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diff --git a/43268-0.txt b/43268-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3e1e310 --- /dev/null +++ b/43268-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6837 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43268 *** + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 43268-h.htm or 43268-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/43268/43268-h/43268-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/43268/43268-h.zip) + + + + + +[Illustration: _The Andes looked dark and forbidding._] + + +SECRETS OF THE ANDES + +by + +JAMES FOSTER + + + + + + + +The Saalfield Publishing Company +Akron, Ohio New York + +Copyright, MCMXXXIII +The Saalfield Publishing Company + +Printed in the United States of America + + + * * * * * * + + THE EXPLORATION SERIES + BY JAMES FOSTER + CAPTURED BY THE ARABS + LOST IN THE WILDS OF BRAZIL + SECRETS OF THE ANDES + THE FOREST OF MYSTERY + + * * * * * * + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + I Stranded 1 + II The Aimless Wanderer 9 + III Helplessly Trapped 17 + IV The Surly Trainman 28 + V As Guests of the Naturalist 37 + VI The Big Surprise 42 + VII Off for the Andes 48 + VIII Caught in the Storm 62 + IX A Fearful Discovery 69 + X Train Robbers! 75 + XI Chubby the Eater 82 + XII The Pangs of _Soroche_ 93 + XIII A Happy Reunion 101 + XIV An Unexpected Displeasure 109 + XV Attacked by Indians 118 + XVI Just in Time 126 + XVII The Old Man's Tale 133 + XVIII Starting Into the Mountains 140 + XIX A Terrible Sight 148 + XX Difficulties of the Trail 158 + XXI Danger at Hand 169 + XXII The Deadly Snake 180 + XXIII Descending Rapidly 186 + XXIV The Big Secret 199 + XXV Another Hidden Wonder 207 + XXVI A Narrow Escape 214 + XXVII Fighting Desperately 222 + XXVIII Almost a Tragedy 230 + XXIX The Horrible Beast 239 + + + + +CHAPTER I + +Stranded + + +"Look! The bridge is out! Stop the car--quick!" Bob Holton's voice was +unsteady as he gazed ahead at the place of danger. + +Acting on the instant, Joe Lewis pushed the brake pedal to the floor +and waited breathlessly, his mind filled with thoughts of tragedy. + +The wheels of the small automobile locked, but the momentum carried +the car on at a sickening pace. Despite the fact that the tires were +new, they slipped over the road easily. + +An instant later the youths saw that the distance between themselves +and the washout was not great enough. In but a few seconds they would +be plunging down the embankment into the swollen river. + +There was not a moment to lose. Opening the doors as rapidly as +possible, the chums jumped from the car and rolled over on the ground, +their faces wet with perspiration. + +And they were none too soon. The car sped on, reached the edge of the +river bank, and then plunged out of sight. + +There was a loud splash as it struck the water, and then all was +quiet. The sun continued on its downward path, the faint wind played +through the trees. Nothing but two lone boys were left to tell of the +misfortune. + +"Well," sighed Joe, at last breaking the silence, "we sure had a tough +break, didn't we?" + +"Lucky to get off with our lives, though," Bob reminded him. "That was +about the closest shave I've ever had. Wonder why the highway +commission didn't put out a sign?" + +"Probably didn't know the bridge was out. Not many cars go over this +road, and it would not be exceptional for this to go unnoticed for +quite a while." + +"We'll sure make a report of it," said Bob, getting to his feet and +brushing off his mud-stained trousers. + +Joe laughed unwillingly. + +"That'll be like locking the barn after the horse has been stolen," he +grunted. "Come on," he went on, "let's go over to the river bank and +see if we can catch a glimpse of the coupé." + +The youths walked over and stared into the swiftly moving water. It +had rained in torrents two days before, and the river was now almost +a rapids. + +"Car's nowhere in sight," said Joe Lewis gloomily. "But"--his face +lighting suddenly--"it's insured. So I guess there's no use worrying." + +"Maybe not about the automobile. But how are we going to get back to +Washington?" + +"We'll have to hike to the main highway, I guess," Joe answered. "It's +about five miles away, too." + +The youths were returning to their homes in Washington, D. C., after +having spent a delightful week-end in Virginia. Their accident came +upon them in a rather out-of-the-way spot, a great number of miles +from the city of their destination. + +"If it hadn't been for that hill," remarked Joe, as he and his friend +walked back up the road, "we would have seen this place in time to +stop the car." + +"The hill is here, though," returned Bob with a grim smile. "So that's +that." + +The boys paused a moment at the spot where they had jumped from the +doomed automobile. With one last look at the washout, they turned and +began climbing the grade. + +"Five miles is a good distance to walk," grunted Joe, "especially when +we want to get home before long." + +"That last you said made the first all right," laughed Bob Holton, +"because on the Sahara and in Brazil we often hiked, not five miles, +but several times that far without stopping." + +The friends were refreshed after the idle weekend trip and worked +their legs like pistons. Despite their serious predicament, they +observed the wonders of autumn with the eye of a nature lover. + +Leaves of yellow and brown were lying about the ground in profusion, +while others on the trees were almost ready to fall. There was a cool +afternoon breeze that gave evidence of winter being not far off. + +"Think there's a chance of getting a ride with somebody?" asked Joe, +as the youths followed the curving road. + +Bob shook his head. + +"Fellows in this part of the country are pretty careful about picking +up strangers," he returned. "Too many stick-ups and robberies. Still +we might see some soft-hearted person who would not be afraid to take +a chance with us." + +"The question is, though," began Joe, "will we get in with somebody +before night? It's three o'clock now, and we may have to do a great +deal of thumbing before anybody will stop and let us in." + +The road wound through a rather isolated section, with only an +occasional farmhouse looming up from behind the trees. It was indeed +a poor place to be stranded. + +The sun was well down to the horizon when the youths finally reached +the through highway. Although they had done their best, they had found +it difficult to avoid the many large mud puddles that often reached +nearly across the road. + +"Now to get down to business," said Bob, gazing far down the highway. +"We'll surely find a car before long that will pick us up." + +"Here comes one now," observed Joe. "It'll be here before long. Come +on, let's get out farther." + +The boys waited for the automobile to come nearer. Then they signaled +the driver. But the latter appeared to pay no attention to the young +men. A moment later the car whizzed on up the road. + +Bob and Joe looked at each other. Their faces clearly showed that they +expected the worst. + +"Could hardly blame him, though," remarked Bob. "So many +innocent-faced crooks walk the highways that it's unsafe to pick up +anyone." + +"But you know the old proverb," grinned the other youth. "'If at first +you don't succeed, try, try again.' According to that, we---- Look! +Here comes another car. Maybe we'll have better luck this time." + +Again the chums signaled, and were delighted to see that the car was +coming to a stop. At a motion from the driver, who was the only +occupant, they climbed inside. + +"How far ye goin'?" the stranger asked. He was a short, fat man who +looked capable of great mirth. + +"To Washington," replied Bob. "We had an accident with our car not far +from here." + +"Accident, hey? Not hurt, I hope?" + +"No. We were able to jump out in time. You see, we came unexpectedly +on a spot where the bridge was washed away. Caused by the recent rain, +no doubt." + +"Oh. Tough luck, wasn't it? And the machine--was it insured?" + +"Luckily it was," replied Joe with a chuckle. "Though we may have +trouble in proving it." + +"Fight it to the finish!" said the man, shifting his cud of tobacco to +the other side of his mouth. "If you have to, take it to court." + +"I hardly think that will be necessary," Joe said with a smile. "The +insurance company bears a good name." + +"Wonder if this guy's Scotch?" mused Bob to himself. Only recently the +youth had read a good joke about a man of that nationality. + +For the next half-hour the three carried on a varied conversation. It +was at last broken as they neared a small town. + +They had almost entered the city limits when a slowly moving freight +train halted them. Reluctantly they settled back and waited. + +"This will mean a big loss of time," remarked Joe, as he gazed far +down the track at the seemingly endless string of cars. "I'm anxious +to----" + +"Listen!" commanded Bob, leaning forward wonderingly. "Did you hear +anything? There it is again." + +"It's a muffled cry for help, coming from one of those freight cars." +Joe had opened the door of the sedan. + +With a parting word for the driver, the youths left the automobile and +ran down the track, straining their ears for a repetition of the cry. + +"There it is again!" declared Joe. "Sounds like a young boy. In that +third freight car up there." + +Summoning all their strength, the youths ran on until they were +opposite the box car. It was easy to keep abreast with the train, +moving as slowly as it was. + +The door was pushed back about three feet, leaving barely enough room +for the youths to clamber up into the car. Their efforts were not in +vain, however, and soon they found themselves inside. + +"Where are you?" called Joe, glancing about at the scores of boxes and +barrels. + +"Here!" a faint reply came from a far corner. + +At once the youths turned in that direction, searching for a +passageway between the many objects that filled the car. At last they +were within a few feet of the corner. But it was not possible to +penetrate farther, for a large pile of heavy crates barred the way. + +"Let's get these to one side," said Bob, and for the next few minutes +the young men worked furiously. + +Finally they made an opening sufficient for them to pass through. + +"Now we'll see who's here," muttered Joe Lewis. + +The youths worked their way through the passage, their eyes trying to +pierce the darkness. + +Suddenly they drew back with a cry of surprise. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +The Aimless Wanderer + + +Emerging from behind a pile of boxes was a small boy, his face black +with dirt that looked the product of weeks. The clothes he wore were +soiled and torn, and his shoes barely clung to his feet. + +"Thanks!" was all he said, as he glanced up shyly at Bob and Joe. + +For several seconds the young men stared wonderingly at this forlorn +being, as if trying to account for his presence. Finally Bob broke the +silence. + +"What's it all about?" he asked. "What are you doing _here_?" + +The boy hesitated a moment, looked up at Bob and Joe, and then, +satisfied that he could confide in them, spoke. + +"I--I was caught behind that stuff," he stammered. "I hid under a pile +of bags when they loaded the car so they wouldn't find me." + +"But why were you in the car?" demanded Joe. "Where are you going?" + +The boy waited a moment before replying. + +"I don't know," he confessed, dropping his head. + +There was something about this youngster's frankness that moved the +youths to pity. + +"Come," urged Bob, laying his hand on the boy's shoulder, "tell us +about it. Why did you run away from home?" + +"I didn't want to go to school, that's why. Ain't that reason enough?" + +"H'm. Don't like school, huh? Where do you live?" + +"Chicago." + +There were exclamations of surprise from Bob and Joe. + +While they gaze at the young lad in wonder, it might be well, for the +benefit of those who have not read the first two books of _The +Exploration Series_, to tell something about the two youths, and what +had been their adventures up to the present time. + +Bob Holton, who was generally the leader of the two, was a large, +powerful boy of nineteen. His complexion was originally light, but an +adventurous life in hot lands had made him bronzed. Wherever he went, +he was a prime favorite of all. + +Joe Lewis was Bob's closest friend, the two being almost inseparable. +Joe was of medium build and possessed many desirable characteristics. +But in a crisis he was never as cool as the other youth. + +Fortune favored the boys. Their fathers, Howard Holton and Benjamin +Lewis, were noted naturalists, who often wandered to far corners of +the globe in search of wild animals for a large Washington museum. The +two families thus lived in Washington, their homes being but a few +rods apart. + +Shortly after Bob and Joe had graduated from high school, they were +given an opportunity of accompanying their fathers to little-known +Brazil. Here with wild animals and treacherous savages they had many +thrilling adventures, which are related in the first volume of this +series, _Lost in the Wilds of Brazil_. The boys proved themselves +worthy of being called explorers, and the following spring were given +another chance to penetrate the unknown. + +On the Sahara Desert they encountered more perils and hardships. How, +among other things, they endured a terrible sand storm, went for days +without water, and finally fought hostile Arabs for freedom, is +related in the volume entitled _Captured by the Arabs_. + +At the time this story opens, the youths would have been in college +had it not been for another proposed scientific trip. The naturalists +had finally decided to explore the Andes Mountains in South America, +and Bob and Joe were given the permission to accompany the men. The +boys had argued stiffly that such an adventure would benefit them as +much as a half-year at college, to which their fathers had finally +agreed. Now less than two weeks remained before the expedition would +depart. + +As we return to Bob and Joe, who stood staring in amazement at the +small lad who said his home was in Chicago, we see that Bob is +speaking. + +"And you came all this distance?" he asked. "How old are you?" + +"Twelve." + +"Aren't you sorry you ran away from home?" queried Joe. + +"I ain't sorry, but I'm goin' back. That's where I'm headin' now." + +"Why did you change your mind?" Bob asked. + +"Even school's better'n goin' without anything to eat," the boy said. + +For some time Bob and Joe sat staring at the floor. Everything was +clear to them now. They were impressed by this little fellow's +resourcefulness in finding his way freely about. + +Suddenly Joe glanced up. He had almost forgotten that he was on a +moving freight train. The cold sweat burst out on his forehead as he +saw that they were now traveling rapidly. + +"No chance of getting off now, Bob. I guess we're in for it. Where +does this train go?" he asked the boy. + +"Chicago," was the response. "That's where this car is headed for. I +made sure before I got in it." + +Bob grunted. + +"We're booked for a ride, I guess," he said. "Still there may be a +chance of getting off at some town not far from here." + +"That's what we'll hope for," the other youth said, nodding. He turned +to the lad. "Can you find your way home after you reach Chicago?" + +"Sure. This ain't the first time I've run away. Gettin' back ain't +what worries me." + +"What does?" inquired Joe. + +"My old man. He'll be mad enough to bite nails. Bet he's got the razor +strop hangin' up now waitin' for me." + +Bob and Joe smiled. The personality of this waif touched them. + +"Bob Holton is my name, and this is my friend, Joe Lewis." + +A small hand was extended. + +"I'm Spike Weaver, the son of a horse thief." + +The youths burst out in laughter. + +"A horse thief?" + +"Yes," the boy said. "That's what the old man used to be. I'm not onto +him now, I been away from home so much." + +Another outburst of laughter followed. The youths were beginning to +take a liking to this small wanderer. + +One thing stood out in the young men's minds: the family to which this +boy belonged was evidently of a