the other end of the lane without falling by
the way, then your death shall be quick; but if ye fall, then he who
falls will be tied to a stake and slowly done to death for the pleasure
of the spectators. You understand? Then--go!"

During this brief address the two Englishmen had been thinking hard and
rapidly. Phil's first thought had been to force his way up on to the
platform, seize the cacique, and threaten him with instant death unless
the man would consent to give them both immediate liberty; but he
instantly discarded the idea, for as the thought flashed through his
mind he noticed that the Indians in front of the platform were all fully
armed; and for an unarmed man to force a passage through that hedge of
deadly spears, ten deep, was a simple impossibility. Then he threw a
glance along the lane which he and Dick were to traverse, and which was
hedged in on either side by serried ranks of Indians, each armed with a
heavy club about three feet long. The Indians were by no means
powerfully built, and, individually, looked by no means formidable; and
the thought came to him that if he and Dick, instead of starting to race
at top speed from end to end of the lane, were each to snatch a club
from the nearest man, and then, back to back, fight their way slowly
along the lane, they might possibly contrive to reach the end of it
without being beaten to the earth, after which who knew what unforeseen
possibilities might arise? It was not a particularly hopeful plan, but
it was the best that suggested itself on the spur of the moment;
moreover, both he and Dick were experts at quarter-staff play, and they
would at least be able to make a fight for it, so he hastily
communicated his plan to Dick while the cacique was speaking, and
received Dick's murmured acceptance of it at the precise moment when the
cacique uttered the word "Go!"

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

HOW PHIL AND DICK WERE MADE TO RUN THE GAUNTLET.

"Go!"

As the word left the cacique's lips the two Englishmen faced round, back
to back, and each sprang straight at the Indian who happened to be
nearest him. A perfect forest of bludgeons whirled in the air on both
sides of the human lane, and from one end of it to the other, in savage
anticipation of the moment when the two victims should dash past; but
the length of the weapons was such that not more than three could reach
each victim at any given moment; and of this the two friends had already
taken not