Jack had made the same discovery. He made no reply, his thoughts being busy in another direction.
An incendiary had kindled a fire at one end of the building and so fast did the flames increase and spread that while they watched them they sprang up and enveloped one whole side in a crimson sheet.
“We must get away from this place,” said Jack. “The two factions of war are coming this way on a run. It must be the captors of the town have met more than their match this time.”
Again the escaping couple began their slow retreat, now under cover of a dense growth reaching they knew not how far. Nor did that matter so long as it afford them shelter from their enemies.
Once, having gained a little summit from which they could look down on the exciting scene, they stopped to gaze back, their curiosity aroused by the wild medley of cries.
The town house was now all ablaze, the lurid fire feeding upon its walls lighting far the night scene, while throwing a weird glamor over the contending factions of war-crazed men, who had now both reached the further side of the plaza and temporally suspended hostilities.
There was a reason for this last, too, as explained by Jack’s words, as he analyzed the situation:
“They are Chilians on both sides, Plum!”
“Do you mean, Jack, that this attack on the Chilians of the town has been made by some of their own countrymen?”
“Yes; there has been some mistake made, which has cost many needless lives. What a painful surprise it must be to them!”