Jack laughed with the others, but, sobering, said:
"I'd like to, Frank. But don't you think it would be rather mean to
frighten our friends?"
Mr. Hampton interrupted quickly.
"The thought does you credit, Jack. But there is something else to
consider. I really believe Frank's plan for aweing the Inca and his
Council a good one. This is a matter of life and death. If the plan is
to succeed it must be capable of thoroughly frightening these people and
convincing them of our magical powers. And, as Michac and his escort are
the same sort of people on whom our tricks would have to be tried in
earnest, it is well to give a dress rehearsal, so to speak, and see what
our luck will be."
"Here they come," said Frank, looking out the door.
"Very well," said Mr. Hampton, rapidly. "Pedro, Carlos, when I make
mysterious signs and order you to remove your eye and teeth, do you do
so as if unwillingly, but under compulsion. If you can grimace and
pretend it pains you, so much the better. Ready. Here they are."
As Michac appeared in the doorway, Mr. Hampton faced Don Ernesto, Pedro
and Carlos, who stood shoulder to shoulder. He acted as if the young
noble and the half dozen soldiers behind him had not been seen. Waving
his hands like a mesmerist, in the faces of the trio, he began reciting
a rigmarole of whatever words came into his head.
The three controlled their features with commendable gravity, and,
indeed, acted as if in fear of Mr. Hampton. Michac paused in
astonishment. The soldiers betrayed mingled alarm and curiosity. As for
the jailer, he moaned and cowered against the wall. The boys had all
they could do to keep from laughing. Then Mr. Hampton made an especially
fierce gesture toward Pedro.
"Hocus pocus, abracadabra, pluck out thine eye," he commanded, in
Spanish.
Pedro grimaced as if in pain, brushed his hand across his right eye and
brought it away with the glass eyeball in his fingers. He held it out to
Mr. Hampton.
The jailer, whose curiosity got the better of prudence, had withdrawn
his hands from his eyes. Now he emitted another piercing shriek and once
more cowered down, too stricken to move. The soldiers pushed back
against each other, making little sounds of fear. Michac held his
ground, but he became pale.
"Pull out thy teeth and palate," commanded Mr. Hampton, ferociously,
making a pass with his hands before Carlos.
Out came the false teeth, with the palate of red gum, looking like the
roof of his mouth. He opened his mouth wide, exposing the toothless
gums.
It was too much for the jailer. He had had enough. He turned and dashed
wildly through the group of soldiers, and down the corridor.
"After him, after him, he'll turn the fortress topsy turvy," cried the
quick-witted Jack.
Frank, who was nearest the door, was off like a shot. Nobody attempted
to halt him. And he was fortunate enough to come upon the jailer within
a few yards, for the latter in his blind haste had stumbled and fallen.
The soldiers were on the verge of panic. Michac, too, was shaken, but
held his ground, either out of a fascinated curiosity to see what would
occur next, or else in the feeling that he must set an example to his
men.
"Now, take this knife and scalp thyself," Mr. Hampton commanded Don
Ernesto, extending his pocket knife.
The latter screwed up his face as if in agony, ran the knife blade
seemingly around his head, then with a tug lifted off his toupee,
revealing his hairless dome.
It was too much. The soldiers fell over each other trying to get away.
There were shrieks and cries, as they darted off with tossing torches.
"Quick," cried Mr. Hampton, seizing Michac's arm urgently. "Command them
to return. 'Tis but a trick."
But Michac, although he had resolutely held his ground and refused to
flee, was helpless. He was so stupefied that he could not move. He could
not even speak. He opened his mouth, but no sound came forth.
"Well, I guess they won't do any harm," said Mr. Hampton. "Let them go.
Jack, get this chap a drink of water from the table."
Michac accepted the cup gratefully, and put it to his lips, but his hand
shook so badly that he spilled most of the contents.
"There, you will feel better," said Mr. Hampton. "Now, Senor permit me
to explain."
Leading Michac to a couch, he explained as simply as he could how modern
surgical science made false teeth and eyes possible, while the toupee
was the outgrowth of a demand of fashion. Then he bade the others
restore their original appearance, and they complied. In conclusion, Mr.
Hampton explained Frank's idea that they proceed to the Incarial
Council, demand Prince Huaca's release on pain of incurring the white
man's vengeance, and then proceed to demonstrate their "magic."
"Do you consider it would succeed?" he asked.
Michac, a young man of intelligence and sense, grasped Mr. Hampton's
explanation quickly, and his fear disappeared. He smiled broadly and
delightedly.
"Succeed, Senor? You will make Cinto and his priests die of envy. No
such miracles can they perform."
"Yes, but think you we can obtain Prince Huaca's release?"
"Nay, I cannot say. They will be frightened, yes. Was not I? And I am a
man not easily scared. Yet Prince Huaca is bitterly hated by Cinto and
the Council. Not willingly will they give him up. I will be frank with
you. I would like the attempt made. Yet if you fail, it is death. Have
you no other magic greater than these?"
They looked at each other nonplussed. Suddenly Jack's face brightened.
"The radio outfit, Dad. Surely we can do something with that."
Mr. Hampton nodded quickly,
"Good, Jack, good. There must be a way to use it effectively."
