tec found it no easy matter to elect words which
should fairly convey his desired meaning, and, abruptly giving over the
effort, he moved on, one hand lightly closed upon Bruno's wrist to guard
against possible separation in that utter darkness.

Nothing further was said until Ixtli again came to a halt, Gillespie
giving a low exclamation as he felt what appeared to be a blank wall
before them. Was this no thoroughfare? Were they blocked in, to perish
of starvation, unless earlier discovered by the red-skinned searchers?

Far from agreeable thoughts, yet such swiftly flashed across the young
man's brain, lending an echo of harshness to his voice as he spoke.

"Where are we now, Ixtli? How are we going to get out of this? If you
have led me into a trap--"

Finger-tips lightly brushed his lips, then the Aztec explained as well
he was able, thanks to his limited vocabulary.

Escape from the catacomb by the same route they had taken in seeking
refuge there was entirely out of the question. Even though the redskins
might have abandoned the search in that precise quarter for the time
being, thanks to the sudden alarm which had broken forth in the valley,
almost certainly there would be an armed guard so stationed as to
intercept any or all persons who might so attempt to emerge.

This much Bruno gathered, then took his turn at the verbal oars.

"But we can't stay here, man, dear. Nothing to eat or to drink, and my
friends worrying over us, outside. We've got to get out; I have, at any
rate. The only question is, just how, and where?"

"Dere one way go," Ixtli made reply, even his lowered tones betraying
more than ordinary impressiveness, Bruno fancied. "Mebbe easy, mebbe
hard. Find dat, when try. We go dis way. Best be still, dough!"

Bruno was ready enough to promise all that, just so action was being
taken, his uneasiness being by far too deep for rest or repose. More on
account of his uncle and his brother, though, than for his own safety.
He had not yet lost hope of extrication from the perils which surely
surrounded them, not quite abandoned hope of rescuing the Children of
the Sun as well.

Turning abruptly to the left, Ixtli led the way into what appeared
(through the senses of touch and hearing) to be a narrow, winding
tunnel, which presently took an upward incline, then broadened into a
chamber of greater or lesser dimensions; the faint echoes told Gillespie
there was an enlargement of some description, but