It is a cave of the devil, senor. He hides in the
blackness and none who enter may escape him."
Desiree was laughing gaily.
"Then I shall visit the devil!" she exclaimed, and before either
Harry or I could reach her she had sprung across the intervening
space to the entrance and disappeared within.
With shouts of consternation from Felipe ringing in our ears, we
leaped after her.
"Desiree!" cried Harry. "Come back, Desiree!"
There was no answer, but echoing back from the night before us
came faint reverberations--could they be footsteps! What folly!
For I had thought that she had merely intended to frighten poor
Felipe, and now--
"Desiree!" Harry called again with all the strength of his
lungs. "Desiree!"
Again there was no answer. Then we entered the cave together. I
remember that as we passed within I turned and saw Felipe staring
with white face and eyes filled with terror.
A hundred feet and we were encompassed by the most intense
darkness. I muttered: "This is folly; let us get a light," and
tried to hold Harry back. But he pushed me aside and groped on,
crying: "Desiree! Come back, Desiree!"
What could I do? I followed.
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