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Finally we loaded on our provisions…about thirty pounds of the meat of the fish and water…pigs； wrapping it securely in two or three of the skins and strapping them firmly to the top。
〃And now；〃 said I； testing the strips on the corners for the last time； 〃all we need is a name for her and a bottle of wine。〃
〃And a homeward…bound pennant；〃 put in Harry。
〃The name is easy enough；〃 said Desiree。 〃I hereby christen her Clarte du Soleil。〃
〃Which means？〃 asked Harry； whose French came only in spots。
〃Sunshine；〃 I told him。 〃Presumably after the glorious King of the Incas； who calls himself the Child of the Sun。 But it's a good name。 May Heaven grant that it takes us there！〃
〃I think we ought to take more grub；〃 said Harry…an observation which he had made not less than fifty times in the preceding fifty minutes。 He received no support and grumbled to himself something about the horrible waste of leaving so much behind。
Why it was I don't know； but we were fully persuaded that we were about to say good…by forever to this underground world and its dangers。 Somehow； we had coaxed ourselves into the belief that success was certain； it was as though we had seen the sunlight streaming in from the farther end of the arched tunnel into which the stream disappeared。 There was an assurance about the words of each that strengthened this feeling in the others； and hope had shut out all thought of failure as we prepared to launch our craft。
It took us some time to get it to the edge of the water； though it was close by； for we handled it with extreme care； that it might not be torn on the rocks。 Altogether； with the provisions； it weighed close to one hundred and fifty pounds。
We were by no means sure that the thing would carry us； and when once we had reached the water we forgot caution in our haste to try it。 We held it at the edge while Desiree arranged herself on the pile of skins。 The spears lay across at her feet； strapped down for security。
Harry stepped across to the farther edge of the raft。
〃Ready！〃 he called； and I shoved off； wading behind。 When the water was up to my knees I climbed aboard and picked up my oar。
〃By all the nine gods； look at her！〃 cried Harry in huge delight。 〃She takes about three inches！ Man； she'd carry an army！〃
〃Allons！〃 cried Desiree； with gay laughter。 〃C'est Perfection！〃
〃Couldn't be better；〃 I agreed； 〃but watch yourself； Hal。
When we get into the current things are going to begin to happen。
If it weren't for the beastly darkness 'twould be easy enough。 As it is； one little rock the size of your head could send us to the bottom。〃
We were still near the bank； working our way out slowly。
Harry and I had to maintain positions equidistant from the center in order to keep the raft balanced； hence I had to push her out alone。
Considering her bulk； she answered to the oar very well。
Another five minutes and we were near the middle of the stream。 At that point there was but little current and we drifted slowly。 Harry went to the bow； while I took up a position on the stern…if I may use such terms for such a craft…directly behind Desiree。 We figured that we were then about a mile from the Point where the stream left the cavern。
Gradually； as the stream narrowed； the strength of the current increased。 Still it was smooth； and the raft sailed along without a tremor。 Once or twice； caught by some trick of the current； she turned half round； poking her nose ahead； but she soon righted herself。
The water began to curl up on the sides as we were carried more and more swiftly onward； with a low murmur that was music to us。 The stream became so narrow that we could see the bank on either side； though dimly； and I knew we were approaching the exit。
I called to Harry： 〃Keep her off to the right as we make the turn！〃 and he answered： 〃Aye； aye； sir！〃 with a wave of the hand。
This； at least； was action with a purpose。
Another minute and we saw the arch directly ahead of us； round a bend in the stream。 The strength of the current carried us toward the off bank； but we plied our oars desperately and well； and managed to keep fairly well in to the end of the curve。
We missed the wall of the tunnel…black； grim rock that would have dashed out our brains…by about ten feet； and were swept forward under the arch； on our way…so we thought…to the land of sunshine。
Chapter XX。
AN INCA SPEAR。
Here I might most appropriately insert a paragraph on the vanity of human wishes and endeavor。 But events； they say； speak for themselves； and still； for my own part； I prefer the philosopher to the historian。 Mental digestion is a wearisome task； you are wele to it。
