very fresh. + +I remained on guard at the mouth of the crevice while Harry went to the +lake for a drink, having first helped Desiree to the water and back to +her seat. Her foot gave her a great deal of pain, but instead of a +sprain it appeared that there had been merely a straining of the +ligaments. After bathing it in the cold water she was considerably +relieved. + +I remained on watch at the mouth of the crevice, from where I could +also obtain a pretty fair view of the lake, and commanded Harry to +rest. He demurred, but I insisted. Within two minutes he was sleeping +like a log, completely exhausted. + +Several hundred of the Incas remained huddled together on the ledge +without, but they made no effort to attack us. I had been watching +perhaps three hours when they began to melt away into the passage. +Soon but a scant dozen or so remained. These squatted along the wall +just under the lighted urns, evidently in the capacity of sentinels. + +Soon I became drowsy--intolerably so; I was scarcely able to stand. I +dozed off once or twice on my feet; and, realizing the danger, I called +Harry to take my place. + +Desiree also had been asleep, lying on the raft which Harry and I had +concealed along with our fish. At sound of my voice she awoke and sat +up, rubbing her eyes; then, as I assured her that all was quiet, she +fell back again on her rude bed. + +I have never understood the delay of the Incas at this juncture; +possibly they took time to consult the great Pachacamac and found his +advice difficult to understand. At the time I thought they had given +up the attack and intended to starve us out, but they were incapable of +a decision so sensible. + +Many hours had passed, and we had alternated on four watches. We had +plenty of rest and were really quite fit. The gash on my leg had +proven a mere trifle; I was a little stiff, but there was no pain. + +Desiree's foot was almost entirely well; she was able to walk with +ease, and had insisted on taking a turn at watch, making such a point +of it that we had humored her. + +Something had to happen, and I suppose it was as well that the Incas +should start it. For we had met with a misfortune that made us see the +beginning of the end. Our fish was no longer fit to eat, and we had +been forced to throw the remainder of it in the lake. + +Then we held a council of war. The words we uttered, standing together +at the mouth of the crevice, come to me now as in a dream; if my memory +of them were not so vivid I should doubt their reality. We discussed +death with a calmness that spoke eloquently of our experience. + +Desiree's position may be given in a word--she was ready for the end, +and invited it. + +I was but little behind her, but advised waiting for one more watch--a +sop to Harry. And there was one other circumstance that moved me to +delay--the hope for a sight of the Inca king and a chance at him. + +Desiree had refused to tell us her experiences between the time of our +dive from the column and our rescue of her; but she had said enough to +cause me to guess at its nature. There was a suppressed but ever +present horror in her eyes that made me long to stand once more before +the Child of the Sun; then to go, but not alone. + +Harry advised retreat. I have mentioned that when he and I had started +on our search for Desiree we had found two exits from the cavern--the +one which we had taken and another which led through the maze of +boulders and chasms back of us to a passage full of twists and turns +and choked with massive rocks, almost impassable. + +Through this he advised making our way to whatever might await us +beyond. + +The question was still undecided when our argument was brought to a +halt and the decision was taken away from us. Through the crevice I +saw a band of Incas emerge from the passage opposite and advance to the +water's edge. At their head was the Inca king. + +Soon the landing was completely covered with them--probably three +hundred or more--and others could be seen in the mouth of the passage. +Each one carried a spear; their heads of copper, upraised in a +veritable forest, shone dully in the light of the urns on the wall +above. + +Harry and Desiree stood close behind me, looking through at the +fantastic sight. I turned to him: + +"This time they mean business." + +He nodded. + +"But what can they do? Except get knocked on the head, and I'm sick of +it. If we had only left an hour ago!" + +"For my part," I retorted, "I'm glad we didn't. Desiree, I'm going to +put you in my debt, if fortune will only show me one last kindness and +let me get within reach of him." + +I pointed to where the Inca king stood in the forefront, at the very +edge of the lake. + +She shuddered and grew pale. + +"He is a monster," she said in a voice so low that I scarcely heard, +"and--I thank you, Paul." + +Harry seemed not to have heard. + +"But what can they do?" he repeated. + +They did not leave us long in doubt. As he spoke there was a sudden +sharp movement in the ranks of the Incas. Those in front leaped in the +water, and others after them, until, almost before we had time to +realize their purpose, hundreds of the hairy brutes were swimming with +long, powerful strokes directly toward the ledge on which we stood. +Between his teeth each man carried his spear. + +I left Harry to guard the crevice, and ran to repel the attack at the +water. Desiree stood just behind me. I called to her to go back, but +she did not move. I grasped her by the arm and led her forcibly to a +break in the rock at our rear, and pointed out a narrow ascending lane +in the direction of the other exit. + +When I returned to the ledge of the water the foremost of the Incas +were but a few feet away. But I looked in vain for the one face I +wanted to see and could recognize; the king was not among them. A +hasty glance across the landing opposite discovered him standing +motionless with folded arms. + +The entire surface of the lake before me was one mass of heads and arms +and spears as far as I could see. There were hundreds of them. I saw +at once that the thing was hopeless, but I grasped my spear firmly and +stood ready. + +The first two or three reached the ledge. At the same instant I heard +Harry call: + +"They're coming through, Paul! It's you alone!" + +I did not turn my head, for I was busy. My spear was whirling about my +head like a circle of flame. Black, dusky forms swam to the ledge and +grasped its slippery surface, but they got no farther. The shaft of +the spear bent in my hand; I picked up another, barely losing a second. + +A wild and savage delight surged through me at the sight of those +struggling, writhing, slipping forms. I swung the spear in vicious +fury. Not one had found footing on the ledge. + +Something suddenly struck me in the left arm and stuck there; I shook +it loose impatiently and it felt as though my arm went with it. + +I did not care to glance up even for an instant; they were pressing me +closer and closer; but I knew that they had begun to hurl their spears +at me from the water, and that the game was up. Another struck me on +the leg; soon they were falling thick about me. + +Calling to Harry to follow, I turned and ran for the opening in the +rock to which I had led Desiree. In an instant he had joined me. + +By that time scores of the Incas had scrambled out of the water onto +the ledge and started toward us, and as many more came rushing through +the crevice, finding their way no longer contested. + +Harry carried three spears. I had four. We sprang up a lane +encircling the rock to the rear and at its top found Desiree. + +A projecting bit of rock gave us some protection from the spears that +were being hurled at us from below, but they came uncomfortably close, +and black forms began to appear in the lane through which we had come. + +Harry shouted something which I didn't hear, and, taking Desiree in his +arms, sprang from the rock to another ledge some ten feet below. + +I followed. At the bottom he stumbled and fell, but I helped him to +his feet and then turned barely in time to beat back three or four of +the Incas who had tumbled down almost on our very heads. + +Immediately in front of us was a chasm several feet across. Harry +cried to Desiree, "Can you make it?" and she shook her head, pointing +to her injured foot. + +"To me!" I shouted desperately; they were coming down from above +despite my efforts to hold them back. + +Then, in answer to a call from Harry, I turned and leaped across the +chasm, throwing the spears ahead of me. Harry took Desiree in his arms +and swung her far out; I braced myself for the shock and caught her on +my feet. + +I set her down unhurt, and a minute later Harry had joined us and we +were scrambling up the face of a boulder nearly perpendicular, while +the spears fell thick around us. + +Desiree lost her footing and fell against Harry, who rolled to the +bottom, pawing for a hold. I turned, but he shouted: "Go on; I'll make +it!" Soon he was again at my side, and in another minute we had gained +the top of the boulder, quite flat and some twenty feet square. We +commanded Desiree to lie flat on the ground to avoid the spears from +below, and paused for a breath and a survey of the situation. + +It can be described only with the word chaotic. + +The light of the urns were now hidden from us, and we were in +comparative darkness, though we could see with a fair amount of +clearness. Nothing could be made of the mass of boulders, but we knew +that somewhere beyond them was the passage from the cavern which we +sought. + +The Incas came leaping across the chasm to the foot of the rock. +Several of them scrambled up the steep surface, but with our spears we +pushed them back and they tumbled onto the heads of their fellows below. + +But we were too exposed for a stand there, and I shouted to Harry to +take Desiree down the other side of the rock while I stayed behind to +hold them off. He left me, and in a moment later I heard his voice +crying to me to follow. I did so, sliding down the face of the rock +feet first. + +Then began a wild and desperate scramble for safety, with the Incas +ever at our heels. Without Desiree we would have made our goal with +little difficulty, but half of the time we had to carry her. + +Several times Harry hurled her bodily across a chasm or a crevice, +while I received her on the other side. + +Often I covered the retreat, holding the Incas at bay while Harry +assisted Desiree up the steep face of a boulder or across a narrow +ledge. There was less danger now from their spears, protected as we +were by the maze of rocks, but I was already bleeding in a dozen places +on my legs and arms and body, and Harry was in no better case. + +Suddenly I saw ahead of us an opening which I thought I recognized. I +pointed it out to Harry. + +"The exit!" he cried out, and made for it with Desiree. But they were +brought to a halt by a cliff at their very feet, no less than twenty +feet high. + +I started to join them, but hearing a clatter behind, turned just in +time to see a score of Incas rush at us from the left, through a narrow +lane that led to the edge of the cliff. + +I sprang toward them, calling to Harry for assistance. He was at my +side in an instant, and together we held them back. + +In five minutes the mouth of the lane was choked with their bodies; +some behind attempted to scramble over the pile to get at us, but we +made them sick of their job. I saw that Harry could hold it alone +then, and calling to him to stand firm till I called, I ran to Desiree. + +I let myself over the edge of the cliff and hung by my hands, then +dropped to the ground below. It was even further than I had thought; +my legs doubled up under me and I toppled over, half fainting. + +I gritted my teeth and struggled to my feet, calling to Desiree. She +was already hanging to the edge of the cliff, many feet above me. But +there was nothing else for it, and I shouted: "All right, come on!" + +She came, and knocked me flat on my back. I had tried to catch her, +and did succeed in breaking her fall, at no little cost to myself. I +was one mass of bruises and wounds. But again I struggled to my feet +and shouted at the top of my voice: + +"Harry! Come!" + +He did not come alone. I suppose the instant he left the lane +unguarded the Incas poured in after him. They followed him over the +edge of the cliff, tumbling on top of each other in an +indistinguishable mass. + +Some rose to their feet; their comrades, descending from above, +promptly knocked them flat on their backs. + +Harry and Desiree and I were making for the exit, which was not but a +few feet away. As I have said, the thing was choked up till it was +almost impassable. We squeezed in between two rocks, with Desiree +between us. Harry was in front, and I brought up the rear. + +Once through that lane and we might hold our own. + +"In Heaven's name, come on!" Harry shouted suddenly; for I had turned +and halted, gazing back at the Incas tumbling over the cliff and +rushing toward the mouth of the exit. + +But I did not heed him, for, standing on the top of the cliff, waving +his arms wildly at those below, I had seen the form of the Inca king. +He was less than thirty feet away. + +With cries from Harry and Desiree ringing in my ears, I braced my feet +as firmly as possible on the uneven rock and poised my spear above my +head. The Incas saw my purpose and stopped short. + +The king must also have seen me, but he stood absolutely motionless. I +lunged forward; the spear left my hand and flew straight for his breast. + +But it failed to reach the mark. A shout of triumph was on my lips, +but was suddenly cut short when an Inca standing near the king sprang +forward and hurled himself in the path of the spear just as its point +was ready to take our revenge. The Inca fell to the foot of the cliff +with the spear buried deep in his side. The king stood as he had +before, without moving. + +Then there was a wild rush into the mouth of the exit, and I turned to +follow Harry and Desiree. With extreme difficulty we scrambled forward +over the rocks and around them. + +Desiree's breath was coming in painful gasps, and we had to support her +on either side. The Incas approached closer at our rear; I felt one of +them grasp me from behind, and in an excess of fury I shook him off and +dashed him backward against the rocks. We were able to make little +headway, or none; by taking to the exit we appeared to have set our own +death-trap. + +Harry went on with Desiree, and I stayed behind in the attempt to check +the attack. They came at me from both sides. I was faint and +bleeding, and barely able to wield my spear--my last one. I gave way +by inches, retreating backward step by step, fighting with the very end +of my strength. + +Suddenly Harry's voice came, shouting that they had reached the end of +the passage. I turned then and sprang desperately from rock to rock +after them, with the Incas crowding close after me. + +I stumbled and nearly fell, but recovered my footing and staggered on. +And suddenly the mass of rocks ended abruptly, and I fell forward onto +flat, level ground by the side of Desiree and Harry. + +"Your spear!" I gasped. "Quick--they are upon us!" + +But they grasped my arms and dragged me away from the passage to one +side. I was half fainting from exhaustion and loss of blood, and +scarcely knew what they did. They laid me on the ground and bent over +me. + +"The Incas!" I gasped. + +"They are gone," Harry answered. + +At that I struggled to rise and rested my body on my elbows, gazing at +the mouth of the passage. It was so; the Incas were not to be seen! +Not one had issued from the passage. + +It was incomprehensible to us then; later we understood. And we had +not long to wait. + +Harry and Desiree were bending over me, attempting to stop the flow of +blood from a cut on my shoulder. + +"We must have water," said Desiree. Harry straightened up to look +about the cavern, which was so dark that we could barely see one +another's faces but a few feet away. + +Suddenly an exclamation of wonder came from his lips. + +Desiree and I followed the direction of his gaze, and saw the huge, +black, indistinct form of some animal suddenly detach itself from the +wall of the cavern and move slowly toward us through the darkness. + + + +Chapter XVII. + +THE EYES IN THE DARK. + +The thing was at a considerable distance; we could barely see that it +was there and that it was moving. It was of an immense size; so large +that it appeared as though the very side of the cavern itself had moved +noiselessly from its bed in the mountain. + +At the same moment I became aware of a penetrating, disagreeable odor, +nauseating and horrible. I had risen to my knees and remained so, +while Harry and Desiree stood on either side of me. + +The thing continued to move toward us, very slowly. There was not a +sound. The strength of the odor increased until it was almost +suffocating. + +Still we did not move. I could not, and Harry and Desiree seemed +rooted to the spot with wonder. The thing came closer, and we could +see the outlines of its huge form looming up indistinctly against the +black background of the cavern. + +I saw, or thought I saw, a grotesque and monstrous slimy head stretched +toward us from about the middle of its bulk. + +That doubt became a certainty when suddenly, as though they had been +lit by a fire from within, two luminous, glowing spots appeared about +three feet apart. The creature's eyes--if eyes they were--were turned +full on us, growing more brilliant as the thing came closer. It was +now less than fifty feet away. The massive form blocked our view of +the entire cavern. + +I pinched my nostrils to exclude the horrible odor which, like the +fumes of some deadly poison, choked and smothered me. It came now in +puffs, like a draft of a fetid wind, and I realized that it was the +creature's breath. I could feel it against my body, my neck and face, +and knew that if I breathed it full into my lungs I should be overcome. + +But still more terrifying were the eyes. There was something +compelling, supernaturally compelling, about their steadfast and +brilliant gaze. A mysterious power seemed to emanate from them; a +power that hypnotized the mind and deadened the senses. I closed my +eyes to avoid it, but was unable to keep them closed. They opened +despite my extreme effort, and again I met that gaze of fire. + +There was a movement at my side. I turned and saw that it came from +Desiree. Her hands were raised to her face; she was holding them +before her as though in a futile attempt to cover her eyes. + +The thing came closer and closer; it was but a few feet away, and still +we did not move, as though rooted to the spot by some power beyond our +control. + +Suddenly there came a cry from Desiree's lips--a scream of terror and +wild fear. Her entire form trembled violently. + +She extended her arms toward the thing, now almost upon us, and took a +step forward. Her feet dragged unwilling along the ground, as though +she were being drawn forward by some irresistible force. + +I tried to put out my hand to pull her back, but was absolutely unable +to move. Harry stood like a man of rock, immovable. + +She took another step forward, with arms outstretched in front of her. +A low moan of terror and piteous appeal came from between her slightly +parted lips. + +Suddenly the eyes disappeared. The huge form ceased to advance and +stood perfectly still. Then it began to recede, so slowly that I was +barely conscious of the movement. + +I was gasping and choking for air; my chest seemed swelling with the +poisonous breath. Still slowly the thing receded into the dimness of +the cavern; the eyes were no longer to be seen--merely the huge, +formless bulk. Desiree had stopped short with one foot advanced, as +though hesitating and struggling with the desire to go forward. + +The thing now could barely be seen at a distance; it would have been +impossible if we had not known it was there. Finally it disappeared, +melting away into the semi-darkness; no slightest movement was +discernible. I breathed more freely and stepped forward. + +As I did so Desiree threw her hands gropingly above her head and fell +fainting to the ground. + +Harry sprang forward in time to keep her head from striking on the rock +and knelt with his arms round her shoulders. We had nothing, not even +water, with which to revive her; he called her name aloud appealingly. +Soon her eyes opened; she raised her hand and passed it across her brow +wonderingly. + +"God help me!" she murmured in a low voice, eloquent of distress and +pain. + +Then she pushed Harry aside and rose slowly to her feet, refusing his +assistance. + +"In the name of Heaven, what is it?" Harry demanded, turning to me. + +"We have found the devil at last," I answered, with an attempt to +laugh, which sounded hollow in my own ears. + +Desiree could tell us nothing, except that she had felt herself drawn +forward by some strange power that had seemed to come from the baneful, +glittering eyes. She was bewildered and stunned and unable to talk +coherently. We assisted her to the wall, and she sat there with her +back propped against it, breathing heavily from the exhaustion of +terror. + +"We must find water," I said, and Harry nodded, hesitating. + +I understood him. Danger could not have stayed him nor fear, but the +horror of the thing which roamed about the cavern, dark as darkness +itself and possessed of some strange power that could not be withstood, +was enough to make him pause. For myself it was impossible; I was +barely able to stand. So Harry went off alone in search of water and I +stayed with Desiree. + +It was perhaps half an hour before he returned, and we were shaken with +fear for him long before he appeared. When he did so it was with a +white face and trembling limbs, in spite of his evident effort at +steadiness. + +"There is water over there," said he, pointing across the cavern. "A +stream runs across the corner and disappears beneath the wall. There +is nothing to carry it in. You must come with me." + +"What has happened?" I asked, for even his voice was unsteady. + +"I saw it," he replied simply, but expressing enough in those three +words to cause a shudder to run through me. + +Then, speaking in a low tone that Desiree might not hear, he told me +that the thing had confronted him suddenly as he was following the +opposite wall, and that he, too, had been drawn forward, as it were, by +a spell impossible to shake off. He had tried to cry aloud, but had +been unable to utter a sound. And suddenly, as before, the eyes had +disappeared, leaving him barely able to stand. + +"No wonder the Incas wouldn't follow us in here," he finished. "We +must get out of this. I'm not a coward, but I wouldn't go through that +again for my life." + +"You take Desiree," said I. "I want that water." + +He led us around the wall several hundred feet. The ground was level +and clear of obstruction; but we went slowly, for I could scarcely +move. Harry kept his eyes strained intently on all sides; his +experience had left him more profoundly impressed even than he had been +willing to admit to me. + +Soon we heard the low music of running water, and a minute later we +reached the stream Harry had found. + +The fact that there was something to be done seemed to infuse a new +spirit into Desiree, and soon her deft fingers were bathing my wounds +and bandaging them as well as her poor material would allow. + +The cold water took the heat from my pumping veins and left me almost +comfortable. Harry had come off much easier than I, since I had so +often sent him ahead with Desiree, and myself brought up