In the tiger's lair

Stanley could hardly await the time when he could reveal his scheme to Ted. The opportunity came as they were being led away from the meeting by the guards.

“What do you think of it? Maybe I didn’t start something. They are all excited and scared to death, and will be more so, too, before the thing is over. Why don’t you say something? I need a lot of encouragement to put the thing through. You will have to help me,” he exclaimed enthusiastically.

“I am sorry,” Ted returned sadly. “Try to keep as calm as you can and do not think of the future. It will be over soon.”

“Not think of it? Why, I can think of nothing else. It will be great. Quizquiz will get the surprise of his life, and his people will wake up with a start. There will be no stopping them when they see what happens.”

“Yes, and think of how we will feel about that time,” Ted thought, but said nothing.

“What is the matter, anyway?” Stanley demanded, losing patience. “Do you think I am joking?”

“Joking, no! There is nothing humorous in our situation. If you want to know the truth, it strikes me you are just a little upset, that is all. But no one could blame you for that. This whole thing is enough to——”

“I thought so from the way you acted, and I was beginning to wonder if you were not showing the effects of it too. I was never more in earnest nor saner in my life. Just fix that firmly in your head.”

“You think we have a chance?”

“I am making one. And I would be absolutely sure of the result if it were not for two things. First, we must get Soncco to help us; I believe he will because we saved his neck, and he does not relish the job that has been assigned to him—that of chief executioner of his fellow teachers. Second, my calculations as to the day of the month must be correct; on that point I am not quite sure, but I feel that I am right. I was careful to tie a knot in the string each morning so far as I can remember. But it is possible that I may have forgotten it once, and that would throw off all my calculations.”

“But what is your scheme? The predictions you made are so wild and impossible it would take a miracle to fulfil them.”

“Nothing of the kind. It can and it will all happen exactly as I said. It sounds impossible so long only as they are ignorant of the things that could cause such happenings.”

By this time they had reached the building in which they were to be confined for the night.

“I will tell you the rest when they leave us alone,” Stanley added. “It will take some time to explain the plan fully.”

Much to their disgust they found that they were not to be imprisoned in the same enclosure. Ted, with a score of guards, was left in one small, dungeon-like room, while Stanley was taken to another on the opposite part of a courtyard. The officers obviously suspected that another plot to escape might be formed if the two were left together. Henceforth they would forestall such a move by keeping them apart, or at least so it seemed to the captives. That was indeed discouraging, for Stanley could not possibly carry out his plan without Ted’s help.

The distance between the two prison cells was too great to enable them to carry on a conversation even by shouting, so they tried wigwagging signals across the open space. But the guards immediately understood their design, and drew rush mats across the doorways.

On the return journey to the plain, however, they were again thrown together, much to their delight.

“Tell me quick, before they separate us,” Ted begged. “I couldn’t sleep a wink last night for thinking over what you said; but I can’t figure it out.”

“Listen! Do you remember that before we left home the papers were full of stories about the eclipse of the sun that is to occur this month?”

“Yes, I remember that. We talked about it at the time. But it was to be partial only.”

“Partial at home, but complete in parts of South America. It depends on where you are looking from. The black bands on the maps illustrating the articles extended right across this part of Peru. So you see what is going to happen, and that I haven’t exaggerated.”

“I have to hand it to you, Stanley, for remembering the event, and making such good use of it. It will seem like the most powerful kind of magic to these Indians, and will terrify them. They will think we are responsible for it and will respect us after that. Then it will be our turn to have the upper hand.”

“The only thing that worries me,” said Stanley with concern, “is that I may have made a mistake in keeping track of the time. If I am off one single day, the eclipse might as well never come, so far as we care.”

“Do you feel that you have made a mistake, or not?” Ted asked bluntly.

One look into the serious, apprehensive face of his companion and Stanley felt that he could not dash all his hopes to the ground by telling him of the fear that had gradually loomed up to dispel the hopes of the previous day. For the more he thought of the matter the more certain he was that not only had he tied too few knots in the string, but that the eclipse was not due until the following month.

“You shall see,” he said evasively. “Look, here comes Soncco now. He looks troubled. We must have an interview with him where none can hear. That is the first step, and it has got to be arranged somehow.”

As a matter of fact, Soncco was looking for them. He was the picture of misery; years had been added to his age overnight.

“The king did not see fit to accept my suggestion,” he said slowly. “I have escaped death only to be condemned to a worse fate.”

“It looks bad for all of us,” Ted returned.

“I did all I could,” the aged amauta whispered. “Alas! that I should live to see such days. By the king’s command I am forced to become a killer—of my own relatives and fellow teachers. I can neither eat, drink, nor sleep. Still, the will of my sovereign must be obeyed.”

“Soncco, you have charge of the prisoners. Is not that true?”

“Yes; I am the jailer.”

“Then arrange that my companion and I remain together hereafter. You can do that.”

“I can do that, but I will not. You would think up another plan for escaping; but you might as well save yourselves the trouble.”

