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〃Yes。〃 And his voice was now calm and perfectly steady。
〃Then…one； two； three…go！〃
We bent and cut and sprang to our feet； and dashed for the wall。 There was a sound of rushing feet…our backs hugged the kindly rock…I heard Harry's shout； 〃Here they e！〃…dim； rushing forms…fingers clutching at my throat。
I felt the blade of my knife sink into soft and yielding flesh； and a warm； thick liquid flow over my hand and arm。
Chapter VIII。
THE DANCE OF THE SUN。
It seemed to me then in the minutes that followed that there were thousands of black demons in that black hole。 At the first rushing impact I shouted to Harry： 〃Keep your back to the wall；〃 and for response I got a high； ringing laugh that breathed the joy of battle。
The thing was sickening。 Harry is a natural fighting man； I am not。 Without the wall at our backs we would have been overpowered in thirty seconds； as it was； we were forced to handle half a dozen of them at once； while the others surged in from behind。 They had no weapons； but they had the advantage of being able to see us。
They clutched my throat； my arms； my legs； my body； there was no room to strike； I pushed the knife home。 They fastened themselves to my legs and feet and tried to bring me down from beneath； once； in slashing at the head of one whose teeth were set in my calf； I cut myself on the knee。 It was difficult to stand in the wet； slippery pool that formed at my feet。
Suddenly I heard a sound that I understood too well…the curious； rattling sound of a man who is trying to call out when he is being strangled。
〃Harry！〃 I cried； and I fought like a wild man to get to him； with knife； feet； hands； teeth。 I reached his coat； his arm； it was dangerous to strike so near him in the dark； but I felt him sinking to the ground。
Then I found the taut； straining fingers about his throat； and lunged forward with the knife…and the fingers relaxed。
Again we were fighting together side by side。
As their bodies fell in front of us we were pressed harder； for those behind climbed up on the corpses of their fellows and literally descended on our heads from the air。 We could not have held out much longer； our breath was ing in quick； painful gasps； Harry stumbled on one of the prostrate brutes and fell； I tried to lift him and was unequal to the task。
It appeared to be the end。
Suddenly there rang throughout the cavern a sound as of a gigantic； deep…toned bell。 The walls sent it back and forth with deafening echoes； it was as though the mountain had descended with one tremendous crash into its own bowels。
As though by magic； the assault ceased。
The effect was indescribable。 We could see nothing； we merely became suddenly aware that there were no longer hands clutching at our throats or hairy bodies crushing us to the ground。 It was as though the horde of unseen devils had melted into thin air。 There were movements on the ground； for many of them had been wounded； a man cannot always reach the spot in the dark。 This lasted for two or three minutes； they were evidently removing those who still had life in them； for the straining breath of men dragging or lifting burdens was plainly audible。
Gradually that； too； died away with the last reverberations of the mysterious sound that had saved us； and we found ourselves alone…or at least unmolested…for in the darkness we could see nothing； except the dim outlines of the prostrate forms at our feet。
The cavern was a shambles。 The smell was that of a slaughter…house。 I had had no idea of the desperateness of our defense until I essayed to scramble over the heap of bodies to dry ground； I shuddered and grew faint； and Harry was in no better case。
Worse； he had dropped his knife when we stumbled； and we were forced to grope round in that unspeakable mess for many minutes before we found it。
〃Are you hurt； lad？〃 I asked when once we stood clear。
〃Nothing bad； I think；〃 he answered。 〃My throat is stiff； and two or three of the brutes got their teeth in me。 In the name of Heaven； Paul； what are they？ And what was that bell？〃
These were foolish questions； and I told him so。 My leg was bleeding badly where I had slashed myself； and I； too； had felt their teeth。 But； despite our utter weariness and our wounds； we wanted nothing…not even rest…so badly as we wanted to get away from that awful heap of flesh and blood and the odor of it。
Besides； we did not know at what moment they might return。 So I spoke； and Harry agreed。 I led the way； he followed。