the rear and +withstood the brunt of the attack. + +As Harry had said, the stream cut across a corner of the cavern, +disappearing beneath the opposite wall, forming a triangle bound by two +sides of the cavern and the stream itself. I saw plainly that it would +be impossible for me to move any distance for at least a few days, and +that triangle appeared to offer the safest and most comfortable retreat. + +I spoke to Harry, and he waded across the stream to try its depth. +From the other side he called that the water was at no point more than +waist-high, and Desiree and I started to cross; but about the middle I +felt the current about to sweep me off my feet. Harry waded in and +helped me ashore. + +On that hard rock we lay for many weary hours. We had no food; but for +that I would soon have been myself again, for, though my wounds were +numerous, they were little more than scratches, with the exception of +the gash on my shoulder. Weakened as I was by loss of blood, and +lacking nourishment, I improved but slowly, and only the cold water +kept the fever from me. + +Twice Harry went out in search of food and of an exit from the cavern. +The first time he was away for several hours, and returned exhausted +and empty-handed and without having found any exit other than the one +by which we had entered. + +He had ventured through that far enough to see a group of Incas on +watch at the other end. They had seen him and sprung after him, but he +had returned without injury, and at the entrance into the cavern where +we lay they had halted abruptly. + +The second time he was gone out more than half an hour, and the instant +I saw his face when he returned I knew what had happened. + +But I was not in the best of humor; his terror appeared to me to be +ridiculously childish, and I said so in no uncertain terms. + +But he was too profoundly agitated to show any anger. + +"You don't know, you don't know," was all he said in answer to me; then +he added; "I can't stand this any longer. I tell you we've got to get +out of here. You don't know how awful--" + +"Yes," said Desiree, looking at me. + +"But I can scarcely walk," I objected. + +"True," said Harry. "I know. But we can help you. There must be +another exit, and we'll start now." + +"Very well," I said quite calmly; and I picked up one of the spears +which we had carried with us, and, rising to my knees, placed the butt +of the shaft against the wall near which I lay. + +But Harry saw my purpose, and was too quick for me. He sprang across +and snatched the spear from my hand and threw it on the ground a dozen +feet away. + +"Are you crazy?" he shouted angrily. + +"No," I answered; "but I am little better, and I doubt if I shall be. +Come--why not? I hinder you and become bored with myself." + +"You blame me," he said bitterly; "but I tell you you don't know. Very +well--we stay. You must give me your promise not to act the fool." + +"In any event, you must go soon," I answered, "or starve to death. +Perhaps in another twenty-four hours I shall be stronger. Come, +Desiree; will that satisfy you?" + +She did not answer; her back was turned to us as she stood gazing +across the stream into the depths of the cavern. There was a curious +tenseness in her attitude that made me follow her gaze, and what I saw +left me with no wonder at it--a huge, black, indistinct form that moved +slowly toward us through the darkness. + +Harry caught sight of it at the same moment as myself, and on the +instant he turned about, covering his face with his hands, and called +to Desiree and me to do likewise. + +Desiree obeyed; I had risen to my knees and remained so, gazing +straight ahead, ready for a combat if it were not a physical one. I +will not say that a certain feeling of dread did not rise in my heart, +but I intended to show Desiree and Harry the childishness of their +terror. + +Nothing could be seen but the uncertain outline of the immense bulk; +but the same penetrating, sickening odor that had before all but +suffocated me came faintly across the surface of the stream, growing +stronger with each second that passed. Suddenly the eyes appeared--two +glowing orbs of fire that caught my gaze and held it as with a chain. + +I did not attempt to avoid it, but returned the gaze with another as +steadfast. I was telling myself: "Let us see this trick and play one +stronger." My nerves centered throbbingly back of my eyes, and I gave +them the whole force of my will. + +The thing came closer and the eyes seemed to burn into my very brain. +With a great effort I brought myself back to control, dropping to my +hands and knees and gripping the ground for strength. + +"This is nothing, this is nothing," I kept saying to myself +aloud--until I realized suddenly that my voice had risen almost to a +scream, and I locked my teeth tight on my lip. + +I no longer returned the gaze from my own power; it held me of itself. +I felt my brain grow curiously numb and every muscle in my body +contracted with a pain almost unbearable. Still the thing came closer +and closer, and it seemed to me, half dazed as I was, that it advanced +much faster than before. + +Then suddenly I felt a sensation of cold and moisture on my arms and +legs and a pressure against my body, and I realized, as in a dream, +that I had entered the stream of water! + +I was crawling toward the thing on my hands and knees, without having +even been conscious that I had moved. + +That brought despair and a last supreme struggle to resist whatever +mysterious power it was that dragged me forward. + +Cold beads of sweat rolled from my forehead. Beneath the surface of +the water my hands gripped the rocks as in a vise. My teeth had sunk +deep into my lower lip and covered my chin with blood, though I did not +know that till afterward. + +But I was pulled loose from my hold, and forward. I bent the whole +force of my will to the effort not to move, but my hand left the rock +and crept forward. I was fully conscious of what I was doing. I knew +that if I could once draw my eyes away from that compelling gaze the +spell would be broken, but the power to do so was not in me. + +The thing had halted on the farther bank of the stream. Still I moved +forward. The water now lapped against my chest; soon it was about my +shoulders. + +I was fully conscious of the fact that in another ten feet the surface +would close over my head, and that I had not the strength to swim or +fight the current; but still I went forward. I tried to cry out, but +could force no sound through my lips. + +Then suddenly the eyes began to disappear. But that at least was +comprehensible, for I could distinctly see the black and heavy lids +closing over them, like the curtain on a stage. They fell slowly. + +The eyes became half moons, then narrowed to a thin slit. I rose, +panting like a man exhausted with extreme and prolonged physical +exertion. + +The eyes were gone. + +A mad impulse rushed into my brain to dash forward and touch the +monster, to see if that dim, black form were really a thing of flesh +and blood or some contrivance of the devil. I smile at that phrase as +I write it now in my study, but I did not smile then. I was standing +above my knees in the water, trembling from head to foot, divided +between the impulse to go forward and the inclination to flee in terror. + +I did neither; I stood still. I could see the thing with a fair amount +of distinctness and forced my brain to take the record of my eyes. But +I could make nothing of it. + +I guessed at rather than saw a hideous head rolling from side to side +at the end of a long and sinuous neck, and writhing, reptilian coils +lashing the rock at the edge of the water, like the tentacles of an +octopus, only many times larger. The body itself was larger than that +of any animal I had ever seen, and blacker even than the darkness. + +Suddenly the huge mass began to move slowly backward. The sharpness of +the odor had ceased with the opening of the eyes, which did not +reappear. I could dimly see its huge legs slowly rise and recede and +again meet the ground. Soon the thing was barely discernible. + +I took a step forward as though to follow; but the strength of the +current warned me of the danger of proceeding farther, and, besides, I +feared every moment to see the lids again raised from the terrible +eyes. The thought attacked my brain with horror, and I turned and fled +in a sudden panic to the rear, calling to Harry and Desiree. + +They met me at the edge of the stream, and their eyes told me that they +read in my face what had happened, though they had seen nothing. + +"You--you saw it--" Harry stammered. + +I nodded, scarcely able to speak. + +"Then--perhaps now--" + +"Yes," I interposed. "Let's get out of here. It's horrible. And yet +how can we go? I can hardly stand." + +But Harry was now the one who argued for delay, saying that our retreat +was the safest place we could find, and that we should wait at least +until I had had time to recover from the strain of the last half-hour. +Realizing that in my weakened condition I would be a hindrance to them +rather than a help, I consented. Besides, if the thing reappeared I +could avoid it as Harry and Desiree had done. + +"What is it?" Harry asked presently. + +We were sitting side by side, well up against the wall. It was an +abrupt question, with no apparent pertinence, but I understood. + +"Heaven knows!" I answered shortly. I was none too pleased with myself. + +"But it must be something. Is it an animal?" + +"Do you remember," I asked by way of answer, "a treatise of Aristotle +concerning which we had a discussion one day? Its subject was the +hypnotic power possessed by the eyes of certain reptiles. I laughed +the idea to scorn; you maintained that it was possible. Well, I agree +with you; and I'd like to have about a dozen of our modern skeptical +scientists in this cave with me for about five minutes." + +"But what is it? A reptile!" Harry exclaimed. "The thing is as big as +a house!" + +"Well, and why not? I should guess that it is about thirty feet in +height and forty or fifty in length. There have been species, now +extinct, several times as large." + +"Then you think it is just--just an animal?" put in Desiree. + +"What did you think it was?" I nearly smiled. "An infernal machine?" + +"I don't know. Only I have never before known what it was to fear." + +A discussion which led us nowhere, but at least gave us the sound of +one another's voices. + +We passed many hours in that manner. Utterly blank and wearisome, and +all but hopeless. I have often wondered at the strange tenacity with +which we clung to life in conditions that made of it a burden almost +insupportable; and with what chance of relief? + +The instinct of self-preservation, it is called by the learned, but it +needs a stronger name. It is more than an instinct. It is the very +essence of life itself. + +But soon we were impelled to action by something besides the desire to +escape from the cavern: the pangs of hunger. It had been many hours +since we had eaten; I think we had fasted not less than three or four +days. + +Desiree began to complain of a dizziness in her temples, and to weaken +with every hour that passed. My own strength did not increase, and I +saw that it would not unless I could obtain nourishment. Harry did not +complain, but only because he would not. + +"It is useless to wait longer," I declared finally. "I grow weaker +instead of stronger." + +We had little enough with which to burden ourselves. There were three +spears, two of which Harry had brought, and myself the other. Harry +and I wore only our woolen undergarments, so ragged and torn that they +were but sorry covering. + +Desiree's single garment, made from some soft hide, was held about her +waist by a girdle of the same material. The upper half of her body was +bare. Her hair hung in a tangled mass over her shoulders and down her +back. None of us had any covering for our feet. + +We crossed the stream, using the spears as staffs; but instead of +advancing across the middle of the cavern we turned to the left, +hugging the wall. Harry urged us on, saying that he had already +searched carefully for an exit on that side, but we went slowly, +feeling for a break in the wall. It was absolutely smooth, which led +me to believe that the cavern had at one time been filled with water. + +We reached the farther wall and, turning to the right, were about to +follow it. + +"This is senseless," said Harry impatiently. "I tell you I have +examined this side, too; every inch of it." + +"And the one ahead of us, at right angles to this?" I asked. + +"That too," he answered. + +"And the other--the one to the right of the stream?" + +"No. I--I didn't go there." + +"Why didn't you say so?" I demanded. + +"Because I didn't want to," he returned sullenly. "You can go there if +you care to; I don't. It was from there that--it came." + +I did not answer, but pushed forward, not, however, leaving the wall. +Perhaps it was cowardly; you are welcome to the word if you care to use +it. Myself, I know. + +Another half-hour and we reached the end of the lane by which we had +first entered the cavern. We stood gazing at it with eyes of desire, +but we knew how little chance there was of the thing being unguarded at +the farther end. We knew then, of course, and only too well, why the +Incas had not followed us into the cavern. + +"Perhaps they are gone," said Harry. "They can't stay there forever. +I'm going to find out." + +He sprang on the edge of a boulder at the mouth of the passage and +disappeared on the other side. In fifteen minutes he returned, and I +saw by the expression on his face that there was no chance of escape in +that direction. + +"They're at the other end," he said gloomily; "a dozen of 'em. I +looked from behind a rock; they didn't see me. But we could never get +through." + +We turned then, and proceeded to the third wall and followed it. But +we really had no hope of finding an exit since Harry had said that he +had previously explored it. We were possessed, I know, by the same +thought: should we venture to follow the fourth wall? Alone, none of +us would have dared; but the presence of the others lessened the fear +of each. + +Finally we reached it. The corner was a sharp right angle, and there +were rifts and crevices in the rock. + +"This is limestone," I said, "and if we find an exit anywhere it will +be here." + +I turned to the right and proceeded slowly along the wall, feeling its +surface with my hand. + +We had advanced in this manner several hundred yards when Desiree +suddenly sprang forward to my side. + +"See!" she cried, pointing ahead with her spear. + +I followed the direction with my eye, and saw what appeared to be a +sharp break in the wall. + +It was some fifty feet away. We reached it in another moment, and I +think none of us would have been able to express the immeasurable +relief we felt when we saw before us a broad and clear passage leading +directly away from the cavern. It was very dark, but we entered it +almost at a run. + +I think we had not known the extent of our fear of that thing in the +cavern until we found the means of escape from it. + +We had gone about a hundred feet when we came to a turn to the left. +Harry stumbled against the corner, and we halted for an instant to wait +for him. + +Then we made the turn, side by side--and then we came to a sudden and +abrupt stop, and a simultaneous gasp of terror burst from our lips. + +Not three feet in front of us, blocking the passage completely, stood +the thing we thought we had escaped! + +The terrible, fiery eyes rolled from side to side as they stared +straight into our own. + + + +Chapter XVIII. + +A VICTORY AND A CONVERSATION. + +We stood for a long moment rooted to the spot, unable to move. Then, +calling to Harry and grasping Desiree by the arm, I started to turn. + +But too late. For Desiree, inspired by a boundless terror, suddenly +raised her spear high above her head and hurled it straight at the +glowing, flashing eyes. + +The point struck squarely between them with such force that it must +have sunk clear to the shaft. The head of the monster rolled for an +instant from side to side, and then, before I was aware of what had +happened, so rapid was the movement, a long, snakelike coil had reached +out through the air and twisted itself about Desiree's body. + +As she felt the thing tighten about her waist and legs she gave a +scream of terror and twisted her face round toward me. The next +instant the snaky tentacle had dragged her along the ground and lifted +her to the head of the monster, where her white body could be seen in +sharp outline sprawling over its black form, between the terrible eyes. + +Harry and I sprang forward. + +As we did so the eyes closed and the reptile began to move backward +with incredible swiftness, lashing about on the ground before us with +other tentacles similar to the one that had captured Desiree. + +I cried out to Harry to avoid them. He did not answer, but rushed +blindly forward. + +Desiree's agonized shrieks rose to the pitch of madness. + +The eyes were closed, leaving but a vague mark for our spears, and +besides, there was the danger of striking Desiree. We were barely able +to keep pace with the thing as it receded swiftly down the broad +passage. Desiree had twisted her body half round, and her face was +turned toward us, shadowy as a ghost. Then her head fell forward and +hung loosely and her lips were silent. She had fainted. + +The thing moved swifter than ever; we were barely able to keep up with +it. Harry made a desperate leap forward. + +I cried out a warning, but one of the writhing tentacles swept against +him and knocked him to the ground. He was up again on the instant and +came rushing up from behind. + +Suddenly the passage broadened until the walls were no longer visible; +we had entered another cavern. I heard the sound of running water +somewhere ahead of us. The pace of the reptile had not slackened for +an instant. + +Harry had again caught up with us, and as he ran at my side I saw him +raise his spear aloft; but I caught his arm and held it. + +"Desiree!" I panted. + +Her body covered the only part of the thing that presented a fair mark. +Harry swore, but his arm fell. + +"To the side!" he gasped. "We can't get at it here!" + +I saw his meaning and followed at his heels as he swerved suddenly to +the right and sprang forward in an attempt to get past the reptile's +head. + +But in our eagerness we forgot caution and went too close. I felt one +of the snaky tentacles wrap itself round my legs and body, and raised +my voice in a warning to Harry, but too late. He, too, was ensnared, +and a moment later we had both been lifted bodily from the ground and +swung through the air to the side of Desiree. She was still +unconscious. + +I writhed and twisted desperately, but that muscular coil held me +firmly as a band of steel, tight against the huge and hideous head. + +Harry was on the other side of Desiree, not three feet from me. I +could see his muscles strain and pull in his violent efforts to tear +himself free. I had given it up. + +But suddenly, quite near my shoulder, I saw the lid suddenly begin to +raise itself from one of the terrible eyes. I was almost on top of the +thing and a little above it. I turned my head aside and called to +Harry. + +"The eye!" I gasped. "To your right! The spear! Are your arms free?" + +Then as I saw he understood, I turned a quarter of the way round--as +far as I could get--and raised my spear the full extent of my arm, and +brought it down with every ounce of my strength into the very center of +the glowing eye beneath me. + +At the same moment I saw Harry's arm descend and the flash of his +spear. The point of my own had sunk until the copper head was +completely buried. + +I grasped the shaft and pulled and twisted it about until it finally +was jerked forth. From the opening it had made there issued a black +stream. + +Suddenly the body of the reptile quivered convulsively. The head +rolled from side to side. There was a quick tightening of the tentacle +round my body until my bones felt as though they were being crushed +into shapelessness; and as suddenly it loosened. + +Other tentacles lashed and beat on the ground furiously. The reptile's +swift backward movement halted jerkily. I made a desperate effort to +tear myself free. The tentacle quivered and throbbed violently, and +suddenly flew apart like a released spring, and I fell to the ground. + +In an instant Harry was at my side, and we both leaped forward with our +spears, slashing at the tentacle which still held Desiree in its grasp. +Others writhed on the ground about our feet, but feebly. There came a +sudden cry from Harry, and his spear clattered on the ground as he +opened his arms to receive Desiree's unconscious body, which came +tumbling down with the severed coil still wrapped about it. + +But there was life in the reptile's immense body. It staggered and +swayed from side to side in drunken agony. Its monstrous head rolled +about, sweeping the air in a prodigious circle. The poison of its +breath came to us in great puffs. There was something supremely +horrible about the thing in its very helplessness, and I was shuddering +violently as I stooped to help Harry lift Desiree from the ground and +carry her away. + +We did not go far, for we were barely able to carry her. We laid her +on the hard rock with her head in Harry's lap. Her body was limp as a +rag. + +For many minutes we worked over her, rubbing her temples and wrists, +and pressing the nerve centers at the back of the neck, but without +effect. + +"She is dead," said Harry with a curious calm. + +I shook my head. + +"She has a pulse--see! But we must find that water. I think she isn't +injured; it is her weakened condition from the lack of food that keeps +her so. Wait for me." + +I started out across the cavern in the direction from which the sound +of the water appeared to come, bearing off to the right from the huge, +quivering form of the monster whose gigantic body rose and fell on the +ground with a force that seemed to shake the very walls of the cavern. + +I found the stream with little difficulty, not far away, and returned +to Harry. Together we carried Desiree to its edge. The blood was +stubborn, and for a long time refused to move, but the cold water at +length revived her; her eyes slowly opened, and she raised her hand to +her head with a faltering gesture. + +But she was extremely weak, and we saw that the end was near unless +nourishment could be found for her. + +I stayed by her side, with my arms round her shoulders, and Harry set +out with one of the spears. He bore off to the left, toward the spot +where the body of the immense reptile lay; I was too far away to see it +in the darkness. + +"It isn't possible that the thing is fit to eat," I had objected, and +he had answered me with a look which I understood, and was silenced. + +Soon a sound as of a scuffle on the rocks came through the darkness +from the direction he had taken. I called out to ask if he needed me, +but there was no answer. Ten minutes longer I waited, while the sound +continued unabated. Once I heard the clatter of his spear on the rock. + +I was just rising to my feet to run to the scene when suddenly he +appeared in the semidarkness. He was coming slowly, and was dragging +along the ground what appeared to be the form of some animal. Another +minute and he stood at my side as I sat holding Desiree. + +"A peccary!" I cried, bending over the body of the four-footed creature +that lay at his feet. "How the deuce did it ever get down here?" + +"Peccary--my aunt!" observed Harry, bending down to look at