按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
away； and we reached it in a quarter of an hour or less。
Before we made the turn we halted。 Harry was breathing heavily even from so slight an exertion； and I could scarcely suppress a cry of amazement when； for the first time in many days； the light afforded me a view of his face。
It was drawn and white and sunken； the eyes seemed set deep in his skull as they blinked painfully； and the hair on his chin and lip and cheeks had grown to a length incredible in so short a space of time。 I soon had reason to know that I probably presented no better an appearance； for he was staring at me as though I were some strange monster。
〃Good Heavens； man； you took like a ghost！〃 he whispered。
I nodded； my arm was round his shoulder。
〃Now； let's see what this light means。 Be ready for anything； Harry…though Heaven knows we can find nothing worse than we've had。 Here； put your arm on my shoulder。 Take it easy。〃
We advanced to the corner together within the patch of light and turned to the right； directly facing its source。
It is impossible to convey even a faint idea of the wild and hugely fantastic sight that met our gaze。 With us it was a single； vivid flash to the astonished brain。 These are the details：
Before us was an immense cavern； circular in shape； with a diameter of some half a mile。 It seemed to me then much larger； from where we stood it appeared to be at least two miles to the opposite side。 There was no roof to be seen； it merely ascended into darkness； though the light carried a great distance。
All round the vast circumference； on terraced seats of rock； squatted row after row of the most pletely hideous beings within possibility。
They were men； I suppose they must have the name。 They were about four feet tall； with long； hairy arms and legs； bodies of a curious； bloated appearance； and eyes…the remainder of the face was entirely concealed by thick hair…eyes dull and vacant； of an incredibly large size； they had the appearance of ghouls； apes； monsters…anything but human beings。
They sat； thousands of them； crouched silently on their stone seats； gazing； motionless as blocks of wood。
The center of the cavern was a lake； taking up something more than half of its area。 The water was black as night； and curiously smooth and silent。 Its banks sloped by degrees for a hundred feet or so； but at its edge there was a perpendicular bank of rock fifteen or twenty feet in height。
Near the middle of the lake； ranged at an equal distance from its center and from each other； were three…what shall I call them？…islands； or columns。 They were six or eight feet across at their top； which rose high above the water。
On top of each of these columns was a huge vat or urn； and from each of the urns arose a steady； gigantic column of fire。
These it was that gave the light； and it was little wonder we had thought it brilliant； since the flames rose to a height of thirty feet or more in the air。
But that which left us speechless with profound amazement was not the endless rows of silent； grinning dwarfs； nor the black； motionless lake； nor the leaping tongues of flame。 We forgot these when we followed the gaze of that terrifying audience and saw a sight that printed itself on my brain with a vividness which time can never erase。 Closing my eyes； I see it even now； and I shudder。
Exactly in the center of the lake； in the midst of the columns of fire； was a fourth column； built of some strangely lustrous rock。 Prisms of a formation new to me…innumerable thousands of them…caused its sides to sparkle and glisten like an immense tower of whitest diamonds； blinding the eye。
The effect was indescribable。 The huge cavern was lined and dotted with the rays shot forth from their brilliant angles。 The height of this column was double that of the others； it rose straight toward the unseen dome of the cavern to the height of a hundred feet。
It was cylindrical in shape； not more than ten feet in diameter。 And on its top； high above the surface of the lake； surrounded by the mounting tongues of flame； whirled and swayed and bent the figure of a woman。
Her limbs and body； which were covered only by long； flowing strands of golden hair； shone and glistened strangely in the lurid； weird light。 And of all the ten thousand reflections that shot at us from the length of the column not one was so brilliant； so blinding； as the wild glow of her eyes。
Her arms； upraised above her head； kept time with and served as a key to every movement of her white； supple body。 She glided across； back and forth； now this way； now that； to the very edge of the dizzy height； with wild abandon； or slow； measured grace； or the rushing sweep of a panther。
The thing was beauty incarnate…the very idea of beauty itself realized and perfected。 It was staggering； overwhelming。 Have you ever stood before a great painting or a beautiful statue and felt a thrill…the thrill of perception…run through your body to the very tips of your fingers？
Well； imagine that thrill multiplied a thousandfold and you will understand the sensation that overpowered me as I beheld； in the midst of that dazzling blaze of light； the matchless Dance of the Sun。
For I recognized it at once。 I had never seen it； but it had been minutely described to me…described by a beautiful and famous woman as I sat on the deck of a yacht steaming into the harbor of Callao。
She had promised me then that she would dance it for me some day… I looked at Harry； who had remained standing beside me； gazing as I had gazed。 His eyes were opened wide； staring at the swaying figure on the column in the most profound astonishment。
He took his hand from my shoulder and stood erect； alone； and I saw the light of recognition and hope and deepest joy slowly fill his eyes and spread over his face。 Then I realized the danger； and I endeavored once more to put my arm round his shoulder； but he shook me off with hot impatience。 He leaped forward with the quickness of lightning； eluding my frantic grasp； and dashed straight into the circle of blazing light！
