AT BAY.
When the Indian had scraped the sand away to the solid rock, thereby
deepening the enclosure at least twelve inches, he ceased work, and,
seating himself by Cummings' side, prepared to do his share of the
watching.
By this time the assailants had become convinced that it was useless to
expose themselves to the murderous fire which could not be returned with
any possibility of injuring the white men, and they remained under
cover.
"I believe we might sneak away from them," Neal said, after looking
fifteen or twenty minutes at the ledge beneath which the enemy had taken
refuge, without seeing so much as a man's head. "They think we will
shoot them down, and might keep under cover while we were escaping."
"Then you believe they do not know what we are about?" Cummings asked
grimly.
"How can it be possible if no one comes out to reconnoiter?"
"Look down the valley."
Following with their eyes the direction of Cummings' outstretched finger
the boys saw a party of Indians far down the mountain side out of range,
traveling rapidly in the opposite direction.
"They are running away!" Teddy cried gleefully. "Our guns were too much
for them."
"Do you believe there are as many in that crowd as we saw coming up the
mountain?"
Teddy gazed again, and this time the look of joy and relief faded from
his face.
"No," he replied slowly, "only about half as many."
"And the remainder are under the ledge ready to come out at the first
good opportunity."
"But what are those fellows doing?"
"Going out of range where every movement we make can be seen without
risk of being shot at, and when the night comes they will circle around
us."
That this supposition was correct could be seen a few moments later when
the party halted in full view, and disposed of themselves in such places
as the bushes afforded any shade from the sun's hot rays.
"They are taking things mighty easy," Neal said after a long pause,
during which he watched the enemy intently.
"What is to prevent?" Cummings replied. "Time is of no especial object
to them providing we can be captured finally, and just now we are
situated very much like rats in a trap."
"I wonder what would be the result if one of us should show himself?"
Teddy said musingly.
"You shall soon see. Poyor, walk a short distance up the mountain, and
let the boys learn how well we are watched."
The Indian did as he was requested, and had hardly left the
fortification when those in the valley made a series of signals to the
men above, and instantly Cummings had another opportunity to empty his
weapon at a living target as several men sprang out from beneath the
ledge.
"Now you have some slight idea of what the result would be if we should
attempt to run away," he said while re-loading the gun.
"But what is to be gained by staying here if you are certain we shall be
surrounded? Wouldn't it be better to have the fight out when it is
possible to see what we are doing?"
"Yes, decidedly; but I prefer to wait longer. While there's life there's
hope, and before sunset something may happen to give us the advantage."
Poyor came back leisurely, and as he re-entered the circle of rocks
those in the valley settled down contentedly once more.
During this conversation Jake had been sleeping soundly; but now the sun
shone full upon him, and the heat was so great that he was forced to
change his position, saying as he did so:
"In a couple of hours more we shall be roasted to a turn."
"That isn't the worst that may befall us," Cummings replied, evidently
pleased at an opportunity to increase the engineer's fears.
"But it seems as if we might make a try for some game. I'm very nearly
starved."
"You are at liberty to do as you please, because it is not possible to
work us any further injury. According to your belief the Chan Santa Cruz
Indians are such peaceable fellows that they might allow you to hunt in
the valley awhile."
"What's the use of roughing into me now? I know I've made a fool of
myself twice; but I'm in the same hole with the rest."
"That doesn't make our situation any the more bearable, and when we
think how it was brought about it is only natural to feel sore. Even now
you insist on taking rest when the others are working."
"But I traveled steadily for twenty-four hours, and haven't had half as
much sleep as the remainder of the party."
"What about last night?"
Jake made no reply. He considered himself abused because Cummings
persisted in talking about what had been done, when he believed the
matter should be dropped after the fault was acknowledged.
Another hour passed. The sun was directly overhead, and the heat seemed
excessive. There was no longer any shadow cast by the rocks, and the
sand was so hot as to be painful to the touch.
"There is no reason why you boys should remain on guard," Cummings
finally said. "The Indians will not make a move before afternoon, and it
is equally certain we shall not get a chance to shoot at those under the
ledge."
"We may as well sit here, for no fellow could sleep in this oven," Teddy
replied; but Poyor showed what might be done, by lying down near the
front wall and closing his eyes.
