Then he placed her gently on
her feet, and, supporting her with his arm, moved forward slowly.
I led the way.
The lane ahead of us was scarcely more than a crevice between the
rocks; I squeezed my way through with difficulty. Then the walls
ended abruptly, just when I had begun to think we could go no
farther, and we found ourselves at the entrance to a cavern so
large that no wall was to be seen on any side save the one behind
us.
On the instant I guessed at the reason why the Incas had ceased
their pursuit so abruptly, and I turned to Harry:
"I'm afraid we've jumped from the frying-pan into the fire. If
this cavern holds anything like that other--you remember--"
"If it does, we shall see," he replied.
Supporting Desiree on either side, we struck out directly across
the cavern, halting every few steps to listen for a sound, either
of the Incas, which we feared, or of running water, which we
desired. We heard neither. All was blackness and the most
complete silence.
Then I became aware, for the first time, of intolerable pains
shooting up through my legs into my body. The danger past, reason
returned and feeling. I could not suppress a low cry, wrung
inexorably from my chest, and I halted, leaning my whole weight
on Desiree's shoulder.
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