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Seeing that escape was impossible； they dashed straight at us。
It wasn't much of a fight。 One came at me with his head lowered like a charging bull； I sidestepped easily and floored him with a single blow。 He scrambled to his feet； but by that time I had recovered the spear and had it ready for him。
I waited until he was quite close； then let him have it full in the chest。 The fool literally ran himself through； hurling himself on the sharp point in a brutal frenzy。 He lay on his back； quite still； with the spear…head buried in his chest and the shaft sticking straight up in the air。
I turned to Harry； and in spite of myself smiled at what I saw。 He stood with his right arm upraised； holding his spear ready。 His left foot was placed well and gracefully forward； and his body bent to one side like the classic javelin…thrower。 And ten feet in front of him the other Inca had fallen flat on his face on the ground with arms extended in mute supplication for quarter。
〃What shall I do？〃 asked Harry。 〃Let him have it？〃
〃Can you？〃
〃The fact is； no。 Look at the poor beggar…scared silly。 But we can't let him go。〃
It was really a question。 Mercy and murder were alike impossible。 We finally promised by binding his wrists and ankles and trussing him up behind； using a portion of one of the spear…thongs for the purpose； and gagging him。 Then we carried him behind a large boulder some distance from the ledge and tucked him away in a dark corner。
〃And when we get back…if we ever do…we can turn him loose；〃 said Harry。
〃In that case I wouldn't give much for his chances of a happy existence；〃 I observed。
We wasted no time after that； for we wanted no more interruptions。 Some fifteen precious minutes we lost trying to withdraw the spear I had buried in the body of the Inca； but the thing had bee wedged between two ribs and refused to e out。
Finally we gave it up and threw the corpse in the lake。
We then removed the oars and spears and raft…which had floated so near to the ledge that we had no difficulty in recovering it…to our hiding…place； and last we tackled our fish。
It was a task for half a dozen men； but we dared not remain on the ledge to skin him and cut him up。 After an hour of exertion and toil that left us pletely exhausted； we managed to get him behind a large boulder to the left of the ledge； but it was impossible to carry him to the place we had selected； which could be reached only by passing through a narrow crevice。
The only knives we had were the points of the spears； but they served after a fashion； and in another hour we had him skinned and pretty well separated。 He was meaty and sweet。 We discovered that with the first opportunity； for we were hungry as wolves。 Nor did we waste much time bewailing our lack of a fire； for we had lived so long on dried stuff that the opposite extreme was rather pleasant than otherwise。
We tore him into strips as neatly as possible； stowing them away beneath a ledge； a spot kept cool by the water but a foot below。
〃That'll be good for a month；〃 said Harry。 〃And there's more where that came from。 And now…〃
I understood； and I answered simply： 〃I'm ready。〃
We had but few preparations to make。 The solidest parts of the fish which we had laid aside we now strapped together with one of the extra spear…thongs and slung them on our backs。 We secreted the oars and raft and the extra spear as snugly as possible。
Then； having filled ourselves with raw fish and a last hearty drink from the lake； we each took a spear and started on a search wilder than any ever undertaken by Amadis of Gaul or Don Quixote himself。 Even the Bachelor of Salamanca； in his saddest plight； did not present so outrageous an appearance to the eye as we。 We wore more clothing than the Incas； which is the most that can be said for us。
We were unable to even guess at the direction we should take； but that was settled for us when we found that there were but two exits from the cavern。 One led through the boulders and crevices to a passage full of twists and turns and strewn with rocks； almost impassable； the other was that through which the Incas had entered。
We chose the latter。
Fifty feet from the cavern we found ourselves in darkness。 I stopped short。
〃Harry； this is impossible。 We cannot mark our way。〃
〃But what can we do？〃
〃Carry one of those urns。〃
〃Likely！ They'd spot us before we even got started。〃
〃Well…let them。〃
〃No。 You're in for the finish。 I know that。 I want to find Desiree。 And we'll find her。 After that； if nothing else is left； I'll be with you。〃
〃But I don't want a thousand of those brutes falling on us in the dark。 If they would end it I wouldn't care。〃
〃Keep your spear ready。〃
I had given him my promise； so I pushed on at his side。 I had no stomach for it。 In a fight I can avoid disgracing myself； because it is necessary； but why seek it when there is nothing to be gained？ Thus I reflected； but I pushed on at Harry's side。
As he had said； I was in for the finish。 What I feared was to be taken again by the Incas unseen in the darkness。 But that fear was soon removed when I found that we could see easily some thirty or forty feet ahead…enough for a warning in case of attack。
Our flannel shirts and woolen undergarments hung from us in rags and tatters。 Our feet were bare and bruised and swollen。 Our faces were covered with a thick； matted growth of hair。 Placed side by side with the Incas it is a question which of us would have been judged the most terrifying spectacles by an impartial observer。
I don't think either of us realized the extreme foolhardiness of that expedition。 The passage was open and unobstructed； and since it appeared to be the only way to their fishing…ground； was certain to be well traveled。 The alarm once given； there was no possible chance for us。
We sought the royal apartments。 Those we knew to be on a level some forty or fifty feet below the surface of the great cavern； at the foot of the flight of steps which led to the tunnel to the base of the column。 I had counted ninety…six of those steps； and allowing an average height of six inches； they represented a distance of forty…eight feet。
How far the whirlpool and the stream which it fed had carried us downward we did not know； but we estimated it at one hundred feet。 That calculation left us still fifty feet below the level of the royal apartments。
But we soon found that in this we were mistaken。 We had advanced for perhaps a quarter of an hour without incident when the passage came to an abrupt end。 To the right was an irregular； twisting lane that disappeared around a corner almost before it started； to the left a wide and straight passage； sloping gently upward。 We took the latter。
We had followed this for about a hundred yards when we saw a light ahead。 Caution was useless； the passage was straight and unbroken and only luck could save us from discovery。 We pushed on； and soon stood directly within the light which came from an apartment adjoining the passage。 It was not that which we sought； however； and we gave it barely a glance before we turned to the right down a cross passage； finding ourselves again in darkness。
Soon another light appeared。 We approached。 It came from a doorway leading into an apartment some twenty feet square。 It was empty； and we entered。
There were two flaming urns fastened to the wall above a granite couch。 Stone seats were placed here and there about the room。 The walls were studded with spots of gold to a height of four or five feet。
We stopped short； gazing about us。
〃It looks like…〃 Harry whispered； and then exclaimed： 〃It is！
See； here is where we took the blocks from this seat！〃
So it was。 We were in the room where we had imprisoned the Inca king and where we ourselves had been imprisoned with Desiree。
〃She said her room was to the right of this；〃 whispered Harry excitedly。 〃What luck！ If only…〃
He left the sentence unfinished； but I understood his fear。
And with me there was even no doubt； I had little hope of finding Desiree； and was sorry； for Harry's sake； that we had been so far successful。
Again we sought the passage。 A little farther on it was crossed by another； runnin