To the story。 As I have said； we missed the wall of the tunnel by a scant ten feet； and we kept on missing it。 Once under the arch； our raft developed a most stubborn inclination to bump up against the rocky banks instead of staying properly in the middle of the current； as it should。
First to one side； then to the other； it swung； while Harry and I kept it off with our oars； often missing a collision by inches。 But at least the banks were smooth and level； and as long as the stream itself remained clear of obstruction there was but little real danger。
The current was not nearly so swift as I had expected it would be。 In the semidarkness it was difficult to calculate our rate of speed； but I judged that we were moving at about six or seven miles an hour。
We had gone perhaps three miles when we came to a sharp bend in the stream； to the left； almost at a right angle。 Harry； at the bow； was supposed to be on the lookout； but he failed to see it until we were already caught in its whirl。
Then he gave a cry of alarm； and together we swung the raft to the left； avoiding the right bank of the curve by less than a foot。
Once safely past； I sent Harry to the stern and took the bow myself； which brought down upon him a deal of keen banter from Desiree。
There the tunnel widened； and the raft began to glide easily onward； without any of its sudden dashes to right or left。 I rested on my oar； gazing intently ahead； at the best I could make out the walls a hundred yards ahead； and but dimly。 All was silence； save the gentle swish of the water against the sides of the raft and the patter of Harry's oar dipping idly on one side or the other。
Suddenly Desiree's voice came through the silence； soft and very low：
〃Pendant une anne' toute entiere；
Le regiment na Pas r'paru。
Au Ministere de la Guerre
On le r'porta me perdu。
〃On se r'noncait a r'trouver sa trace；
Quand un matin subitement；
On le vit r'paraitre sur la place；
L'Colonel toujours en avant。〃
I waited until the last note had died away in the darkness。
〃Are those your thoughts？〃 I asked then； half turning。
〃No；〃 said Desiree； 〃but I want to kill my thoughts。 As for them…〃
She hesitated； and after a short pause her voice again broke into melody：
〃Fresh as the first beam glittering on a sail
That brings our friends up from the underworld；
Sad as the last which reddens over one
That sinks with all we love below the verge；
So sad； so fresh； the days that are no more。〃
Her voice； subdued and low； breathed a sweetness that seemed almost to be of another world。 My ear quivered with the vibrations； and long after she was silent the last mellow note floated through my brain。
Suddenly I became conscious of another sound； scarcely less musical。 It； too； was low； so low and faint that at first I thought my ear deceived me； or that some distant echo was returning Desiree's song down the dark tunnel。
Gradually； very gradually； it became louder and clearer； until at length I recognized it。 It was the rush of water； unbroken； still low and at a great distance。 I turned to remark on it to Harry； but Desiree took the words from my mouth。
〃I seem to hear something…like the surf；〃 she said。 〃That isn't possible； is it？〃
I could have smiled but for the deep note of hope in her voice。
〃Hardly；〃 I answered。 〃I have heard it for several minutes。
It is probably some shallows。 We must look sharp。〃
Another fifteen minutes； and I began to notice that the speed of the current was increasing。 The sound of the rushing water； too； was quite distinct。 Still the raft moved more and more swiftly； till I began to feel alarmed。 I turned to Harry：
〃That begins to sound like rapids。 See that the spears are fastened securely； and stand ready with your oar。 Sit tight； Desiree。〃
One thing was certain： there was nothing to do but go ahead。
On both sides the walls of the tunnel rose straight up from the surface of the water； there was nowhere room for a landing…place …not even a foot for a purchase to stay our flight。 To go back was impossible； at the rate the current was now carrying us we could not have held the raft even for a moment without oars。
Soon we were gliding forward so swiftly that the raft trembled under us； from the darkness ahead came the sound of the rapids； now increased to a roar that filled the tunnel and deafened us。 I heard Harry shouting something； but could not make out the words； we were shooting forward with the speed of an express train and the air about us was full