not have gone off."
"Beg pardon, sir," said John Manning, "I daresay we can get back the
seed in the morning: they'll keep the good things, and throw what they
think is rubbish away."
"No," said the colonel, speaking sternly, "the three bags in those
packages are gone. It is the main object of these men to keep the seed
from being taken out of the country. Where is the lantern, Manning?"
"Somewhere along with the packages, sir. I think we brought it in with
the second lot."
"You keep guard, while we search the cave. A sharp lookout, mind.--
Perry, come with me.--You stay with Manning, Cyril, till I return."
"Sharp lookout, sir!" growled the old soldier. "Who's to keep a sharp
lookout in the dark, and how's a man to guard the inside and outside
together?--Say, Master Cyril, we're in a pretty tidy hole here, and
it'll take all we know to get out of it again."
"Oh, we shall manage," said Cyril sharply; "but three packs gone.
That's terrible!"
"'Tis, sir, and they'd all got in what's of more consequence to us now
than seed--a whole bag each of rice and meal, without counting
delicacies in the shape o' pepper and mustard."
Just then there was the crackling of a match, followed by a faint glow,
and the lantern shed its light around, gleaming from the running water,
and showing dimly the mules standing in a group with their heads
together. Then as Cyril stood waiting and watchful, he saw the lantern
go on and on as if the colonel were zigzagging about to and fro, now
approaching the little stream, now going right away. Sometimes the
light passed beyond intervening rocks, and disappeared for a minute,
then came into sight again; but there was no sign of other occupant in
the great cave, whose extent was evidently vast.
"Don't see no more o' they bat birds buzzing about," said Manning
suddenly. "I hope they'll come back."
"Why?" said Cyril.
"Foodling," growled the old soldier. "We may have to stand a siege, and
it ain't bad to know you've got plenty of meat and water on the spot."
"What's that noise?" whispered Cyril.
"Some on 'em crawling about on the stones outside yonder. I heered 'em,
and if they don't keep off--I don't want to shoot no one, had enough of
it when I was out in Indy, sir; but duty's duty, and if they won't leave
us alone, they must be taught how. See anything o' the lantern now?"
"No; it has gone out of sight some time."
"Humph! I hope they won't go too far and lose theirselves, sir, because
they can't be spared. I knowed of a man losing himself in a stone
quarry once under ground, but they found him afterwards."
"Half-starved?" said Cyril eagerly.
"Quite, sir. It was a year after he went down. I don't like work under
ground. It's only fit for rats or worms. See the light now?"
"No: what's that?"
"Something moving inside, sir."
"The mules?"
"No, sir; their hoofs are not so soft as that. Sounds to me as if some
of 'em was going to make a rush, and we haven't a bay'net to bless
ourselves with. You fire, sir, at once before they come on."
Cyril did not hesitate, but without shouldering his piece, he drew
trigger with the result that they heard, mingled with the reverberations
of the report, a faint pattering noise as of retreating feet.
"Well done, sir. Reload quickly. They were going to rush us, and
that's taught 'em we were on the kwy wyve as the Frenchies call it."
"Keep a sharp lookout your way," said Cyril as he hurriedly reloaded,
his fingers trembling from his excitement.
"That's what I'm doing, sir, with my ears. I've been on sentry before
with different kind of Indians on the lookout to bring you down with
bullets. I shall hear 'em, I dessay."
"But look here, John Manning, we've stopped those men from coming, and
driven them back on the colonel."
"Yes, sir, and all the worse for them, for he's sure to hear them and be
on the lookout. Strikes me that the cave swarms with Indians, and that
our first job ought to be to clear the place. But look out, and don't
be in too great a hurry to shoot now, sir, because your shot 'll bring
our friends back to us. Perhaps it came in quite right, for they may
have lost their way."
Then some minutes passed, and a noise was heard which made Cyril lower
his gun again, but a voice warned him that he must not fire.
"Where are you?" cried the colonel.
"Here, sir."
"Thank goodness. We had an accident, fell over a stone, and put out the
light. This place is tremendous, and we should have hardly found our
way out of it, had it not been for your shot. Did you mean it as a
recall?"
Cyril explained, and the colonel came to the conclusion that it was
useless to explore farther, for there was room for a hundred of the
enemy to hide and elude them, so vast was the number of huge blocks
lying about, masses which had fallen from the roof during some
convulsion of nature.
