“Arrows and bludgeons, I have been told.”
They remained in the prostrate position for some time, in fact until night fell, then following the direction of Señor Cisneros they moved nearer the river, arriving at last at a shallow basin, surrounded on three sides by boulders, between each of which was a space of about a half foot, giving a view of the surrounding country, and which would make excellent openings for their guns, should it prove necessary to use them.
“How’s this for a natural fort?” said the Peruvian. “We’re near the water supply, and I think we can hold the position for a time.”
“What about supper?” asked Harvey, who, after the first minute’s fright, had shown as much unconcern as any of them and was now feeling quite hungry.
“Dried meat and water,” promptly said the señor. “No fire must be lighted to-night. I will get the water.”
He took a skin bag, which he had brought from Huari, and slowly crawled in the direction of the river. He moved so cautiously that they did not hear a sound, and when he returned to the camp, in a quarter of an hour, his appearance was so sudden and without warning that all three were startled.
They ate sparingly of the dried meat, for Señor Cisneros, who had taken command at the urgent solicitation of the others, had divided the food supply into rations sufficient to last three days.
“We must call you captain now,” said Harvey, as he munched his share, “for these are war times.”
After supper they made preparation for the night, moving cautiously, so that metal might not ring out, nor anything fall. They had no poles for the shelter-tent; it was deemed unwise to try to secure any, so they disposed the canvas as a bed and spread a blanket. This done, the señor said he would go out and reconnoitre.
“I must ascertain whether they are Majeronas or Ayulis,” he explained, “and I must also learn their number.”