At the end of two hours there was no further change in the condition of
affairs. Poyor continued to sleep, the boys and Cummings remained on
guard, and Jake sat leaning his head against the rocks while the
perspiration ran down his face in tiny streams.
Then, as on the previous evening, the clouds began to gather, and
Cummings said in a tone of satisfaction as he gazed toward the sky:
"There's evidently no danger that we shall suffer from thirst, for
another storm is coming up, and while it lasts we may see some chance of
giving those fellows the slip."
"But you didn't dare to travel last night when it was raining," Teddy
said.
"Very true; but that was at a time when we were not positive the enemy
were so near. Now they are close at our heels we shall be warranted in
running many risks which, twenty-four hours ago, would have been most
imprudent."
In a very short time the sun was hidden from view; a cooling wind blew
across the mountain, and every member of the sad visaged party
experienced a wonderful sense of relief.
Poyor arose to his feet like one refreshed, and Jake bestirred himself
sufficiently to propose that he relieve Neal or Teddy a short while.
"You can sleep now that the sun doesn't shine," he said, "and I promise
to keep strict watch."
After some hesitation Teddy accepted the offer while he paced to and fro
to rest his cramped and aching limbs, and Poyor consulted with Cummings
relative to an attempt at flight when the storm should come.
His idea was that they could not be any worse off by making one effort
to reach the summit of the range, even if the desired result was not
attained, and after considerable discussion the white man agreed to the
plan.
"It is barely possible that we may get on all right, and the situation
is so desperate that almost any change must be for the better," he said.
"We will wait half an hour or so, and then start if the enemy have made
no move meanwhile."
The threatened storm was not long delayed.
In less than an hour it was upon them in all its fury, and Cummings said
sharply as he pressed nearer the front of the fortification:
"Now we need all the eyes in the party. Keep a sharp watch, and fire at
the first moving thing you see."
On this occasion thunder and lightning accompanied the wind and rain,
and by the glare of the flashes it was possible to see as if at
noon-day.
Never before had the boys witnessed such a terrible tempest. The entire
heavens seemed ablaze at times, and the peals which echoed and re-echoed
from one point to another appeared to shake the mountain.
The wind was so powerful that even Poyor could not stand against it, and
Cummings said in a tone of deepest disappointment:
"Unless we choose to venture into the valley again flight is out of the
question. We must stay here and take what the Indians care to give us
when the storm clears away."
He had hardly ceased speaking when a flash of lightning nearly blinded
them; the earth shook most decidedly before the thunder peal came, and
then it was as if all nature was in convulsion.
The rocks forming the fortification were precipitated down the mountain;
the little party were hurled violently forward, and then intense
darkness and the most profound silence ensued.
Teddy reached out his hand to touch Neal; but the latter was not near
him.
"Neal! Neal!" he shouted again and again, and several moments elapsed
before he heard, as if far away, an answering cry.
"Where are you, Teddy?"
"Here, on the side of the hill. Come this way."
"I can't. I'm nearly buried in the sand."
From the direction of the voice Teddy knew his friend had been thrown
quite a distance down the hill, and he cried:
"Keep on shouting so I can find you."
"Don't move! Wait for another flash of lightning!"
It was Cummings who had spoken, and an instant later Jake was heard
begging for help.
[Illustration: The little party were hurled violently forward, and then
intense darkness ensued.]
"All the rocks of the fort must be on top of me. Will somebody help pull
them away."
The rain was yet falling in torrents: but the electrical disturbance had
ceased entirely.
That something terrible had occurred all knew; but what it was no one
could say.
When Jake implored some one to aid him the second time, Poyor cried:
"Let each remain motionless. I will find the engineer. The earth has
opened here, and I am on the brink of a chasm."
This order was obeyed, and the boys knew by the sound of the Indian's
voice that he was making his way toward Jake.
At the end of ten minutes he shouted:
"There has been no harm done here. We will come to you."
The boys spoke from time to time to guide him, regardless of the fact
that they might also be calling the enemy, and after what seemed to be a
very long while the party were re-united at the spot where Neal was, as
he had said, nearly buried in the sand.