按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
he pointed out； 〃the Senate must ratify。 But our Senate will ratify
it； and when you sign now； it is a thing accomplished。〃
Over the place at which Everett pointed； the pen scratched harshly；
and then； throwing it from him； the President sat in silence。 With
eyes inflamed by anger and brandy he regarded the treaty venomously。
As though loath to let it go； his hands played with it； as a cat plays
with the mouse between her paws。 Watching him breathlessly；
Everett feared the end was not yet。 He felt a depressing premonition
that if ever the treaty were to reach Washington he best had snatch it
and run。 Even as he waited； the end came。 An orderly； appearing
suddenly in the light of the candles； announced the arrival； in the
room adjoining； of 〃the Colonel Goddard and Senor Mellen。〃 They
desired an immediate audience。 Their business with the President
was most urgent。 Whether from Washington their agents had warned
them； whether in Camaguay they had deciphered the cablegram from
the State Department； Everett could only guess； but he was certain the
cause of their visit was the treaty。 That Mendoza also believed this
was most evident。
Into the darkness； from which the two exiles might emerge； he
peered guiltily。 With an oath he tore the treaty in half。 Crushing
the pieces of paper into a ball； he threw it at Everett's feet。 His
voice rose to a shriek。 It was apparent he intended his words to
carry to the men outside。 Like an actor on a stage he waved his
arms。
〃That is my answer！〃 he shouted。 〃Tell your Secretary the choice
he offers is an insult！ It is blackmail。 We will not sign his treaty。
We do not desire his visit to our country。〃 Thrilled by his own
bravado； his voice rose higher。 〃Nor；〃 he shouted； 〃do we desire
the presence of his representative。 Your usefulness is at an end。
You will receive your passports in the morning。〃
As he might discharge a cook； he waved Everett away。 His hand；
trembling with excitement； closed around the neck of the brandy…
bottle。 Everett stooped and secured the treaty。 On his return to
Washington； torn and rumpled as it was； it would be his
justification。 It was his 〃Exhibit A。〃
As he approached the legation he saw drawn up in front of it three
ponies ready saddled。 For an instant he wondered if Mendoza
intended further to insult him； if he planned that night to send
him under guard to the coast。 He determined hotly sooner than
submit to such an indignity he would fortify the legation； and
defend himself。 But no such heroics were required of him。 As he
reached the door； Garland； with an exclamation of relief； hailed
him； and Monica； stepping from the shadow； laid an appealing
hand upon his sleeve。
〃My brother！〃 she exclaimed。 〃The guard at Cobre has just sent
word that they found Peabody prowling in the ruins and fired on
him。 He fired back； and he is still there hiding。 My brother and
others have gone to take him。 I don't know what may happen if he
resists。 Chester is armed； and he is furious； he is beside himself；
he would not listen to me。 But he must listen to you。 Will you
go；〃 the girl begged； 〃and speak to him； speak to him； I mean；〃
she added； 〃as the American minister？〃
Everett already had his foot in the stirrup。 〃I'm the American minister
only until to…morrow；〃 he said。 〃I've got my walking…papers。 But I'll
do all I can to stop this to…night。 Garland；〃 he asked； 〃will you take
Miss Ward home； and then follow me？〃
〃If I do not go with you；〃 said Monica； 〃I will go alone。〃
Her tone was final。 With a clatter of hoofs that woke alarmed
echoes in the sleeping streets the three horses galloped abreast
toward Cobre。 In an hour they left the main trail and at a walk
picked their way to where the blocks of stone； broken columns；
and crumbling temples of the half…buried city checked the jungle。
The moon made it possible to move in safety； and at different
distances the lights of torches told them the man…hunt still was
in progress。
〃Thank God；〃 breathed Monica； 〃we are in time。〃
Everett gave the ponies in care of one of the guards。 He turned
to Garland。
〃Catch up with those lights ahead of us；〃 he said； 〃and we will
join this party to the right。 If you find Ward； tell him I forbid
him taking the law into his own hands； tell him I will protect
his interests。 If you meet Peabody； make him give up his gun；
and see that the others don't harm him！〃
Everett and the girl did not overtake the lights they had seen
flashing below them。 Before they were within hailing distance；
