The Search for the Silver City Part 24

Each one with the possible exception of Poyor, was so cramped as to be in great pain: but all knew that the slightest unusual noise among the foliage would have attracted attention.

Of course c.u.mmings' party was more than a match for the Indians; but in addition to his disinclination to begin a fight, was the chance that there might be others in the immediate vicinity who would join in the battle, thus reducing the odds which appeared to be in favor of the white men.

It was in the highest degree important, also, that they remain hidden, for once the Indians got a glimpse of the party it would be a simple matter to track them to the next hiding place.

There was another and a very weighty reason why both c.u.mmings and Poyor wished to avoid an encounter in the forest, even though their weapons were much superior to those carried by the Chan Santa Cruz so far as rapid work was concerned. Unless struck in some vital part, the chances are in favor of recovery from a bullet wound; but let the skin be punctured ever so slightly by arrows poisoned with the venom of the snake known as the nahuyaca and death is certain to follow.

With all this in mind it is little wonder that the fugitives suffered considerable pain before making any attempt to change positions, and that they would be forced to remain exactly where the halt had been made, until morning, seemed positive.

Poyor was well content to stay there as long as the men carried on a conversation, for he was thus enabled to get some valuable information concerning their proposed movements, and not a word escaped him.

Three hours elapsed before the pursuers gave any sign of leaving the place, and then a peculiar sound as of a night bird calling to its mate, caused them to start to their feet.

It was evidently a signal from another party of pursuers, for these men answered it by a similar cry, and it was repeated several times by those in the distance.

A moment later the Indians had started, and as they disappeared Neal whispered to Teddy:

"I never realized before how much comfort there is in the ability to move whenever a fellow feels so disposed."

"If I'd been obliged to keep still ten minutes longer I believe my legs would have dropped off," Teddy replied with a sigh of relief.

There was no time to say anything more; Poyor had begun the advance, and the little party moved slowly and silently through the gloomy forest until the Indian halted in front of an opening slightly larger than the one leading to the cave they had just left.

Jake did not wait to be told that the journey had come to an end; but at once crawled through, followed by c.u.mmings with the materials for making a torch, and in a few moments the boys were also inside.

Poyor did not accompany them; he wanted to a.s.sure himself that they had not been discovered, and proposed to stand guard among the trees until this had been accomplished.

The cavern was not more than half as large as the one first visited; but was formed of the same peculiar stone. Here also was a stream across one corner, the bottom of which sloped gently up to the sh.o.r.e of fine white sand, and, so far as could be ascertained, it did not afford a home for disagreeable monsters in the shape of alligators.

There was plenty of evidence near the entrance to show that in addition to searching the cave the Indians had made a long halt. Fragments of totopostes were scattered around, and a small pile of fine shavings told where one of them had repaired an arrow.

The only objection which could be found in this new refuge was that it had not been taken possession of by tohs. c.u.mmings searched everywhere in vain for the "chickens," and the troubled look on his face spoke plainly of his disappointment in failing to find a supply of food close at hand.

"If we should be discovered and besieged it will be a case of short rations," he said as the little party returned to the opening to wait for Poyor.

"Don't you suppose there are fish in the stream?" Teddy asked.

"I never heard that there were; but even if it was stocked with them we should be none the better off since there are neither hooks nor lines here."

"Neal and I have got plenty of both, so what's to hinder our finding out? A fresh fish wouldn't taste badly."

"Very well. I'll stay here on guard, and----"

He was interrupted by the arrival of Poyor, who had crept through the short pa.s.sage without making sufficient sound to be heard by those who were supposed to be watching, and, speaking in English, he said to c.u.mmings:

"I do not think there is any one near here, and now I wish to go further on to learn where the next line of sentinels is posted. We may be able to change our quarters again, and if every move takes us nearer the coast we shall be gaining just so much every time. You must keep a better watch, however, for if I can surprise you, so can others."

"I will take it upon myself to see that no one else is able to do the same thing," c.u.mmings replied with a laugh. "When you are outside in the vicinity I always feel secure; for the best Chan Santa Cruz that ever lived couldn't pa.s.s without your knowledge. Did you hear anything of importance while we were hiding so near that party?"

"From what they said it is positive fully a hundred men have been sent from the city to search for us, and with the sentinels there must be double that number between here and the coast."

"It would seem as if with so many they ought to run us to the ground finally," c.u.mmings said musingly. "Where were those fellows going?"

"They had been following the wet track examining the caves, and began near the range of hills which forms the east boundary of their country.

One of the party believed we had doubled back in order to cross the swamp, and if we can remain hidden it may not be long before all the searchers will be sent in that direction."

"Did they make any talk about what would be done with us in case they run us down?" Jake asked.

"All are to be taken to the city alive, if possible, and it is not hard to say what would be our fate there."

"What do they do with their captives?" Jake continued, as if this not very cheerful subject fascinated him.

"A white man would be sacrificed in the temple before the G.o.ds, and the death stroke would not be delivered until much torture had been inflicted."

"Don't talk of such horrible things," Teddy interrupted nervously. "It can do us no good to learn all the terrible particulars. I want to keep my mind on the one idea of escape."

"That is where you are right," c.u.mmings replied approvingly. "We shall be worth any number of dead men for some time to come, and won't discuss even the possibility of capture. When are you going to start, Poyor?"

"When I have bound more guaco leaves on this man's wound," was the answer, and now the boys noticed that he had brought a fresh supply of the wonderful shrub.

After preparing it as before the bandage was removed, and by the light of a splinter of fat wood which c.u.mmings fired with a match, it could be seen that the edges of the gash had already united.

"To-morrow there will be no reason for keeping it tied up."

"That is to say, the wound will be healed, and you'll have a souvenir of the Silver City which can never be lost," c.u.mmings added.

"I won't complain, for I came out of the sc.r.a.pe much better than I deserved," the engineer replied with a laugh.

Poyor was now ready to go on the scout, and he delayed only long enough to say:

"There must be no talking while I am away, for one who speaks cannot listen, and if the enemy should come here again his approach will be like that of a serpent."

"You shan't have any cause to complain," c.u.mmings replied, and an instant later the Indian had left the cave.

Teddy now thought the time had come when he should settle the question of whether there were any fish in the stream, and after gaining c.u.mmings' permission to make the attempt he and Neal brought out the lines and flies which had been saved from the wreck of the Sea Dream.

"We shall need bait," he whispered. "If there were a million fish there they couldn't see a fly in the dark, and, besides, if this river runs underground entirely not one of them knows anything about insects."

"A piece of roasted toh will be the very best we could have," and Neal soon brought out some of the toughest portions of the remnants left from the last meal.

c.u.mmings would not listen to their proposition that a fire be lighted, therefore it was necessary to work in the dark, and they experienced considerable difficulty in beginning the task.

Then, while Jake sat near by deeply interested in the experiment, the boys moved their lines to and fro, forced to wade quite a distance into the water, and ten minutes pa.s.sed before there was any sign that their efforts would be rewarded by success.

"I've got a bite," Teddy whispered excitedly. "By the way he pulled it must have been a big fel---- h.e.l.lo, he's taken hook and all!"

"Tie on another quick while I try to catch him," and Neal ventured further into the water, throwing the line as far as possible toward the other side.

The thought came into Jake's mind that, while no alligators had been seen when they first entered it was by no means certain one or more would not follow down the course of the stream, and he was on the point of warning Neal not to venture too far from the edge of the sh.o.r.e, when there was a mighty splash, a cry of fear and pain from the fisherman, and the engineer shouted regardless of the fact that the enemy might be close at hand: