“You shan’t!” he cried, his head high, arms thrown upward as if he were veritably the young god he represented to them. “It is criminal! Chally, you promised me anything I’d ask. I ask for that innocent girl’s life. Spare it—or——” He made a menacing gesture.
The high priest glowered and the Inca scowled. Challcuchima drew further away from Cliff.
“What does he say?” he asked of the priest.
Cliff, in vivid sunlight, stared at Bill. To his amazement, Bill was scratching his left ear with his middle finger!
CHAPTER XVI
THE MYSTERY BOYS HOLD COUNCIL
Never in the brief history of their order had the Mystery Boys held a session under more amazing and dangerous conditions!
For Cliff soon saw that Bill’s sign was in no way mischance. With set face and earnest eyes the lanky, cunning Quipu Bill was calling for a session of the order, wherein signs would pass unknown to the hosts around them. The people were pressing closer.
Nicky nudged Cliff: Tom already had his arms folded across his chest, sign that he had entered the signal session: Nicky folded his arms. Cliff, mastering his excitement, did likewise.
What was the matter with Bill? Did he not realize how very serious the moment was? Why must he choose such a time to use the signals in whose mysteries Cliff and his friends had initiated him? Or—was it because of the danger?
Bill placed his right hand negligently in his pocket—his coat pocket! That meant, “Do not speak!”