Brute force was
all they had; and nature, being the biggest brute of all, laughed
at them.
But I soon found that they were not devoid of resource. For
perhaps fifteen minutes the scene remained unchanged; not one
ventured to approach the crevice. Then there was a sudden
movement and shifting in the mass; it split suddenly in the
middle; they pressed off to either side, leaving an open lane
between them leading directly toward me.
Down this lane suddenly dashed a dozen or more of the savages,
with spears aloft in their brawny arms. I was taken by surprise
and barely had time to cut and run for the ledge within.
As it was I did not entirely escape; the spears came whistling
through the crevice, and one of them lodged in my leg just below
the thigh.
I jerked it out with an oath and turned to meet the attack. I was
now clear of the crevice, standing on the ledge inside, near
Harry and Desiree. I called to them to go to one side, out of the
range of the spears that might come through. Harry took Desiree
in his arms and carried her to safety.
As I expected, the Incas came rushing through the crevice--that
narrow lane where a man could barely push through without
squeezing.
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