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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 s