as our only chance, if there could be said to be
any in so desperate a situation. To be sure, there seemed to be no
possibility of escaping, even if we took the water without injury. On
every side its bank was lined with the watching Incas, and the bank
itself was so steep that to ascend it would have required wings.

The heat began to be felt even through the soles of our heavy boots;
involuntarily I lifted one foot, then the other. I saw the Child of
the Sun in the alcove lean forward with an appreciative grin. Another
minute--

I jerked my wits together--never did my brain answer with better speed.
And then I remembered that flash of water I had seen under the spiral
stairway at the base of the column. I had thought at the time that it
might be connected with the lake itself. If that were so--

I turned to Harry and conveyed my idea to him in as few words as
possible as we walked up and down, side by side. It was impossible
longer to stand still--the stone was so hot that the bare hand could
not be held against it for an instant. I saw that he did not
comprehend what I said about the water in the column, but he did
understand my instructions, and that was all that was necessary.

We ran to the edge of the column nearest the alcove.

Removing our woolen knickerbockers--for better ease in the water--we
placed them on the hot stone, and on top of them our boots, which we
had also removed. Thus our feet were protected as we stood on the
extreme edge of the column, taking a deep breath for strength and nerve.

I saw the thousands of black savages--who had been cheated of their
dance--crane their necks forward eagerly.

I saw the king gesture excitedly to an attendant, who turned and flew
from the alcove.

I saw Desiree spring up from the golden throne and run to the edge of
the alcove, crying to us in a tone of despair. But I did not hear her
words, for I myself was calling:

"Take it clean, Hal. Ready--go!"

The next instant we were flying headlong through the air toward the
surface of the lake a hundred feet below.

Men have told me since that I never made that dive, or that I greatly
overestimated the distance, and I admit that as I look back at it now
it appears incredible. Well, they are welcome to their opinion, but I
would not advise them to try to argue the matter with Harry.

The impact with the water all but completely stunned me; as I struck
the surface it seemed that a thousand cannon