“Then you recognise the various marks which she described for your guidance, do you, and believe that she actually saw them in her trance?”
“Without doubt, Señor,” answered the Indian in a tone of surprise, as though he wondered at the slight hint of incredulity suggested by the question.
“And do you think that, when we arrive, we shall find the chief there?” asked Harry.
“Nay, Señor, that I cannot say,” answered Arima. “But this I know, that if he is still there when we reach the spot he will be dead.”
“Yes,” assented Escombe, “I fear you are right. And how long will it take us to reach the spot?”
“We shall do well if we get there before the sun sinks half-way down the heavens to-morrow,” was the answer.
“To-morrow!” ejaculated Harry incredulously. “How far, then, is it from where we now stand?”
“If we could ride straight to it we might reach it to-day some two hours before sunset,” answered Arima. “But that is impossible, Señor; our road lies off yonder to the right, along the slope of the mountain, to the nearest point at which it will be possible for us to cross the ravine; and when we have accomplished that, there will still be a toilsome ride of some three hours before us, ere we can hope to emerge from the ravine on the other side. We shall be fortunate if we accomplish so much before we are overtaken by the darkness.”
“Is that so?” questioned Harry. “Then in that case we had better press forward without further delay.” And, digging his heels into the ribs of his mule, the young Englishman resumed his march.
It was shortly after three o’clock on the following afternoon when Arima, who for the previous half-hour had been riding slowly and studying the ground intently, suddenly reined up his mule, and, leaping lightly to the ground, knelt down and carefully examined the long, coarse grass that thickly carpeted the soil. For a full minute he remained thus, delicately fingering the blades and gently pushing them aside, then he rose to his feet, and, with a sigh of satisfaction, pointed with his finger, saying: