They were silent.

"Shall we start now, or try to get some rest, and then start at night?"

"Let's start now, sir," said Cyril firmly. "The darkness makes cowards of us--I mean, makes one of me, for I'm always fancying dangers all around."

"Are you ready, Perry?"

"Yes, father. Let's go at once."

"We will," said the colonel, "for I'm afraid that we should make very poor progress after dark. In with you then, and let's load up the mules; they must take a mouthful of gra.s.s wherever there is any as we go."

The very thought of getting on chased away a great deal of the weariness, and the little party were soon hard at work in the semi-darkness, just inside the cave, fastening on the packs. Then all mounted the riding mules, and without a moment's hesitation rode out, the colonel with the leading mule turning up the gorge, which ran pretty nearly due west and rising higher at every step, while John Manning and the two lads formed the rearguard.

"Ten times better than being shut up there in the dark, my lads," said the old soldier, sitting up erect in his saddle, with the b.u.t.t of his piece resting upon his thigh. "It's like being in the cavalry.--See any of 'em, Master Cyril, sir?"

"No, not a soul in sight. Have they gone right away?"

John Manning chuckled.

"Just far enough to keep a sharp eye on us, sir. They're hiding somewhere behind the stones."

But for the s.p.a.ce of an hour, as they rode on in the shade of the early morning, there was no sign of an enemy either to front or rear, and inspirited by the crisp mountain air, the boys felt their spirits rise, and were ready to banter John Manning about what they looked upon as his mistake.

"Depend upon it," said Perry, "they drew right back to go and camp for the day, and rest, before coming to attack us again."

"They were soon rested then, sir," said the old soldier drily, "for there's two of 'em up yonder behind those pieces of rock."

"Where? Nonsense. Birds: condors, perhaps, on a shelf."

"Perhaps so, sir," said John Manning; "but they're birds that can make signals, and your father sees them too." For just then the colonel drew his mule aside, and let the rest pa.s.s on, while he waited for the rearguard to come up.

"Be on the alert," he said as they came up; "the Indians are high above us on the mountain-side, and they are making signs to others right up the gorge. Close up."

Then going nearer to his old servant, he whispered:

"Keep a sharp eye up to right and left, and if they open the ball, jump down, and don't hesitate about taking good aim at the first who tries to stop us."

"Right, sir. But how do you think they will open the ball, sir?

Arrows?"

"No: as our old friends in the North-west did, John Manning. Ah, look, they have begun."

"Yes, sir; I expected it," cried John Manning, as the mules all stopped short, their leader having suddenly swerved aside to avoid a little avalanche of stones and ma.s.ses of rocks which came tearing down from far on high, right across their course.

It began by the dislodging of one great ma.s.s, which was forced over from a rocky shelf, and before this had rolled half-way, it had started hundreds more, the attempt being so well contrived that the pieces of rock, which came leaping and bounding down with a clashing sound like thunder, would certainly have crushed one or more of the mules, but for their quick appreciation of the danger.

Two sharp replies to this attack were given from the loaded pieces, and the Indians disappeared; but when, after a great deal of coaxing, the mules were got into motion once more, the colonel urging the leader round beyond where the stones had fallen, the boys uttered a warning cry, for another ma.s.s of rock was started from high up on the other side, and with such good effect that the rush of stones it started caught the tiny caravan half-way, and to the misery and despair of all, one of the best mules lay with its pack half buried, and the poor creature's head crushed almost flat.

This time the boys fired up at a single man perched fully twelve hundred feet above the narrow bottom of the gorge, and he dropped out of sight, while the colonel and John Manning leaped down again, and rapidly removed the stones which impeded them in their efforts to loosen the pack-ropes and remove the load to another mule.

This was a hindrance of a good half-hour, and the colonel looked very stern as he gave the order to advance again, when they gained about a mile, the gorge opening a little. Then the huge towering walls contracted once more, and a black-looking prospect opened before them, for there, so narrow that there was barely room for the mules to go singly, was their way, through a black-looking rift, above which the mountains on either side rose in shelves admirably adapted for the enemy's defence, and promising so ill for the little party, that the colonel hesitated for a minute while he used his gla.s.s. Then, as all was still, no sign of an enemy visible, he gave the order to advance, in the hope that the place was too precipitous for the Indians to occupy.

Vain hope! Ten minutes later the mule he rode lay quivering on the ground; the colonel having the narrowest of narrow escapes from a terrible death.

"Forward!" he said firmly, but as he spoke, another avalanche and another came thundering down, and seeing the madness of attempting to proceed, he gave the word to retreat.

