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Once through that lane and we might hold our own。
〃In Heaven's name； e on！〃 Harry shouted suddenly； for I had turned and halted； gazing back at the Incas tumbling over the cliff and rushing toward the mouth of the exit。
But I did not heed him； for； standing on the top of the cliff； waving his arms wildly at those below； I had seen the form of the Inca king。 He was less than thirty feet away。
With cries from Harry and Desiree ringing in my ears； I braced my feet as firmly as possible on the uneven rock and poised my spear above my head。 The Incas saw my purpose and stopped short。
The king must also have seen me； but he stood absolutely motionless。 I lunged forward； the spear left my hand and flew straight for his breast。
But it failed to reach the mark。 A shout of triumph was on my lips； but was suddenly cut short when an Inca standing near the king sprang forward and hurled himself in the path of the spear just as its point was ready to take our revenge。 The Inca fell to the foot of the cliff with the spear buried deep in his side。 The king stood as he had before； without moving。
Then there was a wild rush into the mouth of the exit； and I turned to follow Harry and Desiree。 With extreme difficulty we scrambled forward over the rocks and around them。
Desiree's breath was ing in painful gasps； and we had to support her on either side。 The Incas approached closer at our rear； I felt one of them grasp me from behind； and in an excess of fury I shook him off and dashed him backward against the rocks。 We were able to make little headway； or none； by taking to the exit we appeared to have set our own death…trap。
Harry went on with Desiree； and I stayed behind in the attempt to check the attack。 They came at me from both sides。 I was faint and bleeding； and barely able to wield my spear…my last one。 I gave way by inches； retreating backward step by step； fighting with the very end of my strength。
Suddenly Harry's voice came； shouting that they had reached the end of the passage。 I turned then and sprang desperately from rock to rock after them； with the Incas crowding close after me。
I stumbled and nearly fell； but recovered my footing and staggered on。 And suddenly the mass of rocks ended abruptly； and I fell forward onto flat； level ground by the side of Desiree and Harry。
〃Your spear！〃 I gasped。 〃Quick…they are upon us！〃
But they grasped my arms and dragged me away from the passage to one side。 I was half fainting from exhaustion and loss of blood； and scarcely knew what they did。 They laid me on the ground and bent over me。
〃The Incas！〃 I gasped。
〃They are gone；〃 Harry answered。
At that I struggled to rise and rested my body on my elbows； gazing at the mouth of the passage。 It was so； the Incas were not to be seen！ Not one had issued from the passage。
It was inprehensible to us then； later we understood。 And we had not long to wait。
Harry and Desiree were bending over me； attempting to stop the flow of blood from a cut on my shoulder。
〃We must have water；〃 said Desiree。 Harry straightened up to look about the cavern； which was so dark that we could barely see one another's faces but a few feet away。
Suddenly an exclamation of wonder came from his lips。
Desiree and I followed the direction of his gaze； and saw the huge； black； indistinct form of some animal suddenly detach itself from the wall of the cavern and move slowly toward us through the darkness。
Chapter XVII。
THE EYES IN THE DARK。
The thing was at a considerable distance； we could barely see that it was there and that it was moving。 It was of an immense size； so large that it appeared as though the very side of the cavern itself had moved noiselessly from its bed in the mountain。
At the same moment I became aware of a penetrating； disagreeable odor； nauseating and horrible。 I had risen to my knees and remained so； while Harry and Desiree stood on either side of me。
The thing continued to move toward us； very slowly。 There was not a sound。 The strength of the odor increased until it was almost suffocating。
Still we did not move。 I could not； and Harry and Desiree seemed rooted to the spot with wonder。 The thing came closer； and we could see the outlines of its huge form looming up indistinctly against the black background of the cavern。
I saw； or thought I saw； a grotesque and monstrous slimy head stretched toward us from about the middle of its bulk。
That doubt became a certainty when suddenly； as though they had been lit by a fire from within； two luminous； glowing spots appeared about three feet apart。 The creature's eyes…if eyes they were…were turned full on us； growing more brilliant as the thing came closer。 It was now less than fifty feet away。 The massive form blocked our view of the entire cavern。
I pinched my nostrils to exclude the horrible odor which； like the fumes of some deadly poison； choked and smothered me。 It came now in puffs； like a draft of a fetid wind； and I realized that it was the creature's breath。 I could feel it against my body； my neck and face； and knew that if I breathed it full into my lungs I should be overe。
But still more terrifying were the eyes。 There was something pelling； supernaturally pelling； about their steadfast and brilliant gaze。 A mysterious power seemed to emanate from them； a power that hypnotized the mind and deadened the senses。 I closed my eyes to avoid it； but was unable to keep them closed。 They opened despite my extreme effort； and again I met that gaze of fire。
There was a movement at my side。 I turned and saw that it came from Desiree。 Her hands were raised to her face； she was holding them before her as though in a futile attempt to cover her eyes。
The thing came closer and closer； it was but a few feet away； and still we did not move； as though rooted to the spot by some power beyond our control。
Suddenly there came a cry from Desiree's lips…a scream of terror and wild fear。 Her entire form trembled violently。
She extended her arms toward the thing； now almost upon us； and took a step forward。 Her feet dragged unwilling along the ground； as though she were being drawn forward by some irresistible force。
