d for an
instant to peer back along the valley, pointed with one hand towards the
left side where the crags stood out most roughly.

I followed his pointing finger and then started, as I was just in time
to see a dark form, barely visible in the shadow beneath some
overhanging rocks, crawl silently away with a stealthy, cat-like motion.

"Jaguar, Tom?" I said, though my heart gave my lips the lie.

"Indian!" said Tom laconically; and then I knew that our coming would
soon be spread through the tribe of those who constituted the guardians
of the treasure, for this was evidently one posted as a sentinel to
watch still the sacred place where the treasure might yet again be
brought to rest when those who were its enemies should sleep.

CHAPTER FORTY THREE.

TRACKED.

I was obliged to acknowledge that it was more than we could expect to
reach the cavern without being discovered, and that we ought to be well
content to have gained a haven of safety without loss or injury; but all
the same my heart sank, and I had hard work to keep back the feeling of
despair that, cold and deadening, came upon me.

The thoughts I have set down here flashed through my brain almost
momentarily, but I was brought back to the necessity for action by a
motion now made by Tom.

"Shall I, Mas'r Harry?" he said. And he covered the retreating Indian
with his gun.

"No," I said, arresting him. "It would only be more bloodshed, and
would not prevent our being discovered."

The next moment I thought that I was wrong, and that the destruction of
that one foe might be our saving. But it was too late now; the Indian
had disappeared.

I led the way farther in till the increasing darkness compelled a halt,
and I said a few words of encouragement to the shuddering companions of
our travel.

"Tom," I then said--for the thought had that moment struck me--"we have
no lights."

Tom did not reply, but plunged into the darkness ahead; when, after a
while, we could hear the clinking of flint and steel, followed, after a
short interval, by a faint light, towards which one of Tom's mules
directly began to walk, closely followed by the rest.

"Is it safe to go on?" said my uncle.

"Quite," I replied. "I don't think any enemies would be here."

I was divided in my opinions as to which way we should go. It was most
probable that the Indians would be aware of the existence of the
bird-chamber, but would they penetrate to it? I should much ra