Nothing could be made of the mass of boulders, but we
knew that somewhere beyond them was the passage from the cavern
which we sought.
The Incas came leaping across the chasm to the foot of the rock.
Several of them scrambled up the steep surface, but with our
spears we pushed them back and they tumbled onto the heads of
their fellows below.
But we were too exposed for a stand there, and I shouted to Harry
to take Desiree down the other side of the rock while I stayed
behind to hold them off. He left me, and in a moment later I
heard his voice crying to me to follow. I did so, sliding down
the face of the rock feet first.
Then began a wild and desperate scramble for safety, with the
Incas ever at our heels. Without Desiree we would have made our
goal with little difficulty, but half of the time we had to carry
her.
Several times Harry hurled her bodily across a chasm or a
crevice, while I received her on the other side.
Often I covered the retreat, holding the Incas at bay while Harry
assisted Desiree up the steep face of a boulder or across a
narrow ledge. There was less danger now from their spears,
protected as we were by the maze of rocks, but I was already
bleeding in a dozen places on my legs and arms and body, and
Harry was in no better case.
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