“On the fourth day from to-day,” said Stanley, drawing from his pocket the string with many knots tied in it, “you shall see a miracle, and one not soon to be forgotten. You say that the sun gives the light and warmth that makes life possible, and even the most ignorant of your people know that that is the truth. Then you shall experience the despair of seeing that light and warmth shut off in the middle of the day while it is at its height. Darkness, like a cloak of mourning, will sweep over the valley and blot from your sight each familiar thing. In the cold blackness, with the chill gnawing into your bones, you will grovel in the dust and raise your voice in lamentations and in prayer, but your words will be wasted, for you will be powerless to drive away the darkness. All that live will curse Quizquiz and Villac Umu, and rightly accuse them of having brought the terrible catastrophe upon their heads.” The Inca grew pale and arose from his cushions. “Tell me, Villac Umu, is such a thing possible? You talk with the gods and know their thoughts.” “It is not possible or I should have been informed of it,” the priest assured him, although he too was perturbed. “How could such a thing come about? I assure you there is no god but the sun, and he always protects his child, the Inca, and his people.” Evidently Stanley was thinking fast, while Ted, dazed at his companion’s rash predictions, gazed at him wide-eyed, not knowing what to make of the situation. “And then,” Stanley continued, pointing straight at the Inca, “while the darkness is heaviest, you shall have proof of other strange powers of which you know nothing, for in spite of your good opinion of yourself, you have the mind of a child. From out of the blackness will come a roar mightier than the loudest thunder, and more penetrating than the rumble of the volcanoes all around you. The ground under your feet will tremble, and even the stones in the great wall will hurl themselves into the air and fall with a crash. The barrier between Uti and the valley that has stood for hundreds of years shall no longer exist; and that will serve as an invitation to the evil spirits who slumber there to come back to life to complete the work of destruction. Quizquiz, the days of your glory are no more than the number of fingers on one of your hands.” “I will listen to no more,” Quizquiz screamed, clapping his hands over his ears. “I should not have listened to anything at all.” “Nor I,” wailed Villac Umu. “Take them away. To-morrow we start on the journey. The sentence must be carried out. Let there be no delay!” “Poor Stanley,” Ted thought sadly as the guards seized them and hurried them away to the place of confinement, “his mind has snapped. He is as crazy as a loon. I wonder how much longer I can stand it.” CHAPTER XIII STANLEY’S PLAN