Part 27 (2/2)
I s its source It came not from his own head, but from Desiree's ar was beyond discussion; too ele I believe it was not despair that kept back our words, but one 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 atin the intensity of its nant hatred if he had not been utterly helpless I turned to Harry:
”What are we going to do with hiotten!” exclaimed the lad ”Paul, perhaps if we could co 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 conde can save us!”
”And how?”
”Our lives for his We'll give hi to eat, and if, as you say, they have sootiate You can talk with the quipos, and tell theo in safety they'll have a dead king Froh in a reed; ”but how could we hold them to it?”
”Well, a promise is a promise And it's our only chance”
”No, Harry; to trust theh 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 oay 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 endould be at their mercy”
There was comprehension and horror in Desiree's eyes, but she looked at me with a brave attelea urns It was a tiny steel blade with a handle of pearl studded with diamonds
I had seen it beforeman I had seen in the royal coach on that day in Madrid when I had first heard the na it out to er and placed it in ed with hi 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 siave me a smile of thanks that spoke of a heart that would not fail when the final e 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--ere yet masters of our fates
All action sees needed to be done, and Harry and I bestirred ourselves We extinguished the fla 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; ht 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 hts
And they were not unpleasant; if, looking death in the face, a ed, he has made the only success in life that is worth while