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〃The king！〃 I shouted； and I saw a shudder of terror run over Desiree's face as she； too； recognized the black form below。 At the same instant the spear darted forward from the hand of the Child of the Sun； but it landed harmlessly against the rock several feet away。
The next moment the Inca king had bounded across the rock toward us； followed by a score of others。
I was minded to try my luck with his own weapon； but we had no spears to waste； and Harry was dragging Desiree forward and shouting to me to follow。 I turned and ran after them； and just as we let ourselves down into a narrow crevice below the Incas appeared over the edge of the rock behind。
Somehow we scrambled forward； with the Incas at our heels。
Sharp corners of projecting rocks bruised our faces and bodies； once my leg bent double under me as I fell from a ledge onto a boulder below； and I thought it was broken； but Harry jerked me to my feet and I struggled on。
Harry seemed possessed of the strength of ten men and the heart of a thousand。 He pulled Desiree and me up and over boulders and rocks as though we had been feathers； the Lord knows how he got there himself！ Half of the time he carried Desiree； the other half he supported me。 His energy and exertions were titanic； even in the desperate excitement of our retreat I found time to marvel at it。
We did not gain an inch； our pursuers kept close behind us； but we held our own。 Now and then a stray spear came hurtling through the air or struck the rock near us； but they were infrequent and we were not hit。
One； flying past my head； stuck in a crevice of the rock and I grasped the shaft to pull it out； but abandoned my effort when I heard Harry shouting to me from the front to e to his aid。
He and Desiree were standing on the rim of a ledge that stood high above the ground of the passage。 At its foot began a level stretch leading straight ahead as far as we could see。
〃We must lift her down；〃 Harry was saying。
He let himself over the ledge； hung by his hands； and dropped。
〃All right！〃 he called from below； and I lay flat on the rock while Desiree scrambled over the edge； holding to my hands。 For a moment I held her suspended in my outstretched arms； then； at a word from Harry； I let her drop。 Another moment and I was over myself； knocking Harry to the ground and tumbling on top of him as he stood beneath to break my fall。
By then the Incas had reached the top of the ledge above us； and we turned and raced down the long stretch ahead。 I was in front； Harry came behind with Desiree。
Suddenly； as I ran； I felt a curious trembling of the ground beneath my feet； similar to the vibrations of a bridge at the passing of a heavy load。
Then the ground actually swayed beneath me； and； realizing the danger； I sent a desperate shout to Harry over my shoulder and bounded forward。 He was at my side on the instant； with Desiree in his arms。
The ground rocked beneath our feet like a ship in a storm； and； just as I thought we were gone； my foot touched firm rock as I passed a yawning crevice a foot wide under me。
One more leap to safety； and we turned just in time to see the floor of the passage which we had traversed disappear into some abyss beneath with a shattering roar。
We stood at the very edge of the chasm thus suddenly formed； gazing at each other in silent wonder and awe。
〃The beggars are stopped now；〃 said Harry finally。 〃That break in the game is ours。〃
Looking back across the chasm； we saw the Incas tumbling by twos and threes over the boulder on the other side。 As they saw the yawning abyss that separated them from their prey they stopped short and gazed across in profound astonishment。
Others came to join them； until there were several hundred of the black； ugly forms huddled together on the opposite rim of the chasm； a hundred feet away。
I ran over the group with a keen eye； seeking the figure of the Inca king； and soon my search was successful。 He stood a step in front of the others； a little to the right。 I pointed him out to Harry and Desiree。
〃It's up to him to walk right out again；〃 said Harry。
Desiree shivered； and proceeded to send her last invitation to the devil。
Turning suddenly； she grasped Harry's spear and tore it from his hand。 Before we realized her purpose； she stepped forward until her foot rested on the very edge of the chasm； and had hurled the spear across straight at the Inca king。
It missed him； but struck another Inca standing near full in the breast。 Quick as lightning the king turned； grasped the shaft of the spear； and pulled it forth； and with his white teeth gleaming in a snarl of furious hate； sent it whistling through the air straight at Desiree。
