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ner of the boulder and saw that the spears again found their mark。
〃e；〃 I whispered； and began to pick my way toward the ledge。
Harry followed close at my heels。 It was easier here； and we soon found ourselves close to the shore of the lake； with a smooth stretch of rock between us and the fisherman's landing…place。 The urns； whose light was quite sufficient here； were about fifty feet to the right and rear。
The Incas had made their kill and were paddling for the shore。
As they came near； Harry and I sank back against the boulder； which extended to the boundary of the ledge。 Soon the raft was beached and pulled well away from the water； and the fish…I was amazed at its size…followed。
They drew forth the spears and laid them on the ground； as they had done formerly； and； laying hold on the immense fish； still floundering ponderously about； began to drag it toward the mouth of the passage。
〃Now；〃 whispered Harry； and as he stood close at my side I could feel his body draw together for the spring。
I laid a hand on his arm。
〃Not yet。 Others may be waiting for them in the passage。
Wait till they return。〃
In a few minutes they reappeared in the light of the flaming urns。 I waited till they had advanced half…way to the water's edge； some thirty feet away。 Then I whispered to Harry： 〃You for the left； me for the right；〃 and released my hold on his arm； and the next instant we were bounding furiously across the ledge。
Taken by surprise； the Incas offered no resistance whatever。
The momentum of our assault carried them to the ground； their heads struck the hard granite with fearful force and they lay stunned。
Harry； kneeling over them； looked up at me with a question in his eyes。
〃The lake；〃 said I； for it was no time for squeamishness。
Our friend the king thought us dead； and we wanted no witnesses that we had returned to life。 We laid hold of the unconscious bodies； dragged them to the edge of the lake； and pushed them in。 The shock of the cold water brought one of them to life； and he started to swim； and we…well； we did what had to be done。
We had our spears。 I examined them curiously。
The head appeared to be of copper and the shaft was a long； thin rod of the same material。 But when I tried it against a stone and saw its hardness I found that it was much less soft； and consequently more effective； than copper would have been。 That those underground savages had succeeded in bining metals was incredible； but there was the evidence； and； besides； it may have been a trick of nature herself。
The point was some six inches long and very sharp。 It was set on the shaft in a wedge； and bound with thin； tough strips of hide。
Altogether； a weapon not to be laughed at。
We carried the spears； the raft； and the oars behind a large boulder to the left of the ledge with considerable difficulty。 The two latter not because we expected them to be of any service； but in order not to leave any trace of our presence； for if any searchers came and found nothing they could know nothing。
We expected them to arrive at any moment； and we waited for hours。 We had about given up watching from our vantage point behind the boulder when two Incas appeared at the mouth of the passage。 But they brought only oil to fill the urns； and after performing this duty departed； without a glance at the lake or any exhibition of surprise at the absence of their fellows。
Every now and then there was a motion in some part of the lake； and we could occasionally see a black； glistening body leap into the air and fall again into the water。
〃I'm hungry；〃 Harry announced suddenly。 〃I wonder if we couldn't turn the trick on that raft ourselves？〃
The same thought had occurred to me； but Harry's impulsiveness had made me fearful of expressing it。 I hesitated。
〃We've got to do something；〃 he continued。
I suggested that it might be best to wait another hour or two。
〃And why？ Now is as good a time as any。 If we intend to find Desiree…〃
〃In the name of Heaven； how can we？〃 I interrupted。
〃You don't mean to say you don't intend to try？〃 he exclaimed。
〃Hal； I don't know。 In the first place； it's impossible。 And where could we take her and what could we do…in short； what's the use？ Why the deuce should we prolong the thing any further？
〃In the world I refused to struggle because nothing tempted me； in this infernal hole I have fought when there was nothing to fight for。 If civilization held no prize worth an effort； why should I exert myself to preserve the life of a rat？ Faugh！ It's sickening！ I wondered why I wanted those spears。 Now I know。 I have an idea I'm going to be coward enough to use one…or enough of a philosopher。〃