that searching party had disappeared； and still farther away
other torches beckoned。
Stumbling and falling； now in pursuit of one will…o'…the…wisp；
now of another； they scrambled forward。 But always the lights
eluded them。 From their exertions and the moist heat they were
breathless； and their bodies dripped with water。 Panting； they
halted at the entrance of what once had been a tomb。 From its
black interior came a damp mist； above them； alarmed by their
intrusion； the vampire bats whirled blindly in circles。 Monica；
who by day possessed some slight knowledge of the ruins； had；
in the moonlight； lost all sense of direction。
〃We're lost；〃 said Monica； in a low tone。 Unconsciously both were
speaking in whispers。 〃I thought we were following what used to
be the main thoroughfare of the city； but I have never seen this place
before。 From what I have read I think we must be among the tombs
of the kings。〃
She was silenced by Everett placing one hand quickly on her arm；
and with the other pointing。 In the uncertain moonlight she saw
moving cautiously away from them； and unconscious of their
presence； a white； ghostlike figure。
〃Peabody；〃 whispered Everett。
〃Call him；〃 commanded Monica。
〃The others might hear；〃 objected Everett。 〃We must overtake him。
If we're with him when they meet； they wouldn't dare〃
With a gasp of astonishment； his words ceased。
Like a ghost； the ghostlike figure had vanished。
〃He walked through that rock！〃 cried Monica。
Everett caught her by the wrist。 〃Come！〃 he commanded。
Over the face of the rock； into which Peabody had dived as into
water； hung a curtain of vines。 Everett tore it apart。 Concealed
by the vines was the narrow mouth to a tunnel； and from it they
heard； rapidly lessening in the distance； the patter of footsteps。
〃Will you wait；〃 demanded Everett； 〃or come with me？〃
With a shudder of distaste； Monica answered by seizing his hand。
With his free arm Everett swept aside the vines； and； Monica
following； they entered the tunnel。 It was a passageway cleanly
cut through the solid rock and sufficiently wide to permit of their
moving freely。 At the farther end； at a distance of a hundred
yards； it opened into a great vault； also hollowed from the rock
and； as they saw to their surprise； brilliantly lighted。
For an instant； in black silhouette； the figure of Peabody
blocked the entrance to this vault； and then； turning to the
right； again vanished。 Monica felt an untimely desire to laugh。
Now that they were on the track of Peabody she no longer feared
the outcome of the adventure。 In the presence of the American
minister and of herself there would be no violence； and as they
trailed the archaeologist through the tunnel she was reminded of
Alice and her pursuit of the white rabbit。 This thought； and her
sense of relief that the danger was over； caused her to laugh aloud。
They had gained the farther end of the tunnel and the entrance to
the vault； when at once her amusement turned to wonder。 For the
vault showed every evidence of use and of recent occupation。 In
brackets； and burning brightly； were lamps of modern make； on
the stone floor stood a canvas cot； saddle…bags； camp…chairs；
and in the centre of the vault a collapsible table。 On this were
bottles filled with chemicals； trays； and presses such as are used
in developing photographs； and apparently hung there to dry；
swinging from strings； the proofs of many negatives。
Loyal to her brother； Monica exclaimed indignantly。 At the proofs
she pointed an accusing finger。
〃Look！〃 she whispered。 〃This is Peabody's darkroom； where he
develops the flash…lights he takes of the hieroglyphs！ Chester has
a right to be furious！〃
Impulsively she would have pushed past Everett； but with an
exclamation he sprang in front of her。
〃No！〃 he commanded； 〃come away！〃
He had fallen into a sudden panic。 His tone spoke of some
catastrophe； imminent and overwhelming。 Monica followed
the direction of his eyes。 They were staring in fear at the proofs。
The girl leaned forward； and now saw them clearly。
Each was a United States Treasury note for five hundred dollars。
Around the turn of the tunnel； approaching the vault apparently
from another passage； they heard hurrying footsteps； and then；
close to them from the vault itself； the voice of Professor Peabody。
It was harsh； sharp； peremptory。
〃Hands up！〃 it commanded。 〃Drop that gun！〃
As though halted by a precipice； the footsteps fell into instant
silence。 There was a pause； and then the ring of steel upon the
stone floor。 There was another pau