The Search for the Silver City Part 23

The minutes pa.s.sed slowly until two hours had elapsed, and then a slight rustling of leaves near the entrance caused c.u.mmings to seize the rifle more firmly and peer out.

It was Poyor returning, and he appeared weary like one who has run a long race.

"Have you seen anything?" c.u.mmings asked anxiously.

"There were four Indians about a mile south from here. They came from the city last night, and are searching. It was possible to hear them talk. The sentinels near the coast have been doubled in number, and there is little hope we could pa.s.s them."

"It is barely possible they may not find this cave; the entrance is small, and almost hidden by the brushes."

"Yet I found it in the night."

"True," c.u.mmings replied gloomily, and as he said nothing more Poyor went to the stream to quench his thirst.

While pa.s.sing by Jake he accidentally brushed the latter's arm with his foot, and the engineer was on his feet in an instant, staring around stupidly as if believing the enemy was upon him.

"Why didn't you call me to stand my watch?" he asked in a loud tone, and Poyor, darting back to his side whispered:

"It is not safe to make any noise. Do not so much as speak aloud."

By this time the boys were aroused, and when the Indian had cautioned them in turn all three went to where c.u.mmings was seated.

"Are we going to move, or have you concluded to stay here?" Neal asked.

"We shall be obliged to make this our headquarters for a few days. Poyor has seen people from the city in the immediate vicinity, consequently it is advisable to keep under cover."

"Do you think we will be able to leave in a week?" Teddy asked anxiously, and c.u.mmings replied evasively:

"I hope so."

To Jake, who did not feel so eager to reach home by the next steamer that left Progresso, the prospect of remaining in the cave several days was agreeable rather than otherwise, and he asked:

"Are we to cook any breakfast this morning?"

"No, because the smoke might be seen. To-night there will be no such danger, and the light can be screened from view, therefore it is a case of getting along with a cold bite until then. Sleep as much as possible in order that you may be ready to do your share of the watching, and remember that perfect silence is absolutely necessary."

Then c.u.mmings intimated that the conversation should cease, by turning his attention to what might be happening outside, and the three went toward the opposite end of the cavern where the Indian had thrown himself down for a nap.

Here, after discussing what little they knew regarding the situation, they ate a few totopostes, a thin, dry tortilla which will remain sweet many days, and then gave themselves up to slumber once more.

To sleep when one does not feel the necessity of such rest is, however, not an easy matter to be arranged, and after two or three short naps the boys found it impossible to woo the drowsy G.o.d.

They walked around the cavern, arousing flocks of tohs; but, owing to the dim light, finding nothing worthy of attention, and then they went to the entrance where c.u.mmings refused to hold any conversation with them because of the possibility that some of the enemy might be lurking outside, where it was possible to hear the sound of their voices.

In this restless manner the day was spent, and when night came again Poyor ventured out once more.

By this time c.u.mmings felt the necessity of gaining a little rest, and he proposed that Neal and Teddy take their turn at standing watch.

"It will not be so tedious if you remain here together," he said, "and we will give Jake a job later in the night."

It was really a relief to the boys to have something to occupy their time, and as they took his place at the entrance he lay down near at hand where they could awaken him without difficulty in case it should become necessary.

To repeat all the unimportant incidents of the night would be tedious.

When Poyor returned from his first trip outside he built a fire near the stream, shielded the flame by a screen of boughs that the light might not be reflected from the entrance, and then, with the air of one who is accustomed to such work, set about catching "chickens" enough to make a hearty meal.

Dishing these up in clay he roasted them as before, and c.u.mmings was awakened to share in the appetizing meal.

Then the Indian went out again, while Jake was standing watch, and an hour later (it was then about two o'clock in the morning), he returned, and roused c.u.mmings, saying in his native tongue as he did so:

"Five miles from here is a smaller cave. The sentinels have just finished searching it. They will be here in the morning. I have thought we might slip past them, by exercising great caution, and it would be just so much nearer the coast."

"Do you believe it should be done?" c.u.mmings asked, as he sprang to his feet.

"It can do no harm, providing we are not discovered during the march through the forest, and we may possibly be able to throw them off the scent."

"Then we will start at once. Under such desperate circ.u.mstances nothing should be neglected which might be of benefit. How much food have we got on hand?"

"All that will be needed. It is not difficult to procure provisions in this forest."

It surely seemed as if they might better their condition very materially by making this change, and, in view of all things, it was the proper manoeuvre since by remaining there was no doubt the party would be discovered, when a regular siege must necessarily be the result.

There was yet a considerable amount of the roasted tohs on hand. This was wrapped in leaves with the remainder of the provisions, and all the luggage made up in three packages, for it had been decided that the boys should not be called upon to carry any burden.

"It may be that we shall be obliged to move quickly," Poyor said, "and it is best they have nothing but their guns."

When everything was in readiness for the start the Indian went outside once more to reconnoiter, and on his return the final preparations were made.

He, c.u.mmings and Jake fastened the bundles to their backs; Neal and Teddy were cautioned to take plenty of cartridges from the general store, and then, Poyor leading the way, they emerged from the cave.

CHAPTER XIX.

A CHANGE OF BASE.

Although the boys did not know the full extent of the danger, they could understand something of the anxiety felt by both c.u.mmings and Poyor when the shelter of the cave had been left behind.

The latter moved with the utmost caution, taking half a dozen steps and then stopping to listen; halting whenever the foliage rustled more than he fancied was usual and otherwise acting as if believing the enemy had completely surrounded them.

Under such circ.u.mstances the advance was necessarily slow, and at least an hour was consumed in traveling less than a mile.

Teddy was on the point of protesting against such excessive precaution when the sound of voices caused all the party to crouch low among the bushes, hiding themselves in the foliage just as four Chan Santa Cruz Indians came to a halt not more than twenty feet away.

It was not difficult to distinguish the form of each one even amid the gloom, and from their manoeuvers Teddy and Neal were confident that they had halted for the remainder of the night.

It would have been impossible to hold any conversation, however guarded, without the certainty of being heard while these men were so near, and the fugitives remained motionless, hardly daring to breathe, until it seemed as if some change of position must be made regardless of the consequences.