CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.
IN THE GORGE.
"Well," cried the colonel, as the echoing died away, "are they comingon?"
"They were, sir, without us knowing it," said Cyril. "Your shotfrightened them, and then Manning fired and startled some more."
"The mules warned me," said the colonel, "as they did you, but a shotsent the rascals back.--Hah! the light coming at last."
For the mountain peaks were beginning to glow, and the clouds which hunground the highest showed tints that were quite crimson, while the lightwas now slowly stealing down into the deep gorge, bringing with itrelief from the terrible anxiety of the night.
Then, as it grew brighter, it became evident that the Indians had drawnoff for a time, not a sign being visible of their presence anywhere inthe deep valley, while inside the cavern all was so still that it wasalmost impossible to believe that any danger could be lurking there.
But the danger was ever present, and it was not until John Manning hadbeen posted well inside the cavern, ready to fire in the event of anyfresh advance, that preparations were made for a very necessary meal;after which it became requisite to hold a council of war, when it wasdecided that to stay where they were would be madness, and that nothingremained for them but to show a bold front and push on at once.
Perry looked so dubious that his father smiled.
"Don't you see, my boy, how dependent we are upon the mules? Well, themules must be turned out to graze, and we shall be as safe journeying onas posting ourselves to guard them. Besides, if we stop here, theIndians will conclude that we are afraid to go on, and this will givethem courage; whereas, if we advance boldly, they will give us thecredit of being braver than we are."
"And if we shut ourselves up in that cave, how long will the provisionshold, sir, if I may make so bold?" said John Manning.
"Quite right," said the colonel nodding. "Don't you know, Perry, that awise man once said that an army does not gallop along, but crawls uponits stomach?"
"Crawls?" said Perry.
"You don't understand, boy. He meant that an army can only move as fastas provisions can be supplied to it. That is our case. If we take therisk of shutting ourselves up here--a dreary, depressing plan, by theway--we can only hold out till our provisions come to an end. Betterfar make a bold dash onward toward the other side of the mountains.Every step we take will be toward civilisation and safety, while everystep the Indians take in pursuit will be toward land where they knowthat they will be at a disadvantage. There, I do not see why I shouldexplain all this to you, but I want you to have confidence in me. Andyou too, sir."
"Oh, I have, father," cried Perry.
"And I'm sure I have, sir," said Cyril warmly, "only I can't helpfeeling that we shall be safer in the cavern than out there in thenarrow valley, where these people can shoot us down when they like."
"Of course you feel that, my lad," said the colonel, "but I am under theimpression that they will hesitate about shooting at us. I fancy thatthey will strain every nerve to master us and capture all our stores, inthe full belief that we are taking out of the country valuables thattheir traditions and the teachings of their rulers bind them to defend.If they had liked, I feel convinced that some one of us, perhaps two,would be wounded and helpless by now.--What do you say, John Manning?"
"Well, sir, I'm 'bout divided in my opinions. One time I think theymust be such bad shots, they're afraid to show it, and another I getthinking that they've got an idea of your being an indefatigable sort ofa gentleman."
"Well, I am, John Manning," replied the colonel smiling; "and you knowit too."
"Course I do, sir, but that isn't what I mean, sir: 'tain'tindefatigable; it's a word that means something to do with armour, andthe more you shoot at any one, the more you won't hurt him."
"Invulnerable," said Cyril.
"That's it, sir," cried the old soldier, slapping his leg. "Lor', whata fine thing it is to have been brought up a scholar."
"You are right, Manning. I impressed them, I suppose, by my shooting,and they have evidently some idea of that kind in their ignorance.We'll take advantage of it and start at once.--Very tired, boys?"
They were silent.
"Shall we start now, or try to get some rest, and then start at night?"
"Let's start now, sir," said Cyril firmly. "The darkness makes cowardsof us--I mean, makes one of me, for I'm always fancying dangers allaround."
"Are you ready, Perry?"
"Yes, father. Let's go at once."
"We will," said the colonel, "for I'm afraid that we should make verypoor progress after dark. In with you then, and let's load up themules; they must take a mouthful of grass wherever there is any as wego."
The very thought of getting on chased away a great deal of theweariness, and the little party were soon hard at work in thesemi-darkness, just inside the cave, fastening on the packs. Then allmounted the riding mules, and without a moment's hesitation rode out,the colonel with the leading mule turning up the gorge, which ran prettynearly due west and rising higher at every step, while John Manning andthe two lads formed the rearguard.
"Ten times better than being shut up there in the dark, my lads," saidthe old soldier, sitting up erect in his saddle, with the butt of hispiece resting upon his thigh. "It's like being in the cavalry.--See anyof 'em, Master Cyril, sir?"
"No, not a soul in sight. Have they gone right away?"
John Manning chuckled.
"Just far enough to keep a sharp eye on us, sir. They're hidingsomewhere behind the stones."
But for the space of an hour, as they rode on in the shade of the earlymorning, there was no sign of an enemy either to front or rear, andinspirited by the crisp mountain air, the boys felt their spirits rise,and were ready to banter John Manning about what they looked upon as hismistake.
