CHAPTER XVIII.
CAVE LIFE.
When the meal was ended it was nearly daylight and Cummings said as hestretched himself out close by the entrance:
"It is necessary that the strictest kind of a watch should be kept everymoment of the time from now on. I'll take the first trick, Jake shall beawakened next, and Poyor, who has done the most work, comes last."
"But what are Teddy and I to do?" Neal asked in surprise. "We are aswell able to stand guard as any one else."
"I allowed that it would be at least twenty-four hours before you werein condition for anything," Cummings replied with a laugh.
"That is where you made a big mistake," Teddy added. "We insist on doingour full share."
"Very well, if Poyor is asleep when Jake goes off duty one of you shallbe called."
It was arranged that they should sleep near the entrance where thesentinel could awaken them if necessary, without making a noise, andafter the weapons were examined once more to make certain they were ingood working order, all save Cummings made a business of going to sleep.
The Indian did not give any one an opportunity of awakening him. At theexpiration of an hour, just as Cummings was thinking it time to callJake, he arose and peered cautiously out through the opening.
"Why did you get up so soon?" Cummings asked. "You need rest, and thereis nothing to prevent your sleeping until noon if you feel so disposed."
"There is much work to be done," he replied gravely. "When the sun risesI must examine the trail to make sure it is not too plain."
"It will be another hour before daylight."
"By sitting here I shall be ready to go as soon as it is light."
"I do not think you are giving me the true reason," and Cummings igniteda match that he might see the Indian's face.
"You must not do that," he said quickly, as he clasped his hand over thetiny flame. "It is unwise so near the entrance."
"You believe then that we are in considerable danger?"
"We shall be until we are outside the Chan Santa Cruz country."
"That is not all you can say. I wish to know exactly your opinion of thesituation."
"You shall know; but it is not well to explain to the others. Ourenemies will find us I think, and we may be forced to fight to the end,for they will not give up the chase until after many days."
"Do you think it would be unsafe to push on again now we have had restand food?"
"By this time the sentinels know what happened last night, and theforest is full of enemies. A poisoned arrow can be sent in the daytime,while he who shoots it remains concealed. Before noon we would all bedead."
Cummings was silent for a moment, and then he asked in a low tone:
"How far do you think we are from the sea-shore?"
"The distance is not great; but the way so difficult that the journeycould not be ended in less than five days."
"Then it seems that we are in a tight place whatever course is pursued."
"We can fight longer here than where the trees conceal our foes," wasthe grave reply, and then Poyor crept through the opening into thegloomy forest where wild animals and wilder human beings lurked todestroy.
After this conversation Cummings was in no mood for sleep, and herefrained from awakening Jake.
Seated where he could hear the slightest sound from the outside, hereflected upon all the dangers of the situation, and reproached himselffor having led the boys and the engineer into such peril.
"I would have been culpable if no one but Poyor had accompanied me," hesaid to himself, "and now I am directly responsible for the lives ofthose who but for me, would at this moment be safe in Merida."
There was nothing to be gained by scolding one's self, and he strovewith very poor success to put such thoughts from his mind until the sunrose, partially lighting up the gloomy recesses of the forest, andsending tiny rays of light through the narrow aperture.
The three sleepers breathed regularly and noisily; but the sentineldisturbed them not.
The minutes passed slowly until two hours had elapsed, and then a slightrustling of leaves near the entrance caused Cummings to seize the riflemore firmly and peer out.
It was Poyor returning, and he appeared weary like one who has run along race.
"Have you seen anything?" Cummings asked anxiously.
"There were four Indians about a mile south from here. They came fromthe city last night, and are searching. It was possible to hear themtalk. The sentinels near the coast have been doubled in number, andthere is little hope we could pass them."
"It is barely possible they may not find this cave; the entrance issmall, and almost hidden by the brushes."
"Yet I found it in the night."
"True," Cummings replied gloomily, and as he said nothing more Poyorwent to the stream to quench his thirst.
While passing by Jake he accidentally brushed the latter's arm with hisfoot, and the engineer was on his feet in an instant, staring aroundstupidly as if believing the enemy was upon him.
