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Stout, Rex, 1886-1975

"Under the Andes"

Believe me, it isn't even painful.
I shall bandage it myself; Harry will take my place here. But
your foot?"
"That, too, is nothing," she answered with a half-smile. "I
merely twisted it; it is nearly well already. See!"
She placed her weight on the injured foot, but could not suppress
a faint grimace of pain.
Calling to Harry to watch the crevice, I took Desiree in my arms
and carried her back to her seat.
"Now sit still," I commanded. "Soon we'll have dinner; in the
mean time allow me to say that you are the bravest woman in the
world, and the best sport. And some day we'll drink to that--from
a bottle."
But facts have no respect for sentiment and fine speeches. The
last words were taken from my very mouth by a ringing cry from
Harry:
"Paul! By gad, they're coming at us from the water!"

Chapter XVI.
THE ESCAPE.

The ledge on which we rested was about forty feet square. Back of
us was a confused mass of boulders and chasms, across which I had
come when I first encircled the cavern and found Harry.
In front was the crevice, guarded by the two massive boulders. On
the right the ledge met the solid wall of the cavern, and on the
left was the lake itself, whose waters rippled gently at our very
feet.


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