by James Otis
CHAPTER XIV.
THE FESTIVAL.
It can well be imagined with what anxiety the party in the buildinglooked through the narrow apertures at the crowd below.
Even Jake began to fancy he had made a mistake in regard to theirpeaceful dispositions, and Teddy noticed that he examined very carefullyall the weapons.
Those on the outside were armed chiefly with bows and arrows; but a fewcarried a sort of spear with a tip which looked not unlike glass, andNeal whispered to Cummings:
"If they have got nothing but arrows we ought to be able to hold a largenumber in check with our guns."
"Don't make the mistake of despising their weapons, for every one iscovered with a poison so deadly that a single scratch would be moredangerous than a wound from a bullet."
"Do you think they have learned that we are here?"
"I can't explain in any other way the motive for the gathering; but noneof them appear to be paying very much attention to the building."
As a matter of fact, although there were four to five hundred directlyin front of the house, hardly one of them glanced toward the openingsthrough which the little party were gazing; but the majority appeared tobe having a most sociable time.
As the moments passed without any evidence that an attack was to be madethe voluntary prisoners began to grow more comfortable in mind, andagain Jake proposed that such people were neither able nor inclined toinflict much injury upon any one.
Suddenly there was a great commotion among the crowd; the men shoutedand waved their weapons, danced about in the most grotesque fashion andfrom afar off could be heard the sound of music.
Five minutes later the cause of this sudden change of demeanor becameapparent.
Down the street from the direction of the forest came several hundredwomen decorated with the most beautiful flowers, and carrying hugebouquets or wreaths. They trooped along without any attempt at marchingin regular order: but on arriving in front of the men they haltedsuddenly in response to sharp strokes on a gong or tongueless bell whichone of them held high in the air.
The men were now on one side of the street and the women on the other,and in this order they stood when twenty persons of both sexes, carryingon a broad flower-covered platform a repulsive looking figure apparentlycomposed of gold, marched between the ranks and halted.
Instantly every one sank down with bowed head as if in adoration, andthe invisible music, accompanied by the peals of sweet-toned bells,filled the air with melody.
"We were frightened too soon," Cummings said with a sigh of relief. "Itis a festival of some sort, and this happens to be the place where it isto be welcomed to the city. It would be most unfortunate if Poyor shouldtake it into his head to come back just at this time."
"He could see the crowd before getting very near and would know enoughto stay at a distance," Neal replied. "I'd like to know what that statuerepresents."
The golden figure was certainly very odd. Its body was in shape notunlike a panther's; but the tail was short, and stuck straight in theair. The head might have been formed to represent a monkey, althoughthe ears were very long, and the whole was covered with carving torepresent scales.
"How much do you suppose it weighs?" Teddy asked of Jake, and thelatter, who had also been trying to compute its value, replied:
"Not an ounce less than a hundred pounds. What a prize that would be ifwe could carry it away!"
"There are many of the same kind in the city." Cummings added, "and weshould be able to get off with some before a week is ended."
"Then that is the plan you have formed?" Neal said interrogatively.
"Exactly. Poyor is to examine all the statues near by, and decide uponsuch as we can pull down some night, after which it will only be aquestion of reaching our boat. I have no fear of being able to getthrough the swamp providing we have a start of five or six hours."
While this conversation was being carried on the people outside remainedin the same devout attitude; but just as Cummings ceased speaking therewas a change in the affairs.
The music grew louder, and the bells were rung more rapidly, and thedevotees sprang to their feet with shouts and songs, the women throwingflowers on the platform until the hideous god was nearly hidden fromview.
When the tongueless bell was struck three times the crowd gatheredaround the image bearers, and all started toward what the white menbelieved was the temple, chanting in perfect harmony with the music.
The worshipers were soon lost to view; but their voices could be heardfor ten or fifteen minutes, after which clouds of smoke, probably causedby burning incense, arose from the silver-domed building.
"If Poyor is wise he will come now," Cummings said, as he lookedanxiously out. "The people are so intent upon the worship, orinstallation of a new god, whichever it may be, that he can get into thehouse without being seen."
But there were no signs of the Indian. Strain their eyes as they mighthe did not appear.
The sounds of music died away. The smoke ceased to arise from thetemple, and the people began to walk the streets intent upon theirbusiness or pleasure.
"It is strange he is so imprudent," Cummings muttered half to himself."Now the only safe way is to wait until night, if indeed he is yet atliberty."
"Do you think anything has happened to him?" Neal asked.
