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Stout, Rex, 1886-1975

"Under the Andes"


But we soon found that in this we were mistaken. We had advanced
for perhaps a quarter of an hour without incident when the
passage came to an abrupt end. To the right was an irregular,
twisting lane that disappeared around a corner almost before it
started; to the left a wide and straight passage, sloping gently
upward. We took the latter.
We had followed this for about a hundred yards when we saw a
light ahead. Caution was useless; the passage was straight and
unbroken and only luck could save us from discovery. We pushed
on, and soon stood directly within the light which came from an
apartment adjoining the passage. It was not that which we sought,
however, and we gave it barely a glance before we turned to the
right down a cross passage, finding ourselves again in darkness.
Soon another light appeared. We approached. It came from a
doorway leading into an apartment some twenty feet square. It was
empty, and we entered.
There were two flaming urns fastened to the wall above a granite
couch. Stone seats were placed here and there about the room. The
walls were studded with spots of gold to a height of four or five
feet.


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