"We must wait for daylight," he said at last. "It is impossible to make
any plans till then."
But all the same the colonel arranged his little force so that it might
tell to the best advantage; he and Perry securing themselves behind a
block of stone to guard from an attack within, while Cyril had to join
John Manning in guarding the entrance from an attack from outside, where
they had the satisfaction soon after of seeing one of the mountain peaks
appear, pale and ghastly looking, over the other side of the gorge,
while all below was intensely black.
Once they heard a peculiar cry which might have come from Indians or
some wild creature, quadruped or night-bird; but otherwise all was still
in the gorge, as they strained their eyes in their endeavours to pierce
the darkness in search of danger.
At last weariness began to tell upon Cyril, and his head nodded gently,
then went down so suddenly that he started up, angry, and in dread lest
Manning should have been aware of his lapse. For it was horrible at a
time like that, when perhaps the lives of all depended upon his
watchfulness.
"It was too dark, and he did not notice it," thought Cyril, with a glow
of satisfaction pervading his breast.
"Yes, it's hard work, as I well know, sir," said Manning quietly. "When
I was a soldier first, I used to think it killing work to keep on sentry
when one would have given anything to have a good sleep."
"You noticed it, then," said Cyril.
"Noticed it, my lad? why, of course. Seeing how dark it is, you might
have had a doze and me not known anything but there you were, very
quiet; but when you says to me, as plain as a young man can speak, `I'm
tired out, and my eyes won't keep open any longer,' why, of course, I
know you're off."
"But did I say that?"
"Not exactly, sir, but you said `gug,' and I heered your teeth chop
together when your chin went down upon your chest."
"Oh!" ejaculated Cyril bitterly, "and I did try so hard."
"Course you did, sir, but human nature's the nat'ralist thing there is,
and it will have its own way. I'd say have a snooze, but orders were
that you was to watch, and watch you must."
"Yes," said Cyril firmly, "and I will keep awake now."
He kept his word for fully ten minutes, and then his efforts were vain.
If the peril had been ten times greater, he would have dropped off all
the same; but he had not slept a minute before there was the sharp
report of a gun which came bellowing out of the cave's mouth, and the
boy started up once more as if it were he who had been shot; while from
close at hand there was a rush of feet, and John Manning fired at once
into the darkness, with the result that there was another rush from
Cyril's right.
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.
IN THE GORGE.
"Well," cried the colonel, as the echoing died away, "are they coming
on?"
"They were, sir, without us knowing it," said Cyril. "Your shot
frightened them, and then Manning fired and startled some more."
"The mules warned me," said the colonel, "as they did you, but a shot
sent the rascals back.--Hah! the light coming at last."
For the mountain peaks were beginning to glow, and the clouds which hung
round the highest showed tints that were quite crimson, while the light
was now slowly stealing down into the deep gorge, bringing with it
relief from the terrible anxiety of the night.
Then, as it grew brighter, it became evident that the Indians had drawn
off for a time, not a sign being visible of their presence anywhere in
the deep valley, while inside the cavern all was so still that it was
almost impossible to believe that any danger could be lurking there.
But the danger was ever present, and it was not until John Manning had
been posted well inside the cavern, ready to fire in the event of any
fresh advance, that preparations were made for a very necessary meal;
after which it became requisite to hold a council of war, when it was
decided that to stay where they were would be madness, and that nothing
remained for them but to show a bold front and push on at once.
Perry looked so dubious that his father smiled.
"Don't you see, my boy, how dependent we are upon the mules? Well, the
mules must be turned out to graze, and we shall be as safe journeying on
as posting ourselves to guard them. Besides, if we stop here, the
Indians will conclude that we are afraid to go on, and this will give
them courage; whereas, if we advance boldly, they will give us the
credit of being braver than we are."
"And if we shut ourselves up in that cave, how long will the provisions
hold, sir, if I may make so bold?" said John Manning.
"Quite right," said the colonel nodding. "Don't you know, Perry, that a
wise man once said that an army does not gallop along, but crawls upon
its stomach?"
"Crawls?" said Perry.
