Part 33 (1/2)

I turned round, feeling a little foolish, and saw that froe and part of the lake were in full view I could see the spears still lying where they had been thron

But as I looked the two Incas ee They picked up the spears, walked to the raft, and again launched it and paddled toward the center of the lake

I thought, ”Here is e before they return,” and I started forward so precipitately that I ran head on into a ot badly stunned for h the semidarkness

The trail was one to try a lla to narrow, slippery edges with er-nails

Several ti myself into the lake, and half the time I was in plain view of the Incas on the raft

My hands and feet were bruised and bleeding, and I had bumped into walls and boulders so often that I was surprised when I took a step without getting a bloanted those spears

I found myself finally within a few yards of my destination A narrow crevice led froe from which the Incas had embarked It was now necessary to wait till they returned to the shore, and I drew back into the darkness of a near-by corner and stood motionless

They were still on the raft in the , spear in hand I watched them in furious impatience, on the border of ainst a boulder not ten feet away from where I stood The form was human, but in some way unlike the Incas I had seen I could not see its face, but the alertness suggested by its attitude uely I feltunseen from every direction, but I could not force myself to search the darkness; my heart rose to my throat and choked me, and I stood absolutely powerless toin a sort of duure

Suddenly it crouched lower still against the black background of the boulder

”Another second and he will be at ht--but I stood still, unable toInstead, it suddenly straightened up to alliarments

”Harry!” I whispered I wonder yet that it was not a shout

”Thank God!” came his voice, also in a whisper; and in another moment he had reached my side

A hurried word or two--there was no ti: ”We want those spears”

”I was after therinned ”What shall we do?”

”There's no use taking them while the Incas are away,” I replied, ”because they would soon return and find theone Surely we can handle two of them”

As I spoke there came a sound from the lake--a sudden loud splash followed by a commotion in the water I looked around the corner of the boulder and saw that the spears again found their an to pick e

Harry followed close at my heels It was easier here, and we soon found ourselves close to the shore of the lake, with a s-place The urns, whose light was quite sufficient here, were about fifty feet to the right and rear

The Incas hadfor the shore As they caainst the boulder, which extended to the boundary of the ledge Soon the raft was beached and pulled well away from the water, and the fish--I was amazed at its size--followed

They drew forth the spears and laid the hold on the ian to drag it toward the e

”Nohispered Harry, and as he stood close at

I laid a hand on his ar for thee Wait till they return”

In a fewurns I waited till they had advanced half-way to the water's edge, some thirty feet away Then I whispered to Harry: ”You for the left, ht,” and releasedfuriously across the ledge