I tried to put out my hand to pull her back； but was absolutely unable to move。 Harry stood like a man of rock； immovable。
She took another step forward； with arms outstretched in front of her。 A low moan of terror and piteous appeal came from between her slightly parted lips。
Suddenly the eyes disappeared。 The huge form ceased to advance and stood perfectly still。 Then it began to recede； so slowly that I was barely conscious of the movement。
I was gasping and choking for air； my chest seemed swelling with the poisonous breath。 Still slowly the thing receded into the dimness of the cavern； the eyes were no longer to be seen…merely the huge； formless bulk。 Desiree had stopped short with one foot advanced； as though hesitating and struggling with the desire to go forward。
The thing now could barely be seen at a distance； it would have been impossible if we had not known it was there。 Finally it disappeared； melting away into the semi…darkness； no slightest movement was discernible。 I breathed more freely and stepped forward。
As I did so Desiree threw her hands gropingly above her head and fell fainting to the ground。
Harry sprang forward in time to keep her head from striking on the rock and knelt with his arms round her shoulders。 We had nothing； not even water； with which to revive her； he called her name aloud appealingly。 Soon her eyes opened； she raised her hand and passed it across her brow wonderingly。
〃God help me！〃 she murmured in a low voice； eloquent of distress and pain。
Then she pushed Harry aside and rose slowly to her feet； refusing his assistance。
〃In the name of Heaven； what is it？〃 Harry demanded； turning to me。
〃We have found the devil at last；〃 I answered； with an attempt to laugh； which sounded hollow in my own ears。
Desiree could tell us nothing； except that she had felt herself drawn forward by some strange power that had seemed to e from the baneful； glittering eyes。 She was bewildered and stunned and unable to talk coherently。 We assisted her to the wall； and she sat there with her back propped against it； breathing heavily from the exhaustion of terror。
〃We must find water；〃 I said； and Harry nodded； hesitating。
I understood him。 Danger could not have stayed him nor fear； but the horror of the thing which roamed about the cavern； dark as darkness itself and possessed of some strange power that could not be withstood； was enough to make him pause。 For myself it was impossible； I was barely able to stand。 So Harry went off alone in search of water and I stayed with Desiree。
It was perhaps half an hour before he returned； and we were shaken with fear for him long before he appeared。 When he did so it was with a white face and trembling limbs； in spite of his evident effort at steadiness。
〃There is water over there；〃 said he； pointing across the cavern。 〃A stream runs across the corner and disappears beneath the wall。 There is nothing to carry it in。 You must e with me。〃
〃What has happened？〃 I asked； for even his voice was unsteady。
〃I saw it；〃 he replied simply； but expressing enough in those three words to cause a shudder to run through me。
Then； speaking in a low tone that Desiree might not hear； he told me that the thing had confronted him suddenly as he was following the opposite wall； and that he； too； had been drawn forward； as it were； by a spell impossible to shake off。 He had tried to cry aloud； but had been unable to utter a sound。 And suddenly； as before； the eyes had disappeared； leaving him barely able to stand。
〃No wonder the Incas wouldn't follow us in here；〃 he finished。
〃We must get out of this。 I'm not a coward； but I wouldn't go through that again for my life。〃
〃You take Desiree；〃 said I。 〃I want that water。〃
He led us around the wall several hundred feet。 The ground was level and clear of obstruction； but we went slowly； for I could scarcely move。 Harry kept his eyes strained intently on all sides； his experience had left him more profoundly impressed even than he had been willing to admit to me。
Soon we heard the low music of running water； and a minute later we reached the stream Harry had found。
The fact that there was something to be done seemed to infuse a new spirit into Desiree； and soon her deft fingers were bathing my wounds and bandaging them as well as her poor material would allow。
The cold water took the heat from my pumping veins and left me almost fortable。 Harry had e off much easier than I； since I had so often sent him ahead with Desiree； and myself brought up the rear and withstood the brunt of the attack。
As Harry had said； the stream cut across a corner of the cavern； disappearing beneath the opposite wall； forming a triangle bound by two sides of the cavern and the stream itself。 I saw plainly that it would be impossible for me to move any distance for at least a few days； and that triangle appeared to offer the safest and most fortable retreat。
I spoke to Harry； and he waded across the stream to try its depth。 From the other side he called that the water was at no point more than waist…high； and Desiree and I started to cross； but about the middle I felt the current about to sweep me off my feet。
Harry waded in and helped me ashore。
On that hard rock we lay for many weary hours。 We had no food； but for that I would soon have been myself again； for； though my wounds were numerous； they were little more than scratches； with the exception of the gash on my shoulder。 Weakened as I was by loss of blood； and lacking nourishment； I improved but slowly； and only the cold water kept the fever from me。
Twice Harry went out in search of food and of an exit from the cavern。 The first time he was away for several hours； and returned exhausted and empty…handed and without having found any exit other than the one by which we had entered。
He had ventured through that far enough to see a group of Incas on watch at the other end。 They had seen him and sprung after him； but he had returned without injury； and at the entrance into the cavern where we lay they had halted abruptly。
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