IN THE CITY.
The boys and Jake were decidedly perplexed and not a little worried in
regard to the outline of work as given by Cummings. They failed to
understand how it could be to their advantage to go into the city if it
should be necessary to remain hidden all the time, or in what way they
would derive any benefit from the visit.
Although the leader of the party knew from the expression of their faces
that they were dissatisfied with the general outlook, he did not
volunteer any information, thinking, perhaps, that it was unnecessary to
do so since they were where it was impossible to withdraw from the
enterprise.
Neither Teddy nor Neal believed the party would be exposed to any
extraordinary danger. The only idea in their minds was as to whether it
would be possible for them to get out of the swamp in time to take the
next steamer which left Progresso for the United States, and both
believed it would be a great misfortune to miss the first opportunity of
reaching home.
"We can stand it for one week," Neal said in a whisper: "but what I am
afraid of is that it won't be possible to leave the city at the end of
that time," and Teddy replied in the same cautious tones:
"It is for us to see that such a contingency does not arise. Jake will
do as we say, and if Cummings refuses to leave at a date sufficiently
early for us to reach Progresso, we must force him to act as has been
promised."
"What shall we do in case he refuses?"
"We are three out of a party of five, and should be able to arrange
matters to our own liking."
Neal was perfectly contented with such a view of the case, and he felt
well satisfied that nothing could prevent them from doing as they
wished; but unfortunately, he failed to take into consideration the very
important fact that while it might be a simple matter to enter the city,
they could not be certain of leaving it at will.
"We can do as we please by standing firm to our determination of going
away in time to take passage on the steamer," he said; "therefore we'll
see the adventure through to that point, and if Cummings fails in his
purpose of bringing away a large amount of gold we will have had such an
experience as can be talked about when we get home."
As for Jake, a glimpse of the glistening walls of the city had literally
intoxicated him, and his one and only desire was to reach that point
where he could satisfy himself by the sense of touch as well as sight.
As the time drew near for the final move in the bold scheme Cummings
became greatly agitated. It was as if all the blood had left his face,
and his eyes were open wide and staring as he gazed into vacancy.
"Are you sick?" Teddy asked in alarm.
The young man shook his head.
"I suppose I'm acting like a fool; but can't prevent my nerves from
getting the best of me just at this time. After laboring two years for
one thing, and then being so near a successful completion of the work,
is enough to make any fellow excited."
Teddy was on the point of saying he fancied that fear of the ultimate
result might have some share in this alleged nervous attack; but,
fortunately, he checked himself in time, and turned to watch Poyor who
was hiding the boat beneath an ingeniously constructed screen of leaves.
Night came slowly; the twittering of the birds and the chattering of the
monkeys was hushed. Among the dense underbrush the darkness was
intense, yet the Indian remained motionless in a listening attitude.
Amid profound silence the moments passed until to the boys it seemed as
if it must have been midnight when Cummings whispered:
"It is time. Poyor shall lead the way, and I will bring up the rear."
Walking in single file, and keeping firm hold of each other's garments
lest they should be separated, the little party began the last stage of
the journey.
The Indian went forward as if familiar with all the surroundings, and
when half an hour had passed he halted only long enough to point ahead
where, through the foliage, could be seen the city, its buildings
gleaming ghostly white in the starlight.
The decisive moment had arrived.
If they should be seen by a single person the alarm would be given, for
the clothing as well as the skin of all the party, save Poyor, would
proclaim the fact that these newcomers belonged to the hated race, and
the end could not be long delayed.
Assuring himself that there was no one in sight, Poyor quickened his
pace, leading the way toward a small building on the outskirts of the
town, and ten minutes later, the strangers were inside the dwelling;
but although successful in the undertaking, were virtually prisoners.
The house was very small as compared with the majority of those seen by
the boys when they gazed from a distance, and had evidently been
unoccupied a long while.
The one room which comprised the entire lower floor was destitute of
anything in the way of furniture, and the sides, ceiling and floor were
formed of the same soft-looking white stone which appeared to be the
only building material in the city.
Poyor did not give his companions much time in which to inspect this
portion of the building. With an impatient gesture to the boys who were
gazing around them in evident disappointment, he led the way up a narrow
flight of stairs to a sort of attic hardly more than six feet high, and
with only two narrow slits in the wall to serve as windows.
