Part 20 (2/2)

Rick reached the botto There were two e level was reached In aMeat led the way once more The party ed on a level only thirty feet above the village floor

Rick was astonished that the villagers had not seen theh he realized that the shadoere deep and that the villagers were not watching the terraces

Dog Meat led the way to the extre a place where the huts would be between the clie of the terrace and Chahda followed Rick picked his way carefully There were gaps between the stones, but so big enough to acco Meat and Chahda had the advantage, because bare feet could find holds round level behind a straw hut Dog Meat and Chahda aiting Chahda had unslung his rifle, and Dog Meat was holding a razor-edged bolo Then Scotty was down, too, and theyMeat as he showed the held

The music and voices were loud, now, and the fire made yellow patterns where they crossed open spaces Then Dog Meat caestured that this was the one

Chahda took the bolo from him and made a slit in the straw of the hut

Then he peered through the opening he had

Tony was tied to a post in the center of the hut The hut door opened onto the village co the light were two figures, Ifugao guards, clad only in breechcloths Both held spears Unlike the Igorot spears, the Ifugao weapons were tall with flared points

Chahda sliced through the straw of the hut with the bolo, parted it, and stepped through Rick was close on his heels, rifle unslung and ready for use He felt Scotty crowding him

The Hindu boy ran to Tony, knelt, and cut his bonds Rick lifted his rifle and reached the front of the hut in three long strides The barrel of his weapon descended on the head of the nearest Ifugao Rick caught the ao turned, ht into a vicious butt stroke froh the opening at the rear of the hut The boys pushed through and followed at a trot as Dog Meat guided them back the way they had coo down

The party reached the first terrace and stopped while Tony ed his hands The rope had cut off the circulation Finally he motioned that he was ready He could climb, but slowly At a whispered word from Chahda, Rick and Scotty went up the terrace wall and took stations with ready rifles, in case they should be spotted while Tony was helpless on the wall

Tony reached the top of the first terrace and whispered that he couldMeat took him to the easiest place to cliuard

Tony was halfway up the second terrace when pandee below The boys saw the dance break up, saw men rush into the hut where Tony had been held prisoner and drag out the guards, one of whoe scattered into various huts and came out with spears and bolos

Rick looked up in tis disappear over the top of the terrace wall He tugged Scotty's aro”

They swar hands and feet would allow, but not before a spear clanged off the stones between therabbed Rick's hand Rick went up in a hurry, then both of theaos were already on the terrace below!

Rick realized that the Ifugaos had the advantage They were used to the terraces He also realized that they could be where he now stood before Tony could get up to where Angel and the Igorots waited

He and Scotty unslung their rifles Chahda joined the Meat would help Tony up The boys spread out, working by hand signals They were a short distance back fro at any heads that appeared

The first Ifugao pursuer ca with the flat of his bolo and there was a _thunk_ as he connected

Then Rick saw a face appear and poked at it with the muzzle of his rifle The face vanished and there was a screa fall, but at least there was soft ground of the rice paddy at the botto his rifle barrel, felt it connect, then answered Angel's yell ”Coered off half a dozen shots, then the three boys ran for the wall and started up Froel's rifle blazed away Pilipil, Tony, and Balaban threw rocks

A spear, badly thrown, cas He al, but recovered and went up another step He didn't dare look down He knew the Ifugaos were on the terrace below, but to look doas to lose tiot stuck unable to find a handhold