pointed it out to Harry.

"The exit!" he cried out, and made for it with Desiree. But they were
brought to a halt by a cliff at their very feet, no less than twenty
feet high.

I started to join them, but hearing a clatter behind, turned just in
time to see a score of Incas rush at us from the left, through a narrow
lane that led to the edge of the cliff.

I sprang toward them, calling to Harry for assistance. He was at my
side in an instant, and together we held them back.

In five minutes the mouth of the lane was choked with their bodies;
some behind attempted to scramble over the pile to get at us, but we
made them sick of their job. I saw that Harry could hold it alone
then, and calling to him to stand firm till I called, I ran to Desiree.

I let myself over the edge of the cliff and hung by my hands, then
dropped to the ground below. It was even further than I had thought;
my legs doubled up under me and I toppled over, half fainting.

I gritted my teeth and struggled to my feet, calling to Desiree. She
was already hanging to the edge of the cliff, many feet above me. But
there was nothing else for it, and I shouted: "All right, come on!"

She came, and knocked me flat on my back. I had tried to catch her,
and did succeed in breaking her fall, at no little cost to myself. I
was one mass of bruises and wounds. But again I struggled to my feet
and shouted at the top of my voice:

"Harry! Come!"

He did not come alone. I suppose the instant he left the lane
unguarded the Incas poured in after him. They followed him over the
edge of the cliff, tumbling on top of each other in an
indistinguishable mass.

Some rose to their feet; their comrades, descending from above,
promptly knocked them flat on their backs.

Harry and Desiree and I were making for the exit, which was not but a
few feet away. As I have said, the thing was choked up till it was
almost impassable. We squeezed in between two rocks, with Desiree
between us. Harry was in front, and I brought up the rear.

Once through that lane and we might hold our own.

"In Heaven's name, come on!" Harry shouted suddenly; for I had turned
and halted, gazing back at the Incas tumbling over the cliff and
rushing toward the mouth of the exit.

But I did not heed him, for, standing on the top of the cliff, waving
his arms wildly at those below, I had seen the form of the Inca king.
He was less than thirty feet away.

With cries from Harry an