“It is now but two o’clock,” urged the other, “and if I am captured here I shall be killed. The president would have me shot immediately as a traitor.”
“You could readily explain your mission here,” replied Juarez’s voice, “you, who have been so loyal to the government cause.”
“It would be impossible,” said the first speaker, anxiously; “if the arms are found here and afterward the plan of battle shows that Ruiz massed his attacking column on this hill when I have informed the American minister that Tortuga Hill was the real objective, you see how black a case they would have against me. One small seed of suspicion sown at this time and I am lost.”
“But the president doesn’t know that you gave this information to the minister,” retorted Juarez.
“But,” said the other voice promptly, “the minister would be quick to clear himself by informing on me. The arms must not be taken. You must go at once.”
“So I must risk my life to save yours; is that it?” questioned Juarez bitterly.
“You are in my pay; why shouldn’t you take this risk? If I lose, the money for your work can never be paid.”
There was silence for some minutes. Phil had almost made up his mind to crawl back down the tunnel, but he realized instantly that the noise they could not avoid making would draw their enemies’ fire and defeat his design of getting the soldiers to again enter the tunnel and charge room beyond.
His better course was to remain where he was. If they attacked they might injure their companion who was there with these two scheming villains.
The first speaker’s voice sounded again after the pause.