"Not yet," I murmured between clenched teeth, and again Desiree
sat on the hard rock and supported my head and shoulders in her
arms, despite my earnest remonstrances. Harry stood before us,
leaning on his spear.
Soon he left us again, departing in the direction of the crevice
by which we had entered; I detected his uneasiness in the tone
with which he directed us to keep a lookout around in every
direction.
"We could move to the wall," I had suggested; but he shook his
head, saying that where we were we at least had room to turn.
When he had gone Desiree and I sat silent for many minutes. Then
I tried to rise, insisting that she must be exhausted with the
long strain she had undergone, but she denied it vehemently, and
refused to allow me to move.
"It is little enough," she said; and though I but half understood
her, I made no answer.
I myself was convinced that we were at last near the end. It was
certain that the Incas had merely delayed, not abandoned, the
pursuit, and our powers and means of resistance had been worn to
nothing.
Our curious apathy and half indifference spoke for itself; it was
as though we had at length recognized the hand of fate and seen
the futility of further struggle.
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