WE BECOME PRISONERS OF THE TCHA
Without doubt our presence on the mountain and our declared intention of
visiting the hidden city was by this time known to the Tcha. Our best
policy would be to appear among them at once, rather than wait for them
to formulate a plan to prevent our purpose.
“They can’t be very fierce people, if the others are like the sample
we’ve seen,” remarked Archie. “He wasn’t at all a bad looking fellow.”
“I believe I would rather face the Tcha than tackle the Itzaex again,”
added Ned Britton. “We know how to deal with white folks.”
“I do not forget that the Tcha killed my father’s followers without
mercy,” said Chaka. “But that need not discourage us. We made the
journey to gain this hidden city, and my brother Paul’s plan to fly over
the mountain seems to me to be wise.”
Our thoughts were none too cheerful as we sat there hour after hour and
discussed the forlorn hope, perhaps imagining more terrors than actually
existed. It was a big mountain. We could realize that, now we had
reached it and were perched like birds upon a narrow ledge of rock, with
a dangerous precipice at our feet. There was room for a pretty big city
inside the grim walls of this barrier, if it really was hollow and a
city of living people existed within it.
We brewed some coffee over an alcohol stove and Paul made enough extra
to fill his thermos bottles. In the supply chest—one of the four we
carried—was a quantity of food in very condensed form. By boiling water
brought from the spring we made some very excellent soup from a small
tablet, and a tin of beef, with a biscuit apiece, enabled us to feast in
a very satisfactory manner.
All our operations had to be conducted on a shelf of rock not two feet
wide, and the place was so littered with the carcasses of the vipers we
had killed that the only way to sit or lie down was by perching upon the
chests.
Gradually the sun sank and twilight fell. Nearly all of us were
impatient to start as soon as possible, but Allerton restrained us.
“We have waited long and endured much to gain this position,” said he.
“It would be reckless folly to spoil our prospects now by acting
prematurely.”
So we waited, hour after hour, until the patience of even our staid
blacks was well-nigh exhausted. Archie grumbled and growled continually,
while Joe whistled softly to himself. Pedro fell asleep and only escaped
falling into the precipice by Ned’s quick grasp on his arm as he was
rolling off a chest.
Finally Allerton looked at his watch for the twentieth time.
“Midnight,” he announced. “I think we may risk it now.”
We were getting used to the trick of inflating our gas-jackets. In a few
moments each man was a miniature balloon, with wings ready to direct his
flight. We expanded the coverings of the chests until they floated
gently, and were about the same weight as the air itself. Then we
examined our electrites, to which we all attached fresh storage belts,
saw that guns and revolvers were loaded and in working order, and then
were prepared to undertake the most important phase of our adventure.
The moon was up again and the stars bright and gleaming. While we might
have preferred darkness, if allowed a choice, we were obliged to make
the best of a night that seemed alive and thrilling with heavenly
radiance. We could see what we were doing, anyway, and since we were
exploring an unknown country that fact was comforting to a degree.
Once more we looped ourselves together by means of the cord, and then at
Allerton’s command we turned on the gas until we began to float gently
upward.
Using our wings, which were becoming less awkward to us, we guided
ourselves toward the center of the mountain top. Within a quarter of an
hour we were poised directly over it.
And now, indeed, we not only recognized the truth of Chaka’s report,
derived from his father, but were filled with amazement at what we
beheld.
Within the walls of the great mountain lay a deep cup, or valley, the
surrounding peaks forming its bulwark or wall of defense, and
effectually shutting out the outside world. And in the valley, as it was
disclosed to our eyes under the moonlight, were trees, rivers and fields
of verdure and of grain.
But in a great circle following the oblong shape of the valley and
extending from the walls of the mountain a quarter of a mile or so
toward the center, was the city we had sought, brilliant with thousands
of electric lights. The buildings were constructed of white, highly
polished marble, not being flat or square as were the dwellings of Itza,
but having towers, gables, and minarets, and presenting many novel and
beautiful designs of architecture. The streets—both the circular ones
extending around the valley and the cross streets—were broad and smooth
as our American boulevards, and were lined with splendid shade trees.
It was an impressive sight from our bird’s-eye position, this handsome
city, and quaint enough to rank with any European town of ancient date.
But it was altogether more fantastic than even the Chinese towns I had
visited, and being built like a belt, following the outlines of the
enclosing mountain, it certainly presented a most unique appearance.
The City of the Tcha, with its central rural or country district, may be
roughly estimated at four miles in length and from three to three and
one-half miles wide, which proves what a big mountain Aota really was.
Allerton’s sharp eyes eagerly examined the place and he presently
whispered to us instructions to descend at a point as near to the
central portion of the valley as possible, in this way avoiding the
city.
We could not now hope to find the population asleep, seeing that the
twinkling lights were everywhere. Although a few buildings of one sort
or another were scattered here and there throughout the rural
district—otherwise the center of the valley—these would be easy to avoid
until we had landed and taken our bearings.
