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The next day's work was similar, and twenty more brackets were got out. Late in the afternoon they saw Dias coming down the steps, and at once went down the ladder to meet him. "Have you got everything, Dias?" "I think so, senor, and I can tell you that the mules have had a pretty heavy load to bring back." "Well, we will go with you at once, Dias, and bring some of the things up.
"Now we are all right, Dias," Harry said as they started. "I hope so, senor; but from what I heard yesterday evening several strong bands of disaffected soldiers are in the hills between this and Oroya. Quinda's troops have by no means all joined him, and several companies that broke off have stationed themselves in the hills along this road.
There is often only room between the rocks for one to pass through, and it is just there where the rush of the water is strongest." During the afternoon Dias, who had been keeping a careful look-out at the cliffs, said to Harry: "I think, senor, that the savages are leaving the hills.
I would have followed you to the death through the swamps and forests on the other side, but I dare not risk being torn to death by demons and being left without burial." "I do not press you to go, Dias. I respect your convictions, though I do not share in them. I have had a year of travel with you, and we have had many adventures together. This will be my last before I return home.
That was why they did not quite close the stone; they wanted to get in again." "Here come the others!" Maria had been washing some clothes in the stream, and they had therefore been longer in coming than if she had been in the room. They all looked greatly excited. "So you have found it, senor!" Dias exclaimed in delight.
We shall want them in the hills, but we shall sometimes find villages where we can sleep in shelter." "Not for us, Dias. Mr. Barnett has told me that the houses are for the most part alive with fleas, and I should prefer to sleep in a tent, however small, rather than lie in a bed on the floor of any one of them.
"That might be so, Dias, if it were a hidden treasure that we were looking for; but as, according to your account, it is simply an extraordinarily rich deposit in the river, I hardly see why the guidance of the star should be necessary when once the valley was known."
As he approached, Harry said: "Stand by the side of a rock, Dias, so as to be able to shelter as soon as you have given them the answer; they are likely enough to fire a volley." "We will give you nothing," Dias shouted. "Anything you want you had better come and take." Three men raised their heads above the rocks and fired.
After the meal they sat smoking for half an hour, reluctant to commence the heavy work before them. "We had better be moving, senor," Dias said as he rose to his feet, "or we shall not get the bridge made before dark." A hundred yards from the camp they found three large trees growing close to each other near the edge of the stream. Bertie looked at them with an air of disgust.
Before setting to work Dias passed his torch over the stone. Presently he stopped. "Will you light two of the candles, senor; the torch flickers too much to see very plainly." Somewhat surprised, for no such close examination had been made before, the candles were lighted and handed to him.
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