“What ees eet?” the Basque asked.
Johnny had his hands cupped to his ears. “Listen,” he whispered.
Faint, far off, came the measured, significant sound which had alarmed the boy. The Basque’s expression showed that he, too, heard it.
“Do you get it?” Johnny asked. “Tum, tum, tu-um, tum, tum—it’s a finger drum.”
“Sí,” Tony nodded, his voice dry, his hand keeping time with the beat. “Eet’s the death chant. Old——”
“Thunder Bird’s got Gallup!” Johnny finished for the Basque. “That’s what is waitin’ for us on the top of this mountain! All we got to do is to go into that Piute camp and take Gallup away from them. And we’ve got to do it with gab. I know Injuns. Every minute we wait here only makes our chances slimmer. Believe me, if we’re goin’ to save Gallup—we’ve got to travel.”
CHAPTER XXXII
THE DEBT IS PAID
A strange sight awaited Johnny and the Basque. Thunder Bird’s braves had surprised Gallup and captured him. Roddy, his deputy—Sol Ahrens—and Kent had bolted. So, without a shot having been fired, old Aaron had been marched to the camp at the top of the mountain.
The rock formation looked very much as if it was of volcanic origin, a huge crater or bowl having been carved out where the peak of the mountain must once have risen. In this bowl was the Piute camp.
Johnny and Madeiras, from the point they had gained above the Indians, were able to see what went on. Gallup was tied to a stake. Thunder Bird sat facing him, and squatting in a circle about the doomed man were at least fifty Indians. Two or three squaws moved around in back of the circle, gathering rocks and depositing them in piles within reach of their lords.