The Radio Boys' Search for the Inca's Treasure Part 12

"That," said Don Ernesto, "is the Inca."

But Jack had run back to the table and picked up the field gla.s.ses which he had placed there on retiring the night before.

"No. The Inca?" he cried. "Why, it is--No, not Prince Huaca, but he looks so much like him. Yet he is older. And, wait. There is Prince Huaca near him. Look, Father, that man on the left."

Meantime, a fascinating ceremony was transpiring in the square. From the hands of Vestal Virgins, clothed all in white, the Inca took two great golden goblets filled with wine. Lifting the one in his right hand to the sun, as if drinking a pledge, he set it to his lips. Then, solemnly, he poured the wine from the goblet into a wide-mouthed jar of gold.

"Why is he doing that, I wonder?" cried Frank. "Do you know, Don Ernesto?"

"I don't know for certain. But I believe the wine is supposed to flow through a golden conduit into the Temple. Thus the Sun may drink the wine pledged to him."

Next the Inca drank from the goblet in his left hand. Then turning to the nearest of the kneeling figures, those wearing capes of darkest crimson, of which there were eight, including Prince Huaca, he poured out the remainder of the wine into goblets which they held extended.

"They must be members of the royal family," surmised Bob

"Yes," agreed Don Ernesto. "The other n.o.bles, and the common people will get a lesser wine, as well as the special bread made for this occasion.

Ah, my reading all comes back to me now. But who would think to see that ancient ceremony of the Feast of Raymi reproduced today by the descendants of the Children of the Sun?"

As he had prophesied, so it came to pa.s.s. For now young women all in white could be seen making their way through the kneeling throng. But their mission was not yet to be carried out. They merely took their appointed stations. Then those of royal blood arose and moved in slow and stately procession behind the Inca toward the Temple. At the base of the steps they removed their sandals. They then entered the Temple.

"Probably to make offerings to their Deity," said Don Ernesto.

The mult.i.tude continued kneeling, indicating that the ceremony was not yet over. Presently the Inca and the members of his family returned to the square. They came out of the Temple empty-handed.

"Those goblets from which they drank," said Don Ernesto, who at the moment had the field gla.s.ses. "Those have been left behind. Those were their offerings."

Following the Inca came a patriarchal man in a white robe bordered with crimson, upon his head a golden disk from which protruded a great number of golden spikes. This they took to be the High Priest. Following him were attendant priests bearing a large number of animals, including a black lamb. This was slaughtered first, and examined by the High Priest for the auguries. Then the other animals were sacrificed, certain parts being offered on the altar to the Sun, the balance distributed by the lesser priests among the mult.i.tude to be roasted at great fires which now were lighted in the square. At the same time, the women in white, the Vestal Virgins, who earlier had taken station in the throng, began distributing the special bread of the festival.

All this required a long time in the doing, but the boys and their elders watched with unabated interest, moving about a little now and then from one loophole to another to converse, s.h.i.+fting position occasionally to relieve the irksomeness. As for Pedro and Carlos, they had produced a deck of cards and, squatting on the stone floor, were playing a game between themselves, untouched by the romance of the spectacle in the square.

Presently, the feasting having come to an end, the Inca, the members of his family and other n.o.bles in the mult.i.tude withdrew toward a side of the square which, from the loopholes, was not under observation. Then the throng broke up in scattered groups, here and there s.p.a.ces were cleared, while the observers packed themselves around in dense formation and, in these cleared s.p.a.ces, dancers appeared.

"Ah," said Don Ernesto, "now the festival has begun. They will make merry for a long time. See, wine is being distributed to everybody."

But at that moment, Pedro called to his master, and Don Ernesto turned about. So did Mr. Hampton and the boys.

The door had been opened to admit Prince Huaca. He stood within the room, while the door swung to again behind him, his face inscrutable.

After a moment of hesitation, Don Ernesto advanced to meet him.

"We have been looking," he began.

Prince Huaca bowed slightly.

"Yes?"

"At your great festival."

Prince Huaca smiled.

"For the common people."

"I do not understand."

"Perhaps, some day----"

Prince Huaca made a slight gesture with his right hand, as if to dismiss the subject.

"Senor, sit here with me," he said, indicating a couch. "I would talk with you. Let these others watch a little longer. Then my servants will bring you food, so that you, too, may feast."

"I am honored," said Don Ernesto. However, he hesitated to be seated.

"Pardon me," he said, "if I point out that these"--indicating Mr. Hampton and the boys, who were at the far end of the room--"are my son and my very good friend and his young men. Perhaps, what you wish to say is for their ears, too?"

"Ah, I did not understand," said Prince Huaca, courteously. "Then they are not your servants?"

"No, only these two," answered Don Ernesto, indicating Pedro and Carlos, who had withdrawn from their vicinity. "And they are old family servants."

Prince Huaca considered.

At that moment the great bronze door again was opened, and a number of servants entered, bowed low before Prince Huaca, removed the dishes from the table and then returned bearing other dishes, this time including meat. Throughout the process, Prince Huaca sat silent, nor did Ernesto venture to disturb him. When the servants at length had withdrawn, the prince arose.

"Eat," said he, "and, when you have refreshed yourselves, my servants shall bring you and your friends to me. a.s.sure your old servants they have nothing to fear in being separated from you."

When he had gone, Don Ernesto lost no time in communicating the purport of the conversation to Mr. Hampton and the boys. Pedro and Carlos took the news philosophically. The food was excellent, the meat roasted and hot. All ate with good appet.i.te. There were goblets of mild, honey-like wine, which Don Ernesto recommended highly. At the conclusion of the meal, the servants returned bearing ewers of water and rough towels, with which they bathed face and hands. Then, one of the servants gestured that Don Ernesto and his companions were to follow, and, bidding Pedro and Carlos have no worry, the party set out.

CHAPTER XIV--PRINCE HUACA FRIENDLY

"Look here, Jack," said Frank, as the three chums kept step together along the corridor, while Ferdinand walked ahead with Mr. Hampton and his father, Don Ernesto. "Look here, what do you think our chances of escape are going to be?"

"I don't know."

Jack shook his head. As for big Bob, he growled a comment.

"Why worry? I'm having a good time. I want to learn all about this city.

And the treasure, too, that we came for, it----"

"Oh, we'll have to give up that idea now," said Jack. "We can't rob these people. If the Enchanted City had been abandoned and in ruins, and we had discovered it, that would have been a different matter."

Frank took no part in this discussion. It wasn't treasure of which he was thinking.

"Just the same, Bob," he interrupted, "we ought to be thinking of how we can escape, for I have an idea that these people intend to keep us imprisoned for life or, as Don Ernesto says, persuade us to join the nation."

"Why not?" said Bob. "I'd like to be a captain in this man's army. These Incas look like fine material for soldiers, and with our military school knowledge we ought to be able to drill them in modern tactics."