very low type morally. Little wonder +that young Spike had turned out to be a worthless ne'er-do-well. There +was apparently little hope for his future. + +"Why don't you go to school and try to make something out of +yourself?" asked Bob. "Wouldn't you like to be a big business man, or +doctor, or merchant, or _naturalist_?" + +"What's that?" the lad asked. + +"A naturalist is a scientist who travels to little-known places to +collect wild animals for a museum or college," explained Bob. + +There was a glint of interest in young Spike's eyes. He had absorbed +this definition eagerly. + +"Does he shoot with a big rifle, and camp out?" Spike demanded. + +"That's exactly what he does," Bob replied. "And he usually has plenty +of adventures, too." + +"Boy! That sounds swell! Wonder what it feels like to fire one of them +guns." + +"Feels all right after you get used to it," Joe said. + +"How do you know?" Spike asked, as though he felt that Joe was +talking of something that he knew nothing about. + +"My friend has fired them," explained Bob. "And so have I." + +At once the lad was all excitement. + +"You've really hunted wild animals? Tell me about it." + +During the next hour Bob and Joe related some of their experiences in +Brazil and North Africa, while their newly made young friend listened +breathlessly. By the expressions on his face they knew that he was +absorbing every word with interest. When they had finished, his +admiration for them was beyond expression. + +"Gee! You two are real naturalists," he said. + +"Not yet," corrected Bob, "though we hope to be some day. To be a +naturalist you must go through college and get your lessons every day. +But it isn't hard if you want to like it." + +For a time young Spike seemed lost in thought. Finally he roused +himself and turned to his friends. + +"I'm goin' home and go to school, so I can be a naturalist," he said +conclusively. "And then maybe I can have a lot of fun huntin' and +campin', like you fellows do. I always did want to do that." + +Bob and Joe glanced at each other. Did this lad's decision mean +anything, or was it merely a childish notion? At least they had +induced him to attend school temporarily. + +Joe started to speak, but Spike silenced him. + +"Look!" he cried. "We're comin' to a stop. This must be a town." + +The boy was right. The train was gradually slowing up at a spot where +the track had branched into several switches. At last it came to a +full stop. + +"Now's our chance to get off," declared Joe. "We----" + +"Keep still," hissed Bob. "Somebody's coming down the track. It may be +a railroad policeman, or 'bull,' as the hoboes call them." + +"Let's hide behind these boxes," suggested Joe. "He may be coming in +here." + +Quickly, yet quietly, the three concealed themselves in a corner of +the box car. Then they waited. + +The sound of someone walking grew louder, and the next moment a man +stopped at the side of the box car. There was the sound of a door +rolling forward, and then the click of a chain. Less than a minute +later he was on his way up the tracks. + +Hastily the hideaways slipped out from behind the boxes and into the +center of the car. + +Bob uttered an exclamation of dismay. + +"That fellow locked the door!" he cried. "We're trapped!" + + + + +CHAPTER III + +Helplessly Trapped + + +Spike uttered a cry of fright, while Joe dashed forward to make sure +that his friend was right. + +As Bob had said, the railroad man had fastened the door securely. +There was an opening of about eight inches, across which was a heavy +chain that terminated at a large lock. In order to cut the chain, a +file would be necessary. + +Of the three prisoners, Spike was the first to resume his natural +attitude. Perhaps this was due to his wide experience in riding +freight trains. At any rate he seemed to forget his plight and resign +himself over to any fate. + +"Tough luck!" the lad said. "Guess you guys will have to ride with me +to Chicago. May be several days before we can get anything to eat, +too." + +"That's the worst part about it," lamented Bob. "It may be days, or +even weeks, before we'll reach our destination." + +Bob and Joe were inclined to be downhearted, but their young friend +was cheerful. + +"Don't you worry," he consoled them. "I've been in tight fixes like +this many a time, and I've always got out all right. One time I went +out West and got locked in just like we are now." + +Young Spike sounded like an experienced vagabond, and the youths could +not help laughing. + +"How did you get out?" asked Joe, after the laugh had subsided. + +"It was easy. When we stopped at a town I just waited for some hobo to +come along. Somehow he got ahold of a file and had me out in a jiffy. +Hoboes are good to do anything like that for you." + +"Let's hope history will repeat itself," muttered Bob, who, along with +Joe, did not like the prospects of a trip to Chicago. + +Less than ten minutes later there was a slight jar, and the train +started moving. Although pulled by a large engine, there was little +chance of high speed, for a line of cars over a half-mile long +stretched far down the track. + +Bob, Joe, and Spike crowded before the crack to catch a glimpse of the +town at which they had stopped. But aside from a number of freight +cars and old buildings, there was little to be seen. + +"Suppose we arrange boxes in front of what little opening there is," +suggested Joe. "We may as well amuse ourselves by looking out." + +"That reminds me," burst out Spike. "I want to see if anything in this +car has stuff to eat in it." + +He at once began a search of the many boxes, bales, and crates that +were packed in each end of the car. Suddenly he gave a cry of delight. + +"Here's apples!" he cried excitedly. "Gee whiz! Who says we don't +eat?" + +But the fruit was in tightly nailed crates, which could not be easily +opened. + +"Come here, fellows!" shouted Spike. "Give me a hand! You don't expect +_me_ to open 'em when there's big guys like you around, do you?" + +"Wait a minute!" commanded Bob. "Whose apples are they?" + +"Whose are they? I don't know. Why?" + +"Do you think it's right to get in a box car and eat up somebody's +apples?" + +"Ah, gee whiz! You ain't gonna back out of a chance like this, are +you? Come on. Be a sport." + +Bob stoutly refused. + +"We're not going to open any boxes or crates around here, and you're +not either! Get that and get it straight! Of course if we have to, to +keep from starving, we will. But not now." + +Against this stout protest there was no use persisting, and Spike +finally walked sullenly back to his seat before the slightly open +door. + +"You guys sure are the berries," he said with an ironic smile. +"You'll never get anywhere that way." + +"That's where you're wrong," Joe corrected him. "We will and you +won't, unless you get such notions out of your head." + +"Ah, blooey!" + +A half-hour of silence followed, during which time the three gazed +absently out, watching the farms, the forests, the rivers and creeks +slip by. They were beginning to enter the Appalachian Mountains, and +more of natural beauty promised to be visible. + +But Bob and Joe did not care to observe the beauties of nature just +then. Their thoughts were dwelling on the probabilities of the future. +What lay in store for them? Would they be able to get home in time to +accompany their fathers to the Andes Mountains, or would fate rule +that they remain for an indefinite period in this box car? If the +truth were known, the youths were not a little worried. + +Darkness was beginning to enshroud the travelers, and the necessity of +making improvised beds moved them to action. There was a large pile of +burlap sacks in a far corner of the car. These they arranged a short +distance from the partly open door. + +"I don't think these bags are inhabited," smiled Joe. "They look +almost brand-new. At any rate we'll take a chance with them." + +"We'll have to," agreed Bob, who realized the necessity of a rest +after such an arduous day. + +However, the travelers spent an hour or so longer gazing out at the +dim outlines of the mountains. Although Bob and Joe were tired, they +had an uneasy feeling about resigning themselves over to sleep. +Something unexpected might happen during the night. + +Finally Bob arose and walked over to his bunk. + +"Suppose we turn in," he suggested. "We may need plenty of energy +tomorrow. It's possible for almost anything to happen, you know." + +Joe nodded and took his place beside his friend, but Spike announced +that he would remain up awhile longer. + +Almost at once the youths fell asleep. But from their experiences in +dangerous lands they had learned to keep one eye open as a precaution. + +This proved to be unnecessary, however, and they awoke the next +morning greatly refreshed. + +"We're on the other side of the mountains," observed Joe, as he +stretched and glanced out of the crack. + +"Now maybe we can make better time," Bob said, moving over to the +door. + +The three travelers were forced to begin the day without breakfast. +Spike insisted that they open the crates of apples, but Bob firmly +refused. + +"We may find some way out today," the youth consoled him. "If we have +to, we can eat a few of those apples tonight." + +All morning the train continued on its journey, passing small towns +and villages. Along toward noon it stopped at Charleston, West +Virginia, where after an hour of switching it was left on a side +track. + +Suddenly Joe, who was standing by the crack, caught sight of a +trainman not far away. The man's face was rather pleasant, with no +trace of gruffness. + +"There's a chance," Joe said. "Let's ask him to help us out." + +"No, don't," pleaded Spike, pulling Joe back. + +"Why not?" + +"'Cause if he gets you out he won't let me keep in this car to +Chicago." + +"But what about Bob and me? We don't want to ride all that distance." + +"No. Go ahead and call him," directed Bob, who was moving up to the +door. "Spike can find another car that's going to Chicago. We want to +get home." + +Disregarding the lad's protest, Joe shouted and motioned for the man +to come to the box car. There was a look of surprise on the fellow's +face as he moved over to where the three were trapped. + +"What's it all about?" he demanded. "You guys trying to steal a ride, +huh? Come on out of there and pick a car that ain't got anything in +it." + +"We can't get out," explained Joe. "Locked in, I guess. That's what we +wanted of you. See if you can get the door open." + +"Oh! So they penned you up, huh? Yeah. I see that locked chain now. +Sorry, but I'm afraid I can't do anything for you." + +"But--but we've got to get out," Joe said persistently. "We haven't +had anything to eat for quite a while." + +The man hesitated a moment. + +"Got any money?" he asked. + +"Yes." + +"Let's see it." + +Joe held up a half-dollar. + +"O.K. There's a grocery a block from here. Want me to get you +something?" + +Delighted at such a chance, Joe instructed the trainman to purchase +several articles of food that would be sufficient to last for several +days. It was with a feeling of high hope that the youths watched the +man walk in the direction of the store. + +In less than fifteen minutes he was back and handed Joe a sack of +groceries in return for money. In recognition for his service, the +youth tipped him generously. + +"Now for a delicious meal," said Bob, smacking his lips. "And will we +eat!" + +The boys _did_ eat, and felt much better for it. When they had scraped +up the last crumb, they stretched out on the burlap sacks. + +The remainder of the day passed without incident. Darkness was just +setting in when, with a slight jerk, the train started moving. + +Even though they had expected an undisturbed sleep, Bob and Joe were +delighted that they were again on their way. Every mile left behind +would mean that they were nearer Chicago, which was perhaps the only +city at which they could hope to escape from their prison. + +"Let's hope we make good time now," breathed Bob, as he and his +friends turned in, to get what sleep a rumbling train would allow +them. + +All through the night the freight rattled on, this time much faster +than before. Although several stops were made, the train made +unusually good time, pulling into Cincinnati late the next morning. + +"Here's where we'll have to wait," said Joe. "They might keep us +switched here for several days." + +Almost at once their box car was sidetracked, and was not moved until +late the next day. About four o'clock another engine was attached, a +much shorter train being formed. Then slowly it pulled off the switch +and found a through track. + +Bob and Joe could hardly believe their eyes. Were they to leave +Cincinnati so soon? + +An hour later this question was answered. The boys found themselves +speeding along to Chicago, after having remained on the switch less +than twenty-four hours. + +"I suppose we'll stop at every town and small city in Indiana," said +Bob gloomily. "Even though this is a fast freight, a delay will be +almost inevitable." + +The youth was right. It was nearly three days later when the train +entered the city limits of Chicago. Gary and other cities of the +Calumet district had been left behind. + +After what seemed like hours of constant travel in the metropolis, the +freight stopped at a busy switch yard, where scores of trains were +moving in all directions. + +Suddenly Bob cried out in delight as he caught sight of a man walking +up the track. The youth recognized this fellow as the one who had +snapped the lock on the box-car door, making the young men and Spike +prisoners on the train. + +Bob at once called the man, who, upon hearing, turned about in +surprise. + +"Why--what--what are you doing in that car?" he demanded angrily, as +he caught sight of the youth. + +"We want to get out!" Bob's voice was cool and determined. + +"But how did you get in there? I thought I locked that door. I----" + +"Let us out and we'll tell you all about it," Bob pleaded. + +The man pulled a bunch of keys out of his pocket and immediately +unlocked the door. Bob hurriedly rolled it open and jumped out, +followed by Joe and young Spike. + +It was good to feel their feet on the ground again. Bob and Joe could +have cried out in joy. But there was little time to do this, for the +trainman demanded an explanation of their presence. + +Briefly Bob narrated the circumstances that led to their boarding the +train, shielding Spike as much as possible. When he had finished, the +man viewed the young lad critically. + +"I think I'll turn you over to the yard master," he said to Spike, +"and see that you get what's coming to you." + +He roughly caught hold of the boy's arm and pulled him forward. + +"Wait a minute," begged Joe. "Spike didn't do any harm. He's promised +to quit running around and go home and go to school." + +"Well, he ain't gonna get no sympathy from me. I got no use for a kid +that rides freights." + +He gave the boy another pull, this time so violent that the latter +slipped and fell, bruising his face on the cinders. + +Bob grew furiously angry. He stepped boldly up to the trainman. + +"Let the boy alone!" he demanded, his eyes seeming to penetrate the +man. