As with one impulse we took it, turning to the left, and then flattened ourselves back against the wall as we saw a group of Incas passing at its farther end, some two hundred yards away.Īs before, the stone seats which surrounded the amphitheater on every side were filled with the Incas, crouching motionless and silent. For a moment I hesitated, asking myself for what purpose we hastened on thus into the very arms of our enemies then, propelled by instinct or premonition-I know not what-I took a firmer grasp on my spear and followed Harry without word, throwing caution to the winds.Ī short distance ahead we came to another passage, crossing at right angles, broad and straight, and somehow familiar. There was no longer any doubt of it: we were on our way to the great cavern. The corridor in which we now found ourselves stretched straight ahead for a distance, then turned to one side and the corner thus formed was flooded with a brilliant blaze of light We had no sooner turned than we saw that which caused us to glance quickly at each other and hasten our step, while I smothered the ejaculation that rose to my lips. It was necessary to half encircle the cavern, and the passages were so often crossed by other passages that many times we had to guess at the proper road. Death we did not fear, even for Desiree but we remembered the horror of our own experience on the top of that column, and shuddered as we ran.Īs I have said, we had entered the great cavern at a point almost directly opposite the alcove, and therefore at a distance from the entrance we sought. A prayer was on my lips that we might not be too late Harry's lips were compressed together tightly as a vise. We rushed forward side by side, guessing at our way, seeking the entrance to the tunnel that led to the foot of the column. Finally they, too, ceased to appear the corridor was deserted. Their number swelled to a continuous stream, which in turn gradually became thinner and thinner until only a few stragglers were seen trotting behind. There we stood, motionless and scarcely breathing, while group after group of the savages passed in the corridor ahead. I felt within me the strength and resolve of ten men, and I knew then that there was something I must do and would do before I died, though a thousand devils stood in my way. She was standing on the top of the lofty column in the center of the lake.īut not for an instant did we hesitate we flew rather than ran.
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