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Stout, Rex, 1886-1975

"Under the Andes"


Already we were able to see with a fair amount of clearness; we
could easily distinguish the forms of those who came to bring us
food and water when they were fifteen or twenty feet away. But
the cavern in which we were confined must have been a large one,
for we were unable to see a wall in any direction, and we did not
venture to explore for fear our captors would be moved to bind
us.
But Harry became so insistent that I finally consented to a
scouting expedition. Caution seemed useless; if the darkness had
eyes that beheld us, doubly so. We strapped our ponchos, heavy
with their food, to our backs, and set out at random across the
cavern.
We went slowly, straining our eyes ahead and from side to side.
It was folly, of course, in the darkness--like trying to beat a
gambler at his own game. But we moved on as noiselessly as
possible.
Suddenly a wall loomed up before us not ten feet away. I gave a
tug at Harry's arm, and he nodded. We approached the wall, then
turned to the right and proceeded parallel with it, watching for
a break that would mean the way to freedom.
I noticed a dark line that extended along the base of the wall,
reaching up its side to a height of about two feet and seemingly
melting away into the ground.


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