The Mexican had guessed some sort of an attempt to escape would be made, and was on hand to frustrate it. But the preparations made for taking the auto down into the empty water pool puzzled Vasco. So he was on the alert.
“Here we go!” called Jerry, softly. The auto was vibrating, but almost noiselessly, for the explosions of the motor could scarcely be heard.
Down the incline Jerry took the heavy car, without a mishap. Straight for the open mouth of the tunnel he steered it. It was as dark as pitch now, but the lamps on the car gave good illumination.
“Come on, we have them now!” cried Vasco to his followers. “The boy is in the back seat!”
The Mexicans ran down the incline. By this time the machine was well into the mouth of the shaft. Hearing footsteps behind him, resounding on the stone pavement, Jerry shut off the power for a moment. As he did so the car was surrounded by ugly-looking brigands, who had run up at a signal from Vasco.
“Quick! Grab him!” cried Dalsett.
“I have him!” replied Vasco.
He reached up, and, though Bob was a heavy lad, the Mexican, with the help of Dalsett, pulled him over the rear seat. Bob fought, kicked and struggled. It was of no avail. Then a sack was quickly thrown over his head, and the men ran back out of the tunnel and up the incline, bearing Chunky with them.
“Bob’s been kidnapped!” shouted the professor. “Turn the auto around, Jerry, and chase after them!”
In an instant Jerry tried to turn the auto around. He found the passage too narrow. There was nothing to do but to back up the incline. This was a slow process in the darkness.
“Fire at them!” cried Ned.
“No. You might hit Bob!” said the professor. “We must chase after the brigands. This is what they have been following us for. I wonder what they want of Bob?”
No one could guess. By this time Jerry had run the machine up the inclined plane and into the temple. Then he sent it out into the street. It was as dark as a pocket and not a trace of the kidnappers could be seen, nor could they be heard. The capture of Bob came as a terrible blow.
“Let’s take to the tunnel where we came in!” cried Ned. “Perhaps they are hiding there.”
“If they are, they are well armed, and their force is three times what ours is now,” said the professor. “If we are to help Bob we will have to do it by strategy rather than by force. Come, we had better go back to the temple. We can make our plans from there.”
“Poor Chunky!” groaned Jerry. “I wonder what they are doing to him now?”
“I guess it was his money-belt they wanted more than they did him,” put in Ned. “You know he carried what was left of the five hundred dollars.”
“That’s so!” exclaimed Jerry, with a rueful face.
“Never mind the money; I have plenty,” put in the naturalist. “And don’t worry; we’ll find Bob yet.”
Nothing could be done that night, so the professor and the two boys tried to get what sleep their troubled minds would allow. In the morning they made a hurried breakfast and then held a consultation. It was decided to explore the tunnel by which they had entered the city, and see if it still held the brigands and Noddy’s crowd.
Arming themselves, the professor, Ned and Jerry advanced carefully through the big wooden gate. They proceeded cautiously, but no one opposed them. The tunnel was deserted. They came to the hole where they had tumbled down. The inclined plane of planks was there, in the same position as when the cave-in, produced by Murado, had occurred.
“They have probably gone back up here and are running across country,” remarked Ned. “Hello!” he exclaimed. “What’s that?”
He picked up a small object that lay at the foot of the incline, in the glare of the sunlight that streamed in from above.
“That’s Bob’s knife,” said Jerry. “He had it yesterday. That shows he must have been here since. There is no doubt but that they have carried him away from here.”
The professor agreed that this was probably the case. There was nothing left to do, so they returned to the temple.
“I hardly know what to do,” said the naturalist. “We might take the automobile and ride off, not knowing where, in a vain endeavor to find Bob. Or we can stay here on the chance that he may escape and come back. If we went away he would not know where to find us.
“Then, too, I am hopeful we may hear something from Noddy Nixon or some of those Mexicans he had with him. Those fellows are regular brigands, and may have captured Bob, thinking we will pay a ransom for his return. On the whole, I think we had better stay here for a few days.”
This seemed the best thing to do. With heavy hearts, Jerry and Ned wandered about the old temple, wishing their chum was back with them. The professor began to gather more specimens and made several trips to the old buildings where he got many curios of value.
Meanwhile, poor Bob was having his own troubles. At the first rough attack of the kidnappers, when he was hauled over the back of the auto, he did not know what had happened. He supposed it was some accident, such as the tunnel caving in or the water suddenly rising.
But when he found himself held by two men, and the bag thrown over his head, he realized that he was a captive, though he did not know why any one would want him.
Holding him between them, Vasco and Dalsett ran back into the bath and up the incline, followed by Noddy and the Mexicans. Berry and Pender had been left in charge of the auto and horses, which were in the first tunnel.
Bob, who had not attempted to struggle after his first involuntary kicking when he was hauled out, decided that his captors were having too easy a time of it. He was by no means a baby, and though he was fat he had considerable muscle.
So he began to beat about with his fists, and to kick with his heavy shoes, in a manner that made it very uncomfortable for Vasco and Dalsett.
“Quit that, you young cub, or I’ll hurt you!” exclaimed Vasco.
“Yes, an’ I’ll do the same!” growled Dalsett, and, recognizing the voice, Bob knew for the first time into whose hands he had fallen.
He did not heed the command to stop struggling, and it was all the two men could do to hold him. Suddenly they laid him down.
“Look here!” exclaimed Dalsett, sitting on Bob to keep him still, “if you want us to tie you up like a steer we’re willin’ to do it. An’ we’ll gag you into the bargain. If you quit wigglin’ you’ll be treated decent.”
“Then you take this bag off my head!” demanded Bob, with some spirit.
“I will if you promise to walk an’ not make us carry you,” promised Dalsett.
“I’ll walk until I get a good chance to get away,” replied Bob, determined to give no parole.
“Mighty little chance you have of gittin’ away,” remarked Dalsett, as he removed the sack.
It was as dark as a pocket, and Bob wondered where he was. Soon one of the men came with a lantern, and by the gleam the captive could see he was in the tunnel.
