By then the Incas had reached the top of the ledge above us, and
we turned and raced down the long stretch ahead. I was in front;
Harry came behind with Desiree.
Suddenly, as I ran, I felt a curious trembling of the ground
beneath my feet, similar to the vibrations of a bridge at the
passing of a heavy load.
Then the ground actually swayed beneath me; and, realizing the
danger, I sent a desperate shout to Harry over my shoulder and
bounded forward. He was at my side on the instant, with Desiree
in his arms.
The ground rocked beneath our feet like a ship in a storm; and,
just as I thought we were gone, my foot touched firm rock as I
passed a yawning crevice a foot wide under me.
One more leap to safety, and we turned just in time to see the
floor of the passage which we had traversed disappear into some
abyss beneath with a shattering roar.
We stood at the very edge of the chasm thus suddenly formed,
gazing at each other in silent wonder and awe.
"The beggars are stopped now," said Harry finally. "That break
in the game is ours."
Looking back across the chasm, we saw the Incas tumbling by twos
and threes over the boulder on the other side.
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