Michac, who had not understood the rapid interchange of remarks, looked
inquiringly at Mr. Hampton.
"Will you come with us to the battlement, Senor?" Mr. Hampton said,
slowly, in Spanish. "Prince Huaca knows of further and greater magic,
and left sentries on guard there last night over it."
"I heard a strange tale from those men," said Michac. "For, yes, I found
them there upon my inspection of the fortress during the night.
Willingly will I accompany you."
Jack interposed.
"But first, Dad, perhaps Michac ought to round up his escort and prevent
them from demoralizing the fortress troops with wild tales of what
occurred here."
"Right," said Mr. Hampton, and turning to the young nobleman, he
communicated Jack's suggestion. The other nodded.
"Await me."
When he had left, the boys began to laugh over their recent experience,
but Mr. Hampton and Don Ernesto were thoughtful. They looked at each
other understanding and spoke together, low-voiced. Then Mr. Hampton
turned to the lads.
"We're afraid it can't be done," he said. "It was good fun, and all
that. But the chances of failure are too great to warrant us in
imperiling our lives. It is true, we might go to the Inca as a
delegation under a flag of truce, but we have no guarantee its sanctity
would be regarded."
"Oh, Dad, everybody regards the sanctity of a flag of truce."
Jack's tone was disappointed.
But Mr. Hampton shook his head.
"I'm afraid the risk is too great."
"Look here, Dad, I've got an idea. You know my ring radio set? I've got
it with me. We can take that along with us to the audience. Then we'll
tell the Inca that the white man's god wants to speak to him, clap the
ring on his finger, adjust the headphone for him, and, from our station
on top of the fortress, order him to release Prince Huaca and punish the
conspirators against him. Now don't say it can't be done, Dad, for it
can, and you know it can. We've got plenty of wire, and can run up all
the aerial necessary in a trice, stand the Inca on one of those gold
flagstones in his palace and give him what he asks for."
Mr. Hampton laughed.
"Not so bad, Jack, but----"
"Besides, Mr. Hampton," interposed Frank, "remember we have our
pistols--and automatics are something these people aren't accustomed to.
That is another marvel."
"But we couldn't take those along under a flag of truce."
"Why not?" asked Don Ernesto. "They would know nothing about them. The
weapons could be tucked away out of sight. And, although to carry them
would seem a breach of faith, yet if we would save Prince Huaca, the end
justifies the means, it seems to me."
At that moment Michac returned.
"Ask him about a flag of truce, Dad, whether the Incarial forces would
respect it?" suggested Jack.
Mr. Hampton did as proposed. Michac straightened proudly.
"It would be respected," he said.
"Then, Dad, your major objection of the danger to us is overborne."
"Yes, I see. But about the pistols, I don't know."
Mr. Hampton shook his head. Then he had an inspiration. Taking out his
pistol, he held it up for Michac to view.
"Do you know what this is?" he asked.
Michac regarded it curiously. He confessed ignorance. Then, on second
thought, he added:
"It is strange. Yet it looks like a tiny gun such as children might make
were they expert gunsmiths. Is it a toy?"
"The deadliest known to man," said Mr. Hampton. And he explained.
"Would we be deprived of these if we went to the Inca's palace?"
"Nay, I doubt it."
"Then we can take them," said Don Ernesto, who had been listening
closely. "That is good."
"But, under a flag of truce----"
"My friend," said Don Ernesto, "you are quixotic. We risk our lives in a
quixotic venture, as it is, if we go to attempt to obtain Prince Huaca's
release. At least let us take advantage of this fortunate circumstance
that pistols are unknown here and carry our weapons as protection
against treachery. For, though Senor Michac says a flag of truce will be
respected, you must remember we are dealing with the High Priest Cinto
and his nephew, not with the Inca, and they already have tried to
assassinate Prince Huaca and then carried him off captive. Though why,"
he added, "he was not assassinated this second time, but merely made
prisoner, I cannot see."
"Perhaps they thought better of it," said Mr. Hampton. "What think you,
Senor?" he added, addressing Michac.
"Nay, I do not know. The plans of this Cinto are beyond my
understanding. Yet it may be he repented of having directed
assassination and when his spies within the fortress reported failure of
the plan, he was glad. For Prince Huaca is beloved of the people, and
there might have been an uprising; whereas, if he be but prisoner, men
will not so willingly put their lives in danger. An it may be, too," he
added, as an afterthought, "that the man captured by you on the
battlement was not sent to slay but to aid in the capture of Prince
Huaca. It may be that the story he told of being sent to slay was false,
and was told the prince in order to cloak the real design. For the man,
as it has been proven, had little to fear. He was released from his
fetters by traitors within the fortress, and escaped during the night,
probably with those who carried off the prince."
Mr. Hampton shook his head. "Palace politics are beyond me," he said.
"Evidently this Cinto is a thorough-going scoundrel. But, to return to
the matter of whether we go before the Inca with our pistols
concealed----"
He was interrupted by the appearance of a soldier at the door, evidently
in great haste.
The latter saluted Michac, and the latter gave him permission to speak.
Then Michac turned to the others gravely, and interrupted.
"The Inca has sent a messenger, calling upon me to surrender you to him
at once, as you are Incarial prisoners. What shall I do?"