“Come on!” ordered Vasco.
Walking in the midst of his captors, Bob came to the foot of the incline. There he found Noddy, Pender and Bill Berry in the auto. The Mexicans had their horses in readiness for a flight.
“They’re going to take me away,” thought Bob. “I wonder how I can give the boys and the professor a sign so they will know that?”
His fingers came in contact with his knife and that gave him an idea. He dropped the implement on the ground, where it was found by his friends later.
“Is everything ready?” asked Vasco.
“I guess so,” replied Noddy. “Shall I run the machine up the incline?”
“Go ahead,” said Dalsett. “We’ll walk with our young friend here. I reckon the car will have trouble gittin’ up the hill if too many gits in it.”
“Come on, you fellows!” ordered Vasco of his Mexicans. “We have the captive now, and you’ll soon be dividing the ransom money.” He spoke in Spanish, which Bob could not understand. The boy was at a loss why so many should be interested in him, but laid it all to a plot of Noddy’s to get square.
It was quite a pull for the auto, up the steep incline, but Noddy, by using the low gear, managed it. The horses and their riders had less trouble, and soon the whole party stood in the road near the tunnel that led to the underground city.
Bob was placed on a small pony, and his hands were tied behind his back. Then, with a Mexican riding before and after him, and one on each side, the cavalcade started off.
For several hours the journey was kept up. No one said much, and poor Bob puzzled his brains trying to think what it all meant. One thing he determined on: that he would try to escape at the first opportunity.
It came sooner than he expected. He had been working at the bonds on his hands and found, to his joy, that the rope was coming loose. In their hurry, Vasco and Dalsett had not tied it very securely. In a little while Bob had freed his wrists, but he kept his hands behind his back, to let his captors think he was still bound.
He waited until he came to a level stretch of land. Then, at a time when the Mexican in the rear had ridden off to one side to borrow a cigarette of a comrade, Bob slipped from the pony’s back.
He struck the ground rather hard, but here his fat served him in good stead, for he was not hurt much. Then he rolled quickly out of the way of the horses’ feet.
Jumping up, he ran at top speed off to the left. Instantly the cavalcade was in confusion. Vasco and Dalsett came riding back to see what the trouble was. They saw Bob bounding away.
“After him!” shouted Vasco, drawing his revolver and firing in the air to scare Bob. “After him! He’s worth ten thousand dollars!”
The Mexicans spurred their horses after the fugitive, while Noddy, turning the auto around, lighted the search-lamp and sent the light through the blackness to pick out Bob so the others could find him in the darkness.
On and on ran the boy, and after him thundered the horses of his pursuers, coming nearer and nearer.
It was too uneven a chase to last long. Bob soon found that his enemies were gaining on him, and he resolved to play a trick. He came to a big rock and dropped down behind it, hiding in the shadow.
For a time the Mexicans were baffled, but they spread about in a half circle and Bob could hear them gradually surrounding him. Still he hoped to escape detection.
“Can’t you find him?” he heard Noddy call.
“He seems to have given us the slip,” replied Vasco. “But we’ll get him yet.”
Noddy sent the searchlight of the automobile all about the rock behind which Bob was hidden, but the deep shadow cast protected the boy.
At length, however, one of the Mexicans approached the place. At the same instant Bob was seized with an uncontrollable desire to sneeze. His nose tickled and, though he held his breath and did everything he had ever read about calculated to prevent sneezes, the tickling increased. Finally he gave voice to a loud “Ka-choo!”
“Diablo!” exclaimed the nearest Mexican. “What have we here?”
He was at the rock in an instant and lost no time in grabbing Bob. The boy tried to struggle and escape again, but his captor held him in a firm grip. The Mexican set up a shout at the discovery of his prize, which speedily brought Vasco and his comrades to the scene.
“So, you didn’t care much for our company,” observed Bilette. “But never mind, we think so much of you that we run after you wherever you go. Now we have you again!” and he laughed in an unpleasant manner.
“I don’t see what you want of me,” remarked Bob, as he was led back and placed on his pony.
“Ah, perhaps you are not aware that you are worth much money to us,” said Vasco.
“I’ll give you all I have if you’ll let me go,” said Bob.
“That is something we overlooked,” said Dalsett. “Take his money, Vasco. He may have a few dollars.”
In another minute Bob’s money-belt, with the best part of five hundred dollars, was in the possession of the Mexicans. He wished he had kept still.
“This is doing very well,” observed Vasco, as he counted over the bills with glistening eyes. “This is very well indeed, and most unexpected. But we want more than this.”
“It is all I have,” answered Bob.
“But your people, your father has more,” went on the Mexican. “I think if you were to write him a letter, stating that you were about to be killed unless he sent ten thousand dollars, he would be glad to give us the small amount.”
“I’ll never write such a letter!” exclaimed Bob. “You can kill me if you want to!”
“You’ll think differently in the morning,” remarked Vasco. “Here, you fellows, tie him up so he can’t get away again!”
This time the ropes were knotted so tightly about the boy’s arms and legs that he knew he could not work them loose. He was thrown over the back of the pony and the cavalcade started off again.
All night long the march continued, the men on their horses and Noddy and his friends in the auto. Poor Bob felt sick at heart over his failure to escape and the knowledge, conveyed to him in Vasco’s remarks, that he was being held for ransom.
Just as day was beginning to break, the party reached a small Mexican village and preparations were made to spend some time there. Vasco and his men seemed to know the place well, for they were greeted by many of the inhabitants of the place who had arisen early. Noddy ran the automobile under a shed and then the whole crowd, taking Bob with them, went to a large house at the end of the principal street, where they evidently intended to make their headquarters.
Bob was taken to a small room on the second floor, facing the courtyard, which is a feature of all Mexican homes. His bonds were released and he was thrust roughly inside.
The apartment was bare enough. There were a table, a chair and a bed in the room. The only window was guarded by heavy iron bars, and the single door was fastened with a massive lock.
