We gazed at her in astonishment, but she did not look at us; even at that distance we could see that her eyes were lowered to the ground. Harry called her name—there was no answer. Again he called, and I caught him by the arm.
"Don't, Hal! She can't possibly do us any good, and you may do her harm. If she doesn't answer, it is because she has a reason."
He was silent, but not convinced, and would probably have argued the matter if our attention had not been arrested by a movement in the alcove.
The king rose and extended an arm, and the Incas who filled the seats surrounding the cavern fell flat on their faces.
"We don't seem to have thinned them out any," I observed. "I believe there are actually more than before. Where do they all come from?"
"The Lord knows!"
"And, by the way, it is now apparent why they waited so long to attend to us. The king naturally wanted to be present at the entertainment, and he had to take time to recover from his little fasting operation. But now, what in the name of—my word, the thing is to be done in all propriety! Look!"
The king had dropped his arm, and the Incas were again sitting as Nature had intended they should sit, instead of on their noses. And four attendants had approached the throne, bearing a frame of quipos.
"So we are to have a fair trial," Harry observed.
"With the king for judge."