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +The Surly Trainman + + +Before the blaze in Bob's eyes the man shrank back, hesitated a +moment, and then turned in the direction of the freight station. + +"All right," he snarled. "But don't let me catch the kid around here +again, or you either." + +He walked up the track to the end of the train, then disappeared +behind the engine. + +"Gee, that was swell of you," said Spike to Bob. "You sure had that +guy scared." + +"He was glad enough to get out of it," laughed Joe. "Old Bob wouldn't +have left a grease spot of him." + +"But now," began Bob, anxious to turn this tribute aside, "let's +figure out what to do. I suppose the only thing----" + +"I want to get home," Spike interrupted. "I may have something comin' +to me, but the sooner I get it over, the better." + +"Where do you live?" Joe asked. + +"Only about a half-mile from here." + +Joe got a piece of paper and pencil out of his pocket. He tore off one +corner and wrote down the address of himself and his friend. This he +gave to Spike. + +"Here," he said. "Write us a letter some time. Now where do you live?" + +Spike told him, and then, with a warm good-bye, he left the youths and +hurried down the track. + +Bob and Joe watched the lad until he disappeared from view. Even after +they lost sight of him, they stood gazing in that direction until a +locomotive whistle roused them. + +"He's a good kid, all right," smiled Bob. "Might be an aimless +wanderer, but he has a lot in him." + +"Got a keen sense of humor, too," said Joe, and then added: "I wonder +if he'll really go to school and make something out of himself, as he +said he would?" + +"Hard telling. A lot can happen to change his mind, you know." + +For several minutes Bob and Joe watched the busy scene about the +tracks. Finally a factory whistle from afar prompted Joe to glance at +his watch. + +"Nearly two o'clock," he announced. "Come on. Let's hurry down to the +freight station and see if we can send a telegram to our folks. If we +hadn't lost the car in that river, we would have been home several +days ago." + +The youths moved down to the building and went inside. After making +several inquiries they finally found the main office, where they were +permitted to send a telegram. Then they left the building and walked +in the direction of the street. + +"Good old Chicago," smiled Joe. "It's only been a couple of months +since we were here." + +Bob stopped suddenly. + +"That reminds me," he started. "We came here with our dads to see a +Mr. Wallace, who's with the Museum of Natural History, didn't we? And +this Mr. Wallace is planning on going with our dads' expedition to the +Andes Mountains, isn't he? Do you suppose he's left for Washington +yet?" + +Joe's face lightened. + +"I see what you mean," he said. "We can go and see him, and +incidentally we can borrow enough money to get home on. Suppose we go +to the museum now." + +The boys were familiar with Chicago and had no difficulty in taking a +street car. After a half-hour's ride they got off within a few squares +of the museum. A ten-minute walk brought them to the main entrance. + +At the office they made inquiries about Mr. Wallace and finally found +him in a laboratory on the second floor. He smiled broadly as he +recognized Bob and Joe. + +"Well, this is an unexpected pleasure," he said, extending his hand. +"What, may I ask, are you fellows doing in Chicago? Why aren't you +getting ready for that Andes expedition?" + +"It isn't our fault that we're here," laughed Bob, and then proceeded +to tell of the events that led to their presence. "Since we finally +landed here, we thought we'd come to the museum and see if you had +left for Washington yet," he concluded. + +"A strange chain of circumstances," the scientist breathed. "Not many +could go through all that in the course of a few days. No doubt it was +your first experience as hoboes, was it not?" + +"First and last," returned Joe. "We've had all we want of it. But +now," he went on, "when are you going to Washington? The expedition +leaves in little more than a week." + +"I had planned to go day after tomorrow," Mr. Wallace said. "I think +everything will be in readiness by that time. I'd like to spend at +least three days in Washington talking with your fathers and others of +the expedition before sailing. Of course you fellows are familiar with +the details of the expedition, are you not?" + +"Quite the contrary," returned Bob. "You see, when the matter was +first mentioned, about a month ago, there was not much known about +it. Our dads declined to say much, because they were not absolutely +sure they were going. Joe and I, though, had a sort of feeling that +they _were_ going, and finally got permission to stay out of college +at least a half-year." + +"So you could go with the expedition?" interrupted the scientist. + +Bob nodded. + +"We figured we'd get as much good out of such a trip as we could get +in a university," he explained. "Then, too, there's a chance of making +money by taking motion pictures, as we did on our other expeditions." + +"I think you did wisely," Mr. Wallace said. "It usually isn't good for +a fellow to get out of college too young. When an extraordinary chance +like this turns up, it's best to take it." + +He motioned for the boys to follow him into his office, where several +chairs were arranged about the desk. A large bookcase occupied a whole +end of the room, while opposite it was a case of instruments and +preservatives. + +"Sit down," he directed them, "and we'll talk over this Peruvian +expedition." + +Bob and Joe did as directed, glad of the chance to rest their tired +limbs. + +Mr. Wallace procured an atlas, opened it to a map of Peru, and drew +an imaginary line in the lower right-hand corner. + +"Here's Cuzco," he pointed out. "We'll probably make it or some other +near-by city our base. From there we'll go into the Andes Mountains on +our varied scientific quests." + +"But what--what is the main purpose of the expedition?" inquired Joe. +"Of course, you and Mr. Holton and Dad are naturalists, who want to +get specimens of animal life. But that isn't the chief aim of the +expedition, is it?" + +"No. It is being sent out by the division of ethnology at the museum +in Washington. The scientists in that field have in mind mainly to +study the ruins of the vanished Inca civilization. Those Indians, you +know, that built so many marvelous works of architecture. That's about +as much as I know about them, though," he laughed. "My line runs +straight through the field of natural history and zoölogy, and +incidentally anatomy, histology, taxonomy, embryology, ecology----" + +"That's enough!" interrupted Bob, smiling sheepishly. "You don't +expect Joe and me to be acquainted with all those subjects, do you? +We're pretty good shots, but as scientists we're as yet a complete +flop." + +A general laugh ensued, after which the naturalist again pointed to +the map. + +"We are to explore the region northwest of Lake Titicaca," he +continued. "I understand there are some very high peaks in this range, +all the way from ten to twenty thousand feet in altitude." + +"These Incas," started Joe, "when did they live? It hasn't been so +very long ago, has it?" + +"Not as time is usually thought of. The sixteenth century witnessed +their downfall. This was at the time of the Spanish South American +explorations, you know." + +"Those Spaniards sure saw something unusual and unexpected," remarked +Bob. "This mountainous region was chock-full of architectural wonders, +all built by the Incas." + +"Something tells me we'll see sights, all right," said Joe. "It will +be good to get away from home again--into the unknown, I mean. And +that reminds me. Would it be possible for you to lend us enough money +to get back to Washington?" + +"Why--of course. How much do you need?" + +"Fifty dollars will pull us through. Perhaps we can get along on less +than that," was the answer from Bob. + +"All right. I'll see that you get it. But wait! I expect to go day +after tomorrow with a friend, who is driving East on business. There +will be plenty of room for two more. You fellows don't have to get +home at once, do you?" + +"No, we don't have to," returned Joe. "We----" + +"Suppose you be my guests until then. I'll be only too glad to have +you. In the meantime we can be discussing the coming expedition." + +"We'd sort of hate to do that," Bob said. "It will mean a lot of +trouble to you." + +"Forget it! I'll be only too glad to have you." + +"Well, all right, if you----" Joe began. + +"We'll call it settled," Mr. Wallace said. "And now, since my day is +practically over, we may as well go to the house. That is, if you're +ready." + +"We're ready any time," Bob told him. + +The three went outside, to a place where the naturalist's automobile +was parked. All got inside and drove through the city till they came +to a beautiful suburb. + +"Here's my place," said Mr. Wallace, pointing to a large house of +rather costly design. + +Inside, the youths were introduced to Mrs. Wallace, who made them feel +perfectly at home. + +"I hate to see Mr. Wallace leave on an expedition," she said, "but I +can appreciate his interest in science. In fact, I have often wished I +could accompany him. Be a sort of Mrs. Martin Johnson, you know." + +"I wish our mothers were like that," laughed Bob. "If they were, +perhaps Joe and I wouldn't have so much difficulty in getting their +consent to go with our dads." + +A bountiful dinner was soon served, Bob and Joe eating heartily. + +"And now I have a surprise for you," Mr. Wallace said, when the meal +was over. "It is something I know we all will enjoy, especially in +view of what is to come." + +The young men looked inquiring. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +As Guests of the Naturalist + + +"What is the surprise?" inquired Joe Lewis anxiously. + +"This: I made arrangements for a movie to be shown--purely for our own +benefit," the naturalist explained. "It deals with Peru and the +Andes." + +"The region we're going to explore!" cried Joe, delighted beyond +words. "Why, that will be wonderful!" + +"I've never seen it," Mr. Wallace said. "But the chances are it will +be good. Perhaps we had better go before long. It is to be shown at +eight o'clock, and we haven't a great deal of time to get down there." + +"Where?" inquired Bob. + +"To the museum--in the auditorium," was the response. + +Mrs. Wallace asked that she be permitted to go also, and the others +consented at once. The wonderful civilization of the ancient Inca +Indians she knew not a little about. + +At the museum they found several score people waiting for the movie to +be shown. There was a friendly gathering for a half-hour or so, at +which Mr. Wallace introduced a number of scientist friends from the +museum and Chicago universities. + +Then the lights were switched off and the movie was projected. It +proved everything and more that Bob and Joe had expected, showing the +fascinating country of Peru. + +The shy Indians with their flat "pancake" hats, the curious llamas and +alpacas, the magnificent heights of the mighty Andes, the many old +ruins of the Incas--all these and more were depicted on the screen. + +It was very inspiring, especially to the boys and Mr. Wallace, who +were delighted that before long they would be able actually to visit +those wonderful places. + +During the drive home the naturalist's conversation was directed +chiefly about this inspiring country, his excitement being almost like +that of a small boy. But if the naturalist was impressed, the youths +were still more. They longed for the great day to come when they would +leave for the wonderland of Peru. + +It was so late when they arrived at the Wallace residence that the +youths and their hosts decided to retire at once. + +"I'm not going to the museum today," announced the naturalist the next +morning at breakfast. "There is so much that has to be done in the way +of preparing for the coming expedition that I won't have time for +anything else." + +"If there's anything Joe and I can do for you, we'll be glad to do +it," said Bob. "Our preparations won't begin until we get back to +Washington." + +The young men proved to be of valuable service to the scientist. Their +previous experience in preparing for exploration ventures enabled them +to offer valuable suggestions to Mr. Wallace, even though the latter +had made numerous trips for the good of science. + +The vast resources of the great metropolis enabled them to find +anything that the naturalist needed in the way of outdoor equipment. +All that day and half of the next were spent in the business district. + +"Now if you fellows like sport, as I do, what do you say about a +little target practice?" Mr. Wallace asked them, after the noon lunch. + +"What do we say?" Joe was overjoyed. "Lead us to it!" + +In the extreme rear of the lawn was a large rifle range. Here, with +the guns that Mr. Wallace generously furnished, they took turns +exercising their skill at the trigger. Bob easily placed himself above +the others by striking the very heart of the bull's-eye. + +"I thought I was a fair shot," smiled the scientist. "But you have me +beat by a mile." + +"Just happened that I hit it, I guess," Bob said modestly. + +But when he again was able to send a bullet almost directly over the +first one, the others knew that it did not just happen. + +"Wonderful to be such a shot," remarked Mr. Wallace. "I suppose it has +been the secret of your emerging unharmed from the unknown, hasn't +it?" he said laughing. + +"Trying to kid me, are you?" smiled Bob. "Joe and I may be green, but +another expedition or two will make us full-fledged explorers. At +least we hope so." + +Mr. Wallace grinned. + +"That's what we all think," he said. "But the fact is, we never do get +to be what you call full-fledged explorers. I've been on a good many +expeditions, but I don't know much even now. To me it's interesting +that I got my start in scout work. The Boy Scout organization is one +of the greatest on the globe." + +"So did we, to a certain extent," said Bob. "Although the fact that +our dads are explorers perhaps accounted for a still earlier +interest." + +The youths and the naturalist spent the better part of the afternoon +on the rifle range. Then they went to the house, where in Mr. +Wallace's extensive library they read still more about Peru and the +Andes. + +That evening they spent quietly, for the next day they were to start +on the trip to Washington. The naturalist's friend, with whom they +were to drive to the East, was to come after them early the next +morning. + +And early it was. Too early for the youths and Mr. Wallace, who had +barely finished breakfast. But they were packed and ready, and so lost +no time in getting their belongings together. + +The friend, whose name was Wilson, was a newspaper man, often +traveling East in the interest of his profession. He was good-natured +and talkative, at once taking a liking to Bob and Joe. + +When everything was in readiness, Bob and Joe and the men took their +places in Mr. Wilson's automobile and, with a warm farewell to Mrs. +Wallace, started down the driveway. + +Soon the youths would be home--and on their way to the mysterious +Andes! + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +The Big Surprise + + +As the automobile sped toward the thoroughfare, Bob and Joe settled +back for the long ride. Now that they were at last heading for +Washington, the boys were becoming impatient, although they had +enjoyed the last few days immensely. + +Until after they had left Chicago, Mr. Wilson was rather quiet, +bending his efforts solely on managing the car. But when the +metropolis had disappeared from view, he inquired about his friends' +expedition into the Andes Mountains. + +"Perhaps I'm not much of an adventurer, but somehow I wouldn't care +for that sort of a life," he laughed, after Mr. Wallace had related +the outlines of the expedition. "I wouldn't mind taking a trip to that +place--put up at a hotel, or the like. But when it comes to straying +off the traveled road, well----" He stopped meaningly. + +Bob laughed. + +"It's a good thing people aren't all alike," he said. "If they were, +either the wilds or the civilized places would be filled to capacity." + +Although the youths were anxious to reach their destination, they +found the drive East interesting, even though they had made it before. +Their attention was so held by the many interesting sights that, +almost before knowing it, they found themselves in Pittsburgh, after +having eaten a lunch several hours before. In the business district +they engaged rooms in a small but comfortable hotel. + +If Mr. Wilson and the naturalist were tired, the youths were not. They +insisted on taking a look at Pittsburgh, which they had not seen for +many months. An hour or two of looking around and they would return to +the hotel, remarked Bob. + +During that time the young men found much to hold their interest. The +great fiery blast furnaces, the towering skyscrapers, the crowds of +pleasure seekers, and the lights of river boats all kept them gay with +amusement. + +At last, when they finally made themselves return to the hotel, they +found that their friends had