I followed； but too late。 At the edge of the lake he stopped； and； stretching forth his arms toward the dancer on the column； he cried out in a voice that made the cavern ring：
〃Desiree！ Desiree！ Desiree！〃
Chapter IX。
BEFORE THE COURT。
I expected I know not what result from Harry's hysterical rashness： confusion； pandemonium； instant death； but none of these followed。
I had reached his side and stood by him at the edge of the lake； where he had halted。 Desiree Le Mire stopped short in the midst of the mad sweep of the Dance of the Sun。
For ten silent； tense seconds she looked down at us from the top of the lofty column； bending dangerously near its edge。 Her form straightened and was stretched to its fullest height； her white； superb body was distinctly outlined against the black background of the upper cavern。 Then she stepped backward slowly； without taking her eyes from us。
Suddenly as we gazed she appeared to sink within the column itself and in another instant disappeared from view。
We stood motionless； petrified； how long I know not。 Then I turned and faced our own danger。 It was time。
The Incas…for I was satisfied of the identity of the creatures…had left their seats of granite and advanced to the edge of the lake。 Not a sound was heard…no mand from voice or trumpet or reed； they moved as with one impulse and one brain。
We were utterly helpless； for they numbered thousands。 And weak and starving as we were； a single pair of them would have been more than a match for us。
I looked at Harry； the reaction from his moment of superficial energy was already upon him。 His body swayed slightly from side to side； and he would have fallen if I had not supported him with my arm。 There we stood； waiting。
Then for the first time I saw the ruler of the scene。 The Incas had stopped and stood motionless。 Suddenly they dropped to their knees and extended their arms…I thought…toward us； but something in their attitude told me the truth。 I wheeled sharply and saw the object of their adoration。
Built into the granite wall of the cavern； some thirty feet from the ground； was a deep alcove。 At each side of the entrance was an urn resting on a ledge； similar to those on the columns； only smaller； from which issued a mounting flame。
On the floor of the alcove was a massive chair； or throne； which seemed to be itself of fire； so brilliant was the glow of the metal of which it was constructed。 It could have been nothing but gold。 And seated on this throne was an ugly； misshapen dwarf。
〃God save the king！〃 I cried； with a hysterical laugh； and in the profound silence my voice rang from one side of the cavern to the other in racing echoes。
Immediately following my cry the figure on the throne arose； and as he did so the creatures round us fell flat on their faces on the ground。 For several seconds the king surveyed them thus； without a sound or movement； then suddenly he stretched forth his hand in a gesture of dismissal。 They rose as one man and with silent swiftness disappeared； seemingly melting away into the walls of rock。 At the time the effect was amazing； later； when I discovered the innumerable lanes and passages which served as exits； it was not so difficult to understand。
We were apparently left alone； but not for long。 From two stone stairways immediately in front of us； which evidently led to the alcove above； came forth a crowd of rushing forms。 In an instant they were upon us； but if they expected resistance they were disappointed。
At the first impact we fell。 And in another moment we had been raised in their long； hairy arms and were carried swiftly from the cavern。 Scarcely five minutes had elapsed since we had first entered it
They did not take us far。 Down a broad passage directly away from the cavern； then a turn to the right； and again one to the left。 There they dropped us； quite as though we were bundles of merchandise； without a word。
By this time I had fairly recovered my wits…small wonder if that amazing scene had stunned them…and I knew what I wanted。 As the brute that had been carrying me turned to go I caught his arm。
He hesitated； and I could feel his eyes on me； for we were again in darkness。
But he could see…I thanked Heaven for it…and I began a most expressive pantomime； stuffing my fingers in my mouth and gnawing at them energetically。 This I alternated with the action of one drinking from a basin。 I hadn't the slightest idea whether he understood me； he turned and disappeared without a sign…at least； without an audible one。
But the creature possessed intelligence； for I had barely had time to turn to Harry and ascertain that he was at least alive； when the patter of returning footsteps was heard。 They approached； there was the clatter of stone on the ground beside us。
I stood eagerly； a platter； heaped； and a vessel； full！ I think I cried out with joy。
〃e； Harry lad； eat！〃
He was too weak to move； but when I tore some of the dried fish into fragments and fed it to him he devoured it ravenously。
Then he asked for water； and I held the basin to his lips。
We ate as little as it is possible for men to eat who have fasted for many days； for the stuff had a sharp； concentrated taste that remended moderation。 And； besides； we were not certain of getting more。
I wrapped the remainder carefully in my poncho； leaving the platter empty； and lay down to rest； using the poncho for a pillow。
I had enough； assuredly； to keep me awake； but there are bounds beyond which nature cannot go。 I slept close by Harry's side； with my arm across his body； that any movement of his might awaken me。
When I awoke Harry was still asleep； and I did not disturb him。 I myself must have slept many hours； for I felt considerably refreshed and very hungry。 And thirsty； assuredly the provender of those hairy brutes would have been most excellent stuff for the free…lunch counter of a saloon。
I unwrapped the poncho； then； crawling on my hands and knees； searched about the ground。 As I had expected； I found another full platter and basin。 I had just set the latter down after taking a hearty drink when I heard Harry's voice。
〃Paul。〃
〃Here； lad。〃
〃I was afraid you h