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Stout, Rex, 1886-1975

"Under the Andes"

It had
been many hours since we had eaten; I think we had fasted not
less than three or four days.
Desiree began to complain of a dizziness in her temples, and to
weaken with every hour that passed. My own strength did not
increase, and I saw that it would not unless I could obtain
nourishment. Harry did not complain, but only because he would
not.
"It is useless to wait longer," I declared finally. "I grow
weaker instead of stronger."
We had little enough with which to burden ourselves. There were
three spears, two of which Harry had brought, and myself the
other. Harry and I wore only our woolen undergarments, so ragged
and torn that they were but sorry covering.
Desiree's single garment, made from some soft hide, was held
about her waist by a girdle of the same material. The upper half
of her body was bare. Her hair hung in a tangled mass over her
shoulders and down her back. None of us had any covering for our
feet.
We crossed the stream, using the spears as staffs; but instead of
advancing across the middle of the cavern we turned to the left,
hugging the wall. Harry urged us on, saying that he had already
searched carefully for an exit on that side, but we went slowly,
feeling for a break in the wall.


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