“On our honor, we shall not attempt to escape, and you know we are men of our word. One more thing: come to our place of confinement to-night. We have something of great interest to say to you.”

“Say it now. Why wait until to-night?”

“There is not time. Besides, we are being watched. Come to-night just after dark, and you will learn something worth your while.”

“It shall be as you say. But remember, the guard will be tripled—so as to form a solid wall around you. Attempt no treachery or you will regret it.”

With that the amauta went his way.

“Do you think he will come?” Ted asked.

“I hope so. We helped him out once and he believes we may do it again,” Stanley replied.

Soncco kept his promise and arrived shortly after nightfall had come upon the valley. His face bore a tragic expression and his voice trembled. They had never seen him so agitated.

“Speak quickly, for I have not long to stay,” he faltered. “There are many things on my mind.”

“Soncco,” said Stanley slowly, looking straight at the aged man, “the task for which you have been selected does not suit you. I can tell that by your appearance and your actions. You are worried to death.”

“But I will obey the Inca’s command.”

“You do not want to kill your own relatives and friends, do you?”

“The king’s commands must not be questioned.”

“Of course not. And we are not asking you to disobey your king in even the smallest matter. But you will admit that Quizquiz is not the kind of king his father was. He is cruel and bloodthirsty. You know the history of the nation back to its very beginning. Was there ever another such ruler—one who wantonly destroyed his highest nobles as well as his common people for the mere pleasure it gave him?”

“No, there was not. The Incas were all filled with solicitude for their subjects. They were all kind and benevolent and just; that is why they were so great and why the people venerated them.”

“I thought so. And if Quizquiz keeps on at the rate he is going, he will break down and destroy all that the others before him have built up at such enormous cost and sacrifice. And that will mean the end of the hidden people, the last remnant of the once powerful and glorious nation. Those who survive will be like your brethren in the outer world, downtrodden, miserable, and without hope.”

“Quizquiz is young, and he is under the spell of an evil influence.”

“Yes, Villac Umu. We must get rid of him by all means. And we must save the nation. We want you to help us help you to do these things.”

“I will not be a traitor to the Child of the Sun; I will not even consider such a thing.”

“No one is asking you to do that. In helping us you will be doing a favor to all the people. This may sound strange to you, and we do not expect you to understand because you are accustomed to look at things differently than we do. But we simply want to prove to you the thing you refuse to admit—that the Child of the Sun is very human; that he makes mistakes and can be good or wicked like any one else; and that he must be taught a lesson that will bring him to his senses. Even your Sun-God is subject to a higher power. Do not take my word for it. You shall have the proof. Wait and see.”

Soncco was in despair. An expression of helplessness spread over his face.

“The person of the Inca always has been considered holy, and it cannot be violated now,” he wailed. “I ought not to listen to your words, for they are blasphemy. I should not have come here at all. And I should not have stayed on and on after I got here, were it not for one fact——”

“That you know I am speaking the truth,” Stanley interrupted. “The truth is painful as often as not, but it is best to listen while there is time. If you delay you will be lost.”

Soncco was showing signs of weakening.

“The people are grumbling,” he admitted reluctantly. “If the oppression and tyranny continue, there will be an uprising—the first in the history of the nation. We have suffered misfortune enough already without having a new calamity thrust upon us.”

“Now you are talking sensibly. We are offering you the opportunity to prevent all this trouble and bloodshed you justly despise. Will you take advantage of it? Will you trust us and let us help you?”

“How can I accomplish the impossible? What can I do? I am old and my power has been taken from me. Indeed, I am now no more than an executioner, hated by all men.”

“You can do more than you think possible. Are you acquainted with the country beyond the wall—I mean Uti?”

“Uti, yes. Only sixteen changes of the moon ago I accompanied an exploring party there much against my will. It is a terrible place with death staring one in the face at every step.”

“Then you know the caves in the mountain-sides?”

“Each one of them. We searched them all. It was like a hideous nightmare. In some were the remains of men, rows upon rows of them. In others we found the bones of monstrous beasts or demons that invaded the valley many years ago and killed the people by hundreds. It was to keep them out of the valley that the wall was built.”

“Good! You know the place well. Now listen carefully.”

Stanley then minutely described the cave where the dynamite had been hidden when they had first landed, several weeks before, and after they had discovered that the gold had been removed from the cave in which it had been hidden.

“Bring those boxes to me,” Stanley concluded. “That is all for the present. No one will suspect anything. As master of ceremonies you have a perfect right to come and go as you please, and make any preparations you like.”

It took a good deal of persuasion, but Soncco finally consented to make the trip to Uti for the boxes. He had reached the point where he would do almost anything rather than carry out his part of the fiendish plot set for two days hence.

“I will do this one thing,” he said, “but no other; so spare yourselves the trouble of making any more requests.”

“Now do you see daylight?” Stanley asked when the aged amauta had gone.

“No!” Ted was bewildered. “I haven’t brains enough to go around.”

“Well, then, do as I am doing. Trust to luck.”