Under the Andes

t of Pike's Peak. Well, that is mere child's play-a morning constitutional comp

ourselves creeping along a ledge so narrow there was scarcely room for the mules to place their hoofs together, over a precipice three

g place for the night. We would ascend the side of a narrow valley; on one hand roared a torrent some hundreds of feet below; on the other ro

own sake. Time and again she swayed far out of her saddle until her body was literally suspended in the air ab

If the girth

ut it

f it s

a! Come,

since the beast had a much higher regard for his skin than she h

tion about the thing that was irresistible. However high the peak we had a

nly to be found, after an all but impossible curve, up the side of another cliff, coaxed us on and on; and

here was no other camping ground within six hours' march, and no hacienda or pueblo within fifty miles. We received his explanation with the indifference of th

cliffs like a snake fastened to a rock. On the left side, immediately above us, was a precipice some thousan

r three smaller ones in a row, and beyond these many others ranged in a mass unevenly,

gathered about the fire which the arriero had kindled for our camp. Its

The white of the snow and the dull gray of the rocks were totally unrelieved by any t

tly during the afternoon; Le Mire and I sat side by side near the fire,

an suddenly, then stopped sh

o melancholy and wanted to

? In

s curiously somber, but d

ying, Desire

movement and laug

! A card! Mr. Paul Lamar. Show him in, Julie. But no, let him

red a

e, Desiree, what

my question as

hypnotize me. The snow, the solitude-for I am alone. Your broth

as for the future-look! Do you see that waste of snow and i

e glow in her eyes did not proceed from mirth. I followed her

this, Desiree? Come, i

. I felt her eyes above me, and try as I would I could not look up

I lov

ar Des

ove

as convinced that she was acting, and I dis

attered,

acing her hand

; now you must know. There have been many men in my life, Paul; some fools, some not so, but none lik

rofoundly fatuous, and made a

that all, De

by a barrier of steel. She remained standing perfectly still, searching me with a gaze that left me na

rds, Paul? I did not mean

running over to her only to meet with some trivial req

deeply I had wounded her. And when I discovered my mistake, some time later and under ve

crossed the Andes in the guise of a Spanish officer, performing wondrous exploits with her sword and creati

of detail after detail, until Desiree allowed her memory to take a vacation and su

ere was nothing better to do, I called to the arriero and asked him to conduct us on a to

n minutes later we started, on foot. The arriero led the way,

head without turning round, and I gave it up. I was frankly puzzled by her words

ddle; but I tossed it from my mind, promising myself a solution on t

s, some three or four hundred yards in length. Ahead of

that reached our ears with a faintness which only served to increase its effect. Here and there were aper

doubtedly one of limestone, with here and there a layer

at the wall of rock which barred the exit from the passage. Following their eyes, I saw lines

feet or so above us and

Harry was saying as

iree, "don't you think I kn

Harry sarcastically. "But who ever

terested, and I turned to

said Felipe,

ho car

ugged his

new-S

ug. I becam

Speak! If you don't know the author

ow, s

u k

sen

Heaven's sa

nting to the fig

, id

rock, sat down, rolled a cigarette, lighted it, and began. He spoke in Spa

amarco. Four, five hundred years ago, it was. By the great Pizarro. And there was gold at Cuz

that in five days the priests of the sun carried their

his cigarette, glanced at

achacamac he came with twenty horsemen, sowing terror in the mountains, carrying eighty loads of gold.

the horses of the Spaniards and heard the guns, they became frightened and ran away like li

days of suffering they came to a cave, wherein they disappeared and no more were seen

d carved thereon the likeness of a horse to warn their Inca brethren of t

d you all th

ers and glanced about, as much

ried Desiree. "Wh

id Felipe, pointing throu

iero informed her that it was difficult of access, but she tur

, though Felipe's history was fairly accurate, I was inclined to regard

easy one. Here and there deep ravines caused us to ma

ttom of a giant well, and in the center of one of the steep walls was an openi

entrance

Felipe

tered the Incas of Hu

ke, and I fancied tha

e it!" cried Des

times have my countrymen entered in search of the gold, and americanos, too, and never did they ret

as laughi

either Harry or I could reach her she had sprung across th

n from Felipe ringing in ou

d Harry. "Come

faint reverberations-could they be footsteps! What folly! For I had

gain with all the strengt

er. I remember that as we passed within I turned and saw F

tered: "This is folly; let us get a light," and tried to hold Harry back.

d I do? I

Multiplied and echoed by the black walls, it was

me I heard Harry gasp with a nameless fear. An i

r tell; probably a few secon

son, but by the memory of that terrible cr

r a footing-a wild instant of despair and pawi