ahead in the distance, dim but unmistakable--the light
of the urns in the cavern for which we were headed. Suddenly Desiree
faltered and would have fallen but for our supporting arms.

"Courage!" I breathed. "We are near the end."

She stopped short and sank to the ground.

"It is useless," she gasped. "I hurt my ankle when I fell. I can go
no farther. Leave me!"

Harry and I with one impulse stooped over to pick her up, and as we did
so she fainted away in our arms. We were then but a few hundred feet
from our goal; the light from the urns could be plainly seen gleaming
on the broad ledge by the lake.

Suddenly the sound of many footsteps came from behind. I turned
quickly, but the passage was too dark. I could see nothing. The sound
came closer and closer; there seemed to be many of them, advancing
swiftly. I straightened and raised my spear.

Harry grasped my arm.

"Not yet!" he cried. "One more try; we can make it."

He thrust his spear into my hand, and in another instant had thrown
Desiree's unconscious body over his shoulder and was staggering forward
toward the cavern. I followed, while the sound of the footsteps behind
grew louder and louder.

We neared the end of the passage; we reached it; we were on the ledge.
Even with Desiree for a burden, Harry moved so swiftly that I found it
difficult to keep up with him. The strength of a god was in him, which
was but just, since he had his goddess in his arms.

On the ledge, near the edge of the water, stood two Incas. They turned
at our approach and rushed at us. Unlucky for them, for Harry's
example had fired my brain and put the strength of a giant in me.

To this day I don't know what followed--whether I used my spear or my
fists or my head. I know only that I leaped at them in irresistible
fury and left them stretched on the ground before they had reached
Harry or halted him.

We crossed the ledge and made for the boulders to the left. The
crevice which led to our hiding-place was too narrow for Harry and his
burden. I sprang forward and grasped Desiree's shoulders; he held her
ankles, and we got her through to the ledge beyond.

Then I leaped back through the crevice, and barely in time. As I
looked out a black, rushing horde emerged from the passage and dashed
across the ledge toward us. I stood at the entrance to the narrow
crevice, spear in hand.

They appeared to have no sense of the fact that my position was
impregnable