"You don't understand, boy. He meant that an army can only move as fast
as provisions can be supplied to it. That is our case. If we take the
risk of shutting ourselves up here--a dreary, depressing plan, by the
way--we can only hold out till our provisions come to an end. Better
far make a bold dash onward toward the other side of the mountains.
Every step we take will be toward civilisation and safety, while every
step the Indians take in pursuit will be toward land where they know
that they will be at a disadvantage. There, I do not see why I should
explain all this to you, but I want you to have confidence in me. And
you too, sir."
"Oh, I have, father," cried Perry.
"And I'm sure I have, sir," said Cyril warmly, "only I can't help
feeling that we shall be safer in the cavern than out there in the
narrow valley, where these people can shoot us down when they like."
"Of course you feel that, my lad," said the colonel, "but I am under the
impression that they will hesitate about shooting at us. I fancy that
they will strain every nerve to master us and capture all our stores, in
the full belief that we are taking out of the country valuables that
their traditions and the teachings of their rulers bind them to defend.
If they had liked, I feel convinced that some one of us, perhaps two,
would be wounded and helpless by now.--What do you say, John Manning?"
"Well, sir, I'm 'bout divided in my opinions. One time I think they
must be such bad shots, they're afraid to show it, and another I get
thinking that they've got an idea of your being an indefatigable sort of
a gentleman."
"Well, I am, John Manning," replied the colonel smiling; "and you know
it too."
"Course I do, sir, but that isn't what I mean, sir: 'tain't
indefatigable; it's a word that means something to do with armour, and
the more you shoot at any one, the more you won't hurt him."
"Invulnerable," said Cyril.
"That's it, sir," cried the old soldier, slapping his leg. "Lor', what
a fine thing it is to have been brought up a scholar."
"You are right, Manning. I impressed them, I suppose, by my shooting,
and they have evidently some idea of that kind in their ignorance.
We'll take advantage of it and start at once.--Very tired, boys?"
They were silent.
"Shall we start now, or try to get some rest, and then start at night?"
"Let's start now, sir," said Cyril firmly. "The darkness makes cowards
of us--I mean, makes one of me, for I'm always fancying dangers all
around."
"Are you ready, Perry?"
"Yes, father. Let's go at once."
"We will," said the colonel, "for I'm afraid that we should make very
poor progress after dark. In with you then, and let's load up the
mules; they must take a mouthful of grass wherever there is any as we
go."
The very thought of getting on chased away a great deal of the
weariness, and the little party were soon hard at work in the
semi-darkness, just inside the cave, fastening on the packs. Then all
mounted the riding mules, and without a moment's hesitation rode out,
the colonel with the leading mule turning up the gorge, which ran pretty
nearly due west and rising higher at every step, while John Manning and
the two lads formed the rearguard.
"Ten times better than being shut up there in the dark, my lads," said
the old soldier, sitting up erect in his saddle, with the butt of his
piece resting upon his thigh. "It's like being in the cavalry.--See any
of 'em, Master Cyril, sir?"
"No, not a soul in sight. Have they gone right away?"
John Manning chuckled.
"Just far enough to keep a sharp eye on us, sir. They're hiding
somewhere behind the stones."
But for the space of an hour, as they rode on in the shade of the early
morning, there was no sign of an enemy either to front or rear, and
inspirited by the crisp mountain air, the boys felt their spirits rise,
and were ready to banter John Manning about what they looked upon as his
mistake.
"Depend upon it," said Perry, "they drew right back to go and camp for
the day, and rest, before coming to attack us again."
"They were soon rested then, sir," said the old soldier drily, "for
there's two of 'em up yonder behind those pieces of rock."
"Where? Nonsense. Birds: condors, perhaps, on a shelf."
"Perhaps so, sir," said John Manning; "but they're birds that can make
signals, and your father sees them too." For just then the colonel drew
his mule aside, and let the rest pass on, while he waited for the
rearguard to come up.
"Be on the alert," he said as they came up; "the Indians are high above
us on the mountain-side, and they are making signs to others right up
the gorge. Close up."
Then going nearer to his old servant, he whispered:
"Keep a sharp eye up to right and left, and if they open the ball, jump
down, and don't hesitate about taking good aim at the first who tries to
stop us."
"Right, sir. But how do you think they will open the ball, sir?
Arrows?"