“I guess I’ll have trouble getting out of here,” said Bob to himself. “It’s a regular prison. I wonder if they’re going to starve me?”
He began to suffer for want of water, and his stomach cried for food. He had some thought of pounding on the walls and demanding to be fed, when the door opened and a girl quickly entered, setting on the table a tray of food. She was gone before Bob had a chance to get a good look at her, but he saw that she was young and pretty, attired as she was in gay Mexican colors.
Though the meal was not very appetizing, it tasted to Bob as if it was the best dinner ever served. He felt better after eating it, and more hopeful.
For several days he was held a captive in the room. One evening Vasco Bilette and Tom Dalsett paid him a visit.
“We have brought a paper for you to sign,” said Vasco.
“I will sign nothing,” replied Bob.
“I think you will, my boy,” spoke the Mexican. “Bring in the charcoal, Tom.”
Dalsett went out and returned with a small, portable clay stove in which burned some charcoal. Heating in the flames was an iron used for branding cattle.
“You can take your choice of signing this or of seeing how you look with a hot iron on,” said Vasco. “This paper is a letter to your father, telling him you have been captured by brigands, who will not let you go excepting they are paid ten thousand dollars.”
“I’ll never sign!” replied Bob, firmly.
“Then brand him!” cried Vasco.
One of the Mexicans took the iron from the fire. It glowed with a white, cruel heat. At the sight of it Bob’s courage melted away. At the same time a plan came into his head.
“I’ll sign!” he exclaimed.
“I thought you would,” observed Vasco. “Put your name here.”
He handed Bob a letter, written to Mr. Baker, whose name and address Noddy Nixon had supplied. In brief, it demanded that ten thousand dollars be sent to the brigands and left in a lonely spot mentioned, if Mr. Baker did not want to hear of the death of his son. Any attempt to capture the writers, the missive stated, would be met with the instant killing of the boy.
“Sign there,” said Vasco, indicating the place.
Bob did so. At the same time he placed beneath his signature a scrawl and a row of figures.
To the Mexicans figures meant nothing, and it is doubtful if they observed them. But to Mr. Baker they spelled out the message: “Send no money. I can get away.”
They were figures in a secret cypher bank code that Mr. Baker sometimes used, and which Bob had learned.
“I guess that will fool them,” thought the boy, as he saw his captors take away the letter.
For the next few days nothing occurred. Bob was kept a close prisoner in his room, and the only person he saw was the girl who brought him food. He tried to talk to her, but she did not seem to understand English.
The captive was beginning to despair. He feared he would never see his friends again, for he did not believe his father would send the money, and without it he was sure the desperate men would kill him.
His confidence in his ability to escape lessened as the days went by. He tried to pick the lock on his door, and loosen a bar at the window, but without success. It was the fifth day of his captivity and the Mexican girl came to bring him his supper.
To Bob’s surprise, this time she did not hurry away. She set the tray of food down and looked at him anxiously.
“You want go?” she asked, in a broken accent.
“You mean escape? Get away from here? Leave?” asked Bob, taking sudden hope.
“Um! Go ’way. Leave bad mans! Maximina help! You go?”
“Of course,” replied Bob. “But how are you going to manage it?”
“Wait till dark. Me come. You go, we go. Leave bad mans. Me no like it here. Bad mans whip Maximina.”
By which Bob understood that the girl would come when it got dark and help him to escape, accompanying him because she herself had been ill treated by the Mexicans.
“Be good boy! Me come. You glad!” she said, in a whisper.
Just then the sound of voices was heard outside the room, in the corridor.
“Hush! No tell!” cautioned the girl as she glided from the room.
Bob began to eat his supper. His heart was in a flutter of hope.
“Queer why that money don’t come,” he heard Vasco say, outside. “We’ll have to do something pretty soon.”
It was getting dark now, and Bob waited anxiously.
Several hours passed. Bob was beginning to think Maximina had forgotten her promise, when he heard a soft footstep outside. Then came a gentle tapping at his door. It was unlocked from the outside, opened, and the Mexican girl stepped in.
“Hush!” she whispered. “We go now. All bad mans gone to feast—holiday. We go. Put on cloak.”
She gave Bob a long, dark serape, and produced one for herself. Little time was lost. Led by Maximina, Bob passed out into the dark corridor, down the stairs and through the courtyard, out of the house, under the silent stars that twinkled in the sky.
“This way!” whispered the girl. “We ride ponies. No one here, we take horses. Where you live?”
Bob was at a loss what to do. He wondered how he could make Maximina, whose language he could not speak, and who could talk but imperfectly in his, understand about the underground city. Equally hard would it be to make her comprehend where he lived and how to start for the nearest large city in order to get help or communicate with his friends.
He remembered that his captors had brought him almost directly north as they sped away from the buried city. So he thought the best thing to do would be to ride to the south, when he might see some landmark that would aid him in locating himself.
“We’ll go this way,” he said, pointing in a direction opposite to that of the north star, which he saw blazing in the sky.
“All right,” exclaimed the Mexican girl. She leaped to the back of one of two ponies she had brought from the stable. Bob was not so expert, but managed to get into the saddle.
So far they had met no one, nor had they heard the sound of any of the Mexicans. As Maximina had said, all of the men were away to a feast, one of the numerous ones celebrated in the country. Even Noddy and his friends had gone, so there was no one left to guard Bob but the girl.
Away they rode, urging their ponies to a gallop. Bob was fearful that at every turn of the road he would meet with some of Vasco’s men, but the highway appeared to be deserted.
“Me glad to go. Bad mans steal Maximina years ago,” said the girl, after half an hour’s ride. “Me want to get back to own people.”
“I wish I could help you,” said Bob, “but I’m about as badly off as you are. The Mexicans stole me, too.”
“We both same, like orphans,” said Maximina. “Never min’. Maybe we find our folks.”
