The Search for the Silver City Part 21

Jake professed to have but little care how long the scar might remain on his face providing the wound healed, and they succeeded in escaping from the Chan Santa Cruz Indians.

"Nothing that can happen to us during the journey to Merida would be half as bad as to fall into their hands," he said with a shudder, "and what surprises me most is that I should have thought they were peaceably inclined."

"But that is exactly what they are until it comes to dealing with a white man," c.u.mmings replied. "You must remember all that the people--the natives I mean--have suffered since America was discovered.

The barbarous treatment they received from the Spaniards is told from father to son, and it is a portion of their religious training to work all the injury possible to the whites. Read of what the invaders did to satisfy their thirst for gold, and then you can no longer wonder why these people, the only ones who have kept their city free from the conqueror, are so implacable. Remember that Yucatan was once covered with populous cities, the ruins of which show even at this late date how magnificent they were, how splendid beyond comparison with the one we have seen, and you ask yourselves why these Indians do not rise and ma.s.sacre all of the hated color that can be found."

"But you also came hoping to take away their treasure," Neal said, smiling at c.u.mmings' vehemence.

"That is true, therefore I have no word of blame when they attempt to kill me; but, as a matter of course, I try to save my life even though I am to them nothing more than a common robber. In my own eyes, however, the case seems different. To procure such goods as I most desired, would probably be, by the aid of Poyor, to solve that which scholars have studied for so long in vain--the origin of the Aztecs and Toltecs, for I believe the Chan Santa Cruz belong to the latter race, and keep fresh all their histories and traditions."

"And now that you have failed it would be better to go home with us,"

Teddy said.

"This attempt has failed; but I shall try again and again until I succeed, providing we get out of this sc.r.a.pe alive, which is by no means certain, for we have a long and perilous journey before us."

"Which we are not likely to make unless Poyor comes back," Neal added grimly. "It surely seems as if he should be here by this time. I haven't heard the report of his rifle for a long while."

"Most likely we are too far away for the sound to reach us. We will wait half an hour longer, and then I will go back to see if anything has happened."

c.u.mmings had hardly ceased speaking before the Indian appeared in their midst, having come so softly that no one heard him until he stood before them.

"It is not a good watch you keep," he said to c.u.mmings, speaking in English.

"We cannot guard against such an approach as yours. Where are the enemy?"

"I left them at the edge of the forest. Knowing how we are armed they do not dare to follow very close; but when the sun rises a hundred will be at our heels."

"Shall we go on now, or will you rest awhile?"

"I am ready. We have no time to lose."

c.u.mmings rose to his feet, the others following his example, and the Indian started forward without delay.

"How far are we from the sea-sh.o.r.e?" c.u.mmings asked as the march began.

"More miles than we shall travel for many days. By sunrise every sentinel will know we are here, and it will be impossible to break through their lines."

"Then how are we to get home?" Teddy asked in alarm.

"He probably hopes to find some place where we can stay in hiding for awhile. In this section of the country there are many large caverns in which streams of water are invariably found, thus causing the belief that a subterranean river flows from the valley to the sea. If we stop at one of them until it is decided we have succeeded in escaping, you will not be able to take the steamer as intended."

"But we may have to stay two or three weeks."

"Better that than to be captured," c.u.mmings replied, and then he relapsed into silence.

During the next two hours the little party pressed steadily forward, making their way with difficulty through the tangled foliage, and then Neal was forced to ask for another halt.

"I must rest awhile," he said. "My feet are sore, and it seems impossible to take another step."

Poyor halted, was about to seat himself, and then, as if suddenly remembering something, he said:

"Wait here. I will soon be back."

The white members of the party were too tired even to talk. Throwing themselves upon the ground they enjoyed the luxury of rest, and, convinced there was no danger to be apprehended from the enemy until daylight, Neal and Teddy gave themselves up to the embrace of slumber.

An hour pa.s.sed before the apparently tireless Poyor returned, and he awakened the sleepers by saying:

"I have found that for which I sought. Come with me, and repose until labor will seem a pleasure."

"What is it? A cave?" Neal asked sleepily.

"More than that. An underground house where we can live in safety, unless the retreat should be discovered."

It was a great exertion to get into traveling trim; but all hands did it after a time, and Poyor led the way, although he had probably been there but once before, as if following a familiar path.

After about half an hour's rapid walking the Indian halted at an opening in the hillside hardly more than large enough for one to go through on his hands and knees, and motioned for the others to enter.

c.u.mmings led the way, and while he was doing so Teddy asked Poyor:

"Have you been here often before?"

"This is the first time."

"How could you see a small hole like that while it is so dark?"

"On the line of these caves the earth is always damp. When we halted last I could feel that we were on the underground water course, and it was only necessary to follow it up. Here we shall find both food and drink."

"I don't understand where the food comes in unless we are to live on bats," Neal said laughingly, as he in turn entered the aperture.

By the time Teddy was inside c.u.mmings had lighted a branch of what is mistakenly called fat wood, and, using this for a torch, it was possible to have a reasonably good view of the temporary home.

The boys found themselves standing in an enormous chamber, from which led several galleries or smaller rooms, lined with the same soft white stone seen in the buildings of the Silver City, and at the further end was a narrow stream rising apparently from the solid rock, crossing the cavern to the opposite side where it disappeared.

To describe the beauty of this marble chamber fas.h.i.+oned by nature would be impossible. Neal and Teddy had but just begun to realize its magnificence when they were startled by the whirring of wings and a clucking noise such as is made by a barn-yard fowl, and an instant later Poyor had knocked over with a piece of rock what looked very much like a chicken.

"It is a toh," c.u.mmings said, as he took the prize from the Indian. "At the city from which we came so unceremoniously these birds are kept as hens, and their eggs are most delicious."

"But how did this one happen to be in here, I wonder?" Teddy muttered.

"The species are found nowhere else but in the caverns. Probably there are several hundred here."

Before the torch had burned out the boys had time to examine the odd chicken. It was about as large as a bantam, had soft, silky plumage, and a tail composed of two feathers which were nothing more than stems up to the very tips, where were ta.s.sel-like appendages.

"Now if the enemy does not track us here we can live pretty comfortably for a few days; but I hope we shan't be obliged to stay any longer.

Poyor will destroy our trail as soon as it is light, and if they should come I fancy we can tire them out, for one man can hold this place against a hundred."

"I am going to drink my fill of that water," Jake said, as he groped his way toward the rear of the chamber. "It seems as if I hadn't had all I needed since we started on this trip."

"Be careful," c.u.mmings shouted quickly. "Don't venture near the stream until I get another torch."