"No: as our old friends in the North-west did, John Manning. Ah, look,
they have begun."
"Yes, sir; I expected it," cried John Manning, as the mules all stopped
short, their leader having suddenly swerved aside to avoid a little
avalanche of stones and masses of rocks which came tearing down from far
on high, right across their course.
It began by the dislodging of one great mass, which was forced over from
a rocky shelf, and before this had rolled half-way, it had started
hundreds more, the attempt being so well contrived that the pieces of
rock, which came leaping and bounding down with a clashing sound like
thunder, would certainly have crushed one or more of the mules, but for
their quick appreciation of the danger.
Two sharp replies to this attack were given from the loaded pieces, and
the Indians disappeared; but when, after a great deal of coaxing, the
mules were got into motion once more, the colonel urging the leader
round beyond where the stones had fallen, the boys uttered a warning
cry, for another mass of rock was started from high up on the other
side, and with such good effect that the rush of stones it started
caught the tiny caravan half-way, and to the misery and despair of all,
one of the best mules lay with its pack half buried, and the poor
creature's head crushed almost flat.
This time the boys fired up at a single man perched fully twelve hundred
feet above the narrow bottom of the gorge, and he dropped out of sight,
while the colonel and John Manning leaped down again, and rapidly
removed the stones which impeded them in their efforts to loosen the
pack-ropes and remove the load to another mule.
This was a hindrance of a good half-hour, and the colonel looked very
stern as he gave the order to advance again, when they gained about a
mile, the gorge opening a little. Then the huge towering walls
contracted once more, and a black-looking prospect opened before them,
for there, so narrow that there was barely room for the mules to go
singly, was their way, through a black-looking rift, above which the
mountains on either side rose in shelves admirably adapted for the
enemy's defence, and promising so ill for the little party, that the
colonel hesitated for a minute while he used his glass. Then, as all
was still, no sign of an enemy visible, he gave the order to advance, in
the hope that the place was too precipitous for the Indians to occupy.
Vain hope! Ten minutes later the mule he rode lay quivering on the
ground; the colonel having the narrowest of narrow escapes from a
terrible death.
"Forward!" he said firmly, but as he spoke, another avalanche and
another came thundering down, and seeing the madness of attempting to
proceed, he gave the word to retreat.
It was needless, for the mules had already sprung round, and were
hurrying back at a rate that was faster than anything they had yet
shown.
There was no yell of triumph from on high, and no sign of enemy on
either hand as they rode back, face to face with the fact that exit from
the gorge in that direction was impossible, and that unless they could
find some side ravine leading in the direction they wished to pursue,
there was nothing for it but to retrace their steps right to the
cinchona cutters' camp, and from thence make their way home by the road
they came.
"It does seem so strange," said Perry, as they rode back; "they don't
pursue us, but let us ride quietly on. Are they satisfied with the
mischief they have done?"
Cyril made no answer, for he was watching the colonel, where he rode by
himself, grave and stern, impressed as he was by the feeling that all
his efforts would be brought to nought, if he could not devise some
means of reaching San Geronimo. At that moment it looked hopeless, and
as if he would be thwarted at every step, for though the enemy were
invisible, he had had bitter experience of the fact that their knowledge
of the mountain paths placed them at a tremendous advantage, and he felt
that in all probability they were even then where they could watch every
movement, and had perhaps got well ahead, ready to stop them by another
attack upon the mules.
It was past mid-day now, and the hope of getting well onward toward
safety was completely crushed; the sun was now shining fiercely down
into the gorge, heating the rocks so, that the reflection was almost
worse than the scorching rays from above. The mules were panting and
thirsty, and the exertions of the day, coming upon such a broken night,
were telling terribly upon all, so that reluctantly, and as their only
resource, the colonel allowed the old leading mule to make straight for
the stream which came gurgling out of the cave they had left that
morning. Here, to the surprise of all, the intelligent beast, instead
of stooping to drink at once, stepped carefully among the stones right
into the cool shade within, the rest following, and five minutes later
Perry and Cyril were seated inside upon one of the packs.
"And all that day's work thrown away," said Cyril sadly.
"And two mules dead," whispered Perry, so that his father should not
hear.
"But we saved their loads," replied Cyril.
"What for?" said Perry, in the same low voice. "It's of no use: we
shall never get away alive."
