Part 25 (2/2)

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, stea 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 developht the royal chefs to prepare fish in so nize them as of the sa 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 olden 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 iinable food could these black dwarfs find to appease her tre thethat he be allowed to visit her apart that if he were found there by the king nothing could avert a catastrophe Harry's bro black; I could see his effort to choke back his anger Then Desiree led hi ht hours passed; in that perpetual blackness there was no such thing as day We saw no one save Desiree and the servinga bundle of quipos; I was able to decipher theirsufficiently to understand that ere invited to soht it injudicious to allow a , 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 ren 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 as not a little curious

Here were the descendants of the subjects of Manco-Capac, hi to their worshi+p of the sun, though they had not seen its light for four centuries Deserted by their God, they did not abandon him; an example froionof the potency of faith

But to the story

As I say, I was anxious to avoid a , and subsequent events proved ; it was i even in jest without hi into a violent temper

As I look back now I a experiences and the hopelessness of our situation and the wilfulness of Desiree were enough, Heaven knows, to jerk his nerves; but at the tihtless fool, and told hier to myself He took no notice of ular intervals our food was brought to us, and within a e had accuainst necessity, besides olden platters, of which more later

Once in about twenty-four hours two Incas, who appeared to be our personal attendants--for ere 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 froed, 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 so water We took advantage of the opportunity to scrub our clothing, which was sadly in need of the operation

I had early ht

They were of gold and perfect in foritives 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 ri carved of stone, whichat the top only about two inches in diaht of about two feet

Of smoke there was none, or very little, a circumstance which was inexplicable, as there seeas within so se to ed to nature

As I say, I had collected six of the golden platters, one at a tihed about twenty pounds--for they were small and rather thin--which was near the a to Harry, and we set to work