Part 5 (1/2)
The boys eyed him sharply, and finally Harry said: ”That is what you suggested the new wagon for, was it not?”
John nodded an a.s.sent.
”Did the Professor say anything to you about bringing it along?”
”He did say it might be taken if you thought so.”
”Didn't he suggest that we should do so?”
”No; he said the matter was left entirely to your judgment, and that I should not say anything about it, unless you proposed that course.”
”Well, I am thinking we shall have a pretty good load for one team with what we get out of the place,” said George.
”It will make a good load, but we can add to it the lightest parts of the stock we have at the Cataract.”
Before reaching the mouth of the cavern, a messenger hurried over from the Cataract with the information that two runners had arrived from the Professor and from Blakely, and they drove back as quickly as possible, and reached there to learn that another had just arrived from Blakely.
The two runners first to arrive conveyed the information stated in the previous chapter, but the last carried the additional news that there had been a fight between Blakely and the tribes, and that he was slowly moving back to the Cataract, but there was no occasion for alarm.
The latter part of the note read as follows: ”Do not be alarmed and continue your work, and if the matter should be at all serious I will advise you by runner in ample time, and shall in any event send another in the next four hours.”
John called in Muro and said:
”The forces with Blakely are having a fight with the tribes. I want you to take fifty men, and also twenty-five guns, and a.s.sist Blakely and his warriors, and keep me informed of the progress of events. Tell him that by day after to-morrow we shall be on our way. In the meantime you should draw them this way, as we do not want them to go back. For that purpose keep up the show of retreating, and hold them until day after to-morrow.”
Within an hour the column was ready and moved toward the scene with celerity, equipped with the new guns, and an ample supply of ammunition, together with the new arrows which had been made.
CHAPTER IV
THE SURRENDER OF THE KURABUS
It was late that afternoon before John and the boys again drove over to the hill, and lost no time in entering the cave. The first care was to bring to the steps at the entrance all the vessels in the first recess.
Some of them were so heavy that it was necessary for four to carry each load. They then proceeded to the inner recess, and here a search was made for every trace of the treasures there, the time required thus making it almost dark before they were able to carry out all the different lots.
These were all stored in the bottom of the wagon. It was dark as they started for the Cataract. As they were leaving they heard the night cry of a bird which had often been noticed before, and Ralph shuddered, as he said:
”It makes me tremble whenever I hear that doleful sound. It was above our head all of the night before the Tuolos captured us, and since that time it always sounded like an omen to me.”
John turned to him, as he replied: ”That is the voice of the bird called by the Spanish, Alma Perdida.”
”Well it isn't a pleasant sound, to say the least,” added George.
”It is very significant at this time, however,” remarked John.
The boys all turned to him, as he continued: ”It is the 'Cry of the Lost Soul'; that is what the name signifies.”
And the boys thought of the terrible tragedy in the cave they had just left. The silence on the way home was significant.
The next morning marked the greatest activity in and about the buildings. The wagons were first loaded with the things contained in the shop, the laboratory and the home. Numerous packages were made up in form for the warriors to handle conveniently. Nothing was permitted to remain, as it was felt that the things they had made were too valuable to leave behind. It was past noon before the last articles were secured in bundles.