Thus the Indian described Bill’s rifle which the Spaniard had stolen.
There was a loud noise after the flash, he said, and this happened several times: then the man fell down and there was much shouting and the tramp of feet marching along one of the higher ledges, with a chant of “Hailli—hailli!”
Bill and Mr. Whitley went to look at the place which the shepherd showed them. When they came back they were very sober and serious.
“Pizzara has stolen his last piece of gold,” Bill told the eager chums. “It looks as though the Incas ambushed his party again—only this time the ambush was a complete success.”
“Wiped out!” Mr. Whitley whispered to Mr. Gray.
“And how about the supplies?” Cliff asked.
“The Incas seemed to want to destroy the party: probably they think that the ones they attacked were our party. At any rate they used arrows, rocks and made a complete job of it. But they left the packs intact. It seems that they ambushed from above and did not even climb down to see anything.”
“Then the gold is there too,” Tom said.
“Yes,” said Mr. Whitley.
Little more was said. They became thoughtful and silent.