Part 38 (1/2)

There was an expression of the ust on his face

”Paul, it's rank butchery I' never stop?”

I looked at him and said merely: ”Yes”

No need to ask when; he understood lance of a man who has become too familiar with death to fear it, and answered:

”Another hour of this, and--I'm ready”

I told him to keep an eye on both points of attack and went across to where Desiree sat crouched on the ground I hadn't many words

”How is your foot?”

”Oh, it is better; well But your leg--”

”Never mind that Could you sleep?”

”Bon Dieu--no!”

”We have only raw fish Can you eat?”

”I'll try,” she answered, with a grie where we had the fish stoay near the water and took some of it both to her and Harry We ate, but with little relish The stuff did not seeuard at the mouth of the crevice while Harry went to the lake for a drink, having first helped Desiree to the water and back to her seat Her foot gave her a great deal of pain, but instead of a sprain it appeared that there had beenit in the cold water she was considerably relieved

I remained on watch at the mouth of the crevice, from where I could also obtain a pretty fair view of the lake, and commanded Harry to rest He de like a log, completely exhausted

Several hundred of the Incas ree without, but theyperhaps three hours when they began to e

Soon but a scant dozen or so rehted urns, evidently in the capacity of sentinels

Soon I became drowsy--intolerably so; I was scarcely able to stand I dozed off once or twice on er, I called Harry to takeon the raft which Harry and I had concealed along with our fish At sound ofher eyes; then, as I assured her that all was quiet, she fell back again on her rude bed

I have never understood the delay of the Incas at this juncture; possibly they took tireat Pachacamac and found his advice difficult to understand At the tiiven up the attack and intended to starve us out, but they were incapable of a decision so sensible

Many hours had passed, and we had alternated on four watches We had plenty of rest and were really quite fit The gash onhad proven a mere trifle; I was a little stiff, but there was no pain

Desiree's foot was almost entirely well; she was able to ith ease, and had insisted on taking a turn at watch,such a point of it that we had hu had to happen, and I suppose it was as well that the Incas should start it For we hadof the end Our fish was no longer fit to eat, and we had been forced to throw the remainder of it in the lake

Then we held a council of war The words we uttered, standing together at the mouth of the crevice, come to me now as in a dream; if my memory of them were not so vivid I should doubt their reality We discussed death with a calmness that spoke eloquently of our experience

Desiree's position iven in a word--she was ready for the end, and invited it

I was but little behind her, but advised waiting for one more watch--a sop to Harry And there was one other circuht of the Inca king and a chance at him