BRITISH MYSTERIES - Fergus Hume Collection: 21 Thriller Novels in One Volume. Fergus Hume
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proved their safeguard, for they passed unharmed, even unspoken to, through the mass of savages. On arriving at the verge of the sea, Jack at once sought out the cave described by Cocom; and, leading Dolores thereto, for a short space of time, they were in safety.
From this point, as Jack had learned in Totatzine, the city of Tlatonac was distant about twenty miles down the coast, and as there were plenty of canoes drawn up on the beach, it would have been easy for them to have proceeded at once on their journey. Gratitude to Cocom, however, prevented this, and they remained that night in the cave in order to await his arrival. The hiding-place was a natural cavern of wide extent, and, after making Dolores as comfortable as he could, Jack retired to the entrance, and kept guard, lest they should be surprised by some wandering savage.
Throughout this perilous journey, nothing could exceed the tenderness and chivalry with which Duval behaved towards Dolores. He was tireless in his efforts to spare her all fatigues, in keeping up her spirits, in guarding her from all the annoyances consequent on travelling ill-provided through a dense forest. Dolores said nothing at the time, but took silent note of all this courtesy, and over and over again breathed a thankful prayer that the man whom she loved had proved himself so noble in the hour of danger. It was a disagreeable position to a girl brought up as she had been in strict observance of etiquette; but Jack came triumphantly through the ordeal, and gained rather than lost in her eyes by the nobility of his character, by the rare delicacy of his behaviour.
The only thing that Duval feared was that the loss of the opal might cause the priests to mistrust Cocom’s story, and send out word far and wide that the sacred gem had been torn from the temple. It was true that they had gained a twelve hours’ start, but, owing to the delicacy of Dolores’ constitution, they had travelled very slowly to the coast, and at any moment messengers with news of the theft might arrive on the scene. In such an event, all the Indians on the coast would be examined as to whether a man and woman had passed seaward in company. Owing to their clothes being scattered in the gorge, the priests (supposing they did not trust these signs of death) would know they were disguised as Indians, therefore the dresses would avail them but little. Neither would the vow of silence be of much use, as in this crisis they would be questioned as to whom they were, to what tribe did they belong, and as neither of them could speak a word of Indian, the situation would become serious. The only hope, therefore, that they had of safety was of the arrival of Cocom without delay. If he arrived next morning, all would be well, if not, Jack discussed the advisability of taking a canoe, and proceeding at once to Tlatonac.
At dawn next morning they were both eating a hurried meal in the cave, and talking over the advisability of making a retreat while it was yet time.
“As soon as they find out the opal is missing, the whole country will rise in arms,” said Jack, emphatically; “and every Indian will be questioned closely, both within and without the town.”
“But the news won’t reach the coast for some time, Juan.”
“I question very much if it has not reached the coast now,” replied Jack, a trifle drily. “From the end of that road are many other paths to the coast, so swift messengers might have passed us in that way. Let us hope, however, that this is not the case, and that Cocom will be the first to bring the news that the opal is lost.”
“Cocom will guess that I have taken the opal!”
“Doubtless; and the question is whether he will permit you to take it to Tlatonac.”
“But why not, Juanito? I am the guardian of the opal. It is mine.”
“Querida, you are wrong. It is the property of Huitzilopochtli. You are only its guardian—a mere honorary position that does not entail possession of the stone. Its proper place, according to the Indian’s superstition, is in the shrine of Totatzine.”
“But Cocom is a Christian. He will not care about my taking it.”
“Dios! I am not so sure of that, Dolores. Cocom, by his own profession, was brought up an idolater, and old habits cling. It is true that he was converted by the good Padre, and I have no doubt his Catholicism is very fair—for an Indian. But if he does not worship the war-god, he at least believes in the prophetic quotations of the Opal; and, thus believing, may resent it being taken from the shrine.”
“Then I will say nothing about it.”
“Useless, angelito! Cocom knows that no other person than ourselves would dare to steal the Chalchuih Tlatonac. I was with him all the time, so he will know it cannot be me. Naturally enough, he will think it is you.”
“And therefore betray us?”
“No, I do not think he will do that. After all his trouble, it would be foolish of him to now play the traitor, for then his concurrence in our escape would become known, and get him into bad odour with the priests. But it is possible that he might insist on your leaving the opal behind, to be sent back to Totatzine.”
“No,” cried Dolores, decisively; “I will rather throw it into the sea. Now that the gem is away from the shrine, those horrid priests may stop sacrificing men to the idol. Besides,” she added, naïvely “it is mine.”
“Ah! that is an all-sufficient reason,” replied Duval, smiling. “Like all women, querida, you are fond of gems, and do not like to part with this one.”
“It is very beautiful,” sighed Dolores, taking the stone from her breast. “See how it glitters, Juanito. Ah! what is that?”
A long, shrill whistle sounded outside the cave.
“Cocom!” cried Jack, starting to his feet. “Hide the opal for the present, Dolores.”
It was indeed Cocom who entered. Cocom looking much older than usual, and quite worn out with his long journey from Totatzine. He saluted them gravely, and wrapping himself in his zarape crouched on the floor of the cave, with his eyes intently fixed on them both. The expression of his face was as usual, and Jack was quite unable to decide whether he approved of or resented the rape of the shining precious stone.
“You look tired, Cocom,” said Jack, passing him a flask of aguardiente. “Take a drink of this. It will do you good.”
The old man greedily seized the flask, and drained it to the bottom. As it was more than half full Jack fully expected to see him fall helplessly intoxicated on the floor. But Cocom’s head was seasoned to strong drink, and it only made him look younger, as though the aguardiente were a draught from the fountain of Youth.
“Have you it, Señorita?” he asked, fixing his beady eyes on Dolores.
“Yes,” replied Dolores, off her guard. “That is, I——”
“Bueno!” said Cocom, nodding his head. “You have the opal. I am content.”
Jack drew a long breath of relief. Cocom’s sympathy with the idolatry of his youth was not evidently strong enough to stir him into protest against the gem being stolen. Or perhaps he deemed that Dolores had more right to it than Huitzilopochtli. At all events, he did not seem ill-pleased that she was now in possession of the celebrated stone.
“What say the priests, Cocom?” he asked anxiously.
“They are in despair, Señor, over the loss of the sacred stone.”
“Do they know who has taken it?”
Cocom pointed one copper-coloured finger at Dolores.
“They knew that the Chalchuih Tlatonac is with the guardian; but they think that the guardian and you, Señor, are at the bottom of the cañon—in the bed of the torrent.”
“Then your ruse was successful?”
“Yes, Señor! I strewed the clothes on the narrow path, and in the dawn awoke the town with my cries. Ixtlilxochitli, with his priests, came to inquire the trouble. I told them that you, Señor, had escaped. They, not guessing you had gone by the secret way, thought you had fled alone by the cañon. The narrow way was examined, your clothes