e them。
〃The hills are not three miles to the south…west of you at this moment；〃 said Amyas。 〃I marked every shoulder of them as we ran in。〃
〃I suppose you meant to take us there？〃
The question set a light to a trainand angry suspicions were blazing up one after another； but Amyas silenced them with a countermine。
〃Fools！ if I had not wit enow to look ahead a little farther than you do； where would you be？ Are you mad as well as reckless； to rise against your own captain because he has two strings to his bow？ Go my way； I say； or； as I live； I'll blow up the ship and every soul on board； and save you the pain of rotting here by inches。〃
The men knew that Amyas never said what he did not intend to do； not that Amyas intended to do this； because he knew that the threat would be enough。 So they； agreed to go； and were reassured by seeing that the old Pelican's men turned to the work heartily and cheerfully。
There is no use keeping the reader for five or six weary hours； under a broiling （or rather stewing） sun； stumbling over mangrove roots； hewing his way through thorny thickets； dragging sick men and provisions up mountain steeps； amid disappointment； fatigue； murmurs； curses； snakes； mosquitoes； false alarms of Spaniards； and every misery； save cold； which flesh is heir to。 Suffice it that by sunset that evening they had gained a level spot； a full thousand feet above the sea； backed by an inaccessible cliff which formed the upper shoulder of a mighty mountain； defended below by steep wooded slopes； and needing but the felling of a few trees to make it impregnable。
Amyas settled the sick under the arched roots of an enormous cottonwood tree； and made a second journey to the ship； to bring up hammocks and blankets for them； while Yeo's wisdom and courage were of inestimable value。 He； as pioneer； had found the little brook up which they forced their way； he had encouraged them to climb the cliffs over which it fell； arguing rightly that on its course they were sure to find some ground fit for encampment within the reach of water； he had supported Amyas； when again and again the weary crew entreated to be dragged no farther； and had gone back again a dozen times to cheer them upward； while Cary； who brought up the rear； bullied and cheered on the stragglers who sat down and refused to move； drove back at the sword's point more than one who was beating a retreat； carried their burdens for them； sang them songs on the halt； in all things approving himself the gallant and hopeful soul which he had always been： till Amyas； beside himself with joy at finding that the two men on whom he had counted most were utterly worthy of his trust； went so far as to whisper to them both； in confidence； that very night
〃Cortez burnt his ships when he landed。 Why should not we？〃
Yeo leapt upright； and then sat down again； and whispered
〃Do you say that； captain？ 'Tis from above； then； that's certain； for it's been hanging on my mind too all day。〃
〃There's no hurry；〃 quoth Amyas； 〃we must clear her out first； you know；〃 while Cary sat silent and musing。 Amyas had evidently more schemes in his head than he chose to tell。
The men were too tired that evening to do much； but ere the sun rose next morning Amyas had them hard at work fortifying their position。 It was； as I said； strong enough by nature； for though it was commanded by high cliffs on three sides； yet there was no chance of an enemy coming over the enormous mountain…range behind them； and still less chance that； if he came； he would discover them through the dense mass of trees which crowned the cliff； and clothed the hills for a thousand feet above。 The attack； if it took place； would come from below； and against that Amyas guarded by felling the smaller trees； and laying them with their boughs outward over the crest of the slope； thus forming an abatis （as every one who has shot in thick cover knows to his cost） warranted to bring up in two steps； horse； dog； or man。 The trunks were sawn into logs； laid lengthwise； and steadied by stakes and mould； and three or four hours' hard work finished a stockade which would defy anything but artillery。 The work done； Amyas scrambled up into the boughs of the enormous ceiba…tree； and there sat inspecting his own handiwork； looking out far and wide over the forest…covered plains and the blue sea beyond； and thinking； in his simple straightforward way； of what was to be done next。
To stay there long was impossible； to avenge himself upon La Guayra was impossible； to go until he had found out whether Frank was alive or dead seemed at first equally impossible。 But were Brimblecombe； Cary； and those eighty men to be sacrificed a second time to his private interest？ Amyas wept with rage； and then wept again with earnest； honest prayer； before he could make up his mind。 But he made it up。 There were a hundred chances to one that Frank was dead； and if not； he was equally past their help； for he wasAmyas knew that too wellby this time in the hands of the Inquisition。 Who could lift him from that pit？ Not Amyas； at least！ And crying aloud in his agony； 〃God help him！ for I cannot！〃 Amyas made up his mind to move。 But whither？ Many an hour he thought and thought alone； there in his airy nest； and at last he went down； calm and cheerful； and drew Cary and Yeo aside。 They could not； he said； refit the ship without dying of fever during the process； an assertion which neither of his hearers was bold enough to deny。 Even if they refitted her； they would be pretty certain to have to fight the Spaniards again； for it was impossible to doubt the Indian's story； that they had been forewarned of the Rose's coming； or to doubt； either； that Eustace had been the traitor。
