Then nothing would do for Desiree but to see the cave. The
arriero informed her that it was difficult of access, but she
turned the objection aside with contempt and commanded him to
lead.
Harry, of course, was with her, and I followed somewhat
unwillingly; for, though Felipe's history was fairly accurate, I
was inclined to regard his fable of the disappearing Incas as a
wild tradition of the mountains.
He had spoken aright--the path to the cave was not an easy one.
Here and there deep ravines caused us to make a wide detour or
risk our necks on perilous steeps.
Finally we came to a small clearing, which resembled nothing so
much as the bottom of a giant well, and in the center of one of
the steep walls was an opening some thirty or forty feet square,
black and rugged, and somehow terrifying.
It was the entrance to the cave.
There Felipe halted.
"Here, senor. Here entered the Incas of Huanuco with their
gold."
He shivered as he spoke, and I fancied that his face grew pale.
"We shall explore it!" cried Desiree, advancing.
"But no, senora!" The arriero was positively trembling. "No!
Senor, do not let her go within! Many times have my countrymen
entered in search of the gold, and americanos, too, and never did
they return.
Pages:
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90