Desiree. +"Do peccaries live in the water? Do they have snouts like catfish? +This animal is my own invention. There's about ten million more of 'em +over there making a gorgeous banquet off our late lamented friend. And +now, let's see." + +He knelt down by the still warm body and with the point of his spear +ripped it open from neck to rump. Desiree stirred about in my arms. + +"Gad, that smells good!" cried Harry. + +I shuddered. + +He dragged the thing a few feet away, and I heard him slashing away at +it with his spear. A minute later he came running over to us with his +hands full of something. + +That was not exactly a pretty meal. How Desiree, in her frightfully +weakened condition, ever managed to get the stuff down and keep it +there is beyond me. But she did, and I was not behind her. And, after +all, it was fresh. Harry said it was "sweet." Well, perhaps it was. + +We bathed Desiree's hands and face and gave her water to drink, and +soon after she passed into a seemingly healthy sleep. There was about +ten pounds of meat left. Harry washed it in the stream and stowed it +away on a rock beneath the surface of the water. Then he announced his +intention of going back for more. + +"I'm going with you," I declared. "Here--help me fix Desiree." + +"Hardly," said Harry. "Didn't I say there are millions of those things +over there? Anyway, there are hundreds. If they should happen to +scatter in this direction and find her, she wouldn't stand a chance. +You take the other spear and stay here." + +So I sat still, with Desiree's body in my arms, and waited for him. My +sensations were not unpleasant. I could actually feel the blood +quicken in my veins. + +Civilization places the temple of life in the soul or the heart, as she +speaks through the mouth of the preacher or the poet; but let +civilization go for four or five days without anything to eat and see +what happens. The organ is vulgar, but its voice is loud. I need not +name it. + +In five minutes Harry returned, dragging two more of the creatures at +his heels. In half an hour there were a dozen of them lying in a heap +at the edge of the water. + +"That's all," he announced, panting heavily from his exertions. "The +rest have taken to the woods, which, I imagine, is quite a journey from +here. You ought to see our friend--the one who couldn't make his eyes +behave. They've eaten him full of holes. He's the most awful +mess--sickening beast. He didn't have a bone in him--all crumpled up +like an accordion. Utterly spineless." + +"And who, in the name of goodness, do you think is going to eat all +that?" I demanded, pointing to the heap of bodies. + +Harry grinned. + +"I don't know. I was so excited at the very idea of a square meal that +I didn't know when to stop. I'd give five fingers for a fire and some +salt. Just a nickel's worth of salt. Now, you lie down and sleep +while I cut these things up, and then I'll take a turn at it myself?" + +He brought me one of the hides for a pillow, and I lay back as gently +as possible that I might not awaken Desiree. Her head and shoulders +rested against my body as she lay peacefully sleeping. + +I was awakened by Harry's hand tugging at my arm. Rising on my elbows, +I demanded to know how long I had slept. + +"Six or seven hours," said Harry. "I waited as long as I could. Keep +a lookout." + +Desiree stirred uneasily, but seemed to be still asleep. I sat up, +rubbing my eyes. The heap of bodies had disappeared; no wonder Harry +was tired! I reproached myself for having slept so long. + +Harry had arranged himself a bed that was really comfortable with the +skins of his kill. + +"That is great stuff," I heard him murmur wearily; then all was still. + +I sat motionless, stiff and numb, but afraid to move for fear of +disturbing Desiree. + +Presently she stirred again, and, bending over her, I saw her eyes +slowly open. They met my own with a curious, steadfast gaze--she was +still half asleep. + +"Is that you, Paul?" she murmured. + +"Yes." + +"I am glad. I seem to feel--what is it?" + +"I don't know, Desiree. What do you mean?" + +"Nothing--nothing. Oh. it feels so good--good--to have you hold me +like this." + +"Yes?" I smiled. + +"But, yes. Where is Harry?" + +"Asleep. Are you hungry?" + +"Yes--no. Not now. I don't know why. I want to talk. What has +happened?" + +I told her of everything that had occurred since she had swooned; she +shuddered as memory returned, but forgot herself in my attempt at a +humorous description of Harry's valor as a hunter of food. + +"You don't need to turn up your nose," I retorted to her expressive +grimace; "you ate some of the stuff yourself." + +There was a silence; then suddenly Desiree's voice came: + +"Paul--" She hesitated and stopped. + +"Yes." + +"What do you think of me?" + +"Do you want a lengthy review?" I smiled. + +What a woman she was! Under those circumstances, and amid those +surroundings, she was still Desiree Le Mire. + +"Don't laugh at me," she said. "I want to know. I have never spoken +of what I did that time in the cavern--you know what I mean. I am +sorry now. I suppose you despise me." + +"But you did nothing," I objected. "And you wouldn't. You were merely +amusing yourself." + +She turned on me quickly with a flash of her old fire. + +"Don't play with me!" she burst out. "My friend, you have never yet +given me a serious word." + +"Nor any one else," I answered. "My dear Desiree, do you not know that +I am incapable of seriousness? Nothing in the world is worth it." + +"At least, you need not pretend," she retorted. "I meant once for you +to die. You know it. And since you pretend not to understand me, I +ask you--these are strange words from my lips--will you forgive me?" + +"There is nothing to forgive." + +"My friend, you are becoming dull. An evasive answer should always be +a witty one. Must I ask you again?" + +"That--depends," I answered, hardly knowing what to say. + +"On--" + +"On whether or not you were serious, once upon a time, when you made +a--shall we call it a confession? If you were, I offended you in my +own conceit, but let us be frank. I thought you were acting, and I +played my role. I do not yet believe that you were; I am not conceited +enough to think it possible." + +"I do not say," Desiree began; then she stopped and added hastily: "But +that is past. I shall not tell you that again. Perhaps I forgot +myself. Perhaps it was a pretty play. You have not answered me." + +I looked at her. Strange and terrible as her experiences and +sufferings had been, she had lost little of her beauty. Her face was +rendered only the more delicate by its pallor. Her white and perfect +body, only half seen in the half-darkness, conveyed a sense of the +purest beauty with no hint of immodesty. + +But I was moved not by what I saw, but by what I knew. I had admired +her always as Le Mire; but her bravery, her hardihood, her sympathy for +others under circumstances when any other woman would have been +thinking only of herself--had these awakened in my breast a feeling +stronger than admiration? + +I did not know. But my voice trembled a little as I said: "I need not +answer you, Desiree. I repeat that there is nothing to forgive. You +sought revenge, then sacrificed it; but still revenge is yours." + +She looked at me for a moment in silence, then said slowly: "I do not +understand you." + +For reply I took her hand in my own from where it lay idly on my knee, +and, carrying it to my lips, pressed a long kiss on the top of each of +the slender white fingers. Then I held the hand tight between both of +mine as I asked simply, looking into her eyes: + +"Do you understand me now?" + +Another silence. + +"My revenge," she breathed. + +I nodded and again pressed her hand to my lips. + +"Yes, Desiree. We are not children. I think we know what we mean. +But you have not told me. Did you mean what you said that day on the +mountain?" + +"Ah, I thought that was a play!" she murmured. + +"Tell me! Did you mean it?" + +"I never confess the same sin twice, my friend." + +"Desiree, did you mean it?" + +Then suddenly, with the rapidity of lightning, her manner changed. She +bent toward me with parted lips and looked straight into my eyes. +There was passion in the gaze; but when she spoke her voice was quite +even and so low I scarcely heard. + +"Paul," she said, "I shall not again say I love you. Such words should +not be wasted. Not now, perhaps; but that is because we are where we +are. And if we should return? + +"You have said that nothing is worth a serious word to you; and you are +right. You are too cynical; things are bitter in your mouth, and +doubly so when they leave it. Just now you are amusing yourself by +pretending to care for me. Perhaps you do not know it, but you are. +Search your heart, my friend, and tell me--do you want my love?" + +Well, there was no need to search my heart, she had laid it open. I +hated myself then; and I turned away, unable to meet her eyes, as I +said: + +"Bon Dieu!" she cried. "That is an ugly speech, monsieur!" And she +laughed aloud. + +"But we must not awaken Harry," she continued with sudden softness. +"What a boy he is--and what a man! Ah, he knows what it is to love!" + +That topic suited me little better, but I followed her. We talked of +Harry, Le Mire with an amount of enthusiasm that surprised me. +Suddenly she stopped abruptly and announced that she was hungry. + +I found Harry's pantry after a few minutes' search and took some of its +contents to Desiree. Then I returned to the edge of the water and ate +my portion alone. That meal was one scarcely calculated for the +pleasures of companionship or conviviality. + +It was several hours after that before Harry awoke, the greater part of +which Desiree and I were silent. + +I would have given something to have known her thoughts; my own were +not very pleasant. It is always a disagreeable thing to discover that +some one else knows you better than you know yourself. And Desiree had +cut deep. At the time I thought her unjust; time alone could have told +which of us was right. If she were here with me now--but she is not. + +Finally Harry awoke. He was delighted to find Desiree awake and +comparatively well, and demonstrated the fact with a degree of effusion +that prompted me to leave them alone together. But I did not go far; a +hundred paces made me sit down to rest before returning, so weak was I +from wounds and fasting. + +Harry's spirits were high, for no apparent reason other than that we +were still alive, for that was the best that could be said for us. So +I told him; he retorted with a hearty clap on the back that sent me +sprawling to the ground. + +"What the deuce!" he exclaimed, stooping to help me up. "Are you as +weak as that? Gad, I'm sorry!" + +"That is the second fall he has had," said Desiree, with a meaning +smile. + +Indeed, she was having her revenge! + +But my strength was not long in returning. Over a long stretch our +diet would hardly have been conducive to health, but it was exactly +what I needed to put blood and strength in me. And Harry and Desiree, +too, for that matter. + +Again I had to withstand Harry's eager demands for action. He began +within two hours to insist on exploring the cave, and would hardly take +a refusal. + +"I won't stir a foot until I am able to knock you down," I declared +finally and flatly. "Never again will I attempt to perform the feats +of a Hercules when I am fit only for an invalid's chair." And he was +forced to wait. + +As I say, however, my strength was not long in returning, and when it +started it came with a rush. My wounds were healing perfectly; only +one remained open. Harry, with his usual phenomenal luck, had got +nothing but the merest scratches. + +Desiree improved very slowly. The strain of those four days in the +cavern had been severe, and her nerves required more pleasant +surroundings than a dark and damp cavern and more agreeable diet than +raw meat, to adjust themselves. + +Thus it was that when Harry and I found ourselves ready to start out to +explore the cavern and, if possible, find an exit on the opposite side +from the one where we had entered, we left Desiree behind, seated on a +pile of skins, with a spear on the ground at her side. + +"We'll be back in an hour," said Harry, stooping to kiss her; and the +phrase, which might have come from the lips of a worthy Harlem husband +leaving for a little sojourn with friends on the corner, brought a +smile to my face. + +We went first toward the spot where lay the remains of "our friend with +the eyes," as Harry called him, and we were guided straight by our +noses, for the odor of the thing was beginning to be--to use another +phrase of Harry's--"most awful vile." + +There was little to see except a massive pile of crumpled hide and +sinking flesh. As we approached, several hundred of the animals with +which Harry had filled our larder scampered away toward the water. + +"They're not fighters," I observed, turning to watch them disappear in +the darkness. + +"No," Harry agreed. "See here," he added suddenly, holding up a piece +of the hide of the reptile; "this stuff is an inch thick and tough as +rats. It ought to be good for something." + +But by that time I was pinching my nostrils with my fingers, and I +pulled him away. + +Several hundred yards farther on we came to the wall of the cavern. We +followed it, turning to the right; but though it was uneven and marked +by projecting boulders and deep crevices, we found no exit. We had +gone at least half a mile, I think, when we came to the end. There it +turned in a wide circle to the right, and we took the new direction, +which was toward the spot where we had left Desiree, only considerably +to the left. + +Another five minutes found us at the edge of the stream, which at that +point was much swifter than it was farther up. We waded in and +discovered that the cause was its extreme narrowness. + +"But where does the thing go to?" asked Harry, taking the words from my +mouth. + +We soon found out. Proceeding along the bank to the left, within fifty +feet we came to the wall. There the stream entered and disappeared. +But, unlike the others we had seen, above this there was a wide and +high arch, which made it appear as though the stream were passing under +a massive bridge. The current was swift but not turbulent, and there +was something about the surface of that stream flowing straight through +the mountain ahead of us-- + +Harry and I glanced at each other quickly, moved by the same thought. +There was an electric thrill in that glance. + +But we did not speak--then. + +For suddenly, startlingly, a voice sounded throughout the +cavern--Desiree's voice, raised in a shrill cry of terror. + +It was repeated twice before our startled senses found themselves; then +we turned with one impulse and raced into the darkness toward her. + + + +Chapter XIX. + +AFLOAT. + +As we ran swiftly, following the edge of the stream, the cries +continued, filling the cavern with racing echoes. They could not +quicken our step; we were already straining every muscle as we bounded +over the rock. Luckily, the way was clear, for in the darkness we +could see but a few feet ahead. Desiree's voice was sufficient guide +for us. + +Finally we reached her. I don't know what I expected to see, but +certainly not that which met our eyes. + +"Your spear!" cried Harry, dashing off to the right, away from the +stream. + +My spear was ready. I followed. + +Desiree was standing exactly in the spot where we had left her, +screaming at the top of her voice. + +Around her, on every side, was a struggling, pushing mass of the +animals we had frightened away from the carcass of the reptile. There +were hundreds of them packed tightly together, crowding toward her, +some leaping on the backs of others, some trampled to the ground +beneath the feet of their fellows. They did not appear to be actually +attacking her, but we could not see distinctly. + +This we saw in a flash and an instant later had dashed forward into the +mass with whirling spears. It was a farce, rather than a fight. + +We brought our spears down on the swarm of heads and backs without even +troubling to take aim. They pressed against our legs; we waded through +as though it were a current of water. Those we hit either fell or ran; +they waited for no second blow. + +Desiree had ceased her cries. + +"They won't hurt you!" Harry had shouted. "Where's your spear?" + +"Gone. They came on me before I had time to get it." + +"Then kick 'em, push 'em--anything. They're nothing but pigs." + +They had the senseless stubbornness of pigs, at least. They seemed +absolutely unable to realize that their presence was not desired till +they actually felt the spear--utterly devoid even of instinct. + +"So this is what you captured for us at the risk of your life!" I +shouted to Harry in disgust. "They haven't even sense enough to +squeal." + +We finally reached Desiree's side and cleared a space round her. But +it took us another fifteen minutes of pushing and thrusting and +indiscriminate massacre before we routed the brutes. When they did +decide to go they lost no time, but scampered away toward the water +with a sliding, tumbling rush. + +"Gad!" exclaimed Harry, resting on his spear. "And here's a pretty +job. Look at that! I wish they'd carry off the dead ones." + +"Ugh! The nasty brutes! I was never so frightened in my life," said +Desiree. + +"You frightened us, all right," Harry retorted. "Utterly fungoed. I +never ran so fast in my life. And all you had to do was shake your +spear at 'em and say boo! I thought it was the roommate of our friend +with the eyes." + +"Have I been eating those things?" Desiree demanded. + +Harry grinned. + +"Yes, and that isn't all. You'll continue to eat 'em as long as I'm +the cook. Come on, Paul; it's a day's work." + +We dragged the bodies down to the edge of the stream and tossed them +into the current, saving three or four for the replenishment of the +larder. + +I then first tried my hand at the task of skinning and cleaning them, +and by the time I had finished was thoroughly disgusted with it and +myself. Harry had become hardened to it; he whistled over the job as +though he had been born in a butcher's shop. + +"I'd rather go hungry," I declared, washing my hands and arms in the +cool water. + +"Oh, sure," said Harry; "my efforts are never appreciated. I've fed +you up till you've finally graduated from the skeleton class, and you +immediately begin to criticize the table. I know now what it means to +run a boarding-house. Why don't you change your hotel?" + +By the time we had finished we were pretty well tired out, but Harry +wouldn't hear of rest. I was eager myself for another look at the exit +of that stream. So, again taking up our spears, we set out across the +cavern, this time with Desiree between us. She swallowed Harry's +ridicule of her fear and refused to stay behind. + +Again we stood at the point where the stream left the cavern through +the broad arch of a tunnel. + +"There's a chance there," said Harry, turning to me. "It looks good." + +"Yes, if we had a boat," I agreed. "But that's a ten-mile current, and +probably deep." + +I waded out some twenty feet and was nearly swept beneath the surface +as the water circled about my shoulders. + +"We couldn't follow that on our feet," I declared, returning to the +shore. "But it does look promising. At ten miles an hour we'd reach +the western slope in four hours. Four hours to sunshine--but it might +as well be four hundred. It's impossible." + +We turned then and retraced our steps to our camp, if I may give it so +dignified a title. I hated to give up the idea of following the bed of +the stream, for it was certain that somewhere it found the surface of +the earth, and I revolved in my brain every conceivable means to do so. +The same thought was in Harry's mind, for he turned to me suddenly: + +"If we only had something for stringers, I could make a raft that would +carry us to the Pacific and across it. The hide of that thing over +yonder would be just the stuff, and we could get a piece as big as we +wanted." + +I shook my head. + +"I thought of that. But we have absolutely nothing to hold it. There +wasn't a bone in his body; you know that." + +But the idea was peculiarly tempting, and we spent an hour discussing +it. Desiree was asleep on her pile of skins. We sat side by side on +the ground some distance away, talking in low tones. + +Suddenly there was a loud splash in the stream, which was quite close +to us. + +"By gad!" exclaimed Harry, springing to his feet. "Did you hear that? +It sounded like--remember the fish we pulled in from the Inca's raft?" + +"Which has nothing to do with this," I answered. "It's nothing but the +water-pigs. I've heard 'em a thousand times in the last few days. And +the Lord knows we have enough of them." + +But Harry protested that the splash was much too loud to have been +caused by any water-pig and waded into the stream to investigate. I +rose to my feet and followed him leisurely, for no reason in +particular, but was suddenly startled by an excited cry from his lips: + +"Paul--the spear! Quick! It's a whale!" + +I ran as swiftly as I could to the shore and returned with our spears, +but when I reached Harry he greeted me with an oath of disappointment +and the information that the "whale" had disappeared. He was greatly +excited. + +"I tell you he was twenty feet long! A big black devil, with a head +like a cow." + +"You're sure it wasn't like a pig?" I asked skeptically. + +Harry looked at me. + +"I have drunk nothing but water for a month," he said dryly. "It was a +fish, and some fish." + +"Well, there's probably more like him," I observed. "But they can +wait. Come on and get some sleep, and then--we'll see." + +Some hours afterward, having filled ourselves with sleep and food (I +had decided, after mature deliberation, not to change my hotel), we +started out, armed with our spears. Desiree accompanied us. Harry +told her bluntly that she would be in the way, but she refused to stay +behind. + +We turned upstream, thinking our chances better in that direction than +toward the swifter current, and were surprised to find that the cavern +was much larger than any we had before seen. In something over a mile +we had not yet reached the farther wall, for we walked at a brisk pace +for a quarter of an hour or more. + +At this point the stream was considerably wider than it was below, and +there was very little current. Desiree stood on the bank while Harry +and I waded out above our waists. + +There was a long and weary wait before anything occurred. The water +was cold, and my limbs became stiff and numb; I called to Harry that it +was useless to wait longer, and was turning toward the shore when there +was a sudden commotion in the water not far from where he stood. + +I turned and saw Harry plunge forward with his spear. + +"I've got him!" he yelled. "Come on!" + +I went. But I soon saw that Harry didn't have him. He had Harry. +They were all of ten yards away from me, and by the time I reached the +spot there was nothing to be seen but flying water thrashed into foam +and fury. + +I caught a glimpse of Harry being jerked through the air; he was +holding on for dear life with both hands to the shaft of his spear. +The water was over my head there; I was swimming with all the strength +I had. + +"I've got him--through the belly," Harry gasped as I fought my way +through the spray to his side. "His head! Find his head!" + +I finally succeeded in getting my hand on Harry's spear-shaft near +where it entered the body of the fish; but the next instant it was +jerked from me, dragging me beneath the surface. I came up puffing and +made another