easy. We were nearly to the door when there
came a grating, rumbling sound from above, and a huge block of granite
dropped squarely across the doorway with a crash that made the ground
tremble beneath our feet.

Stupefied, we realized in a flash that the cunning of the Incas had
proved too much for us. Harry and I ran forward, but only to invite
despair; the doorway was completely covered by the massive rock, an
impenetrable curtain of stone weighing many tons, and on neither side
was there an opening more than an inch wide. We were imprisoned beyond
all hope of escape.

We stood stunned; Desiree even made no sound, but gazed at the blocked
doorway in a sort of stupid wonder. It was one of those sudden and
overwhelming catastrophes that deprive us for a moment of all power to
reason or even to realize.

Then Harry said quietly:

"Well, the game's up."

And Desiree turned to me with the calm observation:

"They must have been watching us. We were fools not to have known it."

"Impossible!" Harry asserted; but I agreed with Desiree; and though I
could see no opening or crevice of any sort in the walls or ceiling, I
was convinced that even then the eyes of the Incas were upon us.

Our situation was indeed desperate. With our every movement spied
upon, surrounded by four solid walls of stone, and beyond them ten
thousand savage brutes waiting to tear us to pieces--what wildest fancy
could indulge in hope?

Then, glancing up, my eye was arrested by the heap under the cover in
the corner. There, in the person of the Inca king, lay our only
advantage. But how could we use it?

Desiree's voice came in the calm tones of despair:

"We are lost."

Harry crossed to her and took her in his arms.

"I thank Heaven," he said, "that you are with us." Then he turned to
me: "I believe it is for the best, Paul. There never was a chance for
us; we may as well say it now. And it is better to die here, together,
than--the other way."

I smiled at his philosophy, knowing its source. It came not from his
own head, but from Desiree's arms. But it was truth.

We sat silent. The thing was beyond discussion; too elemental to need
speech for its explanation or understanding. I believe it was not
despair that kept back our words, but merely the dumb realization that
where all hope is gone words are useless--worse, a mockery.

Finally I crossed the room and removed the cover from the body of the
Child of the Sun. He