One led through the boulders and crevices
to a passage full of twists and turns and strewn with rocks,
almost impassable; the other was that through which the Incas had
entered. We chose the latter.
Fifty feet from the cavern we found ourselves in darkness. I
stopped short.
"Harry, this is impossible. We cannot mark our way."
"But what can we do?"
"Carry one of those urns."
"Likely! They'd spot us before we even got started."
"Well--let them."
"No. You're in for the finish. I know that. I want to find
Desiree. And we'll find her. After that, if nothing else is left,
I'll be with you."
"But I don't want a thousand of those brutes falling on us in the
dark. If they would end it I wouldn't care."
"Keep your spear ready."
I had given him my promise, so I pushed on at his side. I had no
stomach for it. In a fight I can avoid disgracing myself, because
it is necessary; but why seek it when there is nothing to be
gained? Thus I reflected, but I pushed on at Harry's side.
As he had said, I was in for the finish. What I feared was to be
taken again by the Incas unseen in the darkness. But that fear
was soon removed when I found that we could see easily some
thirty or forty feet ahead--enough for a warning in case of
attack.
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