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.
READY FOR THE WORST.
Nature must be satisfied at whatever cost, and, as soon as possible, the
provisions were unpacked, while a fire, which had been lit with the
scraps of wood collected as they returned, burned brightly, the smoke
drawing farther into the cavern, and being rapidly dispersed. Then, as
soon as the kettle, suspended by an iron rod over the flames, began to
boil, a very small handful of tea was thrown in, and the tin lifted off
and laid aside.
Only some very wooden cake bread, and some very dry tough beef, with a
strong flavour of being imperfectly sun-cured; but how delicious it was
when washed down by the warm, unsweetened, milkless tea!
They sat on the stones a little way inside the entrance, where the cool
dampness of the cave was relieved by the soft, warm, sunny air which
floated in from the gorge; and a sharp lookout was kept for the Indians,
but not a sign betrayed their presence. A short exploration of the
interior, too, was made, but there was not a sound to be heard, save an
impatient stamp or two from the mules; and, concluding that the enemy
had all left the place, the colonel returned to where he had left the
boys on guard, but only to find them both fast asleep, and John Manning
walking up and down slowly by the stream, with his gun over his
shoulder.
"Don't wake 'em, sir," said the man appealingly: "they tried very hard
to hold up, but it warn't to be done; and if I hadn't got up and taken
to marching here on sentry-go, I should have been fast asleep too."
"Poor fellows," said the colonel sadly, "it was too much to expect after
what they have gone through. There, lie down for a couple of hours, and
then I'll wake you to relieve me."
"Begging your pardon, sir, if you'd take first turn," began the old
soldier, but he was cut short directly by a sharp gesture, and, without
a word, he lay down with his piece in his hand, and was asleep directly.
The colonel took his place, and then began to walk slowly to and fro,
now right out where the sinking sun glistened upon the surface of the
stream, now back inward, with the walk growing darker, till it was quite
black.
And as he marched to and fro, the colonel reflected upon the
hopelessness of their position. As he approached the open sunshine, he
felt lighter-hearted; but as he turned and walked inward toward the cold
and darkness, his spirits sank once more, and he saw no way out of their
difficulties save the giving up of that for which he had come all those
many thousand miles. Then he stopped short, for Cyril had suddenly
sprung to his feet, looking horribly guilty and ashamed.
"I am so sorry, sir," he faltered. "I did not mean to go to sleep."
"You could not help it, my lad," said the colonel, laying his hand upon
the boy's shoulder. "You had reached the limit of human endurance.
But, Cyril, my lad, you are being sharply punished for your mad
escapade."
"Yes, sir," said the boy sadly, "and I suppose I deserve it. I should
mind all this much less if we had arranged with my father that I should
come."
"Well done, young philosopher," said the colonel, as he kept his hand on
the lad's shoulder, and marched him to and fro. "Come, as you can think
so well, give me your advice. You know why I have come--to obtain this
seed to place in the hands of those who will cultivate it, and make the
world independent of the one source of supply."
"Yes, sir," said Cyril wonderingly.
"And you see the position to which I am reduced."
"Yes, sir. Will the Indians kill us?"
"Not without paying dearly for it," said the colonel sternly. Then
changing his manner: "No, my lad. These people are only half-savage,
and look upon what they are doing as a duty. I do not think they will
kill us if they can get possession of all our baggage. They might keep
us in captivity until means are taken to free us; but I don't know--I
hardly feel that our lives are safe."
"Not very, sir," said Cyril grimly, "if they rolled big stones. It
might have been us instead of the mules this morning."
"Yes, we have had some narrow escapes; but what shall I do now--give up
and own that I am beaten?"
"And let them have the kina seed, sir? No, that I wouldn't; I'd fight
for it first," cried Cyril excitedly.
"Do you know what you are talking about?" said the colonel excitedly.
"Yes, sir," cried Cyril, "I was very much down a while ago; but I've had
something to eat now, and a sleep and--What! give up to a pack of
savages, and let them rob you of all we have worked so hard to get?
That I wouldn't while there was a charge of powder left."
"Humph!" ejaculated the colonel, looking at the boy searchingly.
"That's what my father would say if he were here. I wish he were."
"To thrash you for leaving home in that cowardly way?"