Part 22 (1/2)

But of what nature? Every cord and knot and color had its --but what? I searched every avenue of memory to assist me; for I had latterly confined y, 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 canized the fored for adjudication--for the rendering of a verdict

Harry and I were prisoners before the bar of the quipos! I turned to hi had risen and stretched out his hand

Ie rose from their stone seats and fell flat on their faces It was then that I noticed, for the first tiold set in the wall of the cavern just above the outer edge of the alcove

This, of course, was the representation of Pachacaion Well, I would as soon worshi+p a plate of gold as that little black dwarf

For perhaps astood with outstretched arm and the Incas remained motionless on their faces Then he resuan

The king turned on his throne and laid his hand on Desiree's arm; we could see her draay from his touch with an involuntary shudder

But this apparent antipathy bothered his kingshi+p not at all; it was probably a reeable sensation to feel her soft, white flesh under his black, hairy hand, and he kept it there, while with the other arestures which I understood at once, but which had nofor Desiree By her hand he meant the quipos to speak

We had a friend in court, but she was duive her voice

There was no tie of the coluh to carry across the cavern--which was not difficult in the universal silence

”Heis this--yellow, slavery, white, ths of the cords and the nuree of punishment or reward Attached to the frame you will find a knife

With that detach the cord of judgain silence; and not one of the vast throng, nor the king hihtest attention to estures 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 soughtatat Desiree, and what I saw caused a cold shudder to flutter through --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 co of ”the fury of a woh our eyes shot out to meet each other in an embrace of death She saw that I understood and she seance, and a farewell She put forth her hand

It wavered ah uncertainly, then closed firhI raisedout:

”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 hiain 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 e is yours, madame; may you find pleasure in it”

There was a silence, while our eyes ht I had lost Le Mire stood motionless Not a sound ca atmy eyes from Le Mire's face