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Finally the gold was melted； stubbornly but surely。 We took the thick hide cover from the couch and； one on each side； lifted the vessel of liquid metal and filled our mold。 In an hour it was hardened into a bar the shape of a half…cylinder。 We removed it and poured in the remainder of the gold。
It would appear that the gain was hardly worth the pains； and I admit it。 But at the least I had kept Harry occupied with something besides his amatory troubles； and at the best we had two heavy； easily handled bars of metal that would prove most effective weapons against foes who had none whatever。
We had just removed the traces of our work as pletely as possible and secreted the clubs of yellow metal in a corner of the apartment when the sound of pattering footsteps came from the corridor。
Harry gave me a quick glance； I moved between him and the door。 But it was Desiree。
She entered the room hurriedly and crossed to the farther side； then turned to face the door。 Her cheeks were glowing brightly； her eyes flashed fire； and her breast heaved with unwonted agitation。 Before either she or I had time to speak Harry had sprung to her side and grasped her arm。
〃What has he done now？〃 he demanded in a tone scarcely audible in its intensity。
〃I…don't…know；〃 said Desiree without removing her eyes from the door。 〃Let me go； Harry； let me sit down。 Paul！ Ah！ I was afraid。〃
〃For us？〃 I asked。
〃Yes…partly。 The brute！ But then； he is human； and that is his way。 And you…I was right…you should have gone to the Cave of the Sun when he required your presence。〃
〃But it was merely an invitation。 Cannot one refuse an invitation？〃 I protested。
〃But； my dear Paul； the creature is royal…his invitations are mands。〃
〃Well； we were busy； and we've already seen the Cave of the Sun。〃
〃Still it was an error； and I think you will pay for it。
There have been unusual preparations under way for many hours。
The king has been in my apartment； and messengers and guards have been arriving constantly； each with his little bundle of quipos； as you call them。〃
〃Did you see the quipos？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Did any of them contain a red cord； suspended alone； with a single knot at either end？〃
〃Yes； all of them；〃 said Desiree without an instant's hesitation。
〃That means Harry and me；〃 I observed。 〃But the message！ Can you remember any of them？〃
She tried； but without success。 Which will not surprise any one who has ever seen the collection at the museum at Lima。
Then Harry broke in：
〃Something else has happened； Desiree。 No bunch of cords tied in silly knots ever made you look as you did just now。 What was it？〃
〃Nothing…nothing； Harry。〃
〃I say yes！ And I want to know！ And if it's what I think it is we're going to clear out of here now！〃
〃As though we could！〃
〃We can！ We have enough provisions to last for weeks。 And see here；〃 he ran to the corner where he had hidden the golden clubs and returned with them in his hands； 〃with these we could make our way through them all。 Tell me！〃
There was a strange smile on Desiree's lips。
〃And so you would fight for me； Harry？〃 she said half…wistfully； half…I know not what。 Then she continued in a tone low but quite distinct： 〃Well； it is too late。 I am the king's。〃
She lied…I saw it in her eyes。 Perhaps she meant to save Harry from his folly； to quiet him by the knowledge that he need not fight for what was no longer his own； but she was mistaken in her man。
Harry did not stop to read her eyes…he heard her words。 He took two slow steps backward； then stood quite still； while his face grew deadly white and his eyes were fastened on hers with a look that made me turn my own away。 His soul looked out from them…how he loved the woman…and I could not bear it！
Nor； after a moment； could Desiree。 She took a step forward； extending her arms to him and cried out：
〃Harry！ No！ It was a lie； Harry！ Don't…don't！〃
And they gazed at each other； and I at Desiree； and thus we were unaware that a fourth person had entered the room； until he had crossed its full length and stood before me。 It was the Inca king。
I took no time for thought； but jumped straight for Harry and threw my arms round him； dragging him back half…way across the room。 Taken pletely by surprise； he did not struggle。 I noticed that he still held in his hands the bars of gold he had shown to Desiree。
The king regarded us for a second with a scowl； then turned to her。
She stood erect； with flashing eyes。 The king approached； she held out her hand to him with an indescribable gesture of dignity。
