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If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Association / Illinois + Benedictine College" within the 60 days following each + date you prepare (or were legally required to prepare) + your annual (or equivalent periodic) tax return. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time, +scanning machines, OCR software, public domain etexts, royalty +free copyright licenses, and every other sort of contribution +you can think of. Money should be paid to "Project Gutenberg +Association / Illinois Benedictine College". + +*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +UNDER THE ANDES +by Rex Stout + + + + +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 Etext of Under the Andes by Rex Stout + |