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〃Could you see far within？〃
〃A hundred feet or so；〃 was the answer。 〃Why？ Shall we follow it？ Can you walk？〃
〃I think so；〃 I answered。 〃At any rate； I must find some water soon or quit the game。 But that isn't why I asked。 Perhaps it explains the sudden disappearance of the Incas。 They knew they couldn't follow us through that narrow crevice； what if they have made for the passage？〃
Harry grumbled that we had enough trouble without trying to borrow more。
We decided to wait a little longer before starting out from the cavern； Harry helped me to my feet to give them a trial； and though I was able to stand it was only by a tremendous effort and exertion of the will。
〃Not yet；〃 I murmured between clenched teeth； and again Desiree sat on the hard rock and supported my head and shoulders in her arms； despite my earnest remonstrances。 Harry stood before us； leaning on his spear。
Soon he left us again； departing in the direction of the crevice by which we had entered； I detected his uneasiness in the tone with which he directed us to keep a lookout around in every direction。
〃We could move to the wall；〃 I had suggested； but he shook his head； saying that where we were we at least had room to turn。
When he had gone Desiree and I sat silent for many minutes。
Then I tried to rise； insisting that she must be exhausted with the long strain she had undergone； but she denied it vehemently； and refused to allow me to move。
〃It is little enough；〃 she said； and though I but half understood her； I made no answer。
I myself was convinced that we were at last near the end。 It was certain that the Incas had merely delayed； not abandoned； the pursuit； and our powers and means of resistance had been worn to nothing。
Our curious apathy and half indifference spoke for itself； it was as though we had at length recognized the hand of fate and seen the futility of further struggle。 For； weak and injured as I was； I still had strength in me； it was a listlessness of the brain and hopelessness of the heart that made me content to lie and wait for whatever might e。
The state of my feelings toward Desiree were even then elusive； they are more so now。 I had told her I loved her； well； I had told many women that。 But Desiree had moved me； with her it was not the same…that I felt。 I had never so admired a woman； and the thrill of that kiss is in me yet； I can recall it and tremble under its power by merely closing my eyes。
Her warm hand； pressed tightly in my own； seemed to send an electric munication to every nerve in my body and eased my suffering and stilled my pain。 That； I know； is not love； and perhaps I was mistaken when I imagined that it was there。
〃Are you asleep？〃 she asked presently； after I had lain perfectly quiet for many minutes。 Her voice was so low that it entered my ear as the faintest breath。
〃Hardly；〃 I answered。 〃To tell the truth； I expect never to sleep again…I suppose you understand me。 I can't say why…I feel it。〃
Desiree nodded。
〃Do you remember； Paul； what I said that evening on the mountain？〃 Then…I suppose my face must have betrayed my thought…she added quickly： 〃Oh； I didn't mean that…other thing。
I said this mountain would be my grave； do you remember？ You see； I knew。〃
I started to reply； but was interrupted by Harry； calling to ask where we were。 I answered； and soon he had joined us and seated himself beside Desiree on the ground。
〃I found nothing；〃 was all he said； wearily； and he lay back and closed his eyes； resting his head on his hands。
The minutes passed slowly。 Desiree and I talked in low tones； Harry moved about uneasily on his hard bed； saying nothing。
Finally； despite Desiree's energetic protests； I rose to my knees and insisted that she rest herself。 We seemed none of us to be scarcely aware of what we were doing； our movements had a curious purposelessness about them that gave the thing an appearance of unreality…I know not what； it es to my memory as some indistinct and haunting nightmare。
Suddenly； as I sat gazing dully into the semidarkness of the cavern； I saw that which drove the apathy from my brain with a sudden shock； at the same time paralyzing my senses。 I strained my eyes ahead； there could be no doubt of it； that black； slowly moving line was a band of Incas creeping toward us silently； on their knees； through the darkness。 Glancing to either side I saw that the line extended pletely around us； to the right and left。
The sight seemed to paralyze me。 I tried to call to Harry…no sound came from my eager lips。 I tried to put out my hand to rouse him and to pick up my spear； my arms remained motionless at my side。
Desiree lay close beside me； I could not even turn my head to see if she； too； saw； but kept my eyes； as though fascinated； on that silent black line approaching through the darkness。
〃Will they leap now…now…now？〃 I asked myself with every beat of my pulse。
It could not be much longer…they were now so close that each black； tense form was in clear outline not fifty feet away。
Chapter XXIII。
WE ARE TWO。
Whether I would have been able to rouse myself to action before the shock of the assault was actually upon us； I shall never know。
It was not fear that held me； for I felt none； I think that dimly and half unconsciously I saw in that black line； silently creeping upon us； the final and inexorable approach of the remorseless fate that had pursued us ever since we had dashed after Desiree into the cave of the devil； rendering our every effort futile； our most desperate struggles the laughing…stock of the gods。
I was not even conscious of danger。 I sat as in a stupor。
But action came； though not from me； so suddenly that I scarcely knew what had happened。 There was a cry from Desiree。
Harry sprang to his feet。 The Incas leaped forward。
I felt myself jerked violently from the ground； and a spear was thrust into my hand。 Harry's form flashed past me； shouting to me to follow。 Desiree was at his heels； but I saw her halt and turn to me； and I； too； sprang forward。
