Briefly he explained the use of the weapon, and Prince Huaca accepted with thanks what he might have taken without a by-your-leave. He tucked it away, within his tunic and under his broad golden girdle.

They then took their leave and were led by the jailer once more to their room, where they found Pedro and Carlos contentedly snoring away.

"In the morning we shall radio," said the prince, on their departure.

The others agreed.

But----

CHAPTER XIX--TREACHERY

"What's that?"

Frank sat up in bed, listened a moment, then shook the form of Bob beside him. He shook vigorously. Bob grunted.

"Tumble out," said Frank, himself hitting the floor. And he raised his voice to a shout:

"Everybody up."

Springing to the nearest couch, where reposed Jack and his father, beginning to stir and blink at his shout, Frank shook them too. All the time he continued shouting: "Everybody up. Everybody up."

All were awake by now, sitting up in bed or springing to the floor. And the sounds that had caused Frank to awaken could be heard plainly.

Above the revelry in the square below, which had continued unabated hour after hour, could be heard a different hubbub, men shouting, and the sound of firearms being discharged. Ferdinand sprang to a loophole and stared out on a tossing, surging ma.s.s of humanity, lighted fitfully by the glare of the bonfires and the tossing flame of torches. All around the edges of the square, men, women and children were fleeing as if in panic. Before the great stairs of the Temple, where glowed the hugest bonfire of all, could be seen a force of men in gleaming armor--something which caused Ferdinand to rub his eyes and wonder if he were dreaming.

They were close knit and firing to the rear as they advanced steadily.

"Look, look," cried Ferdinand.

All sprang to the loopholes.

The armor-clad force set foot on the stairway and started upward, those in the rear continuing their rear-guard fight.

"What is it? Who's fighting?"

They craned to see the opposing force. Ah, there it was. A rabble of men from the direction of the fortress, some with firearms which they were discharging at the group mounting the Temple stairs, others armed only with spears. Some wore helmet or breastplate, but none were fully clothed in armor. They were shouting with rage, and it seemed to the onlookers there were cries of "Huaca, Huaca."

What could it mean? They stared, fascinated, absorbed, beginning to grow alarmed. The force on the Temple stairs held together firmly. Several dropped as if wounded, but were lifted by comrades and supported into the Temple. The force reached the top of the stairway. Then, from the great pillars of the portico, gloomy and unlighted, above the glare of the bonfire, stepped numbers of men, similarly clad in armor, who took up position in serried rank along the top of the steps, and, at the command of a plumed leader in the middle, delivered with uplifted sword, started down the steps.

Suddenly a new clash of steel, seemingly at the base of the fortress rock, immediately below the windows of the prisoners, broke out. It was succeeded by loud shouts. They craned, but could not see.

"Sounds like an attack on the fort," cried Frank, withdrawing from his loophole to shout to Jack and his father at the next one.

"But that isn't possible," Jack replied. "The only approach to the fort is up a winding stairway from the city. Below us is rock."

"But, listen. Something's going on. Wish I could see."

"Look, Frank, look." Bob pulled his companion back to their loophole.

Frank followed the injunction.

Back across the square, running pell mell, came the men who had pursued the armor-clad warriors into the Temple.

"Those are soldiers from the fortress, boys," said Mr. Hampton, over Frank's shoulder. Frank and Bob turned about to see Jack and his father, who had approached from their loophole.

"Do you think so?"

"Yes," answered Mr. Hampton, speaking rapidly. "I believe that in some manner Prince Huaca has been captured and that force we saw disappear into the Temple had him in its midst. His soldiers followed, unorganized and enraged. Now a force in their rear has attacked the fortress, possibly at a sally-post below us of which we know nothing. Arm yourselves at once, boys, and barricade the door with the couches. If the fortress falls, we will defend ourselves."

"Thank goodness Prince Huaca returned us our weapons and ammunition last night," said Bob, leaping to possess himself of rifle and revolver.

"Last night?" said Frank. "Why, this is the same night."