"Why didn't you call me to stand my watch?" he asked in a loud tone, andPoyor, darting back to his side whispered:
"It is not safe to make any noise. Do not so much as speak aloud."
By this time the boys were aroused, and when the Indian had cautionedthem in turn all three went to where Cummings was seated.
"Are we going to move, or have you concluded to stay here?" Neal asked.
"We shall be obliged to make this our headquarters for a few days. Poyorhas seen people from the city in the immediate vicinity, consequently itis advisable to keep under cover."
"Do you think we will be able to leave in a week?" Teddy askedanxiously, and Cummings replied evasively:
"I hope so."
To Jake, who did not feel so eager to reach home by the next steamerthat left Progresso, the prospect of remaining in the cave several dayswas agreeable rather than otherwise, and he asked:
"Are we to cook any breakfast this morning?"
"No, because the smoke might be seen. To-night there will be no suchdanger, and the light can be screened from view, therefore it is a caseof getting along with a cold bite until then. Sleep as much as possiblein order that you may be ready to do your share of the watching, andremember that perfect silence is absolutely necessary."
Then Cummings intimated that the conversation should cease, by turninghis attention to what might be happening outside, and the three wenttoward the opposite end of the cavern where the Indian had thrownhimself down for a nap.
Here, after discussing what little they knew regarding the situation,they ate a few totopostes, a thin, dry tortilla which will remain sweetmany days, and then gave themselves up to slumber once more.
To sleep when one does not feel the necessity of such rest is, however,not an easy matter to be arranged, and after two or three short naps theboys found it impossible to woo the drowsy god.
They walked around the cavern, arousing flocks of tohs; but, owing tothe dim light, finding nothing worthy of attention, and then they wentto the entrance where Cummings refused to hold any conversation withthem because of the possibility that some of the enemy might be lurkingoutside, where it was possible to hear the sound of their voices.
In this restless manner the day was spent, and when night came againPoyor ventured out once more.
By this time Cummings felt the necessity of gaining a little rest, andhe proposed that Neal and Teddy take their turn at standing watch.
"It will not be so tedious if you remain here together," he said, "andwe will give Jake a job later in the night."
It was really a relief to the boys to have something to occupy theirtime, and as they took his place at the entrance he lay down near athand where they could awaken him without difficulty in case it shouldbecome necessary.
To repeat all the unimportant incidents of the night would be tedious.When Poyor returned from his first trip outside he built a fire near thestream, shielded the flame by a screen of boughs that the
light mightnot be reflected from the entrance, and then, with the air of one who isaccustomed to such work, set about catching "chickens" enough to make ahearty meal.
Dishing these up in clay he roasted them as before, and Cummings wasawakened to share in the appetizing meal.
Then the Indian went out again, while Jake was standing watch, and anhour later (it was then about two o'clock in the morning), he returned,and roused Cummings, saying in his native tongue as he did so:
"Five miles from here is a smaller cave. The sentinels have justfinished searching it. They will be here in the morning. I have thoughtwe might slip past them, by exercising great caution, and it would bejust so much nearer the coast."
"Do you believe it should be done?" Cummings asked, as he sprang to hisfeet.
"It can do no harm, providing we are not discovered during the marchthrough the forest, and we may possibly be able to throw them off thescent."
"Then we will start at once. Under such desperate circumstances nothingshould be neglected which might be of benefit. How much food have we goton hand?"
"All that will be needed. It is not difficult to procure provisions inthis forest."
It surely seemed as if they might better their condition very materiallyby making this change, and, in view of all things, it was the propermanoeuvre since by remaining there was no doubt the party would bediscovered, when a regular siege must necessarily be the result.
There was yet a considerable amount of the roasted tohs on hand. Thiswas wrapped in leaves with the remainder of the provisions, and all theluggage made up in three packages, for it had been decided that the boysshould not be called upon to carry any burden.
"It may be that we shall be obliged to move quickly," Poyor said, "andit is best they have nothing but their guns."
When everything was in readiness for the start the Indian went outsideonce more to reconnoiter, and on his return the final preparations weremade.
He, Cummings and Jake fastened the bundles to their backs; Neal andTeddy were cautioned to take plenty of cartridges from the generalstore, and then, Poyor leading the way, they emerged from the cave.