gone. Evidently the lure of a great city +was too much for them. + +"And Mr. Wilson said he was dead tired," said Joe with a smile. + +"They're no different from us," said Bob. "Want to keep on the go, I +guess." + +Mr. Wallace and his friend did not return until late, much to the +amusement of the youths. Both men wore a sheepish look as they caught +sight of Bob and Joe. + +"Sorry, but we just had to get out," grinned the newspaper man, +walking drowsily through the lobby. "Couldn't stand it to stay +inside." + +"Perhaps you'll pay the penalty of oversleeping," laughed Joe, "and we +won't get started until late." + +Joe proved wrong, however, for early the next morning they were up +making ready to resume the journey. From Pittsburgh the traveling +promised to be slower, owing to the increased traffic and mountainous +country. But Mr. Wilson was determined to make good time, and did, +reaching York, Pennsylvania, at one o'clock. + +Here the youths and the naturalist were to take their leave, while the +newspaper man would continue to New York City. Had he not been in a +great hurry he would have insisted on driving them on to Washington. +As it was, his business prevented his doing so. + +With a hearty farewell, the boys and Mr. Wallace left his car and made +their way to a railroad station, where they boarded a train for the +nation's capital. + +An hour and a half of traveling brought them to Baltimore, and now +the youths began to feel that they were in home territory. In this +city a delay was inevitable, but at last the train resumed its journey +to Washington, which it reached in due time. + +Since Mr. Wallace and the boys had not known exactly when they would +arrive, they had not expected anyone to meet them at the station. But +much to their surprise they found that Mr. Holton and Mr. Lewis were +waiting for them when they went down from the tracks. + +"Boys!" cried Mr. Holton excitedly. "And there's Wallace, too. How are +you, old man?" + +There followed a wild shaking of hands, patting of backs, and general +welcome, in which Mr. Wallace took as large a part as the others. + +"How did you know we would come on that train?" inquired Bob +wonderingly. "Mr. Wallace didn't tell you, did he?" + +"Not exactly," Mr. Lewis returned, picking up a suitcase. "But he said +you would probably get near Washington today, and that York, +Pennsylvania, would be your junction point. So Howard"--referring to +Mr. Holton--"and I called up the station to find out when the train +would get in. We were here this morning, when the early one arrived." + +The newcomers were led to Mr. Holton's car, which was parked a short +distance away. Glad of the chance to relax, the youths and Mr. +Wallace threw themselves tiredly into the seats. + +As mentioned previously, the respective homes of Bob and Joe were +located next door to each other, almost at the edge of the city. They +were not of costly design, but were comparatively new and pleasing. + +Mr. Holton had barely brought the car to the curb when the boys' +mothers, along with Bob's small brother and Joe's sister, came out to +meet them. There followed another greeting, if anything warmer than +the first. Mr. Wallace, upon being introduced, received a hearty +welcome. It might be added that he was to remain with either the +Holtons or the Lewises until the expedition would depart for South +America. + +"Now tell us what happened," urged Mrs. Lewis, Joe's mother, when +everyone had assembled in the living room of the Holton home. + +Briefly Bob related the adventures of himself and his friend, from the +time they lost the car in the river to the present. He told of coming +to the washed-out bridge, of the forced abandoning of Joe's coupé, and +of boarding the freight train where Spike Weaver was trapped. The +forced ride to Chicago, the calling on Mr. Wallace, and the eventful +days that followed were described fully, while the others listened +breathlessly. + +"Quite an experience," commented Mr. Holton, when his son had +finished. "Not many could have gone through it all." + +The friendly gathering lasted until late that afternoon. As there was +no use making further preparations for the coming expedition, all but +Bob and Joe took it easy. The youths, however, thought it best to +notify the insurance company about losing Joe's car. + +At request, the company agreed to send out an investigator without +delay. He arrived as soon as was promised and asked that Bob and Joe +accompany him to the spot where the car plunged into the river. + +When they arrived at the familiar spot, Bob and Joe were not surprised +to see that workmen were repairing the washed-out bridge. The men were +aware that a car was at the river bottom. + +"I'll take a few notes," said the insurance man. "Then we'll go back. +And let me assure you that this matter will be looked after promptly." + +Back at their homes, Bob and Joe were surprised to see a tall young +man of perhaps twenty-five conversing with the three naturalists in +the Holton library. + +Mr. Lewis looked up suddenly as he caught sight of his son and Bob. + +"We've a surprise for you," he said smiling. "Part of the Andes +expedition is going by airplane." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +Off for the Andes + + +The surprise of Bob and Joe was almost inconceivable. They stood +staring for several seconds before either seemed to grasp the full +significance of the naturalist's words. + +"Airplane? Going by airplane?" gasped Joe. "How come?" + +His father laughed. + +"We expected to see you fellows startled," Mr. Lewis said. "But that +you would show such unusual astonishment we did not in the least +anticipate." He turned to the stranger. "This," he went on, addressing +the youth, "is Mr. Karl Sutman, who is going to take several members +of the expedition in his airplane, or rather monoplane. Karl, I want +you to meet Bob Holton and Joe Lewis, the young men we were just +talking about." + +"Glad to know you, fellows," the aviator greeted, extending a hand. + +"Pleased to meet you, Mister----" Bob began, but was interrupted. + +"_Karl_, if you don't mind," the tall man laughed. "I don't care for +that 'mister' stuff. First name fits me good enough." + +"Good enough for us, too," said Joe with a smile. "Call us Bob and +Joe." + +These informalities tended to bring about a feeling of friendliness +which was noticeable in the conversation that followed. + +"Will you please explain how it all came about?" asked Bob. "This +airplane stuff almost took Joe and me off our feet." + +"Off your feet you'll be in a few days," chuckled the aviator. "That +is if you ginks are picked out to go with me in the plane." + +"If there's any air traveling, we want to be in on it," Bob assured +him. "But--" he hesitated a moment--"how did it all come about?" + +"I'll tell you," Mr. Lewis said. "Karl's dad and I are very good +friends--have been for many years. Now when Karl learned of this +coming expedition, he at once looked me up and offered to take part of +us in his monoplane. All that he'll charge will be for the gas and +oil, and he'll pay a share of that. The fact that he is a licensed +transport pilot makes the whole thing a pretty safe venture." + +"And I've had six hundred hours of flying--without a single mishap," +Karl added proudly. "The monoplane I own is one of the fastest and +most efficient machines there are. It'll do a hundred and fifty miles +an hour with no trouble at all." + +"Sounds well enough," smiled Joe. "Tell us some more." + +During the next few minutes the young aviator explained in detail the +plans made for the trip. His machine, he said, could carry four +passengers and the pilot, and there was a possibility of adding one +more. Just who those passengers were to be, the others could decide. +The course they would follow he had mapped out carefully, taking into +consideration the possibility of having to land at any time. Norfolk, +Virginia, would be the last large American city they would see. From +there they would proceed south over the Bahama Islands and Cuba, and +then on to the north coast of South America. At Bogotá, Colombia, a +stop would probably be made for fuel. They would then continue along +the coast mountains (Andes) over Colombia, Ecuador, and into Peru. At +Mollendo, a small but important coast town, the air travelers would +wait to join the other members of the expedition, who would arrive +several days later by steamship. + +When Karl had finished, the youths were overflowing with enthusiasm. +Their imaginations had been captivated by the prospects of a unique +air trip into the Andes. That they could accompany Karl they sincerely +hoped. + +"Of course," began Joe, addressing his father, "Bob and I will be +among the passengers, will we not?" + +Mr. Lewis looked grave. He did not have any too much faith in +aviation. + +"We'll see," he replied. "Your mothers will have to give their +consent, you know. It may prove difficult to get that." + +"I think we can bring them around," Bob said, with an optimism that he +was far from feeling, "especially if you and Dad decide to go. And you +will, won't you?" + +"Impossible for me to do so," returned Mr. Lewis. "I've already made +reservations on a steamship. As for Mr. Holton, he may make +arrangements to go." + +"But right now," started Karl, rising, "how would you +fellows"--referring to Bob and Joe--"like to come with me out to the +airport? I want to show you the 'plane." + +"Lead us there!" cried Joe at once. "We want to take in everything." + +The youths' fathers had been to the airport the previous day, and so +did not care to go again. The boys and Mr. Wallace, however, desired +to see the monoplane, especially since there was a chance of their +becoming passengers. + +It was nearly noon, but the four decided to leave at once. They could +get a lunch somewhere else, perhaps at the airport. + +"Besides, we're not hungry," explained Joe, when the others asked that +they leave an hour later. "Excitement and activity make us forget all +about eating." + +At the airport the youths and Mr. Wallace were taken to a corner of +the field, just off the cement runway. There, before their eyes, was a +large white monoplane, shining brightly with a coat of fresh paint. + +"Ain't it a dandy?" Karl was beaming all over with pride. "Just been +completely inspected. It's just r'arin' to go!" + +They walked up to the machine to examine it at close quarters. + +"Sure a peach for looks," commented Joe. "Got an air-cooled motor, +too. How about getting inside?" + +"Go ahead. You'll find it as accommodating as a street car." + +"It's all of that," agreed Bob a moment later, when he had opened the +door and stepped into the cabin. "Those comfortable deep seats appeal +to me." + +"Seats aren't as important in an airplane as in a bus," laughed Karl. +"No bumps in the air." + +On either side of the cabin were two chairs, placed several feet +apart. In the middle of the floor was a small folding table, which the +boys guessed had been placed there by Karl as a convenience to members +of the expedition. A wide glass window separated the pilot's cockpit +from the passenger section, and the two were connected by a telephone +apparatus. Three large windows were in each wall, which was slightly +curving near the ceiling. At the rear was a large compartment for +food, maps, and other equipment. + +"Now that you've looked it over, how would you like to go up for a +short ride?" the aviator asked, as the others examined the ship +minutely. + +"Like nothing better!" came from Bob. "Can we go now?" + +"Yeah. Everybody hop in. Be sure that door's tight." + +Delighted at such an opportunity, the youths and Mr. Wallace took +places in the cabin, while Karl climbed into the cockpit. + +A few seconds later there came the roar of the motor, and then the +passengers felt themselves moving. + +The 'plane rolled over the cement runway for several hundred feet, +then gradually left the ground and began climbing steadily. + +"We're in the air!" cried Joe excitedly. He and his friend had never +been in a monoplane before. "Doesn't feel unusual, does it?" + +"I wouldn't know it if I didn't see the ground dropping away from us," +Bob said. "We'll probably appreciate the absence from jolts and jars." + +This easy conversation was made possible by the heavy insulation +between the pilot's and passengers' quarters. As a result, the roar of +the engine was silenced to a remarkable degree. + +When just above the airdrome, they heard Karl's voice through the +telephone. + +"How does it feel?" the aviator asked. "Think you'd like flying?" + +"Sure," came from Joe, speaking through the transmitter. "It's a +hundred per cent better than land traveling." + +The experience was not novel to Mr. Wallace, who had once crossed the +continent in a huge tri-motor monoplane. But nevertheless he appeared +to be enjoying it as much as the young men. + +An altitude of perhaps a thousand feet was reached, and then the +'plane shot ahead toward the business district of Washington. + +They had been in the air perhaps five minutes when Karl's voice was +again heard through the telephone. + +"See anything familiar below?" + +"By George!" exclaimed Bob wonderingly. "We're right above our houses. +Suppose anybody sees us?" + +"Guess not," his chum said. "They're not out, anyway." + +A much higher altitude was reached, and their direction of travel was +changed. + +From that height, the passengers could easily make out the business +district, including the United States Capitol, the White House, and +other government buildings. In addition, they could see several score +miles in every direction. + +"Isn't that Baltimore over there?" queried Joe, his keen eyes scanning +the landscape. + +"It is at that," observed Mr. Wallace. "The atmosphere isn't any too +clear, though, and we can't make it out very plainly." + +"We're a great distance away, too," remarked Bob. "Wonderful when you +think about it, isn't it?" + +They circled around for a few minutes and then headed back to the +airport, as the aviator did not care to use too much gas. + +When again on the ground, Bob and Joe were more anxious than ever to +be among those of the expedition who would travel by air. Their +eagerness was increasing with every minute. + +"You've got to let us go!" said Bob to his father, when he and his +friends had returned home. "Why, just see what we'll be missing if we +don't." + +"You may be missing death," Mr. Holton returned grimly. "But then," he +went on, raising his voice, "the chances are that nothing will happen. +Any more, airplane accidents are rare. I've almost decided to go +myself. It will be a chance of a lifetime." + +"Then--then you mean we can go?" + +"I haven't exactly said so," the naturalist answered. "There is your +mother, don't forget." + +"Perhaps she won't consider it so wonderful," suggested Mr. Wallace, +who had been induced to spend the few days before leaving with the +Holtons. + +Bob's mother did not at all like the idea when it was put before her +later. But she did not protest so violently when she saw that her +husband was actually bent on going. After all, his judgment had seldom +failed him, and most likely would not now. Then, too, she was somewhat +of an air enthusiast herself, having great faith in the development of +aviation. And what Mr. Holton did she usually considered fit for Bob. + +Joe had more difficulty in securing the consent of his parents, for +they were doubtful as to the outcome of such a venture. Mr. Lewis, +however, was well acquainted with Karl Sutman, and knew him to be an +excellent airplane pilot, besides being a resourceful, well-thought-of +citizen. In the end, Joe's parents consented to the youth's going, +especially when they learned that Mr. Holton and Bob intended to go. +Mr. Lewis, however, had already booked passage on a steamship, and +could not cancel his arrangement, much as he would have liked to. + +The two chums were delighted beyond words. + +"It'll seem strange without your father with us, though," said Bob. +"We all went together on our other trips, and----" + +"He'll meet us in Mollendo," Joe reminded him, and then added: "Wonder +if Mr. Wallace will go in the 'plane?" + +That person desired very much to do so, but