Cliff, hiding in the tunnel stairway, heard the last speech and hishands clenched. Nicky was a captive!
He could not see and dared not show himself to get nearer: he must stayas he was and trust to Bill, masquerading as the Inca, to solve thisreally unexpected problem. They had gone over everything so carefully!There had not been a single point, possibility or chance that they hadnot covered--except this one!
They had instructed Nicky: they had made their own plans. But that Nickyshould be brought to the Inca had not occurred to them.
How would Bill handle it?
If Nicky were brought in would he recognize Bill, or cause suspicion inthe soldier's mind by his look?
And Cliff could not see! He must hide.
"You are a good soldier," Bill spoke as nearly as he could in the tonesof the Inca. "I shall not forget your zeal. Let the servant of Chasca beset before me."
There was an order, a commotion, and Nicky stood before him. How had hebeen captured? Then were the two older companions also captives? Howcould Bill discover the facts?
"Was he alone caught?" asked Bill, as the Inca.
"Oh light of the day, yes."
Then the others might still be safe!
"I thought to seek once more through the tunnels," explained thesoldier. "I went with my men. Coming to the room beneath the great andholy Temple, Corrichanca----" the place of gold, or the greatest,holiest of the temples----"I thought there was a sound. I sought behindevery tapestry and under piles of rich golden cloth--may Raymi forgiveme that I did touch them with my poor hands!--and this Nee-kee didhide."
Much later Nicky explained to his chums that he had crept down the stonestairway to watch for any possible hint of the return of his friends andthen had been attracted by the gold and had been caught by theunexpectedly quiet approach of the soldier.
Nicky knew, or suspected at least, that the figure over in the shadowswas his own friend, Bill. But he was, for once, master of his face: hedid not betray his thoughts. He kept perfectly still, standing betweentwo soldiers.
Cliff, in hiding, wondered what Bill could do, what he would say.
"Are soldiers now in the secret ways?" asked Bill.
"No, most powerful ray of the Sun's light on earth," replied thecaptain. "The search was completed when I discovered this one: no othercould be found."
"And yet," and Bill raised his voice, determined that it must carryinformation to Cliff so that he could guide his own future by what heheard. "And yet we may find even Chasca in that tunnel unless he runsvery fast. It comes to me as a prophecy that he may be near to liberatehis servant. But if so, no doubt he will run away or disappear."
Cliff, listening, heard that and determined that he would run very fastand get back to his father and Mr. Whitley and tell them what hadhappened, so that they would not go down to look for Nicky. But hehesitated. Perhaps Bill had more instructions for him!
Cliff crept a little way down the corridor, to be able to catchdistinctly every word of Bill's next speech, given in quichua.
"I must go to the dungeons. I will speak with Caya. She must be made totell all. I take Nee-kee with me. Soldier, guard this palace--let no oneenter here. The guards at the dungeon will help me take Caya to thetemple, Corrichanca, of the god, Raymi, where, in front of those whiteones in their dyed skins, she shall tell me the truth."
Bill thus gave Cliff all the information he needed. Down the steps andback to the Sun Temple sped Cliff, quite sure of his way.
He identified himself to the watchful father, Mr. Whitley also, andexplained breathlessly what had happened and what Bill had told him hewould do. They must wait, they decided.
But where was Tom. Would he get the rope? Would he be caught?
And while they debated, in the palace the Coya, or queen, entered theaudience room from another chamber. She looked around. Something strangeabout the pile of wool in the corner attracted her attention. Bill hadalready gone. But the queen saw the real Inca.
"Ho--guards!--hither!" she cried. "Help me! The Inca is bound beneaththese wools!"