by James Otis
CHAPTER XXVII.
AT BAY.
When the Indian had scraped the sand away to the solid rock, therebydeepening the enclosure at least twelve inches, he ceased work, and,seating himself by Cummings' side, prepared to do his share of thewatching.
By this time the assailants had become convinced that it was useless toexpose themselves to the murderous fire which could not be returned withany possibility of injuring the white men, and they remained undercover.
"I believe we might sneak away from them," Neal said, after lookingfifteen or twenty minutes at the ledge beneath which the enemy had takenrefuge, without seeing so much as a man's head. "They think we willshoot them down, and might keep under cover while we were escaping."
"Then you believe they do not know what we are about?" Cummings askedgrimly.
"How can it be possible if no one comes out to reconnoiter?"
"Look down the valley."
Following with their eyes the direction of Cummings' outstretched fingerthe boys saw a party of Indians far down the mountain side out of range,traveling rapidly in the opposite direction.
"They are running away!" Teddy cried gleefully. "Our guns were too muchfor them."
"Do you believe there are as many in that crowd as we saw coming up themountain?"
Teddy gazed again, and this time the look of joy and relief faded fromhis face.
"No," he replied slowly, "only about half as many."
"And the remainder are under the ledge ready to come out at the firstgood opportunity."
"But what are those fellows doing?"
"Going out of range where every movement we make can be seen withoutrisk of being shot at, and when the night comes they will circle aroundus."
That this supposition was correct could be seen a few moments later whenthe party halted in full view, and disposed of themselves in such placesas the bushes afforded any shade from the sun's hot rays.
"They are taking things mighty easy," Neal said after a long pause,during which he watched the enemy intently.
"What is to prevent?" Cummings replied. "Time is of no especial objectto them providing we can be captured finally, and just now we aresituated very much like rats in a trap."
"I wonder what would be the result if one of us should show himself?"Teddy said musingly.
"You shall soon see. Poyor, walk a short distance up the mountain, andlet the boys learn how well we are watched."
The Indian did as he was requested, and had hardly left thefortification when those in the valley made a series of signals to themen above, and instantly Cummings had another opportunity to empty hisweapon at a living target as several men sprang out from beneath theledge.
"Now you have some slight idea of what the result would be if we shouldattempt to run away," he said while re-loading the gun.
"But what is to be gained by staying here if you are certain we shall besurrounded? Wouldn't it be better to have the fight out when it ispossible to see what we are doing?"
"Yes, decidedly; but I prefer to wait longer. While there's life there'shope, and before sunset something may happen to give us the advantage."
Poyor came back leisurely, and as he re-entered the circle of rocksthose in the valley settled down contentedly once more.
During this conversation Jake had been sleeping soundly; but now the sunshone full upon him, and the heat was so great that he was forced tochange his position, saying as he did so:
"In a couple of hours more we shall be roasted to a turn."
"That isn't the worst that may befall us," Cummings replied, evidentlypleased at an opportunity to increase the engineer's fears.
"But it seems as if we might make a try for some game. I'm very nearlystarved."
"You are at liberty to do as you please, because it is not possible towork us any further injury. According to your belief the Chan Santa CruzIndians are such peaceable fellows that they might allow you to hunt inthe valley awhile."
"What's the use of roughing into me now? I know I've made a fool ofmyself twice; but I'm in the same hole with the rest."
"That doesn't make our situation any the more bearable, and when wethink how it was brought about it is only natural to feel sore. Even nowyou insist on taking rest when the others are working."
"But I traveled steadily for twenty-four hours, and haven't had half asmuch sleep as the remainder of the party."
"What about last night?"
Jake made no reply. He considered himself abused because Cummingspersisted in talking about what had been done, when he believed thematter should be dropped after the fault was acknowledged.
Another hour passed. The sun was directly overhead, and the heat seemedexcessive. There was no longer any shadow cast by the rocks, and thesand was so hot as to be painful to the touch.
"There is no reason why you boys should remain on guard," Cummingsfinally said. "The Indians will not make a move before afternoon, and itis equally certain we shall not get a chance to shoot at those under theledge."