hesitated to let Mr. Lewis +make the ocean trip alone. Joe's father, though, declared he would not +be without companions, for he was acquainted with several members of +other divisions of the expedition. A Mr. Thomas L. Wells, of the +division of ethnology, was a very close friend of the naturalist. + +"So, although I would like for you to come with me on the boat, I want +you to go in the airplane," Joe's father said to Mr. Wallace, +"because I know you are bent on doing so, and it is a wonderful +opportunity." + +The result was that Mr. Wallace made preparations to go by air, much +to the delight of Bob and Joe. Since their first meeting with the +naturalist several months before, the youths had taken a great liking +to him. + +Making ready for the airplane trip was a novel experience to Bob and +Joe. They found there was much to be purchased in the way of suits, +caps, goggles, and other provisions. Aviator's togs, the young men +knew, would not be strictly necessary, as it was a monoplane with a +closed cabin. But they thought it best to get them, since they could +also be used for general outdoor clothes. + +"Here's something the express man left you, boys," Mr. Holton called, +when the chums returned from a shopping trip downtown. + +Eagerly Bob and Joe opened the large box. A minute later, when they +saw its contents, they uttered exclamations of joy. + +"The moving-picture camera and film, from the Neuman Motion Picture +Corporation!" cried Bob happily. "It got here just in time, didn't it? +We'll be leaving day after tomorrow." + +The Neuman Motion Picture Corporation, a large firm that released +educational films, had engaged the services of Bob and Joe on their +two previous expeditions. The youths took moving pictures of the +strange lands they visited, and so pleased the film company that they +were given the opportunity of again taking moving pictures while in +the Andes Mountains. Always the boys were paid a substantial sum for +their trouble, which to them was sheer pleasure. + +"Inca land you'll find to be perhaps the most interesting place you've +photographed," Mr. Holton told them. "If you do this well, the company +will almost eat you up in their praise of you." + +"The Inca empire is still sort of a mystery to me," said Joe. "I've +read quite a bit about it, and Mr. Wallace and Bob and I saw that +movie in Chicago, but it's still all not quite clear. I know how the +country around there looks. It is the empire itself that I don't know +much about." + +"Not being an archæologist, I don't know a great deal about it," Mr. +Holton said. "Perhaps not much, if any, more than you fellows. I do +know, though, that the Incas maintained a socialistic state, in which +everyone was forced to work on a given piece of land without deriving +any direct benefit. The grain that they raised all went to a common +storehouse, and everyone drew from it in times of stress." + +"A sort of depression insurance," laughed Joe. + +"Might call it that," the naturalist said with a smile. "At any rate +it seemed to prove effective." + +"How about the wild animals and birds in Peru?" asked Bob. "Are there +many there?" + +"Now you've mentioned a subject that I know something about," returned +Mr. Holton. "Yes, there are countless numbers of interesting wild +creatures in those mountains. Most impressive of all is perhaps the +condor, the largest bird that flies. We naturalists wish particularly +to investigate reports of a species of condor that is pure white in +color. Whether we'll find it we have yet to see. But there are other +birds and animals that we feel sure of getting, such as the puma, +armadillo, lizard, guanaco, fox, and snipe. We aren't allowed a great +deal of time in the Andes, but we feel certain that a large number of +wild creatures will fall at the report of our rifles." + +The next two days were busy ones for Bob and Joe. They frequented the +business district often to get minor articles that they would need on +the trip, and by the time the great day of leaving came they had +finished all preparations. + +After breakfast Mrs. Holton and Mr. Lewis drove the leavetakers to the +airport. When they arrived at that place they found that an expert +mechanic had just completed a thorough inspection of Karl Sutman's +monoplane, and had found it in perfect running order. + +Their belongings were all placed in the provision compartment, and +then, with sincere farewells, the youths, Mr. Holton, and Mr. Wallace +climbed into the cabin, while Karl took his place in the cockpit. + +The engine was started, and then, after the travelers had called out +one last farewell and promise to be careful, the monoplane rolled +heavily over the concrete runway and pointed its nose toward the +southern sky. + +"We're off!" cried Joe excitedly. "Off for the Andes Mountains!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +Caught in the Storm + + +As the monoplane rose higher, Bob and Joe and the others waved to the +little group below until it faded from view. Then they turned to take +in the country they were passing over. + +Streets, buildings, vehicles, and people were mere specks below, as +Karl sent the machine to a new high altitude. Past the city of +Washington, and then on--on above the many small cities and towns of +southern Maryland. + +"Wonderful view!" breathed Joe Lewis, gazing out at the wonderful +panorama that was spread out before them. + +"Bet we can see fifty miles," added Bob. "There's the Potomac River +over there, and away off in the distance seems to be the ocean. I +wonder if it is?" + +Bob and Joe were strangely unaware of forward movement, though they +were going nearly twice as fast as the fastest automobile. The +comfortable enclosed cabin kept out the fierce roar of the wind, and +heavy insulation silenced the noise of the engine to a remarkable +degree. Thus they found it easy to carry on conversation. + +They made the hundred-and-forty-mile trip to Norfolk in little more +than an hour. Then, after leaving this city behind, they passed over +North Carolina until finally the ocean loomed up before them. + +When the last stretch of land had been left behind, Bob and Joe were +thoughtfully silent. What if anything should happen while they were +out here above the boundless water, with no place near on which to +land? It was not pleasant to think of plunging hundreds of feet into +the ocean, even though the water might be calm. + +As they flew farther, Joe was surprised that they had not seen ships +below them. + +"This isn't a route of travel," explained Mr. Holton. "We probably +won't see any large liners till we get farther south." + +Later they were able to make out several tramp steamers, which, when +viewed at that altitude, appeared to be at a standstill. Just where +the vessels were heading the air travelers could only guess. + +Suddenly, unexpectedly, the youths and the naturalists found +themselves in a heavy cloud, which hid the ocean from view. It was so +dark that Mr. Wallace almost mechanically switched on a light. + +"Wonder if this means danger?" mused Joe, gazing intently out of the +window at the haze. + +"I was wondering the same thing," came from Mr. Holton. "If it does, +we ought to hear from Karl before long." + +But before long they passed out of the cloud and once more could see +the ocean. But now the sun was nowhere in sight. + +"We may have some rain," said Karl through the telephone. "Be sure all +the windows are closed tightly." + +Bob wondered if rain would be a hindrance to flying, although he +hesitated to put the question before Karl. If the truth were known, he +was not a little worried. + +As they flew farther the sky became more overshadowed. Dark, +threatening clouds hovered near, as if to warn the air travelers to +seek a place of refuge. It was not a pleasant sight to the four +passengers. + +All at once they had a sudden sensation of falling, which almost took +their breath away. It lasted but a brief moment, however, much to the +relief of all. + +"What caused that?" asked Joe, who had turned pale. + +His question was answered a little later by Karl. + +"Feel that drop?" the aviator asked. "I did that to see if we can't +get below the storm area." + +"How far did we fall?" inquired Mr. Wallace interestedly. + +"Only a few hundred feet. And I steered over to the east, too. We seem +to be out of the storm area." + +Now, as they flew on, the travelers could easily glimpse the dark mass +of clouds that they would have been forced to pass through had they +remained strictly on their course. + +An hour or so before noon, the explorers caught sight of a little +group of islands, and in the distance they could make out one that was +much larger. + +"We're nearing the West Indies," observed Mr. Wallace jubilantly. +"That large island away over there is probably Abaco." + +As they neared the land, Karl dropped to perhaps a thousand feet. From +this altitude they could command a good view of the country below +them. It was for the most part wild and uninhabited. There was a great +deal of fog hovering about, or they could have seen many more islands. + +They were nearing the tropics, as evidenced by the mercury rising in +the thermometer. As they were traveling evenly, it was safe to open +the windows. The resulting gush of wind was at once greatly +appreciated. + +"We'll have about three hundred and seventy-five miles of traveling +before we reach Cuba," announced Karl, as they passed over a large +cluster of islands. "Maybe we'd better land there, at least for a few +minutes. It'll give the 'plane a chance to cool off, and then, too, we +can look it over." + +It was three hours later that Bob caught sight of what appeared to be +a long black line stretching out of sight to their left. That line +gradually took shape and color, and the explorers found themselves +nearing Cuba. + +On the side nearest them was a large mountain, with a cone-like top +that gave it the appearance of a volcano. + +Within sight of this peak, Karl picked out a level stretch of ground +and sent the monoplane downward. He found it necessary to make a +spiral landing, as there was danger of otherwise striking a line of +low, sharp peaks. + +Bob and Joe watched closely as the ground came up to meet them. Then +they felt the wheels bump, and they knew they were safe. + +"All out!" called Karl, appearing at the cabin door. "That is, if you +want to rest your legs." + +The others needed no urging. They climbed stiffly out of the 'plane +and stretched freely. While they had not been cramped, they had +nevertheless not been allowed the freedom of violent exercise. + +"So this is Cuba," observed Joe, yawning and looking at the green +jungle, which seemed everywhere about them. + +"Not much to be seen in this part of the island," Mr. Wallace told +them. "We're at the extreme eastern end." + +They looked around a bit, though, to satisfy their curiosity. + +When they finally returned to the 'plane, after taking a tramp toward +the high peak, the explorers were ready to devour anything in the way +of food. + +Sandwiches and iced tea, the latter having been kept cold in a thermos +jug, served as a meal, and proved to be very satisfying to the hungry +explorers. + +Then, after taking a short rest in the shade of the monoplane, they +prepared to resume the journey. + +"Now comes the worst part," said Karl, with a frown. "We'll have to +fly for over five hundred miles without seeing a trace of an island. +The Caribbean Sea may prove treacherous for tropical storms, too." + +Luck was with them the first half of their trip. The sky remained +clear and light, not giving the slightest indication of a change of +weather. + +Then suddenly, when the travelers' hopes were high, they noticed that +the sky was becoming dark and threatening. A fierce wind was blowing +with a dangerous velocity, which threatened to send the monoplane off +its course. + +Karl guided the machine off to the west, in the hope of passing beyond +the storm area. He speeded up to over a hundred and fifty miles an +hour, for he knew that whatever he did must be done quickly. + +But try as he did, he could not escape the heavy clouds and terrible +wind. + +His hope almost gone, he sent the ship to a much higher altitude, +thinking it might be possible to get above the clouds. + +But it was too late. With a rush and a roar, the tropical hurricane +was upon them. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +A Fearful Discovery + + +Never in their lives had the explorers witnessed anything like the +terrible onslaught that followed. The violent, ruthless wind dashed +the monoplane about dangerously, threatening at every moment to tear +it to pieces. It was but a frail, man-made machine when caught in +those forces of nature. + +Karl's ability as a pilot promised to be tested to the utmost. If he +could keep the ship straight it would be nothing short of miraculous. +The less skillful aviator would send his craft dashing down to the +foamy water below. But Karl was by no means a novice. He had had wide +experience in piloting passenger monoplanes on schedule across the +United States. + +"Sit tight!" he called through the telephone, suspecting that his +friends were frightened. "We'll get out some way--I hope." + +Every gust of wind tossed the 'plane about hazardously. It seemed +that a plunge would be inevitable. + +In the cockpit Karl Sutman was determined to bring his friends and +himself safely through the danger. With nerves of steel, he hung on +desperately to the stick and the rudder bar, keeping his keen eyes +glued to the horizon. + +It was indeed a race between life and death, as the staunch 'plane was +swung about at the mercy of the storm. Many times before had the +machine proved itself capable of withstanding the assault of the +elements, but this was the supreme test. If it could weather this, it +would indeed be a strong machine. + +Inside the cabin, the youths and the naturalists were pale with an +awful fear that this would be the end. They could not conceive of +passing safely through such a hurricane as this. They were only too +aware that many an aviator had gone to his doom in a tropical storm. + +Now, to add to the terrible scene, a heavy rain began to fall, coming +in great gusts with the wind. It pattered ominously on the wings, +bearing the monoplane down with the added weight. + +"Oh!" groaned Joe, almost giving up in despair. "I suppose the worst +is yet to come." + +"Cheer up," said Mr. Holton, who was inclined to be hopeful, as he +noticed that the wind was blowing more evenly. "It can't last so very +much longer." + +Despite this expression of optimism, the hurricane continued at full +force, although a bit smoother than at first. Now the wind, instead of +coming in great gusts, blew steadily. + +This made it slightly easier to handle the 'plane and took some of the +severe strain from Karl. But he still was forced to use all his energy +in keeping the craft at as even keel as possible. + +All knew that a tropical storm was usually over a wider area than one +in the temperate zone. It was this that had made it impossible for +Karl to steer the 'plane to safety before the gale struck. + +Only gradually did the monoplane pass through the clouds, which +extended many miles in every direction. + +Finally, when a clear sky again became visible, the explorers uttered +cries of relief. They had at last escaped what seemed like certain +disaster. + +Bob moved over to the transmitter. + +"You were wonderful, Karl, old boy!" he praised. "If most anyone else +had been in your seat, we wouldn't be in the air now." + +"Oh, there are plenty others that could have done it," the aviator +returned, his voice sounding a bit nervous. "I just saw that I had to +get out some way and did everything I could." + +The storm had served in no small measure to heighten the explorers' +admiration for their pilot. If the latter could safely guide them +through such a display of the elements, he could be depended upon for +almost any crisis. + +The brilliant sun was now rapidly showing itself in full view, casting +a sparkling reflection on the ocean. All evidences of the storm were +covered up, even the heavy foam caps having disappeared. It was as +though nature were repenting of her