The Land of Mystery

  CHAPTER XXX.

  A GUESS.

  Standing in the door of the building, his figure so wrapped in gloomthat it was invisible to the fierce Murhapas, Professor Grimckecautiously peered out upon the multitude that were clamorously seekingthe death of himself and comrade.

  The horde seemed to be everywhere. They were glaring over the riverbank, behind which they could find secure shelter by merely droppingtheir heads; they were crouching at the corners of the adjacent houses,the king's residence affording screen to fully a score. Not yet fullyrecovered from their panic, they appeared to be awaiting the leadershipof some strong man who held the fire-arms of the explorers in lessdread than they.

  A form rose upright along the Xingu, at the upper portion of the lineof savages. In the full moonlight he was as clearly revealed as if atmid-day.

  It was with strange feelings that Professor Grimcke saw that thisindividual belonged to the same race as himself. He was one of the twowhite men that had lived for years among the Murhapas and who hadinstigated the furious assault upon them.

  "You have earned your fate," muttered the German, bringing his unerringWinchester once more to his shoulder, and sighting as best he could atthe unconscious miscreant, who appeared to be conversing with some onesitting on the ground at his side.

  The finger of Grimcke was pressing the trigger when, yielding to anunaccountable impulse, he lowered the weapon. He was impatient withhimself that his heart should fail him at the critical moment, butperhaps it was well it was so.

  "You and I ought to be friends," he reflected, "and it is not my faultthat we are not, however, I cannot shoot you down like a dog, thoughyou deserve it."

  The emotion which checked him so unexpectedly, also prevented hisrenewing fire upon the Murhapas, who were really less guilty than he.

  He had decided to await the next demonstration before discharging hisgun again.

  Jared Long was as vigilant and alert as his friend. It may be doubtedwhether he would have spared Waggaman, had he been given theopportunity to draw bead on him. He realized too vividly that the twodefenders never would have been in this fearful situation but for themachinations of those two men.

  It seemed to him that Bippo was curiously quiet. He had not spoken,nor, so far as he could judge, moved since his own return from hisbrief conference with the Professor.

  He pronounced his name in a low voice, but there was no reply. A callin a louder tone also failed of response.

  "I wonder whether he was killed?" was the thought which led Long toleave his station at the door, and to set out on a tour ofinvestigation around the room, using his hands and feet to aid him.

  He expected every minute to come in contact with the lifeless figure ofhis helper, whom he supposed to have been pierced by the poisonedweapon of the Murhapa; but when he had passed around the apartment andacross it several times, until assured that not a foot of square spacehad been neglected he awoke to the fact that Bippo was not there.

  It was hardly probable that he had entered the front apartment, but hemade inquiry of the Professor. The latter replied that he had heardnothing of him; but, since he had a few minutes that could be sparedwithout danger for that purpose, he went through a search similar tothat of his friend.

  "He is not here," called the Professor, in a guarded undertone.

  The surprising conclusion followed that the fellow after all hadeffected his escape from the building, though how it was done puzzledthe two whom he left behind.

  Bippo had got away by yielding to one of those sudden inspirationswhich sometimes come to a person. Hearing the explorers speaking abouta stealthy withdrawal by the rear, he decided to anticipate them.Without pausing to debate the matter or ask for permission, he slippedout the rear door and moved rapidly off in a crouching posture.

  He must have been seen by numbers of the Murhapas, but was mistaken forone of their own number.

  The error cannot be regarded as remarkable, when it is recalled thatBippo bore a strong resemblance to the savages around them. He wasdressed the same and carried a spear similar to the missiles used bythem. Though he lacked their bushy heads and stature, these were notmarked enough to attract notice at a time when the Murhapas knew thatseveral of their number had been defeated in their efforts to enter thestructure from the rear.

  With his wits sharpened by his danger, Bippo displayed admirablediscretion. Showing no undue haste or flurry, he avoided too closeacquaintance with the savages, who were so absorbed in the work ofsecuring the destruction of the white men that they paid less attentionto such an incident than they would at any other time.