try, but missed it by several feet. + +Harry kept shouting: "His head! Get him in the head!" + +For that I was saving my spear. But I could make nothing of either +head or tail as the immense fish leaped furiously about in the water, +first this way, then that. + +Once he came down exactly on top of me and carried me far under; I felt +his slippery, smooth body glide over me, and the tail struck me a heavy +blow in the face as it passed. Blinded and half choked, I fought my +way back to the surface and saw that they had got fifty feet away. + +I swam to them, breathing hard and nearly exhausted. The water foamed +less furiously about them now. As I came near the fish leaped half out +of the water and came down flat on his side; I saw his ugly black head +pointed directly toward me. + +"He's about gone!" Harry gasped. + +He was still clinging to the spear. + +I set myself firmly against the water and waited. Soon it parted +violently not ten feet in front of me, and again the head appeared; he +was coming straight for me. I could see the dull beady eyes on either +side, and I let him have the spear right between them. + +There was little force to the blow, but the fish himself furnished +that; he was coming like lightning. I hurled my body aside with a +great effort and felt him sweep past me. + +I turned to swim after them and heard Harry's great shout: "You got +him!" + +By the time I reached him the fish had turned over on his back and was +floating on the surface, motionless. + +We had still to get him ashore, and, exhausted as we were, it was no +easy task. But there was very little current, and after half an hour +of pulling and shoving we got him into shallow water, where we could +find the bottom with our feet. Then it was easier. Desiree waded out +to us and lent a hand, and in another ten minutes we had him high and +dry on the rock. + +He was even larger than I had thought. No wonder Harry had called +him--or one like him--a whale. It was all of fifteen feet from his +snout to the tip of his tail. The skin was dead black on top and +mottled irregularly on the belly. + +As we sat sharpening the points of our spears on the rock, preparatory +to skinning him, Desiree stood regarding the fish with unqualified +approval. She turned to us: + +"Well, I'd rather eat that than those other nasty things." + +"Oh, that isn't what we want him for," said Harry, rubbing his finger +against the edge of his spear-point. "He's probably not fit to eat." + +"Then why all this trouble?" asked Desiree. + +"Dear lady, we expect to ride him home," said Harry, rising to his feet. + +Then he explained our purpose, and you may believe that Desiree was the +most excited of the lot as we ripped down the body of the fish from +tail to snout and began to peel off the tough skin. + +"If you succeed you may choose the new hangings for my boudoir," she +said, with an attempt at lightness not altogether successful. + +"As for me," I declared, "I shall eat fish every day of my life out of +pure gratitude." + +"You'll do it out of pure necessity," Harry put in, "if you don't get +busy." + +It took us three hours of whacking and slashing and tearing to pull the +fish to pieces, but we worked with a purpose and a will. When we had +finished, this is what we had to show: A long strip of bone, four +inches thick and twelve feet long, and tough as hickory, from either +side of which the smaller bones projected at right angles. They were +about an inch in thickness and two inches apart. The lower end of the +backbone, near the tail, we had broken off. + +We examined it and lifted it and bent it half double. + +"Absolutely perfect!" Harry cried in jubilation. "Three more like this +and we'll sail down the coast to Callao." + +"If we can get 'em," I observed. "But two would do. We could make it +a triangle." + +Harry looked at me. + +"Paul, you're an absolute genius. But would it be big enough to hold +us?" + +We discussed that question on our way back to camp, whither we carried +the backbone of our fish, together with some of the meat. Then, after +a hearty meal, we slept. After seven hours of the hardest kind of work +we were ready for it. + +That was our program for the time that followed--time that stretched +into many weary hours, for, once started, we worked feverishly, so +impatient had we become by dint of that faint glimmer of hope. We were +going to try to build a raft, on which we were going to try to embark +on the stream, by which we were going to try to find our way out of the +mountain. The prospect made us positively hilarious, so slender is the +thread by which hope jerks us about. + +The first part of our task was the most strenuous. We waited and waded +round many hours before another fish appeared, and then he got away +from us. Another attempt was crowned with success after a hard fight. +The second one was even larger than the first. + +The next two were too small to be of use in the raft, but we saved them +for another purpose. Then, after another long search, lasting many +hours, we ran into half a dozen of them at once. + +By that time we were fairly expert with our spears, besides having +discovered their vulnerable spot--the throat, just forward from the +gills. To this day I don't know whether or not they were man-eaters. +Their jaws were roomy and strong as those of any shark; but they never +closed on us. + +Thus we had four of the large backbones and two smaller ones. Next we +wanted a covering, and for that purpose we visited the remains of the +reptile which had first led us into the cavern. + +Its hide was half an inch thick and tough as the toughest leather. +There was no difficulty in loosening it, for by that time the flesh was +so decayed and sunken that it literally fell off. That job was the +worst of all. + +Time and again, after cutting away with the points of our spears--our +only tools--until we could stand it no longer, we staggered off to the +stream like drunken men, sick and faint with the sight and smell of the +mess. + +But that, too, came to an end, and finally we marched off to the camp, +which we had removed a half-mile upstream, dragging after us a piece of +the hide about thirty feet long and half as wide. It was not as heavy +as we had thought, which made it all the better for our purpose. + +The remainder of our task, though tedious, was not unpleasant. + +We first made the larger bones, which were to serve as the beams of our +raft, exactly the same length by filing off the ends of the longer ones +with rough bits of granite. I have said it was tedious. Then we filed +off each of the smaller bones projecting from the neural arch until +they were of equal length. + +They extended on either side about ten inches, which, allowing four +inches for the width of the larger bone and one inch for the covering, +would make our raft slightly over a foot in depth. + +To make the cylindrical column rigid, we bound each of the vertebrae to +the one in direct juxtaposition on either side firmly with strips of +hide, several hundred feet of which we had prepared. + +This gave us four beams held straight and true, without any play in +either direction, with only a slight flexibility resulting from the +cartilages within the center cord. + +With these four beams we formed a square, placing them on their edges, +end to end. At each corner of the square we lashed the ends together +firmly with strips of hide. It was both firm and flexible after we had +lashed the corners over and over with the strips, that there might be +no play under the strain of the current. + +Over this framework we stretched the large piece of hide so that the +ends met on top, near the middle. The bottom was thus absolutely +watertight. We folded the corners in and caught them up with strips +over the top. Then, with longer strips, we fastened up the sides, +passing the strips back and forth across the top, from side to side, +having first similarly secured the two ends. As a final precaution, we +passed broader strips around both top and bottom, lashing them together +in the center of the top. And there was our raft, twelve feet square, +over a foot deep, water-tight as a town drunkard, and weighing not more +than a hundred pounds. It has taken me two minutes to tell it; it took +us two weeks to do it. + +But we discovered immediately that the four beams on the sides and ends +were not enough, for Desiree's weight alone caused the skin to sag +clear through in the center, though we had stretched it as tightly as +possible. We were forced to unlash all the strips running from side to +side and insert supports, made of smaller bones, across the middle each +way. These we reinforced on their ends with the thickest hide we could +find, that they might not puncture the bottom. After that it was +fairly firm; though its sea-worthiness was not improved, it was much +easier to navigate than it would have been before. + +For oars we took the lower ends of the backbones of the two smaller +fish and covered them with hide. They were about five feet long and +quite heavy; but we intended to use them more for the purpose of +steering than for propulsion. The current of the stream would attend +to that for us. + +Near the center of the raft we arranged a pile of the skins of the +water-pigs for Desiree; a seat by no means uncomfortable. The strips +which ran back and forth across the top afforded a hold as security +against the tossing of the craft; but for her feet we arranged two +other strips to pass over her ankles what time she rested. This was an +extreme precaution, for we did not expect the journey to be a long one. + +Finally we loaded on our provisions--about thirty pounds of the meat of +the fish and water-pigs, wrapping it securely in two or three of the +skins and strapping them firmly to the top. + +"And now," said I, testing the strips on the corners for the last time, +"all we need is a name for her and a bottle of wine." + +"And a homeward-bound pennant," put in Harry. + +"The name is easy enough," said Desiree. "I hereby christen her Clarte +du Soleil." + +"Which means?" asked Harry, whose French came only in spots. + +"Sunshine," I told him. "Presumably after the glorious King of the +Incas, who calls himself the Child of the Sun. But it's a good name. +May Heaven grant that it takes us there!" + +"I think we ought to take more grub," said Harry--an observation which +he had made not less than fifty times in the preceding fifty minutes. +He received no support and grumbled to himself something about the +horrible waste of leaving so much behind. + +Why it was I don't know, but we were fully persuaded that we were about +to say good-by forever to this underground world and its dangers. +Somehow, we had coaxed ourselves into the belief that success was +certain; it was as though we had seen the sunlight streaming in from +the farther end of the arched tunnel into which the stream disappeared. +There was an assurance about the words of each that strengthened this +feeling in the others, and hope had shut out all thought of failure as +we prepared to launch our craft. + +It took us some time to get it to the edge of the water, though it was +close by, for we handled it with extreme care, that it might not be +torn on the rocks. Altogether, with the provisions, it weighed close +to one hundred and fifty pounds. + +We were by no means sure that the thing would carry us, and when once +we had reached the water we forgot caution in our haste to try it. We +held it at the edge while Desiree arranged herself on the pile of +skins. The spears lay across at her feet, strapped down for security. + +Harry stepped across to the farther edge of the raft. + +"Ready!" he called, and I shoved off, wading behind. When the water +was up to my knees I climbed aboard and picked up my oar. + +"By all the nine gods, look at her!" cried Harry in huge delight. "She +takes about three inches! Man, she'd carry an army!" + +"Allons!" cried Desiree, with gay laughter. "C'est Perfection!" + +"Couldn't be better," I agreed; "but watch yourself, Hal. When we get +into the current things are going to begin to happen. If it weren't +for the beastly darkness 'twould be easy enough. As it is, one little +rock the size of your head could send us to the bottom." + +We were still near the bank, working our way out slowly. Harry and I +had to maintain positions equidistant from the center in order to keep +the raft balanced; hence I had to push her out alone. + +Considering her bulk, she answered to the oar very well. + +Another five minutes and we were near the middle of the stream. At +that point there was but little current and we drifted slowly. Harry +went to the bow, while I took up a position on the stern--if I may use +such terms for such a craft--directly behind Desiree. We figured that +we were then about a mile from the Point where the stream left the +cavern. + +Gradually, as the stream narrowed, the strength of the current +increased. Still it was smooth, and the raft sailed along without a +tremor. Once or twice, caught by some trick of the current, she turned +half round, poking her nose ahead, but she soon righted herself. + +The water began to curl up on the sides as we were carried more and +more swiftly onward, with a low murmur that was music to us. The +stream became so narrow that we could see the bank on either side, +though dimly, and I knew we were approaching the exit. + +I called to Harry: "Keep her off to the right as we make the turn!" and +he answered: "Aye, aye, sir!" with a wave of the hand. This, at least, +was action with a purpose. + +Another minute and we saw the arch directly ahead of us, round a bend +in the stream. The strength of the current carried us toward the off +bank, but we plied our oars desperately and well, and managed to keep +fairly well in to the end of the curve. + +We missed the wall of the tunnel--black, grim rock that would have +dashed out our brains--by about ten feet, and were swept forward under +the arch, on our way--so we thought--to the land of sunshine. + + + +Chapter XX. + +AN INCA SPEAR. + +Here I might most appropriately insert a paragraph on the vanity of +human wishes and endeavor. But events, they say, speak for themselves; +and still, for my own part, I prefer the philosopher to the historian. +Mental digestion is a wearisome task; you are welcome to it. + +To the story. As I have said, we missed the wall of the tunnel by a +scant ten feet, and we kept on missing it. Once under the arch, our +raft developed a most stubborn inclination to bump up against the rocky +banks instead of staying properly in the middle of the current, as it +should. + +First to one side, then to the other, it swung, while Harry and I kept +it off with our oars, often missing a collision by inches. But at +least the banks were smooth and level, and as long as the stream itself +remained clear of obstruction there was but little real danger. + +The current was not nearly so swift as I had expected it would be. In +the semidarkness it was difficult to calculate our rate of speed, but I +judged that we were moving at about six or seven miles an hour. + +We had gone perhaps three miles when we came to a sharp bend in the +stream, to the left, almost at a right angle. Harry, at the bow, was +supposed to be on the lookout, but he failed to see it until we were +already caught in its whirl. + +Then he gave a cry of alarm, and together we swung the raft to the +left, avoiding the right bank of the curve by less than a foot. Once +safely past, I sent Harry to the stern and took the bow myself, which +brought down upon him a deal of keen banter from Desiree. + +There the tunnel widened, and the raft began to glide easily onward, +without any of its sudden dashes to right or left. I rested on my oar, +gazing intently ahead; at the best I could make out the walls a hundred +yards ahead, and but dimly. All was silence, save the gentle swish of +the water against the sides of the raft and the patter of Harry's oar +dipping idly on one side or the other. + +Suddenly Desiree's voice came through the silence, soft and very low: + + "Pendant une anne' toute entiere, + Le regiment na Pas r'paru. + Au Ministere de la Guerre + On le r'porta comme perdu. + + "On se r'noncait a r'trouver sa trace, + Quand un matin subitement, + On le vit r'paraitre sur la place, + L'Colonel toujours en avant." + + +I waited until the last note had died away in the darkness. + +"Are those your thoughts?" I asked then, half turning. + +"No," said Desiree, "but I want to kill my thoughts. As for them--" + +She hesitated, and after a short pause her voice again broke into +melody: + + "Fresh as the first beam glittering on a sail + That brings our friends up from the underworld; + Sad as the last which reddens over one + That sinks with all we love below the verge; + So sad, so fresh, the days that are no more." + + +Her voice, subdued and low, breathed a sweetness that seemed almost to +be of another world. My ear quivered with the vibrations, and long +after she was silent the last mellow note floated through my brain. + +Suddenly I became conscious of another sound, scarcely less musical. +It, too, was low; so low and faint that at first I thought my ear +deceived me, or that some distant echo was returning Desiree's song +down the dark tunnel. + +Gradually, very gradually, it became louder and clearer, until at +length I recognized it. It was the rush of water, unbroken, still low +and at a great distance. I turned to remark on it to Harry, but +Desiree took the words from my mouth. + +"I seem to hear something--like the surf," she said. "That isn't +possible, is it?" + +I could have smiled but for the deep note of hope in her voice. + +"Hardly," I answered. "I have heard it for several minutes. It is +probably some shallows. We must look sharp." + +Another fifteen minutes, and I began to notice that the speed of the +current was increasing. The sound of the rushing water, too, was quite +distinct. Still the raft moved more and more swiftly, till I began to +feel alarmed. I turned to Harry: + +"That begins to sound like rapids. See that the spears are fastened +securely, and stand ready with your oar. Sit tight, Desiree." + +One thing was certain: there was nothing to do but go ahead. On both +sides the walls of the tunnel rose straight up from the surface of the +water; there was nowhere room for a landing-place--not even a foot for +a purchase to stay our flight. To go back was impossible; at the rate +the current was now carrying us we could not have held the raft even +for a moment without oars. + +Soon we were gliding forward so swiftly that the raft trembled under +us; from the darkness ahead came the sound of the rapids, now increased +to a roar that filled the tunnel and deafened us. I heard Harry +shouting something, but could not make out the words; we were shooting +forward with the speed of an express train and the air about us was +full of flying water. + +The roar of the rapids became louder and louder. I turned for an +instant, shouting at the top of my voice: "Flat on your faces, and hold +on for dear life!" Then I dropped down with my oar under me, passing my +feet under two of the straps and clinging to two others with my hands. + +Another few seconds passed that seemed an hour. The raft was swaying +and lurching with the mad force of the current. I called out again to +Harry and Desiree, but my words were completely drowned by the +deafening, stunning roar of the water. All was darkness and confusion. +I kept asking myself: "Why doesn't it come?" It seemed an age since I +had thrown myself on my face. + +Suddenly the raft leaped up under me and away. It seemed as though +some giant hand had grasped it from beneath and jerked it down with +tremendous force. The air was filled with water, lashing my face and +body furiously. The raft whirled about like a cork. I gripped the +straps with all the strength that was in me. Down, down we went into +the darkness; my breath was gone and my brain whirled dizzily. + +There was a sudden sharp lurch, a jerk upward, and I felt the surface +of the water close over me. Blinded and dazed, I clung to my hold +desperately, struggling with the instinct to free myself. For several +seconds the roar of the cataract sounded in my ears with a furious +faintness, as though it were at a great distance; then I felt the air +again and a sudden cessation of motion. + +I opened my eyes, choking and sputtering. For a time I could see +nothing; then I made out Desiree's form, and Harry's, stretched behind +me on the raft. At the same instant Harry's voice came: + +"Paul! Ah, Desiree!" + +In another moment we were at her side. Her hands held to the straps on +each side with a grip as of death; we had to pry off each of her +fingers separately to loosen them. Then we bent her over Harry's knee +and worked her arms up and down, and soon her chest heaved convulsively +and her lungs freed themselves of the water they had taken. Presently +she turned about; her eyes opened and she pressed her hands to her head. + +"Don't say 'Where am I?'" said Harry, "because we don't know. How do +you feel?" + +"I don't know," she answered, still gasping for breath. "What was it? +What did we do?" + +I left them then, turning to survey the extent of our damage. There +was absolutely none; we were as intact as when we started. The +provisions and spears remained under their straps; my oar lay where I +had fallen on it. The raft appeared to be floating easily as before, +without a scratch. + +The water about us was churned into foam, though we had already been +carried so far from the cataract that it was lost behind us in the +darkness; only its roar reached our ears. To this day I haven't the +faintest idea of its height; it may have been ten feet or two hundred. +Harry says a thousand. + +We were moving slowly along on the surface of what appeared to be a +lake, still carried forward by the force of the falls behind us. For +my part, I found its roar bewildering and confusing, and I picked up my +oar and commenced to paddle away from it; at least, so I judged. + +Harry's voice came from behind: + +"In the name of goodness, where did you get that oar?" + +I turned. + +"Young man, a good sailor never loses an oar. How do you feel, +Desiree?" + +"Like a drowned rat," she answered, but with a laugh in her voice. +"I'm faint and sick and wet, and my throat is ready to burst, but I +wouldn't have missed that for anything. It was glorious! I'd like to +do it again." + +"Yes, you would," said Harry skeptically. "You're welcome, thank you. +But what I want to know is, where did that oar come from?" + +I explained that I had taken the precaution to fall on it. + +"Do you never lose your head?" asked Desiree. + +"No, merely my heart." + +"Oh, as for that," she retorted, with a lightness that still had a +sting, "my good friend, you never had any." + +Whereupon I returned to my paddling in haste. + +Soon I discovered that though, as I have said, we appeared to be in a +lake--for I could see no bank on either side--there was still a +current. We drifted slowly, but our movement was plainly perceptible, +and I rested on my oar. + +Presently a wall loomed up ahead of us and I saw that the stream again +narrowed down as it entered the tunnel, much lower than the one above +the cataract. The current became swifter as we were carried toward its +mouth, and I called to Harry to get his spear to keep us off from the +walls if it should prove necessary. But we entered exactly in the +center and were swept forward with a rush. + +The ceiling of the tunnel was so low that we could not stand upright on +the raft, and the stream was not more than forty feet wide. That was +anything but promising; if