By degrees she brokenly told Bob her story, how she had been kidnapped by Vasco when she was a child, and how he had kept her because her father was too poor to pay the ransom demanded. She had gradually come to be regarded as a regular inmate of the Mexican camp, which, it seemed, was an organized headquarters for kidnappers and brigands generally.
She had never thought of escaping before, she said, but when she saw Bob she felt sorry for him and resolved to free not only him, but herself.
“We ride faster,” she said, after several miles had been covered. “Gettin’ late. Men come back from feast find us gone, they ride after.”
She urged her pony to a gallop and Bob’s animal followed its leader.
“If I only had a revolver or a gun I’d shoot some of them if they tried to take us back,” Bob said to himself. “I hope we can get away.”
In a small village, about ten miles from the camp of the Mexicans, Vasco and his friends were having a great time. There were wild music and dancing, and plenty of food well seasoned with red pepper. The Mexicans were having what they called fun.
Noddy, with Jack and Bill Berry, looked on, taking no part in the revels. They had come over in the automobile, while Vasco and his gang rode their horses.
It was past midnight when the leader of the Mexicans decided that it was time to start for home.
“Come on,” he said. “Who knows but what our prisoner has escaped.”
“Not much danger of that,” said Dalsett. “I told Maximina that if he got away we’d hold her responsible and give her a good lashing. She’ll not let him get away.”
But neither Dalsett nor Vasco knew what they were talking about. The Mexicans were reluctant to leave the dance, but Vasco insisted. Soon the whole party was riding back to camp, Noddy being in advance in his auto.
He was the first to reach the kidnappers’ headquarters. Dalsett was with him.
“I wonder how our captive is?” said the latter.
He went up to the room where Bob had been locked up. To his surprise and anger, the apartment was empty.
“Maximina!” he called.
There was no answer.
“They’ve gone!” he exclaimed. “Here, Noddy, ride back and meet Vasco. Tell him Bob has got away!”
The automobile was sent flying down the road. Vasco Bilette and his party were met and the news quickly imparted.
“We’ll catch ’em!” cried the Mexican. “They have only a few hours’ start, and only two slow ponies to ride on. Here, I’ll go in the auto with Noddy. You fellows come after me!”
Vasco took Jack Pender’s place in the machine and soon the chase was on. Vasco rightly concluded that Bob and Maximina would head for the south, so he, too, took the road leading in that direction.
Noddy speeded up the car, under Vasco’s directions. Faster and faster it raced, the searchlight throwing out a glaring beam far in advance.
Meanwhile, Bob and Maximina were making all speed possible. Every now and then the girl would halt her pony and listen intently.
“They no come yet,” she would say. “No can hear horses comin’ after us. We get ’way maybe.”
Bob certainly hoped so. His experience as a captive was not such as to cause him to like the rôle, and he longed to be with his friends, who, he knew, must be greatly alarmed about him.
It seemed to be getting darker as the two traveled on.
“Be sunrise ’bout hour,” said Maximina, and Bob remembered that he had read about it being darkest just before daybreak. “We mus’ hide then,” the girl went on.
Suddenly a sound came to them from over the dark fields that bordered the road. At the same time there was a shaft of light.
“There they come!” cried Bob. “They’re after us in the automobile!”
“Ride! Ride fast!” called Maximina, fiercely. “If they catch us they kill!”
She lashed her pony with the short whip she carried, and struck Bob’s animal several smart blows. The two beasts leaped forward.
But horses, especially small, Mexican ponies, are not built to race against large touring automobiles. Bob noticed that the chug-chug of Noddy’s machine came nearer and nearer.
“Maybe we can hide from them in the darkness,” said Bob. “It’s our only chance. They’ll soon be up to us.”
“No hide! Keep on ride!” exclaimed Maximina. “We git away!”
But even as she spoke the searchlight picked them up and they were revealed in its blinding glare. A faint shout from their pursuers told that they had been seen.
The ponies were tiring. Already Bob’s was staggering along as the pace told on it. Maximina’s was a little better off.
“We have them!” Bob heard Vasco shout. “They are both together. Put a little more speed on, Noddy!”
The chug-chugs of the auto told that the machine was being sent ahead at a faster clip. The searchlight glared more strongly on the fugitives.
“Cave somewhere near here,” said Maximina. “If we could find ’um we be safe. Ride more, Bob.”
“This pony can’t go much farther,” replied the boy. “His legs are shaking now.”
Crack!
A flash of reddish fire cut the blackness, and a bullet sang unpleasantly close over Bob’s head.
“They only shoot to scare!” cried Maximina. “They no want to kill you. Too valuable. Want ransom; much money; ten thousand dollars.”
“All the same, it’s no fun to be shot at,” remarked Bob, urging his pony on.
The automobile was now but a few hundred feet away. Noddy had to reduce his speed because the ground was getting rougher.
“We’ll have them in another minute!” cried Vasco.
At that instant, Bob’s pony, stepping in a hole, stumbled and fell, throwing the rider over its back. Bob struck the ground heavily and was stunned.
“Me stay with you!” exclaimed Maximina, reining in her pony and coming back to where Bob was.
“No, no! You ride on!” the boy said, faintly. “Maybe you can find my friends and send help. They are in the underground city!”
“All right. Me go! Bring help!” the girl whispered, and, leaping on her pony’s back, she rode off to one side, getting away from the glare of the searchlight and so escaping observation.
Two minutes later the auto came up to where Bob was stretched out on the ground. Vasco leaped out before the machine had fairly stopped and made a grab for Bob.
“The boy is dead!” he exclaimed.
“Dead!” faltered Noddy. He was beginning to be alarmed over the part he had played.
“Bring a light here!” commanded the Mexican.
Noddy turned the search-lamp on Bob’s prostrate form. At that the boy opened his eyes. He had fainted from pain caused by his fall.
“Shamming, eh?” sneered Vasco, striking Bob a blow with a rope he carried. “Get up, now! No nonsense; you’ve made trouble enough!”
Poor Bob was too discouraged and felt too bad to reply. The other Mexicans rode up. In a few minutes the captive was securely bound, lifted into the auto, and, as dawn broke, the start back to camp was made.
