There was a renewed stir of interest among the members of the Council, a renewed rustling in the audience. Cinto looked supercilious and haughty, but Mr. Hampton thought he detected a gleam of worry. As for the Inca, he leaned forward a bit and stared more sharply than before.

"Nay," said he, "and be cautious, O Amba.s.sador, lest your tongue lead you into idle boasting. For these matters of which you speak are for the G.o.d Himself alone to perform."

"O Inca, I do not boast," said Mr. Hampton. "If you would behold, then observe closely."

It was their cue. Pedro and Carlos advanced to take station beside Don Ernesto. Mr. Hampton faced them, arms extended.

"Behold, O Inca," said he. "I speak, too, in the tongue of the Lord Beyond the Mountains--a tongue of power."

And rapidly he began, in English:

"Hocus pocus, abracadabra, Pedro, give me your eye."

Pedro pa.s.sed his hand over his gla.s.s eye, plucked it out, and then, good actor that he was, and thoroughly enjoying the situation, he turned so that the sightless cavity stared at the Inca and held up the eye between thumb and forefinger.

A gasp of amazement and horror came from the audience. The boys who were watching the proceedings with keenest enjoyment had difficulty in restraining their laughter.

"Look at the High Priest. He's going to faint."

"Yes, and the Inca is paralyzed."

Not pausing, Mr. Hampton next cried his incantations over Carlos, and the latter opened his mouth wide and brought forth his false teeth. He held them up, so that all could see. And, indeed, they were a gruesome sight, with the red rubber palate resembling the roof of the mouth. He, too, profiting from Pedro's example, stared toward the throne, lips wide apart, toothless gums displayed.

If before had been horror and amazement, now was stupefaction. Whimpers of panic ran around the audience. The soldiers before the throne trembled, so that their erect spears waved like saplings in a strong wind. The Inca, the High Priest, the members of the Council, all were endeavoring to restrain their fright, but they were palsied with terror.

"Good night," murmured Jack, suffocatingly. "He's got them. Oh, I'm going to blow up if I can't laugh soon."

Mr. Hampton also realized he had his audience in his grip, and he proceeded to strike while the iron was hot.

Extending a knife to Don Ernesto, he gestured with his hand to indicate the latter was to scalp himself. Don Ernesto complied. And a thorough job he did of it. Then he lifted off his toupee and held it, poised above his head. The lights from the pillar behind him gleamed on his shining bald head.

It was too much for Inca nerves. The courtiers in the audience cried out whimperingly like frightened children and there was a great scurrying to get behind pillars. The soldiers before the throne, as if with one accord, threw themselves p.r.o.ne before this worker of wonders. There was a rush of feet away from their party in the rear, and the boys, turning, saw some of the soldiers of the rear guard, forgetful of discipline, forgetful of everything, stricken by blind fear, dashing madly for the doorway.

"You've got them, Dad," cried Jack. "Look at the Inca. Look at the High Priest."

The High Priest had fallen back a step or two, and a.s.sumed a crouching position. His att.i.tude betokened not only fear, but desperation and hatred. Plain as if he had spoken the words, could be read in his expression the fear that here was a greater magician than he, the ruin of his hopes. As for the Inca, he had attempted to rise from his throne, but had fallen back and now cowered in the great chair, his hands over his eyes.

Mr. Hampton's voice rang out.

"Behold, O Inca," he cried, "your people flee before these wonders. But there are greater wonders to come. Bid them stay."

His voice had the effect of arresting the panic. The Inca withdrew his hands, and by a tremendous effort pulled himself together. In a shaky voice, he said:

"Continue."

"You will observe," said Mr. Hampton, "that though one of these men has plucked out his eye, another his teeth, and a third has removed his hair, yet none have suffered pain nor bled. This itself is a great marvel, and by order of the beneficent Lord Beyond the Mountains, who protects his children from all harm. Now I shall restore them to their original appearance."

He clapped his hands three times, and at this, the previously agreed-upon signal, Pedro replaced his eye, Carlos his teeth, and Don Ernesto his toupee.

An audible shudder ran through the audience, most of whom, fascinated by the promise of more wonders, had halted in their flight and returned.

The soldiers of the rear guard also had slunk back into place.

"Captain Guascar is going to overlook their having started to flee,"

whispered Bob to Frank. "He's not paying any attention to them."

"No wonder," whispered Frank, in reply. "He almost died of fright himself, and he's not over it yet, either."

In truth, the doughty captain had a staring, hysterical look in his eyes, as if he had seen some frightful apparition, and his limbs still trembled.

"These, O Inca," said Mr. Hampton, "are simple matters. It surprises me that your people should be surprised, for in my country any child can perform them. Indeed, any of my young men"--waving toward the boys--"can perform them as easily as I. Aye, if you so desire, I shall ask one of them to do so. And, if it be your wish"--he added, daringly--"I shall ask one of my young men to demonstrate upon one of your subjects. Shall we tell this lad"--laying his hand on Jack's shoulder--"to pluck forth the High Priest's eye?"

"Hey, Dad, you're taking a long chance," whispered Jack, anxiously.

He need not have worried.

With a howl, Cinto leaped to the Inca's side, hands outspread.

"O August One," he cried, "Representative of the Sun G.o.d, protect me from these evil spirits who be not men but demons."

"Nay," said Mr. Hampton, "if the High Priest fears----" And he pushed Jack back into column. He had produced the effect he desired. He had unmasked the High Priest's fear, and publicly humiliated him. It would be better not to press the matter. They were skating on thin ice. What if the Inca should point to some man in disfavor and ask that they blind him, render him toothless or scalp him?

He hurried on to another matter. Holding up his hand, index finger extended, he said:

"O Inca, a greater marvel have I. Above me I can hear the voice of the Lord Beyond the Mountains. He wishes to speak to you. This great Lord speaks every tongue known to man; aye, even the Inca speech he knows, even though for hundreds of years none have spoken it in the world Beyond the Mountains. And this voice which I now hear, but which is inaudible to you within this hall, commands that I invite you to appear upon the terrace before your palace, where----"

Mr. Hampton paused. He had been wracking his brain for a good reason to a.s.sign for urging the Inca to appear on the terrace in order to hear the radio. Now, as by inspiration, it came to him. "----Where," he added, "you will be under the protection of the Sun G.o.d and need fear no dark magic.

This Lord Beyond the Mountains would speak to you now, within this hall, except that he desires you to feel secure.

"He will speak to you in your own tongue," he added. "And this," he added, pointing to the radio outfit, "is the medium of his voice."

He turned to his own party.

"Come on, quick. Take up the outfit and let us march out. If we waver, there may be trouble. If we put on a bold front, I think the Inca will follow."

CHAPTER XXV--A VOICE WARNS THE INCA

That rear guard fell back before them, scrambling hastily to the sides that they might pa.s.s. Bob, Frank and Ferdinand felt sore from restrained laughter, and this new evidence of the panic they had created amused them and made restraint even more difficult.

Jack, however, had fallen back beside Mr. Hampton and Don Ernesto, and was bringing up the rear. His sharp eyes had discerned something which caused him grave concern, and he spoke of it in a quick whisper.

"Cinto has disappeared," said he. "I have a hunch it means no good."

"Ah," said Don Ernesto, shrugging, "these soldiers, they are frightened of us. The Golden Palace Guard is trembling in its armor. We have nothing to fear."

"That's just it," said Jack. "Maybe Cinto realizes he cannot trust to these soldiers to attack us, and so he has gone to get others who have not fallen under our spell."