the stream really ran through to the western +slope, its volume of water should have been increasing instead of +diminishing. I said nothing of that to Harry or Desiree. + +We had sailed along thus without incident for upward of half an hour, +when my carelessness, or the darkness, nearly brought us to grief. +Suddenly, without warning, there was a violent jar and the raft +rebounded with a force that all but threw us into the water. Coming to +a bend in the stream, the current had dashed us against the other bank. + +But, owing to the flexibility of its sides, the raft escaped damage. I +had my oar against the wall instantly, shoving off, and we swung round +and caught the current again round the curve. + +But that bend was to the left, as the other had been, which meant that +we were now going in exactly the opposite direction of that in which we +had started! Which, in turn, meant the death of hope; we were merely +winding in and out in a circle and getting nowhere. Harry and Desiree +had apparently not noticed the fact, and I said nothing of it. Time +enough when they should find out for themselves; and besides, there was +still a chance, though a slim one. + +Soon the bed of the stream became nearly level, for we barely moved. +The roof of the tunnel was very low--but a scant foot above our heads +as we sat or crouched on the raft. It was necessary to keep a sharp +lookout ahead; a rock projecting from above would have swept us into +the water. + +The air, too, was close and foul; our breath became labored and +difficult; and Desiree, half stifled and drowsy, passed into a fitful +and broken sleep, stirring restlessly and panting for air. Harry had +taken the bow and I lay across the stern. Suddenly his voice came, +announcing that we had left the tunnel. + +I sat up quickly and looked round. The walls were no longer to be +seen; we had evidently entered a cavern similar to the one in which we +had embarked. + +"Shall we lay off?" I asked, stepping across to Harry's side. + +He assented, and I took the oar and worked the raft over to the left. +There was but little current and she went well in. In a few minutes we +were in shallow water, and Harry and I jumped off and shoved her to the +bank. + +Desiree sat up, rubbing her eyes. + +"Where are we?" she asked. + +Harry explained while we beached the raft. Then we broke out our +provisions and partook of them. + +"But why do we stop?" asked Desiree. + +The words "Because we are not getting anywhere" rose to my lips, but I +kept them back. + +"For a rest and some air," I answered. + +Desiree exclaimed: "But I want to go on!" + +So as soon as we had eaten our fill we loaded the stuff again and +prepared to shove off. By that time I think Harry, too, had realized +the hopelessness of our expedition, for he had lost all his enthusiasm; +but he said nothing, nor did I. We secured Desiree on her pile of +skins and again pushed out into the current. + +The cavern was not large, for we had been under way but a few minutes +when its wall loomed up ahead and the stream again entered a tunnel, so +low and narrow that I hesitated about entering at all. I consulted +Harry. + +"Take a chance," he advised. "Why not? As well that as anything." + +We slipped through the entrance. + +The current was extremely sluggish, and we barely seemed to move. +Still we went forward. + +"If we only had a little speed we could stand it," Harry grumbled. + +Which shows that a man does not always appreciate a blessing. It was +not long before we were offering up thanks that our speed had been so +slight. + +To be exact, about an hour, as well as I could measure time, which +passed slowly; for not only were the minutes tedious, but the foulness +of the air made them also extremely uncomfortable. Desiree was again +lying down, half-unconscious but not asleep, for now and then she spoke +drowsily. Harry complained of a dizziness in the head, and my own +seemed ready to burst through my temples. The soroche of the mountains +was agreeable compared to that. + +Suddenly the swiftness of the current increased appreciably on the +instant; there was a swift jerk as we were carried forward. I rose to +my knees--the tunnel was too low to permit of standing--and gazed +intently ahead. I could see nothing save that the stream had narrowed +to half its former width, and was still becoming narrower. + +We went faster and faster, and the stream narrowed until the bank was +but a few feet away on either side. + +"Watch the stern!" I called to Harry. "Keep her off with your spear!" + +Then a wall loomed up directly ahead. I thought it meant another bend +in the stream, and I strained my eyes intently in the effort to +discover its direction, but I could see nothing save the black wall. +We approached closer; I shouted to Harry and Desiree to brace +themselves for a shock, praying that the raft would meet the rock +squarely and not on a corner. + +I had barely had time to set myself and grasp the straps behind when we +struck with terrific force. The raft rebounded several feet, trembling +and shaking violently. The water was rushing past us with noisy +impetuosity. + +There was a cry from Desiree, and from Harry, "All right!" I crawled to +the bow. Along the top the hide covering had been split open for +several feet, but the water did not quite reach the opening. + +And we had reached the end of our ambitious journey. For that black +wall marked the finish of the tunnel; the stream entered it through a +narrow hole, which accounted for the sudden, swift rush of the current. +Above the upper rim of the hole the surface of the water whirled about +in a widening circle; to this had we been led by the stream that was to +have carried us to the land of sunshine. + +When I told Desiree she stared at me in silence! I had not realized +before the strength of her hope. Speechless with disappointment, she +merely sat and stared straight ahead at the black, unyielding rock. +Harry knelt beside her with his arm across her shoulders. + +I roused him with a jerk of the arm. + +"Come--get busy! A few hours in this hole and we'd suffocate. Do you +realize that we've got to pull this raft back against the current?" + +First it was necessary to repair the rent in the hide covering. This +we did with strips of hide; and barely in time, for it was becoming +wider every minute, and the water was beginning to creep in over the +edge. But we soon had the ends sewed firmly together and turned our +hands to the main task. + +It appeared to be not only difficult, but actually impossible to force +the raft back up-stream against the swift current. We were jammed +against the rock with all the force of many tons of water. The oar was +useless. + +Getting a purchase on the wall with our hands, we shoved the raft to +one side; but as soon as we got to the wall on the left the whirling +stream turned us around again, and we found ourselves back in our +original position, only with a different side of the raft against the +rock. That happened three times. + +Then we tried working to the right instead of the left, but with no +better success. The force of the current, coming with all its speed +against the unwieldy raft, was irresistible. Time and again we shoved +round and started upstream, after incredible labor, only to be dashed +back again against the rock. + +We tried our spears, but their shafts were so slender that they were +useless. We took the oar and, placing its end against the wall, shoved +with all our strength. The oar snapped in two and we fell forward +against the wall. We tore off some of the strips of hide from the raft +and tried to fasten them to the wall on either side, but there was no +protuberance that would hold them. Nothing remained to be done. + +Harry and I held a consultation then and agreed on the only possible +means of escape. I turned to Desiree: + +"Can you swim?" + +"Parfaitement," she replied. "But against that"--pointing to the +whirling water--"I do not know. I can try." + +I, who remember the black fury of that stream as it swept past us, can +appreciate the courage of her. + +We lost no time, for the foulness of the air was weakening us with +every breath we took. Our preparations were few. + +The two spears and about half of the provisions we strapped to our +backs--an inconsiderable load which would hamper us but little. We +discarded all our clothing, which was very little. I took the heavy +skin which Desiree had worn and began to strap it also on top of my +bundle, but she refused to allow it. + +"I will not permit you to be handicapped with my modesty," she observed. + +Then, with Desiree between us, we stepped to the edge of the raft and +dived off together. + +Driven as we were by necessity, we would have hesitated longer if we +had known the full force of the undercurrent that seized us from +beneath. Desiree would have disappeared without a struggle if it had +not been for the support which Harry and I rendered her on either side. + +But we kept on top--most of the time--and fought our way forward by +inches. The black walls frowning at us from either side appeared to me +to remain exactly the same, stationary, after a long and desperate +struggle; but when I gave a quick glance behind I saw that we had +pulled so far away from the raft that it was no longer in sight. That +gave me renewed strength, and, shouting assurance to Harry and Desiree, +I redoubled my efforts. Desiree was by now almost able to hold her +own, but we still supported her. + +Every stroke made the next one easier, carrying us away from the +whirlpool, and soon we swam smoothly. Less and less strong became the +resistance of the current, until finally it was possible to float +easily on our backs and rest. + +"How far is it to the cavern?" Harry panted. + +"Somewhere between one and ten miles," was my answer. "How the deuce +should I know? But we'll make it now, I think. Can you hold out, +Desiree?" + +"Easily," she answered. "If only I could get some air! Just one good, +long breath." + +There was the danger, and on that account no time was to be lost. +Again we struck out into the blackness ahead. I felt myself no longer +fresh, and began to doubt seriously if we should reach our goal. + +But we reached it. No need to recount our struggles, which toward the +end were inspired by suffering amounting to agony as we choked and +gasped for sufficient air to keep us up. + +Another hundred yards would have been too much for us; but it is enough +that finally we staggered onto the bank at the entrance to the cavern +in which we had previously rested, panting, dizzy, and completely +exhausted. + +But an hour in the cavern, with its supply of air, revived us; and then +we sat up and asked ourselves: "What for?" + +"And all that brings us--to this," said Harry, with a sweeping gesture +round the cavern. + +"At least, it is a better tomb," I retorted. "And it was a good fight. +We still have something in us. Desiree, a good man was lost in you." + +Harry rose to his feet. + +"I'm going to look round," he announced. "We've got to do something. +Gad, and it took us a month to build that raft!" + +"The vanity of human endeavor," said I, loosening the strap round my +shoulders and dropping my bundle to the ground. "Wait a minute; I'm +going with you. Are you coming, Desiree?" + +But she was too tired to rise to her feet, and we left her behind, +arranging what few skins we had as well as possible to protect her from +the hard rock. + +"Rest your weary bones," said Harry, stooping to kiss her. "There's +meat here if you want it. We'll be back soon." + +So we left her, with her white body stretched out at its full length on +the rude mat. + +Bearing off to the left, we soon discovered that we would have no +difficulty to leave the cavern; we had only to choose our way. There +was scarcely any wall at all, so broken was it by lanes and passages +leading in all directions. + +We followed some of them for a distance, but found none that gave any +particular promise. Most of them were choked with rocks and boulders +through which it was difficult to force a passage. We spent an hour or +more in these futile explorations, then followed the wall some distance +to the right. + +Gradually the exits became less numerous. High on a boulder near the +entrance of one we saw the head of some animal peering down at us. We +hurled our spears at it, but missed; then were forced to climb up the +steep side of the boulder to recover our weapons. + +"We'd better go back to Desiree," said Harry when we reached the ground +again. "She'll wonder what's become of us. We've been gone nearly two +hours." + +After fifteen minutes' search we found the stream, and followed it to +the left. We had gone farther than we thought, and we were looking for +the end, where we had left Desiree, long before we reached it. Several +times we called her name, but there was no answer. + +"She's probably asleep," said Harry. And a minute later: "There's the +wall at last! But where is she?" + +My foot struck something on the ground, and I stooped over to examine +it. + +It was the pile of skins on which Desiree had lain! + +I called to Harry, and at the same instant heard his shout of +consternation as he came running toward me, holding something in his +hand. + +"They've got her! Look! Look at this! I found it on the ground over +there." + +He held the thing in his hand out before me. + +It was an Inca spear. + + + +Chapter XXI. + +THE MIDST OF THE ENEMY. + +Harry and I stood gazing at each other blankly in the semidarkness of +the cavern. + +"But it isn't possible," I objected finally to my own thoughts. "She +would have cried out and we would have heard her. The spear may have +been there before." + +Then I raised my voice, calling her name many times at the top of my +lungs. There was no answer. + +"They've got her," said Harry, "and that's all there is to it. The +cursed brutes crept up on her in the dark--much chance she had of +crying out when they got their hands on her. I know it. Why did we +leave her?" + +"Where did you find the spear?" I asked. + +Harry pointed toward the wall, away from the stream. + +"On the ground?" + +"Yes." + +"Is there an exit from the cavern on that side?" + +"I don't know." + +"Well, that's our only chance. Come on!" + +We found the exit, and another, and a third. Which to take? They were +very similar to one another, except that the one in the middle sloped +upward at a gentle incline, while the others were level. + +"One is as good as another," I observed, and entered the one on the +left. + +Once started, we advanced with a rush. The passage was straight and +narrow, clear of obstruction, and we kept at a steady run. + +"They may have an hour's start of us," came Harry's voice at my side. + +"Or five minutes," I returned. "We have no way of knowing. But I'm +afraid we're on the wrong trail." + +Still as I had said, one chance was as good as another, and we did not +slacken our pace. The passage went straight forward, without a bend. +The roof was low, just allowing us to pass without stooping, and the +walls were rough and rugged. + +It was not long before we found that we had taken the wrong chance, +having covered, I think, some two or three miles when a wall loomed up +directly in our path. + +"At last, a turn!" panted Harry. + +But it was not a turn. It was the end of the passage. We had been +following a blind alley. + +Harry let out a string of oaths, and I seconded him. Twenty minutes +wasted, and another twenty to return! + +There was nothing else for it. We shouldered our spears and started to +retrace our steps. + +"No use running now," I declared. "We can't keep it up forever, and we +may as well save our strength. We'll never catch up with 'em, but we +may find 'em." + +Harry, striding ahead two or three paces in front, did not answer. + +Finally we reached the cavern from which we had started. + +"And now what?" asked Harry in a tone of the most utter dejection. + +I pointed to the exit in the middle. "That! We should have taken it +in the first place. On the raft we probably descended altogether +something like five hundred feet from the level where we +started--possibly twice that distance. And this passage which slopes +upward will probably take us back." + +"At least, it's as good as the other," Harry agreed; and we entered it. + +We had not proceeded far before we found ourselves in difficulties. +The gentle slope became a steep incline. Great rocks loomed up in our +path. + +In spots the passage was so narrow that two men could hardly have +walked abreast through it, and its walls were rough and irregular, with +sharp points projecting unexpectedly into our very faces. + +Still we went forward and upward, scrambling over, under, round, +between. At one point, when Harry was a few yards in front of me, he +suddenly disappeared from sight as though swallowed by the mountain. + +Rushing forward, I saw him scrambling to his feet at the bottom of a +chasm some ten feet below. Luckily he had escaped serious injury, and +climbed up on the other side, while I leaped across--a distance of +about six feet. + +"They could never have brought her through this," he declared, rubbing +a bruised knee. + +"Do you want to go back?" I asked. + +But he said that would be useless, and I agreed with him. So we +struggled onward, painfully and laboriously. The sharp corners of the +rocks cut our feet and hands, and I had an ugly bruise on my left +shoulder, besides many lesser ones. Harry's injured knee caused him to +limp and thus further retarded our progress. + +At times the passage broadened out until the wall on either side was +barely visible, only to narrow down again till it was scarcely more +than a crevice between the giant boulders. The variation of the +incline was no less, being at times very nearly level, and at others +mounting upward at an angle whose ascent was all but impossible. +Somehow we crawled up, like flies on a wall. + +When we came to a stream of water rushing directly across our path at +the foot of a towering rock Harry gave a cry of joy and ran forward. I +had not known until then how badly his knee was hurt, and when I came +up to where he was bathing it in the stream and saw how black and +swollen it was, I insisted that he give it a rest. But he absolutely +refused, and after we had quenched our thirst and gotten an easy breath +or two we struggled to our feet and on. + +After another hour of scrambling and failing and hanging on by our +finger nails, the way began to be easier. We came to level, clear +stretches with only an occasional boulder or ravine, and the rock +became less cruel to our bleeding feet. The relief came almost too +late, for by that time every movement was painful, and we made but slow +progress. + +Soon we faced another difficulty when we came to a point where a split +in the passage showed a lane on either side. One led straight ahead; +the other branched off to the right. They were very similar, but +somehow the one on the right looked more promising to us, and we took +it. + +We had followed this but a short distance when it broadened out to such +an extent that the walls on either side could be seen but dimly. It +still sloped upward, but at a very slight angle, and we had little +difficulty in making our way. Another half-hour and it narrowed down +again to a mere lane. + +We were proceeding at a fairly rapid gait, keeping our eyes strained +ahead, when there appeared an opening in the right wall at a distance +of a hundred feet or so. Not having seen or heard anything to +recommend caution, we advanced without slackening our pace until we had +reached it. + +I said aloud to Harry, "Probably a cross-passage," and then jerked him +back quickly against the opposite wall as I saw the real nature of the +opening. + +It led to a small room, with a low ceiling and rough walls, dark as the +passage in which we stood, for it contained no light. + +We could see its interior dimly, but well enough to discover the form +of an Inca standing just within the doorway. His back was toward us, +and he appeared to be fastening something to the ceiling with strips of +hide. + +It was evident that we had not been seen, and I started to move on, +grasping Harry's arm. It was then that I became aware of the fact that +the wall leading away in front of us--that is, the one on the +right--was marked as far as the eye could reach with a succession of +similar openings. + +They were quite close together; from where we stood I could see thirty +or forty of them. I guessed that they, too, led to rooms similar to +the one in front of us, probably likewise occupied; but it was +necessary to go on in spite of the danger, and I pulled again at +Harry's arm. + +Then, seeing by his face that something had happened, I turned my eyes +again on the Inca in the room. He had turned about, squarely facing +us. As we stood motionless he took a hasty step forward; we had been +discovered. + +There was but one thing to do, and we didn't hesitate about doing it. +We leaped forward together, crossing the intervening space in a single +bound, and bore the Inca to the floor under us. + +My fingers were round his throat, Harry sat on him. In a trice we had +him securely bound and gagged, using some strips of hide which we found +suspended from the ceiling. + +"By gad!" exclaimed Harry in a whisper. "Look at him! He's a woman!" + +It was quite evident--disgustingly so. Her eyes, dull and sunken, +appeared as two large, black holes set back in her skull. Her hair, +matted about her forehead and shoulders, was thick and coarse, and +blacker than night. Her body was innocent of any attempt at covering. + +Altogether, not a very pleasant sight; and we bundled her into a corner +and proceeded to look round the room, being careful to remain out of +the range of view from the corridor as far as possible. + +The room was not luxuriously furnished. There were two seats of stone, +and a couch of the same material covered with thick hides. In one +corner was a pile of copper vessels; in another two or three of stone, +rudely carved. Some torn hides lay in a heap near the center of the +room. From the ceiling were suspended other hides and some strips of +dried fish. + +Some of the latter we cut down with the points of our spears and +retired with it to a corner. + +"Ought we to ask our hostess to join us?" Harry grinned. + +"This tastes good, after the other," I remarked. + +Hungry as we were, we made sad havoc with the lady's pantry. Then we +found some water in a basin in the corner and drank--not without +misgivings. But we were too thirsty to be particular. + +Then Harry became impatient to go on, and though I had no liking for +the appearance of that long row of open doorways, I did not demur. +Taking up our spears, we stepped out into the corridor and turned to +the right. + +We found ourselves running a gantlet wherein discovery seemed certain. +The right wall was one unbroken series of open doorways, and in each of +the rooms, whose interiors we could plainly see, were one or more of +the Inca Women; and sometimes children rolled about on the stony floor. + +In one of them a man stood; I could have sworn that he was gazing +straight at us, and I gathered myself together for a spring; but he +made no movement of any kind and we passed swiftly by. + +Once a little black ball of flesh--a boy it was, perhaps five or six +years old--tumbled out into the corridor under our very feet. We +strode over him and went swiftly on. + +We had passed about a hundred of the open doorways, and were beginning +to entertain the hope that we might, after all, get through without +being discovered, when Harry suddenly stopped short, pulling at my arm. +At the same instant I