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Looking up； I saw that we had swung round to the other side of the column…it was between us and the alcove。 Then I understood。
We were in a whirlpool； ever increasing in force； which was carrying us swiftly in a circle from left to right and approaching the column。
I called a swift warning to Harry； who was some ten feet to my left； and he answered that he understood。 The stones from the bank were falling thick about us now； one struck me on the shoulder； turning me half round。
The current became swifter…so swift that we were almost helpless against it and were carried around and around the column； which was but a few feet away。 And always plete silence。
Nearer and nearer we were carried； till； thrusting out my arm； the tips of my fingers brushed against the side of the column。 The water whirled with the rapidity of a mill…stream； ten more seconds and our brains would have been dashed against the unyielding stone。
It was now but half an arm's length away。 I kept thrusting out my arm in a wild endeavor to avoid it。
Suddenly my outstretched hand found a purchase in a break in the wall； but the force of the water tore it loose and swept me away。 But when I reached the same spot again I thrust out both hands； and； finding the edge； held on desperately。 The next instant Harry's body was swept against mine； doubling the strain on my fingers。
〃The column！〃 I gasped。 〃Inside…through the wall…opening…I am holding…〃
He understood； and the next moment he； too； had grasped the edge。 Together we pulled ourselves； little by little； toward the opening； for our strength was nearly spent； and the force of the maelstrom was nigh irresistible。
It was as I had thought。 The base of the column consisted merely of two massive pillars； some twelve feet in length and circular in shape。 The water rushed in through each of the two openings thus left； and inside of the column was the center of the whirlpool； sucking the water from both sides。 The water I had seen； I had not counted on the whirlpool。
We had pulled ourselves round till our bodies rested against the edge of the opening； clinging to either side。 Inside all was blackness； but we could judge of the fury of the maelstrom by the force of the current outside。 Stones hurled by the Incas were striking against the sides of the column and in the water near us。
We were being hunted from life like dogs； and a hot； unreasoning anger surged through my brain…anger at the grinning savages on the bank； at the whirling black water； at Harry； at myself。
Whichever way we looked was death； and none worth choosing。
〃I can't hold…much longer；〃 Harry gasped。 〃What's the use…old man…Paul…e…I'm going…〃
He disappeared into the black； furious whirlpool with that word。 The next instant my own fingers were torn from their hold by a sudden jerk of the water； and I followed。
Chapter XIV。
A FISHING PARTY。
Water； when whirling rapidly； has a keen distaste for any foreign object； but when once the surface breaks； that very repulsion seems to multiply the indescribable fury with which it endeavors to bury the object beneath its center。
Once in the whirlpool； I was carried in a swift circle round its surface for what seemed an age； and I think could not have been less than eight or ten seconds in reality。 Then suddenly I was turned pletely over； my limbs seemed to be torn from my body； there was a deafening roar in my ears； and a crushing weight pressed against me from every side。
Any effort of any kind was worse than useless； as well as impossible； indeed； I could hardly have been said to be conscious； except for the fact that I retained sufficient volition to avoid breathing or swallowing the water。
The pressure against my body was terrific； I wondered vaguely why life had not departed； since…as I supposed…there was not a whole bone left in my body。 My head was bursting with dizziness and pain； my breast was a furnace of torture。
Suddenly the pressure lessened and the whirling movement gradually ceased； but still the current carried me on。 I struck out wildly with both arms…in an effort； I suppose； to grasp the proverbial straw。
I found no straw； but something better…space。 Instinct led the fight to reach it with my head to get air； but the swiftness of the current carried me again beneath the surface。 My arms seemed powerless； I was unable to direct them。
I hardly know what happened after that。 A feeling of most intense suffocation in my chest； a relaxation of all my muscles； a sensation of light in my smarting eyes； a gentle pressure from the water beneath； like the rising gait of a saddle…horse； and suddenly； without knowing why or when or how； I found myself lying on hard ground； gasping； choking； sputtering； not far from death； but nearer to life than I had thought ever to be again。
I lay for several minutes unable to move； then my brain awoke and called for life。 I twisted over on my face； and moved my arms out and in with the motion of a swimmer； the most exquisite pains shot through my chest and abdomen。 My head weighed tons。
Water ran from my nose and mouth in gurgling streams。 The roaring； scarcely abated； pounded in my ears。 I was telling myself over and over with a most intense earnestness： 〃But if I were really dead I shouldn't be able to move。〃 It appears that the first sense to leave a drowning man； and the last to return； is the sense of humor。
In another ten minutes； having rid my lungs of the water that had filled them； I felt no pain and but little fatigue。 My head was dizzy； and there was still a feeling of oppression on my chest； but otherwise I was little the worse for wear。 I twisted carefully over on my side and took note of my surroundings。
I lay on a narrow ledge of rock at the entrance to a huge cavern。 Not two feet below rushed the stream which had carried me； it came down through an opening in the wall at a sharp angle with tremendous velocity； and must have hurled me like a cork from its foaming surface。 Below； it emptied into a lake which nearly filled the cavern； some hundreds of yards in diameter。 Rough boulders and narrow ledges surrounded it on every side。
This I saw in time； but the first thing that caught my eye was no work of nature。 Fastened to the wall on the opposite side of the cavern； casting a dim； flickering light throughout its vast space； were two golden； flaming urns。
It was not fear； but a sort of nausea； that assailed me as I realized that I was still in the domain of the Incas。
The ledge on which I lay was exposed to view from nearly every point of the cavern； and the sight of those urns caused me to make a swift decision to leave it without delay。 It was wet and slippery and not over three feet in width； I rose to my feet cautiously； having no appetite for another ducking。
At a distance of several feet lay another ledge； broad and level； at the farther end of which rose a massive boulder。 I cleared the gap with a leap； barely made my footing； and passed behind the boulder through a crevice just wide enough to admit my body。
Then through a narrow lane onto another ledge； and from that I found my way into a dark recess which gave assurance at least of temporary safety。 The si