It was needless, for the mules had already sprung round, and were hurrying back at a rate that was faster than anything they had yet shown.

There was no yell of triumph from on high, and no sign of enemy on either hand as they rode back, face to face with the fact that exit from the gorge in that direction was impossible, and that unless they could find some side ravine leading in the direction they wished to pursue, there was nothing for it but to retrace their steps right to the cinchona cutters' camp, and from thence make their way home by the road they came.

"It does seem so strange," said Perry, as they rode back; "they don't pursue us, but let us ride quietly on. Are they satisfied with the mischief they have done?"

Cyril made no answer, for he was watching the colonel, where he rode by himself, grave and stern, impressed as he was by the feeling that all his efforts would be brought to nought, if he could not devise some means of reaching San Geronimo. At that moment it looked hopeless, and as if he would be thwarted at every step, for though the enemy were invisible, he had had bitter experience of the fact that their knowledge of the mountain paths placed them at a tremendous advantage, and he felt that in all probability they were even then where they could watch every movement, and had perhaps got well ahead, ready to stop them by another attack upon the mules.

It was past mid-day now, and the hope of getting well onward toward safety was completely crushed; the sun was now shining fiercely down into the gorge, heating the rocks so, that the reflection was almost worse than the scorching rays from above. The mules were panting and thirsty, and the exertions of the day, coming upon such a broken night, were telling terribly upon all, so that reluctantly, and as their only resource, the colonel allowed the old leading mule to make straight for the stream which came gurgling out of the cave they had left that morning. Here, to the surprise of all, the intelligent beast, instead of stooping to drink at once, stepped carefully among the stones right into the cool shade within, the rest following, and five minutes later Perry and Cyril were seated inside upon one of the packs.

"And all that day's work thrown away," said Cyril sadly.

"And two mules dead," whispered Perry, so that his father should not hear.

"But we saved their loads," replied Cyril.

"What for?" said Perry, in the same low voice. "It's of no use: we shall never get away alive."

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.

READY FOR THE WORST.

Nature must be satisfied at whatever cost, and, as soon as possible, the provisions were unpacked, while a fire, which had been lit with the sc.r.a.ps of wood collected as they returned, burned brightly, the smoke drawing farther into the cavern, and being rapidly dispersed. Then, as soon as the kettle, suspended by an iron rod over the flames, began to boil, a very small handful of tea was thrown in, and the tin lifted off and laid aside.

Only some very wooden cake bread, and some very dry tough beef, with a strong flavour of being imperfectly sun-cured; but how delicious it was when washed down by the warm, unsweetened, milkless tea!

They sat on the stones a little way inside the entrance, where the cool dampness of the cave was relieved by the soft, warm, sunny air which floated in from the gorge; and a sharp lookout was kept for the Indians, but not a sign betrayed their presence. A short exploration of the interior, too, was made, but there was not a sound to be heard, save an impatient stamp or two from the mules; and, concluding that the enemy had all left the place, the colonel returned to where he had left the boys on guard, but only to find them both fast asleep, and John Manning walking up and down slowly by the stream, with his gun over his shoulder.

"Don't wake 'em, sir," said the man appealingly: "they tried very hard to hold up, but it warn't to be done; and if I hadn't got up and taken to marching here on sentry-go, I should have been fast asleep too."

"Poor fellows," said the colonel sadly, "it was too much to expect after what they have gone through. There, lie down for a couple of hours, and then I'll wake you to relieve me."

"Begging your pardon, sir, if you'd take first turn," began the old soldier, but he was cut short directly by a sharp gesture, and, without a word, he lay down with his piece in his hand, and was asleep directly.

The colonel took his place, and then began to walk slowly to and fro, now right out where the sinking sun glistened upon the surface of the stream, now back inward, with the walk growing darker, till it was quite black.

And as he marched to and fro, the colonel reflected upon the hopelessness of their position. As he approached the open sunshine, he felt lighter-hearted; but as he turned and walked inward toward the cold and darkness, his spirits sank once more, and he saw no way out of their difficulties save the giving up of that for which he had come all those many thousand miles. Then he stopped short, for Cyril had suddenly sprung to his feet, looking horribly guilty and ashamed.

"I am so sorry, sir," he faltered. "I did not mean to go to sleep."

"You could not help it, my lad," said the colonel, laying his hand upon the boy's shoulder. "You had reached the limit of human endurance.

But, Cyril, my lad, you are being sharply punished for your mad escapade."