"We will start for the sea coast. There is no immediate hurry, for there is yet at least six hours before the inhabitants will be stirring."

"There must be sentinels on the east as well as the west side," Teddy suggested.

"True; but if the information brought by Poyor be correct, there will not be as strict a watch kept. The Indian believes we should try to force a pa.s.sage through the swamp, fighting in case of a necessity; but I prefer that course where the least danger is to be met, even though the distance be greater."

Neither Neal nor Teddy cared to discuss the matter: they knew that c.u.mmings was the best judge in such a case, and were well content to follow his leadership; but Jake did not trust him so implicitly.

"Before we leave here I want to know your plans," he said. "My life as well as yours and the others, is in danger, and it is no more than right that I have at least a faint idea of what is to be done."

"You are quite right," c.u.mmings replied mildly. "It is my purpose to travel toward the east as far as the sea-sh.o.r.e, and from there make our way to my hut. So far as I can see it is the only practicable course."

"What does the Indian say?"

"He thinks we can go through the swamp even if we have no boat: but, in my opinion, the danger of contracting the fever is too great."

Jake had the appearance of a man who is about to make some protest, and Neal whispered to him:

"In such a case as this it is our duty to accept c.u.mmings' view of the matter. Do not delay now when we all know that every moment is precious."

"Have it your own way, I won't say another word," the engineer replied impatiently; "but I think we have followed this man blindly as long as we should."

Neal paid no attention to the latter portion of this remark, but said as he turned toward the leader:

"It is all right; we are ready."

"Then follow me, and remember that our lives may pay the forfeit if a single incautious word is spoken."

Thus speaking he took up one of the packages, looked once more to the cartridges in his gun, and started down the stairs, the boys and Jake following, while Poyor brought up the rear.

At the outer door he hesitated an instant, much as if to persuade himself that it was absolutely necessary to flee from this city to enter which he had spent so many days in making preparations, and then, throwing it open, he led the way into the deserted streets.

"Our safest plan is to go straight across, rather than try to circle around the outskirts where we may meet with sentinels," he said, motioning for Poyor to lead the way. "At present no one suspects that we are here, consequently the guard will not be particularly on the alert."

"Do as you think best," Neal replied, and then, falling back by the side of Teddy, he whispered:

"If it hadn't been for me you wouldn't have gotten into this sc.r.a.pe; in case anything happens try not to believe it was my fault."

"There is no possible chance that you can be to blame," Teddy replied warmly. "Any one would have accepted the invitation to go yachting, and this last part of the cruise is only the result of an accident with which you had nothing to do."

Jake did not open his mouth; he acted as if c.u.mmings had done him a personal injury in proposing such a trip, and the fact that they were obliged to leave without making any effort to carry away the vast amount of treasure which he knew to be in the city unguarded, aroused his anger in a most unreasonable degree.

Poyor took the lead and conducted the party directly past the enormous temple with its ornamentation of silver which shone in the pale rays of the moon until the entire structure appeared to be a solid ma.s.s of the precious metal, and the marvelous sight was too much for Jake, who, coming to a sudden halt, said doggedly:

"It may be all right for you boys with rich fathers to turn your backs on so much wealth; but I'm goin' to have some part of this treasure, or give the Indians a fair chance to kill me."

CHAPTER XVI.

DISCOVERED.

c.u.mmings was bringing up the rear during this march across the city, and when Jake halted he naturally thought it was in obedience to some signal made by Poyor, therefore he remained silent until hearing Neal say imploringly:

"Go on, Jake. Don't stop now when we have a chance of getting away in safety, for what is gold in comparison with life?"

"Have you halted with any idea that it may be possible to carry anything off with us?" c.u.mmings asked, speaking in a whisper, and Jake replied in the same cautious tone:

"That's the size of it. You brought us here with the promise that we could make ourselves rich, and when the first little thing goes wrong you run. Now I will do as I please."

"It is nothing less than suicide. We have before us a journey so long and difficult that however small a burden you may have to carry, it will seem all too heavy."

By this time Poyor turned back to learn the cause of the halt, and when it was explained he said gravely:

"Each instant we stand here brings death so much nearer. Even at this moment watchful eyes may be upon us, and once we are discovered flight will be almost impossible."

The little party stood directly in front of what was evidently the main entrance to the temple. It was formed of twenty slender shafts of white stone which in the moonlight looked translucent, and each column upheld a grotesque figure composed of what appeared to be silver.

"I am goin' to have one of them images, no matter what happens," Jake said doggedly. "I don't care how much of a tramp there is before us, and the more the thing weighs the better I'll be pleased, for it's the first chance I ever had to make myself rich."

"But think of us," Teddy whispered. "We all run the risk of being killed because of what you propose to do."

"There's no need of your waitin' here. Go on, an' I'll take care of myself. I ain't such a chump as not to be able to find my way out."

"It must be as he says. We can wait no longer," Poyor said peremptorily.

"Better one should die than all," and, seizing Neal by the shoulder, he literally dragged him away.

c.u.mmings did the same by Teddy, and as the boys were thus forced from the place they saw Jake trying to make his way up one of the smooth shafts.

"It is cruel to leave him when you know he will be killed," Neal said as he struggled in vain to release himself from the Indian's grasp.

"He knows the danger, and will not come. We must care for ourselves. Now remain quiet; there has been too much noise and too long a delay."

Poyor was walking at a pace so rapid that the boys were forced to run; but before they reached the next intersecting street a loud crash was heard from the direction of the temple, and c.u.mmings whispered:

"He has toppled over one of the columns, and discovery is now certain.

He has insured our destruction as well as his own."

The words had hardly been uttered when shouts were heard from different portions of the city, and, as if he had sprung from the ground, a man appeared directly in their path.

A second's delay would have been fatal. Poyor, releasing his hold of Neal, dashed forward with the agility of a cat, and springing upon the stranger bore him to the ground.

There was a short, sharp struggle which lasted while one might possibly have counted ten, and then the man lay motionless while Poyor, grasping Neal by the arm once more, darted on down the street.

Now it seemed as if the entire city had been aroused. On every hand could be heard shouts as if of command and cries of surprise and anger.

The sound of footsteps in the rear told that the pursuit had already begun, and it was a race for life with the odds fearfully against the fugitives.