Part 15 (2/2)

Under the Andes Rex Stout 19010K 2022-07-19

”Look here,” said Harry suddenly, ”why can't we see their eyes? Why don't they shi+ne”

”My dear boy,” said I, ”in this darkness you couldn't see the Kohinoor dia-roo We have one advantage--they can't understand e 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 knoell 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 ant 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 knohy I didn't think of it before I guess ere 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 alaze; 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 round”

”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 the”

I drew up my knees, twisted over on the hard rock, and lay flat on my belly Then I drew upwith his head on his paws And then, keeping my body perfectly still, and with as little s with my teeth