Page:Hugh Pendexter--Tiberius Smith.djvu/271

 veyed no intelligence to the ignorant ears of the bare-breasted besiegers.

"Thus with fair warning and a double bang from the gun we taught them a new experience as the Bally Bloomer tossed them aside on either hand. It simply took them off their feet, sir.

"And say, if a merry-hearted chauffeur enjoys running across his friends in town and would drain the goblet to the dregs, he ought to plough a furrow through a brown bunch of sinewy-built Huancas.

"Of course it jolted the car horribly, but Tib's grasp was now iron as we emerged into a patch of clear air and took the jaunt down the hill-side to the lava-beds in a rush.

"The machine was now making just one long, smooth purr, working as slick as silk, and I had just proclaimed we had won the Zapopaxi Cup for sure, when I not only heard, but also felt, a dull rumble. I turned round and saw a cloud of yellow dust hanging over the baby's head.

"My first thought was the crater had come to life, but Tib bowed his brow and cried, 'Earthquake.'

"And such a jolt as followed!

"It struck us just as we reached the top of the ascent leading to the ancient road. Our pathway rolled and shook like a carpet, and the car in conquering the summit groaned and racked fearfully. Across the lava-bed, behind, the earth yawned in a