Tom did not go very far on his way before he saw a small troop ofsoldiers guarding the road.
He hesitated: if he tried to slip around them he might run into others:if he ran boldly past them it would test his nerve but it was really thesafest course.
He kept on, running lightly, drawing his breath a little faster thanusual, more from excitement than from weariness.
"Stop, chasqui!" commanded the officer in charge as Tom ran close to theresting soldiers. "Where run you so fast?"
Tom showed the quipu Bill had made up.
"I run for the Inca," he said.
The officer studied his face: while the light was only that coming fromthe stars he peered closely.
"I do not know you," he declared.
Tom drew himself up to his full height. He stared at the officer, tryingto be haughty.
The officer was not impressed. At the same time, he did not quite dareto delay a messenger with the royal proof, the quipu that seemed toindicate Tom's errand as genuine.
He did not release the grip he had taken on Tom's arm.
A soldier stepped forward and made a salute.
"Let me run with the chasqui," he said. "Thus the Inca's message willnot be delayed and if the fellow is carrying the royal token withoutwarrant I can bring him back."
This did not suit Tom but he said nothing. It flashed through his mindthat this was no time to raise a disturbance: later on he might think ofsome way to elude the soldier.
"See that you do," said the officer. Tom whirled, snatched his arm freeand ran. The soldier ran as lightly, as swiftly as he.
Tom had been in the races during the ceremonies of naming Challcuchimasuccessor to the Inca's rule: it suited his present purpose to make thesoldier at his side run his best, to tire him quickly.
But, as the road was spurned by his light feet, he realized that thesoldier was not one to tire quickly: step for step, with easy breath andunwearied muscles, he kept the pace. Then Tom received a surprise.
They were passing the outskirts of the city of Quichaka and had come toa small house; it was not of the splendid stone, matched and sturdy,that marked the noble palaces; it was built of the sticky earth mixedwith rushes or reeds and grasses, of which the Peruvians made bricks touse in their homes for the more humble people.
"Turn with me," said the soldier.
Tom hesitated. What was the fellow's purpose? He saw that his companionwas young, but he had not recognized him.
But, as they came into the dimly lit room wherein an aged couplesquatted, he stared.
His soldier companion was Caya's brother!
The youth wasted little time explaining to his parents: the woman beganto mutter: she was afraid of what could happen if they shielded theselads from the world beyond their mountains. But the youth's father wasdifferent: he understood his son's explanation readily and nodded. Thesoldier told Tom to remain there when Tom had explained his errand.
"There is no need to run so far," he said. "I will find a rope that willbe strong and light."
"It will save time," Tom said.
"Yes--and time is precious!"
The old man listened. Finally he spoke.
"What of Caya?"
"I think she is safe," Tom told him, and in what quichua he couldmaster, aided by signs, he detailed what he knew of the plan to saveher. The old woman was horrified at what she understood of the plan togo to the Inca, but the man laughed with a hoarse, hearty chuckle.
"Shame!" cried his old wife. "That you laugh at the son of the Sun."
"But he has brought it upon himself," the man assured her. "If he were atrue descendant of the old line of rulers I would not dare to laugh: butyou know he is not of the true line and when we of his council advisedhim to free the white stranger who would, I think, write in his papersbut not tell others how to find us, he refused. This is therefore hispunishment for being vain of his own counsel!"
Meanwhile Tom and the young soldier discussed plans. The latter wascertain that Caya's shepherd would never be able to come to see hertonight: the secret ways were all guarded by many soldiers and the hillswere full of the searching natives.
"But there is a way, I think," he said. "I know of an old aqueduct thathas not been filled with water for years. It was built to take water toflood the secret tunnels if any came to steal our treasure; but mostpeople, I believe, forget what it is for and how to operate its oldwater gate. Stay you here until I look at the gate to be sure it is notopen and that we can get into its deep bed: also I will hide a strongrope there and come back. Then we will get your friends. Caya, if she isfree, must leave the city. I think the mother of her shepherd in thehills will care for her until the Inca has forgotten."
He hurried away and Tom, resting and waiting, wondering what washappening and how his comrades fared, listened to much that would havebeen interesting under other circumstances.
The old man told him the history of the hidden valley: told how the racebegan, for he was a student and a quipucamaya, or reader of the records,and knew much of the legend and history: but while Tom listenedrespectfully, his mind was far away.
He was glad when the young soldier came back.
He had all in readiness and after thanking the older people and beingassured by the man that he would get bundles of food ready so that theycould be picked up by his son later, Tom and his companion set out forthe city, going in ways that took them safely past all guards.
But when they reached the square they stopped. A crowd was clamoring andshouting outside the Temple to the Sun and it was easy to tell thattheir angry shouts meant dire danger for the persons who might be withinits walls.
And Tom did not know who was there, or what to do!