The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 51: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A PERUVIAN PARADISE, 51 Just as they were about to pull on the rope Fitch held up his hand. ‘“What is it?’’ demanded Ford, hanging stiffly upon the rope and cock- ing up his ear to listen. A strange, muffled, moaning sound echoed down the tunnel. — It died away, then swelled again to a throbbing roar. ‘The three men looked at one another with startled faces. ‘What the dickens is ‘hat ?’’ demanded Ford, in an awed voice. Fitch shook his head; but a look of intelligence flashed into the engineer’s face. ‘For God’s sake pull me out, boys!’’ he gasped. ‘‘ It’s thunder !”’ His words startled his comrades into activity. They laid hold of the rope with vigor, and after a deal of tugging managed to get him out upon the solid rock again. But he was so weakened by the strain and chilled by the exposure that he could scarcely stand. 7 Again that same dismal moan, long drawn and fear inspiring, came down the cavern, which acted like a speaking tube between them and the outer world. ‘‘ Go back as fast as you can, boys,’’ said Keeth, struggling into a sitting posture. ‘‘ Don’t wait for me. You know what these thunder storms in the mountains are like. In a mighty short time this river will rise and you’ll be drowned like rats in a hole.’’ ‘“And you——’’ cried Ford. ‘Don’t stop for me, man! I tell you it’s your only chance. Get up where the tunnel’s broader.”’ ‘“Hi say !’’ cried Fitch. ‘‘ Hand leave you?’’ ‘‘ Hang it, man! Why should you two risk your lives for me?’ ‘““And hang you!’’ exclaimed Ford. ‘‘ What do you take us for? | We'll carry you if you can’t walk.’’ They seized him, despite his objections, and staggered up the tunnel. The muttering of the thunder was nowan intermittent roar. Were they in time? They were not sure, for, as they issued from the cul-de-sac, they heard the water coming down the rocks with a different noise from that it had made a few moments ago. Clearly the storm was beginning to tell upon the stream, and the work of*recrossing the pools and climbing the slippery rocks, especially with Keeth so helpless, looked desperately hard. Keeth demanded that they set him down, after having been hauled up the first incline. The rough exercise had warmed his stiffened limbs and he pushed on as rapidly as his companions. But each moment the water in- creased in depth. Where they had before walked dry shod it was already over their ankles, | At the first cascade Ford climbed up alone, wasting several precious miuutes in the trial, for he was not as active as Keeth. ‘The latter, when once his friend was on the rock above, flung him the end of the rope. But he was not successful in the first cast. Ford should have taken the rope up with him, but he didn’t think of that in his hurry. Keeth made a second attempt and the rope fell back upon Fitch and knocked the torch from his hand. Eomichook (S@)