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came a cry； half of gladness； half of wonder。 For； seated on the golden throne； exactly as before； was Desiree。 By her side was seated the Inca king； round them； guards and attendants。
We gazed at her in astonishment； but she did not look at us； even at that distance we could see that her eyes were lowered to the ground。 Harry called her name…there was no answer。 Again he called； and I caught him by the arm。
〃Don't； Hal！ She can't possibly do us any good； and you may do her harm。 If she doesn't answer； it is because she has a reason。〃
He was silent； but not convinced； and would probably have argued the matter if our attention had not been arrested by a movement in the alcove。
The king rose and extended an arm； and the Incas who filled the seats surrounding the cavern fell flat on their faces。
〃We don't seem to have thinned them out any；〃 I observed。 〃I believe there are actually more than before。 Where do they all e from？〃
〃The Lord knows！〃
〃And； by the way； it is now apparent why they waited so long to attend to us。 The king naturally wanted to be present at the entertainment； and he had to take time to recover from his little fasting operation。 But now； what in the name of…my word； the thing is to be done in all propriety！ Look！〃
The king had dropped his arm； and the Incas were again sitting as Nature had intended they should sit； instead of on their noses。
And four attendants had approached the throne； bearing a frame of quipos。
〃So we are to have a fair trial；〃 Harry observed。
〃With the king for judge。〃
〃And a hundred dead rats as evidence。〃
〃Right； they can't get even with us； anyway； there are only two of us。 And as far as the other is concerned； I have an idea。〃
The king had left his throne and approached the outer edge of the alcove； until he stood almost directly under the oval plate of gold representing Pachacamac or the unknown god。
To this he knelt and made a succession of weird； uncouth gestures that suggested a lunatic or a traveling hypnotist。
Evidently the good Pachacamac approved whatever suggestions the royal priest municated； for he rose to his feet with a solemn grin and strutted majestically to the rear； facing the frame of quipos。
It was evident that he no longer had faith in Desiree's interpretation of the divine will of the great Pachacamac。 It is a royal privilege to be able to judge your own enemies。
The hand of the Child of the Sun passed slowly up and down the frame of quipos； betraying a mendable reluctance。 It touched the yellow cord and passed on； grasped the white and dropped it。
〃The old hypocrite！〃 exclaimed Harry in disgust。 〃Does he imagine he is playing with us？〃
Then there was an imperceptible movement； rather felt than seen； throughout the vast assemblage； and Desiree sank back on her throne of gold with a shudder as the king severed with the knife the black cord of death and laid it on the ground at her feet。
I looked at Harry； his face became slightly pale； but his eyes met mine firmly； speaking of a fortitude unconquerable。 Then we again riveted our gaze on the alcove opposite。
An attendant approached from the rear and stood before the golden throne； while the king motioned to Desiree to take up the black cord。 For a moment she did not understand him； then she drew back； shaking her head firmly。
The king did not wait to argue the matter； but stooped himself and picked up the cord and handed it to the attendant； who received it with a great show of respect and retired to the rear； where a motion was created by its appearance。
The judgment was passed； but what was to be the nature of the execution？ That uncertainty and the weirdness of the scene gave to the thing an air of unreality that shut out the tragic and admitted only the grotesque。
I have many times in my life felt nearer to death than when I stood on the top of that lofty column； surrounded by the thousands of squatting dwarfs； whose black bodies reflected dully the mounting light from the flaming urns。
I cannot say what we expected； for we knew not what to expect。
Many conjectures entered my mind； but none of them approached the fact。 But； thinking that our guide might now return at any moment to lead us below； and not caring to be surprised by an attack from behind on that narrow precipice； I moved across to the rear； where I could keep my eyes on the alcove opposite； and at the same time watch the stone slab which closed the opening to the spiral stairway。 A word to Harry and he joined me。
〃Perhaps we can open it from above；〃 he suggested。
