This was just after they had started, and found, as soon as they had cleared the rocky chaos, that the shelf path was so wide that the lads were able to ride abreast; and as the colonel had gone right in front with the guide, the boys began talking about the men with the llamas.

"Any one would think your father wanted to go into the kina trade," said Cyril, who was rapidly recovering his spirits. "Did you notice how the Indian frowned when Diego kept on talking to him, and I asked all those questions for your father?"

"I thought he seemed impatient and tired, and as if he wanted to sit down and rest."

"Oh, it wasn't that," said Cyril quietly; "it's because they want to keep all about the bark trees very secret, so that no one else shall be able to grow it and supply it for sale. You heard my father say how the people who went in search of the trees never came back again. Father feels sure that they were murdered."

"No; that was the people who went after the treasures."

"Oh, was it? I forget. Perhaps it was both," said Cyril. "My head got in such a muddle over my coming after you, that things are mixed. I suppose it was because Colonel Campion asked so much about the kina."

"Father takes a great interest in everything; that's why he travels and has come here," said Perry. "Look, there goes a condor."

"Well, let him go," said Cyril. "He isn't good to eat, and you've got plenty of provisions to last till you get to some village on the other side of the mountains. But, I say, it does seem strange that you people should come here of all places in the world."

"I don't see it," replied Perry. "It's a very wonderful place to come to, but I wish it wasn't quite so dangerous. I keep feeling afraid of turning giddy."

"Yes, it's a wonderful place to come to, and I had no idea that the valleys were so awful and deep; but I should enjoy it if it wasn't for thinking of them at home. I hope they believe I've come after you.

Wish I'd left a line to say where I had gone."

"It's too late to wish that now," said Perry.

"Yes, but one can't help wishing it all the same. I wish I knew why your father has come up here."

At that moment there was a warning shout from forward, and another from John Manning in the rear, for the boys had been so wrapped in their thoughts that they had not noticed how rapidly the path was narrowing.

They had, however, another hint, and that was from Cyril's mule, which, from long training on similar paths, knew exactly what to do, and went on ahead, while Perry's stopped short on the narrowing shelf which followed all the windings and angles of the rocky wall, and had become so strait that Perry shrank from watching the laden mules, whose loads every now and then brushed against the stones, and one completely caught against a rough projection, making the intelligent animal that bore it stop and ease away a little, leaning more and more over the precipice till Perry's hands turned cold and wet, and he held his breath. Just, though, as he was about to close his eyes, so as not to see the poor brute plunge headlong down to where it would certainly be dashed to pieces, the load escaped from the awkward corner, and the mule trudged on just as before, while Perry heard a deeply-drawn sigh just behind him.

"I thought he'd have gone, Master Perry," said John Manning. "Mules ain't got no nerves, that's for certain, and if ever you hear any one say in the future as a donkey's a stupid animal, you tell him he don't know what he's talking about."

"That mule's sensible enough, at all events," said Perry, without venturing to turn his head, lest he should have to look down into the gulf.

"Sensible, sir? Why, he acted just as a human being would. I call it wonderful. I say, Master Perry, though."

"Yes? But I wish you wouldn't talk to me so, while we are going along a place like this."

"Don't say so, Master Perry, because I want to talk. It keeps one from feeling a bit skeary, because this is a place, sir, really."

"Well, what do you want to say? Speak loud, for I can't turn round to listen."

"But if I speak loud, the colonel will hear me, sir, and I want to talk about him."

"Well, go on then; what is it?"

"Can't you tell me, sir, where we're going to, and what we're going for?"

"We're going over the mountains, John."

"Well, sir, I know that; but what are we going for?"

"To find the valley of diamonds, and throw down lumps of meat for the rocs to fetch out."

"No, no, sir, that won't do," said John Manning, shaking his head. "As you said to me the other day, that's only a story out of the _'Rabian Nights_, and not real truth, though these places might just as well be something of the kind, from the looks of them. But, I say, sir, you do know where we're going, and what for, don't you?"

"No, I have not the slightest idea. Ask my father yourself."

"What, sir! Me ask the colonel about the plan of his campaign? Why, I should as soon have thought of asking the Dook o' Wellington."

"We shall know in good time, I daresay," said Perry; and then a slip on the part of one of the mules ahead made them turn cold once more.

But the clever animal recovered itself on the instant, and for hours they kept on along this path, till the boys despaired of reaching its end, and began to calculate on the possibility of having to encamp on a place like that for the night.

But it is a long lane that has no turning, and just when there was a sensible deepening of the gloom, and the peeps they had of the sky overhead were of a golden amber, they turned an angle and became aware of an increase in the murmuring sound of water, which thenceforth grew louder and louder, till it was evident that they were approaching some extensive fall.

An hour later they were in full sight of where it came thundering down hundreds of feet, spouting forth from a gap, and plunging down on to a huge b.u.t.tress of rock, which shot it off again far into the air, distributing it so that it went on down into the valley like a misty rain, and without a sound arising from below.

The fall was magnificent, for, as they approached, the upper part was turned to gold by the setting sun, and to add to the beauty of the scene, there was a patch of forest on either side, and the narrow shelf was broadening out to where it ran into a side valley, all golden green and darkened shadow. For they had reached the end of the terrific gorge, and there were scores of places just in front ready for the formation of ideal camps, without the risk of an incautious step sending its unhappy author thousands of feet down into the depths below.

In another half-hour they were in a place which, by comparison with the sterile defile of darkness and depression, seemed to the lads beautiful in the extreme; and after a hearty meal, while the colonel was looking round the camp, as he called it, and having a farewell glance for the night at the mules, which were thoroughly enjoying the abundance of gra.s.s, Cyril sat looking very thoughtful and depressed.

"He's thinking of home and his people," said Perry to himself, and then, on the impulse of the moment:

"I say," he cried, "why didn't my father send you back along with the llama train? I never thought of that before."

"Are you in such a hurry to get rid of me?" said Cyril bitterly.

"No, of course not; but as he said he should send you home by the first, I thought it strange that he had not done so."

"Because they were not going to San Geronimo," said Cyril quietly.

"They would turn off to the north, just where I first joined you, and I suppose he thought, after what I had suffered, it would be too cruel to send me to find a great deal of my way back with people like that."

They relapsed into silence for a time, during which period John Manning cleared away and washed up as methodically as if he were at home, while the two Indians sat by the fire munching away at the supply of biscuit given to them.

"What are you thinking about, Perry?" said Cyril at last.

"The stars. How big and bright they are up here. What were you thinking about?"

"Diego, our guide."

"What about him?--that he ought to be fonder of water, even if it is icily-cold?"

"No," said Cyril seriously. "I want to know why he has turned so quiet and serious, and why he seems to be always watching your father in such a peculiar way."

"Father was sharp with him, and ordered him to go on, when he seemed to want to go back."

"Yes, and I suppose he did not quite like it; but that isn't all."

"What is all, then?" said Perry.