CHAPTER TEN.
JOHN MANNING THINKS.
John Manning's curious remark sent a thrill through Cyril, and, tryinghard not to appear as if watching, he strained his eyes in the directionindicated, but the gloom had increased, and neither he nor Perry couldmake 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 jumpeddown 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 himI didn't think the Indians was to be trusted, and that I fancied theywere 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 rightnatural, and your duty to. But I put it to you, Master Cyril: he's asoldier, and I'm a soldier, and if one soldier calls another a stoopidold 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 werewith 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. Iwasn'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 feelpretty sure now."
"But why should they follow us?" asked Cyril tentatively. "You havesome idea in your head."
"Well, sir, I have; and whether it's right or wrong I can't say, but itseems to me as these people are all in league together, and they don'twant anybody to come up in the mountains. They want to know what we'reabout."
"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 wewere going, and what for."
"That's a true word, sir," replied the man, "but I think they want toknow too. It seems to me they're afraid we want to take something outof their country."
"Nonsense," said Perry.
"Nonsense!" said Cyril sharply. "He's right, Perry. It's just what Itold you, and--"
"Now, quick, Mr Cyril!" whispered John. "Turn towards me, as if youwere going to speak, and look toward the path we came by."
Cyril responded quickly, and saw by the light of the fire, which hadjust then blazed up brightly, a dark face peering at them over a greatpiece of rock. He even saw the flash of the fire in the watcher's eyes,and then, as he pretended to hand something to Manning, his look wasaverted for a moment, and when he glanced again in the same direction,the face was gone.
Cyril responded quickly, and saw a dark face peering at them over agreat piece of rock.
"Now, Master Cyril, what do you say?" whispered John Manning.
"I say it may only be curiosity," replied Cyril, "but certainly we arebeing watched, and the colonel ought to know directly."
"Hah!" ejaculated the old soldier, with a sigh of satisfaction, "thisputs one in mind of old times up in the hill-country, with the niggerswaiting to go at you with matchlock or knife. I didn't think I was evergoing to have the luck to see a bit of fighting again."
Perry started, and Cyril's face looked in the firelight as if it wasflushed.
"Where's the colonel?" he said quickly. "Be steady, Perry, old chap.There's nothing to be frightened about. Don't look as if anything wasthe matter. Come and find your father, and let's go and speak to Diegoand the other man."
"But I can't speak to them," said Perry excitedly.
"Never mind, I will. Come along."
"And suppose they shoot at us," whispered Perry, "with an arrow orblowpipe?"
"They'd better!" said Cyril grimly. "But they won't do that. Come on."
He walked on toward the fire, behind which the two Indians werecrouched, apparently enjoying the warmth and the charqui they weremunching; but they gazed furtively up at the two boys as they came up,and one of them started slightly as Cyril made a sudden stoop, butbecame impassive directly when the boy picked up two or threehalf-burned brands and threw them into the middle of the fire beforeholding his hands out to the flame.
"The waterfall makes it feel cold up here, and damp," he said to theguide in his patois, and the man smiled as he spoke, and then pointed upa defile away above them as he replied.
"What does he say?" asked Perry.
"That the wind comes down that narrow rift from the snow, and it is thatwhich makes it cold. I only half understand him."
He turned laughingly to the guide, and said a few words to that effect,and the man laughed and nodded as he replied.
"Oh, what a big fib!" said Cyril merrily. "He says I speak his tonguebeautifully.--Oh, there's the colonel looking round at the mules.They're having a beautiful feed here. Plenty of grass for the mules,"he said to the Indian, and the man nodded again, and said it was good.
The colonel said something very similar, as the boys strolled carelesslyup, at a time when Perry felt as if he must run to his father, shouting:"Look out! Danger!"
"We must stay here two or three days, boys," the colonel said. "Themules will revel in this grass and fresh water, and make up for theirfasting lately."
"I think not, sir," said Cyril, speaking carelessly, and making believeto pat one of the mules, which turned sharply round and showed him itsheels.
"What do you mean, sir?"
Cyril told him quickly; and as he spoke, the colonel's hand twitched,and went involuntarily to his side, as if he were seeking a sword.
