Here the Maya arose, and, with accusing finger, denounced Leoncia for being the cause of this latest trouble. A bullet creased his shoulder and half-whirled him about.
"Drag him down!" Henry shouted to Francis. "He's the only man who knows the knot-language; and the eyes of Chia, whatever that may mean, have not yet flashed."
Francis obeyed, with an out-reach of arm to the old fellow's legs, jerking him down in a crumpled, skeleton-like fall.
Henry loosed his rifle, and elicited a fusillade in response. Next, Ricardo, Francis, and the peon joined in. But the old man, still running his knots, fixed his gaze across the far rim of the foot-step upon a rugged wall of mountain beyond.
"Hold on!" shouted Francis, in a vain attempt to make himself heard above the shooting.
He was compelled t