“Don’t you want Maximina?” asked Dalsett.
“Let her go,” replied Vasco. “She was only a bother around, and never liked to work. She can’t do any harm.”
The days were full of anxiety for the professor, Jerry and Ned, who still remained in the ancient city after Bob had been kidnapped. Every night they went to bed, hoping some word would be received by morning, or that the missing one would return. Every morning they said to each other:
“Well, something will happen to-morrow.”
But nothing happened, and, as day after day went by, they began to lose hope.
“We may as well leave here,” said Ned.
“Not yet,” Jerry replied. “I am sure we will have some word from Bob soon now.”
In the meanwhile, they made trips in all directions from the ancient city. But there was no trace of the Mexicans. The country was uninhabited for twenty miles in every direction from the buried place, and farther than that the travelers did not venture.
“We must be here every night,” said the professor. “Somehow, I feel that Bob will come back at night, or we will hear something from him after dark. So we do not want to be away then, for if he should come, or if he should send some word, we would not be here to receive it.”
For that reason little was done toward hunting for the kidnapped boy. The travelers did not go so far but that they could get back by nightfall.
They explored the city thoroughly and the professor found many more rare and valuable relics. His specimen boxes were full to overflowing, but still he kept searching.
The boys occupied themselves by getting the meals and attending to the camp, for the naturalist bothered himself about nothing but his specimens. They still continued to reside in the old temple, which they found a comfortable place.
“I wonder what we’ll do when our food gives out?” asked Ned one day when it was his turn to get the dinner.
“Why, haven’t we got plenty for several weeks yet?” inquired Jerry.
“It don’t look so to me,” said Ned, glancing in the box where the canned stuff was kept.
“That’s queer,” remarked Jerry. “There aren’t any tomatoes left. Did you cook any since yesterday?”
“You cooked yesterday,” retorted Ned. “Were there any then?”
“Six cans,” said Jerry. “Now there are none left. I wonder if the professor took any?”
“Any what?” asked the naturalist, coming into the temple just then.
“Tomatoes,” replied Jerry, explaining what he and Ned had been talking about.
“No; I haven’t touched a can,” said the professor.
“Then some one has, and it isn’t us,” was Ned’s opinion. “I wonder if there is any one in this temple but ourselves?”
“Now that you speak of it, I think there is,” went on the naturalist. “The other night I was restless and could not sleep well. I was looking out of the door of our bedroom, into the main apartment, when I saw something white moving. At first I thought it was one of you boys, but I looked over on your cots and saw you both were sleeping. Then I thought it might be a white monkey, for I have heard there are such kinds, though I have never seen any. But when I looked a little closer I saw that it was a man wrapped in a long, white serape.
“I didn’t give any alarm, for I was afraid of waking you boys. But I watched and saw the man go to our box and take out some cans of provisions. I meant to speak about it the next morning, but I forgot it.”
“Who do you suppose it was?” asked Jerry.
“Probably some poor wandering Mexican,” replied the professor. “He may have happened along, fallen into the passage leading to this old city and been half starved until he found our camp.”
“We’ll have to look out, though,” said Ned. “We have hardly enough left for ourselves.”
“Then we must keep watch to-night,” decided the professor. “It will not do for us to starve, though we will share what we have with any one who is in distress.”
And so, that night, they took turns in mounting guard. None of them saw anything out of the ordinary, though had they been able to witness a scene that took place in an obscure gallery of the temple they would have been surprised.
San Lucia and Murado were still hiding in the place, waiting their chance to get something of value from the travelers. The capture of Bob had upset the plans of the two aged brigands, and they were a little cautious about proceeding. But for several nights they had made raids on the improvised pantry Ned had constructed.
“Are we to go again to-night?” asked San Lucia, on the evening when Ned made the discovery that led to the posting of the guard.
“It remains to be seen,” replied Murado. “If we have no better luck than last night it is of little use.”
“No; tomatoes are a poor substitute for gold,” agreed San Lucia. “I wonder if they have nothing but things to eat in those cans.”
“Some of them must contain gold,” replied Murado. “They do it to fool us, but we will get the best of them yet. We will carry off every can they have until we get those containing the treasure.”
For the two Mexicans believed that the travelers had packed their gold in the tin cans, of which there was a number. And each night San Lucia and Murado had stolen a few, hoping that some of them contained gold. Each time, on opening the tins, they had been disappointed.
“I will go first to-night,” said San Lucia. “I feel that I will be successful. Once we get the gold we can leave this place.”
About midnight he crept as softly as a cat upon the travelers. But, to his surprise, he found Jerry on guard and armed. San Lucia sneaked back to the balcony and told Murado.
“They are becoming suspicious,” said the latter. “We will have to wait a while. Perhaps they may be sleeping to-morrow night.”
But the two aged brigands never got another chance to attempt to rob the boys and the professor. Why this was we shall soon see.
The next morning, on account of the watch that was kept, nothing was found disturbed.
“We fooled somebody that time,” observed Ned.
After breakfast the professor announced that he was going to visit the house where he had, on a previous call, captured the gila monster.
“There was a cabinet there I overlooked,” he said. “Do you boys want to come along?”
“There is nothing else to do,” said Jerry. “How I wish we would hear something from Bob! I think we ought to go out on a search for him. It doesn’t seem that he will ever come here, after all this time.”
“I was thinking that myself,” said the professor. “If we hear nothing by to-morrow we will leave this place.”
The boys accompanied the naturalist to the ruined house. It seemed strange to be walking through the streets of a place that had been inhabited thousands of years ago. The city was a silent one, a veritable city of the dead, and the houses and buildings seemed like tombstones that had toppled over from age.
As Ned was walking about through the lower rooms of the house the professor had marked for exploration, he noticed a ring fastened to a square stone in the courtyard.
“I wonder what this is for?” he said.
“Looks as if it was meant to lift the stone up by,” replied Jerry.
“Give us a hand,” said Ned, “and we’ll see what’s here.”
