The sound was answered by one from higher up, and presently a second Indian, armed to the teeth, came running down. The two talked together in whispers, and at last the second man said, "Come this way, señor; I will lead you to the chief. He will be pleased to see the son of Don Eduardo."
Under the circumstances I thought this rather doubtful, but I followed him up the path.
"Are you staying in the ravine?" I asked.
"Yes, señor, for the present."
"Did you go with the chief to Lima?"
"Ah, the señor knows of that! The old crocodile showed fight, and killed a good man; but he is safe enough now."
"He has not been put to death?" I asked, my forehead clammy with perspiration.
"Not yet, señor; he must first be tried."
"But what have you discovered?" I asked, thinking the fellow might be able to give me some information as to the cause of Don Felipe's abduction.
In this I was mistaken. The man knew, or pretended to know, nothing about it. The chief had given orders, but not reasons, and had, as usual, been obeyed unquestioningly. At a word from him his men would have ridden into Lima and dragged the president from his palace.