"Depend upon it," said Perry, "they drew right back to go and camp forthe day, and rest, before coming to attack us again."
"They were soon rested then, sir," said the old soldier drily, "forthere's two of 'em up yonder behind those pieces of rock."
"Where? Nonsense. Birds: condors, perhaps, on a shelf."
"Perhaps so, sir," said John Manning; "but they're birds that can makesignals, and your father sees them too." For just then the colonel drewhis mule aside, and let the rest pass on, while he waited for therearguard to come up.
"Be on the alert," he said as they came up; "the Indians are high aboveus on the mountain-side, and they are making signs to others right upthe gorge. Close up."
Then going nearer to his old servant, he whispered:
"Keep a sharp eye up to right and left, and if they open the ball, jumpdown, and don't hesitate about taking good aim at the first who tries tostop us."
"Right, sir. But how do you think they will open the ball, sir?Arrows?"
"No: as our old friends in the North-west did, John Manning. Ah, look,they have begun."
"Yes, sir; I expected it," cried John Manning, as the mules all stoppedshort, their leader having suddenly swerved aside to avoid a littleavalanche of stones and masses of rocks which came tearing down from faron high, right across their course.
It began by the dislodging of one great mass, which was forced over froma rocky shelf, and before this had rolled half-way, it had startedhundreds more, the attempt being so well contrived that the pieces ofrock, which came leaping and bounding down with a clashing sound likethunder, would certainly have crushed one or more of the mules, but fortheir quick appreciation of the danger.
Two sharp replies to this attack were given from the loaded pieces, andthe Indians disappeared; but when, after a great deal of coaxing, themules were got into motion once more, the colonel urging the leaderround beyond where the stones had fallen, the boys uttered a warningcry, for another mass of rock was started from high up on the otherside, and with such good effect that the rush of stones it startedcaught the tiny caravan half-way, and to the misery and despair of all,one of the best mules lay
with its pack half buried, and the poorcreature's head crushed almost flat.
This time the boys fired up at a single man perched fully twelve hundredfeet above the narrow bottom of the gorge, and he dropped out of sight,while the colonel and John Manning leaped down again, and rapidlyremoved the stones which impeded them in their efforts to loosen thepack-ropes and remove the load to another mule.
This was a hindrance of a good half-hour, and the colonel looked verystern as he gave the order to advance again, when they gained about amile, the gorge opening a little. Then the huge towering wallscontracted once more, and a black-looking prospect opened before them,for there, so narrow that there was barely room for the mules to gosingly, was their way, through a black-looking rift, above which themountains on either side rose in shelves admirably adapted for theenemy's defence, and promising so ill for the little party, that thecolonel hesitated for a minute while he used his glass. Then, as allwas still, no sign of an enemy visible, he gave the order to advance, inthe hope that the place was too precipitous for the Indians to occupy.
Vain hope! Ten minutes later the mule he rode lay quivering on theground; the colonel having the narrowest of narrow escapes from aterrible death.
"Forward!" he said firmly, but as he spoke, another avalanche andanother came thundering down, and seeing the madness of attempting toproceed, he gave the word to retreat.
It was needless, for the mules had already sprung round, and werehurrying back at a rate that was faster than anything they had yetshown.
There was no yell of triumph from on high, and no sign of enemy oneither hand as they rode back, face to face with the fact that exit fromthe gorge in that direction was impossible, and that unless they couldfind some side ravine leading in the direction they wished to pursue,there was nothing for it but to retrace their steps right to thecinchona cutters' camp, and from thence make their way home by the roadthey came.
"It does seem so strange," said Perry, as they rode back; "they don'tpursue us, but let us ride quietly on. Are they satisfied with themischief they have done?"
Cyril made no answer, for he was watching the colonel, where he rode byhimself, grave and stern, impressed as he was by the feeling that allhis efforts would be brought to nought, if he could not devise somemeans of reaching San Geronimo. At that moment it looked hopeless, andas if he would be thwarted at every step, for though the enemy wereinvisible, he had had bitter experience of the fact that their knowledgeof the mountain paths placed them at a tremendous advantage, and he feltthat in all probability they were even then where they could watch everymovement, and had perhaps got well ahead, ready to stop them by anotherattack upon the mules.
It was past mid-day now, and the hope of getting well onward towardsafety was completely crushed; the sun was now shining fiercely downinto the gorge, heating the rocks so, that the reflection was almostworse than the scorching rays from above. The mules were panting andthirsty, and the exertions of the day, coming upon such a broken night,were telling terribly upon all, so that reluctantly, and as their onlyresource, the colonel allowed the old leading mule to make straight forthe stream which came gurgling out of the cave they had left thatmorning. Here, to the surprise of all, the intelligent beast, insteadof stooping to drink at once, stepped carefully among the stones rightinto the cool shade within, the rest following, and five minutes laterPerry and Cyril were seated inside upon one of the packs.
"And all that day's work thrown away," said Cyril sadly.
"And two mules dead," whispered Perry, so that his father should nothear.
"But we saved their loads," replied Cyril.
"What for?" said Perry, in the same low voice. "It's of no use: weshall never get away alive."