The scientist tried to place the muddy object in a bucket, but it was too large to fit. He called, "Can one of you lean away in? I"ll hold it up as high as I can."
Tony"s excavations had taken him down another two feet, but with Chahda and Scotty holding onto his legs, Rick was able to reach in and take the object from Tony"s outstretched hands. It was bulky, slightly larger than a human head, and it was heavy--as heavy as lead, or gold!
Scotty and Chahda pulled Rick out of the pit, then they lowered the rope for Tony. In a moment he was working on the object, wiping and brushing.
There was a yellow gleam to it now, and the shape was becoming more and more skull-like as the mud was removed. Tony worked rapidly, and in a few moments he held it up for them to see. It was a skull, finely executed of heavy sheet gold, and the workmanship bore the unmistakable stamp of Alta Yuan.
"We"ve succeeded," Tony said, his voice hushed. "Beyond my wildest expectations!"
And in that moment Dog Meat and Angel called simultaneously.
The Ifugao warriors were advancing across the field in ominous silence, spears ready. Nast and Lazada were nowhere in sight, but at the head of the warriors was Nangolat!
Hastily the golden artifacts were put out of sight in the recess and Tony walked to meet the oncoming Ifugaos.
Scotty pulled the retractor of his rifle and a cartridge rammed into the firing chamber. He held the rifle casually, but ready for instant action.
Nangolat came closer, and his face was distorted with emotion. He held the spear in his fist, ready for stabbing or throwing. When he spoke, his voice, usually moderate, was nearly a scream.
"I almost believed you," he sobbed. "But now I know the truth! You are here to desecrate our temples and to rob us of the precious relics of my people."
Then the Ifugao saw that the dragon had been moved. He bared his teeth with fury and his eyes were glazed, black with emotion. He was beyond reason.
"Die!" he screamed. "Die!"
His hand flashed back for the throw. Scotty"s rifle spoke sharply and the heavy slug caught the blade of Nangolat"s spear. The Ifugao was whirled around bodily. He fell as the spear was wrenched from him and hurled a dozen yards away.
It was the signal. The Ifugao warriors rushed, launching spears as they came. Rick pulled Tony back to the shelter of the truck. Angel, Scotty, and Chahda were calmly firing at the oncoming wave, shooting low with deadly accuracy. From the terrace above, Balaban was firing down with good effect, while Dog Meat whammed away with the shotgun.
Spears bounced off the truck, the jeep, and the dragon. Now and then one hung quivering in the wall of the recess, but the Spindrift group had good shielding and there were no casualties.
The attackers were wavering now. A priest with a knot of chicken feathers in his hair leaped forward, holding a skull high. Rick guessed it was an important symbol of some kind, because he saw the warriors rally. He sighted in and his shot blasted the skull into fragments. The wave broke and retreated.
Tony made a quick examination to be sure there were no casualties. Out on the meadow several wounded Ifugaos, all of them with leg wounds, were being helped to safety.
"We can thank Nast and Lazada for this," Tony said bitterly. "Do you realize that we are in a very bad position?"
The Ifugao warriors were reforming. Nangolat, recovered from the numbing shock of Scotty"s shot, stormed among them, getting them ready for another a.s.sault. But Nangolat was no longer waving a spear. He was now armed with a rifle.
CHAPTER XVII
Make or Break
"We can stand off their a.s.saults," Tony said. "We can"t stand sniping.
Not for long, at any rate."
Scotty grinned. "Neither can Nangolat. Let"s see if I can fix his wagon."
They watched as Scotty wet his finger, tested for wind direction, then set the sights on his rifle. On the other side of the road Nangolat was exhorting his troops like a good general, waving his rifle to emphasize his words.
Scotty took a cla.s.sic sharpshooter"s position, relaxed but braced. Rick saw him inhale and hold it. The rifle muzzle moved slowly, following Nangolat"s movements. Then, suddenly, the rifle spoke.
Nangolat was thrown into the midst of his warriors, while his rifle, its stock shattered, flailed into the ranks and knocked two warriors down.
And then Nangolat went berserk. He s.n.a.t.c.hed a spear from one of his men, turned, and ran toward the defenders, screaming. A priest barked an order and two warriors dashed forward, caught Nangolat, and hauled him back by force.
"The old priest had sense enough to know Nangolat wouldn"t make it,"
Angel said.
"All right," Tony said crisply. "We"re trapped in here. It"s not a bad place to be trapped for a while. They can"t get at us without crossing open s.p.a.ces, and there is enough overhang to the wall to prevent them from dropping rocks on our heads. Also, Balaban is up there to warn us if they try anything from that direction. But we can"t stay here forever. We need help. How do we get it?"
"It has to be the constabulary at Baguio," Rick said. "There isn"t any other help nearby. If worst comes to worst, I suppose we could call the American amba.s.sador and try to get him to send Air Force troops from Clark Field."
"By the time diplomatic protocol and military red tape got untangled we"d be old men," Scotty objected. "If we lived to be old men. Also, you overlooked one little thing. How do we get a message to them?"
"Wait until night and one of us sneak out."
Tony looked at his watch. "We won"t last until night," he said succinctly. "It"s still early morning."
Rick examined the terrain between the cave and the road, noting where the station wagon Lazada had brought was parked.
"I"m going," he said. "Let history record that Rick Brant carried a message to...."
"Not Garcia," Chahda said. "That was in Cuba, says my Worrold Alminack.
Carry message to cops."
"How?" Scotty demanded.
"You create a diversion. I"ll get in the jeep and make a run for it."
Scotty considered. "It could work. But I"ll do it."
"My idea," Rick said firmly. "I"ll do it."
Tony was deep in thought. After all, the safety of the expedition was his responsibility. "I got us into this," he said. "Bad judgment is no excuse. I was certain it would work out."
"Would have, if Lazada had stayed home," Chahda said. "I go with Rick.
He drive, I shoot. Okay?"
"There doesn"t seem to be any alternative," Tony agreed. "Staying or going makes little difference, so far as danger is concerned. All right, Rick. We can create a diversion when they start to charge next time. If we start the truck and roll it toward the village, I"m sure we can create a little excitement."
"That"s smart," Scotty approved. "The truck would go right on across the road, across the terrace, and tumble down. It wouldn"t hit the village, though. It would land on the next terrace."
"I doubt that they"d think of that in the excitement," Tony commented.
"But take away the jeep and truck and you take away our good cover from spears. We need an earthwork fort, quickly. All hands turn to."