THE PURSUIT.
During this night of discomforts the boys and Jake succeeded in gaining
more rest than one would have thought possible under the circumstances.
The temperature had fallen so much that, in comparison with the heat of
the day, it was positively cold; but by lying close together and
covering themselves with half a dozen enormous leaves from a vine which
encircled the rock, they managed to pass the long hours without positive
pain.
Whenever Neal, who awakened very often, opened his eyes he saw Cummings
and Poyor standing near at hand like statues, and the natural
supposition was that they did not seek repose even to the slight extent
of sitting down.
Once he called to the white man, proposing to do his share of the
watching; but the offer was positively declined.
"I could not rest even if I should lie down," he replied in a whisper.
"There are too many chances that the Chan Santa Cruz Indians may creep
upon us under cover of this mist, and both Poyor and myself are needed.
Sleep if you can, so that we may be prepared for a hard tramp
to-morrow."
As it proved, however, these excessive precautions were useless. The
rain continued to fall steadily and in great volume until daybreak, and
then all hands prepared for another tramp, for each one was so
completely drenched that a little water more or less could not make much
difference.
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 quantity: 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 Cummings 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 passed 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 Cummings 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 passing 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?" Cummings 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 Cummings 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 Cummings:
"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," Cummings 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,"
Cummings 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 Cummings 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 Cummings 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 Cummings nor Poyor feared a direct assault. In their opinion it
was only a question of holding the enemy in check, and to this alone did
they pay any attention.
Cummings 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."
This was poor consolation for a fellow who hoped his friend might see
some better way out of the difficulty, and Teddy settled back to watch
for an opportunity to discharge his weapon with effect; but feeling that
it was vain labor so far as the ultimate result was concerned.
During the forenoon, while every crevice in the rocks was running with
water, Poyor filled the canteens, and when this work was done he
insisted that Jake should continue to aid him in lowering the level
behind the line of rocks; but the engineer was, to use his own words,
"completely played out," and the necessary work was neglected until he
could gain a certain amount of rest, which, under the circumstances,
every other number of the party was willing to forego for a time.