STANLEY’S PLAN
Stanley could hardly await the time when he could reveal his scheme to
Ted. The opportunity came as they were being led away from the meeting
by the guards.
“What do you think of it? Maybe I didn’t start something. They are all
excited and scared to death, and will be more so, too, before the thing
is over. Why don’t you say something? I need a lot of encouragement
to put the thing through. You will have to help me,” he exclaimed
enthusiastically.
“I am sorry,” Ted returned sadly. “Try to keep as calm as you can and
do not think of the future. It will be over soon.”
“Not think of it? Why, I can think of nothing else. It will be great.
Quizquiz will get the surprise of his life, and his people will wake
up with a start. There will be no stopping them when they see what
happens.”
“Yes, and think of how _we_ will feel about that time,” Ted thought,
but said nothing.
“What is the matter, anyway?” Stanley demanded, losing patience. “Do
you think I am joking?”
“Joking, no! There is nothing humorous in our situation. If you want to
know the truth, it strikes me you are just a little upset, that is all.
But no one could blame you for that. This whole thing is enough to----”
“I thought so from the way you acted, and I was beginning to wonder if
you were not showing the effects of it too. I was never more in earnest
nor saner in my life. Just fix that firmly in your head.”
“You think we have a chance?”
“I am making one. And I would be absolutely sure of the result if
it were not for two things. First, we must get Soncco to help us; I
believe he will because we saved his neck, and he does not relish the
job that has been assigned to him--that of chief executioner of his
fellow teachers. Second, my calculations as to the day of the month
must be correct; on that point I am not quite sure, but I feel that I
am right. I was careful to tie a knot in the string each morning so
far as I can remember. But it is possible that I may have forgotten it
once, and that would throw off all my calculations.”
“But what is your scheme? The predictions you made are so wild and
impossible it would take a miracle to fulfil them.”
“Nothing of the kind. It can and it will all happen exactly as I said.
It sounds impossible so long only as they are ignorant of the things
that could cause such happenings.”
By this time they had reached the building in which they were to be
confined for the night.
“I will tell you the rest when they leave us alone,” Stanley added. “It
will take some time to explain the plan fully.”
Much to their disgust they found that they were not to be imprisoned in
the same enclosure. Ted, with a score of guards, was left in one small,
dungeon-like room, while Stanley was taken to another on the opposite
part of a courtyard. The officers obviously suspected that another plot
to escape might be formed if the two were left together. Henceforth
they would forestall such a move by keeping them apart, or at least so
it seemed to the captives. That was indeed discouraging, for Stanley
could not possibly carry out his plan without Ted’s help.
The distance between the two prison cells was too great to enable them
to carry on a conversation even by shouting, so they tried wigwagging
signals across the open space. But the guards immediately understood
their design, and drew rush mats across the doorways.
On the return journey to the plain, however, they were again thrown
together, much to their delight.
“Tell me quick, before they separate us,” Ted begged. “I couldn’t sleep
a wink last night for thinking over what you said; but I can’t figure
it out.”
“Listen! Do you remember that before we left home the papers were full
of stories about the eclipse of the sun that is to occur this month?”
“Yes, I remember that. We talked about it at the time. But it was to be
partial only.”
“Partial at home, but complete in parts of South America. It depends on
where you are looking from. The black bands on the maps illustrating
the articles extended right across this part of Peru. So you see what
is going to happen, and that I haven’t exaggerated.”
“I have to hand it to you, Stanley, for remembering the event, and
making such good use of it. It will seem like the most powerful kind of
magic to these Indians, and will terrify them. They will think we are
responsible for it and will respect us after that. Then it will be our
turn to have the upper hand.”
“The only thing that worries me,” said Stanley with concern, “is that I
may have made a mistake in keeping track of the time. If I am off one
single day, the eclipse might as well never come, so far as we care.”
“Do you feel that you have made a mistake, or not?” Ted asked bluntly.
One look into the serious, apprehensive face of his companion and
Stanley felt that he could not dash all his hopes to the ground by
telling him of the fear that had gradually loomed up to dispel the
hopes of the previous day. For the more he thought of the matter the
more certain he was that not only had he tied too few knots in the
string, but that the eclipse was not due until the following month.
“You shall see,” he said evasively. “Look, here comes Soncco now. He
looks troubled. We must have an interview with him where none can hear.
That is the first step, and it has got to be arranged somehow.”
As a matter of fact, Soncco was looking for them. He was the picture of
misery; years had been added to his age overnight.
“The king did not see fit to accept my suggestion,” he said slowly. “I
have escaped death only to be condemned to a worse fate.”
“It looks bad for all of us,” Ted returned.
“I did all I could,” the aged amauta whispered. “Alas! that I should
live to see such days. By the king’s command I am forced to become a
killer--of my own relatives and fellow teachers. I can neither eat,
drink, nor sleep. Still, the will of my sovereign must be obeyed.”
“Soncco, you have charge of the prisoners. Is not that true?”
“Yes; I am the jailer.”
“Then arrange that my companion and I remain together hereafter. You
can do that.”
“I can do that, but I will not. You would think up another plan for
escaping; but you might as well save yourselves the trouble.”
