by James Otis
CHAPTER XIII.
IN THE CITY.
The boys and Jake were decidedly perplexed and not a little worried inregard to the outline of work as given by Cummings. They failed tounderstand how it could be to their advantage to go into the city if itshould be necessary to remain hidden all the time, or in what way theywould derive any benefit from the visit.
Although the leader of the party knew from the expression of their facesthat they were dissatisfied with the general outlook, he did notvolunteer any information, thinking, perhaps, that it was unnecessary todo so since they were where it was impossible to withdraw from theenterprise.
Neither Teddy nor Neal believed the party would be exposed to anyextraordinary danger. The only idea in their minds was as to whether itwould be possible for them to get out of the swamp in time to take thenext steamer which left Progresso for the United States, and bothbelieved it would be a great misfortune to miss the first opportunity ofreaching home.
"We can stand it for one week," Neal said in a whisper: "but what I amafraid of is that it won't be possible to leave the city at the end ofthat time," and Teddy replied in the same cautious tones:
"It is for us to see that such a contingency does not arise. Jake willdo as we say, and if Cummings refuses to leave at a date sufficientlyearly for us to reach Progresso, we must force him to act as has beenpromised."
"What shall we do in case he refuses?"
"We are three out of a party of five, and should be able to arrangematters to our own liking."
Neal was perfectly contented with such a view of the case, and he feltwell satisfied that nothing could prevent them from doing as theywished; but unfortunately, he failed to take into consideration the veryimportant fact that while it might be a simple matter to enter the city,they could not be certain of leaving it at will.
"We can do as we please by standing firm to our determination of goingaway in time to take passage on the steamer," he said; "therefore we'llsee the adventure through to that point, and if Cummings fails in hispurpose of bringing away a large amount of gold we will have had such anexperience as can be talked about when we get home."
As for Jake, a glimpse of the glistening walls of the city had literallyintoxicated him, and his one and only desire was to reach that pointwhere he could satisfy himself by the sense of touch as well as sight.
As the time drew near for the final move in the bold scheme Cummingsbecame greatly agitated. It was as if all the blood had left his face,and his eyes were open wide and staring as he gazed into vacancy.
"Are you sick?" Teddy asked in alarm.
The young man shook his head.
"I suppose I'm acting like a fool; but can't prevent my nerves fromgetting the best of me just at this time. After laboring two years forone thing, and then being so near a successful completion of the work,is enough to make any fellow excited."
Teddy was on the point of saying he fancied that fear of the ultimateresult might have some share in this alleged nervous attack; but,fortunately, he checked himself in time, and turned to watch Poyor whowas hiding the boat beneath an ingeniously constructed screen of leaves.
Night came slowly; the twittering of the birds and the chattering of themonkeys was hushed. Among the dense underbrush the darkness wasintense, yet the Indian remained motionless in a listening attitude.
Amid profound silence the moments passed until to the boys it seemed asif it must have been midnight when Cummings whispered:
"It is time. Poyor shall lead the way, and I will bring up the rear."
Walking in single file, and keeping firm hold of each other's garmentslest they should be separated, the little party began the last stage ofthe journey.
The Indian went forward as if familiar with all the surroundings, andwhen half an hour had passed he halted only long enough to point aheadwhere, through the foliage, could be seen the city, its buildingsgleaming ghostly white in the starlight.
The decisive moment had arrived.
If they should be seen by a single person the alarm would be given, forthe clothing as well as the skin of all the party, save Poyor, wouldproclaim the fact that these newcomers belonged to the hated race, andthe end could not be long delayed.
Assuring himself that there was no one in sight, Poyor quickened hispace, leading the way toward a small building on the outskirts of thetown, and ten minutes later, the strangers were inside the dwelling;but although successful in the undertaking, were virtually prisoners.
The house was very small as compared with the majority of those seen bythe boys when they gazed from a distance, and had evidently beenunoccupied a long while.
The one room which comprised the entire lower floor was destitute ofanything in the way of furniture, and the sides, ceiling and floor wereformed of the same soft-looking white stone which appeared to be theonly building material in the city.
Poyor did not give his companions much time in which to inspect thisportion of the building. With an impatient gesture to the boys who weregazing around them in evident disappointment, he led the way up a narrowflight of stairs to a sort of attic hardly more than six feet high, andwith only two narrow slits in the wall to serve as windows.
