dently in the capacity of sentinels.

Soon I became drowsy--intolerably so; I was scarcely able to stand. I
dozed off once or twice on my feet; and, realizing the danger, I called
Harry to take my place.

Desiree also had been asleep, lying on the raft which Harry and I had
concealed along with our fish. At sound of my voice she awoke and sat
up, rubbing her eyes; then, as I assured her that all was quiet, she
fell back again on her rude bed.

I have never understood the delay of the Incas at this juncture;
possibly they took time to consult the great Pachacamac and found his
advice difficult to understand. At the time I thought they had given
up the attack and intended to starve us out, but they were incapable of
a decision so sensible.

Many hours had passed, and we had alternated on four watches. We had
plenty of rest and were really quite fit. The gash on my leg had
proven a mere trifle; I was a little stiff, but there was no pain.

Desiree's foot was almost entirely well; she was able to walk with
ease, and had insisted on taking a turn at watch, making such a point
of it that we had humored her.

Something had to happen, and I suppose it was as well that the Incas
should start it. For we had met with a misfortune that made us see the
beginning of the end. Our fish was no longer fit to eat, and we had
been forced to throw the remainder of it in the lake.

Then we held a council of war. The words we uttered, standing together
at the mouth of the crevice, come to me now as in a dream; if my memory
of them were not so vivid I should doubt their reality. We discussed
death with a calmness that spoke eloquently of our experience.

Desiree's position may be given in a word--she was ready for the end,
and invited it.

I was but little behind her, but advised waiting for one more watch--a
sop to Harry. And there was one other circumstance that moved me to
delay--the hope for a sight of the Inca king and a chance at him.

Desiree had refused to tell us her experiences between the time of our
dive from the column and our rescue of her; but she had said enough to
cause me to guess at its nature. There was a suppressed but ever
present horror in her eyes that made me long to stand once more before
the Child of the Sun; then to go, but not alone.

Harry advised retreat. I have mentioned that when he and I had started
on our search for Desiree we had found two exits from the cavern--the
one which we had