as too late now; I knew from experience the difficulty of
loosening those firmly wedged blocks, and I called out:

"No good, Hal. We were fools not to have thought of it before, but
there is no time for it now. Come back; I couldn't stop 'em alone."

Nevertheless, he continued his exertions, and succeeded in getting one
of the blocks partially free; but by that time the doorway was almost
completely uncovered, and he saw the folly of attempting further.

He resumed his post on the right of the door--I was on the left.

The stone appeared to be going faster. It reached the top--passed
it--and quickly swung in toward the wall and disappeared, probably to
rest on a ledge above.

We stood waiting, tense and alert. The open doorway gaped on the
black, empty corridor, into which the light from our single urn shone
dimly. We could see or hear nothing, no indication that any one was in
the passage, but we dared not look out in that darkness. The suspense
was trying enough; Harry ripped out an impatient oath and made a
movement as though to step in the entrance, but I waved him back.

Then came the avalanche, with a suddenness and fury that nigh
overwhelmed us.

Crouching, rushing forms filled the doorway from both directions and
leaped savagely at us. After so many weary days of dull inaction and
helpless, hopeless apathy, a mad joy fired my brain and thrilled my
heart as I raised my club on high and struck a blow for freedom and
life.

That blow crushed the skull of one whose fingers were at my throat, and
he dropped like a log at my feet; but his place was already filled.
Again I swung the club; another swayed, toppling against the doorway
and leaning there with the blood streaming from his broken head, quite
dead, but held erect by the pressure of his fellows from behind.

If the doorway had been but a foot wider we would have been overwhelmed
almost instantly. As it was, but three or four could get to us at
once, and they found the gold which their ancestors had carried from
the temples of Huanuco waiting for them. My arm seemed to have the
strength of a hundred arms; it swung the heavy club as though it had
been a feather, and with deadly accuracy.

Harry fought like a demon. I think I did all that a man could do, but
he did more, and withal more coolly. I brought down my club on heads,
shoulders, chests, and rarely failed to get my man.

But the impact of Harry's blows was like the popping of a Maxi