Here five hammocks had been slung, and on one of them the Indian threwhimself without a word of rejoicing or comment upon the ease and safetywith which they had entered the city.
"Now what is to be done?" Neal asked as Cummings started toward thestairway.
"I wish to bar the lower door, for it would be exceedingly inconvenientif we should have callers."
"It strikes me that there will be very little chance to get gold if weare to stay shut up here."
"That's just what has been puzzlin' me ever since I saw the place," Jakeadded. "We're not even in the city, only on the edge, and so far asseein' what's goin' on is concerned, the big tree in the swamp wouldhave been a better place."
"You may find that we are too near the heart of the town," Cummingsreplied with a grimace. "To-morrow, after Poyor has looked around some,we will decide on a plan. You had better go to sleep while there is achance, for no one can say when we may be obliged to beat a hastyretreat."
The boys followed this advice for the simple reason that there wasnothing else to be done. Teddy had looked through the narrow slit in thewall; but without being able to see anything of interest, and in thiscity which may have been, and probably was standing when Columbusdiscovered America, the three who had been literally thrown upon thecoast of Yucatan lay down to sleep.
Owing to the strangeness of their surroundings, and the knowledge of thedanger which threatened, no one gave himself up to very profoundslumber.
The silence was so perfect as to be almost oppressive, until half anhour before sunrise, when a low strain of sweetest music arose on theair, gradually swelling in volume, and finally ending in a wild burstwhich caused Poyor to spring to his feet.
"What is the matter?" Teddy asked, and Cummings replied carelessly:
"Nothing in particular. That music is the summons to prayer, and now isthe time when the Indian can go through the streets with less danger ofbeing discovered."
In another instant Jake and the boys were at the apertures which servedas windows; but some time elapsed before they could see anything owingto the gloom. Then, as day dissipated the darkness, they distinguishedthrongs of white robed figures hurrying from every quarter toward somecommon point, which was probably the temple with its dome of silver.
It was an odd sight to see so many people moving rapidly, but withoutnoise, while neither cart nor animal of any kind accompanied them. Hereand there were men carrying burdens on their backs by aid of a strappassed around the forehead, and many women and children literally loadeddown with flowers.
"I don't see any great show of gold or silver," Teddy said, after gazingat the scene some time in silence. "No one appears to wear anything likejewelry."
"That may be because such metal is too common here," Jake replied. "Whatbothers me is to make out why Cummin
gs and the Indian are so afraid ofbeing discovered. These people don't look as if they'd kill a fly unlesshe made a noise, an' that's what they seem to be scared of."
"Don't make a mistake," Cummings whispered, as he overheard the lastportion of the conversation. "If it was known that a white man hadsucceeded in entering the city our lives would be taken within the nexthour."
"You may believe all that; but I'll hold to it that they're the mostpeaceable lot I ever saw, until somethin' comes up to prove thecontrary," and Jake went toward the street door with Poyor, regardlessof whether he was seen by the passers-by or not until the Indian saidsharply:
"Go back; I do not wish to die."
"If you're frightened of course I'll get out of the way," Jake repliedhalf angrily; "but before we leave this town I'll show you how muchreason there is for being afraid."
"And in ten minutes from that time you will cease to live," Poyorreplied gravely, as he left the building, closing the door carefullybehind him.
"It will be well to remember what he has said," Cummings added sharplyas he approached the engineer to bar the door. "These people arepeaceable until the time comes when religion and all the traditions oftheir race tell that a long remembered wrong should be avenged, and thenno class can be more implacable. I would not show my face outside ofthis door for as much gold as can be found in Yucatan."
This remark silenced Jake, but he was by no means convinced of itstruthfulness, as could be told by his whispered remark to Neal:
"They know we will have a chance to lug off a pile of money, an' toprevent us from wantin' too much, try to prove that we must stay out ofsight so's they can get the cream of the bargain."
"Don't do anything foolish," Teddy replied earnestly. "Cummings wouldnot have asked us to come with him unless there had been good reason forwanting assistance, and it is not possible he has made any mistakeregarding the nature of the people."
Jake had nothing more to say; but it could readily be seen that hebelieved his own ideas on the subject were correct, and at this momentsomething occurred which demanded his entire attention.
Poyor had but just left the building, and a crowd was gathering in frontof the door, causing Cummings to say with every sign of fear:
"We shall soon have a chance of learning what these people will do inevent of finding a white man in the city, for it looks as if we werediscovered."
