Harry opened his lips to
speak, but I took the words from his mouth; seconds were
precious.
"They have fired the column--you remember. Follow me; keep your
spear ready; not a sound, if you love her."
I saw that he understood, and saw too, by the expression that
shot into his face, that it would go ill with any Incas who tried
to stop us then.
We rushed forward side by side, guessing at our way, seeking the
entrance to the tunnel that led to the foot of the column. A
prayer was on my lips that we might not be too late; Harry's lips
were compressed together tightly as a vise. Death we did not
fear, even for Desiree; but we remembered the horror of our own
experience on the top of that column, and shuddered as we ran.
As I have said, we had entered the great cavern at a point almost
directly opposite the alcove, and therefore at a distance from
the entrance we sought. It was necessary to half encircle the
cavern, and the passages were so often crossed by other passages
that many times we had to guess at the proper road.
But not for an instant did we hesitate; we flew rather than ran.
I felt within me the strength and resolve of ten men, and I knew
then that there was something I must do and would do before I
died, though a thousand devils stood in my way.
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