The two boys pulled and tugged, but could not budge the stone. The professor happened along and saw them.
“I’ll show you how to do it,” he said.
He took a long pole and thrust it through the ring. Then, using the pole as a lever, he easily raised the stone.
“Now let’s see what we have unearthed,” he remarked.
The stone had covered a small hole. In it was a little casket of lead, the lid of which was locked.
“We’ll have to break it open,” said Jerry.
“Get a stone,” put in Ned.
Jerry brought a large one. One or two heavy blows and the lid of the box flew off. There was a sudden sparkle of light and several white objects fell to the ground.
“Diamonds!” cried the professor. “We have made a valuable discovery!”
The box seemed full of jewels. There were stones of many colors, but most of all were the white, sparkling ones.
“Maybe they’re only glass,” suggested Ned.
“No; they are diamonds, rubies, turquoise and other precious stones,” replied the professor. “This was probably the jewel case of some Aztec millionaire.”
They returned to their camp, carrying the jewels with them. As they entered the old building, Jerry, who was in the lead, started back.
“There’s some one at our auto!” he exclaimed.
“Nonsense!” replied the professor. “The place is deserted.”
But he changed his mind a moment later. As he entered the room he saw a girlish figure clinging to the side of the car. She seemed to be almost dead, and had only strength enough left to mutter:
“Bob; he want you! Vasco Bilette have him! Come quick!”
Then she fell over in a faint.
“Who is she?” asked Ned.
“I don’t know,” replied the professor, calmly. He seemed to take the appearance of a strange girl in the underground city as a happening that might occur at any time.
“Where did she come from?” asked Jerry.
“I can’t tell you that, either,” went on the naturalist. “One thing I can say, though, and that is, this poor girl needs help. She must be hungry, and she has traveled a long distance. Her clothes show that.”
“What did she mean by speaking about Bob, saying Vasco Bilette had him, and for us to come quick?” asked Ned.
“All that in good time,” replied the professor. “The thing to do now is to bring her out of her faint, and get her something to eat. Ned, you make the coffee and Jerry will heat some chicken soup. Hurry now, boys.”
But the lads needed no urging. In a jiffy the camp-stove was going and hot coffee was soon ready. In the meanwhile the professor, by use of some simple remedies he always carried, brought the girl out of her faint. She opened her eyes and asked for a drink.
The hot coffee, followed by a little of the warm soup, brought the color back to her face, and she was able to sit up. She stared at her strange surroundings and looked at the boys and the naturalist.
“Me Maximina,” she said, speaking slowly. “You Ned, Jerry and Mr. Snowgrass?”
“Snodgrass, Snodgrass, my dear young lady,” replied the professor, bowing low. “Professor Uriah Snodgrass, A. M., Ph.D., M. D., F. R. G. S., A. Q. K., all of which is at your service.”
“Bob need you,” said the girl, simply. “He try to come, but he git ketch.”
“Yes, yes! Tell us about him. Where can we find him?” asked Jerry, eagerly.
“Me no spik Inglis good,” the girl replied. “You spik Spanish, señor?”
“Si,” answered the professor.
Thereupon Maximina let forth a torrent of words that nearly overwhelmed the naturalist. Yet he managed to understand what she said.
Maximina told how she had been at the Mexicans’ camp when Bob was brought there, she having been a captive for many years. She determined to help him escape, and did so when the opportunity offered. She told how she knew, in a general way, where the buried city was, as Bob had told her something about it, and she had overheard Vasco and his men talking about the locality where they had fallen down the tunnel.
“But Bob’s horse fell and threw him off,” she explained, in her native tongue. “I wanted to stay with him, but he told me to go on. Then Vasco came and got him, but I rode away, for I wanted to find you. I had hard work, and I lost my way several times. Three days ago my pony died and I walked the rest of the distance.”
“Poor girl! You must be almost tired to death,” said the professor.
“I was tired, but it is happiness to find you, señors, for I know you will go and help Señor Bob.”
“Of course we will, right away,” said the naturalist.
“She seems to have taken a sudden liking to our friend Bob,” commented Ned. “She’s a mighty pretty girl, too; don’t you think so, Jerry?”
“Be careful,” laughed Jerry. “Don’t go to having any love affairs with beautiful Mexican maidens. I have read that they are a very jealous and quick-tempered nation. Besides, you are too young.”
“I’m a year older than Bob,” maintained Ned.
“Now, boys, what had we better do?” asked the professor. “Maximina can guide us to the place where Bob is held captive. Shall we go and give battle to these brigands?”
“Sure!” exclaimed Ned. “We have plenty of ammunition.”
“And they are about ten to our one,” put in Jerry. “But we’ve got to do something,” he added, seriously.
“Then we’ll start as soon as we can get in shape,” decided the professor. “I have a better plan than making a direct attack on the camp of the Mexicans, however. We will go to the authorities and ask their aid. Maximina says there is a detachment of soldiers stationed about thirty miles from here and on the line we must take to go to the camp, from which they are distant about ten miles.”
“Bully!” cried Ned. “With a few soldiers to help us we’ll give those brigands and Noddy Nixon such a licking that they’ll never want another.”
The automobile was soon made ready. In it was packed all that remained of the provisions. The professor did up his precious specimens and curios, not forgetting the lead casket of jewels.
The water tank was filled. Fortunately, there was still plenty of gasolene left. Jerry and Ned pumped up the tires, Maximina was invited to a seat in the rear, with the professor, and the travelers, taking a last look at the underground city, started off.
They went through the tunnel, up the incline, the fall of which had precipitated them into the shaft, and soon were on the level road, speeding to the rescue of Bob.
After Vasco had secured his captive, following Bob’s and Maximina’s flight, the brigand took measures to insure that the prisoner would not get away again. Bob was placed in a regular dungeon, and outside the door was stationed a man with a gun.
The poor lad was in low spirits. He began to give up hope, and the only thing that cheered him was the thought that perhaps Maximina might have gotten away and would notify his friends or the authorities.