We did not hesitate long, but pressed the escape-valves and began to
descend. Pedro, whose mechanical understanding was sadly undeveloped,
made his usual blunder and nearly precipitated us to the ground in a
heap by dragging at the ropes; but Paul’s cleverness managed to save us
from injury, so that we all landed a bit abruptly but safely upon a
greensward, while Pedro got a severe bump that nearly drove the breath
from his body.
Instantly we removed the ropes and peered about us to discover where we
were. A low, white building, all unlighted, was a few yards away; we
were upon the broad and velvety lawn surrounding it. Near by ran a small
brook, spanned by artificial bridges of pretty design. There were flower
beds beyond the brook and a driveway or road circled to the end of the
nearest bridge. The air was delightfully cool, a hush lay upon the whole
country and the entire scene was peaceful and charming.
While we stood there taking our bearings I happened to turn toward the
low building, wondering for what purpose it was used, when I observed a
door open, and a file of men pour out in rapid succession. They
separated into two files, with the evident intention of surrounding us.
My cry of warning was scarcely necessary, for now we were all watching
these files. Tall, stalwart fellows they were, clothed in white togas
similar to the one the red-beard we had first seen wore. Circular
casques, fitting tightly to their heads, glittered brightly in the
moonlight and in their arms the Tcha carried spears with silver shafts
and heads of gold.
“Well, shall we fight, Paul?” I asked hurriedly, as I fingered my
electrite.
“No. Let us see first what their intentions are. We come here in peace.
If we declare war now we may ruin all our chances of trading for the
treasure we have journeyed so far to obtain.”
His tone was one of subdued excitement. We were all of us intensely
nervous and wrought up by this outcome of our extraordinary adventure.
Silently but with remarkable swiftness the Tcha surrounded us; then,
turning abruptly and with admirable military precision, they faced us
and advanced until they formed a close circle but a few paces distant.
For our part we made no move to escape nor to oppose them. With all the
dignity and assumed confidence we could muster we stood with folded
arms, silently regarding them.
The spears grounded on the grass with a slight thud. Every man became a
living statue. Then a young fellow stepped to the front and saluted.
His complexion was white and he wore a short red beard. This fairly
describes the entire company he commanded. The light was sufficient for
us to see them clearly, and to note the expression on their faces. It
was composed and calm. I have never seen people so alert and yet so
sedate and dignified as these ancient Tcha. In action they are
marvelously quick; in repose as motionless as if carved from stone.
Allerton advanced a pace and returned the young officer’s salute.
“If we intrude,” he said in the Maya language, “we offer our apologies.
We are travelers from the United States of America, come to examine this
unknown part of Yucatan. We claim from you and your people the same
hospitality we would show to you were you to visit our own country.”
The officer listened respectfully. When Allerton had concluded his
speech the other said, using the same language:
“I am instructed to furnish you lodgings for the night. Follow as I
lead.”
His voice was clear and distinct, his tone arbitrary, as if he
anticipated no opposition and would brook none. Yet the words seemed
fair enough, and in return Paul merely bowed his assent.
We were conducted to the building from whence the soldiers had issued,
the men forming a hollow square and escorting us while we marched in the
center. It looked to me very like a capture, but Paul whispered to us in
English not to resent anything at the present time.
Through the doors we were ushered into a big dark hall, where we stood
until suddenly a light flashed ahead of us and its rays disclosed
surroundings of a most magnificent character.
“Come!” commanded the officer, leading the way up the hall. We obeyed,
turned a bend in a corridor and found ourselves in a room about twenty
feet square.
“In the morning,” said the young Tcha, tersely, “I will again come to
you.”
He saluted once more, backed through the door and closed it behind him.
We heard a metallic sound, as if a heavy bar had fallen into place.
“Prisoners, sure enough!” exclaimed Archie.
“Never mind,” said Paul. “Isn’t it a gorgeous prison?”
It was, indeed. The walls and floor were of polished marble, but the
former were draped with splendid hangings and the latter spread with
thick, soft rugs. Couches covered with downy cushions—enough for us
all—stood here and there, and these were made of a metal that Allerton
declared to be solid gold. Save for an ornamental table of similar
material these couches were the only furniture of the room. In the
center of the ceiling glowed a curious flat-shaped electric lamp that
lighted the place fully, but without any disagreeable glare. I saw no
way to shut it off, but Joe discovered in a corner a cord which, when
gently pulled, drew a mask over the lamp and darkened the room. We
afterward discovered that this room was really plain and unprepossessing
when compared to even the humbler dwellings of this magnificent city,
but at the moment of our introduction to it we regarded its splendor
with awe.
There was one window, letting into a court. It had no glass panes but
was crossed and recrossed by heavy bars of a metal resembling bronze.
There was no way to remove these bars and, the door having been securely
fastened, we were forced to admit that we had been very securely jailed.
Later we learned that this building was reserved for a prison, or as
near such an institution as the Tcha required. It was called “The House
of Seclusion” where offenders were sent for punishment; but it was very
seldom used.
It was no use worrying. Here we were, at last, in the hidden city. Young
men require lots of sleep. I settled myself upon one of the gold framed
couches and was soon oblivious to every threatened danger.