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tinct。 It is the very essence of life itself。
But soon we were impelled to action by something besides the desire to escape from the cavern： the pangs of hunger。 It had been many hours since we had eaten； I think we had fasted not less than three or four days。
Desiree began to plain of a dizziness in her temples； and to weaken with every hour that passed。 My own strength did not increase； and I saw that it would not unless I could obtain nourishment。 Harry did not plain； but only because he would not。
〃It is useless to wait longer；〃 I declared finally。 〃I grow weaker instead of stronger。〃
We had little enough with which to burden ourselves。 There were three spears； two of which Harry had brought； and myself the other。 Harry and I wore only our woolen undergarments； so ragged and torn that they were but sorry covering。
Desiree's single garment； made from some soft hide； was held about her waist by a girdle of the same material。 The upper half of her body was bare。 Her hair hung in a tangled mass over her shoulders and down her back。 None of us had any covering for our feet。
We crossed the stream； using the spears as staffs； but instead of advancing across the middle of the cavern we turned to the left； hugging the wall。 Harry urged us on； saying that he had already searched carefully for an exit on that side； but we went slowly； feeling for a break in the wall。 It was absolutely smooth； which led me to believe that the cavern had at one time been filled with water。
We reached the farther wall and； turning to the right； were about to follow it。
〃This is senseless；〃 said Harry impatiently。 〃I tell you I have examined this side； too； every inch of it。〃
〃And the one ahead of us； at right angles to this？〃 I asked。
〃That too； 〃 he answered。
〃And the other…the one to the right of the stream？〃
〃No。 I…I didn't go there。〃
〃Why didn't you say so？〃 I demanded。
〃Because I didn't want to；〃 he returned sullenly。 〃You can go there if you care to； I don't。 It was from there that…it came。〃
I did not answer； but pushed forward； not； however； leaving the wall。 Perhaps it was cowardly； you are wele to the word if you care to use it。 Myself； I know。
Another half…hour and we reached the end of the lane by which we had first entered the cavern。 We stood gazing at it with eyes of desire； but we knew how little chance there was of the thing being unguarded at the farther end。 We knew then； of course； and only too well； why the Incas had not followed us into the cavern。
〃Perhaps they are gone；〃 said Harry。 〃They can't stay there forever。 I'm going to find out。〃
He sprang on the edge of a boulder at the mouth of the passage and disappeared on the other side。 In fifteen minutes he returned； and I saw by the expression on his face that there was no chance of escape in that direction。
〃They're at the other end；〃 he said gloomily； 〃a dozen of 'em。
I looked from behind a rock； they didn't see me。 But we could never get through。〃
We turned then； and proceeded to the third wall and followed it。 But we really had no hope of finding an exit since Harry had said that he had previously explored it。 We were possessed； I know； by the same thought： should we venture to follow the fourth wall？ Alone； none of us would have dared； but the presence of the others lessened the fear of each。
Finally we reached it。 The corner was a sharp right angle； and there were rifts and crevices in the rock。
〃This is limestone；〃 I said； 〃and if we find an exit anywhere it will be here。〃
I turned to the right and proceeded slowly along the wall； feeling its surface with my hand。
We had advanced in this manner several hundred yards when Desiree suddenly sprang forward to my side。
〃See！〃 she cried； pointing ahead with her spear。
I followed the direction with my eye； and saw what appeared to be a sharp break in the wall。
It was some fifty feet away。 We reached it in another moment； and I think none of us would have been able to express the immeasurable relief we felt when we saw before us a broad and clear passage leading directly away from the cavern。 It was very dark； but we entered it almost at a run。
I think we had not known the extent of our fear of that thing in the cavern until we found the means of escape from it。
We had gone about a hundred feet when we came to a turn to the left。 Harry stumbled against the corner； and we halted for an instant to wait for him。
Then we made the turn； side by side…and then we came to a sudden and abrupt stop； and a simultaneous gasp of terror burst from our lips。
