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Looking across we could see dimly a wall some distance away； smooth and with a faint whiteness。 On either side of us other walls extended to meet the farther wall； smooth and polished as glass。
〃The Incas didn't do that； I hope；〃 said Harry； turning to me。
〃Hardly；〃 I answered； and in my absorbing interest in the phenomenon before me I half forgot my pain。
I moved to the edge of one of the walls extending at right angles to the passage； but there was little to be made of it。 It was of soft limestone； and most probably the portion that had disappeared was granite； carried away by the force of its own weight。
〃We are like to be buried；〃 I observed； returning to Harry and Desiree。 〃Though for that matter； even that can hardly frighten us now。〃
〃For my part；〃 said Harry； with a curious gravity beneath the apparent lightness of his words； 〃I have always admired the death of Porthos。 Let it e； and wele。〃
〃Are we to go further？〃 put in Desiree。
Just as Harry opened his mouth to reply a more decisive answer came from another source。 The rock that had fallen； obstructing the path of the Incas； must have left an opening that Harry had missed； or they had removed it…what matter？
In some way they had forced a passage； for as Desiree spoke a dozen spears whistled through the air past our heads and we looked up to see a swarm of Incas climbing and tumbling down the face of a boulder over which we had passed to reach our resting…place。
I have said that we had halted in a level； unbroken stretch that still led some distance ahead of us。 At its farther end could be seen a group of rocks and boulders pletely choking the lane； Beyond； other rocks arose to a still greater height…the way appeared to be impassable。
But there was no time for deliberation or the weighing of chances； and we turned and made for the pile of rocks； with the Incas rushing after us。
There Desiree and I halted in despair； but with a great oath Harry brushed us aside and leaped upon a rock higher than his head with incredible agility。 Then； lying flat on his face and extending his arms downward over the edge； he pulled first Desiree； then myself； up after him。 The whole performance had occupied a scant two seconds； and； waiting only to pick up the three spears he had thrown up the sloping surface of the rock to another yet higher and steeper。
〃Why don't we hold them here？〃 I demanded。 〃They could never e up that rock with us on top。〃
Harry looked at me。
〃Spears；〃 he said briefly； and； of course； he was right。 They would have picked us off like birds on a limb。
We scaled the second rock with extreme difficulty； Harry assisting both Desiree and me； and as we stood upright on its top I saw the Incas scrambling over the edge of the one below。 Two or three of them had already started to cross； many more were ing up from behind； and one； as he made the top and arose to his feet； braced himself on the sloping rock and raised a spear high above his head。
At sight of him I started； crying to Harry and Desiree。 They turned。
〃The king！〃 I shouted； and I saw a shudder of terror run over Desiree's face as she； too； recognized the black form below。 At the same instant the spear darted forward from the hand of the Child of the Sun； but it landed harmlessly against the rock several feet away。
The next moment the Inca king had bounded across the rock toward us； followed by a score of others。
I was minded to try my luck with his own weapon； but we had no spears to waste； and Harry was dragging Desiree forward and shouting to me to follow。 I turned and ran after them； and just as we let ourselves down into a narrow crevice below the Incas appeared over the edge of the rock behind。
Somehow we scrambled forward； with the Incas at our heels。
Sharp corners of projecting rocks bruised our faces and bodies； once my leg bent double under me as I fell from a ledge onto a boulder below； and I thought it was broken； but Harry jerked me to my feet and I struggled on。
Harry seemed possessed of the strength of ten men and the heart of a thousand。 He pulled Desiree and me up and over boulders and rocks as though we had been feathers； the Lord knows how he got there himself！ Half of the time he carried Desiree； the other half he supported me。 His energy and exertions were titanic； even in the desperate excitement of our retreat I found time to marvel at it。
We did not gain an inch； our pursuers kept close behind us； but we held our own。 Now and then a stray spear came hurtling through the air or struck the rock near us； but they were infrequent and we were not hit。
One； flying past my head； stuck in a crevice of the rock and I grasped the shaft to pull it out； but abandoned my effort when I heard Harry shouting to me from the front to e to his aid。
He and Desiree were standing on the rim of a ledge that stood high above the ground of the passage。 At its foot began a level stretch leading straight ahead as far as we could see。
〃We must lift her down；〃 Harry was saying。
He let himself over the ledge； hung by his hands； and dropped。
〃All right！〃 he called from below； and I lay flat on the rock while Desiree scrambled over the edge； holding to my hands。 For a moment I held her suspended in my outstretched arms； then； at a word from Harry； I let her drop。 Another moment and I was over myself； knocking Harry to the ground and tumbling on top of him as he stood beneath to break my fall。
By then the Incas had reached the top of the ledge above us； and we turned and raced down the long stretch ahead。 I was in front； Harry came behind with Desiree。
Suddenly； as I ran； I felt a curious trembling of the ground beneath my feet； similar to the vibrations of a bridge at the passing of a heavy load。
Then the ground actually swayed beneath me； and； realizing the danger； I sent a desperate shout to Harry over my shoulder and bounded forward。 He was at my side on the instant； with Desiree in his arms。
The ground rocked beneath our feet like a ship in a storm； and； just as I thought we were gone； my foot touched firm rock as I passed a yawning crevice a foot wide under me。
One more leap to safety； and we turned just in time to see the floor of the passage which we had traversed disappear into some abyss beneath with a shattering roar。
We stood at the very edge of the chasm thus suddenly formed； gazing at each other in silent wonder and awe。
〃The beggars are stopped now；〃 said Harry finally。 〃That break in the game is ours。〃
Looking back across the chasm； we saw the Incas tumbling by twos and threes over the boulder on the other side。 As they saw the yawning abyss that separated them from their prey they stopped short and gazed across in profound astonishment。
Others came to join them； until there were several hundred of the black； ugly forms huddled together on the opposite rim of the chasm； a hundred feet away。
I ran over the group with a keen eye； seeking the figure of the Inca king； and soon my search was successful。 He stood a step in front of the others； a little to the right。 I pointed him out to Harry and Desiree。
〃It's up to him to walk right out again；〃 said Harry。
Desiree shivered； and proceeded to send her last invitation to the devil。
Turning suddenly； she grasped Harry's spear and tore it from his hand。 Before we realized her purpose； she stepped forward until her foot rested on the very edge of the chasm； and had hurled the spear across straight at the Inca king。
It missed him； but struck another Inca standing near full in the breast。 Quick as lightning the king turned； grasped the shaft of the spear； and pulled it forth； and with his white teeth gleaming in a snarl of furious hate； sent it whistling through the air straight at Desiree。
Harry and I sprang forward with a shout of warning； Desiree stood motionless as a statue。 We grasped her frantically and pulled her back； but too late。
She came； but only to fall lifeless into our arms with the spear buried deep in her white throat。
We laid her on the ground and knelt beside her for a moment； then Harry arose to his feet with a face white as death； and I uttered a silent and vengeful prayer as I saw him level a spear at the Inca king acro