Part 13 (1/2)
ON THE GOLD TRAIL AGAIN
It was Carlos and Rufe, together, who routed us all out long before day; and soon we were set on sh.o.r.e--Captain Marat, Norris, Julian, Ray, Robert and myself. We moved to the eastern edge of the city, and there awaited Carlos, who had hurried off to consult with his friend. We hadn't long to wait. He came with the intelligence that Duran had gone from the city at dusk the evening before. He had doubtless gone to the old ruin, since he had been attended by a man who was wont to wait on him, carrying his burdens, when going inland. When going direct to his s.h.i.+p, his attendants were always two or more sailors.
”Well, then it's for another visit to that old palace, where we had so much fun, eh Wayne?” said Norris.
Carlos led us over an old, seldom used trail; one that ran back of the old ruin.
It was a long, tedious march. And yet the morning was still fresh when we found ourselves at the bottom of the rear wall of the palace, looking up to where that escape door was hidden among the vines. I went up first. With my stick through the hole, I had up the latch, and pushed the door open. Next came Robert.
”Say,” spoke up Grant Norris, ”is that ladder of yours going to hold two hundred ten pounds?”
”It'll hold three times that,” I a.s.sured him. And so he came up with ease, in spite of his weight.
Ray, Julian, Carlos, and Marat, soon were standing with us in the dark pa.s.sage. Flas.h.i.+ng my light, I led the way up the stone steps, and along the pa.s.sage.
We came at last to that little door opening into Duran's room--that door through which I had made my rash entry, and hasty retreat.
There was no light s.h.i.+ning through the c.h.i.n.ks of the shrine this time.
But I put my ear close, and in a little I distinguished the sound of heavy breathing within. Someone slept there. I communicated that piece of intelligence to the others in a low whisper. And we waited for the sleeper to waken.
Near half an hour must have pa.s.sed and Norris had moved back down the pa.s.sage, to calm his impatience. It was then we heard a loud knocking on a door of that room. The sleeper was aroused, and then light shone through the crevices.
Captain Marat and Carlos gave ear to the talk of those in the room.
Duran, in sleeping garb, and a lame black attendant, were the occupants, as a peek through those c.h.i.n.ks showed.
By Marat's report the following was the talk of the two:
”Well,” said Duran, ”any news of those dogs of Americans having gone?”
”Gani, just come,” said the black. ”He say French man and woman, and baby, and Brill woman, go way in steamer; schooner stay.”
”So! The schooner stay!” thundered Duran. And he cursed and fumed a spell. ”The schooner stay! Why do they stay?--It is that Carlos Brill.
He has told them something. It is the gold now they want. Why did I not kill him?”
”The men have try,” spoke the black. ”They cannot--”
”They have try!” thundered Duran. ”They try a little, and because he escape one, two bad shots, the fools they say the Zombi protect him.
Well, no Zombi protect him when I see him!--They shall not find the gold.--Go, make ready my breakfast.”
The black left the room. Duran turned to his toilet, manifesting his ill humor the while with grumbling to himself. The man presently brought in his food, and again retired. The meal finished, Duran sat in deep contemplation for some minutes, staring before him, and intermittently pulling on the lobe of his ear in his characteristic manner.
Finally he stepped to the door, and called. The black man again appeared.
”Tell Gani I go to the _Orion_,” he said. The door closed and again Duran fell into soliloquy.
”Yes, I make the gold safe,” he said. ”That Carlos Brill--I should kill him long ago.”
We could hear him in the room, but his activities were, for the most part, out of our range of vision.