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h gave assurance at least of temporary safety。 The sides of the cavern were a veritable maze of boulders； sloping ledges； and narrow crevices。 Nature here scarcely seemed to have known what to do with herself。
I seated myself on a bit of projecting limestone； still wet and shivering。 I had no boots nor trousers； my feet were bruised and swollen； and my flannel shirt and woolen underwear were but scanty protection against the chill air； damp as they were。 Also； I seemed to feel a cold draft circling about me； and was convinced of the fact by the flickering flames in the golden urns。
Desolate； indeed； for I gave Harry up as lost。 The thought generated no particular feeling in me； death； by force of contrast； may even appear agreeable； and I told myself that Harry had been favored of the gods。
And there I sat in the half…darkness； shrinking from a danger of whose existence I was not certain； clinging miserably to the little that was left of what the world of sunshine had known as Paul Lamar； gentleman； scientist； and connoisseur of life； sans philosophy； sans hope； and…sans…culotte。
But the senses remain； and suddenly I became aware of a movement in the water of the lake。 It was as though an immense trout had leaped and split the surface。 This was repeated several times； and was followed by a rhythmic sound like the regular splash of many oars。 Then silence。
I peered intently forth from my corner in the recess； but could see nothing； and finally gave it up。
As the minutes passed by my disfort increased and stiffness began to take my joints。 I realized the necessity of motion； but lacked the will； and sat in a sort of dumb； miserable apathy。
This； I should say； for an hour； then I saw something that roused me。
I had before noticed that on the side of the cavern almost directly opposite me； under the flaming urns； there was a ledge some ten or twelve feet broad and easily a hundred in length。 It met the surface of the lake at an easy； gradual slope。 In the rear； exactly between the two urns； could be seen the dark mouth of a passage； evidently leading directly away from the cavern。
Out of this passage there suddenly appeared the forms of two Incas。 In the hand of each was what appeared to be a long spear…I had evidently been mistaken in my presumption of their ignorance of weapons。
They walked to one end of the long ledge and dragged out into the light an object with a flat surface some six feet square。 This they launched on the surface of the lake； then embarked on it； placing their spears by their sides and taking up； instead； two broad； short oars。 With these they began to paddle their perilous craft toward the center of the lake with short； careful strokes。
About a hundred feet from the shore they ceased paddling and exchanged the oars for their spears； and stood motionless and silent； waiting； apparently； for nothing。
I； also； remained motionless； watching them in dull curiosity。
There was little danger of being seen； for； aside from the darkness of my corner； which probably would have been no hindrance to them； a projecting ledge partly screened my body from view。
The wait was not a long one； and when it ended things happened with so startling a suddenness that I scarcely grasped the details。
There was a loud splash in the water like that I had heard before； a swift ripple on the surface of the lake； and simultaneously the two Indians lunged with their spears； which flew to their mark with deadly accuracy。 I had not before noticed the thongs； one end of which was fastened to the shaft of the spear and the other about the waist of the savage。
There followed a battle royal。 Whatever the thing was that had felt the spears； it certainly lost no time in showing its resentment。 It thrashed the water into furious waves until I momentarily expected the raft to be swamped。
One Inca stood on the farther edge of the craft desperately plying an oar； the other tugged lustily at the spear…thongs。 I could see a black； twisting form leap from the water directly toward the raft； and the oarsman barely drew from under before it fell。 It struck the corner of the raft； which tipped perilously。
That appeared to have been a final effort； for there the battle ended。 The oarsman made quickly for the shore； paddling with remarkable dexterity and swiftness； while the other stood braced； holding firmly to the spear…thongs。 Another minute and they had leaped upon the ledge； drawing the raft after them； and； by tugging together on the lines； had landed their victim of the deep。
It appeared to be a large black fish of a shape I had never before seen。 But it claimed little of my attention； my eye was on the two spears which had been drawn from the still quivering body and which now lay on the ground well away from the water's edge； while the two Incas were dragging their catch toward the mouth of the passage leading from the cavern。
I wanted those spears。 I did not stop to ask myself what I intended to do with them； if I had I would probably have been hard put to it for an answer。 But I wanted them； and I sat in my dark corner gazing at them with greedy eyes。
The Incas had disappeared in the passage。
Finally I rose and began to search for an exit from the recess in which I had hidden myself。 At first there appeared to be none； but at length I found a small crevice between two boulders in the rear。 Into this I squeezed my body with some difficulty。
The rock pressed tightly against me on both sides； and the sharp corners bruised my body； but I wormed my way through for a distance of fifteen or twenty feet。 Then the crevice opened abruptly； and I found myself on a broad ledge ending apparently in space。 I advanced cautiously to its edge； but intervening boulders shut off the light； and I could see no ground below。
Throwing prudence to the winds； I let myself over the outermost corner； hung for a moment by my hands； and dropped。 My feet touched ground almost instantly…the supposedly perilous fall amounted to something like twelve inches。
I turned round； feeling a little foolish； and saw that from where I stood the ledge and part of the lake were in full view。 I could see the spears still lying where they had been thrown down。
But as I looked the two Incas emerged from the passage。 They picked up the spears； walked to the raft； and again launched it and paddled toward the center of the lake。
I thought； 〃Here is my chance； I must make that ledge before they return；〃 and I started forward so precipitately that I ran head on into a massive boulder and got badly stunned for my pains。
Half dazed； I went on； groping my way through the semidarkness。
The trail was one to try a llama。 I climbed boulders and leaped across chasms and clung to narrow； slippery edges with my finger…nails。 Several times I narrowly escaped dumping myself into the lake； and half the time I was in plain view of the Incas on the raft。
My hands and feet were bruised and bleeding； and I had bumped into walls and boulders so often that I was surprised when I took a step without getting a blow。 I wanted those spears。
I found myself finally within a few yards of my destination。
A narrow crevice led from where