Harry's spear whirled about his head； leaving a gap in the black line that was now upon us。 Through it we plunged。 The Incas turned and came at us from behind； one whose hands were upon Desiree got my spear in his throat and sank to the ground。
〃Cross to the left！〃 Harry yelled。 He was fighting them off from every direction at once。
I turned； calling to Desiree to follow； and dashed across the cavern。 We saw the wall just ahead； broken and rugged。 Again turning I called to Harry； but could not see him for the black forms on every side； and I was starting to his rescue when I saw him plunge toward us； cutting his way through the solid mass of Incas as though they had been stalks of corn。 He was not a man； but a demon possessed。
〃Go on；〃 he shouted。 〃I'll make it！〃
Then I turned and ran with Desiree to the wall。 We followed it a short distance before we reached one of the lanes of which Harry had spoken； at its entrance he joined us； still bidding us to leave him to cover our retreat。
Once within the narrow lane his task was easier。 Boulders and projecting rocks obstructed our progress； but they were even greater obstacles to those who pursued us。 Still they rushed forward； only to be hurled back by the point of Harry's spear。
Once； turning； I saw him pick one of them up bodily and toss him whirling through the air into the very faces of his rades。
I had all I could do with Desiree and myself。 Many times I scrambled up the steep face of some boulder and； after pulling her up safely after me； let her down again on the other side。 Then I returned to see that Harry got over safely； and often he made it barely by inches； while flying spears struck the rock on every side。
It is a wonder to me now that I was able even to stand； after my experience on the spiral stairway in the column。 The soles of my feet and the palms of my hands were baked black as the Incas themselves。 Blisters covered my body from head to foot； swelling； indescribably painful。
Every step I took made me clench my teeth to keep from sinking in a faint to the ground； I expected always that the next would be my last…but somehow I struggled onward。 It was the thought of Desiree； I think； that held me up； and Harry。
Suddenly a shout came from Harry that the Incas had abandoned the pursuit。 It struck me almost as a matter of indifference； nor was I affected when almost immediately afterward he called that he had been mistaken and that they had rushed forward with renewed fury and in greater numbers。
〃It is only a matter of time now；〃 I said to Desiree； and she nodded。
Still we went forward。 The land had carried us straight away from the cavern； without a turn。 Its walls were the roughest I had seen； and often a boulder which lay across our path presented a serrated face that looked as though it had but just been broken from the wall above。 Still the stone was paratively soft…time had not yet worked its leveling finger on the surfaces that surrounded us。
We were standing on one of these boulders when Harry came running toward us。
〃They're stopped；〃 he cried gleefully； 〃at least for a little。
A piece of rock as big as a house gently slid from above onto their precious heads。 It may have blocked them off pletely。〃
We hurried forward then； Harry helped Desiree； while I painfully brought up the rear。 At every few steps they were forced to halt and wait for me； though I did my utmost to keep us with them。 Harry had taken my spear that I might have both hands to help me over the rocks。
Climbing； sliding； jumping； we left the Incas behind； no sound came from the rear。 I began to think that they had really been pletely shut off； and several times opened my mouth to call to Harry to ask him if it would not be safe to halt； for every movement I made was torture。 But each time I choked back the cry； he thought it was necessary to go on and I followed。
This lasted I know not how long； I was staggering and reeling forward like a drunken man； so little aware of what I was doing that when Harry and Desiree finally stopped at the beginning of a level； unbroken stretch in the lane； I stumbled directly against them before I knew they had halted。
〃Go on！〃 I gasped； struggling to my feet in a mania。
Harry stooped over to assist me and set me with my back resting against the wall。 Desiree supported herself near by； scarcely able to stand。
〃We can go no farther；〃 said Harry。 〃If they e…〃
As he spoke I became aware of a curious movement in the wall opposite…a movement as of the wall itself。 At first I thought it a delusion produced by my disordered brain； but when I saw Desiree's astonished gaze following mine； and heard Harry's cry of wonder as he turned and saw it also； I knew the thing was real。
A great portion of the wall； the entire side of the passage for a length of a hundred feet or more； was sliding slowly downward。 Glancing above I saw a space of several feet where the rock had departed from its bed。 The only noise audible was a low； grating sound like the slow grinding of a gigantic millstone。
None of us moved…if there were danger we would seem to have weled it。 Suddenly the great mass of rock appeared to halt in its downward movement and hang as though suspended； then with a sudden jerk it seemed to free itself； swaying ponderously toward us； and the next moment it had fallen straight down into some abyss below； thundering； tumbling； sliding with terrific velocity。
There was a deafening roar under our feet； the ground rocked as from an earthquake； and it seemed as though the wall against which we stood was about to fall in upon us。 Dust and fragments of rock filled the air on every side； and one huge boulder； detached from the roof above； came tumbling at our feet； missing us by inches。
We were pletely stunned by the cataclysm； but in a moment Harry had recovered and run to the edge of the chasm opposite thus suddenly formed。 Desiree and I followed。
There was nothing to be seen save the blackness of space。
Immediately before us was an apparently bottomless abyss； black and terrifying； the side descended straight down from our feet。
Looking across we could see dimly a wall some distance away； smooth and with a faint whitenes