The soldier shook his head.
“No. But I will ask to have ‘leave.’ I will pretend to be seeking for you—I hope I shall get to the hill path by following some soldiers secretly despatched to duty by a High Priest.”
“Yes,” Tom agreed. “He would know the secret ways and might send soldiers to guard them.”
But when they asked the young soldier about Caya, his sister, he became very sad.
“She is a captive,” he told Bill, who interpreted. “There is nothing that can be done. Even I, in the Inca’s junior guard, cannot see her.”
“Who can?” demanded Nicky.
“The Inca alone,” said the youthful brother.
He went down the stairway, promising to return after dark, if opportunity permitted. He was certain that they would not be molested because the ceremonies in the temple were finished and the feasting would continue as soon as the disturbance was ended.
“I think,” Nicky suggested, after the soldier went, “we ought to try to help Caya.”
“So do I!” declared Cliff and Tom echoed the fact that she had given up her liberty for their sakes. Cliff suggested a plan and although they hesitated at first, Mr. Whitley, Mr. Gray and Bill finally agreed to it.