“It was as I thought,” he confided at length. “The High Priest, Cinto, and his rascally nephew despatched this man to assassinate me. Should he have accomplished his deed, he was to have been given an officer’s command in the Palace Guard. Ah, my poor uncle, what rascals surround him and prey upon his superstitions and his love of a fading life!
“The fellow says he gained entrance by calling to see an acquaintance among my troops; and then, in the relaxation of the holiday which obtained in the guard room, he slipped into the interior of the fortress and made his way to the battlements, after seeing us go to them. This is lax discipline that permits of such things, and shall be inquired into presently.
“And now it is late and you will want to retire. But before you go, I have something to give you. You see, I trust you utterly. Do you, therefore, Senor Hampton, open the cabinet behind you, and there you will find the weapons taken from you on your capture. These I trust you with, and enjoin you not to make use of except in case of direct necessity. Yet, after what has happened tonight, my faith in my defences is shaken. If one man may creep in thus easily, may not others have done so? I questioned the rascal as to that, but he denied it. Yet I am not convinced. I, myself, shall take precautions to guard myself tonight, and you with these weapons will also be safe.
“They are, doubtless, far better weapons than those which we make after the pattern of the arms brought hither by the Spaniards in the early days?”
It was more question than statement, and Mr. Hampton nodded.
“They are, indeed, Prince Huaca,” said he. “And these small ones, called pistols, are very deadly and can shoot a great distance. Will you permit me,” he asked suddenly, “to tender you one of them? It can be carried concealed upon your person, and is better protection than anything; far better than a dozen trusty men even, provided they be not provided with modern arms.”
He advanced to the prince, carrying an automatic.
“It is simple to operate,” said he, “and will discharge a half dozen shots in succession without pause to reload.”
Briefly he explained the use of the weapon, and Prince Huaca accepted with thanks what he might have taken without a by-your-leave. He tucked it away, within his tunic and under his broad golden girdle.
They then took their leave and were led by the jailer once more to their room, where they found Pedro and Carlos contentedly snoring away.