"Do?" cried Jack. "I'm for complying."
"Jack, you are talking wildly," rebuked his father, sternly. "It is
death."
"But, Dad, don't you see? Now we need have no scruples about going
armed."
"I know, Jack," said his father, gravely. "But don't you realize that if
we go now, we go as prisoners, and not under the protection of a flag of
truce?"
"I hadn't thought of that," said Jack, and fell silent.
They looked at each other, but none spoke for the moment.
"Senor Hampton," said Michac, resolutely, "I shall not comply with the
Inca's command, though it be for the first time in my life I have failed
to do so, and have put myself in open defiance of our supreme authority.
Let him declare my life forfeit and place a price upon my head in the
hope of finding traitors among the fortress garrison to slay me. I care
not. I am concerned solely for the life of my friend, Prince Huaca. I do
not ask that you go voluntarily and endanger yourselves in the hope of
saving him, but I do appeal to you to help me save him in some manner.
You are wiser men than I, with many wonders and marvels at your command,
and----"
"Think you, Senor Michac," interrupted Don Ernesto, "that if we reply to
the Inca that we come as delegates from a great lord beyond the
mountains with many marvels at his command, and that we wish to have an
audience with him, but not as prisoners, he will give us safe conduct?"
Michac's worried expression lightened.
"And then----"
"Having obtained an audience," said Don Ernesto, "we shall seek to so
impress him with our power that he will be overawed and will either
surrender Prince Huaca or promise that his life be spared."
"It may be," said Michac.
"Let us make the attempt, Senor Hampton," appealed Don Ernesto. "We are
eight in number, capable all of us, armed with modern automatics. I
believe we can protect ourselves, and, perhaps, even effect a gallant
deed in the rescue of Prince Huaca."
"Remember, Dad," said Jack, "that Pizarro, with a handful of warriors,
overthrew a far mightier host than we will face. And in a less worthy
cause, besides."
Mr. Hampton looked at the three lads, at Jack and Bob and Frank. He
thought of the responsibility devolving upon him of looking after their
safety. Nevertheless, there was much truth in what the others urged. In
the automatics, they had weapons the like of which were unknown to the
Inca's people. In the marvels at their command, they had something with
which to dazzle the others and convince them of the white man's greater
power. Besides, there was Prince Huaca--a man who had endeared himself.
Mr. Hampton rubbed his eyes. Was he living in the twentieth century? He,
himself, matter of fact though he was, felt the influence of another age
upon him. He could see the boys had entirely yielded to that influence
and that Don Ernesto was slipping fast. He felt reckless. After all, as
Don Ernesto had said, it would be a gallant deed to rescue Prince Huaca.
And in the mood that was upon him, he felt as if the doing of a gallant
deed was all that counted.
"Very well, let us send a message to the Inca as you propose, Don
Ernesto."
"Hurray, Dad."
"That's the stuff, Mr. Hampton."
"Senor, it is fine to be a boy again, is it not so?" Don Ernesto clasped
his hand.
Michac was elated. The message was given the Incarial messenger, and he
was sent back to the palace. Then they sat down to await developments.
But not for long, as the boys recalled at once that they had not yet
succeeded in calling the monastery, and all adjourned to the
battlements.
Almost at once Jack succeeded in obtaining a reply. And when Brother
Gregorio's voice sounded in the receivers, he gave a cry of joy.
"Senor Jack, is it you? Tell me. How have you fared?"
"It's Brother Gregorio, fellows. Hurray," cried Jack, turning to the
circle about him.
"We've found it, Brother Gregorio," he replied, interrupting the other's
eager flood of questions. "We are in the Enchanted City. And it is not
in ruins, but inhabited. By the descendants of the Incas. Oh, a
marvellous story. But I have little time now for conversation. Do you
call Father Felipe at once, as Don Ernesto has much to tell him."
Father Felipe, fortunately, was close at hand, and he and Don Ernesto
soon were engaged in conversation. Rapidly and concisely, Don Ernesto
related the sequence of their adventures, and what they now proposed to
do. In conclusion, he asked Father Felipe to take minute note of the
directions for finding the Enchanted City, and to communicate at once
with his brother-in-law, the President of Chile. From Don Ernesto's
remarks, those listening could tell that Father Felipe was protesting
vehemently at the carrying out of the proposed visit to the Inca, and
urging them not to do so. But Don Ernesto did not weaken.
So long did the conversation continue, that before its conclusion a
messenger appeared on the roof to inform Michac that the Inca's
messenger had returned and awaited him below. Michac disappeared. When
he returned, Don Ernesto still was talking, and Michac addressed himself
to Mr. Hampton.
"The Inca will receive you as delegates from the Lord Beyond the
Mountains," he said. "You are to appear at once for audience."
"And does he give safe conduct?"
"So states the message, yet Senor----"
"What?" asked Mr. Hampton, noting his hesitation.