But which way to turn？ We wanted water； both for our dry and burning throats and for our wounds； and rest and food。 We thought little of safety。 One way seemed as likely as another； so we set out with our noses as guides。
A man encounters very few misfortunes in this world which； later in life； he finds himself unable to laugh at； well； for me that endless journey was one of the few。
Every step was torture。 I had bandaged the cut on my leg as well as possible； but it continued to bleed。 But it was imperative that we should find water； and we struggled on； traversing narrow passages and immense caverns； always in plete darkness； stumbling over unseen rocks and encountering sharp corners of cross passages。
It lasted I know not how many hours。 Neither of us would have survived alone。 Time and again Harry sank to the ground and refused to rise until I perforce lifted him； once we nearly came to blows。 And I was guilty of the same weakness。
But the despair of one inspired the other with fresh strength and courage； and we struggled forward； slower and slower。 It was soul…destroying work。 I believe that in the last hour we made not more than half a mile。 I know now that for the greater part of the time we were merely retracing our steps in a vicious circle！
It was well that it ended when it did； for we could not have held out much longer。 Harry was leading the way； for I had found that that slight responsibility fortified him。 We no longer walked； we barely went forward； staggering and reeling like drunken men。
Suddenly Harry stopped short； so suddenly that I ran against him； and at the same time I felt a queer sensation…for I was too far gone to recognize it…about my feet。
Then Harry stooped over quickly； half knocking me down as he did so； and dropped to his knees； and the next instant gave an unsteady cry of joy：
〃Water！ Man； it's water！〃
How we drank and wallowed； and wallowed and drank！ That water might have contained all the poisons in the world and we would have neither known nor cared。 But it was cool； fresh； living…and it saved our lives。
We bathed our wounds and bandaged them with strips from our shirts。 Then we arranged our clothing for cushions and pillows as well as possible； took another drink； and lay down to sleep。
We must have slept a great many hours。 There was no way to judge of time； but when we awoke our joints were as stiff as though they had gotten rusty with the years。 I was brought to consciousness by the sound of Harry's voice calling my name。
Somehow…for every movement was exquisite pain…we got to our feet and reached the water； having first removed our clothing。 But we were now at that point where to drink merely aggravated our hunger。 Harry was in a savage humor； and when I laughed at him he became furious。
〃Have some sense。 I tell you； I must eat！ If it were not for your…〃
〃Go easy； Hal。 Don't say anything you'll be sorry for。 And I refuse to consider the sordid topic of food as one that may rightfully contain the elements of tragedy。 We seem to be in the position of the king of vaudeville。 If we had some ham we'd have some ham and eggs…if we had some eggs。〃
〃You may joke； but I am not made of iron！〃 he cried。
〃And what can we do but die？〃 I demanded。 〃Do you think there is any chance of our getting out of this？ Take it like a man。 Is it right for a man who has laughed at the world to begin to whine when it bees necessary to leave it？
〃You know I'm with you； I'll fight； and what I find I'll take； in the mean time I prefer not to furnish amusement for the devil。
There es a time； I believe； when the stomach debases us against our wills。 May I die before I see it。〃
〃But what are we to do？〃
〃That's more like it。 There's only one hope。 We must smell out the pantry that holds the dried fish。〃
We talked no more； but set about bathing and dressing our wounds。 Gad； how that cold water took them！ I was forced to set my teeth deep into my lip to keep from crying out； and once or twice Harry gave an involuntary grunt of pain that would not be suppressed。
When we had finished we waded far to the right to take a last deep drink； then sought our clothing and prepared to start on our all but hopeless search。 We had bee fairly well limbered up by that time and set out with parative ease。
We had gone perhaps a hundred yards； bearing off to the right； when Harry gave a sudden cry： 〃My knife is gone！〃 and stopped short。 I clapped my hand to my own belt instinctively； and found it empty both of knife and gun！ For a moment we stood in silence； then：
〃Have you got yours？〃 he demanded。
When I told him no he let out an oath。
His gun was gone； also。 We debated the matter； and decided that to attempt a