Real Gold Part 21

"Ah, that's what I want to find out. He puzzles me. He's thinking about something, and I shouldn't wonder if he has taken it into his head that your father has come up here to look for the Incas' treasures."

"Pooh! Why should he think that?" returned Perry.

"Because these Indian chaps are horribly suspicious as well as superst.i.tious. They would think it a horrible sin to touch the gold if there is any; and if it is found, they would be ready to defend it."

"What with? Bows and arrows?" cried Perry, laughing.

"Yes, and blowpipes."

"Why don't you introduce pop-guns as well?"

"Because they are toys," said Cyril seriously, "and blowpipes are not.

Don't you know the tiny darts they send out are poisoned, and that one will kill anything it hits?"

"Is that true?" said Perry, whose eyes dilated at the idea.

"Quite true. I saw a man kill several birds with the darts. They died almost directly they were struck, and I have been told by father that he has seen small animals die in a few minutes after being scratched."

"But do you think--Oh, what nonsense! You have got your head crammed with that idea about the gold."

"Perhaps so," said Cyril thoughtfully, "and maybe I'm wrong. But I don't like to see old Diego turn so gruff and distant, and it seemed strange for him to go and talk for a long time with the Indians in charge of the llamas. I saw them look very strangely and suspiciously at your father afterwards."

"Those Indians? Why, what could it be to them? Ah, the Peruvian Indians are said to be joined together to protect everything belonging to the old days when they were a great nation, and keep it for the time when the Incas come back to rule over them again."

"Say, Master Perry," said John Manning in a low voice, "your eyes are younger than mine. Just cast 'em along the rock path we come to-day."

"Yes, what for?"

"Are you looking straight along, sir?"

"Yes."

"Well, what do you see?"

"Nothing at all."

"Try again, sir."

Both Perry and Cyril looked along the path, tracing it faintly in the coming night for some distance along, beyond where the great fall came thundering down.

"I can't see anything," said Perry.

"Nor I," said Cyril. "Yes, I can. There's something that looks like shadows moving."

"Steady, sir; don't seem as if you were noticing it, but notice it all the same. It struck me as strange ten minutes ago, but I thought it was fancy. But you see it, sir, and it must be right. Now then, sir, what do you make that to be?"

"Indians," said Cyril promptly.

"That's right, sir--what I thought; and they're watching us, and after no good."

"What! Do you think they are hanging round the camp to try to steal?"

"Don't know, sir," said John Manning gruffly. "I hope that's the worst."

CHAPTER TEN.

JOHN MANNING THINKS.

John Manning's curious remark sent a thrill through Cyril, and, trying hard not to appear as if watching, he strained his eyes in the direction indicated, but the gloom had increased, and neither he nor Perry could make out anything more.

"What do you mean by 'you hope that's the worst?'" said Perry.

"Well, sir, I hardly know how to tell you."

"Speak out," said Cyril rather huskily. "If you think there's danger, tell us, so that we can tell the colonel, and put him on his guard."

"Well, young gents, I did give him a hint once, but he nearly jumped down my throat," said John Manning.

"What!" cried the boys in a breath.

"Well, sir, that's what you clever folk call methy-physical. I told him I didn't think the Indians was to be trusted, and that I fancied they were keeping an eye upon everything he did, and he insulted me, sir."

"Nonsense, John," said Perry. "My father wouldn't insult you."

"O' course you stick up for your dad, Master Perry, as is quite right natural, and your duty to. But I put it to you, Master Cyril: he's a soldier, and I'm a soldier, and if one soldier calls another a stoopid old woman, with no more pluck than a quill pen, isn't that an insult?"

"But Colonel Campion did not mean it, I'm sure," said Cyril impatiently.

"Now then, don't waste time. What is it you think?"

"Well, sir, I think our Indians said something to those Indians who were with the llamas, and three or four turned back and followed after us."

"Are you sure?" said Cyril anxiously.

"Well, sir, I'm sure I saw some of them dodging us and following. I wasn't very sure at first, for I thought p'raps the colonel was right, and I was a bit of an old woman growing scared at shadows; but I feel pretty sure now."

"But why should they follow us?" asked Cyril tentatively. "You have some idea in your head."

"Well, sir, I have; and whether it's right or wrong I can't say, but it seems to me as these people are all in league together, and they don't want anybody to come up in the mountains. They want to know what we're about."

"But don't you fancy that, because it is what you have been thinking, John," said Perry. "You have been wonderfully anxious to know where we were going, and what for."

"That's a true word, sir," replied the man, "but I think they want to know too. It seems to me they're afraid we want to take something out of their country."

"Nonsense," said Perry.

"Nonsense!" said Cyril sharply. "He's right, Perry. It's just what I told you, and--"