Here five hammocks had been slung, and on one of them the Indian threw
himself without a word of rejoicing or comment upon the ease and safety
with which they had entered the city.
"Now what is to be done?" Neal asked as Cummings started toward the
stairway.
"I wish to bar the lower door, for it would be exceedingly inconvenient
if we should have callers."
"It strikes me that there will be very little chance to get gold if we
are to stay shut up here."
"That's just what has been puzzlin' me ever since I saw the place," Jake
added. "We're not even in the city, only on the edge, and so far as
seein' what's goin' on is concerned, the big tree in the swamp would
have been a better place."
"You may find that we are too near the heart of the town," Cummings
replied with a grimace. "To-morrow, after Poyor has looked around some,
we will decide on a plan. You had better go to sleep while there is a
chance, for no one can say when we may be obliged to beat a hasty
retreat."
The boys followed this advice for the simple reason that there was
nothing else to be done. Teddy had looked through the narrow slit in the
wall; but without being able to see anything of interest, and in this
city which may have been, and probably was standing when Columbus
discovered America, the three who had been literally thrown upon the
coast of Yucatan lay down to sleep.
Owing to the strangeness of their surroundings, and the knowledge of the
danger which threatened, no one gave himself up to very profound
slumber.
The silence was so perfect as to be almost oppressive, until half an
hour before sunrise, when a low strain of sweetest music arose on the
air, gradually swelling in volume, and finally ending in a wild burst
which caused Poyor to spring to his feet.
"What is the matter?" Teddy asked, and Cummings replied carelessly:
"Nothing in particular. That music is the summons to prayer, and now is
the time when the Indian can go through the streets with less danger of
being discovered."
In another instant Jake and the boys were at the apertures which served
as windows; but some time elapsed before they could see anything owing
to the gloom. Then, as day dissipated the darkness, they distinguished
throngs of white robed figures hurrying from every quarter toward some
common point, which was probably the temple with its dome of silver.
It was an odd sight to see so many people moving rapidly, but without
noise, while neither cart nor animal of any kind accompanied them. Here
and there were men carrying burdens on their backs by aid of a strap
passed around the forehead, and many women and children literally loaded
down with flowers.
"I don't see any great show of gold or silver," Teddy said, after gazing
at the scene some time in silence. "No one appears to wear anything like
jewelry."
"That may be because such metal is too common here," Jake replied. "What
bothers me is to make out why Cummings and the Indian are so afraid of
being discovered. These people don't look as if they'd kill a fly unless
he made a noise, an' that's what they seem to be scared of."
"Don't make a mistake," Cummings whispered, as he overheard the last
portion of the conversation. "If it was known that a white man had
succeeded in entering the city our lives would be taken within the next
hour."
"You may believe all that; but I'll hold to it that they're the most
peaceable lot I ever saw, until somethin' comes up to prove the
contrary," and Jake went toward the street door with Poyor, regardless
of whether he was seen by the passers-by or not until the Indian said
sharply:
"Go back; I do not wish to die."
"If you're frightened of course I'll get out of the way," Jake replied
half angrily; "but before we leave this town I'll show you how much
reason there is for being afraid."
"And in ten minutes from that time you will cease to live," Poyor
replied gravely, as he left the building, closing the door carefully
behind him.
"It will be well to remember what he has said," Cummings added sharply
as he approached the engineer to bar the door. "These people are
peaceable until the time comes when religion and all the traditions of
their race tell that a long remembered wrong should be avenged, and then
no class can be more implacable. I would not show my face outside of
this door for as much gold as can be found in Yucatan."
This remark silenced Jake, but he was by no means convinced of its
truthfulness, as could be told by his whispered remark to Neal:
"They know we will have a chance to lug off a pile of money, an' to
prevent us from wantin' too much, try to prove that we must stay out of
sight so's they can get the cream of the bargain."
"Don't do anything foolish," Teddy replied earnestly. "Cummings would
not have asked us to come with him unless there had been good reason for
wanting assistance, and it is not possible he has made any mistake
regarding the nature of the people."
Jake had nothing more to say; but it could readily be seen that he
believed his own ideas on the subject were correct, and at this moment
something occurred which demanded his entire attention.
Poyor had but just left the building, and a crowd was gathering in front
of the door, causing Cummings to say with every sign of fear:
"We shall soon have a chance of learning what these people will do in
event of finding a white man in the city, for it looks as if we were
discovered."