"He will return presently. Now you have the whole matter before you. It looks dark, yet not entirely hopeless."

CHAPTER XX--FRANK PLANS A MIRACLE

Michac, however, was delayed far longer than he antic.i.p.ated, and the remaining hours of the night pa.s.sed without his return. None pa.s.sed through their corridor. No messengers appeared with word from Michac.

They were left in darkness as to the course of events.

Sleep for most of them would have been impossible. Only Pedro and Carlos, apprised briefly by Don Ernesto as to what had occurred, could yield to slumber. They, however, with the stoic philosophy and acceptance of a situation that the boys on previous occasions had admired, turned in and slept soundly, ready for the next call to action.

"Boy, how I wish I could do the same," said big Bob, glancing enviously at the slumbering huachos. "No use to try, though. I might get to sleep, but it would be only to have Frank chuck me out of bed the next minute.

Seems to me I never yet got to sleep that he didn't go out and start a couple of bunches of fellows to fighting each other, just to spoil my slumber."

Don Ernesto and Mr. Hampton fell into quiet, low-voiced conversation, and the boys posted themselves at the loopholes to watch for developments.

The bonfires still blazed in the great square, fed ever and again by members of the Palace Guard. These latter, clad in complete armor, were posted at every street leading into the square. The fitful glare of the bonfires gleamed now and again upon breastplate or helmet.

Of all that great mult.i.tude which had been making merry, none remained.

Several had been wounded in the crossfire of the two opposing forces, but their bodies had been removed. Where before all was mirth and merry-making, now reigned an ominous, oppressive silence.

Now and again the intermittent gleam of torches borne through the streets could be seen in the thoroughfares radiating from the great square. The boys wondered what it portended.

"Perhaps the High Priest is ferreting out Prince Huaca's friends and arresting them," suggested Frank, on one occasion.

Hours pa.s.sed, while the boys kept moving about, talking, watching through the loopholes. At length, Bob, with a jaw-dislocating yawn, flung himself down on a couch, and went soundly to sleep. A moment later Ferdinand succ.u.mbed to the force of suggestion and to his overwhelming fatigue, and also lay down.

Silence, while the jailer, crouching by the door in the position he had held for hours, seemed a graven image; silence, while Don Ernesto and Mr. Hampton sat forward, voiceless, lost in thought, their elbows on their knees, on a couch near the door; silence, while Frank and Jack leaned in a loophole, their heads close together, staring down at the Temple front and the portion of the square within their view.

"Jack," said Frank at last, in a low voice, "I've been thinking."

"Yes?"

"We can get out to safety all right, probably, with Michac in command."

"I suppose he'd let us go."

"But we can't desert Prince Huaca."

"That's right."

"He's a white man."

"He certainly is."

"He trusted us, Jack, and we ought to help him."

"We ought to, indeed."

"I have an idea."

"What is it, Frank?"

"Don't laugh, Jack, will you?"

"No, I won't laugh, Frank. This is pretty serious business. What is there to laugh at?"

"I mean I don't want you to laugh at my idea."

"All right, Frank, I promise. What is it?"

A lengthy pause. Frank's shoulders began to shake. He looked at him curiously.

"Why--why----"

"Yes, Jack, I'm laughing myself. I can't help it. Oh, but this is too good. But"--Frank by an effort regained control of himself and resumed his normal expression--"just the same, I'm right."

"Well, for goodness sake, what is it? What have you got in mind? I'd like to laugh, too."

"Jack, you promised."

"All right. Out with it."

Jack was interested. His curiosity was piqued. What could Frank have in mind?

"Well, Jack, you remember Pedro has false teeth? A full set, with a rubber plate that looks just like a palate?"

"Yes. Go on."

"And Carlos has a gla.s.s eye?"

"Yes, yes."

"And, Jack, you remember Don Ernesto's toupee?"

"Well, what of it?"

"It's a wonderful work of art, Jack. When he wears it, you would swear it was his own luxuriant hair. And when he takes it off----"

"He's certainly bald, and his head shines like a billiard ball. Yes, I know. What of it? What's all this got to do with rescuing Prince Huaca--false teeth, gla.s.s eyes and toupee?"

Frank stared at him.

"Jack, don't you see?"

Jack was sleepy, fatigued, and peevish.