Part 21 (2/2)

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 ht dazzled our eyes; we seemed surrounded by an impenetrable wall of fla, no doubt, to the iht of the cavern and our comparatively distant reues

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 sloo 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 di, but Desiree Le Mire!

She sat old hair strea garment of some unknown texture covered her limbs and the lower part of her body; her shoulders and breasts and ar whiteness

Beside her was a sold, and on this crouched the for About theuards--a hundred or ht frohtness 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 shruggedYou 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 pro to happen”

There was a movement in the alcove Four of the attendants ca a curious fraht and flexible, fro 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 re 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 ere to receive a e from the Child of the Sun