"Of course I can't even guess; but it is very strange he has waited solong."
More than that Cummings would not say: but both the boys could plainlysee he was very anxious, and all grew greatly distressed in mind as thehours wore on.
Noon came, and once more the streets were nearly deserted, for theinhabitants of the city were indulging in a siesta.
Now Cummings stationed himself at the window, peering out eagerly; butall in vain.
Slowly the moments passed. The boys tried to eat; but the terriblesuspense had spoiled all appetite for food, more especially since it wasnot particularly inviting, and after swallowing a few crumbs Teddy said:
"It's no use, I can't even force it down. Why did we come here, knowingat least a portion of the danger?"
"'Cause we were fools," Jake replied philosophically; "but that is noreason why we shouldn't have as near to a square meal as is possible,"and he began to devour another tortilla.
"We won't despair yet," Cummings said, as he left his post at the windowand joined the little group in the further corner of the room, "Poyor iscautious in the extreme, and may believe it isn't safe to enter thehouse in the daytime under any circumstances."
"Did he say when he would come back?"
"No; it was understood he should return at the first favorableopportunity."
"Could you find the way to the boat if we never saw him again?" Teddyasked.
"Yes, although we might have some trouble in doing so."
Then another long interval of silence came upon the little party, duringwhich each one listened intently for the slightest sound which mightbetoken a visitor.
Finally Jake fell asleep, and so loud was his snoring that it seemed asif he must be heard from the street, therefore the boys pinched him whenthere was too great a volume of sound, and at the same time wished theycould enjoy the same happy unconsciousness of the situation.
Cummings alternately paced to and fro, and stood by the narrow apertureoverlooking the street, until nightfall, when the citizens walked up anddown singing or chatting.
It was as if every one was perfectly happy, and this condition ofaffairs caused Cummings to feel less despondent.
"Look," he said to Neal and Teddy, "if Poyor had been discovered thepeople would show some signs of excitement. We have no reason to fearyet awhile."
The argument was certainly a good one, and the boys' courage revivedwonderfully. They made a reasonably hearty supper of tortillas, and whenthe promenaders began to disappear, thus telling that the hour forretiring was near at hand, Cummings went downstairs and unbolted thedoor.
Now every second appeared like a minute, and when it seemed
as if thenight must be well nigh spent a slight sound was heard from below.
Jake would have rushed to the stair-case to welcome the Indian; butCummings restrained him. It was not certain who the visitor might be,and with bated breath all listened until a low voice said:
"It is Poyor."
The remark was commonplace in the extreme; but no combination of wordssounded more sweetly to the boys, and they rushed forward to clasp theIndian by the hand.
In the dim light it was not possible to see him very clearly; but fromthe imperfect view all understood that something serious had happened.He was panting as if just having concluded a long race, and the flowingwhite garments he had put on before leaving in order to resemble theinhabitants of the city, were torn and stained with mud.
Cummings spoke to him in the Indian dialect, and he replied gravely,the first words causing the white man to utter an exclamation of dismay.
"What is the matter? What has happened?" Teddy asked; but Cummings madeno reply until Poyor had spoken at considerable length, and then hesaid:
"The worst possible misfortune has befallen us. Our boat has beendiscovered and brought into the city. It is believed we are hiding inthe swamp, and a number of men are searching there for us."
"Why didn't he come straight back to tell us?" Jake asked angrily. "Ifthese people are so fierce as you pretend, it is time we were making ourescape."
"To have approached this place in the daytime would have been in thehighest degree dangerous, and, besides, he had a good deal of work todo."
"Such as what?"
"It was necessary we should know exactly the strength and whereabouts ofthe searching party. That he has discovered."
"And how much good will it do us while we are shut up in here?"
"Do not cast reproaches in the time of trouble," Cummings repliedgravely. "We must work together to extricate ourselves from the dangerinto which I have persuaded you to come."
Jake was silenced, and Poyor continued to tell his story, but stillspeaking in his own language.
The boys fancied he was proposing some plan which did not meet withCummings' approbation, for the latter spoke vehemently at times.
While this was going on Teddy whispered to Neal:
"It begins to look as if the sailors who were drowned in the surf weremore fortunate than the rest of us. They died quickly, and we shallprobably find out what it means to be tortured."
"Don't speak of such horrible things, Teddy. We are not captured yet,and there is no sense in looking trouble in the face."
"It can't be helped sometimes. I've had enough of adventures, and if wedo live to escape from this place all the gold in the world wouldn'ttempt me to get into another such scrape."