Harry and I sprang forward with a shout of warning； Desiree stood motionless as a statue。 We grasped her frantically and pulled her back； but too late。
She came； but only to fall lifeless into our arms with the spear buried deep in her white throat。
We laid her on the ground and knelt beside her for a moment； then Harry arose to his feet with a face white as death； and I uttered a silent and vengeful prayer as I saw him level a spear at the Inca king across the chasm。 But it went wide of its mark； striking the ground at his feet。
〃There was another！〃 cried Harry； and soon he had found it where it lay on the ground and sent it； too； hurtling across。
This time he missed by inches。 The spear flew just past the shoulder of the king and caught one who stood behind him full in the face。 The stricken savage threw his arms spasmodically above his head； reeling forward against the king。
There was a startled movement along the black line； hands were outstretched in a vain effort at rescue； a savage cry burst from Harry's lips； and the next instant the king had toppled over the edge of the chasm and fallen into the bottomless pit below。
Harry turned； quivering from head to foot。
〃Little enough；〃 he said between his teeth； and again he knelt beside the body of Desiree and took her in his arms。
But her fate spoke eloquently of our own danger； and I roused him to action。 Together we picked up the form of our dead rade and carried it to the rear。 I hesitated to pull forth the barbed head of the spear； and instead broke off the shaft； leaving the point buried in the soft throat； from which a crimson line extended over the white shoulder。
A short distance ahead we came to a projecting boulder； and behind that we gently laid her on the hard rock。 Neither of us had spoken a word。 Harry's lips were locked tightly together； a lump rose in my throat； choking all utterance and filling my eyes with tears。
Harry knelt beside the white form and； gathering it gently in his arms； held it against his breast。 I stood at his side； gazing down at him in mute sympathy and sorrow。
For a long minute there was silence…a most intense silence throughout the cavern； during which the painful throbbing of my heart was plainly audible； then Harry murmured； in a voice of the utmost tenderness： 〃Desiree！〃 And again； 〃Desiree！ Desiree！〃 until I half expected the very strength and sweetness of his emotion to bring our rade back to life。
Suddenly； with a quick； impulsive movement； he raised his head to glance at me。
〃She loved you；〃 he said； and though there was neither jealousy nor anger in his voice； somehow I could not meet his gaze。
〃She loved you；〃 he repeated in a tone half of wonder。 〃And you…you…〃
I answered his eyes。
〃She was yours；〃 I said； with a touch of bitterness that persuaded him of the truth。 〃All her beauty； all her loveliness； all her charm； to be buried…Ah！ God help us…〃
My voice broke； and I knelt on the ground beside Harry and pressed my lips to the white forehead and golden hair of what had been Le Mire。
Thus we remained for a long time。
It was hard to believe that death had in reality taken possession of the still form stretched as in repose before us。 Her body； still warm； seemed quivering with the instinct of life； but the eyes were not the eyes of Desiree。 I closed them； and arranged the tangled mass of hair as well as possible over her shoulders。
As I did so the air； set in motion by my hand； caused some of the golden strands to tremble gently across her lips； and Harry bent forward with a painful eagerness； thinking that she had breathed。
〃Dearest；〃 he murmured； 〃dearest； speak to me！〃
His hand sought her swelling bosom gropingly； and his eyes； as they looked pleadingly even into mine； shot into my heart and unnerved me。
I rose to my feet； scarcely able to stand； and moved away。
But the fate that had finally intervened for us…too late； alas！ for one…did not leave us long with our dead。 Even now I do not know what happened； at the time I knew even less。 Harry told me afterward that the first shock came at the instant he had taken Desiree in his arms and pressed his lips to hers。
I had crossed to the other side of the passage and was gazing back toward the chasm at the Incas on the other side； when again I felt the ground； absolutely without warning； tremble violently under my feet。 At the same moment there was a low； curious rumble as of the thundering of distant cannon。
I sprang toward Harry with a cry of alarm； and h