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ft drew up alongside； and as I fell to the ground flat on my face I heard the two spears whistle shrewdly over me。
At that game they were my masters； it would have been folly to have tried conclusions with them with their own weapons。 As the spears clattered on the ground thirty feet away I sprang to my feet and ran to the farther side of the ledge； where I had before noticed some loose stones in a corner。
With two or three of these in my hands I ran back to the water's edge； meeting two more of the spears that came twisting at me through the air； one of which tore the skin from my left shoulder。
A quick glance at the crevice as I passed showed me Harry fighting at its entrance； they were at us there； too。 I heard Desiree shout something at me； but didn't catch the words。
My first stone found its goal。 The two rafts； side by side not forty feet away； were a fair mark。 The stone was nearly the size of a man's head and very heavy； I had all I could do to get the distance。
It struck the raft on the right fairly； the thing turned turtle in a flash； precipitating its occupants onto the other raft。
The added weight carried that； too； under the surface； and the six Incas were floundering about in the water。
I expected to see them turn and swim for the landing opposite； but； instead； they headed directly toward me！
The light from the urns was but faint； and it was not easy to distinguish their black heads against the black water； still； I could see their approach。 Two of them held spears in their hands； I saw the copper heads flash on high。
I stood at the edge of the lake； wondering at their folly as I waited； they were now scarcely ten feet away。 Another few strokes and the foremost stretched out his hand to grasp the slippery ledge； my spear came down crushingly on his head and he fell back into the water。
By that time another had crawled half onto the ledge； and another； a blow and a quick thrust； and they； too； slipped back beneath the surface； pawing in agony； not to rise again。
Just in time I saw that one of the remaining three had lifted himself in the water not five feet away； with his spear aimed at my breast。 But the poor devil had no purchase for his feet and the thing went wide。
The next instant he had received a ten…pound stone full in the face and went down with a gurgle。 At that the remaining two； seeming to acquire a glimmering of intelligence； turned and swam hastily away。 I let them go。
Turning to Harry； I saw that the crevice also was clear。 He had left his post and started toward me； but I waved him back。
〃All right here； Hal： have they given it up？〃
There was an expression of the most profound disgust on his face。
〃Paul； it's rank butchery。 I'm wading in blood。 Will this thing never stop？〃
I looked at him and said merely： 〃Yes。〃
No need to ask when； he understood me； he sent me the glance of a man who has bee 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 grimace。
I went to the edge of the ledge where we had the fish stowed away near the water and took some of it both to her and Harry。 We ate； but with little relish。 The stuff did not seem very fresh。
I remained on guard 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 been merely a straining of the ligaments。 After bathing it 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 manded Harry to rest。 He demurred； but I insisted。 Within two minutes he was sleeping like a log； pletely exhausted。
Several hundred of the Incas remained huddled together on the ledge without； but they made no effort to attack us。 I had been watching perhaps three hours when they began to melt away into the passage。 Soon but a scant dozen or so remained。 These squatted along the wall just under the lighted 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 my feet； and； realizing the danger； I called Harry to take my place。
Desiree also had been asleep； lying on the raft which Harry and I had concealed along with our fish。 At sound of my voice she awoke and sat up； rubbing her 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 time to consult the great Pachacamac and found his advice difficult to understand。 At the time I thought they had given 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 on my leg had 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 walk with ease； and had insisted on taking a turn at watch； making such a point of it that we had humored her。
Something had to happen； and I suppose it was as well that the Incas should start it。 For we had met with a misfortune that made us see the beginning of 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； e 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 may be given 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 circumstance that moved me to delay…the hope for a sight of the Inca king and a chance at him。
Desiree had refused to tell us her experiences between the time of our dive from the column and our rescue of her； but she had said enough to cause me to guess at its nature。 There was a suppressed but ever present horror in her eyes that made me long to stand once more before the Child of the Sun； then to go； but not alone。
Harry advised retreat。 I have mentioned that when he and I had started on our search for Desiree we had found two exits from the cavern…the one which we had taken and another which led through the maze of boulders and chasms back of us to a passage full of twists and turns and choked with massive rocks； almost impassable。
Through this he advised making our way to whatever might await us beyond。
The question was still undecided when our argument was brought to a halt and the decision was taken away from us。 Through the crevice I saw a band of Incas emerge from the passage opposite and advance to the water's edge。 At their head was the Inca king。
Soon the landing was pletely covered with them…probably three hundred or more…and others could be seen in the mouth of the passage。 Each one carried a spear； their heads of copper； upraised in a veritable forest； shone dully in the light of the urns on the wall above。
Harry and Desiree stood close behind me； looking through at the fantastic sight。 I turned to him：
〃This time they mean business。〃
He nodded。
〃But what can they do？ Except get knocked on the head； and I'm sick of it。 If we had only left an hour ago！〃
〃For my part；〃 I retorted； 〃I'm glad we didn't。 Desiree； I'm going to put you in my debt； if fortune will only show me one last kindness and let me get within reach of him。〃
I pointed to where the Inca king stood in the forefront； at the very edge of the lake。
She shuddered and grew pale。
〃He is a monster；〃 she said in a voice so l