"I fear treachery from Cinto. Remember you were told by Prince Huaca
that he and you were to appear for audience today--when apparently you
would be safe--yet were then to be seized and slain. I repeat me, Senor,
of urging you to make this visit. It is not yet too late to withdraw."
Don Ernesto meantime had concluded his conversation with Father Felipe.
"Treachery or not, Senor Hampton," he said firmly, "I believe we should
make the attempt to save Prince Huaca. Honor demands it."
"Yes," said Mr. Hampton, firmly. "I too, have decided in favor of it. We
shall keep our eyes open and be on our guard."
"Dad," interrupted Jack, "remember what I said about the ring radio?
Well, I've got another idea. Let us give the Inca a present. That will
be only natural. Now the box containing the tube transformers is a
handsome piece of work, and will look impressive. Let us take it and the
batteries and present it to him, string up an aerial and tell him the
Lord Beyond the Mountains is so great he can speak and make his voice
heard, although he isn't present. Then we'll get the Inca to put on the
headphone and give him an earful from the battlement."
"But who will speak from the battlement, Jack?"
"I've thought of that, too, Dad. Of course the Inca understands this
archaic Spanish that the high nobles speak. One of us might stay behind
and spring Spanish on him. But I've got a better plan. Wouldn't it
impress him to tell him that our Lord Beyond the Mountains is so
powerful that he speaks all tongues, even that of the Incas--the most
isolated people in the world?"
Mr. Hampton nodded. Frank interrupted eagerly.
"You mean----"
"Yes, sir, I mean Michac," said Jack. "He isn't going with us. He can
stay here and act the part of the Lord Beyond the Mountains, and speak
to the Inca. Besides, that will be all the better. For he knows all
about conditions here and knows everybody by his first name. He can show
such familiarity with the Inca's affairs as to dumbfound the old boy. As
for the generator, a couple of these husky soldiers can turn the handles
and give him the juice. Now I know what you're going to say, Dad. You're
going to object that Michac won't know when the Inca puts on the
receivers, aren't you?"
Mr. Hampton nodded, smiling slightly, for Jack's enthusiasm amused and
warned him, and he could see his son had a plan already worked out.
"Suppose, too," he said, "that the Inca refuses to don the headphones?
What then?"
"If he doesn't," said Jack, "what's to prevent us from bluffing this
High Priest, Cinto, into putting them on? We can ask simply whether he
is afraid. That ought to floor him. He won't dare admit fear of
another's magic. For that matter, we can bluff the Inca into listening
by the same method.
"Anyway," Jack continued, "either of your objections can be met. We can
say that the Lord from Beyond the Mountains speaks from the sky, and ask
the Inca to come to that great platform before the Temple. Then we can
put up our set there, and from the battlements here, Michac can see just
who is listening on the 'phones, and when to speak."
"Jack, I believe you've got it," said his father, heartily. "Well, let's
go."
"Look here," said Bob, suddenly. "Michac can't see from where this set
is located. He can't get sight of the square at all. But I've got an
idea, too. Jack, you give him your field glasses, and explain them to
him. Then he can station a trusty man in the embrasure there, with the
glasses, and this man can make sure beyond possibility of a doubt, who
is listening-in and when, and just call the information to Michac."
The glasses were brought, a soldier instructed in their use, and two
others put at the generator. Then Michac escorted the party to the
fortress gate, and they set out across the square. Before resuming his
station on the battlements, Michac assembled two strong parties under
trusty petty officers, and stationed them at the main gate and at the
sally port at the foot of the Acropolis, reached by a stairway hewn from
the living rock. It was there the surprise attack had been delivered the
night before.
"Keep close watch," he commanded, "and if you see these strangers return
in haste, pursued by the Palace Guard, dash forth to their rescue. They
go to attempt the delivery of Prince Huaca."
That last statement, he new, would steel their arms, for the common
soldiers of the fortress adored Prince Huaca. Then he returned to the
battlements to await developments.
By that time he could see the party, led by the Inca's messenger,
marching two abreast, in step, with Pedro and Carlos in the rear,
bearing the radio outfit, reach the wide stone stairway sweeping up to
the Incarial palace, which adjoined the Temple on the left. He was torn
by conflicting emotions at the sight, hope that the marvels of the
strangers would accomplish the impossible, fear for the possible effects
of Cinto's treachery.
Steadily they marched up the steps, received at the head of the flight
by an armed guard in glittering armor, which closed about them. Fear
overcame hope in Michac's breast. Against those splendid armor-clad
warriors, how could his newfound friends hope for success. His heart
failed him. Had he been wise in permitting them to go? Were they not
going to certain death, in spite of fair promises?
"Oh, Huaca, Huaca, my friend and leader," he said to himself, in
momentary despair, "I shall never see you alive again. My poor country!"