"Yes, sir, all ready."

"That's right. Now, boys, the Indians have strolled back, and I don't think they have set any watch yet. Keep on walking to and fro as you do sometimes, with your arms on each other's shoulders. Keep between the fire and the Indians' clearing, and take no notice of anything you see.

We shall not leave you behind."

Cyril's heart beat violently, and he heard Perry utter a low sigh as he threw his arm over his companion's shoulder and they began walking to and fro about twenty yards from their fire, while the low hum of many voices came from the clearing where the Indians were talking together before settling themselves for the night.

Meanwhile Diego and his companion were eating away as if they had suffered a three days' fast, and showed no sign of leaving off, till all at once, just as the boys turned, they became aware of the fact that the colonel had gone from the spot where they had seen him last, and that he and John Manning had suddenly appeared in front of the guides, where they were eating. By the light of the fire they saw that guns were presented at the men's heads, with the effect of making them throw out their arms to seize their weapons, but before they could effect anything for their defence, they were thrust backward, and Cyril at the same moment saw by the firelight Diego lying upon his back, with the colonel's foot upon his chest, and the other man in a similar position, held down by John Manning.

"Keep on walking," Cyril said aloud to Perry, for the latter had stopped, panting and startled, and Cyril felt him quiver as he half-forced him along.

"What are they going to do? Kill them?" whispered Perry.

"They're going to master them," replied Cyril. "Don't speak like that.

Recollect our orders. It is to save them from being seen."

The boys kept on their walk, watching the proceedings by the fire as much as they could, but in less than five minutes there was nothing to see, for both the guides were bound with a hide rope from the mules'

packages; and urged onward by threats from the colonel's and John Manning's pieces, they had pa.s.sed out of sight among the bushes in an enforced stooping position, a faint crackling telling of the direction in which they had gone, while a louder crackling and snapping told, with the accompanying blaze, that something had been thrown upon the fire.

"The bows and arrows," whispered Perry, and they kept up their monotonous tramp to and fro.

"What are they doing now?" said Perry suddenly, and then he started, for Cyril burst out into a merry laugh, and gave him a sharp slap on the back, so suddenly, and with such force, that Perry stumbled forward, and nearly fell.

"Are you mad?" cried the boy furiously.

"Not quite," said Cyril merrily. "Here, give us your hand, old chap: I'll haul up. That's your sort. Ahoy! There you are again."

He said all this boisterously, and then in a low whisper:

"Keep it up. Hit me, or do something. Two Indians have come up close to watch."

Perry trembled violently, but he tried to follow out his companion's plan, and turning upon him, engaged in a mock struggle, each making believe to throw the other for a minute or two, and then laughingly resuming their walk to and fro.

Those laughs were very hysterical, though, and Perry's next words came with gasps as he said:

"See the Indians now?"

"No; they're either gone back or they're hiding."

"Which? Let's go and see."

"We can't," replied Cyril. "Our orders are to walk up and down here, as if nothing were wrong. Can't you see it will make them believe we are going on as usual?"

"Yes," said Perry huskily; "but I wish my father would come now."

"So do I."

"Those two may have got the better of them."

"Not they," said Cyril stoutly. "It would take three Indians to get rid of your John Manning. Your father will take care they do nothing.

Don't take any notice. Hear that?"

"Yes, some one going away through the bushes. Those two hadn't gone, and they were hiding."

"Yes."

"But are they both gone now?"

"I only heard one," said Cyril, beginning to whistle a merry tune, but before he had got through the first strain, there was another faint rustling among the trees.

"There goes the other," said Cyril quietly, and then he broke into a loud yawn. "Heigh--he--ha--hum," he said. "How dark it has grown."

"Listen," whispered Perry.

"I heard it," said Cyril. "One of the mules squeaking."

"No, it was a horrible cry. Some one has been killed."

"There goes another then," said Cyril, as a peculiar sound came from the forest.

"Yes, they are killing the guides."

"I tell you, it was the squeaking of the mules. I know the sound well enough."

"I'm sure you're wrong," protested Perry.

"And I'm sure _you_ are. If it was the cry of some one being killed, wouldn't there be a rush of the Indians, to see what was the matter?"

"If they heard it."

"And they would. Trust them for that. The mules are excited and calling to one another. I believe they are being loaded."

"Oh, how can you take it all so coolly?" groaned Perry. "My heart beats as if it would break, and I feel a curious choking sensation at the throat, and all the time you take it as if there was nothing the matter."

"Do I? You don't know," said Cyril. "I believe I'm worse than you are; but never mind, try to laugh."

"Laugh," said Perry piteously. "I feel as if I could sit down and cry."

"Leave that to the girls, lad. We've got something else to do. Don't stop. We must keep on, so as to keep the Indians from thinking there's anything wrong. There, cheer up. Can you sing any thing?"

"Sing!" cried Perry, in a voice full of reproach.

"Very well, then, I must whistle softly."

He commenced a tune, and got through a few bare. Then he ceased as suddenly as he had begun, and began talking.

"I say it was very plucky of your father, wasn't it? The boldness of the plan has made it do. The Indians could not even think we should make such an attempt."

For a full hour the boys kept up that painful tramp up and down, Perry growing more and more silent, and Cyril bursting out from time to time with a little peal of forced laughter. Twice over, they were conscious of the presence of the watchful Indians creeping furtively among the trees; but the actions of the boys allayed their suspicions, and they went back as softly as they came.