  So it was that he edged farther and farther away, until he foundhimself so close to the woods that he whisked among the trees withoutany one questioning or trying to check him. He was free at last, and,as if Dame Fortune had decided to take him in charge, he had hardlyreached the margin of the Xingu, at a point considerably below thevillage, when he almost stumbled over Pedros, who was waiting andwondering what he ought to do next.

  Both the Professor and his friend were glad that Bippo had managed toget away. They liked the fellow, and, even if they must be sacrificed,it was a relief to know that the poor native, who had had such a wofulexperience since leaving the Amazon, now had a fighting chance ofescaping from the dreadful region.

  Besides, as has been shown, the presence of the fellow was more of anincumbrance than a help. But for the delay caused by Long's rush tohis help, the whites would have made a dash for liberty themselves,though the question of their escape was problematical to the lastdegree.

  Precious little ground could the explorers see for extricatingthemselves from their peril. The Murhapas numbered a hundred, all werebrave, and the weapons in their hands were dreaded tenfold more thanfirearms. It seemed miraculous that Grimcke and Long had not beenpierced long before. Why did not the Murhapas set fire to thebuilding, after the manner of the North American Indians?

  This was the question which both the defenders had asked themselvesseveral times, but in the case of each the answer was obvious.

  The house, it will be recalled, adjoined that of King Haffgo, and,although there was no wind blowing, the burning of the less importantstructure was sure to endanger the other. As a last resort, the whitemen might be driven out in that way, but not yet.

  If the besiegers could persuade themselves to make a united rush, theywould be sure to prevail; but, as has been explained, the cost of suchan essay was sure to be frightful, and led the Murhapas to defer that,also, until assured less risky means would not prevail.

  It seemed to our friends that there were scores of schemes which oughtto be successful, and, such being the case, it will be understood whythey believed their last fight was on, and why they were disposed toshow no mercy to their assailants.

  The Professor was surprised, knowing, as he did, the part taken againstthem by Waggaman and Burkhardt, that no reports of firearms had yetbeen heard among the assailants. It would seem as if something of thekind was required in order that those miscreants should retain theirprestige among the people.

  Now, all these thoughts and many more passed through the minds of thedefenders in a tenth of the time it has taken us to put them on paper.It was yet early in the evening, and the crisis in the siege must comebefore long.

  Jared Long peeped out of the rear entrance. A study of what he sawshowed little change in the situation. He was convinced that the nextdemonstration would be from the front. He, therefore, did not hesitateto leave his post and slip into the next room for a few hasty wordswith the Professor.

  "There's no use of staying in here," he said, "for we are sure to beoverwhelmed within the next hour."

  "I fully agree with you."

  "And I can see but one desperate hope."

  "What is that?"

  "To follow Bippo."

  "I agree with you again; let us make such a demonstration from thefront that we shall be able to draw most of them there; then one of uswill make a rush."


  "Why not both."

  "We shall fail; one must keep up the firing while they think both areat it, and then the other can make the attempt."

  "Very well; let me open here."

  "No; we will both do it; you know that this station is mine and as soonas there appears to be a chance, you can make the start."

  Now, both of the men believed in their hearts that if the desperatescheme could work, that the utmost it could do would be to save one:there could be no earthly chance for the other.

  It was characteristic of the chivalrous friendship of each that he hadfully determined that that forlorn opportunity should be given to theother.

  But they understood their mutual natures too well to waste any words inargument, for neither would yield.

  "Very well, Professor; we'll draw lots."

  "I will agree to that."

  It was so dark in the room that they could not see each other, nor dideither window afford light enough for their purpose.

  Grimcke glanced out the door. No immediate movement seemed impending,and they moved to the fire-place. The Professor kicked some of theashes aside and a tiny blaze arose, throwing a dull illumination over afew feet of the room.

  The Professor drew an American coin from his pocket,--one that he hadkept ever since entering South America.

  "Now," said he, placing both hands behind his back, "tell me whichcontains it."

  "The right," said the New Englander.

  "You have lost," coolly replied the Professor, bringing the two handsquickly to the front and opening the palms.

  Sure enough the coin was in the left, but the sly fellow did notconfess that he had deftly changed it after his companion made hisguess.