One singular fact was noted by Teddy, and he called Neal's attention to it.
Neither on the surrounding hills nor in the city could a single animal of any kind be seen. It was as if even the birds from the forest so shaped their course as to avoid flying over the dazzling wonderful city which was shut out from the rest of the world by the swamp wherein fever lurked in its most horrible form.
How long the boys and Jake gazed at this marvelous picture neither of them could ever say. They took no heed of the passage of time, and when Cummings called softly that it would be well to come down in order to gain a little rest before Poyor returned, Teddy noticed with surprise that the sun was high in the heavens.
"Well, do you believe now that the Silver City really has an existence?" the leader asked when the three stood by his side.
"After that anything seems possible," Neal replied with a sigh as if weary of gazing at so much magnificence.
"Save some adjectives expressive of admiration until we are in the city, when I fancy you will see very much that is more curious."
"The people don't appear to be so terribly ferocious," Teddy said, "and yet you think they would kill us all if our presence was discovered."
"I am positive of it. In a white man they see only one of that race which has worked them so much injury, making ruins of many cities, and oppressing the rightful owners of the country."
"If that is the case how are we to get in there?" Neal asked.
"Poyor has a plan which I think will be successful; wait until he returns, and if the conditions are favorable to the attempt you shall soon know."