〃Paul； that isn't like you。〃
〃On the contrary； it is consistent with my whole life。 I have never been overly keen about it。 To end it in a hole like this…well； that isn't exactly what I expected； but it is all one…after。
Understand me； Hal； I don't want to desert you； haven't I stuck？
And I would still if there were the slightest possible chance。
Where can we go？ What can we do？〃
There was a long silence； then Harry's voice came calmly：
〃I can stay in the game。 You call yourself a philosopher。 I won't quarrel about it； but the world would call you a quitter。
Whichever it is； it's not for me。 I stay in the game。 I'm going to find Desiree if I can； and； by the Lord； some day I'm going to cock my feet up on the fender at the Midlothian and make 'em open their mouths and call me a liar！〃
〃A worthy ambition。〃
〃My own。 And； Paul； you can't…you're not a quitter。〃
〃Personally； yes。 If I were here alone； Hal〃…I picked up one of the spears and passed my palm over its sharp point…〃I would quit cold。 But not…not with you。 I can't share your enthusiasm； but I'll go fifty…fifty on the rest of it； including the fender…when we see it。〃
〃That's the talk； old man。 I knew you would。〃
〃But understand me。 I expect nothing。 It's all rot。 If by any wild chance we should pull out in the end I'll admit you were right。 But I eat under pulsion； and I fight for you。 You're the leader unless you ask my advice。〃
〃And I begin right now；〃 said Harry with a grin。 〃First； to get Desiree。 What about it？〃
We discussed plans all the way from the impossible to the miraculous and arrived nowhere。 One thing only we decided…that before we tried to find our way back to the great cavern and the royal apartments we would lay in a supply of food and cache it among the boulders and ledges where we then were。 For if ever a place were designed for a successful defense by two men against thousands it was that one。 And we had the spears。
Still no one had appeared in the cavern； and we decided to wait no longer。 We carried the raft back to the ledge。 It was fairly light； being made of hide stretched tightly across stringers of bone； but was exceedingly clumsy。 Once Harry fell； and the thing nearly toppled over into the lake with him on top of it； but I caught his arm just in time。
Another trip for the oars and spears； and everything was ready。 We launched the raft awkwardly； nearly shipping it beneath； but finally got it afloat with ourselves aboard。 We had fastened the loose ends of the spear…thongs about our waists。
I think that raft was the craziest thing that ever touched water。 It was a most excellent diver； but was in profound ignorance of the first principle of the art of floating。
After a quarter of an hour of experimentation we found that by standing exactly in a certain position； one on each side and paddling with one hand； it was possible to keep fairly level。 If either of us shifted his foot a fraction of an inch the thing ducked like a stone。
We finally got out a hundred feet or so and ceased paddling。
Then； exchanging our oars for the spears； we waited。
The surface of the lake was perfectly still； save for a barely perceptible ripple； caused no doubt by the undercurrent which was fed by the stream at the opposite side。 The urns were so far away that the light was very dim； no better than half darkness。 The silence was broken by the sound of the rushing stream。
Suddenly the raft swayed gently； there was a parting of the water not a foot away toward the front； and then…well； the ensuing events happened so quickly that their order is uncertain。
A black form arose from the water with a leap like lightning and landed squarely on the raft； which proceeded to perform its favorite dive。 It would have done so with much less persuasion； for the fish was a monster…it appeared to me at that moment to be twenty feet long。
On the instant； as the raft capsized； Harry and I lunged with our spears； tumbling forward and landing on each other and on top of the fish。 I felt my spear sinking into the soft fish almost without resistance。
The raft slipped from under； and we found ourselves floundering in the water。
I have said the spear…thongs were fastened about our waists。
Otherwise； we would have let the fish go； but we could hardly allow him to take us along。 That is； we didn't want to allow it； but we soon found that we had nothing to say in the matter。 Before we had time to set ourselves to stroke we were being towed as though we had been corks toward the opposi