Johnston McCulley

“ Botello cried, ignoring Garabito. "Harm us not until you are certain of the truth. If you displease the Great Cacique—"
The chieftain bellowed an order, and the big and dirty hand of a warrior stifled Botello's words in his throat. Another order, and Botello and Ruiz were forcibly conducted into the open air, Inez being led after them. Just outside the door they were halted, and out of the hut streamed the natives, the cacique walking between Garabito and Bonilla, and the Señorita Carlotta keeping a little in the background as one who dreads what is to come. ”

“ With one arm Botello swept his bride to one side and down between two huge boulders, where the arrows could not strike her. Then he and Ruiz stood side by side before her, their backs to the rocks, and prepared to withstand the assault.
No more arrows flew; a chieftain shouted orders they could not understand, and the warriors, dropping their weapons, rushed in.
"They mean to take us alive," Ruiz gasped. ”

“ Ruiz exclaimed. "What have we here? Garabito's presence needs no explanation, but why do Señor Bonilla and the haughty Carlotta endure the perils of the jungle trail? And why are they not attacked? A single native attacks a white man and a woman, yet two score of them fear to handle one woman and two men?"
"Perhaps it is discretion on the part of the natives, my good friend," Botello replied. "No doubt his excellency's soldiers are in the immediate neighborhood. ”

“ There came a shout from their rear, a chorus of shrieks, the rushing of half a score of arrows over their heads. Botello and Ruiz whirled to find twenty warriors bearing down upon them through the undergrowth, and to either side were more, and in front was only the precipice where a man could not descend. ”

“ What women and children remained in the village crowded forward to leer at these white captives, and especially at the white woman. This was a day of wonders for them—two white women had they seen, and never before had they set eyes upon one.
In the center of the village was the big hut of the cacique, a building of vines and mud and logs more than fifty feet square. Their captors stopped them before the door, and one went inside. Presently he returned, and indicated that the prisoners were to be taken within. ”

“ At least we can approach the native encampment and investigate. By using all the caution we possess, we may get close enough to seek solutions of those things which now mystify us."
Yet they made slow progress when once they had started, for it was necessary to make a detour and so evade the trails that led to the native village. They kept as near the crest of the hill as possible, and after a time reached a point directly above the encampment. ”