to show are two men, a pale-face and a
black-face. Not a single maiden. How will Mamcuna take it, I wonder?" said
Gondocari, gloomily. "Let us go on."

"You think she will be very angry?"

"I do."

"Is she very unpleasant when she is angry?"

"She generally makes it very unpleasant for others. Her favorite
punishment for offenders is roasting them before a slow fire."

"And yet you propose to go on?"

"What else can we do? Going back the way we came is out of the question,
equally so is climbing either of those mountain-ranges. If we stay
hereabout we shall starve. We have not a morsel of food, and until we
reach Pachatupec we shall get none."

"And when may that be?"

"By this time to-morrow."

"Well, let us go on, then; though, as between being starved to death and
roasted alive, there is not much to choose. All the same, I should like to
see this wonderful queen of whom you are so much afraid."

"You would be afraid of her, too, and very likely will be before you have
done with her. Nevertheless, you may find favor in her sight, and I have
just bethought me of a scheme which, if you consent to adopt it, may not
only save our lives, but bring you great honor."

"And what is that scheme, Gondocori?"

"I will explain it later. This is no time for talk. We must push on with
all speed or we shall not get to the boats before nightfall."

"Boats! You surely don't mean to say that we are to travel to Pachatupec
by boats. Boats cannot float on a frozen mountain torrent!"

But the cacique, who was already on the march, made no answer.

CHAPTER XXII.

THE CACIQUE'S SCHEME.

Shortly before sunset we arrived at our halting-place for the night and
point of departure for the morrow--a hollow in the hills, hemmed in by
high rocks, almost circular in shape and about a quarter of a mile in
diameter. The air was motionless and the temperature mild, the ground
covered with grass and shrubs and flowers, over which hovered clouds of
bright-winged butterflies. Low down in the hollow was a still and silent
pool, and though, so far as I could make out, it had no exit, two large
flat-bottomed boats and a couple of canoes were made fast to the side.
Hard by was a hut of sun-dried bricks, in which were slung three or four
grass hammocks.

There was also fuel, so we were able to make a fire and have a good
warming, of which we stood greatly in need. But as nothing in the shape of
food could be found, either on the