When they came up, he started running swiftly with them.

"Great stuff, Bob," he cried. "I saw it. You certainly piled them up."

To gain the fortress seemed a simple matter, for pursuit was so far behind that it could not catch up with them, and the reunited party was congratulating itself on a safe return when, as they drew near the foot of the Acropolis, shots began to fly overhead and they saw a party of soldiers, armed with the ancient rifles, cutting obliquely from the mouth of a street on the left side of the square to intercept them.

"We'll have to fight for it, after all," panted Don Ernesto, upon whom the pace was beginning to tell.

But a cheer went up from Frank:

"Michac to the rescue. Hurray."

Out of the little sally port at the foot of the rock, reached by the stairway hewn from the living rock, came the band posted there by Michac upon their departure for just such an emergency. In the face of the fire of this troop, the band of pursuers fell back.

A moment or two later, Prince Huaca was recognized by his soldiers with cries of joy. Casting the restraints of discipline aside, they seized him, raised him aloft in their arms with cries of "Huaca, Huaca." Some even wept while pressing their lips to his feet.

Then, alarmed by the near approach of the main body of pursuers, they put him down and all joined in a final dash for the sally port. It was gained without casualties, although several shots whistled about them, indicating the n.o.bles had been re-enforced by some of the foot soldiers armed with guns. The great gate clanged to behind them, and the pursuers fell back, baffled.

They were safe. Safe, after incredible adventures.

"Whew," said Bob, sitting down on the cool stone steps. "That was a hot one while it lasted."

Michac came running down the steps to meet them. He and Prince Huaca embraced. Then the prince led the way up through the tunneled stairway, lighted by torches taken from the guard room at the gate, to the fortress above.

Another moving scene was enacted in the main guard room, where the soldiers, laughing or weeping, according to their various temperaments, gathered about their leader. The prince was as much moved at this demonstration of esteem. At length, he broke away from them and, asking Michac and the others to accompany him, led the way to his apartment.

There, while servants brought them refreshments of wine and cooling drinks made from fruit juices, the various threads of their intertwined adventures were straightened out.

"First of all," said he to Michac, "how came you here, my friend?"

When Michac explained, Prince Huaca embraced him.

"The fortress would have fallen but for you," he said. "And these good friends here and I would have been slain."

Michac flushed and turned the subject to that of the exploits of the others, whom he heartily praised. When he told of how they had ventured forth to the Inca's court and put themselves in the power of Cinto and the Palace Guard, in order to endeavor to obtain Prince Huaca's release, the latter was much affected.

Mr. Hampton in his turn related what had occurred at their audience. And when he spoke of the impression created by the false eye, false teeth and false hair, nothing would do but that the whole performance be restaged for Prince Huaca. The key had been supplied him and, of course, he was not frightened. At Jack's explanation, added to by the others, of the consternation which this exhibition had caused, he laughed heartily.

"Indeed, I can well believe it," he said. Then he sobered: "Ah, but how wonderful that men should be able to do these things. I myself had an aching tooth for long. Certainly, these blessings must come to Cusco Hurrin."

He, in turn, related his own adventures. Surprised the previous night while he slept, he had been bound and gagged and carried out of the fortress by the sally port, the officer of which had turned traitor. For the occasion, this officer had reduced the guard to a half dozen men and had sent these into the guard room on some pretext. That he intended to admit the enemy as soon as Prince Huaca's capture was a.s.sured, the prince was convinced. Why, he asked, had plans miscarried? Why had the enemy not entered?

"The soldiers became suspicious," answered Michac. "When you were carried out, bound, although they did not at first know it was you, they leaped for the gate and managed to close it in the face of the enemy.

Then the treacherous officer was overcome, and the guard room roused in time to prevent other traitorous officers from throwing open the main gate."

"These men----"

The prince half rose from his chair, his face dark.

"They have been attended to," said Michac, simply, but significantly.

"And then what, Prince Huaca?" asked Mr. Hampton. "What did they do with you?"

"My life, though once attempted by an a.s.sa.s.sin," said Prince Huaca, "was spared. Why, I know not."

"The man I captured wasn't an a.s.sa.s.sin, Prince Huaca," said Bob. "At least Senor Michac so stated. But he can tell you."

Michac nodded, and briefly related what had since been learned or suspected, that the man was one of the band to spirit Prince Huaca away.

"At any rate," continued the prince, "I was imprisoned in Cinto's chambers in the Temple, and considered that, perhaps, I was to be made a sacrifice to the Sun G.o.d. You know, Senor Hampton, that Michac and I and numbers of others in Cusco Hurrin are not idolators, but worship the true G.o.d as revealed in the teachings of the Spanish Fathers who came centuries ago with de Arguello. It is one of my grievances that the Inca permits himself to be dominated by this Cinto, who continues the old idolatrous religion because of the hold it gives him upon the people.

"There, to continue, I was held close prisoner under guard, although my bonds were removed. Yet the little weapon you gave me"--and he drew out the automatic--"was not taken from me. I but awaited my chance. 'If I must die,' I said to myself, 'I shall attempt to take Cinto and Guascar with me and thus rid my land of their curse.'

"Today, only a little while ago, Cinto came to my room. And he was greatly enraged and frightened, too. Why, I did not know. For I did not know of your presence. He had not spoken of it. He ordered the guards to take me from the Temple precincts, and I knew he meant to have me slain but feared to stain the Temple with my blood, lest the people turn against him. I resolved to use my weapon to escape, if possible, but, if that could not be done, at least to slay Cinto too.

"They took me to the portico of the Temple, and then I shot down my two guards, broke away, and, as I ran, turned and shot Cinto. You know the rest."

As he ceased speaking, there was a rumble as of distant thunder, and the floor beneath them swayed slightly but perceptibly.

CHAPTER XXVII--THE DOOMED CITY

They looked at each other.

"The volcano," said Jack. "Remember, I saw it smoking."

Michac nodded, a troubled look on his face.

"The mountain speaks," he said. "It was somewhat on that account, Prince Huaca, that I came to visit you, for from my valley I had seen it smoking."

"Look here," said Mr. Hampton, jumping to his feet, "this is dangerous.

Has it ever erupted?" he asked Michac.

"Never in our history," said the latter. "Yet, although it has smoked slightly at times, never has it smoked as it is doing now. From the battlement I could see a dense and growing column of smoke."

"Let us go and look."

Prince Huaca, too, looked grave. He acquiesced in Mr. Hampton's suggestion, and at once led the way to the battlement. Although the truncated top of the volcano could not be seen, being cut off from view by the flank of the mountain against which the Acropolis was built, yet the column of smoke rising above it could be seen plainly. It was black and greasy in appearance, and there was even a faint suggestion of flame at the base.

"This is alarming," said Don Ernesto gravely. "My advice is to leave here at once, if we would gain the outer valley."

Prince Huaca was silent for a s.p.a.ce.

"And is the city really threatened?"

"Prince," said Don Ernesto, "there are other volcanoes in these mountains. I have had experience of them. I believe the danger is great.

There may not be an earthquake of serious proportions, but that slight tremor which we felt is alarming. I fear there will be greater shocks and that the mountain will erupt."