But Bob knew it was a remote chance, for he did not believe the frail girl could stand the long journey alone. He tried to learn something about her; whether she had been recaptured or not; but to all questions his guard, and the old woman who brought him food, returned but one answer, and that was:
“No spik Inglis, señor.”
Bob saw it was of no use to try to get out of the dungeon. It was built partially underground, the walls were of stone and the door a massive wooden one, while the single window was heavily barred. It was hot in the small cell, and Bob suffered very much. But he tried to keep up a brave heart.
One day he heard voices outside of the dungeon window. He listened intently and found that Noddy and Vasco were talking. Vasco, of necessity, had to speak English in talking with Noddy, who understood only a little Spanish.
“Have you got the money yet?” asked Noddy.
“No; and I think we never will get it,” replied Vasco, angrily. “I don’t believe the boy is the son of a rich banker at all. It’s another one of your wild dreams, just like the gold mine the crazy professor was going to locate.”
“Bob’s father is rich,” maintained Noddy. “It ain’t my fault that he won’t send the cash.”
“Well, it’s your fault for getting me into this muss,” went on Vasco, “and it’ll be your fault if we don’t get some money pretty soon. The men are mad and I won’t be able to manage ’em in a few days. They blame it all on you, so you’d better look out!”
“Do you suppose they—they will ki-kill me?” faltered Noddy.
“I shouldn’t be surprised,” said Vasco, coldly.
At that instant Bob heard some one come galloping up on a horse. It seemed to be a messenger, for he heard the steed come to a stop, while a man jumped down and began talking rapidly in Spanish.
“What is it? Has Bob’s father sent the money?” asked Noddy.
“Money? No!” snapped the leader of the brigands. “But the soldiers are after us! We must get out of here!”
Bob’s heart thrilled with hope. Perhaps, after all, Maximina had been able to send help. He almost laughed in his happiness, thinking he would soon be free.
But his hopes were dashed to the ground when, a few minutes later, his guard came into his cell, quickly bound his hands and feet, wrapped a long cloak about him, and, with the aid of another Mexican, carried him out of the cell.
Bob realized, from the change of air, that he was being carried into the open. He could see nothing because of the cloak about his head, but he could hear much bustle and confusion.
Men were running here and there, while Vasco was giving quick orders. Then the sound of the automobile being started was heard. Bob felt himself lifted into the car and, a few seconds later, he felt the vibration that told he was being carried away again, this time in Noddy’s machine.
As the messenger had told Vasco, the soldiers were on their way to the camp of the kidnappers. The boys and the professor had reached the garrison, and, telling their story, had induced the commander to send a detachment to capture the Mexicans. But the troops traveled slowly, and one of Vasco’s friends, who happened to be hanging about the fort, hearing of the contemplated raid, mounted a swift horse and rode off to give the alarm.
So when, a few hours after Vasco had fled with his men and his captive, the troops galloped up, led by Jerry, Ned, Maximina and the professor in the automobile, they found the camp deserted.
“The birds have flown!” exclaimed the captain of the troopers. “We may as well go back!”
“No!” cried Jerry. “We must take after them. Bob must be rescued!”
“But how can we tell where they went?” asked the captain.
“That woman can tell you!” exclaimed Maximina, pointing to an aged crone who was trying to escape observation in one of the huts.
“Bring her here!” commanded the captain.
Several of his soldiers ran toward the old woman who set up a loud screaming.
“Who is she?” asked the leader of the troops of Maximina.
“An old servant of Vasco’s,” replied the girl. “She knows all his secrets and can tell where he has gone. He has several hiding places about here.”
Protesting and crying that she knew nothing and could tell nothing, the aged servant was brought to the captain.
“Where is Vasco Bilette?” he asked.
“I know not! I have not seen him these three days!” she exclaimed.
“So,” commented the captain, smiling. “We will see if we cannot refresh your memory. Pedro, fetch my rawhide whip!”
At this the woman howled most dismally, and threw herself on the ground, clinging to the legs of the men who held her.
“I cannot allow this,” interposed Professor Snodgrass, to whom the conversation, carried on in Spanish, was intelligible. “Even at the cost of seeing Vasco Bilette escape I will not stand by and see a woman whipped.”
“But, señor, you do not understand the case,” said the captain. “That is the only way I can get the truth out of her. I must give her a few blows to loosen her tongue. That is the only persuasion these cattle understand; blows and money.”
“Why not try the latter?” suggested the naturalist.
“Who has money to throw away on such as she?” asked the commander, with a shrug of his shoulders.
“I will pay her,” went on the professor. “See,” he went on, taking out some bank-notes. “Tell us where Vasco went and you shall have fifty dollars.”
The old woman glanced at the money, looked around on the soldiers and glared at the captain, who was switching a cruel whip. Then she said, sullenly:
“I will tell you, señor, but not for money. It is because you had a kind thought for old Julia. Listen, Vasco has gone to the cave by the small mountain.”
“I know where that is!” exclaimed the captain. “Many a time have we had fights there with the brigands. It is about ten miles off.”
“Then let us hurry there!” cried Jerry.
The professor handed the old woman the bills. She took them, hiding them quickly in her dress.
“The whip would have been cheaper,” said the captain, with a regretful sigh. “It is money thrown away.”
“I have more to throw after it, if you and your men rescue the kidnapped boy!” exclaimed the naturalist, for he understood something of the Mexican character.
“Good!” cried the captain. “Come, men, hurry! We will wipe the brigands from the face of the earth!”
Indeed, new enthusiasm seemed to be infused into the soldiers at the mention of money. Those who had dismounted, sprang quickly to the saddles, the bugler blew a lively air, and the troops started off at a smart trot. Old Julia was left behind in the camp of the kidnappers.
The boys and the professor, with Maximina, in the automobile, followed the troopers.
“I think there will be one big fight,” said the girl, in English, speaking to the boys. “Vasco has many guns in the cave.”