For a moment he looked at her； then his lips curled in an ugly snarl； and； dashing her hand aside； he leaped forward in swift fury and grasped her white throat with his fingers。
There was a strangled scream from Desiree； a frantic cry from Harry…and the next instant he had torn himself free from my arms； dropping the bars of gold at my feet。
A single bound and he was across the room； a single blow with his fist and the king of the Incas dropped senseless to the floor。
Chapter XII。
AT THE DOOR。
Desiree shrank back against the wall； covering her face with her hands。 Harry stood above the prostrate figure of the king； panting and furious。
As for me； I gave no thought to what had been done…the imminent peril of the situation possessed my mind and stung my brain to action。
I ran to the figure on the floor and bent over him。 There was no movement…his eyes were closed。 Calling to Harry to watch the corridor without； I quickly tore my woolen jacket into strips…my fingers seemed to be made of steel…and bound the wrists and ankles of the Inca firmly； trussing him up behind。
Then with another strip I gagged him； thinking it best to err on the side of prudence。 In another moment I had dragged him to the corner of the room behind the granite couch and covered him with its hide…cover。
Then I turned to Harry：
〃Is the coast clear？〃
〃Yes；〃 he answered from the doorway。
〃Then here…quick； man！ Get the clubs and the grub。
Desiree…e！ There's not a second to lose。〃
〃But； Paul…〃 she began； then； seeing the utter folly of any other course than instant flight； she sprang to Harry's side to assist him with the bundles of provisions。
There was more than we could carry。 Harry and I each took a bundle under our left arm； carrying the clubs in the other hand。
Desiree attempted to take two bundles； but they were too heavy for her； and she was forced to drop one。
With a last hasty glance at the motionless heap in the corner we started； Harry leading and myself in the rear； with Desiree between us。
But it was not to be so easy。 We were nearly to the door when there came a grating； rumbling sound from above； and a huge block of granite dropped squarely across the doorway with a crash that made the ground tremble beneath our feet。
Stupefied； we realized in a flash that the cunning of the Incas had proved too much for us。 Harry and I ran forward； but only to invite despair； the doorway was pletely covered by the massive rock； an impenetrable curtain of stone weighing many tons； and on neither side was there an opening more than an inch wide。
We were imprisoned beyond all hope of escape。
We stood stunned； Desiree even made no sound； but gazed at the blocked doorway in a sort of stupid wonder。 It was one of those sudden and overwhelming catastrophes that deprive us for a moment of all power to reason or even to realize。
Then Harry said quietly：
〃Well； the game's up。〃
And Desiree turned to me with the calm observation：
〃They must have been watching us。 We were fools not to have known it。〃
〃Impossible！〃 Harry asserted； but I agreed with Desiree； and though I could see no opening or crevice of any sort in the walls or ceiling； I was convinced that even then the eyes of the Incas were upon us。
Our situation was indeed desperate。 With our every movement spied upon； surrounded by four solid walls of stone； and beyond them ten thousand savage brutes waiting to tear us to pieces…what wildest fancy could indulge in hope？
Then； glancing up； my eye was arrested by the heap under the cover in the corner。 There； in the person of the Inca king； lay our only advantage。 But how could we use it？
Desiree's voice came in the calm tones of despair：
〃We are lost。〃
Harry crossed to her and took her in his arms。
〃I thank Heaven；〃 he said； 〃that you are with us。〃 Then he turned to me： 〃I believe it is for the best； Paul。 There never was a chance for us； we may as well say it now。 And it is better to die here； together； than…the other way。〃
I smiled at his philosophy； knowing its source。 It came not from his own head； but from Desiree's arms。 But it was truth。
We sat silent。 The thing was beyond discussion； too elemental to need speech for its explanation or understanding。 I believe it was not despair that kept back our words； but merely the dumb realization that where all hope is gone words are useless…worse； a mockery。
Finally I crossed the room and removed the cover from the body of the Child of the Sun。 He had recovered consciousness； his little wicked eyes gleamed up at me with an expression that would have been terrifying in the intensity of its malignant h