The Search for the Silver City Part 33

The breakfast was by no means a hearty one. The moisture had spoiled the roast tapir, and even the remaining totopostes were so damp as to be decidedly unpleasant to the sight as well as the taste.

Jake shut his eyes and ate a small quant.i.ty: but neither Neal nor Teddy could force the food down, and, in view of the fact that there was little likelihood of finding any game on the summit of the mountain, it seemed reasonably certain they would be forced to fast a long while.

The burdens, soaked with water, had increased in weight very materially, and again Poyor overhauled them in order to throw away yet more of the load.

All the fishing tackle, two extra suits of clothes belonging to the boys, the spoiled provisions and, in fact, nearly everything except the ammunition and weapons, was left behind when the ascent of the mountain was continued.

It was not yet time for the sun to rise; but the gray light of coming day served to show the way, and Poyor strode on in advance at a pace which would have soon winded the boys had c.u.mmings not ordered him to proceed more slowly.

"We must keep on without a halt until noon," he said, "and it would be bad policy to use a portion of the party up before the journey has fairly begun."

Even at the best pace possible the progress was by no means rapid, owing to the obstructions in the path. Here it was necessary to make a long detour that an overhanging ledge might be avoided, and there they were literally forced to scramble among boulders of every size at imminent risk of breaking limbs or being precipitated to the valley below.

Before half an hour had pa.s.sed the rain ceased falling as rapidly as it had begun, and as the sun appeared the clouds at the foot of the mountain were dispersed.

Poyor halted and turned to look toward the valley.

Almost at the same instant a loud shout was heard and c.u.mmings uttered an exclamation of dismay, as a party of at least a hundred Indians burst into view about a mile below.

"They halted rather than run the risk of pa.s.sing us during the storm,"

he said half to himself. "Inasmuch as the slowest of that crowd can travel two yards to our one we are likely to be overhauled in a very short time."

"It is the end," Poyor said gravely. "There is little chance of escape, and none of running from them."

"Do you propose that we shall stand and fight?" c.u.mmings asked.

"There is nothing else to be done."

"But we have no show against them."

"As much as to run."

"Here in the open they can soon surround us."

"We will be able to throw up a line of these rocks before they get here, and because it is in the open we can hold them back a few hours."

There was plenty of material near at hand with which to make a shelter sufficient to protect them from the poisoned arrows, and after a few seconds' hesitation c.u.mmings saw that Poyor's plan was the only one which could be carried into execution.

"Set to work lively, boys," he shouted, as he began to throw up the smaller boulders in a circle. "Everything depends on our getting a fort ready before they come within shooting distance."

There was no necessity of urging the boys or Jake to labor industriously. They could see the enemy and hear their yells of triumph at having tracked the game so successfully, therefore not a second was wasted.

It seemed as if Poyor had the strength of a dozen men in his arms. He lifted huge boulders which the remainder of the party together could hardly have moved from their resting place; flung the smaller ones around as if they were nothing more than pebbles, and when the circle had been raised four feet high, set about digging away the sand from the center in order to increase the depth.

The preparations were not yet completed when the foremost of the pursuers came in view from beneath a ledge about forty yards away, and he said to c.u.mmings:

"Three guns are enough to hold them back while Jake and I finish the work here. Do not hesitate to shoot, for they will stop at nothing when the time comes that we can hold out no longer."

"Teddy, you sit there," c.u.mmings said, as he pointed to an aperture in the wall which had been left as a loop-hole. "Neal, you're stationed next to him, and I'll hold this place. Now work lively, and pick off every one of those yelling villains that comes within range."

He discharged both barrels of his weapon in rapid succession as he ceased speaking, and the two leaders disappeared immediately; but whether they had been hit by the leaden messengers, or only frightened, no one could say.

Teddy raised his gun as a third man pressed forward, and, as he afterward confessed, closed his eyes while pulling the trigger, for to fire deliberately at a human being was something inexpressibly terrible.

Even if he did not hit the mark the bullet must have gone so near the man as to frighten him, for when Neal discharged his weapon at a fourth Indian the entire party beat a retreat, disappearing behind the ledge.

"They can't send an arrow from that distance with any accuracy of aim,"

c.u.mmings said in a tone of satisfaction, "therefore we may count on keeping them back until night, at all events."

"And then what?" Teddy asked with a shudder.

"That is something we won't talk about yet awhile," was the grave reply.

"We've got at least twelve hours before us, providing they don't catch us napping, and at such a time as this it is a much longer lease of life than I expected."

Teddy and Neal looked at each other in silence. The situation must indeed be desperate if c.u.mmings could count on remaining at liberty only one day, and then----

In fancy Teddy could see them led back to the Silver City as prisoners.

He almost heard the strains of music while they were marched into the temple amid the slender, silver-tipped columns, with the throng of people following to witness the torture and final stroke which should relieve them from suffering.

"What is the matter?" Neal whispered. "You have turned as white as a ghost."

"I was thinking of what will happen when those murderers get us in their power."

"Don't do anything of the kind; it is too terrible. I will die here fighting rather than be taken prisoner."

"And is that all the hope we have left?"

"To be killed here? Perhaps not; but it is far preferable to the torture Poyor and c.u.mmings say is sure to be our portion in case of capture."

Neal's face was also pale; but there was a certain look of determination about it which told he had made up his mind for the worst, and would struggle manfully to the end.

Jake on the contrary, was nearly paralyzed with fear. He understood now if never before all the trouble he had brought upon his companions, first by making their presence in the city known, and, lastly, by betraying the whereabouts of the party when he ventured out of the cave. That the Indians would not be turned from their purpose he realized fully, and there could be no mistaking the desperate condition in which he had placed all hands.

He was supposed to be aiding Poyor; but, as a matter of fact he could do little more than look out over the fortifications, fearing each moment that the enemy would make a sudden dash.

The particular thought in the minds of all was as to what might be done in the way of replenishing the larder, for now the siege had really begun the question of how food could be procured was a serious matter, more especially since no one had eaten what would be worthy the name of breakfast.

Neither c.u.mmings nor Poyor feared a direct a.s.sault. In their opinion it was only a question of holding the enemy in check, and to this alone did they pay any attention.

c.u.mmings watched over the line of rocks, and at the slightest show of a living target discharged his weapon; but, so far as could be ascertained, without inflicting any injury upon those who were ready to deal out death at the first opportunity.

"It is only a question of holding back until the night comes, when they can ascend the mountain, and, being above us, be able to shoot us down without exposing themselves," Teddy said as he sat by the aperture watching for a sight of the enemy.

"We will wait until sunset before we give up entirely," Neal replied, in a tone that showed he had lost all hope. "Then, unless Poyor can devise some plan for escape, we shall have to stand a hand to hand fight which can result in but one way."

"You admit that we can't escape?" Teddy replied interrogatively. "Five against a hundred won't be able to stand very long."

"We can at least hold our own a few hours, and when the end comes we will be found fighting."