Not three feet in front of us； blocking the passage pletely； stood the thing we thought we had escaped！
The terrible； fiery eyes rolled from side to side as they stared straight into our own。
Chapter XVIII。
A VICTORY AND A CONVERSATION。
We stood for a long moment rooted to the spot； unable to move。
Then； calling to Harry and grasping Desiree by the arm； I started to turn。
But too late。 For Desiree； inspired by a boundless terror； suddenly raised her spear high above her head and hurled it straight at the glowing； flashing eyes。
The point struck squarely between then with such force that it must have sunk clear to the shaft。 The head of the monster rolled for an instant from side to side； and then； before I was aware of what had happened； so rapid was the movement； a long； snakelike coil had reached out through the air and twisted itself about Desiree's body。
As she felt the thing tighten about her waist and legs she gave a scream of terror and twisted her face round toward me。 The next instant the snaky tentacle had dragged her along the ground and lifted her to the head of the monster； where her white body could be seen in sharp outline sprawling over its black form； between the terrible eyes。
Harry and I sprang forward。
As we did so the eyes closed and the reptile began to move backward with incredible swiftness； lashing about on the ground before us with other tentacles similar to the one that had captured Desiree。
I cried out to Harry to avoid them。 He did not answer； but rushed blindly forward。
Desiree's agonized shrieks rose to the pitch of madness。
The eyes were closed； leaving but a vague mark for our spears； and besides； there was the danger of striking Desiree。 We were barely able to keep pace with the thing as it receded swiftly down the broad passage。 Desiree had twisted her body half round； and her face was turned toward us； shadowy as a ghost。 Then her head fell forward and hung loosely and her lips were silent。 She had fainted。
The thing moved swifter than ever； we were barely able to keep up with it。 Harry made a desperate leap forward。
I cried out a warning； but one of the writhing tentacles swept against him and knocked him to the ground。 He was up again on the instant and came rushing up from behind。
Suddenly the passage broadened until the walls were no longer visible； we had entered another cavern。 I heard the sound of running water somewhere ahead of us。 The pace of the reptile had not slackened for an instant。
Harry had again caught up with us； and as he ran at my side I saw him raise his spear aloft； but I caught his arm and held it。
〃Desiree！〃 I panted。
Her body covered the only part of the thing that presented a fair mark。 Harry swore； but his arm fell。
〃To the side！〃 he gasped。 〃We can't get at it here！〃
I saw his meaning and followed at his heels as he swerved suddenly to the right and sprang forward in an attempt to get past the reptile's head。
But in our eagerness we forgot caution and went too close。 I felt one of the snaky tentacles wrap itself round my legs and body； and raised my voice in a warning to Harry； but too late。 He； too； was ensnared； and a moment later we had both been lifted bodily from the ground and swung through the air to the side of Desiree。
She was still unconscious。
I writhed and twisted desperately； but that muscular coil held me firmly as a band of steel； tight against the huge and hideous head。
Harry was on the other side of Desiree； not three feet from me。 I could see his muscles strain and pull in his violent efforts to tear himself free。 I had given it up。
But suddenly； quite near my shoulder； I saw the lid suddenly begin to raise itself from one of the terrible eyes。 I was almost on top of the thing and a little above it。 I turned my head aside and called to Harry。
〃The eye！〃 I gasped。 〃To your right！ The spear！ Are your arms free？〃
Then as I saw he understood； I turned a quarter of the way round…as far as I could get…and raised my spear the full extent of my arm； and brought it down with every ounce of my strength into the very center of the glowing eye beneath me。
At the same moment I saw Harry's arm descend and the flash of his spear。 The point of my own had sunk until the copper head was pletely buried。
I grasped the shaft and pulled and twisted it about until it finally was jerked forth。 From the opening it had made there issued a black stream。
Suddenly the body of the reptile quivered convulsively。 The head rolled from side to side。 There was a quick tightening of the tentacle round my body until my bones felt as though they were being crushed int