〃Let us try St。 Jago； then； sack it； come down on La Guayra in the rear； take a ship there； and so get home。〃
〃Nay； Will。 If they have strengthened themselves against us at La Guayra； where they had little to lose； surely they have done so at St。 Jago； where they have much。 I hear the town is large； though new； and besides； how can we get over these mountains without a guide？〃
〃Or with one？〃 said Cary； with a sigh； looking up at the vast walls of wood and rock which rose range on range for miles。 〃But it is strange to find you； at least； throwing cold water on a daring plot。〃
〃What if I had a still more daring one？ Did you ever hear of the golden city of Manoa？〃
Yeo laughed a grim but joyful laugh。 〃I have； sir； and so have the old hands from the Pelican and the Jesus of Lubec； I doubt not。〃
〃So much the better；〃 and Amyas began to tell Cary all which he had learned from the Spaniard； while Yeo capped every word thereof with rumors and traditions of his own gathering。 Cary sat half aghast as the huge phantasmagoria unfolded itself before his dazzled eyes； and at last
〃So that was why you wanted to burn the ship！ Well； after all； nobody needs me at home； and one less at table won't be missed。 So you want to play Cortez； eh？〃
〃We shall never need to play Cortez （who was not such a bad fellow after all； Will）； because we shall have no such cannibal fiends' tyranny to rid the earth of； as he had。 And I trust we shall fear God enough not to play Pizarro。〃
So the conversation dropped for the time； but none of them forgot it。
In that mountain…nook the party spent some ten days and more。 Several of the sick men died； some from the fever superadded to their wounds； some； probably； from having been bled by the surgeon； the others mended steadily； by the help of certain herbs which Yeo administered； much to the disgust of the doctor； who； of course； wanted to bleed the poor fellows all round； and was all but mutinous when Amyas stayed his hand。 In the meanwhile； by dint of daily trips to the ship； provisions were plentiful enough；beside the raccoons； monkeys； and other small animals； which Yeo and the veterans of Hawkins's crew knew how to catch； and the fruit and vegetables； above all； the delicious mountain cabbage of the Areca palm； and the fresh milk of the cow…tree； which they brought in daily； paying well thereby for the hospitality they received。
All day long a careful watch was kept among the branches of the mighty ceiba…tree。 And what a tree that was！ The hugest English oak would have seemed a stunted bush beside it。 Borne up on roots； or rather walls； of twisted board； some twelve feet high； between which the whole crew； their ammunitions； and provisions； were housed roomily； rose the enormous trunk full forty feet in girth； towering like some tall lighthouse； smooth for a hundred feet； then crowned with boughs； each of which was a stately tree； whose topmost twigs were full two hundred and fifty feet from the ground。 And yet it was easy for the sailors to ascend； so many natural ropes had kind Nature lowered for their use； in the smooth lianes which hung to the very earth； often without a knot or leaf。 Once in the tree； you were within a new world； suspended between heaven and earth； and as Cary said； no wonder if； like Jack when he climbed the magic bean…stalk； you had found a castle； a giant； and a few acres of well…stocked park； packed away somewhere amid that labyrinth of timber。 Flower…gardens at least were there in plenty； for every limb was covered with pendent cactuses； gorgeous orchises； and wild pines； and while one…half the tree was clothed in rich foliage； the other half； utterly leafless； bore on every twig brilliant yellow flowers； around which humming…birds whirred all day long。 Parrots peeped in and out of every cranny； while； within the airy woodland； brilliant lizards basked like living gems upon the bark； gaudy finches flitted and chirruped； butterflies of every size and color hovered over the topmost twigs； innumerable insects hummed from morn till eve； and when the sun went down； tree…toads came out to snore and croak till dawn。 There was more life round that one tree than in a whole square mile of English soil。
And Amyas； as he lounged among the branches； felt at moments as if he would be content to stay there forever； and feed his eyes and ears with all its wondersand then started sighing from his dream； as he recollected that a few days must bring the foe upon them； and force him to