“I hope it will be his last fight,” said Ned. “I don’t wish any one bad luck, but I would like to see Vasco Bilette and his gang put where they can do no more harm.”
“The soldiers don’t seem to take this very seriously,” remarked Jerry. “Hear them singing and laughing.”
“They probably want Vasco to know they are coming, so they will not take him by surprise,” spoke the professor. “It’s a trait of Mexican politeness, I suppose.”
The captain of the troop came riding back to the automobile, which had kept in the rear of the horsemen.
“My compliments, señor,” said the commander, bowing with a sweep of his helmet to the professor.
“My best regards to you,” replied the naturalist.
“We will be up to the vicinity of the cave in about an hour,” went on the captain. “Is it your desire to charge in the fire-wagon with my troopers, or do you prefer to stay in the rear and watch us dispose of this brigand?”
“We’re not the ones to stay in the rear when there’s fighting to be done,” said the professor. “You will find us in the fore, Señor Captain.”
“Very good; but what about the girl?”
“I will stay with my friends,” replied Maximina. “I am not afraid of Vasco Bilette.”
“You may stay with us,” consented the naturalist, “but I must insist on you getting down on the bottom of the car when the fighting begins.”
“Fighting? There will be no fighting,” said the captain.
“Aren’t you going to tackle the brigands and get Bob?” asked Jerry, in some surprise.
“Caramba! The dogs will run when they see my troops,” spoke the captain, puffing out his chest. “They will not stand. That is why I said there would be no fighting.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure,” remarked the professor.
“You shall see, señor,” went on the commander. “But now I must go back to my men. My compliments, señor.”
“Mine to you,” responded the professor, not to be outdone in politeness.
The cavalcade moved forward for several miles. It was getting hot and horses and men began to suffer. It was a relief when a small stream was reached, where every one could get a refreshing drink. After a short rest the command to move forward was given.
“What is that?” cried Jerry, suddenly, pointing ahead to where, on a broad, level stretch of country, several small, dark, moving objects could be seen.
“I will tell you directly,” said the professor, taking a pair of field-glasses from their case. He leveled the binoculars and gazed steadily through them.
“It is Vasco and his party!” he cried. “I can see Noddy in his auto, and there are a number of horsemen. They have not yet reached the cave. Quick, Jerry, run the machine ahead and tell the captain!”
Jerry increased the speed of the auto. It ran up beside the trooper captain, who turned about to see what was up.
“There are the brigands!” exclaimed the professor, pointing ahead. “Hurry up and you can catch them before they get to the cave, where they may barricade themselves.”
“My compliments, señor; I thank you for the information,” replied the captain, bowing low. “Will you not smoke a cigarette with me?”
“I don’t smoke!” snapped the professor. “Besides, we have no time for that now. We must fight!”
“Exactly, just so,” answered the easy-going Mexican. “Come, men!” he exclaimed. “The enemy is in front of you! At them, and show what stuff you are made of! Bugler, sound the charge!”
Instantly the troops were full of excitement. Men began unslinging their carbines. They got out their ammunition and seemed eager for the fray. The bugler blew a merry blast.
“Forward, my brave men! Cut down the brigands! Kill the kidnappers of boys!” shouted the captain, waving his sword.
With a shout, the Mexican soldiers dashed forward to the fight. They might be slow, and given to too much delay and politeness, but when the time came they were full of action.
They yelled as they dug spurs into their horses, and the more excited threw their hats into the air. Several discharged their carbines when there was no chance of hitting any of the enemy. They were wild at the thought of battle.
By this time the brigands became aware of the pursuit. Vasco Bilette had, with a powerful field-glass, detected the advance of the horsemen some time back. But an accident to the auto had detained them, and they were three miles from the cave when he saw the soldiers dashing toward him.
He and his men strained every nerve, but they soon saw they could not get to their stronghold ahead of their enemies.
“We’ll have to fight ’em,” said Vasco. “I guess we can give ’em as good as they send. Noddy and Dalsett, you keep an eye on Bob, and if you get a chance, skip off with him. Go back to camp; they won’t think of looking for you there.”
Ten minutes later the soldiers were within shooting distance. They opened fire on the Mexicans, who, not daunted by the numbers against them, returned the volleys. At first so great was the excitement that no damage was done. But after a few rounds two of the troopers were injured, and one of the Mexicans had to withdraw, seriously wounded.
“We must never surrender!” cried Vasco.
“Exterminate the brigands!” shouted the soldiers.
They came to closer quarters. The soldiers began to use their carbines for clubs, not taking the time to reload. Then they drew their sabres and charged the Mexicans under Vasco, who had drawn his force up in a hollow square. Several on both sides were killed in this mêlée.
The boys and the professor, who, under the captain’s later orders, had kept to the rear, now came dashing up in the automobile. Maximina was lying down on the floor of the tonneau, out of harm’s way.
Jerry was keeping an eye on Noddy and his auto, and he noticed that the machine, which, as he could see plainly now, held Bob, kept well behind the brigands.
“We must get Bob, no matter what happens,” said Jerry to Ned. “Look sharp now. I’m going to try something.”
“What is it?” asked Ned.
“Just you watch!” exclaimed Jerry. “Look out!”
He ducked, to avoid a bullet that sang over his head.
“What’s the use of doing that?” asked Ned. “The bullet is past when you hear it sing.”
“Can’t help it,” replied Jerry.
The fighting was now at its height. Though the force on both sides was small, the guns kept up a continuous fusillade, and it sounded as though a good-sized detachment was going into action.
“No quarter! Not a man must escape!” cried the captain.
“Charge!” yelled Vasco Bilette, trying to urge his men to make a rush and overwhelm the soldiers. “Charge and the day is won!”
With a shout, his men prepared to obey his command.
“Now is your chance!” whispered the brigand leader to Noddy. “Away with Bob!”
Noddy headed the machine, containing the bound captive, off to one side.
“There he goes!” Jerry shouted, catching sight of the movement. “We must take after him, Ned. Noddy has Bob with him.”