Part 17 (1/2)
You are bound far in the mountains, and the false Pacheco will follow.
If you are captured, he may turn back. I want him to follow you--I want you to lead him into the snare. That is why I am here, and that is why I have warned you, senors. It is done, and now I will go.”
He arose to his feet, heedless of Bushnell's command to ”keep still,”
and strode toward the horses. They saw an extra animal was there, and, in a moment, he had flung himself on the creature's back.
”_Buenos dias, senores._”
A clatter of hoofs, the flutter of a poncho, and a crimson serape, and Rodeo's horse was galloping up the ravine that still led deeper into the mountains. Man and horse soon vanished from view.
CHAPTER XI.
THE AWAKENING VOLCANO.
Two days later, shortly after sunset, the party camped far in the depths of the Sierra Madre Mountains.
The words of Rodeo, the half-blood, had proved true, for they were pursued by the bandits, but, thanks to the skill of Bushnell, they had been able to give the desperadoes the slip.
”By ther end of another day we oughter be able ter clap our peepers on ther Silver Palace,” declared the Westerner.
Professor Scotch was now as eager as any of them to see the wonderful palace, all his doubts having been dispelled by Bushnell's straightforward narrative of the discovery of the place by himself and Jack Burk.
”I wonder what causes that column of smoke we saw rising amid the mountains to the westward to-day?” said Frank.
Bushnell shook his head.
”Thet thar has troubled me some,” he admitted. ”It seems ter be fair an'
squar' in ther direction of ther Silver Palace.”
”Maype dose pandits peen aheadt uf us und purn der balace up,” suggested Hans, with an air of very great wisdom.
”I scarcely think they would be able to burn a building made of stone, gold, and silver,” smiled Frank.
”Wa'al, not much,” said Bushnell. ”Ther palace will be thar when we arrive. You needn't worry about thet.”
They were very tired, and, feeling secure in the depths of a narrow ravine, they soon slept, with the exception of Frank, who had the first watch.
The moon came up over the mountain peaks, which stood out plainly in the clear light, every gorge and fissure being cut black as ink, and showing with wonderful distinctness.
The shadow was deep in the narrow ravine, and Frank sat with his back to a wall of rock, looking upward, when he was startled to see a figure rise in the bright moonlight.
On the brink of the ravine above stood a man who seemed to be peering down at them.
”Awaken!” cried this man, in a loud voice. ”You are in great danger!”
The cry aroused every sleeper, and Bushnell started up with his Winchester clutched ready for use.
”What is it?” he asked.