Part 30 (1/2)

”I don't think--I dare not think about her,” I interrupted ”And it is our fault; we failed her I should have put her beyond their reach, as I promised I have reproached ”

”Do you think I would? Only--there is so else About what she said to you I knew that, you know”

I was silent; he continued:

”I knew it long ago Do you think I am blind? And I want to say this while I have a chance--it was uncoood of you To take it the way you did, I mean”

His simplicitywas beyond discussion; it wasto be said So I refused to humor Harry's evident desire to thrash out the topic, and abruptly changed the subject

We must have lain bound in that cavern little short of a week Our wounds and bruises were coash on Harry's side where he had been hurled against the sharp edge of one of the stone seats as he had been borne to the floor But it was not painful, and was nearly closed And we could feel the return of strength even through the stiffness caused by the inactivity of ourat the delay by the time it came to an end

When they finally came and cut our bonds and led us fro keener than a mere curiosity as to what awaited us at the end of our journey For myself, there was a distinct sensation of thankfulness that uncertainty was to end

They took no chances with us, but paid us the compliment of a truly royal escort--at least, in number There could not have been less than two hundred of them in front, behind, and on either side, as we left the cavern and proceeded along a narroinding passage to the left

Once, as we started, we stretched our arh and stood on tiptoe to relieve the stiffness of our joints; and immediately found ourselves clutched on every side by a score of hands

”Gad! We seerinned On the way down the passage we oose-step, and felt the blood quickening to life in our legs and arms

We had proceeded in this manner for sonized at once by the peculiar circular forreat cavern--the cavern where we had first seen Desiree, and where later she had won the toss for our lives and then preserved the to the tunnel under the lake Here our guards seemed in doubt as to just what to do; those in front halted and stood hesitant, and it seeazed belon the stone stair their eyes held a certain shrinking terror Then one caesture ordered them to descend, and they obeyed

Harry and I still found ourselves surrounded by a full company; there were fifty or sixty ahead of us and at least twice that nule was so patently impossible that I believe it never entered our minds

There was further delay at the bottom of the stairs, for, as I have said before, the tunnel was extremely narrow and it was barely possible to walk two abreast None of theh at the sight of those i on the toes of their fellows to keep out of our way With all their savage brutality I believe they possessed little real bravery

Five minutes more and we had reached the end of the tunnel and found ourselves at the foot of the spiral stairway The passage was so blocked by those ahead that ere unable to approach it; they flattened their squatty bodies against the wall and ere forced to squeeze our way past them

There we stood, barely able to ainst the blacker wall, when the one who appeared to be the leader approached andinstinctively that this was our last chance toour fate

That was a dark h I did not know it, Providence ith us For, happening to glance doard, beneath the spiral stair--for there was no ground iliht in the black, yawning space at my feet (You must understand that ere now inside the base of the colureat cavern)

Moved either by curiosity or a command of Providence, I stooped and peered intently doard, and saw that the movement was the alht from above on the surface of water At the time I merely wondered idly if the water came fro it sufficiently important to mention to Harry

Then a question caood, Paul They are a hundred to one, and we are e else to do,” I answered, and I placed my foot on the first step of the spiral stair

Behind us cauide, with a dozen others at his heels

The ascent seeer and more arduous than before, for then we had been propelled by keen curiosity Twice I stumbled in the darkness, and would have fallen if it had not been for Harry's supporting hand behind lare of the great cavern I saw the stone slab close to behind us, noiselessly, and wondered if I should ever see it open again

We looked about us, and as our eyes sought the alcove in the wall opposite, we gave a simultaneous start of surprise, and froladness, half of wonder For, seated on the golden throne, exactly as before, was Desiree By her side was seated the Inca king; round theazed at her in astonishment, but she did not look at us; even at that distance we could see that her eyes were lowered to the ground