"Senor Jack, is it you? Tell me. How have you fared?"
"It"s Brother Gregorio, fellows. Hurray," cried Jack, turning to the circle about him.
"We"ve found it, Brother Gregorio," he replied, interrupting the other"s eager flood of questions. "We are in the Enchanted City. And it is not in ruins, but inhabited. By the descendants of the Incas. Oh, a marvellous story. But I have little time now for conversation. Do you call Father Felipe at once, as Don Ernesto has much to tell him."
Father Felipe, fortunately, was close at hand, and he and Don Ernesto soon were engaged in conversation. Rapidly and concisely, Don Ernesto related the sequence of their adventures, and what they now proposed to do. In conclusion, he asked Father Felipe to take minute note of the directions for finding the Enchanted City, and to communicate at once with his brother-in-law, the President of Chile. From Don Ernesto"s remarks, those listening could tell that Father Felipe was protesting vehemently at the carrying out of the proposed visit to the Inca, and urging them not to do so. But Don Ernesto did not weaken.
So long did the conversation continue, that before its conclusion a messenger appeared on the roof to inform Michac that the Inca"s messenger had returned and awaited him below. Michac disappeared. When he returned, Don Ernesto still was talking, and Michac addressed himself to Mr. Hampton.
"The Inca will receive you as delegates from the Lord Beyond the Mountains," he said. "You are to appear at once for audience."
"And does he give safe conduct?"
"So states the message, yet Senor----"
"What?" asked Mr. Hampton, noting his hesitation.
"I fear treachery from Cinto. Remember you were told by Prince Huaca that he and you were to appear for audience today--when apparently you would be safe--yet were then to be seized and slain. I repeat me, Senor, of urging you to make this visit. It is not yet too late to withdraw."
Don Ernesto meantime had concluded his conversation with Father Felipe.
"Treachery or not, Senor Hampton," he said firmly, "I believe we should make the attempt to save Prince Huaca. Honor demands it."
"Yes," said Mr. Hampton, firmly. "I too, have decided in favor of it. We shall keep our eyes open and be on our guard."
"Dad," interrupted Jack, "remember what I said about the ring radio?
Well, I"ve got another idea. Let us give the Inca a present. That will be only natural. Now the box containing the tube transformers is a handsome piece of work, and will look impressive. Let us take it and the batteries and present it to him, string up an aerial and tell him the Lord Beyond the Mountains is so great he can speak and make his voice heard, although he isn"t present. Then we"ll get the Inca to put on the headphone and give him an earful from the battlement."
"But who will speak from the battlement, Jack?"
"I"ve thought of that, too, Dad. Of course the Inca understands this archaic Spanish that the high n.o.bles speak. One of us might stay behind and spring Spanish on him. But I"ve got a better plan. Wouldn"t it impress him to tell him that our Lord Beyond the Mountains is so powerful that he speaks all tongues, even that of the Incas--the most isolated people in the world?"
Mr. Hampton nodded. Frank interrupted eagerly.
"You mean----"
"Yes, sir, I mean Michac," said Jack. "He isn"t going with us. He can stay here and act the part of the Lord Beyond the Mountains, and speak to the Inca. Besides, that will be all the better. For he knows all about conditions here and knows everybody by his first name. He can show such familiarity with the Inca"s affairs as to dumbfound the old boy. As for the generator, a couple of these husky soldiers can turn the handles and give him the juice. Now I know what you"re going to say, Dad. You"re going to object that Michac won"t know when the Inca puts on the receivers, aren"t you?"
Mr. Hampton nodded, smiling slightly, for Jack"s enthusiasm amused and warned him, and he could see his son had a plan already worked out.
"Suppose, too," he said, "that the Inca refuses to don the headphones?
What then?"
"If he doesn"t," said Jack, "what"s to prevent us from bluffing this High Priest, Cinto, into putting them on? We can ask simply whether he is afraid. That ought to floor him. He won"t dare admit fear of another"s magic. For that matter, we can bluff the Inca into listening by the same method.
"Anyway," Jack continued, "either of your objections can be met. We can say that the Lord from Beyond the Mountains speaks from the sky, and ask the Inca to come to that great platform before the Temple. Then we can put up our set there, and from the battlements here, Michac can see just who is listening on the "phones, and when to speak."
"Jack, I believe you"ve got it," said his father, heartily. "Well, let"s go."
