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Desiree improved very slowly。 The strain of those four days in the cavern had been severe； and her nerves required more pleasant surroundings than a dark and damp cavern and more agreeable diet than raw meat； to adjust themselves。
Thus it was that when Harry and I found ourselves ready to start out to explore the cavern and； if possible； find an exit on the opposite side from the one where we had entered； we left Desiree behind； seated on a pile of skins； with a spear on the ground at her side。
〃We'll be back in an hour；〃 said Harry； stooping to kiss her； and the phrase； which might have e from the lips of a worthy Harlem husband leaving for a little sojourn with friends on the corner； brought a smile to my face。
We went first toward the spot where lay the remains of 〃our friend with the eyes；〃 as Harry called him； and we were guided straight by our noses； for the odor of the thing was beginning to be…to use another phrase of Harry's…most awful vile。〃
There was little to see except a massive pile of crumpled hide and sinking flesh。 As we approached； several hundred of the animals with which Harry had filled our larder scampered away toward the water。
〃They're not fighters；〃 I observed； turning to watch them disappear in the darkness。
〃No；〃 Harry agreed。 〃See here；〃 he added suddenly； holding up a piece of the hide of the reptile； 〃this stuff is an inch thick and tough as rats。 It ought to be good for something。〃
But by that time I was pinching my nostrils with my fingers； and I pulled him away。
Several hundred yards farther on we came to the wall of the cavern。 We followed it； turning to the right； but though it was uneven and marked by projecting boulders and deep crevices； we found no exit。 We had gone at least half a mile； I think； when we came to the end。 There it turned in a wide circle to the right； and we took the new direction； which was toward the spot where we had left Desiree； only considerably to the left。
Another five minutes found us at the edge of the stream； which at that point was much swifter than it was farther up。 We waded in and discovered that the cause was its extreme narrowness。
〃But where does the thing go to？〃 asked Harry； taking the words from my mouth。
We soon found out。 Proceeding along the bank to the left； within fifty feet we came to the wall。 There the stream entered and disappeared。 But； unlike the others we had seen； above this there was a wide and high arch； which made it appear as though the stream were passing under a massive bridge。 The current was swift but not turbulent； and there was something about the surface of that stream flowing straight through the mountain ahead of us… Harry and I glanced at each other quickly； moved by the same thought。 There was an electric thrill in that glance。
But we did not speak…then。
For suddenly； startlingly； a voice sounded throughout the cavern…Desiree's voice； raised in a shrill cry of terror。
It was repeated twice before our startled senses found themselves； then we turned with one impulse and raced into the darkness toward her。
Chapter XIX。
AFLOAT。
As we ran swiftly； following the edge of the stream； the cries continued； filling the cavern with racing echoes。 They could not quicken our step； we were already straining every muscle as we bounded over the rock。 Luckily； the way was clear； for in the darkness we could see but a few feet ahead。 Desiree's voice was sufficient guide for us。
Finally we reached her。 I don't know what I expected to see； but certainly not that which met our eyes。
〃Your spear！〃 cried Harry； dashing off to the right； away from the stream。
My spear was ready。 I followed。
Desiree was standing exactly in the spot where we had left her； screaming at the top of her voice。
Around her； on every side； was a struggling； pushing mass of the animals we had frightened away from the carcass of the reptile。
There were hundreds of them packed tightly together； crowding toward her； some leaping on the backs of others； some trampled to the ground beneath the feet of their fellows。 They did not appear to be actually attacking her； but we could not see distinctly。
This we saw in a flash and an instant later had dashed forward into the mass with whirling spears。 It was a farce； rather than a fight。
We brought our spears down on the swarm of heads and backs without even troubling to take aim。 They pressed against our legs； we waded through as though it were a current of water。 Those we hit either fell or ran； they waited for no second blow。
Desiree had ceased her cries。
〃They won't hurt you！〃 Harry had shouted。 〃Where's your spear？〃
〃Gone。 They came on me before I had time to get it。〃
〃Then kick 'em； push 'em…anything。 They're nothing but pigs。〃
They had the senseless stubbornness of pigs； at least。 They seemed absolutely unable to realize that their presence was not desired till they actually felt the spear…utterly devoid even of instinct。
〃So this is what you captured for us at the risk of your life！〃 I shouted to Harry in disgust。 〃They haven't even sense enough to squeal。〃
We finally reached Desiree's side and cleared a space round her。 But it took us another fifteen minutes of pushing and thrusting and indiscriminate massacre before we routed the brutes。
When they did decide to go they lost no time； but scampered away toward the water with a sliding； tumbling rush。
〃Gad！〃 exclaimed Harry； resting on his spear。 〃And here's a pretty job。 Look at that！ I wish they'd carry off the dead ones。〃
〃Ugh！ The nasty brutes！ I was never so frightened in my life；〃 said Desiree。
〃You frightened us； all right；〃 Harry retorted。 〃Utterly fungoed。 I never ran so fast in my life。 And all you had to do was shake your spear at 'em and say boo！ I thought it was the roommate of our friend with the eyes。〃
〃Have I been eating those things？〃 Desiree demanded。
Harry grinned。
〃Yes； and that isn't all。 You'll continue to eat 'em as long as I'm the cook。 e on； Paul； it's a day's work。〃
We dragged the bodies down to the edge of the stream and tossed them into the current； saving three or four for the replenishment of the larder。
I then first tried my hand at the task of skinning and cleaning them； and by the time I had finished was thoroughly disgusted with it and myself。 Harry had bee hardened to it； he whistled over the job as though he had been born in a butcher's shop。
〃I'd rather go hungry；〃 I declared； washing my hands and arms in the cool water。
〃Oh； sure；〃 said Harry； 〃my efforts are never appreciated。
I've fed you up till you've finally graduated from the skeleton class； and you immediately begin to criticize the table。 I know now what it means to run a boarding…house。 Why don't you change your hotel？〃
By the time we had finished we were pretty well tired out； but Harry wouldn't hear of rest。 I was eager myself for another look at the exit of that stream。 So； again taking up our spears； we set out across the cavern； this time with Desiree between us。 She swallowed Harry's ridicule of her fear and refused to stay behind。
Again we stood at the point where the stream left the cavern through the broad arch of a tunnel。
〃There