I shook my head.
"She has a pulse--see! But we must find that water. I think she
isn't injured; it is her weakened condition from the lack of food
that keeps her so. Wait for me."
I started out across the cavern in the direction from which the
sound of the water appeared to come, bearing off to the right
from the huge, quivering form of the monster whose gigantic body
rose and fell on the ground with a force that seemed to shake the
very walls of the cavern.
I found the stream with little difficulty, not far away, and
returned to Harry. Together we carried Desiree to its edge. The
blood was stubborn, and for a long time refused to move, but the
cold water at length revived her; her eyes slowly opened, and she
raised her hand to her head with a faltering gesture.
But she was extremely weak, and we saw that the end was near
unless nourishment could be found for her.
I stayed by her side, with my arms round her shoulders, and Harry
set out with one of the spears. He bore off to the left, toward
the spot where the body of the immense reptile lay; I was too far
away to see it in the darkness.
"It isn't possible that the thing is fit to eat," I had objected,
and he had answered me with a look which I understood, and was
silenced.
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