"Humph!" he ejaculated. Then quietly, and looking at the mules: "That'sright, lads; don't make a sign. I daresay John Manning is right. Hehas eyes like a hawk, and he is true as steel. Well, I'm not surprised.I half expected it, though not quite so soon."
"What shall we do then, father?" said Perry anxiously. "Go back?"
"Englishmen don't go back, Perry," said his father gravely. "They wouldnot have colonised the whole world if they did. No, boy, we are goingon, and I don't think there is anything to fear. These people are alljoined together to watch every stranger who comes into their country, indread lest they should be in search of the Incas' treasures, and theywould be ready to fight in defence."
"And kill us, father," said Perry, with his lips paling in thefirelight.
"If we let them, boy. But we are well-armed, John Manning and I, andknow how to use our weapons if it should come to a struggle, which Idoubt."
"Then you have come in search of something, sir! I knew it," criedCyril.
"Yes, I have come in search of something, boy, and I mean to find it andtake it away out of the country in spite of all their watchfulness andcare. Now, then, what do you say to that? Are you afraid, and do youwant to get back?"
"I don't know, sir," said Cyril quietly. "Yes, I do. I can't helpfeeling a bit frightened like. I don't want to, but I do."
"And you wish to go back? For I warn you I am going on in spite of allobstacles."
"No, I don't," said Cyril quietly. "I shall go with you. I'm not goingto leave Perry in the lurch."
"There's a coward for you, Perry, my boy," said the colonel, laughing."You must be a very good sort of a fellow to have made a friend likethat; one who risks his father's anger to come with you, and who is nowready to run more risks for your sake."
"I'm afraid it isn't that, sir," said Cyril frankly. "I wanted to comebecause I thought it was going to be a great treat."
"There, say no more now. Listen to me. I shall take it for grantedthat we have spies in the camp, and that, consequent upon theircom
munication to the men of the llama caravan, some of that party arefollowing us. Of course the poor fellows consider that they areperforming a religious duty, so I shall not charge them with theiraction. They will go on watching us till they find I have donesomething which calls for immediate action. Till then we are safe."
"Then you will not do anything, sir?" said Cyril, looking quite aghast.
"Oh yes, I shall be upon my guard. From now there will be watch setevery night in camp, and we shall sleep with our arms charged and readyfor action at a moment's notice."
"Yes," said Cyril, with a sigh of satisfaction.
"You can handle a gun, Cyril?"
"Yes, sir, after a fashion. I have often been up in the hills with myfather, shooting."
"That will do," said the colonel. "Now let's go and have a look at thefalls before setting watch and going to our blankets. Tell the men tokeep up a pretty good fire, Cyril."
He led the way to where the Indians were seated as he spoke, and noddedto them smilingly as Cyril gave his orders; and then, as the men quicklyobeyed them, the colonel led the way to the edge of a cliff! From herethey could see the large body of water come gliding down in a curve fromfar away up in the darkness, to gleam in the firelight as it passedthem, and then dive down into the deeper darkness below.
"An awful-looking place, boys, in the darkness," said the colonelquietly. "There now, we'll seek our blankets--at least you shall, for Ishall take the first watch; John Manning will take the second."
"Shall I sit up with you, father?" said Perry.
"No, my lad, we must husband our resources. Your turn will cometo-morrow night. Remember what I said about the guns. Make no show,but have your ammunition ready for use at a moment's notice. TheIndians will see that, you may depend upon it, and act accordingly."
Half an hour later the two boys were lying inside a little shelterformed of the mules' packs and a wall-like mass of rock, listening tothe roar of the falls, and watching the figure of the colonel standinggazing out into the night, as he rested his chin upon the barrel of hispiece.
"I shan't go to sleep to-night," said Perry in a whisper.
"Oh yes, you will. I shall," replied Cyril.
Just then John Manning came close up, with his gun in his hand.
"Good-night, gentlemen," he said. "Colonel says I'm to come and lie inthe shelter here. Don't kick in the night, please, because I'm going tobe at your feet. I had a messmate once out in India, who, when we werein barracks, used to sleep like a lamb, but so sure as we were on themarch and had to share a tent, which meant he slept in his boots, youmight just as well have gone to sleep with a pack of commissariat mules,for the way in which he'd let go with his heels was a wonder.Good-night, gentlemen, good-night."