arduous activities. + +As they flew on, the explorers had a strong hope that the weather +would remain calm during the remainder of their journey. They were +nearing land now, and they wished to finish the trip in a cloudless +sky. + +At last, when they were becoming weary from seeing nothing but +boundless water, they suddenly caught sight of a dim shape that +covered the whole of the horizon. That shape became larger and more +plain, until it took on the form of land. + +"Hurrah!" cried Bob joyfully. "South America at last!" + +"I believe you're right," came from his father. "It----" + +"Announcing our arrival at the great continent of South America!" +Karl's voice, coming loudly through the telephone, broke off with a +laugh. + +As they came nearer, the aviator guided the machine to a lower +altitude, although still high enough to see many miles in every +direction. + +But it was a long while before they could make out plainly the details +of the coast. Fog made it necessary to fly very near in order to see +anything distinctly. + +"I believe I can make out the Andes," said Joe, gazing out at the +distant horizon. + +"Don't be sure," laughed Mr. Wallace. "Those mountains are a long way +off." + +Before long they had passed the coast and headed over the land, almost +directly above the Magdalena River, whose course they could easily +make out. + +For the most part, the country they were flying over was rugged and +uncultivated, but there were occasional towns and villages that dotted +the valleys and clearings. + +"Bogotá is the first large city we'll see," announced Karl. "We ought +to get there by tomorrow noon." + +"Where will we spend tonight?" asked Joe, as he noticed that darkness +was not far off. + +"Suppose we land before long and put up our tent," suggested Mr. +Holton, stepping up to the telephone transmitter. + +"I was just getting ready to do that," Karl answered him, and then +added: "Here's a good spot now." + +There was a wide, level field directly below them. Karl sent the +monoplane off to the west and then headed it back and downward. + +A perfect three-point landing was made in the tall grass, the ship +coming to a stop at the very edge of a frowning jungle. + +Once more the explorers got out and stretched their legs. + +Bob and Joe had just started over to the jungle when they heard +something that made them turn about quickly. + +"There's a leak in the gas tank," Karl said ominously, "and the gas is +almost gone. We landed just in time." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +Train Robbers! + + +At Karl's dread discovery the others uttered exclamations of alarm and +astonishment. + +"What could have caused it?" asked Bob grimly. + +The aviator shook his head. + +"Can't say," he returned. "Maybe something pierced it while we were in +Cuba. Could have made a small leak that let out a little at a time. Or +the storm could have done it." + +"Good thing we were able to make it across the Caribbean," remarked +Mr. Holton. "If it had been much larger, perhaps we wouldn't be here +now to find it out." + +The short-lived tropical twilight was upon them, with a promise of +darkness being only a few seconds off. + +"Suppose we put the tent up while we can see to do it," suggested Bob. +"Then we can attend to the leak in the morning. There's some solder in +the provision compartment, and we can put some of it on now to keep +the remainder of the gas from running out." + +The others thought this good advice. While the youths and the +naturalists made camp, Karl Sutman applied a heavy coat of liquid +solder over the cut in the gasoline tank. + +"I guess we're in a mess," the aviator said disgustedly. "We've used +up all the gasoline in the spare tank, and now we haven't enough to +take us twenty-five miles. We could have flown to Bogotá easily if it +hadn't been for that leak." + +"Bet there isn't a gasoline station within fifty miles of here," +groaned Joe, glancing at the rugged country that was on all sides of +them. + +Darkness overtook the explorers before they had completed making camp. +They were forced to turn on the lights of the monoplane until they +could gather sufficient twigs for a fire. + +When finally a roaring blaze illuminated the sky, they turned to +complete making the camp. + +As a precaution, this was made on a spot several hundred feet from the +monoplane. This would do away with the danger of an explosion, for the +intense heat from the fire might easily have ignited the remaining gas +in the tank. + +"Now to get a meal," said Bob, edging closer to the blaze to escape +the chill of the tropical night. + +A delicious spread of food was prepared, all eating heartily. The +eventful day had stimulated their appetites highly. + +"I suppose there's no use worrying," grunted Karl, stretching out +before the fire. "We'll find a way out somehow. If we can't do +anything else, we can all hike to a town and carry back enough gas to +carry us a short distance. Then we can hike to another town, and do +the same thing over again." + +"Do these towns around here have gas, though?" came from Joe. Despite +Karl's expression of hope, he feared the worst. + +"That we don't know," Mr. Wallace said. "It may be there hasn't been +an internal-combustion engine in this region for years, if at all." + +A rapidly growing exhaustion made the explorers for the time being +forget their cares and curl up in the tent, after having heaped the +fire high with fresh fuel. They had not thought it necessary to stand +guard, as there was probably nothing in this region that would bother +them. + +The next morning Karl got out a map of South America and spread it out +on the tail of the machine. + +"Here we are about twenty miles inland," he said. "The nearest town +appears to be about fifteen miles from here. Luckily it's south, and +we won't have to go much off our course." + +"Think we can get gasoline there?" queried Joe. + +"Probably not," Karl answered. "But if we have to we can take a train +to Cartagena--that's a city not far from here on the coast. Of course +they have gas there." + +They climbed into the monoplane, which, with a roar, rolled over the +high grass and headed south. Karl kept the machine going at as slow a +speed as possible, for he desired to use every ounce of fuel to +advantage. But even then they made the short trip to the little town +in but a few minutes. + +"Here we are, right near the town." Karl climbed out of the cockpit +after having made a perfect landing. + +Scarcely had the explorers stepped to the ground when they caught +sight of a score or more natives running toward them. It was a motley +crowd that surrounded the Americans a few seconds later. + +Surprise, bewilderment, amazement were displayed on the faces of the +Colombians. The monoplane they viewed with a certain awe that was +almost childish in its sincerity. + +As soon as the jabbering had abated somewhat, Mr. Holton addressed +them in Spanish, asking if it might be possible to procure gasoline +for the airplane. + +The faces of some were expressionless, but a few shook their heads. + +"We do not use gasoline here," one man said in the native tongue. +"There are no great birds like this"--pointing to the monoplane--"in +our land. And we have no carriages that are not drawn by animals." + +Mr. Holton then asked if it might be possible to get gasoline in +Cartagena, the city on the coast. + +Strange to say, the people did not know. Evidently they had never been +to that place, although it was less than fifty miles distant. + +"Well, then," began Karl, "I suppose one of us will have to take a +train to Cartagena. Whoever goes can take a gasoline can with him and +get it filled. Then he can return on the next train." The Americans +could not help laughing at this, however necessary it might have been. +The idea of boarding a train for a fifty-mile journey merely to get a +can filled with gas seemed provoking. + +"What a predicament!" roared Bob, catching hold of the monoplane in +order to hold his balance. + +"I suppose we ought to take this more seriously," said Karl, who was +also laughing. "But somehow it all seems humorous to me." + +At sight of the Americans laughing, the crowd of natives looked about +sullenly. No doubt they thought the newcomers were making fun of them. +Finally one man stepped up to Bob, and, with a sneer, uttered +something in the native language. + +The youth could only catch a word or two, but it was enough to make +him glare at the man in anger. + +"Be careful, Bob," warned his father. "There are too many of them for +us to get into a scrap." + +"Aw, I could lick them all with one hand!" snarled the youth, his eyes +resting fearlessly on first one and then another of the men. + +He was able to control his temper, however, and as the Colombians made +no further move, he turned to Karl Sutman. + +"Why can't I make that train trip?" he asked. "I'll pay my own fare. +Really I'll enjoy it." + +"All right," came from Mr. Wallace. "And I'll go with you. It will +take two to carry the gas can when it's full." + +"Be careful," warned Mr. Holton. "We won't be surprised if you're gone +a day or two." + +At the railroad station, which was little more than a mud hut, they +found that a train would arrive in less than three hours. They thought +it best to remain near the depot, for the schedule might not be +accurate. + +The train finally came, but, much to their disgust, the two gas +seekers were informed by the conductor that they would arrive in +Cartagena no sooner than four hours later. + +At last they started moving and slowly left the station behind. The +little crowd that had assembled to see the train off waved a farewell +as it disappeared around a curve. + +Bob and the naturalist gazed intently out of the window at the barren +country they were passing through. Only at intervals could they make +out an adobe house. + +They had gone perhaps an hour when they were startled by a sudden +commotion at the head of the train. Bob was looking out of the window +trying to make out what was going on when he suddenly felt the train +come to an abrupt stop. + +Wondering what was meant, he and Mr. Wallace had started toward the +front of the coach when they were interrupted by a cry that echoed +through the train. + +"We're being robbed!" exclaimed Mr. Wallace, hurrying back to the +seat. "There's a gang holding up the train!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +Chubby the Eater + + +"Robbed?" cried Bob, almost unbelievingly. + +Before he could say anything further, a tall, dark man appeared at the +front of the coach. Roughly he shouted something in the native tongue, +at the same time flashing a shining pistol in full view of all. + +"Quick!" exclaimed Mr. Wallace, taking advantage of an opportunity. +"Hide our money--under the seat there next to you." + +The naturalist handed his pocketbook to Bob, who had taken his own +purse from his pocket. The two he placed in a little crack between the +seat and the side of the coach. + +He was not a moment too soon. Scarcely had the youth resumed his +natural position when the robber appeared before him and demanded +money. + +"Our pockets are empty," Mr. Wallace told the man. "You can't get +anything from a poor man." + +The Colombian soon found that the naturalist spoke the truth. But +even then he was a bit suspicious. Americans or Europeans--he knew not +which they were--usually were rich, carrying with them much money. And +that these two had boarded the train with empty pockets was indeed +surprising. + +Search as he did, however, he could find no trace of any money. But he +was somewhat satisfied when he took possession of Mr. Wallace's +handsome watch. + +Luckily Bob had left his timepiece in the cabin of the monoplane, +having forgotten it in the excitement of the day. Strange to say, this +was the first day in the week that the youth had not worn it. + +"Well," said Mr. Wallace, after the man had gone, "I lost the +equivalent of fifty dollars. Not a great deal. But too much to have +taken from me." + +"Good thing you thought to mention hiding our pocketbooks," Bob told +him. "If you hadn't, we'd have been in a fine mess. Away out here in a +strange country with no money." + +"And of course the railroad wouldn't have made it good," the +naturalist said disgustedly. "If I ever have another watch I suppose +I'll have to pay for it." + +Ten minutes later the train was again chugging across the barren +plateau. The robber gang had vanished before a cloud of heavy dust, +perhaps not any too well satisfied with its exploit. + +"I didn't know this was dangerous territory," remarked Bob Holton a +little later. "Seemed like everyone was too lazy to do anything but +loaf." + +"I guess we'll find gangs anywhere we go," Mr. Wallace told him. "At +least that's my opinion, after quite a bit of traveling." + +Bob recalled the bands of criminals he had met with at home and on the +Sahara Desert, and concluded that his friend was right. No matter how +much good there is in the world, there is always a certain amount of +bad. + +Two hours later the Americans were surprised to see that they were +coming into a town. At the railroad station where they had boarded the +train, they had not been told that another town was between them and +the coast. + +"This is Mahatos," announced the naturalist, pronouncing the name as +best he could. + +"Guess everyone here wants strangers to be sure and know what town +they're in," laughed Bob. "At any rate, that sign is plenty large. +Almost hides the station." + +This town was much the same as the one at which they had boarded the +train. They were glad when finally it was left behind. + +"Wonder if we'll make any more stops?" mused Bob with a smile. + +"Don't be surprised if we do," Mr. Wallace replied. "For all I know +there may be a dozen villages between us and the coast." + +During the next two hours the train crawled along without coming to a +settlement. Then finally it passed a row of little black houses and +pulled into Cartagena, the coast city. + +"All out," said Mr. Wallace, picking up the large gasoline can. "We've +reached our destination at last." + +As the Americans looked about the well-built station, they found that +this was a city of considerable importance. Crowds of people, +clusters of business houses, and--what was more interesting to +them--automobiles dotted the streets. + +"Where there's a motorcar there's gasoline!" cried Bob joyfully. "Now +who says we won't put fuel in the airplane tank!" + +They found a filling station--or at least a place where gasoline was +sold--not far away and lost no time in having the can filled to +capacity. Then they turned back to the railroad station. + +"Our business in this city is completed in five minutes, after having +made a four-hour trip here!" Bob could not help bursting out in +laughter, and Mr. Wallace joined him. + +They entered the railroad station and inquired when they might board a +train back to Calamar. + +Much to their displeasure, they found that it would not be possible +to do so until the next morning. The agent explained that it was +necessary to repair a portion of the track, and that until this was +completed, a run could not be made. + +"Just as I expected!" groaned Bob, sitting down on the seat +hopelessly. "To save your neck you can't make time in South America." + +"What will we do to while the time away?" asked the naturalist. + +"Look around, I suppose. Nothing else to do." + +The Americans found Cartagena very interesting. Its several industries +were throbbing with life; its people were possessed of a certain +amount of energy and ambition that was entirely absent farther inland. + +The travelers were loitering along at the port, watching the steamers +arrive and depart, when Bob suddenly caught sight of something that +caused him to nudge his friend. + +"Look at that fellow over there," the youth pointed out. "Isn't he an +American?" + +Almost at once Mr. Wallace made a reply. "He is as sure as I'm born. +Or else"--the naturalist hesitated--"he's English." + +The object of their remarks was a short, fat young man of perhaps +twenty, with twinkling eyes and a pug nose. He was dressed in khaki +outdoor clothes that stretched tightly over his protruding stomach. + +Before