“On our honor, we shall not attempt to escape, and you know we are men
of our word. One more thing: come to our place of confinement to-night.
We have something of great interest to say to you.”
“Say it now. Why wait until to-night?”
“There is not time. Besides, we are being watched. Come to-night just
after dark, and you will learn something worth your while.”
“It shall be as you say. But remember, the guard will be tripled--so
as to form a solid wall around you. Attempt no treachery or you will
regret it.”
With that the amauta went his way.
“Do you think he will come?” Ted asked.
“I hope so. We helped him out once and he believes we may do it again,”
Stanley replied.
Soncco kept his promise and arrived shortly after nightfall had come
upon the valley. His face bore a tragic expression and his voice
trembled. They had never seen him so agitated.
“Speak quickly, for I have not long to stay,” he faltered. “There are
many things on my mind.”
“Soncco,” said Stanley slowly, looking straight at the aged man, “the
task for which you have been selected does not suit you. I can tell
that by your appearance and your actions. You are worried to death.”
“But I will obey the Inca’s command.”
“You do not want to kill your own relatives and friends, do you?”
“The king’s commands must not be questioned.”
“Of course not. And we are not asking you to disobey your king in
even the smallest matter. But you will admit that Quizquiz is not the
kind of king his father was. He is cruel and bloodthirsty. You know
the history of the nation back to its very beginning. Was there ever
another such ruler--one who wantonly destroyed his highest nobles as
well as his common people for the mere pleasure it gave him?”
“No, there was not. The Incas were all filled with solicitude for their
subjects. They were all kind and benevolent and just; that is why they
were so great and why the people venerated them.”
“I thought so. And if Quizquiz keeps on at the rate he is going, he
will break down and destroy all that the others before him have built
up at such enormous cost and sacrifice. And that will mean the end of
the hidden people, the last remnant of the once powerful and glorious
nation. Those who survive will be like your brethren in the outer
world, downtrodden, miserable, and without hope.”
“Quizquiz is young, and he is under the spell of an evil influence.”
“Yes, Villac Umu. We must get rid of him by all means. And we must save
the nation. We want you to help us help you to do these things.”
“I will not be a traitor to the Child of the Sun; I will not even
consider such a thing.”
“No one is asking you to do that. In helping us you will be doing a
favor to all the people. This may sound strange to you, and we do not
expect you to understand because you are accustomed to look at things
differently than we do. But we simply want to prove to you the thing
you refuse to admit--that the Child of the Sun is very human; that he
makes mistakes and can be good or wicked like any one else; and that
he must be taught a lesson that will bring him to his senses. Even your
Sun-God is subject to a higher power. Do not take my word for it. You
shall have the proof. Wait and see.”
Soncco was in despair. An expression of helplessness spread over his
face.
“The person of the Inca always has been considered holy, and it cannot
be violated now,” he wailed. “I ought not to listen to your words,
for they are blasphemy. I should not have come here at all. And I
should not have stayed on and on after I got here, were it not for one
fact----”
“That you know I am speaking the truth,” Stanley interrupted. “The
truth is painful as often as not, but it is best to listen while there
is time. If you delay you will be lost.”
Soncco was showing signs of weakening.
“The people are grumbling,” he admitted reluctantly. “If the oppression
and tyranny continue, there will be an uprising--the first in the
history of the nation. We have suffered misfortune enough already
without having a new calamity thrust upon us.”
“Now you are talking sensibly. We are offering you the opportunity to
prevent all this trouble and bloodshed you justly despise. Will you
take advantage of it? Will you trust us and let us help you?”
“How can I accomplish the impossible? What can I do? I am old and
my power has been taken from me. Indeed, I am now no more than an
executioner, hated by all men.”
“You can do more than you think possible. Are you acquainted with the
country beyond the wall--I mean Uti?”
“Uti, yes. Only sixteen changes of the moon ago I accompanied an
exploring party there much against my will. It is a terrible place with
death staring one in the face at every step.”
“Then you know the caves in the mountain-sides?”
“Each one of them. We searched them all. It was like a hideous
nightmare. In some were the remains of men, rows upon rows of them. In
others we found the bones of monstrous beasts or demons that invaded
the valley many years ago and killed the people by hundreds. It was to
keep them out of the valley that the wall was built.”
“Good! You know the place well. Now listen carefully.”
Stanley then minutely described the cave where the dynamite had been
hidden when they had first landed, several weeks before, and after they
had discovered that the gold had been removed from the cave in which it
had been hidden.
“Bring those boxes to me,” Stanley concluded. “That is all for the
present. No one will suspect anything. As master of ceremonies you have
a perfect right to come and go as you please, and make any preparations
you like.”
It took a good deal of persuasion, but Soncco finally consented to make
the trip to Uti for the boxes. He had reached the point where he would
do almost anything rather than carry out his part of the fiendish plot
set for two days hence.
“I will do this one thing,” he said, “but no other; so spare yourselves
the trouble of making any more requests.”
“Now do you see daylight?” Stanley asked when the aged amauta had gone.
“No!” Ted was bewildered. “I haven’t brains enough to go around.”
“Well, then, do as I am doing. Trust to luck.”