saw, far down the corridor, a crowd of black +forms moving toward us. + +Even at that distance something about their appearance and gait told us +that they were not women. Their number was so great that as they +advanced they filled the passage from wall to wall. + +There was but one way to escape certain discovery; and distasteful as +it was, we did not hesitate to employ it. In a glance I saw that we +were directly opposite an open doorway; with a whispered word to Harry +I sprang across the corridor and within the room. He followed. + +Inside were a woman and two children. As we entered they looked up, +startled, and stood gazing at us in terror. For an instant we held +back, but there was nothing else for it; and in another minute we had +overpowered and bound and gagged them and carried them to a corner. + +The children were ugly little devils and the woman very little above a +brute; still we handled them as tenderly as possible. Then we crouched +against the wall where we could not be seen from the corridor, and +waited. + +Soon the patter of many footsteps reached our ears. They passed; +others came, and still others. For many minutes the sound continued +steadily, unbroken, while we sat huddled up against the wall, scarcely +daring to breathe. + +Immediately in front of me lay the forms of the woman and the children; +I could see their dull eyes, unblinking, looking up at me in abject +terror. Still the patter of footsteps sounded from without, with now +and then an interval of quiet. + +Struck by a sudden thought, I signaled to Harry; and when he had moved +further back into his corner I sprang across the room in one bound to +his side. A word or two of whispering, and he nodded to show that he +understood. We crouched together flat against the wall. + +My thought had come just in time, for scarcely another minute had +passed when there suddenly appeared in the doorway the form of an Inca. +He moved a step inside, and I saw that there was another behind him. I +had not counted on two of them! In the arms of each was a great copper +vessel, evidently very heavy, for their effort was apparent as they +stooped to place the vessels on the ground just within the doorway. + +As they straightened up and saw that the room before them was empty, +their faces filled with surprise. At the same moment a movement came +from the woman in the corner; the two men glanced at them with a start +of wonder; and as I had foreseen, they ran across and bent over the +prostrate forms. + +The next instant they, too, were prone on the floor, with Harry and me +on top of them. They did not succumb without a struggle, and the one I +had chosen proved nearly too much for me. + +The great muscles of his chest and legs strained under me with a power +that made me doubtful for a moment of the outcome; but the Incas +themselves had taught us how to conquer a man when you attack him from +behind, and I grasped his throat with all the strength there was in my +fingers. + +With a desperate effort he got to his knees and grasped my wrists in +his powerful black hands and tore my own grip loose. He was half-way +to his feet, and far more powerful than I; I changed my tactics. +Wrenching myself loose, I fell back a step; then, as he twisted round +to get at me, I lunged forward and let him have my fist squarely +between the eyes. + +The blow nearly broke my hand, but he dropped to the floor. The next +instant I was joined by Harry, who had overcome the other Inca with +little difficulty, and in a trice we had them both bound and gagged +along with the remainder of the family in the corner. + +Owing to my strategy in withholding our attack until the Incas had got +well within the room and to one side, we had not been seen by those +constantly passing up and down in the corridor without; at least, none +of them had entered. We seemed by this stroke to have assured our +safety so long as we remained in the room. + +But it was still necessary to remain against the wall, for the soft +patter of footsteps could still be heard in the corridor. + +They now came at irregular intervals, and there were not many of them. +Otherwise the silence was unbroken. + +"What does it all mean?" Harry whispered. + +"The Incas are coming home to their women," I guessed. "Though, after +seeing the women, it is little wonder if they spend most of their time +away from them. He is welcome to his repose in the bosom of his +family." + +There passed an uneventful hour. Long before it ended the sound of +footsteps had entirely ceased; but we thought it best to take no +chances, and waited for the last minute our impatience would allow us. +Then, uncomfortable and stiff from the long period of immobility and +silence, we rose to our feet and made ready to start. + +Harry was for appropriating some of the strips of dried fish we saw +suspended from the ceiling, but I objected that our danger lay in any +direction other than that of hunger, and we set out with only our +spears. + +The corridor was deserted. One quick glance in either direction +assured us of that; then we turned to the right and set out at a rapid +pace, down the long passage past a succession of rooms exactly similar +to the one we had just left--scores, hundreds of them. + +Each one was occupied by from one to ten of the Incas lying on the +couch which each contained, or stretched on hides on the floor. No one +was stirring. Everywhere was silence save the patter of our own feet, +which we let fall as noiselessly as possible. + +"Will it never end?" whispered Harry at length, after we had traversed +upward of a mile without any sign of a cross-passage or a termination. + +"Forward, and silence!" I breathed for a reply. + +The end--at least, of the silence--came sooner than we had expected. +Hardly were the last words out of my mouth when a whirring noise +sounded behind us. We glanced over our shoulders as we ran, and at the +same instant an Inca spear flew by not two inches from my head and +struck the ground in front. + +Not a hundred feet to the rear we saw a group of Incas rushing along +the passage toward us. Harry wheeled about, raising his spear, but I +grasped him by the arm, crying, "Run; it's our only chance!" The next +moment we were leaping forward side by side down the passage. + +It would have fared ill with any who appeared to block our way in that +mad dash; but it remained clear. The corridor led straight ahead, with +never a turn. We were running as we had never run before; the black +walls flashed past us an indistinguishable blur, and the open doorways +were blended into one. + +Glancing back over my shoulder, I saw that the small group of Incas was +no longer small. Away to the rear the corridor was filled with rushing +black forms. But I saw plainly that we were gaining on them; the +distance that separated us was twice as great as when we had first +started to run. + +"How about it?" I panted. "Can you hold out?" + +"If it weren't for this knee," Harry returned between breaths and +through clenched teeth. "But--I'm with you." He was limping painfully, +and I slackened my pace a little, but he urged me forward with an oath, +and himself sprang to the front. His knee must have been causing him +the keenest agony; his face was white as death. + +Then I uttered a cry of joy as I saw a bend in the passage ahead. We +reached it, and wheeled to the right. There was solid wall on either +side; the series of doors was ended. + +"We'll shake 'em off now," I panted. + +Harry nodded. + +A short distance ahead we came to another cross-passage, and turned to +the left. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw that our pursuers had not +yet reached the first turn. Harry kept in the lead, and was giving me +all I could do to keep up with him. + +We found ourselves now in a veritable maze of lanes and cross-passages, +and we turned to one side or the other at every opportunity. At length +I grasped Harry by the arm and stopped him. We stood for two full +minutes listening intently. There was absolutely no sound of any kind. + +"Thank Heaven!" Harry breathed, and would have fallen to the ground if +I had not supported him. + +We started out then in search of water, moving slowly and cautiously. +But we found none, and soon Harry declared that he could go no further. +We sat down with our backs against the wall of the passage, still +breathing heavily and all but exhausted. + +In that darkness and silence the minutes passed into hours. We talked +but little, and then only in whispers. Finally Harry fell into a +restless sleep, if it may be called that, and several times I dozed off +and was awakened by my head nodding against the stone wall. + +At length, finding Harry awake, I urged him to his feet. His knee +barely supported his weight, but he gritted his teeth and told me to +lead on. + +"We can wait--" I began; but he broke in savagely: + +"No! I want to find her, that's all--and end it. Just one more +chance!" + +We searched for an hour before we found the stream of water we sought. +After Harry had bathed his knee and drunk his fill he felt more fit, +and we pushed on more rapidly, but still quite at random. + +We turned first one way, then another, in the never-ending labyrinth, +always in darkness and silence. We seemed to get nowhere; and I for +one was about to give up the disheartening task when suddenly a sound +smote our ears that caused us first to start violently, then stop and +gaze at each other in comprehension and eager surprise. + +"The bell!" cried Harry. "They are being summoned to the great cavern!" + +It was the same sound we had heard twice before; a sound as of a great, +deep-toned bell ringing sonorously throughout the passages and caverns +with a roar that was deafening. And it seemed to be close--quite close. + +"It came from the left," said Harry; but I disagreed with him and was +so sure of myself that we started off to the right. The echoes of the +bell were still floating from wall to wall as we went rapidly forward. +I do not know what we expected to find, and the Lord knows what we +intended to do after we found it. + +A short distance ahead we came to another passage, crossing at right +angles, broad and straight, and somehow familiar. As with one impulse +we took it, turning to the left, and then flattened ourselves back +against the wall as we saw a group of Incas passing at its farther end, +some two hundred yards away. + +There we stood, motionless and scarcely breathing, while group after +group of the savages passed in the corridor ahead. Their number +swelled to a continuous stream, which in turn gradually became thinner +and thinner until only a few stragglers were seen trotting behind. +Finally they, too, ceased to appear; the corridor was deserted. + +We waited a while longer, then as no more appeared we started forward +and soon had reached the corridor down which they had passed. We +followed in the direction they had taken, turning to the right. + +We had no sooner turned than we saw that which caused us to glance +quickly at each other and hasten our step, while I smothered the +ejaculation that rose to my lips. The corridor in which we now found +ourselves stretched straight ahead for a distance, then turned to one +side; and the corner thus formed was flooded with a brilliant blaze of +light! + +There was no longer any doubt of it: we were on our way to the great +cavern. For a moment I hesitated, asking myself for what purpose we +hastened on thus into the very arms of our enemies; then, propelled by +instinct or premonition--I know not what--I took a firmer grasp on my +spear and followed Harry without word, throwing caution to the winds. + +Yet we avoided foolhardiness, for as we approached the last turn we +proceeded slowly, keeping an eye on the rear. But all the Incas +appeared to have assembled within, for the corridor remained deserted. + +We crept silently to the corner, avoiding the circle of light as far as +possible, and, crouching side by side on the rock, looked out together +on a scene none the less striking because we had seen it twice before. + +It was the great cavern. We saw it from a different viewpoint than +before; the alcove which held the golden throne was far off to our +left, nearly half-way round the vast circumference. On the throne was +seated the king, surrounded by guards and attendants. + +As before, the stone seats which surrounded the amphitheater on every +side were filled with the Incas, crouching motionless and silent. The +flames in the massive urns mounted in steady tongues, casting their +blinding glare in every direction. + +All this I saw in a flash, when suddenly Harry's fingers sank into the +flesh of my arm with such force that I all but cried out in actual +pain. And then, glancing at him and following the direction of his +gaze, I saw Desiree. + +She was standing on the top of the lofty column in the center of the +lake. + +Her white body, uncovered, was outlined sharply against the black +background of the cavern above. + + + +Chapter XXII. + +THE BEGINNING OF THE END. + +Neither Harry nor I spoke; our eyes were concentrated on the scene +before us, trying to comprehend its meaning. + +It was something indefinable in Desiree's attitude that told me the +truth--what, I cannot tell. Her profile was toward us; it could not +have been her eyes or any expression of her face; but there was a +tenseness about her pose, a stiffening of the muscles of her body, an +air of lofty scorn and supreme triumph coming somehow from every line +of her motionless figure, that flashed certainty into my brain. + +And on the instant I turned to Harry. + +"Follow me," I whispered; and he must have read the force of my +knowledge in my eyes, for he obeyed without a word. Back down the +passage we ran, halting at its end. Harry opened his lips to speak, +but I took the words from his mouth; seconds were precious. + +"They have fired the column--you remember. Follow me; keep your spear +ready; not a sound, if you love her." + +I saw that he understood, and saw too, by the expression that shot into +his face, that it would go ill with any Incas who tried to stop us then. + +We rushed forward side by side, guessing at our way, seeking the +entrance to the tunnel that led to the foot of the column. A prayer +was on my lips that we might not be too late; Harry's lips were +compressed together tightly as a vise. Death we did not fear, even for +Desiree; but we remembered the horror of our own experience on the top +of that column, and shuddered as we ran. + +As I have said, we had entered the great cavern at a point almost +directly opposite the alcove, and therefore at a distance from the +entrance we sought. It was necessary to half encircle the cavern, and +the passages were so often crossed by other passages that many times we +had to guess at the proper road. + +But not for an instant did we hesitate; we flew rather than ran. I +felt within me the strength and resolve of ten men, and I knew then +that there was something I must do and would do before I died, though a +thousand devils stood in my way. + +I do not know what led us; whether a remorseful Providence, who +suddenly decided that we had been played with long enough, or the mere +animal instinct of direction, or blind luck. But so fast did we go +that it seemed to me we had left the great cavern scarcely a minute +behind us when I suddenly saw the steps of a steep stairway leading +down from an opening on our right. + +How my heart leaped then! Harry uttered a hoarse cry of exultation. +The next instant we were dashing headlong down the steps, avoiding a +fall by I know not what miracle. And there before us was the entrance +to the tunnel. + +I held Harry back, almost shouting: "You stay here; guard the entrance. +I'll get her." + +"No," he cried, pushing forward. "I can't stay." + +"Fool!" I cried, dashing him back. "We would be caught like rats in a +trap. Defend that entrance--with your life!" + +I saw him hesitate, and, knowing that he would obey, I dashed forward +into the tunnel. When nearly to its end I made a misstep on the uneven +ground and precipitated myself against the wall. A sharp pain shot +through my left shoulder, but at the time I was scarcely conscious of +it as I picked myself up and leaped forward. The end was in sight. + +Just as I reached the foot of the spiral stairway I saw a black form +descending from it. That Inca never knew what hit him. I did not use +my spear; time was too precious. He disappeared in the whirlpool +beneath the base of the column through which Harry and I had once +miraculously escaped. + +But despair filled my heart as, with my feet on the first step of the +spiral stairway, I cast a quick glance upward. The upper half of the +inside of the column was a raging furnace of fire. How or from what it +came I did not stop to inquire; I bounded up the stairway in desperate +fury. + +I did not know then that the stone steps were baking and blistering my +feet; I did not know, as I came level with the base of the flames, that +every hair was being singed from my head and body--I only knew that I +must reach the top of the column. + +Then I saw the source of the flames as I reached them. Huge vats of +oil--six, a dozen, twenty--I know not how many--were ranged in a circle +on a ledge of stone encircling the column, and from their tops the fire +leaped upward to a great height. I saw what must be done; how I did it +God only knows; I shut my eyes now as I remember it. + +Hooking the rim of the vat nearest me with the point of my spear, I +sent it tumbling down the length of the column into the whirlpool, many +feet below. Then another, and another, and another, until the ledge +was empty. + +Some of the burning oil, flying from the overturned vats, alighted on +the stairway, casting weird patches of light up and down the whole +length of the column. Some of it landed on my body, my face, my hands. +It was a very hell of heat; my lungs, all the inside of me, was on fire. + +My brain sang and whirled. My eyes felt as though they were being +burned from their sockets with red-hot irons. I bounded upward. + +A few more steps--I could not see, I could hardly feel--and my head +bumped against the stone at the top of the column. I put out my hand, +groping around half crazily, and by some wild chance it came in contact +with the slide that moved the stone stab. I pushed, hardly knowing +what I did, and the stone flew to one side. I stuck my head through +the opening and saw Desiree. + +Her back was toward me. As I emerged from the opening the Incas seated +round the vast amphitheater and the king, seated on the golden throne +in the alcove, rose involuntarily from their seats in astonished wonder. + +Desiree saw the movement and, turning, caught sight of me. A sudden +cry of amazement burst from her lips; she made a hasty step forward and +fell fainting into my arms. + +I shook her violently, but she remained unconscious, and this added +catastrophe all but unnerved me. For a moment I stood on the upper +step with the upper half of my body, swaying from side to side, +extending beyond the top of the column; then I turned and began to +descend with Desiree in my arms. + +Every step of that descent was unspeakable agony. Feeling was hardly +in me; my whole body was an engine of pain. Somehow, I staggered and +stumbled downward; at every step I expected to fall headlong to the +bottom with my burden. Desiree's form remained limp and lifeless in my +arms. + +I reached the ledge on which the vats had been placed and passed it; +air entered my burning lungs like a breeze from the mountains. Every +step now made the next one easier. I began to think that I might, +after all, reach the bottom in safety. Another twenty steps and I +could see the beginning of the tunnel below. + +Desiree's form stirred slightly in my arms. A glance showed me her +eyes looking up into mine as her head lay back on my shoulder. + +"Why?" she moaned. "In the name of Heaven above us, why?" I had no +time for answer; my lips were locked tightly together as I sought the +step below with a foot that had no feeling even for the stone. We were +nearly to the bottom; we reached it. + +I placed Desiree on her feet. + +"Can you stand?" I gasped; and the words were torn from my throat with +a great effort. + +"But you!" she cried, and I saw that her eyes were filled with horror. +No doubt I was a pitiful thing to look at. + +But there was no time to be lost, and, seeing that her feet supported +her, I grasped her arm and started down the tunnel just as Harry's +voice, raised in a great shout, came to us from its farther end. + +"No!" cried Desiree, shrinking back in terror. "Paul--" I dragged her +forward. + +Then, as Harry's cry was repeated, she seemed to understand and sprang +forward beside me. + +Another second wasted and we would have been too late. Just as we +reached Harry's side, at the end of the tunnel, the Incas, warned by my +appearance at the top of the column, appeared above on the stairway, at +the foot of which Harry had made his stand. + +At the sight of Desiree Harry uttered a cry of joy, then gazed in +astonishment as I appeared behind her. + +"Run for your lives!" he shouted, pointing down the passage leading to +the apartments beyond. As he spoke a shower of spears descended from +above, rattling on the steps and on the ground beside us. I stooped to +pick up two of them, and as Desiree and I darted forward into the +passage, with Harry bringing up the rear, the Incas dashed down the +stairway after us. + +We found ourselves at once in the maze of lanes and passages leading to +the royal apartments. That, I thought, was as good a goal as any; and, +besides, the way led to the cavern where we had once before +successfully withstood our enemies. But the way was not so easy to +find. + +Turn and twist about as we would, we could not shake off our pursuers. +Harry kept urging me forward, but I was using every ounce of strength +that was left to me. Desiree, too, was becoming weaker at every step, +and I could hear Harry's cry of despair as she perceptibly faltered and +slackened her pace. + +I soon realized that we were no longer in the passage or group of +passages that led to the royal apartments and the cavern beyond. But +there was no time to seek our way; well enough if we went forward. We +found ourselves in a narrow lane, strewn with rocks, crooked and +winding. + +Desiree stumbled and would have fallen but for my outstretched arm. A +spear from behind whistled past my ear as we again bounded forward. +Harry was shouting to us that the Incas were upon us. + +I caught Desiree's arm and pulled her on with a last great effort. The +lane became narrower still; we brushed the wall on either side, and I +pushed Desiree ahead of me and followed behind. Suddenly she stopped +short, turning to face me so suddenly that I was thrown against her, +nearly knocking her down. + +"Your spear!" she cried desperately. "I can go no farther," and she +sank to the ground. + +At the same moment there came a cry from Harry in the rear--a cry that +held joy and wonder--and I turned to see him standing some distance +away, gazing down the lane through which we had come. + +"They've given up!" he called. "They're gone!" + +And I saw that it was true. No sound came, and no Inca was to be seen. + +Then, seeing Desiree on the ground, Harry ran to us and sprang to her +side. "Desiree!" he cried, lifting her in his arms. She opened her +eyes and smiled at him, and he kissed her many times--her hair, her +lips, her eyes. Then he placed her gently on her feet, and, supporting +her with his arm, moved forward slowly. I led the way. + +The lane ahead of us was scarcely more than a crevice between the +rocks; I squeezed my way through with difficulty. Then the walls ended +abruptly, just when I had begun to think we could go no farther, and we +found ourselves at the entrance to a cavern so large that no wall was +to be seen on any side save the one behind us. + +On the instant I guessed at the reason why the Incas had ceased their +pursuit so abruptly, and I turned to Harry: + +"I'm afraid we've jumped from the frying-pan into the fire. If this +cavern holds anything like that other--you remember--" + +"If it does, we shall see," he replied. + +Supporting Desiree on either side, we struck out directly across the +cavern, halting every few steps to listen for a sound, either of the +Incas, which we feared, or of running water, which we desired. We +heard neither. All was blackness and the most complete silence. + +Then I became aware, for the first time, of intolerable pains shooting +up through my legs into my body. The danger past, reason returned and +feeling. I could not suppress a low cry, wrung inexorably from my +chest, and I halted, leaning my whole weight on Desiree's shoulder. + +"What is it?" she cried, and for answer--though I strained every atom +of my will and strength to prevent it--I toppled to the ground, +dragging her with me. + +What followed came to me as in a dream, though I was not wholly +unconscious. I was aware that Harry and Desiree were bending over me; +then I felt my head and shoulders being lifted from the ground, and a +soft, warm arm supporting me. + +A minute passed, or an hour--I did not know--and I felt hot drops of +moisture fall on my cheek. I struggled to open my eyes, and saw +Desiree's face quite near my own; my head was resting on her shoulder. +She was weeping silently, and great tears rolled down her cheeks +unrestrained. + +To have seen the sun or stars shining down upon me would not have +astonished me more. I gazed at her a long moment in silence; she saw +that I did so, but made no effort to turn her head or avoid my gaze. +Finally I found my tongue. + +"Where is Harry?" I asked. + +"He is gone to look for water," she replied; and, curiously enough, her +voice was quite steady. + +I smiled. + +"It is useless. I am done for!" + +"That isn't true," she denied, in a voice almost of anger. "You will +get well. You are--injured badly--" After a short pause she added, +"for me." + +There was a long silence--I thought it hardly worth while to contradict +her--and then I said simply, "Why are you crying, Desiree?" + +She looked at me as though she had not heard; then, after another +silence, her voice came, so low that it barely reached my ears: + +"For this--and for what might have been, my friend." + +"But you have said--" + +"I know! Would you make me doubt again? Do not! Ah"--she passed her +hand gently over my forehead and touched the tips of her fingers to my +burning eyes--"you must have cared for me in that other world. I will +not doubt it; unless you speak, and you must not. Nothing would have +been too high for us. We could have opened any door--even the door to +happiness." + +"But you said once--forgive me if I remind you of it now--you said that +you are--you called yourself 'La Marana.'" + +She shrank back, exclaiming: "Paul! Indeed, I need to forgive you!" + +"Still, it is true," I persisted, turning to look at her. The movement +caused me to halt, closing my eyes, while a great wave of pain swept +over me from head to foot. Then I went on: "Could you expect to +confine your heart? You say we could have opened any door--well, tell +me, what could we have done, you and I?" + +"But that is what I do not think of!" cried Desiree impatiently. "I +would perhaps have placed my hand on your heart, as I do now; you would +perhaps have fought for me, as you have done. I might even--" She +hesitated, while the ghost of a smile that had died before it reached +the light appeared on her lips, as her head was lowered close, quite +close, to mine. + +A long moment, and then, "Must I ask for it?" I breathed. + +She jerked her head up sharply. + +"You do not want it," she said dryly. + +I raised my hand, groping for her fingers, but could not find them. +She saw, and slowly, very slowly, her hand crept to mine and was caught +and held there. + +"Desiree--I want it," I said half fiercely, and I forgot my pain and +our danger--forgot everything but her white face in dim outline above +me, and her eyes, glowing and tender against her wish, and her hand +that nestled in my hand. "Be merciful to me--I want it as I have never +wanted anything in my life. Desiree, I love you." + +At that I felt her hand move quickly, as for freedom, but I held it +fast. And then slowly her head was lowered. I waited breathlessly. I +felt her quick breath on my face, and the next moment her lips had +found my lips, hot and dry, and remained there. + +Then she raised her head, saying tremulously: + +"That was my soul, and it is the first time it has ever escaped me." + +At the same instant we were startled by the sound of Harry's voice in +the darkness: + +"Desiree! Where are you?" + +I waited for her to answer, but she was silent, and I called out to him +our direction. A moment later his form appeared at a distance, and +soon he had joined us. + +"How about it, old man?" he asked, bending over me. + +Then he told us that he had found no water. He had explored two sides +of the cavern, one at a distance of half a mile or more, and was +crossing to find the third when he had called to us. + +"But there is little use," he finished gloomily. "The place is silent +as the grave. If there were water we would hear it. I can't even find +an exit except the crevice that let us in." + +Desiree's hand was still in mine. + +"It may be--perhaps I can go with you," I suggested. But he would not +hear of it, and set out again alone in the opposite direction to that +which he had taken previously. + +In a few minutes he returned, reporting no better success than before. +On that side, he said, the wall of the cavern was quite close. There +was no sign anywhere of water; but to the left there were several +narrow lanes leading at angles whose sides were nearly parallel to each +other, and some distance to the right there was a broad and clear +passage sloping downward directly away from the cavern. + +"Is the passage straight?" I asked, struck with a sudden idea. "Could +you see far within?" + +"A hundred feet or so," was the answer. "Why? Shall we follow it? +Can you walk?" + +"I think so," I answered. "At any rate, I must find some water soon or +quit the game. But that isn't why I asked. Perhaps it explains the +sudden disappearance of the Incas. They knew they couldn't follow us +through that narrow crevice; what if they have made for the passage?" + +Harry grumbled that we had enough trouble without trying to borrow more. + +We decided to wait a little longer before starting out from the cavern; +Harry helped me to my feet to give them a trial, and though I was able +to stand it was only by a tremendous effort and exertion of the will. + +"Not yet," I murmured between clenched teeth, and again Desiree sat on +the hard rock and supported my head and shoulders in her arms, despite +my earnest remonstrances. Harry stood before us, leaning on his spear. + +Soon he left us again, departing in the direction of the crevice by +which we had entered; I detected his uneasiness in the tone with which +he directed us to keep a lookout around in every direction. + +"We could move to the wall," I had suggested; but he shook his head, +saying that where we were we at least had room to turn. + +When he had gone Desiree and I sat silent for many minutes. Then I +tried to rise, insisting that she must be exhausted with the long +strain she had undergone, but she denied it vehemently, and refused to +allow me to move. + +"It is little enough," she said; and though I but half understood her, +I made no answer. + +I myself was convinced that we were at last near the end. It was +certain that the Incas had merely delayed, not abandoned, the pursuit, +and our powers and means of resistance had been worn to nothing. + +Our curious apathy and half indifference spoke for itself; it was as +though we had at length recognized the hand of fate and seen the +futility of further struggle. For, weak and injured as I was, I still +had strength in me; it was a listlessness of the brain and hopelessness +of the heart that made me content to lie and wait for whatever might +come. + +The state of my feelings toward Desiree were even then elusive; they +are more so now. I had told her I loved her; well, I had told many +women that. But Desiree had moved me; with her it was not the +same--that I felt. I had never so admired a woman, and the thrill of +that kiss is in me yet; I can recall it and tremble under its power by +merely closing my eyes. + +Her warm hand, pressed tightly in my own, seemed to send an electric +communication to every nerve in my body and eased my suffering and +stilled my pain. That, I know, is not love; and perhaps I was mistaken +when I imagined that it was there. + +"Are you asleep?" she asked presently, after I had lain perfectly quiet +for many minutes. Her voice was so low that it entered my ear as the +faintest breath. + +"Hardly," I answered. "To tell the truth, I expect never to sleep +again--I suppose you understand me. I can't say why--I feel it." + +Desiree nodded. + +"Do you remember, Paul, what I said that evening on the mountain?" +Then--I suppose my face must have betrayed my thought--she added +quickly: "Oh, I didn't mean that--other thing. I said this mountain +would be my grave, do you remember? You see, I knew." + +I started to reply, but was interrupted by Harry, calling to ask where +we were. I answered, and soon he had joined us and seated himself +beside Desiree on the ground. + +"I found nothing," was all he said, wearily, and he lay back and closed +his eyes, resting his head on his hands. + +The minutes passed slowly. Desiree and I talked in low tones; Harry +moved about uneasily on his hard bed, saying nothing. Finally, despite +Desiree's energetic protests, I rose to my knees and insisted that she +rest herself. We seemed none of us to be scarcely aware of what we +were doing; our movements had a curious purposelessness about them that +gave the thing an appearance of unreality--I know not what; it comes to +my memory as some indistinct and haunting nightmare. + +Suddenly, as I sat gazing dully into the semidarkness of the cavern, I +saw that which drove the apathy from my brain with a sudden shock, at +the same time paralyzing my senses. I strained my eyes ahead; there +could be no doubt of it; that black, slowly moving line was a band of +Incas creeping toward us silently, on their knees, through the +darkness. Glancing to either side I saw that the line extended +completely around us, to the right and left. + +The sight seemed to paralyze me. I tried to call to Harry--no sound +came from my eager lips. I tried to put out my hand to rouse him and +to pick up my spear; my arms remained motionless at my side. + +Desiree lay close beside me; I could not even turn my head to see if +she, too, saw, but kept my eyes, as though fascinated, on that silent +black line approaching through the darkness. + +"Will they leap now--now--now?" I asked myself with every beat of my +pulse. + +It could not be much longer--they were now so close that each black, +tense form was in clear outline not fifty feet away. + + + +Chapter XXIII. + +WE ARE TWO. + +Whether I would have been able to rouse myself to action before the +shock of the assault was actually upon us, I shall never know. + +It was not fear that held me, for I felt none; I think that dimly and +half unconsciously I saw in that black line, silently creeping upon us, +the final and inexorable approach of the remorseless fate that had +pursued us ever since we had dashed after Desiree into the cave of the +devil, rendering our every effort futile, our most desperate struggles +the laughing-stock of the gods. + +I was not even conscious of danger. I sat as in a stupor. + +But action came, though not from me, so suddenly that I scarcely knew +what had happened. There was a cry from Desiree. Harry sprang to his +feet. The Incas leaped forward. + +I felt myself jerked violently from the ground, and a spear was thrust +into my hand. Harry's form flashed past me, shouting to me to follow. +Desiree was at his heels; but I saw her halt and turn to me, and I, +too, sprang forward. + +Harry's spear whirled about his head, leaving a gap in the black line +that was now upon us. Through it we plunged. The Incas turned and +came at us from behind; one whose hands were upon Desiree got my spear +in his throat and sank to the ground. + +"Cross to the left!" Harry yelled. He was fighting them off from every +direction at once. + +I turned, calling to Desiree to follow, and dashed across the cavern. +We saw the wall just ahead, broken and rugged. Again turning I called +to Harry, but could not see him for the black forms on every side, and +I was starting to his rescue when I saw him plunge toward us, cutting +his way through the solid mass of Incas as though they had been stalks +of corn. He was not a man, but a demon possessed. + +"Go on," he shouted. "I'll make it!" + +Then I turned and ran with Desiree to the wall. We followed it a short +distance before we reached one of the lanes of which Harry had spoken; +at its entrance he joined us, still bidding us to leave him to cover +our retreat. + +Once within the narrow lane his task was easier. Boulders and +projecting rocks obstructed our progress, but they were even greater +obstacles to those who pursued us. Still they rushed forward, only to +be hurled back by the point of Harry's spear. Once, turning, I saw him +pick one of them up bodily and toss him whirling through the air into +the very faces of his comrades. + +I had all I could do with Desiree and myself. Many times I scrambled +up the steep face of some boulder and, after pulling her up safely +after me, let her down again on the other side. Then I returned to see +that Harry got over safely, and often he made it barely by inches, +while flying spears struck the rock on every side. + +It is a wonder to me now that I was able even to stand, after my +experience on the spiral stairway in the column. The soles of my feet +and the palms of my hands were baked black as the Incas themselves. +Blisters covered my body from head to foot, swelling, indescribably +painful. + +Every step I took made me clench my teeth to keep from sinking in a +faint to the ground; I expected always that the next would be my +last--but somehow I struggled onward. It was the thought of Desiree, I +think, that held me up, and Harry. + +Suddenly a shout came from Harry that the Incas had abandoned the +pursuit. It struck me almost as a matter of indifference; nor was I +affected when almost immediately afterward he called that he had been +mistaken and that they had rushed forward with renewed fury and in +greater numbers. + +"It is only a matter of time now," I said to Desiree, and she nodded. + +Still we went forward. The land had carried us straight away from the +cavern, without a turn. Its walls were the roughest I had seen, and +often a boulder which lay across our path presented a serrated face +that looked as though it had but just been broken from the wall above. +Still the stone was comparatively soft--time had not yet worked its +leveling finger on the surfaces that surrounded us. + +We were standing on one of these boulders when Harry came running +toward us. + +"They're stopped," he cried gleefully, "at least for a little. A piece +of rock as big as a house gently slid from above onto their precious +heads. It may have blocked them off completely." + +We hurried forward then; Harry helped Desiree, while I painfully +brought up the rear. At every few steps they were forced to halt and +wait for me, though I did my utmost to keep up with them. Harry had +taken my spear that I might have both hands to help me over the rocks. + +Climbing, sliding, jumping, we left the Incas behind; no sound came +from the rear. I began to think that they had really been completely +shut off, and several times opened my mouth to call to Harry to ask him +if it would not be safe to halt; for every movement I made was torture. +But each time I choked back the cry; he thought it was necessary to go +on and I followed. + +This lasted I know not how long; I was staggering and reeling forward +like a drunken man, so little aware of what I was doing that when Harry +and Desiree finally stopped at the beginning of a level, unbroken +stretch in the lane, I stumbled directly against them before I knew +they had halted. + +"Go on!" I gasped, struggling to my feet in a mania. + +Harry stooped over to assist me and set me with my back resting against +the wall. Desiree supported herself near by, scarcely able to stand. + +"We can go no farther," said Harry. "If they come--" + +As he spoke I became aware of a curious movement in the wall +opposite--a movement as of the wall itself. At first I thought it a +delusion produced by my disordered brain, but when I saw Desiree's +astonished gaze following mine, and heard Harry's cry of wonder as he +turned and saw it also, I knew the thing was real. + +A great portion of the wall, the entire side of the passage for a +length of a hundred feet or more, was sliding slowly downward. +Glancing above I saw a space of several feet where the rock had +departed from its bed. The only noise audible was a low, grating sound +like the slow grinding of a gigantic millstone. + +None of us moved--if there were danger we would seem to have welcomed +it. Suddenly the great mass of rock appeared to halt in its downward +movement and hang as though suspended; then with a sudden jerk it +seemed to free itself, swaying ponderously toward us; and the next +moment it had fallen straight down into some abyss below, thundering, +tumbling, sliding with terrific velocity. + +There was a deafening roar under our feet, the ground rocked as from an +earthquake, and it seemed as though the wall against which we stood was +about to fall in upon us. Dust and fragments of rock filled the air on +every side, and one huge boulder, detached from the roof above, came +tumbling at our feet, missing us by inches. + +We were completely stunned by the cataclysm, but in a moment Harry had +recovered and run to the edge of the chasm opposite thus suddenly +formed. Desiree and I followed. + +There was nothing to be seen save the blackness of space. Immediately +before us was an apparently bottomless abyss, black and terrifying; the +side descended straight down from our feet. Looking across we could +see dimly a wall some distance away, smooth and with a faint whiteness. +On either side of us other walls extended to meet the farther wall, +smooth and polished as glass. + +"The Incas didn't do that, I hope," said Harry, turning to me. + +"Hardly," I answered; and in my absorbing interest in the phenomenon +before me I half forgot my pain. + +I moved to the edge of one of the walls extending at right angles to +the passage, but there was little to be made of it. It was of soft +limestone, and most probably the portion that had disappeared was +granite, carried away by the force of its own weight. + +"We are like to be buried," I observed, returning to Harry and Desiree. +"Though for that matter, even that can hardly frighten us now." + +"For my part," said Harry, with a curious gravity beneath the apparent +lightness of his words, "I have always admired the death of Porthos. +Let it come, and welcome." + +"Are we to go further?" put in Desiree. + +Just as Harry opened his mouth to reply a more decisive answer came +from another source. The rock that had fallen, obstructing the path of +the Incas, must have left an opening that Harry had missed; or they had +removed it--what matter? + +In some way they had forced a passage, for as Desiree spoke a dozen +spears whistled through the air past our heads and we looked up to see +a swarm of Incas climbing and tumbling down the face of a boulder over +which we had passed to reach our resting-place. + +I have said that we had halted in a level, unbroken stretch that still +led some distance ahead of us. At its farther end could be seen a +group of rocks and boulders completely choking the lane, Beyond, other +rocks arose to a still greater height--the way appeared to be +impassable. + +But there was no time for deliberation or the weighing of chances, and +we turned and made for the pile of rocks, with the Incas rushing after +us. + +There Desiree and I halted in despair, but with a great oath Harry +brushed us aside and leaped upon a rock higher than his head with +incredible agility. Then, lying flat on his face and extending his +arms downward over the edge, he pulled first Desiree, then myself, up +after him. The whole performance had occupied a scant two seconds, +and, waiting only to pick up the three spears he had thrown up the +sloping surface of the rock to another yet higher and steeper. + +"Why don't we hold them here?" I demanded. "They could never come up +that rock with us on top." + +Harry looked at me. + +"Spears," he said briefly; and, of course, he was right. They would +have picked us off like birds on a limb. + +We scaled the second rock with extreme difficulty, Harry assisting both +Desiree and me; and as we stood upright on its top I saw the Incas +scrambling over the edge of the one below. Two or three of them had +already started to cross; many more were coming up from behind; and +one, as he made the top and arose to his feet, braced himself on the +sloping rock and raised a spear high above his head. + +At sight of him I started, crying to Harry and Desiree. They turned. + +"The king!" I shouted; and I saw a shudder of terror run over Desiree's +face as she, too, recognized the black form below. At the same instant +the spear darted forward from the hand of the Child of the Sun, but it +landed harmlessly against the rock several feet away. + +The next moment the Inca king had bounded across the rock toward us, +followed by a score of others. + +I was minded to try my luck with his own weapon, but we had no spears +to waste, and Harry was dragging Desiree forward and shouting to me to +follow. I turned and ran after them, and just as we let ourselves down +into a narrow crevice below the Incas appeared over the edge of the +rock behind. + +Somehow we scrambled forward, with the Incas at our heels. Sharp +corners of projecting rocks bruised our faces and bodies; once my leg +bent double under me as I fell from a ledge onto a boulder below, and I +thought it was broken; but Harry jerked me to my feet and I struggled +on. + +Harry seemed possessed of the strength of ten men and the heart of a +thousand. He pulled Desiree and me up and over boulders and rocks as +though we had been feathers; the Lord knows how he got there himself! +Half of the time he carried Desiree; the other half he supported me. +His energy and exertions were titanic; even in the desperate excitement +of our retreat I found time to marvel at it. + +We did not gain an inch; our pursuers kept close behind us; but we held +our own. Now and then a stray spear came hurtling through the air or +struck the rock near us, but they were infrequent and we were not hit. + +One, flying past my head, stuck in a crevice of the rock and I grasped +the shaft to pull it out, but abandoned my effort when I heard Harry +shouting to me from the front to come to his aid. + +He and Desiree were standing on the rim of a ledge that stood high +above the ground of the passage. At its foot began a level stretch +leading straight ahead as far as we could see. + +"We must lift her down," Harry was saying. + +He let himself over the ledge, hung by his hands, and dropped. "All +right!" he called from below; and I lay flat on the rock while Desiree +scrambled over the edge, holding to my hands. For a moment I held her +suspended in my outstretched arms; then, at a word from Harry, I let +her drop. Another moment and I was over myself, knocking Harry to the +ground and tumbling on top of him as he stood beneath to break my fall. + +By then the Incas had reached the top of the ledge above us, and we +turned and raced down the long stretch ahead. I was in front; Harry +came behind with Desiree. + +Suddenly, as I ran, I felt a curious trembling of the ground beneath my +feet, similar to the vibrations of a bridge at the passing of a heavy +load. + +Then the ground actually swayed beneath me; and, realizing the danger, +I sent a desperate shout to Harry over my shoulder and bounded forward. +He was at my side on the instant, with Desiree in his arms. + +The ground rocked beneath our feet like a ship in a storm; and, just as +I thought we were gone, my foot touched firm rock as I passed a yawning +crevice a foot wide under me. + +One more leap to safety, and we turned just in time to see the floor of +the passage which we had traversed disappear into some abyss beneath +with a shattering roar. + +We stood at the very edge of the chasm thus suddenly formed, gazing at +each other in silent wonder and awe. + +"The beggars are stopped now," said Harry finally. "That break in the +game is ours." + +Looking back across the chasm, we saw the Incas tumbling by twos and +threes over the boulder on the other side. As they saw the yawning +abyss that separated them from their prey they stopped short and gazed +across in profound astonishment. + +Others came to join them, until there were several hundred of the +black, ugly forms huddled together on the opposite rim of the chasm, a +hundred feet away. + +I ran over the group with a keen eye, seeking the figure of the Inca +king, and soon my search was successful. He stood a step in front of +the others, a little to the right. I pointed him out to Harry and +Desiree. + +"It's up to him to walk right out again," said Harry. + +Desiree shivered, and proceeded to send her last invitation to the +devil. + +Turning suddenly, she grasped Harry's spear and tore it from his hand. +Before we realized her purpose, she stepped forward until her foot +rested on the very edge of the chasm, and had hurled the spear across +straight at the Inca king. + +It missed him, but struck another Inca standing near full in the +breast. Quick as lightning the king turned, grasped the shaft of the +spear, and pulled it forth, and with his white teeth gleaming in a +snarl of furious hate, sent it whistling through the air straight at +Desiree. + +Harry and I sprang forward with a shout of warning; Desiree stood +motionless as a statue. We grasped her frantically and pulled her +back, but too late. + +She came, but only to fall lifeless into our arms with the spear buried +deep in her white throat. + +We laid her on the ground and knelt beside her for a moment, then Harry +arose to his feet with a face white as death; and I uttered a silent +and vengeful prayer as I saw him level a spear at the Inca king across +the chasm. But it went wide of its mark, striking the ground at his +feet. + +"There was another!" cried Harry, and soon he had found it where it lay +on the ground and sent it, too, hurtling across. + +This time he missed by inches. The spear flew just past the shoulder +of the king and caught one who stood behind him full in the face. The +stricken savage threw his arms spasmodically above his head, reeling +forward against the king. + +There was a startled movement along the black line; hands were +outstretched in a vain effort at rescue; a savage cry burst from +Harry's lips, and the next instant the king had toppled over the edge +of the chasm and fallen into the bottomless pit below. + +Harry turned, quivering from head to foot. + +"Little enough," he said between his teeth, and again he knelt beside +the body of Desiree and took her in his arms. + +But her fate spoke eloquently of our own danger, and I roused him to +action. Together we picked up the form of our dead comrade and carried +it to the rear. I hesitated to pull forth the barbed head of the +spear, and instead broke off the shaft, leaving the point buried in the +soft throat, from which a crimson line extended over the white shoulder. + +A short distance ahead we came to a projecting boulder, and behind that +we gently laid her on the hard rock. Neither of us had spoken a word. +Harry's lips were locked tightly together; a lump rose in my throat, +choking all utterance and filling my eyes with tears. + +Harry knelt beside the white form and, gathering it gently in his arms, +held it against his breast. I stood at his side, gazing down at him in +mute sympathy and sorrow. + +For a long minute there was silence--a most intense silence throughout +the cavern, during which the painful throbbing of my heart was plainly +audible; then Harry murmured, in a voice of the utmost tenderness: +"Desiree!" And again, "Desiree! Desiree!" until I half expected the +very strength and sweetness of his emotion to bring our comrade back to +life. + +Suddenly, with a quick, impulsive movement, he raised his head to +glance at me. + +"She loved you," he said; and though there was neither jealousy nor +anger in his voice, somehow I could not meet his gaze. + +"She loved you," he repeated in a tone half of wonder. "And you--you--" + +I answered his eyes. + +"She was yours," I said, with a touch of bitterness that persuaded him +of the truth. "All her beauty, all her loveliness, all her charm, to +be buried--Ah! God help us--" + +My voice broke, and I knelt on the ground beside Harry and pressed my +lips to the white forehead and golden hair of what had been Le Mire. + +Thus we remained for a long time. + +It was hard to believe that death had in reality taken possession of +the still form stretched as in repose before us. Her body, still warm, +seemed quivering with the instinct of life; but the eyes were not the +eyes of Desiree. I closed them, and arranged the tangled mass of hair +as well as possible over her shoulders. As I did so the air, set in +motion by my hand, caused some of the golden strands to tremble gently +across her lips; and Harry bent forward with a painful eagerness, +thinking that she had breathed. + +"Dearest," he murmured, "dearest, speak to me!" + +His hand sought her swelling bosom gropingly; and his eyes, as they +looked pleadingly even into mine, shot into my heart and unnerved me. + +I rose to my feet, scarcely able to stand, and moved away. + +But the fate that had finally intervened for us--too late, alas! for +one--did not leave us long with our dead. Even now I do not know what +happened; at the time I knew even less. Harry told me afterward that +the first shock came at the instant he had taken Desiree in his arms +and pressed his lips to hers. + +I had crossed to the other side of the passage and was gazing back +toward the chasm at the Incas on the other side, when again I felt the +ground, absolutely without warning, tremble violently under my feet. +At the same moment there was a low, curious rumble as of the thundering +of distant cannon. + +I sprang toward Harry with a cry of alarm, and had crossed about to the +middle of the passage, when a deafening roar smote my ear, and the +entire wall of the cavern appeared to be failing in upon us. At the +same time the ground seemed to sink directly away beneath my feet with +an easy, rocking motion as of a wave of the ocean. Then I felt myself +plunging downward with a velocity that stunned my senses and took away +my breath; and then all was confusion and chaos--and oblivion. + +When I awoke I was lying flat on my back, and Harry was kneeling at my +side. I opened my eyes, and felt that it would be impossible to make a +greater exertion. + +"Paul!" cried Harry. "Speak to me! Not you, too--I shall go mad!" + +He told me afterward that I had lain unconscious for many hours, but +that appeared to be all that he knew. How far we had fallen, or how he +had found me, or how he himself had escaped being crushed to pieces by +the falling rock, he was unable to say; and I concluded that he, too, +had been rendered unconscious by the fall, and for some time dazed and +bewildered by the shock. + +Well! We were alive--that was all. + +For we were weak and faint from hunger and fatigue, and one mass of +bruises and blisters from head to foot. And we had had no water for +something like twenty-four hours. Heaven only knows where we found the +energy to rise and go in search of it; it is incredible that any +creatures in such a pitiable and miserable condition as we were could +have been propelled by hope, unless it is indeed immortal. + +Half walking, half crawling, we went forward. + +The place where we had found ourselves was a jumbled mass of boulders +and broken rock, but we soon discovered a passage, level and straight +as any tunnel built by man. + +Down this we made our way. Every few feet we stopped to rest. Neither +of us spoke a word. I really had no sense of any purpose in our +progress; I crept on exactly as some animals, wounded to death, move on +and on until there is no longer strength for another step, when they +lie down for the final breath. + +We saw no water nor promise of any; nothing save the long stretch of +dim vista ahead and the grim, black walls on either side. That, I +think, for hours; it seemed to me then for years. + +I dragged one leg after the other with infinite effort and pain; Harry +was ahead, and sometimes, glancing back over his shoulder to find me at +some distance behind, he would turn over and lie on his back till I +approached. Then again to his knees and again forward. Neither of us +spoke. + +Suddenly, at a great distance down the passage, much further than I had +been able to see before, I saw what appeared to be a white wall +extending directly across our path. + +I called to Harry and pointed it out to him. He nodded vaguely, as +though in wonder that I should have troubled him about so slight an +object of interest, and crawled on. + +But the white wall became whiter still, and soon I saw that it was not +a wall. A wild hope surged through me; I felt the blood mount dizzily +to my head, and I stilled the clamor that beat at my temples by an +extreme effort of the will. "It can't be," I said to myself aloud, +over and over; "it can't be, it can't be." + +Harry turned, and his face was as white as when he had knelt by the +body of Desiree, and his eye was wild. + +"You fool," he roared, "it is!" + +We went faster then. Another hundred yards, and the thing was certain; +there it was before us. We scrambled to our feet and tried to run; I +reeled and fell, then picked myself up again and followed Harry, who +had not even halted as I had fallen. The mouth of the passage was now +but a few feet away; I reached Harry's side, blinking and stunned with +amazement and the incredible wonder of it. + +I tried to shout, to cry aloud to the heavens, but a great lump in my +throat choked me and my head was singing dizzily. + +Harry, at my side, was crying like a child, with great tears streaming +down his face, as together we staggered forth from the mouth of the +passage into the bright and dazzling sunshine of the Andes. + + + +Chapter XXIV. + +CONCLUSION. + +Never, I believe, were misery and joy so curiously mingled in the human +breast as when Harry and I stood--barely able to stand--gazing +speechlessly at the world that had so long been hidden from us. + +We had found the light, but had lost Desiree. We were alive, but so +near to death that our first breath of the mountain air was like to be +our last. + +The details of our painful journey down the mountain, over the rocks +and crags, and through rushing torrents that more than once swept us +from our feet, cannot be written, for I do not know them. + +The memory of the thing is but an indistinct nightmare of suffering. +But the blind luck that seemed to have fallen over our shoulders as a +protecting mantle at the death of Desiree stayed with us; and after +endless hours of incredible toil and labor, we came to a narrow pass +leading at right angles to our course. + +Night was ready to fall over the bleak and barren mountain as we +entered it. Darkness had long since overtaken us, when we saw at a +distance a large clearing, in the middle of which lights shone from the +windows of a large house whose dim and shadowy outline appeared to us +surrounded by a halo of peace. + +But we were nearly forced to fight for it. The proprietor of the +hacienda himself answered our none too gentle knock at the door, and he +had no sooner caught sight of us than he let out a yell as though he +had seen the devil in person, and slammed the door violently in our +faces. Indeed, we were hardly recognizable as men. + +Naked, black, bruised, and bleeding, covered with hair on our faces and +parts of our bodies--mine, of recent growth, stubby and stiff--our +appearance would have justified almost any suspicion. + +But we hammered again on the door, and I set forth our pedigree and +plight in as few words as possible. Reassured, perhaps, by my +excellent Spanish--which could not, of course, be the tongue of the +devil--and convinced by our pitiable condition of our inability to do +him any harm, he at length reopened the door and gave us admittance. + +When we had succeeded in allaying his suspicions concerning our +identity--though I was careful not to alarm his superstitions by +mentioning the cave of the devil, which, I thought, was probably well +known to him--he lost no time in displaying his humanity. + +Calling in some hombres from the rear of the hacienda, he gave them +ample instructions, with medicine and food, and an hour later Harry and +I were lying side by side in his own bed--a rude affair, but infinitely +better than granite--refreshed, bandaged, and as comfortable as their +kindly ministrations could make us. + +The old Spaniard was a direct descendant of the good Samaritan--despite +the slight difference in nationality. For many weeks he nursed us and +fed us and coaxed back the spark of life in our exhausted and wounded +bodies. + +Our last ounce of strength seemed to have been used up in our desperate +struggle down the side of the mountain; for many days we lay on our +backs absolutely unable to move a muscle and barely conscious of life. + +But the spark revived and fluttered. The day came when we could +hobble, with his assistance, to the door of the hacienda and sit for +hours in the invigorating sunshine; and thenceforward our convalescence +proceeded rapidly. Color came to our cheeks and light to our eyes; and +one sunny afternoon it was decided that we should set out for Cerro de +Pasco on the following day. + +Harry proposed a postponement of our departure for two days, saying +that he wished to make an excursion up the mountain. I understood him +at once. + +"It would be useless," I declared. "You would find nothing." + +"But she was with us when we fell," he persisted, not bothering to +pretend that he did not understand me. "She came--it must be near +where we landed." + +"That isn't it," I explained. "Have you forgotten that we have been +here for over a month? You would find nothing." As he grasped my +thought his face went white and he was silent. So on the following +morning we departed. + +Our host furnished us with food, clothing, mules, and an arriero, not +to mention a sorrowful farewell and a hearty blessing. From the door +of the hacienda he waved his sombrero as we disappeared around a bend +in the mountain-pass; we had, perhaps, been a welcome interruption in +the monotony of his lonely existence. + +We were led upward for many miles until we found ourselves again in the +region of perpetual snow. There we set our faces to the south. From +the arriero we tried to learn how far we then were from the cave of the +devil, but to our surprise were informed that he had never heard of the +thing. + +We could see that the question made him more than a little suspicious +of us; often, when he thought himself unobserved, I caught him eyeing +us askance with something nearly approaching terror. + +We journeyed southward for eleven days; on the morning of the twelfth +we saw below us our goal. Six hours later we had entered the same +street of Cerro de Pasco through which we had passed formerly with +light hearts; and the heart which had been gayest of all we had left +behind us, stilled forever, somewhere beneath the mountain of stone +which she had herself chosen for her tomb. + +Almost the first person we saw was none other than Felipe, the arriero. +He sat on the steps of the hotel portico as we rode up on our mules. +Dismounting, I caught sight of his white face and staring eyes as he +rose slowly to his feet, gazing at us as though fascinated. + +I opened my mouth to call to him, but before the words left my lips he +had let out an ear-splitting yell of terror and bounded down the steps +and past us, with arms flying in every direction, running like one +possessed. Nor did he return during the few hours that we remained at +the hotel. + +Two days later found us boarding the yacht at Callao. When I had +discovered, to my profound astonishment, at the hacienda, that another +year had taken us as far as the tenth day of March, I had greatly +doubted if we should find Captain Harris still waiting for us. But +there he was; and he had not even put himself to the trouble of +becoming uneasy about us. + +As he himself put it that night in the cabin, over a bottle of wine, he +"didn't know but what the senora had decided to take the Andes home for +a mantel ornament, and was engaged in the little matter of +transportation." + +But when I informed him that "the senora" was no more, his face grew +sober with genuine regret and sorrow. He had many good things to say +of her then; it appeared that she had really touched his salty old +heart. + +"She was a gentle lady," said the worthy captain; and I smiled to think +how Desiree herself would have smiled at such a characterization of the +great Le Mire. + +We at once made for San Francisco. There, at a loss, I disposed of the +remainder of the term of the lease on the yacht, and we took the first +train for the East. + +Four days later we were in New York, after a journey saddened by +thoughts of the one who had left us to return alone. + +It was, in fact, many months before the shadow of Desiree ceased to +hover about the dark old mansion on lower Fifth Avenue, incongruous +enough among the ancient halls and portraits of Lamars dead and gone in +a day when La Marana herself had darted like a meteor into the hearts +of their contemporaries. + + +That is, I suppose, properly the end of the story; but I cannot refrain +from the opportunity to record a curious incident that has just +befallen me. Some twenty minutes ago, as I was writing the last +paragraph--I am seated in the library before a massive mahogany table, +close to a window through which the September sun sends its golden +rays--twenty minutes ago, as I say, Harry sauntered into the room and +threw himself lazily into a large armchair on the other side of the +table. + +I looked up with a nod of greeting, while he sat and eyed me +impatiently for some seconds. + +"Aren't you coming with me down to Southampton?" he asked finally. + +"What time do you leave?" I inquired, without looking up. + +"Eleven-thirty." + +"What's on?" + +"Freddie Marston's Crocodiles and the Blues. It's going to be some +polo." + +I considered a moment. "Why, I guess I'll run down with you. I'm +about through here." + +"Good enough!" Harry arose to his feet and began idly fingering some of +the sheets on the table before me. "What is all this silly rot, +anyway?" + +"My dear boy," I smiled, "you'll be sorry you called it silly rot when +I tell you that it is a plain and honest tale of our own experiences." + +"Must be deuced interesting," he observed. "More silly rot than ever." + +"Others may not think so," I retorted, a little exasperated by his +manner. "It surely will be sufficiently exciting to read of how we +were buried with Desiree Le Mire under the Andes, and our encounters +with the Incas, and our final escape, and--" + +"Desiree what?" Harry interrupted. + +"Desiree Le Mire," I replied very distinctly. "The great French +dancer." + +"Never heard of her," said Harry, looking at me as if he doubted my +sanity. + +"Never heard of Desiree, the woman you loved?" I almost shouted at him. + +"The woman I--piffle! I say I never heard of her." + +I gazed at him, trembling with high indignation. "I suppose," I +observed with infinite sarcasm, "that you will tell me next that you +have never been in Peru?" + +"Guilty," said Harry. "I never have." + +"And that you never climbed Pike's Peak to see the sunrise?" + +"Rahway, New Jersey, is my farthest west." + +"And that you never dived with me from the top of a column one hundred +feet high?" + +"Not I. I retain a smattering of common sense." + +"And that you did not avenge the death of Desiree by causing that of +the Inca king?" + +"So far as that Desiree woman is concerned," said Harry, and his tone +began to show impatience, "I can only repeat that I have never heard of +the creature. And"--he continued--"if you're trying to bamboozle a +gullible world by concocting a tale as silly as your remarks to me +would seem to indicate, I will say that as a cheap author you are +taking undue liberties with your family, meaning myself. And what is +more, if you dare to print the stuff I'll let the world know it's a +rank fake." + +This threat, delivered with the most awful resolution and sincerity, +unnerved me completely, and I fell back in my chair in a swoon. + +When I recovered Harry had gone to his polo game, leaving me behind, +whereupon I seized my pen and hastened to set down in black and white +that most remarkable conversation, that the reader may judge for +himself between us. + +For my part, I do swear that the story is true, on my word of honor as +a cynic and a philosopher. + + + + + +[end of text] + + + Note: I have made the following changes to the text: + + PAGE PARA. LINE ORIGINAL CHANGED TO + 2 1 2 sursounding surrounding + 22 6 2 hunderd hundred + 24 9 1 La Mire Le Mire + 32 1 1 ager eager + 36 4 5 earthqakes earthquakes + 45 5 2 tossd tossed + 56 10 1 then than + 58 8 1 or our + 69 8 2 geting getting + 74 1 3 unstead unsteady + 87 13 1 Whey Why + 106 5 1 placng placing + 112 4 2 aggreeable agreeable + 115 1 to some some + 123 1 2 Desiree arms Desiree's arms + 125 3 5 had made has made + 129 11 4 But was But it was + 140 4 1 Lords knows Lord knows + 158 5 6 begin towed being towed + 168 6 2 dicussing discussing + 178 6 3 Pachacamas Pachacamac + 179 7 3 cabin cavern + 185 2 1 was wild was a wild + 192 8 3 carvern cavern* + 196 8 1 perservation preservation + 196 9 4 dour days four days + 204 6 1 litte little + 208 2 1 on my on me + 209 3 4 aked asked + 210 5 2 retuned returned + 211 8 3 said side + 212 3 3 touch tough + 224 6 2 Soliel Soleil + 226 5 5 aproaching approaching + 243 1 3 serius serious + 247 5 5 forseen foreseen + 247 6 1 They The + 259 4 5 peceptibly perceptibly + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Under the Andes, by Rex Stout + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UNDER THE ANDES *** + +***** This file should be named 546.txt or 546.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/5/4/546/ + +Produced by Judith Boss. 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