Part 37 (1/2)

With one exception--hunger But there would be plenty of time to think of that; for the present we had our fish, which was sufficient for the three of us for aAnd the water was at our very feet

The bodies wedged in the ht fro their dead I could see the black for not five feet away But I stood ht try to force an entrance

Soon the crevice was clear, and fro like three-quarters of the ledge It was oneat our retreat

They looked particularly silly and helpless to me then, rendered powerless as they were by a little bit of rock Brute force was all they had; and nature, being the biggest brute of all, laughed at them

But I soon found that they were not devoid of resource For perhaps fifteen ed; not one ventured to approach the crevice Then there was a suddenin the mass; it split suddenly in thean open lane between the directly toward me

Down this lane suddenly dashed a dozen or es, with spears aloft in their brawny arms I was taken by surprise and barely had tie within

As it was I did not entirely escape; the spears caed in h

I jerked it out with an oath and turned toon the ledge inside, near Harry and Desiree I called to theht coh Harry took Desiree in his arms and carried her to safety

As I expected, the Incas cah the crevice--that narrow lane where a ot my spear full in the face--a blow rather than a thrust, for I had once or twice had difficulty in retrieving it when I had buried it deep

As he fell I struck at the one behind He grasped the spear with his hand, but I jerked it free and brought it down on his head, crushi+ng hiround It was et at ain clear, save for the bodies of the three who had fallen

I turned to where Harry and Desiree were seated on the further edge of the ledge Her body rested against his; her head lay on his shoulder

As I looked at the to her feet and started toward e--quick; your shi+rt--anything!”

I looked down at the gash onso,” I declared; ”a ht it was sprained?”

She had reached my side and bent over to examine my wound; but I raised her in my ar Believe e it myself; Harry will take ,” she answered with a half-smile ”I merely twisted it; it is nearly well already See!”

She placed her weight on the injured foot, but could not suppress a faint gri to Harry to watch the crevice, I took Desiree in my arms and carried her back to her seat

”Now sit still,” I commanded ”Soon we'll have dinner; in the mean time allow me to say that you are the bravest woman in the world, and the best sport And some day we'll drink to that--from a bottle”

But facts have no respect for sentiment and fine speeches The last words were taken fro cry fro at us from the water!”

Chapter XVI

THE ESCAPE