"Look here," said Bob, suddenly. "Michac can"t see from where this set is located. He can"t get sight of the square at all. But I"ve got an idea, too. Jack, you give him your field gla.s.ses, and explain them to him. Then he can station a trusty man in the embrasure there, with the gla.s.ses, and this man can make sure beyond possibility of a doubt, who is listening-in and when, and just call the information to Michac."
The gla.s.ses were brought, a soldier instructed in their use, and two others put at the generator. Then Michac escorted the party to the fortress gate, and they set out across the square. Before resuming his station on the battlements, Michac a.s.sembled two strong parties under trusty petty officers, and stationed them at the main gate and at the sally port at the foot of the Acropolis, reached by a stairway hewn from the living rock. It was there the surprise attack had been delivered the night before.
"Keep close watch," he commanded, "and if you see these strangers return in haste, pursued by the Palace Guard, dash forth to their rescue. They go to attempt the delivery of Prince Huaca."
That last statement, he new, would steel their arms, for the common soldiers of the fortress adored Prince Huaca. Then he returned to the battlements to await developments.
By that time he could see the party, led by the Inca"s messenger, marching two abreast, in step, with Pedro and Carlos in the rear, bearing the radio outfit, reach the wide stone stairway sweeping up to the Incarial palace, which adjoined the Temple on the left. He was torn by conflicting emotions at the sight, hope that the marvels of the strangers would accomplish the impossible, fear for the possible effects of Cinto"s treachery.
Steadily they marched up the steps, received at the head of the flight by an armed guard in glittering armor, which closed about them. Fear overcame hope in Michac"s breast. Against those splendid armor-clad warriors, how could his newfound friends hope for success. His heart failed him. Had he been wise in permitting them to go? Were they not going to certain death, in spite of fair promises?
"Oh, Huaca, Huaca, my friend and leader," he said to himself, in momentary despair, "I shall never see you alive again. My poor country!"
CHAPTER XXIII--THE OLD AND THE NEW
What a sensation that was, crossing the great square of Cusco Hurrin, facing the tremendous Temple of the Sun and the Inca"s Palace, in the bright sunlight, with not a soul in sight in all the great expanse. The boys again underwent that feeling to which they had been subject so often since arrival, namely, that they were dreaming. Could it be possible that here they were in the most secret and unknown city on earth, that the unparalleled experience which had come to Pizarro centuries before, of discovering the Inca civilization, was now coming to them?
They marched in step, shoulders squared, heads erect, looking very military in their camping outfits and campaign hats. By each man"s side swung his automatic in a holster, ready for instant use.
"If they do not know the purpose of these weapons," said Mr. Hampton, as they set out, "it is not likely they will attempt to take them from us.
But, should they do so, we must not permit it. In that case, let each man draw his automatic and await my instructions."
"What would you do, Dad?"
"Demonstrate my ability as a shot," said his father, grimly. "I would bring down something or other, to convince them it were best not to trifle with us. My hope, however, is that we shall not be asked to give up our weapons."
Steadily the march continued, and now, as they drew nearer to the Inca"s Palace and could see the individual figures of the armor-clad guard drawn up on the terrace at the head of the great stairway, Jack turned for a last look at the Acropolis. As he did so, he gave an exclamation, and halted, staring. The others turned at his words, and then also halted in their tracks and stared.
For the first time since arrival they obtained a clear view of the mountain peak behind the Acropolis. Through a flank of this lofty height was cut the Tunnel Way by which they had gained the fortress. During their only appearance on the battlements by day, only a very short time previously, they had been too occupied in calling the monastery by radio to look up at the towering peak beyond.
"Look at it smoke."
It was Bob"s voice, breaking the silence.
At once the others gave tongue, too, and the air was filled with their exclamations.
For out of the truncated top of the mountain was pouring a thick black smoke, not of any great density, in reality, as yet, but still p.r.o.nounced.
"Is that a signal fire, or something like that, by any chance, Dad?"
asked Jack.
Mr. Hampton shook his head. His face was grave.
"That"s a volcano," he said. "You know some of the most active volcanoes in the world are located in the Andes. And the whole Andine region is subject to earthquakes. The tremors are felt far out at sea, and when a great earthquake occurs, it is usually accompanied by a tidal wave that wreaks destruction along the Chilian and Peruvian coast. Valparaiso practically was wiped out by a tidal wave not so many years ago."