At that moment Michac returned.

"Ask him about a flag of truce, Dad, whether the Incarial forces would respect it?" suggested Jack.

Mr. Hampton did as proposed. Michac straightened proudly.

"It would be respected," he said.

"Then, Dad, your major objection of the danger to us is overborne."

"Yes, I see. But about the pistols, I don't know."

Mr. Hampton shook his head. Then he had an inspiration. Taking out his pistol, he held it up for Michac to view.

"Do you know what this is?" he asked.

Michac regarded it curiously. He confessed ignorance. Then, on second thought, he added:

"It is strange. Yet it looks like a tiny gun such as children might make were they expert gunsmiths. Is it a toy?"

"The deadliest known to man," said Mr. Hampton. And he explained.

"Would we be deprived of these if we went to the Inca's palace?"

"Nay, I doubt it."

"Then we can take them," said Don Ernesto, who had been listening closely. "That is good."

"But, under a flag of truce----"

"My friend," said Don Ernesto, "you are quixotic. We risk our lives in a quixotic venture, as it is, if we go to attempt to obtain Prince Huaca's release. At least let us take advantage of this fortunate circ.u.mstance that pistols are unknown here and carry our weapons as protection against treachery. For, though Senor Michac says a flag of truce will be respected, you must remember we are dealing with the High Priest Cinto and his nephew, not with the Inca, and they already have tried to a.s.sa.s.sinate Prince Huaca and then carried him off captive. Though why,"

he added, "he was not a.s.sa.s.sinated this second time, but merely made prisoner, I cannot see."

"Perhaps they thought better of it," said Mr. Hampton. "What think you, Senor?" he added, addressing Michac.

"Nay, I do not know. The plans of this Cinto are beyond my understanding. Yet it may be he repented of having directed a.s.sa.s.sination and when his spies within the fortress reported failure of the plan, he was glad. For Prince Huaca is beloved of the people, and there might have been an uprising; whereas, if he be but prisoner, men will not so willingly put their lives in danger. An it may be, too," he added, as an afterthought, "that the man captured by you on the battlement was not sent to slay but to aid in the capture of Prince Huaca. It may be that the story he told of being sent to slay was false, and was told the prince in order to cloak the real design. For the man, as it has been proven, had little to fear. He was released from his fetters by traitors within the fortress, and escaped during the night, probably with those who carried off the prince."

Mr. Hampton shook his head. "Palace politics are beyond me," he said.

"Evidently this Cinto is a thorough-going scoundrel. But, to return to the matter of whether we go before the Inca with our pistols concealed----"

He was interrupted by the appearance of a soldier at the door, evidently in great haste.

The latter saluted Michac, and the latter gave him permission to speak.

Then Michac turned to the others gravely, and interrupted.

"The Inca has sent a messenger, calling upon me to surrender you to him at once, as you are Incarial prisoners. What shall I do?"

CHAPTER XXII--INTO THE INCA'S COURT

"Do?" cried Jack. "I'm for complying."

"Jack, you are talking wildly," rebuked his father, sternly. "It is death."

"But, Dad, don't you see? Now we need have no scruples about going armed."

"I know, Jack," said his father, gravely. "But don't you realize that if we go now, we go as prisoners, and not under the protection of a flag of truce?"

"I hadn't thought of that," said Jack, and fell silent.

They looked at each other, but none spoke for the moment.

"Senor Hampton," said Michac, resolutely, "I shall not comply with the Inca's command, though it be for the first time in my life I have failed to do so, and have put myself in open defiance of our supreme authority.

Let him declare my life forfeit and place a price upon my head in the hope of finding traitors among the fortress garrison to slay me. I care not. I am concerned solely for the life of my friend, Prince Huaca. I do not ask that you go voluntarily and endanger yourselves in the hope of saving him, but I do appeal to you to help me save him in some manner.

You are wiser men than I, with many wonders and marvels at your command, and----"

"Think you, Senor Michac," interrupted Don Ernesto, "that if we reply to the Inca that we come as delegates from a great lord beyond the mountains with many marvels at his command, and that we wish to have an audience with him, but not as prisoners, he will give us safe conduct?"

Michac's worried expression lightened.

"And then----"

"Having obtained an audience," said Don Ernesto, "we shall seek to so impress him with our power that he will be overawed and will either surrender Prince Huaca or promise that his life be spared."

"It may be," said Michac.

"Let us make the attempt, Senor Hampton," appealed Don Ernesto. "We are eight in number, capable all of us, armed with modern automatics. I believe we can protect ourselves, and, perhaps, even effect a gallant deed in the rescue of Prince Huaca."

"Remember, Dad," said Jack, "that Pizarro, with a handful of warriors, overthrew a far mightier host than we will face. And in a less worthy cause, besides."

Mr. Hampton looked at the three lads, at Jack and Bob and Frank. He thought of the responsibility devolving upon him of looking after their safety. Nevertheless, there was much truth in what the others urged. In the automatics, they had weapons the like of which were unknown to the Inca's people. In the marvels at their command, they had something with which to dazzle the others and convince them of the white man's greater power. Besides, there was Prince Huaca--a man who had endeared himself.

Mr. Hampton rubbed his eyes. Was he living in the twentieth century? He, himself, matter of fact though he was, felt the influence of another age upon him. He could see the boys had entirely yielded to that influence and that Don Ernesto was slipping fast. He felt reckless. After all, as Don Ernesto had said, it would be a gallant deed to rescue Prince Huaca.

And in the mood that was upon him, he felt as if the doing of a gallant deed was all that counted.

"Very well, let us send a message to the Inca as you propose, Don Ernesto."

"Hurray, Dad."

"That's the stuff, Mr. Hampton."

"Senor, it is fine to be a boy again, is it not so?" Don Ernesto clasped his hand.

Michac was elated. The message was given the Incarial messenger, and he was sent back to the palace. Then they sat down to await developments.

But not for long, as the boys recalled at once that they had not yet succeeded in calling the monastery, and all adjourned to the battlements.

Almost at once Jack succeeded in obtaining a reply. And when Brother Gregorio's voice sounded in the receivers, he gave a cry of joy.