〃Not likely；〃 I answered； 〃and； anyway； what's the use？〃
He knelt down and tugged at it； but there was no edge on which to obtain a purchase。 The thing was immovable。
Five minutes passed； during which there was no movement； either in the audience on the stone seats or in the alcove。 But there was an indefinable air of expectancy on the faces of the king and those surrounding him； and I kept a sharp eye on the stone slab。
Another five minutes and still nothing happened。 Harry called across to Desiree； or rather began to call； for I stopped him with a jerk。 It was impossible for her to aid us； and her situation was already sufficiently perilous。
Then； being impatient； I decided to try to move the stone slab myself。 Kneeling down； I placed the palms of my hands firmly against its surface and pressed with all my weight。
And then I knew。 plete prehension flashed through my brain on the instant。 I sprang to my feet； and my thought must have shown on my face； for Harry looked at me in surprise； demanding：
〃What is it？ What is it； Paul？〃
And I answered calmly：
〃We're caught； Hal。 Like rats in a trap。 Oh； the black devils！ Listen！ We have no time to lose。 Bend over and touch the palm of your hand to the ground。〃
He did so； plainly puzzled。 Then he drew his hand hastily away； exclaiming： 〃It's hot！〃
〃Yes。〃 I spoke quickly。 〃Our boots kept us from feeling it before； and the stone doesn't throw out enough heat to feel it in the air。 They've built a fire under us in the column。 The stone is thick and heats slowly。〃
〃But what…that means…〃
〃It means one of two things。 In a few minutes this floor will be baking hot。 Then we either fry on their stone griddle or drown in the lake。 You see the distance below…only a man crazed by suffering or one incredibly brave would take that leap。 This is their little entertainment…they expect us to dance for them。〃
〃But the lake！ If we could take it clean…〃
I saw that the lake was our only chance； if there could be said to be any in so desperate a situation。 To be sure； there seemed to be no possibility of escaping； even if we took the water without injury。 On every side its bank was lined with the watching Incas； and the bank itself was so steep that to ascend it would have required wings。
The heat began to be felt even through the soles of our heavy boots； involuntarily I lifted one foot； then the other。 I saw the Child of the Sun in the alcove lean forward with an appreciative grin。 Another minute… I jerked my wits together…never did my brain answer with better speed。 And then I remembered that flash of water I had seen under the spiral stairway at the base of the column。 I had thought at the time that it might be connected with the lake itself。 If that were so… I turned to Harry and conveyed my idea to him in as few words as possible as we walked up and down； side by side。 It was impossible longer to stand still…the stone was so hot that the bare hand could not be held against it for an instant。 I saw that he did not prehend what I said about the water in the column； but he did understand my instructions； and that was all that was necessary。
We ran to the edge of the column nearest the alcove。
Removing our woolen knickerbockers…for better ease in the water…we placed them on the hot stone； and on top of them our boots； which we had also removed。 Thus our feet were protected as we stood on the extreme edge of the column； taking a deep breath for strength and nerve。
I saw the thousands of black savages…who had been cheated of their dance…crane their necks forward eagerly。
I saw the king gesture excitedly to an attendant； who turned and flew from the alcove。
I saw Desiree spring up from the golden throne and run to the edge of the alcove； crying to us in a tone of despair。 But I did not hear her words； for I myself was calling：
〃Take it clean； Hal。 Ready…go！〃
The next instant we were flying headlong through the air toward the surface of the lake a hundred feet below。
Men have told me since that I never made that dive； or that I greatly overestimated the distance； and I admit that as I look back at it now it appears incredible。 Well； they are wele to their opinion； but I would not advise them to try to argue the matter with Harry。
The impact with the water all but pletely stunned me； as I struck the surface it seemed that a thousand cannons had exploded in my ears。 Down； down I went…lucky for us that the lake was apparently bottomless！
I seemed to have gone as far below the water as I had been above it before I was able to twist myself about and meet it with my belly。 Then； striking out with every ounce of strength in me； I m