Real Gold Part 24

"He has found it," he said to Perry, as soon as they were alone.

"Found what?"

"What he has come after."

Perry looked at him wonderingly.

"You have found out?" he said.

"No, I wish I had; but didn't you see how pleased he seemed when he came back to supper, and said that we should camp here for a few days?"

"Yes, I noticed that."

"Well, doesn't it mean that we have got to the spot at last that he was in search of?"

Perry shook his head.

"Well, you see if we don't find out something to-morrow."

Perry had almost forgotten his companion's words at breakfast-time the next morning, but they came to his memory as soon as they had done, for the colonel said:

"Now, boys, we'll make a little expedition along the edge of the forest here this morning. Cyril, tell the men to mind the mules don't stray too far, and keep up the fire."

John Manning looked sharply at the colonel, as much as to say: "Then you mean me to come also, sir?"

"Yes, I want you to carry spare ammunition and the game-bag. I hope we shall have some sport along here," said the colonel, who had caught the old soldier's inquiring gaze.

Half an hour later, they were tramping along the mountain-slope, through open woods that were quite park-like, and gave them glimpses of the far-spreading region below, all vested in a delicate bluish mist, while where they journeyed all was brilliant sunshine. There was a delicious feeling of spring in the air, for though the sun was hot, the air was crisp and cool, making the task of walking easy, and giving the travellers a feeling of elasticity, wanting when pa.s.sing through the gloomy gorges of the huge mountain-chain.

The colonel led off as if he were quite accustomed to the place, though there was no sign of a track, and before they had gone far, Perry whispered a hope that they would not lose their way.

"No fear," said Cyril. "We are keeping the mountains on our left, and we must keep them on our right as we go back. We have only to keep along till we strike the stream, and follow it up or down till we reach our fire. I daresay we shall see it long before we are near, by the smoke."

They had gone quite a couple of miles without seeing any trace of game, the woods being wonderfully silent. The colonel was on in front, and the two boys about twenty yards behind, each bearing a gun, when Perry suddenly paused.

"Where's John Manning?" he said. "I thought he was close up."

They waited, and then whistled several times, but there was no response, and then Cyril ran back to where the land was more open, but still there was no sign; and he was about to run forward again, and signal to the colonel to stop, when the missing man suddenly appeared with his piece at the trail, running hard, but keeping himself bent down, to avoid being seen.

"What's the matter?" said Cyril, as the old soldier came up. "Seen a deer?"

"No, sir; I only had a suspicion."

"What of?"

"Struck me that Master Diego would come after us to see which way we went."

"Well?"

"Yes, I hung back to watch, and he's half a mile behind, tracking us by our footmarks, with his head down, or else he'd have seen me."

"Come on, and tell the colonel."

They hurried forward, and joined Perry, waiting for them anxiously.

"At last," he said excitedly. "Did you see?"

"See what?"

"Those Indians."

"No. Where?" said Cyril.

"On both sides, among the trees. They are watching us. What ought we to do?"

"Rearguard closes up on the main body," said John Manning quickly.

"Single file, and at the double. Now, sir, you head the advance.

March."

Cyril sprang forward to overtake the colonel, looking down as he trotted forward in search of trampled-down gra.s.s and broken twigs; but from the first he saw nothing, neither could he hear a sound, and after some minutes' progress, he pulled up short, and breathing hard.

"We had better spread out now," he said, "or we shall overlook him."

"Didn't you see which way he went?" said John Manning.

"Out this way somewhere," said Perry. "He can't be far away."

"Enemy closing in," said the old soldier in a low voice. "Forward, my lads. We must find him now."

Those last words sent a chill through Cyril, who sprang forward again, and then nearly uttered a shout; for, about fifty yards in front, he caught sight of the colonel standing half hidden by the thick growth at the edge of a clearing, where some dozen or so of men were busy apparently cutting wood. Beyond them were two rough huts thatched with boughs, and piled up in little stacks were f.a.gots of the wood which the men had cut down.

They were so busy over their task, that they had not noticed the presence of the colonel, neither did they hear the approaching footsteps as they worked on. But the colonel did, and turned and hurried back to meet the boys, holding up his hand to command silence. His eyes were flashing with satisfaction as they came up, and he had a branch of one of the trees about them in his hand.

"We thought we had lost you," said Perry excitedly. "What's that?"

"The magic tree I have come all these thousands of miles to seek, boy, and now--"

"Will you cast your eye this way, sir?" said John Manning, in a hoa.r.s.e low voice of warning. "Indians all around. Do it mean mischief, or are they only friends?"

He gave his head a backward wag as he spoke, and as Cyril looked excitedly in the indicated direction, he saw that which made him thrust his hand into his pouch to count the cartridges; for if the coming Indians meant offence, they as travellers were in mortal peril of losing their lives.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

AT BAY.

To have attempted to escape, the colonel said, would be madness, for it would have suggested fear of the approaching Indians, and made them think at once that the visit to their secluded haunts meant no good to them; so throwing his piece into the hollow of his left arm, and bidding the others do as he did, Colonel Campion took a few steps forward to meet the Indians, and held out his hand.