“Yes,” said Johnny. “But after the Emperor’s death, how did it come here?”
“The brown boy, carrier of the telescope during Christophe’s reign, was a native of this very mountain,” said the little man. “He and his tribe were loyal to the Emperor. After his death they remained loyal still. They took an oath to watch the Citadel and to defend it from vandals. That is why the watch has been kept.”
“And that explains—”
“It explains many things. There is a rumor that the bearer of the telescope knew the secret of the Emperor’s treasure and that is why they guard the Citadel so very carefully.”
“If they know that,” said Johnny, suddenly springing to his feet, “then they know the hiding place of the ‘Rope of Gold’.”
“The rumor has never been confirmed,” said the little man, rising and turning away from the ledge. “It is probably one of those myths that spring up from time to time.
“But as to the ‘Rope of Gold’,” he added as an apparent after-thought, “whether the rumor were true or not will not make the least difference. The ‘Rope of Gold’ is not in the Citadel and never was. Come, let’s go.” He struck back over the trail at a stride quite astonishing for one so short of stature.
“He knows where the ‘Rope of Gold’ has been.” The boy’s heart throbbed. “Perhaps he knows where it is to-day.”
For some time they tramped along in silence. They were, Johnny discovered, not going to the camp spot they had left.
“These people,” said the short, broad man after a time, “are not black men. They are Indians, almost pure stock, the kind of men Columbus found when first he landed here. They do not build houses as the blacks do. They live in groves and caves. We will soon come to one of their caves. Whatever you see or hear, have no fear. They have known me for more than twenty years. So long as I am with you, you are safe.”