"Right you are, Frank. But things move so fast here, I lose track of time."

While the others armed, and then barricaded the door, Mr. Hampton kept watch at the loophole. Prince Huaca's followers could no longer be seen.

The armor-clad Palace Guard was sweeping across the great square, empty now of merrymakers, in a wave. But, though he could not see the soldiers of the prince, Mr. Hampton could tell what had become of them. For up from the foot of the Acropolis below his loophole came an increased sound of shouting and clashing steel.

He looked again. The Palace Guard had increased pace. Evidently, all was not going well with the attacking party at the Acropolis, as the retreating soldiers from the fortress fell upon them in the rear. Would the soldiers of the fortress win back to shelter with their comrades? Or would the reinforcements of the Palace Guard arrive in time to break down resistance? Mr. Hampton trembled. Upon the outcome depended the fate of the boys in the room behind. Jack! His eyes misted. Well, they would sell their lives dearly.

Straining to listen to the sounds from below, watching the oncoming wave of the Palace Guard, Mr. Hampton was unaware of what was transpiring in the room behind him. A hand fell on his arm. He whirled about. It was Jack.

"Somebody's at the door."

Mr. Hampton gripped his rifle, and sprang toward the barricade of couches behind which crouched the rest of their little force. The great door of the room opened outward. They could see the light of several torches shining upon helmet and lance point.

At sight of the barricade, and of the rifles poking over it, there was a hasty scramble on the part of those in the corridor to get out of the way. Then a white flag was thrust up on a spear point, and Mr. Hampton saw it was borne by their jailer--the man whom Prince Huaca trusted with the knowledge of the secret pa.s.sage into his inner apartment, the man whose kindly face, as he had dealt with them, had made them feel they had a friend in him, even though there was no common tongue between them.

He made signs to indicate he came in peace, then beckoned another forward. This other, in the dress of a n.o.ble, seemed vaguely familiar to Mr. Hampton. Jack supplied the answer.

"Why, Dad, it's the young n.o.ble at whose house we stopped when we were brought through the outer valley as prisoners. He's a friend of Prince Huaca."

"What the deuce, though," said Mr. Hampton. "I can't speak to him in his language."

It was unnecessary.

In Spanish far poorer than Prince Huaca's, yet still understandable, the young n.o.ble explained he came in peace. Then he asked that he be admitted. Part of the barricade was removed, and he was brought into the room. He and Mr. Hampton and Don Ernesto withdrew to one side and carried on a low-voiced conversation.

Presently, he bowed and withdrew from the room, the guard in the corridor going with him. The jailer, however, at his command, remained behind, and the door was left open. The boys looked inquiringly at the older men.

"Tear down the barricade, boys, so we have something to sit on. The fortress is still in the hands of Prince Huaca's men. The prince, as I surmised, has been captured. This young n.o.ble, Michac, had heard a rumor out at his country home of impending trouble, and was so alarmed for Prince Huaca's safety that he started for the fortress at once. He arrived too late. Prince Huaca had been captured by a body of men who gained entrance to his sleeping chamber through the secret pa.s.sage. How it was all brought about has yet to be learned. They carried him out through a postern, where a strong body from the Palace Guard was in waiting. That was the force we first saw make its way to the Temple.

"Michac has gone to see the safeguarding of the fortress, and has a.s.sumed command, for the soldiers believe there was treachery among their offices and have deposed all. Michac is known to them, he has always held aloof from the Court, and they trust him, and offered him the command. He plans to send a messenger at once to the Inca with word that if Prince Huaca is slain, the fortress troops will starve the city.

"The position of the fortress, controlling the food supply of the city, gives him the opportunity thus to preserve Prince Huaca's life. On the other hand, if he attacks, Prince Huaca would be slain. Thus, matters probably will be deadlocked. Michac says that from a letter sent him by Prince Huaca, he learned of the latter's trust in us, and thus has asked us to place ourselves at his disposal, as allies and advisers.