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in places sloped at an angle that made me hang on for dear life to keep from shooting off into space。
Meantime I kept calling to Harry and he to me； but； on account of our painfully slow progress； it was half an hour or more before we discovered that the distance between us was being increased instead of lessened。
He let fly an oath at this； and his tone was dangerous； no wonder if the lad was half crazed！ I steadied him as well as I could with word of encouragement； and instructed him to turn about and proceed to the right of his original position。 I； also； turned to the left。
Our hope of meeting lay in the probability that the ledge surrounded a circular body of water and was continuous。 At some point； of course； was the entrance of the stream which had carried us； and at some other point there was almost certainly an outlet； but we trusted to luck to avoid these。 Our chances were less than one in a thousand； but； failing that； some other means must be invented。
The simplest way would have been for me to take to the water and swim across to Harry； counting on his voice as a guide； but the conflicting echoes produced by the slightest sound rendered such an attempt dangerous。
I crept along that wet； slimy； treacherous surface； it seemed； for hours。 I could see nothing…absolutely nothing； everything was black void； it was hard to appreciate reality in such a nightmare。
On the one side； nameless dangers； on the other； the unseen； bottomless lake； enough； surely； to take a man's nerve。 My fear for Harry killed anxiety on my own account。 We kept continually calling：
〃Harry！〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Steady。〃
〃Yes。 I'm ing along。 I say； we're closer； Paul。〃
I hesitated to agree with him； but finally there was no longer any doubt of it。 His voice began to reach me almost in natural tones； which meant that we were near enough for the vibrations to carry without interference from the walls。
Nearer still it came； it was now only a matter of a few feet； Harry gave a cry of joy； and immediately afterward I heard his low gasp of terror and the sound of his wild scrambling to regain a foothold。 In his excitement he had forgotten caution and had slipped to the edge of the water。
I dared not try to go his assistance； so I crouched perfectly still and called to him to throw himself flat on his face。 How my eyes strained despairingly as I cursed the pitiless darkness！ Then the scrambling ceased and the boy's voice sounded：
〃All right； Paul！ All right！ Gad； I nearly went！〃
A minute later I held his hand in mine。 At that point the incline was at a sharp angle； and we lay flat on our backs。 For many minutes we lay silently gripping hands； Harry was trembling violently from nervous fatigue； and I myself was unable to speak。
What strength is there in panionship！ Alone； either of us would probably have long before succumbed to the strain of our horrible situation； but we both took hope and courage from that hand…clasp。
Finally he spoke：
〃In Heaven's name； where are we； Paul？〃
〃You know as much as I do； Harry。 This cursed darkness makes it impossible even to guess at anything。 According to Felipe； we are being entertained by the devil。〃
〃But where are we？ What happened？ My head is dizzy…I don't know…〃
I gripped his hand。
〃And no wonder。 'Tis hardly an every…day occurrence to ride an underground river several miles under the Andes。 Above us a mountain four miles high； beneath us a bottomless lake； round us darkness。 Not a very cheerful prospect； Hal； but； thank Heaven； we take it together！ It is a grave…ours and hers。 I guess Desiree knew what she was talking about。〃
There came a cry from Harry's lips…a cry of painful memory：
〃Desiree！ I had forgotten； Desiree！〃
〃She is probably better off than we are；〃 I assured him。
I felt his gaze…I could not see it…and I continued：
〃We may as well meet the thing squarely like men。 Pull yourself together； Harry； as for Desiree； let us hope that she is dead。 It's the best thing that could happen to her。〃
〃Then we are…no； it isn't possible。〃
〃Harry boy； we're buried alive！ There！ That's the worst of it。 Anything better than that is velvet。〃
〃But there must be a way out； Paul！ And Desiree…Desiree…〃
His voice faltered。 I clapped him roughly on the shoulder。
〃Keep your nerve。 As for a way out…at the rate that stream descends it must have carried us thousands of feet beneath the mountain。 There is probably a mile of solid rock between us and the sunshine。 You felt the strength of that current； you might as well try to swim up Niagara。〃
〃But there must be an outlet at the other end。〃
〃Yes； and most probably forty or fifty miles away…that's the distance to the western slope。 Besides； how can we find it？ And there may be none。 The water is most probably gradually absorbed by the porous formation of the rocks； and that is what causes this lake。〃
〃But why isn't it known？ Felipe said that the cave had been explored。 Why didn't they discover the stream？〃
Well； it was better to talk of that than nothing； at least； it kept Harry from his childish cries for Desiree。 So I explained that the precipice over which we had fallen was presumably of recent origin。
Geologically the Andes are yet in a chaotic and formative condition； huge slides of Silurian slates and diorite are of frequent occurrence。 A ridge of one of these softer stones had most probably been encased in the surrounding granite for many centuries； then； loosened by water or by time； had crumbled and slid into the stream below。
〃And；〃 I finished； 〃we followed it。〃
〃Then we may find another；〃 said Harry hopefully。
I agreed that it was possible。 Then he burst out：
〃In the name of Heaven； don't be so cool！ We can't get out till we try。 e！ And who knows…we may find Desiree。〃
Then I decided it was best to tell him。 Evidently the thought had not entered his mind； and it was best for him to realize the worst。 I gripped his hand tighter as I said：
〃Nothing so pleasant； Harry。 Because we're going to starve to death。〃
〃Starve to death？〃 he exclaimed。 Then he added simply； with an oddly pathetic tone： 〃I hadn't thought of that。〃
After that we lay silent for many minutes in that awful darkness。 Thoughts and memories came and went in my brain with incredible swiftness； pictures long forgotten presented themselves； an endless； jumbled panorama。 They say that a drowning man reviews his past life in the space of a few seconds； it took me a little more time； but the job was certainly a thorough one。 Nor did I find it more interesting in retrospect than it had been in reality。
I closed my eyes to escape the darkness。 It was maddening； easy enough then to prehend the hysterics of the blind and sympathize with them。 It finally reached a point where I was forced to grit my teeth to keep from breaking out into curses； I could lie still no longer； exhausted as I was； and Harry； too。 I turned on him：
〃e on； Hal； let's move。〃
〃Where？〃 he asked in a tone devoid of hope。
〃Anywhere…away from this beastly water。 We must dry out our clothing； no use dying like drowned rats。 If I only had a match！〃
We rose to our hands and knees and crawled painfully up the slippery incline。