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only had a match！〃
We rose to our hands and knees and crawled painfully up the slippery incline。 Soon we had reached dry ground and stood upright； then； struck by a sudden thought； I turned to Harry：
〃Didn't you drink any of that water？〃
He answered： 〃No。〃
〃Well； let's try it。 It may be our last drink； Hal； make it a good one。〃
We crept back down to the edge of the lake （I call it that in my ignorance of its real nature）； and； settling myself as firmly as possible； I held Harry's hand while he lowered himself carefully into the water。 He was unable to reach its surface with his mouth without letting go of my hand； and I shook off my poncho and used it as a line。
〃How does it taste？〃 I asked。
〃Fine！〃 was the response。 〃It must be clear as a bell。 Lord。
I didn't know I was so thirsty！〃
I was not ignorant of the fact that there was an excellent chance of the water being unhealthful； possibly poisoned； what with the tertiary deposits of copper ores in the rock…basins； but the thought awakened hope rather than fear。 There is a choice even in death。
But when I had pulled Harry up and descended myself I soon found that there was no danger…or chance。 The water had a touch of alkali； but nothing more。
Then we crept back up the wet ledge； and once more stood on dry ground。
The surface was perfectly level； and we set off at a brisk pace； hand in hand； directly away from the lake。 But when； about a hundred yards off； we suddenly bumped our heads against a solid wall of rock； we decided to proceed with more caution。
The darkness was intensified； if anything。 We turned to the right and groped along the wall； which was smooth as glass and higher than my best reach。 It seemed to the touch to be slightly convex； but that may have been delusion。
We had proceeded in this manner some hundred yards or more； advancing cautiously； when we came to a break in the wall。 A few feet farther the wall began again。
〃It's a tunnel；〃 said Harry。
I nodded； forgetting he could not see me。 〃Shall we take it？〃
〃Anything on a chance；〃 he answered； and we entered the passage。
It was quite narrow…so narrow that we were forced to advance very slowly； feeling our way to avoid colliding with the walls。
The ground was strewn with fragments of rock； and a hasty step meant an almost certain fall and a bruised shin。 It was tedious work and incredibly fatiguing。
We had not rested a sufficient length of time to allow our bodies to recuperate from the struggle with the torrent； also； we began to feel the want of food。 Harry was the first to falter； but I spurred him on。 Then he stumbled and fell and lay still。
〃Are you hurt？〃 I asked anxiously； bending over him。
〃No；〃 was the answer。 〃But I'm tired…tired to death…and I want to sleep。〃
I was tempted myself； but I brought him to his feet； from some impulse I know not what。 For what was the use？ One spot was as good as another。 However； we struggled on。
Another hour and the passage broadened into a clearing。 At least so it seemed； the walls abruptly parted to the right and left。 And still the impenetrable； maddening darkness and awful silence！
We gave it up； we could go no farther。 A few useless minutes we wasted； searching for a soft spot to lie on…moss； reeds； anything。 We found none； of course； but even the hard； unyielding rock was grateful to our exhausted bodies。 We lay side by side； using our ponchos for pillows； our clothing at least was dry。
I do not know how long I slept； but it seemed to me that I had barely dozed off when I was awakened by something…what？
There was no sound to my strained ears。 I sat up； gazing intently into the darkness； shuddering without apparent reason。
Then I reflected that nothing is dangerous to a man who faces death； and I laughed aloud…then trembled at the sound of my own voice。 Harry was in sound sleep beside me； his regular breathing told of its depth。
Again I lay down； but I could not sleep。 Some instinct； long forgotten； quivered within me； telling me that we were no longer alone。 And soon my ear justified it。
At first it was not a sound； but the mere shadow of one。 It was rhythmic； low； beating like a pulse。 What could it be？ Again I sat up； listening and peering into the darkness。 And this time I was not mistaken…there was a sound； rustling； sibilant。
Little by little it increased； or rather approached； until it sounded but a few feet from me on every side； sinister and menacing。 It was the silent； suppressed breathing of something living…whether animal or man…creeping ever nearer。
Then was the darkness doubly horrible。 I sat paralyzed with my utter helplessness； though fear； thank Heaven； did not strike me！ I could hear no footstep； no sound of any kind but that low； rushing breathing； but it now was certain that whatever the thing was； it was not alone。
From every side I heard it…closer； closer…until finally I felt the hot； fetid breath in my very face。 My nerves quivered in disgust； not far from terror。
I sprang to my feet with a desperate cry to Harry and swung toward him。
There was no answering sound； no rush of feet； nothing； but I felt my throat gripped in monstrous； hairy fingers。
I tried to struggle； and immediately was crushed to the ground by the overpowering weight of a score of soft； ill…smelling bodies。
The grasp on my throat tightened； my arms relaxed； my brain reeled； and I knew no more。
Chapter VII。
THE FIGHT IN THE DARK。
I returned to consciousness with a sickening sensation of nausea and unreality。 Only my brain was alive； my entire body was numb and as though paralyzed。 Still darkness and silence； for all my senses told me I might have been still in the spot where I had fallen。
Then I tried to move my arms； and found that my hands and feet were firmly bound。 I strained at the thongs； making some slight sound； and immediately I heard a whisper but a few feet away：
〃Are you awake； Paul？〃
〃I was still half dazed； but I recognized Harry's voice； and I answered simply： 〃Yes。 Where are we？〃
〃The Lord knows！ They carried us。 You have been unconscious for hours。〃
〃They carried us？〃
〃Yes。 A thousand miles； I think； on their backs。 What…what are they； Paul？〃
〃I don't know。 Did you see them？〃
〃No。 Too dark。 They are strong as gorillas and covered with hair； I felt that much。 They didn't make a sound all the time。 No more than half as big as me； and yet one of them carried me as if I were a baby…and I weigh one hundred and seventy pounds。〃
〃What are we bound with？〃
〃Don't know； it feels like leather； tough as rats。 I've been working at it for two hours； but it won't give。〃
〃Well； you know what that means。 Dumb brutes don't tie a man up。〃
〃But it's impossible。〃
〃Nothing is impossible。 But listen！〃
There was a sound…the swift patter of feet； they were approaching。 Then suddenly a form bent over me close； I could see nothing； but I felt a pressure against my body and an ill…smelling odor； indescribable； entered my nostrils。 I felt a sawing movement at my wrists； the thongs pulled back and forth； and soon my hands were free。 The form straightened away from me； there was a clatter on the ground near my head； and then si