Never in the brief history of their order had the Mystery Boys held asession under more amazing and dangerous conditions!
For Cliff soon saw that Bill's sign was in no way mischance. With setface and earnest eyes the lanky, cunning Quipu Bill was calling for asession of the order, wherein signs would pass unknown to the hostsaround them. The people were pressing closer.
Nicky nudged Cliff: Tom already had his arms folded across his chest,sign that he had entered the signal session: Nicky folded his arms.Cliff, mastering his excitement, did likewise.
What was the matter with Bill? Did he not realize how very serious themoment was? Why must he choose such a time to use the signals in whosemysteries Cliff and his friends had initiated him? Or--was it because ofthe danger?
Bill placed his right hand negligently in his pocket--his coat pocket!That meant, "Do not speak!"
Cliff nodded slightly.
The priest and the Inca, Challcuchima and a number of nobles who hadhastened closer, scowled and waited for an answer as Huamachacosputtered, "What does this mean? What said Chasca?"
The air was electric with tension: Cliff felt it, his chums felt it; themass of people, although they had not heard, had seen his dramaticattitude--and they felt the suspense. It was so still that they alldistinctly heard the crackle of a kindled stick on the altar!
"Chasca speaks the language of the skies," Bill said, in the dialect ofthe nobles and priests, which was different from the quichua and whichhe had not taught the boys, although he understood much of it himself."Chasca in his anger forgets that you do not speak the speech of thegods, being but mortals!"
All the while his hands were changing position unobtrusively, or hisposition or attitude shifted.
He dropped his right hand to his side, as he spoke, but the three chumssaw that all fingers were clenched except the index finger which pointedoutward and downward, hanging loosely.
That meant "Some one is coming!"
They stood with folded arms for he had asked no question and they didnot wish to call attention to themselves by too many gestures. Bill wasthe leader: he had called for a council; whoever did so must do all thegesturing unless he asked for an answer. So they watched withoutappearing to do so.
"Chasca is very angry," Bill spoke on, calmly. He did it very well,Cliff had to admit to himself, almost as well as Cliff had done on thatmemorable occasion when they had considered admitting Mr. Whitley. Hehoped Nicky would not speak as he had done then. Nicky did not mean todo that, but if he spoke now in his excitement he might upset all Bill'splans.
Bill had his hand spread out in what the Inca took for a gesture ofanger against him and his priest. Really Cliff saw in it their sign thatthe next word would tell who was coming; it would be spelled on thefingers of Bill's other hand, hanging loosely at his side, using thesimplest deaf-and-dumb alphabet.
They watched.
"W-h-i-t-l-e-y," he spelled. John Whitley!
They breathed sighs of relief.
"Chasca does not wish that a sacrifice be made," Bill spoke, "Chasca hasmade peace with Raymi for you. He is angered that you do not show moretrust in him, a messenger of Raymi, come to give you blessings."
His two hands dropped into his trousers pockets. That meant that theymust not look for whoever came. They must pay no attention. Cliffnodded.
Then Bill drew his hands free and folded his arms. At once they knewthat the council of communion was over.
"Chasca has bidden his servant--he of the dark locks--to go forth andfind a certain thing." Bill went on in the nobles' dialect,"behold--that servant returns!"
The boys did not look up, mindful of their orders; but all the others inthe group did so. Through the crowd came pushing John Whitley. They madeway for him but so dense was the press that he moved only slowly. Billmust have seen him signal from the outskirts of the crowd, Cliffguessed; it was true.
But what would Mr. Whitley say? Had he found what he wanted? Or--not!And would he understand the danger into which Cliff had been forced whenChallcuchima failed to keep his word?
Then they saw that Bill's ear was causing him a seemingly great lot oftrouble; his middle finger scratched industriously as John Whitleyapproached. Would he recall the signal?
"This is sacrilege!" cried the high priest. "Chasca, son of the skies,will not seek to change the rites to which we and our fathers have bowedever since Manco Capac, founder of our line, sunk his golden wedge nearTiticaca and began his rule!"
"Chasca does seek to change no rites," Bill replied calmly. "Chascaseeks to save a life because there is no need for its sacrifice!" Hekept working at his ear. John Whitley broke into the circle.
"What?--" he began. He stared around. There was a moment of intensesilence. A stick fell and crackled on the altar: among the maidens ofthe Sun there was stifled sobbing from Caya, close beside her sister butnot daring to touch her!
John Whitley's eyes seemed caught by Bill's finger: he stared. Then helooked at Cliff and suddenly he folded his arms!
"Let the sacrifice proceed!" shouted the high priest, jealous of hisposition.
"Not so!" shouted Bill.
His fist came down into an open palm as though to emphasize his cry, butJohn Whitley divined that in the secret sign manual a question was beingasked! "Did you get it?"
"Yes!" his right finger rubbed his chin.
"Ah," said Bill, and his voice rang out clearly as he faced the highpriest.
"Chasca denies you the right of sacrifice!" he said, "There is no need.The corn will be saved. The Sun, Raymi, has sent that which will destroythe insects!"
Clearly the Inca was impressed. Bill seemed so sincere. Mr. Whitley wassmiling. The three chums were standing erect in poses of confidence.
"Within a day your corn will be on the way to security," Bill said asMr. Whitley whispered swift words. "Complete your feast and tomorrow youshall see that we speak truth!"
Cliff ran past them all, caught the shrinking, veiled figure andbeckoned Caya.
"Go back to our house," he said. "Caya--take her! We've won!"