按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
We found ourselves running a gantlet wherein discovery seemed certain。 The right wall was one unbroken series of open doorways； and in each of the rooms； whose interiors we could plainly see； were one or more of the Inca Women； and sometimes children rolled about on the stony floor。
In one of them a man stood； I could have sworn that he was gazing straight at us； and I gathered myself together for a spring； but he made no movement of any kind and we passed swiftly by。
Once a little black ball of flesh…a boy it was； perhaps five or six years old…tumbled out into the corridor under our very feet。 We strode over him and went swiftly on。
We had passed about a hundred of the open doorways； and were beginning to entertain the hope that we might； after all； get through without being discovered； when Harry suddenly stopped short； pulling at my arm。 At the same instant I saw； far down the corridor； a crowd of black forms moving toward us。
Even at that distance something about their appearance and gait told us that they were not women。 Their number was so great that as they advanced they filled the passage from wall to wall。
There was but one way to escape certain discovery； and distasteful as it was； we did not hesitate to employ it。 In a glance I saw that we were directly opposite an open doorway； with a whispered word to Harry I sprang across the corridor and within the room。 He followed。
Inside were a woman and two children。 As we entered they looked up； startled； and stood gazing at us in terror。 For an instant we held back； but there was nothing else for it； and in another minute we had overpowered and bound and gagged them and carried them to a corner。
The children were ugly little devils and the woman very little above a brute； still we handled them as tenderly as possible。 Then we crouched against the wall where we could not be seen from the corridor； and waited。
Soon the patter of many footsteps reached our ears。 They passed； others came； and still others。 For many minutes the sound continued steadily； unbroken； while we sat huddled up against the wall； scarcely daring to breathe。
Immediately in front of me lay the forms of the woman and the children； I could see their dull eyes； unblinking； looking up at me in abject terror。 Still the patter of footsteps sounded from without； with now and then an interval of quiet。
Struck by a sudden thought； I signaled to Harry； and when he had moved further back into his corner I sprang across the room in one bound to his side。 A word or two of whispering； and he nodded to show that he understood。 We crouched together flat against the wall。
My thought had e just in time； for scarcely another minute had passed when there suddenly appeared in the doorway the form of an Inca。 He moved a step inside； and I saw that there was another behind him。 I had not counted on two of them！ In the arms of each was a great copper vessel； evidently very heavy； for their effort was apparent as they stooped to place the vessels on the ground just within the doorway。
As they straightened up and saw that the room before them was empty； their faces filled with surprise。 At the same moment a movement came from the woman in the corner； the two men glanced at them with a start of wonder； and as I had foreseen； they ran across and bent over the prostrate forms。
The next instant they； too； were prone on the floor； with Harry and me on top of them。 They did not succumb without a struggle； and the one I had chosen proved nearly too much for me。
The great muscles of his chest and legs strained under me with a power that made me doubtful for a moment of the oute； but the Incas themselves had taught us how to conquer a man when you attack him from behind； and I grasped his throat with all the strength there was in my fingers。
With a desperate effort he got to his knees and grasped my wrists in his powerful black hands and tore my own grip loose。 He was half…way to his feet； and far more powerful than I； I changed my tactics。 Wrenching myself loose； I fell back a step； then； as he twisted round to get at me； I lunged forward and let him have my fist squarely between the eyes。
The blow nearly broke my hand； but he dropped to the floor。
The next instant I was joined by Harry； who had overe the other Inca with little difficulty； and in a trice we had them both bound and gagged along with the remainder of the family in the corner。
Owing to my strategy in withholding our attack until the Incas had got well within the room and to one side； we had not been seen by those constantly passing up and down in the corridor without； at least； none of them had entered。 We seemed by this stroke to have assured our safety so long as we remained in the room。
But it was still necessary to remain against the wall； for the soft patter of footsteps could still be heard in the corridor。
They now came at irregular intervals； and there were not many of them。 Otherwise the silence was unbroken。
〃What does it all mean？〃 Harry whispered。
〃The Incas are ing home to their women；〃 I guessed。
〃Though； after seeing the women； it is little wonder if they spend most of their time away from them。 He is wele to his repose in the bosom of his family。〃
There passed an uneventful hour。 Long before it ended the sound of footsteps had entirely ceased； but we thought it best to take no chances； and waited for the last minute our impatience would allow us。 Then； unfortable and stiff from the long period of immobility and silence； we rose to our feet and made ready to start。
Harry was for appropriating some of the strips of dried fish we saw suspended from the ceiling； but I objected that our danger lay in any direction other than that of hunger； and we set out with only our spears。
The corridor was deserted。 One quick glance in either direction assured us of that； then we turned to the right and set out at a rapid pace； down the long passage past a succession of rooms exactly similar to the one we had just left…scores； hundreds of them。
Each one was occupied by from one to ten of the Incas lying on the couch which each contained； or stretched on hides on the floor。
No one was stirring。 Everywhere was silence save the patter of our own feet； which we let fall as noiselessly as possible。
〃Will it never end？〃 whispered Harry at length； after we had traversed upward of a mile without any sign of a cross…passage or a termination。
〃Forward； and silence！〃 I breathed for a reply。
The end…at least； of the silence…came sooner than we had expected。 Hardly were the last words out of my mouth when a whirring noise sounded behind us。 We glanced over our shoulders as we ran； and at the same instant an Inca spear flew by not two inches from my head and struck the ground in front。
Not a hundred feet to the rear we saw a group of Incas rushing along the passage toward us。 Harry wheeled about； raising his spear； but I grasped him by the arm； crying； 〃Run； it's our only chance！〃 The next moment we were leaping forward side by side down the passage。
It would have fared ill with any who appeared to block our way in that mad dash； but it remained clear。 The corridor led straight ahead； with never a turn。 We were running as we had never run before； the black walls flashed past us an indistinguishable blur； and the open doorways were blended into one。
Glancing back over my shoulder； I saw that the small group of Incas was no longer small。 Away to the rear the corridor was filled with rushing black forms。 But I saw plainly that we were gaining on them； the distance that separated us was twice as great as when we had first started to run。
〃How about it？〃 I panted。 〃Can you hold out？〃
〃If it weren't for this knee；〃 Harry returned between breaths and through clenched teeth。 〃But…I'm with you。〃 He was limping painfully； and I slackened my pace a little； but he urged me forward with an oath； and himself sprang to the front。 His knee must have been causing him the keenest agony； his face was white as death。
Then I uttered a cry of joy as I saw a bend in the passage ahead。 We reached it； and wheeled to the right。 There was solid wall on either side； the series of doors was ended。
〃We'll shake 'em off now；〃 I panted。
Harry nodded。
A short distance ahead we came to another cross…passage； and turned to the left。 Glancing over my shoulder； I saw that our pursuers had not yet reached the first turn。 Harry kept in the lead； and was giving me all I could do to keep up with him。
We found ourselves now in a veritable maze of lanes and cross…passages； and we turned to one side or the other at every opportunity。 At length I grasped Harry by the arm and stopped him。
We stood for two full minutes listening intently。 There was absolutely no sound of any kind。
〃Thank Heaven！〃 Harry breathed； and would have fallen to the ground if I had not supported him。
We started out then in search of water； moving slowly and cautiously。 But we found none； and soon Harry declared that he could go no further。 We sat down with our backs against the wall of the passage； still breathing heavily and all but exhausted。
In that darkness and silence the minutes passed into hours。
We talked but little； and then on