"We may as well sit here, for no fellow could sleep in this oven," Teddyreplied; but Poyor showed what might be done, by lying down near thefront wall and closing his eyes.
At the end of two hours there was no further change in the condition ofaffairs. Poyor continued to sleep, the boys and Cummings remained onguard, and Jake sat leaning his head against the rocks while theperspiration ran down his face in tiny streams.
Then, as on the previous evening, the clouds began to gather, andCummings said in a tone of satisfaction as he gazed toward the sky:
"There's evidently no danger that we shall suffer from thirst, foranother storm is coming up, and while it lasts we may see some chance ofgiving those fellows the slip."
"But you didn't dare to travel last night when it was raining," Teddysaid.
"Very true; but that was at a time when we were not positive the enemywere so near. Now they are close at our heels we shall be warranted inrunning many risks which, twenty-four hours ago, would have been mostimprudent."
In a very short time the sun was hidden from view; a cooling wind blewacross the mountain, and every member of the sad visaged partyexperienced a wonderful sense of relief.
Poyor arose to his feet like one refreshed, and Jake bestirred himselfsufficiently to propose that he relieve Neal or Teddy a short while.
"You can sleep now that the sun doesn't shine," he said, "and I promiseto keep strict watch."
After some hesitation Teddy accepted the offer while he paced to and froto rest his cramped and aching limbs, and Poyor consulted with Cummingsrelative to an attempt at flight when the storm should come.
His idea was that they could not be any worse off by making one effortto reach the summit of the range, even if the desired result was notattained, and after considerable discussion the white man agreed to theplan.
"It is barely possible that we may get on all right, and the situationis so desperate that almost any change must be for the better," he said."We will wait half an hour or so, and then start if the enemy have madeno move meanwhile."
The threatened storm was not long delayed.
In less than an hour it was upon them in all its fury, and Cummings saidsharply as he pressed nearer the front of the fortification:
"Now we need all the eyes in the party. Keep a sharp watch, and fire atthe first moving thing you see."
On this occasion thunder and lightning accompanied the wind and rain,and by the glare of the flashes it was possible to see as if atnoon-day.
Never before had the boys witnessed such a terrible tempest. The entireheavens seemed ablaze at times, and the peals which echoed and re-echoedfrom one point to another appeared to shake the mountain.
The wind was so powerful that even Poyor could not stand against it, andCummings said in a tone of deepest disappointment:
"Unless we choose to venture into the valley again flight is out of thequestion. We must stay here and take what the Indians care to give uswhen the storm clears away."
The rocks forming the fortification were precipitated down the mountain;the little party were hurled violently forward, and then intensedarkness and the most profound silence ensued.
Teddy reached out his hand to touch Neal; but the latter was not nearhim.
"Neal! Neal!" he shouted again and again, and several moments elapsedbefore he heard, as if far away, an answering cry.
"Where are you, Teddy?"
"Here, on the side of the hill. Come this way."
"I can't. I'm nearly buried in the sand."
From the direction of the voice Teddy knew his friend had been thrownquite a distance down the hill, and he cried:
"Keep on shouting so I can find you."
"Don't move! Wait for another flash of lightning!"
It was Cummings who had spoken, and an instant later Jake was heardbegging for help.
The little party were hurled violently forward, and thenintense darkness ensued.]
"All the rocks of the fort must be on top of me. Will somebody help pullthem away."
The rain was yet falling in torrents: but the electrical disturbance hadceased entirely.
That something terrible had occurred all knew; but what it was no onecould say.
When Jake implored some one to aid him the second time, Poyor cried:
"Let each remain motionless. I will find the engineer. The earth hasopened here, and I am on the brink of a chasm."
This order was obeyed, and the boys knew by the sound of the Indian'svoice that he was making his way toward Jake.
At the end of ten minutes he shouted:
"There has been no harm done here. We will come to you."
The boys spoke from time to time to guide him, regardless of the factthat they might also be calling the enemy, and after what seemed to be avery long while the party were re-united at the spot where Neal was, ashe had said, nearly buried in the sand.