Bob and the naturalist could make a further move, the strange +young man walked over to them, his small, deeply set eyes flashing +with merriment. + +"Ain't you from the good old U. S. A., or ain't you?" he demanded, +extending a short, fat hand. + +"From nowhere else!" Bob was overjoyed. "And I take it that you are?" + +"Right as four chipmunks!" the little fellow said quickly. "You're +lookin' at Chubby Stevens, from Houston. And now that I've got that +off my chest, I ain't expectin' you to hold your names a secret." + +Bob laughed. + +"This is Mr. Wallace, and my name's Holton--Bob Holton. I'm from +Washington and my friend's from Chicago." + +"A good bit of the _Estados Unidos_ is represented here, I see," +Chubby said with a laugh. "The East, Middle West, and Southwest. I +suppose you're just lookin' around?" + +"For the present, yes," Mr. Wallace returned, and then related the +events that led to their being in Cartagena. + +The fat youth listened intently. + +"You may be wantin' more of South America, but I don't," he said when +the naturalist had finished. "I've been here a year and have got all I +want of it. I'm longin' to see the old Gulf Building, back in Houston. +Dad's office is there. He's a lawyer." + +"And you--what are you doing here, just seeing the country?" inquired +Bob. + +"I'm seein' too much of it to suit me," Chubby answered. "Came here to +look around and to get rid of some fat. But doggone it, I'm fatter now +than I ever was. Guess I'll have to cut out adventurin' and take back +my old job in the office, if I want to get skinnier." + +A burst of laughter followed. + +"You're hopeless, all right," chuckled Bob. "I never saw a case like +yours before. Why, I weighed a hundred and eighty before I left the +States, and I'll bet I don't weigh much more than a hundred and +seventy now. If exploring would do that to me, why won't it do it to +you?" + +"That's what I've been tryin' to figure out for the last year," Chubby +returned. "Funny, but I used those same figures, but I just switched +them around. Went from a hundred and seventy to a hundred and eighty. +That's away too much weight for a bozo my size to carry around." + +"Why don't you try swimming back to America?" laughed Bob. "That +might do the trick." + +"I've been thinkin' about that, too, only I'm afraid I couldn't take +along enough to eat." + +"Oh!" Bob groaned hopelessly, and then, as he found that Chubby had +just arrived in Cartagena, suggested that they take a walk about the +city. + +But as it was almost noon, Chubby suggested that they get a "bite" to +eat. Just enough, he said, to prevent them from falling from hunger. + +Mr. Wallace snorted. + +"I suppose it's impossible to do it," the naturalist said earnestly, +"but I'd like to take you along on our expedition into the Andes. If +you'll go, I'll guarantee that you'll get rid of twenty pounds." + +"Huh? Are you tryin' to kid me?" Chubby looked up suddenly. + +"Not a bit of it," Mr. Wallace answered, trying hard to suppress a +smile. "It works every time. You see, we have to get by on limited +rations and----" + +"Fine! I'll go---- What was that you said? Limited rations? That means +less food, doesn't it?" + +Mr. Wallace nodded. + +"Then I'm afraid," began Chubby, shaking his head slowly, "that I +couldn't think of considering your proposition, however wonderful it +might be. I'm----" + +"It's no use," laughed Bob. "A heavy eater doesn't make an explorer." + +Bob and the naturalist were finally persuaded to follow the fat +youth's suggestion and get a "bite" to eat. Then they continued their +sightseeing. + +Thus the remainder of the day passed, and they began to look about for +a place to spend the night. Chubby resolved to remain with his newly +found friends as long as the latter stayed in Cartagena. Then, he told +them, he would take a boat to the United States. + +The three Americans engaged a small room in a boarding house that was +owned by a Canadian. Although it was not the utmost in comfort, they +were glad to throw themselves on the hard bed to retire. + +They passed a restful night, however, awaking late the next morning. + +"What shall we do until train time?" asked Bob, preparing to leave the +room. + +"Look around some more, I suppose," Chubby said. "In this country you +can always find something you haven't seen before. There's a lot +that's funny, too. I've been laughing a year at the natives." + +"Maybe they've been laughing at you," Bob thought to himself, but said +nothing. The fat little fellow would indeed provoke a smile from +many. + +Until ten the three walked around the city, noticing everything that +was peculiar to this strange land. When finally they came back to the +railroad station, they were not a little fatigued. Especially tired +was Chubby. + +"Well," Bob began, "we'll leave in fifteen minutes, if we follow the +set schedule. I suppose," he said to the fat youth, "you've definitely +made up your mind to go back home?" + +"Yeah." + +"Then you won't think of going with us to the Andes? We could use you, +all right." + +"Sorry, but it's North America for me." Chubby spoke decisively. "This +continent here ain't fit for a gazook like me. I want to get back." + +He exchanged addresses with Bob and Mr. Wallace, pocketing his +notebook just as the train steamed up to the station. + +"Good-bye and good luck!" called Bob, as he stepped up into the coach. +"Write us sometime." + +"Hope you lose some fat," laughed Mr. Wallace, as they started moving. +"And you'd better not try to swim to the U. S." + +The train moved slowly away, leaving Chubby to stand on the platform, +still waving. + +"Good fellow, all right," smiled Bob, settling himself down in the +seat. "All he needs is a little well-directed exercise." + +"I'm afraid he won't get it," said the naturalist. "He'll probably be +fat as long as he lives." + +The journey back to Calamar was uneventful. Bob and Mr. Wallace looked +out rather fearfully as they passed the spot where they had previously +been robbed. But no gang appeared this time to stay them. + +Finally they reached their destination and left the train. They were +greatly surprised to see that no one was there to meet them. + +"That's funny!" mused Bob, as he and the naturalist lugged the heavy +gasoline can in the direction of the airplane. "I thought sure Dad or +Joe would be here." + +When at last they came to the airplane, Bob gave a cry of surprise. + +Seated on the ground were Joe, Karl Sutman, and Mr. Holton, their +faces bleeding from numerous scratches, their clothes torn and +wrinkled. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +The Pangs of _Soroche_ + + +"For the love of Mike!" cried Bob Holton. "Whatever happened?" + +"Plenty!" came from Joe quietly. "We had a fight." + +"A fight?" Mr. Wallace was perplexed. + +"Yes, and a big one at that," said Karl grimly. "But we licked them." + +"Licked whom?" demanded Bob, becoming impatient. "Come on. Tell us +about it." + +Mr. Holton got to his feet. + +"Look over there," he directed, pointing to a spot near the tail of +the monoplane. + +Bob and Mr. Wallace looked. + +Lying prone on the ground was a man, a native Colombian, evidently +still dazed from a blow. He made not the slightest move, although it +was apparent that he was not hurt seriously. + +"Karl knocked that fellow out," explained Bob's father. "In addition +to being a fine aviator, that fellow's a fighter." + +Bob glanced at Karl. From the start the youth had believed the aviator +could give a good account of himself if called upon. + +"But that's not telling us anything," said Mr. Wallace. "What caused +the fight? How did it all come about?" + +"This way," began Mr. Holton. "Joe and Karl and I were sitting in the +cabin of the 'plane discussing the expedition when we were suddenly +interrupted by a gang of at least five rough men, who rushed at the +'plane angrily. We didn't know what their object in attacking us was, +and never did find out. Perhaps they wanted to steal what we have, or +they might have been in that crowd yesterday when we laughed and they +thought we were making fun of them. At any rate they came at us +furiously, and one man broke out the glass in a window. We got out of +the airplane as soon as we could to defend ourselves. We couldn't get +to our guns because they're in a nailed box. But we used our fists to +good advantage and finally were able to beat them off. All got away +but that fellow over there." + +"Well, of all things!" exclaimed Mr. Wallace. "Seems like we're having +trouble and then more trouble. Bob and I had an experience on the +train that wasn't very pleasing," he said, and then told of the +robbery in which he had lost a valuable watch. + +"We'll soon be out of this country, I hope," sighed Joe. "Though I +suppose it isn't the country so much as it is our stroke of bad luck." + +"No," agreed Bob. "Anyone----" + +He stopped quickly, as he observed that the Colombian who had been +knocked out was regaining consciousness. At first the man merely +stirred about, as if totally unaware of what had happened. Then he +glanced up and got to his feet. + +Pausing but a moment to glare at the Americans, the man dashed away in +the direction of the town, drawing his teeth back in a wicked snarl as +he looked back at them one last time. + +"I think we'd better get away from here as quickly as we can," said +Mr. Holton. "For all we know there may be another gang getting ready +to attack us. The whole town might even come out." + +His remark served to set Karl Sutman to action. + +"Let's get the gas in the tank," he suggested, walking over to the can +that Bob and Mr. Wallace had brought filled from the city on the +coast. + +Together, Joe and the aviator lifted the heavy can up and poured out +its contents. Then, after making the cap secure, Karl climbed in the +cockpit and switched on the engine. + +"This will take us from fifty to seventy miles--maybe farther, +depending on how fast we fly," he told the others, as they entered the +cabin and snapped the door shut. + +As they left the ground, Joe noticed that they were heading west. He +wondered what was the meaning of this, since Bogotá, which was south, +was their goal. + +"I'm going to find out," he thought, and, stepping over to the +transmitter, he put the question to Karl. + +"I decided all at once to go over to that coast city--Cartagena," the +aviator answered. "There we can fill both our tanks to capacity and +won't have to worry any more. Otherwise, if we merely used the gas +that Bob and Mr. Wallace brought, we might find it necessary to hunt +up another town that has gasoline." + +"You think of everything," praised Bob's father, moving up to the +transmitter. + +"I've decided to make another change, too," Karl said with a laugh. "I +think it might be best to miss Bogotá by a hundred miles and head at +once for Lima, the capital of Peru. We can stop at Quito, the capital +of Ecuador, for more gas, and then continue on to Lima. Here we'll +again land to fill our tanks. After that we'll go on to--well, perhaps +to Cuzco, if we want to look around a little before Mr. Lewis gets +here by steamship. How does it sound?" + +"O. K.," said Bob quickly, and then, with a sudden thought, added: +"How about the tank that leaks? Can we have it repaired in Cartagena?" + +"Yes. That is, I'd think so. Why didn't you and Mr. Wallace find out +while you were there?" + +"Upon my word, I never thought of it," confessed the naturalist +sheepishly. "And I'm sure Bob didn't. But we could easily have +inquired. After seeing the city, I'm inclined to think the tank can be +repaired there." + +They found a little later that Mr. Wallace was right. At the first +garage they entered, they were informed that the tank could be +repaired. + +It was necessary, however, for the garage man to take his welding +outfit over to the monoplane, which was in a field quite a distance +away. For this he explained he would be compelled to make an +additional charge, but the others, knowing there was no other way out, +did not object. + +When the tank was mended and had cooled an hour or so, it was filled +to capacity with gasoline. The spare was also filled, and then the +explorers were ready to resume their journey. + +A little crowd of people had assembled to see the monoplane off. They +waved a friendly farewell as it soared high into the sky. + +"Now I wonder if we'll have any more trouble," mused Bob. "Or will we +have good luck and get to the Andes without much delay?" + +Across jungle, plains, and hills they flew for well over an hour. Then +they caught sight of something in the distance that thrilled them with +delight. + +"The Andes!" cried Joe joyfully. "At last we've seen the Andes +Mountains!" + +"I believe you're right," affirmed Mr. Wallace, straining his eyes to +make out more clearly the series of distant bumps that were mountains. + +As the explorers flew nearer, they could easily observe the high peaks +and narrow valleys. At one time they flew directly over a short range +of exceedingly lofty mountains. + +The monoplane passed farther, and the towering slopes of the Andes +became more prominent. They looked dark and forbidding, yet beautiful +and romantic. + +"It's going to be dark before long," said Karl, breaking the +fascinating silence. "And as it isn't wise to keep going over unknown +territory, I'm going to land--if I can find a place." + +Picking out a level spot was very difficult, but finally Karl caught +sight of a flat plateau stretching several hundred yards ahead. He +brought the machine down as best he could, taking into consideration +the difficulty of landing at high altitudes. + +They did not pitch the tent that night, but curled up inside the +cabin, too tired to use much more energy. By doing this they could +lock the doors and spend the night in comparative safety. Otherwise, +it would have been necessary to set a guard. + +A heavy slumber overtook them and held them firmly until late next +morning. + +"Now to head for Ecuador," said Joe, becoming impatient. "How long +will it take us--to get to Quito, I mean?" he asked Karl. + +"Let's see. We've been about an hour out of Cartagena." Karl pondered +for a minute. "There'll be about six more hours of air traveling +before we get there. That is, if nothing happens." + +But nothing hindered their flight, and after a thrilling ride over +fascinating country the explorers came to Quito, at the very rim of +the lofty peaks. Karl finally was able to bring the airplane safely +down at the edge of the city. He switched off the engine, and, with +the others, turned to glimpse the surrounding mountains. + +On all sides were the magnificent heights of the mighty Andes, +reaching thousands of feet above the city. Quito itself was built in a +wide valley, nearly eleven thousand feet above sea level. + +All during the last hour, as they had soared steadily upward, Joe had +had a strange feeling of nausea, which grew still worse after they had +landed at Quito. Now, when they were about to make their way into the +city, Joe slumped down on the ground beside the monoplane. + +"I'm sick!" he moaned helplessly. "Guess I can't go with you now." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +A Happy Reunion + + +"Sick?" cried Bob anxiously. "What seems to be the trouble?" He and +Mr. Holton had moved over to Joe. + +"Got a terrible headache. Feel bad all over. My--my stomach doesn't +seem right." + +Almost at once the two naturalists grasped the meaning of Joe's +misfortune. + +"There's no doubt about it," began Mr. Wallace, who was himself +becoming pale. "You have mountain sickness, or _soroche_, as it's +called. I think I have a touch of it myself." + +"What causes it?" queried Bob. + +"The high altitude," Mr. Holton answered. "You see, when one makes a +sudden change to nearly eleven thousand feet, it is a great strain on +him. Usually, though, it doesn't show up until reaching a much higher +altitude than this. I'm surprised that Joe has it so soon." + +Joe did not become worse, but grew no better. One thing was apparent: +until he would show improvement, he could not continue the journey. + +Mr. Holton and Bob helped him into the cabin of the airplane, where an +improvised bed was made. + +"If it's all right, I think I'll stay with him," announced Mr. +Wallace. "I'm not feeling any too well myself, and then, too, Joe +ought to have someone here with him." + +"All right," said Karl. "Meanwhile the rest of us will go on into the +city and have some gasoline sent out to the 'plane." + +In Quito the others found a filling station, the operator of which +agreed to send out a truck to the monoplane to fill the tanks. + +Back at the field they found that Joe had greatly improved and was +anxious to fly on to Lima. It was evident that he had had only a +slight attack. + +In a short time the gasoline truck arrived, the tanks were +replenished, and the explorers again climbed into the monoplane. + +The journey to Lima promised to be more dangerous, as there were +hazardous stretches of country to be left behind. But all knew that +Karl was a skillful pilot. If he had not been he could not have +brought them safely out of the terrible storm that they had +encountered over the Caribbean. + +Mountains, valleys, towns, then more mountains were spread before them +as they flew on their way to the "City of the Kings." The rugged Andes +were more impressive than Bob and Joe had imagined. + +At last they caught sight of Lima in the distance and before long were +hovering over it. + +Karl singled out Faucett's Field and brought the monoplane down at +high speed in order to avert a catastrophe. Well he knew that landing +at such an altitude would present a difficulty, even at best. + +"Can hardly feel the wheels touch the ground," remarked Bob. "Wonder +how Karl knows he's made a landing?" + +They were rolling swiftly over the smooth ground when suddenly Mr. +Holton cried out in fright and pointed ahead at another airplane, +which was landing directly in their path. + +"Look out!" he warned Karl, speaking hoarsely through the transmitter. + +Karl Sutman had already seen the danger and was cutting the monoplane +to one side as best he could. + +He was too late, however. The other airplane came on at sickening +speed, heading directly at the explorers. The wings of the two crafts +touched, and the monoplane sent the other machine, which was much +lighter, spinning around dangerously. + +Its lower wing scraped the ground, and a support was broken. A moment +later it came to a stop, leaning on its side. + +Meanwhile, Karl's monoplane had continued farther, gradually losing +speed until it came to a standstill several hundred feet away from the +other airplane. + +"A narrow escape!" breathed Joe, as he opened the door of the cabin +and stepped out. "A little more and we would have been goners." + +"That crazy guy ought to have his face smashed!" snarled Karl, +directing his glance at the distant airplane. "He broke one of the +prime rules of flying: Never land when there is another 'plane on the +field." + +"Here he comes now," observed Bob. "Wonder what's on his mind?" + +They soon found out. The other aviator was a native Peruvian and could +not speak English, but he addressed them angrily in the native +language. + +Karl stepped boldly up to the man. His fist shot out and caught the +native squarely between the eyes. + +The man reeled and then lost his balance, falling heavily to the +ground. + +At that moment two men from the airdrome came running out and demanded +an explanation of what had happened. + +Briefly Mr. Holton told them, stressing the fact that the aviator had +not waited to land. + +"He ought to have his pilot's license taken away from him," growled +Karl Sutman, when the naturalist had concluded. + +The men from the airdrome were greatly angered at the strange aviator +for not being cautious in landing. They addressed him in no gentle +terms as he lay on the ground. + +Karl's monoplane had been only slightly injured in the accident, but +it was enough to require an hour of patient labor to make the repair. + +The possibility of the other aviator doing damage to Karl's machine +prompted the tall young man to ask that it be kept under watch near +the airdrome. + +"Now suppose we walk on into Lima," suggested Mr. Holton, after the +'plane had been rolled over to a safe place. + +At the edge of the field was a wide street that led directly into the +city. This the travelers followed and before very long came to the +business district. In front of the huge cathedral they stopped to view +the crowds through the cluster of palm trees that was before them. + +"Quite a bit of life here," observed Bob, as his eyes followed the +busy swarm of people. "Lima must be a place of considerable +importance." + +"It is," said Mr. Holton. "It's the capital of Peru." + +In the distance, beyond the plaza, a line of lofty mountains was +plainly visible in the thin air. No doubt they were many miles away. + +The explorers sat down idly on the wide steps of the cathedral. + +"Now," began Mr. Wallace, "we should make plans for the next two +weeks. Mr. Lewis, we know, will arrive in Mollendo in about that time. +What do you suggest doing--stay in the vicinity of Lima and take in +the sights here, or fly on to Cuzco and the heart of Inca land?" + +"I'd rather stay where we are for a while," spoke up Karl. "There's so +much to see here that it will be worth it to spend a good bit of time +in this section." + +"That goes for me, too," came from Joe. "We'll go to Cuzco later +anyway, so why not see what we can around Lima?" + +As everyone was in favor of doing this, they agreed to find a hotel +and engage rooms. + +"If I'm not mistaken, we won't regret staying in this region," said +Bob Holton. + +And they did not. During the next week and a half they spent their +time taking in the sights of Lima and the rugged country surrounding +it. They visited the botanical gardens, the various plazas, public +buildings, streets, and the national museum. They toured the +fascinating country about the city, seeing the ancient Inca highway, +the mines of Morococha, the lifeless native huts that were everywhere, +the marvelously engineered railroads, and the interesting city of +Callao, located near by. + +At the end of the time that they could spend here, the explorers were +well pleased with the eventful days that had passed. + +"Now to head for Mollendo," said Mr. Holton, as one morning he arose +early to prepare his possessions for the trip. "We've only got about a +day before Mr. Lewis's steamer arrives from the United States, and we +must use the time to best advantage." + +The others were ready and climbed into the airplane for the long +journey. + +Mollendo, the adventurers found after the interesting flight, was much +like other cities they had visited. It possessed a very interesting +dock, however, which held the boys' attention for many minutes. + +The following day, when it became time for the steamship to arrive, +they were on hand to meet the naturalist and the others. + +"It's coming!" cried Joe, pointing excitedly toward the horizon. "And +will I be glad to see Dad!" + +"I guess we all will," said Mr. Wallace. + +The vessel steamed closer and headed for the port. As it came toward +them, the explorers could easily make out someone on the deck whom +they recognized. It was Mr. Lewis. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +An Unexpected Displeasure + + +As the ship moved slowly into port, Mr. Lewis, standing anxiously on +the deck, caught sight of his friends and waved wildly. Obviously he +was exceedingly glad to see them again. + +Others of the expedition who recognized Mr. Holton or the boys also +waved a friendly greeting, which was returned by those on shore. + +When the boat had come to a standstill, a huge crane swung out and up +to the deck. At the end, attached by a massive hook, was a chair. Into +this the boat's passengers were to sit and be hoisted down to the +dock. + +"Funny way of unloading passengers," laughed Bob, as he watched a +woman rather nervously sit down in the chair. + +"No other way, I guess," came from Mr. Wallace. "The surf billows roll +too high for the conventional method." + +The onlookers watched closely as the chair was raised off the deck +and suspended over to the shore. + +The woman who was carried in this manner laughed as she left the chair +and turned to see the motion repeated. From the look on her face, it +had been an exciting experience. + +"Here comes Dad!" observed Joe happily. "Wonder how he'll like it?" + +Mr. Lewis had seated himself in the chair and was being carried high +in the air to the dock. + +When he set foot on the ground, he rushed toward the others, on his +face a look of intense joy. + +Words fail to describe the meeting that followed. Mr. Lewis was +literally mauled by his son and friends, who were overjoyed to have +him again with them. Especially was Joe happy. + +"I worried from the time you left Washington," the naturalist told +them, throwing an arm over Joe's shoulder. "The more I thought about +that airplane trip the more anxious I became. You didn't have any +trouble, did you?" + +"It's according to what you call trouble," laughed Bob. "If you mean +accidents, we didn't have any. But if you mean just common bad luck, +we had plenty." + +"Could have been worse, though," his father reminded him. "And let me +tell you that Karl is an excellent pilot. If he weren't, we probably +wouldn't be here now." + +"As if I didn't know it," smiled Mr. Lewis, glancing at the blushing +aviator. "If anyone else had offered to take you to Peru, I wouldn't +have thought much of the idea. Karl Sutman, though----" + +At this moment a group of men came up, to be recognized by Mr. Lewis +and Mr. Holton. + +The youths, Mr. Wallace, and Karl were introduced to them as members +of the archæological and geological divisions of the expedition. Dr. +Rust, Professors Allan and Kelley, and Mr. Dunn, as their names were, +had come to this region to search for additional Inca ruins and to +study the land in the mountain section. + +Two other men completed the personnel of the expedition. They were Mr. +Buenagel, assistant, and Dr. Brown, physician, both of whom had been +on numerous expeditions with the others. They now came up and received +the same hearty welcome. + +"Now that we're all together," began Dr. Rust, "we want to decide +where we'll make our headquarters. Is everyone in favor of having our +base in or near Cuzco?" + +"I should say yes," came from Professor Kelley. "Cuzco, after all, is +a very strategic point, and is quite easily accessible from all parts +of this section. So why not locate there?" + +As everyone agreed, the question was settled. Now came the problem of +transporting the expedition's supplies, of which there were many. + +Karl generously offered the services of the monoplane in getting the +trunks and bags over to Cuzco. He explained that he would be glad to +do this for them, even though it might be necessary to make two or +three trips. + +But Dr. Rust, leader of the expedition, stoutly refused. + +"We don't wish to put you to that trouble," he said. "As long as there +is a railroad running up to Cuzco, we'll make use of it and have our +stuff shipped, even though it may take a few days longer." + +Karl wondered afterwards if the scientist secretly feared an accident. +The tall young man remarked to Bob and Joe several days later that +perhaps Dr. Rust did not wish to take a chance on the monoplane +crashing with the expedition's supplies on board. + +As had been suggested, the supplies, including those of Mr. Holton and +Mr. Lewis, were placed on board the first train that left for Cuzco. +The boxes and trunks would not reach their destination until several +days later, however, since it was necessary for them to be changed +around several times. + +Except for the three naturalists, the scientists boarded the same +train for Cuzco. Mr. Wallace and the youths' fathers were to accompany +Karl and Bob and Joe in the monoplane. With Mr. Lewis in the cabin, +there would be an added load, but Karl told them it would not be +dangerous. + +"Just have to watch the take-offs and the landings more closely," the +aviator explained. "Outside of that, we'll never know that another +person is inside, as far as the ride goes." + +"Won't ride any easier?" queried Joe, trying to appear innocent. + +"Quit your kidding!" snapped Karl with a laugh. "This bus isn't an +automobile." + +"But a bus is an automobile," said Joe persistently. + +He dodged a pass that Karl swung at him. Then, seriously, he turned to +the others, who were busy attending to minor tasks about the airplane. + +"Everything's ready," announced Mr. Wallace, stepping inside the +cabin. "Suppose we get started at once, so as to get there and look +around some before the others arrive by train." + +Karl was willing. He climbed into the cockpit and started the engine. +Mr. Holton, the last to enter the cabin, closed the door tightly just +as the monoplane began rolling over the field. + +"We're off for Inca land!" shouted Bob excitedly, raising a +motion-picture camera to his shoulder. "And won't we have fun!" + +"We'll also have a little work," said his father quietly. "If we get +enough specimens from this region to satisfy the museum heads we'll +have to go some." + +Flying over this interesting land was exciting to the youths, who +viewed the sights curiously. Before long they could make out the town +of Arequipa away over to their right, and just behind it, El Misti +volcano, whose sides sloped up to a point. + +Karl guided the 'plane as near the ground as possible, knowing that he +and his friends could not stand the rare air of several thousand feet +higher without the use of oxygen. A few tanks of this valuable gas +were now on the train en route to Cuzco. Karl had not thought it +necessary to use them in the 'plane so soon. + +At the speed they traveled, it did not take them long to sight Cuzco +in the distance. Several miles away they could also see the town of +Anta, which was a mere village compared to its neighbor city. + +When they came nearer, Karl flew straight for the central plaza, so as +to get a fine view of all the buildings and places of importance. + +"Look at the people swarming to see us," said Joe. "I guess it isn't +often that an airplane comes here." + +At about three hundred feet they soared leisurely over the central +plaza, where natives were gathering rapidly. Directly below them was +the huge cathedral, which, as far as they could see, was the most +imposing building in the city. All about were low structures, with an +occasional higher building dotting the landscape. + +It was a wonderful view. Even from that low altitude, the explorers +could easily make out the surrounding mountains, on many of which were +Inca ruins, including the "staircase farms." + +Joe considered it a wonderful opportunity to take several hundred feet +of motion pictures. He pointed the camera first at the city below +them, then at the near-by mountains, turning the crank continuously. + +When he had flown a few times around the town, Karl picked out a level +stretch to the east and began the dangerous task of landing. Well he +knew at that altitude it would be easy to crash. + +The monoplane headed downward at high speed, the wheels touched the +ground, bumped back into the air, touched the ground again. The +machine rolled ahead at fifty miles an hour, forty, thirty, and +finally came to a stop dangerously near a large pile of stones. + +"All out," called Karl, when he had switched off the motor. "We're +here. And we came down without a smash-up." + +Directly across the river Almodena the adventurers could see Cuzco, +looking strangely quaint in its pocket in the mountains. + +"Here come more natives," observed Mr. Holton, as a horde of twenty or +thirty men, women, and children rushed toward the Americans. + +As they came nearer, they uttered something that none of the newcomers +understood. + +"They're speaking in Quichua--that's the native tongue in this part of +Peru," explained Mr. Lewis. "It's the same language that was used by +the ancient Incas." + +Although the natives scrutinized the airplane carefully, they were not +bothersome, staring rather in awe at the great "bird" that had come +mysteriously to their city. + +Karl thought it best to have the craft guarded against possible +marauders. But how he could secure a guard was a problem, since none +of the Indians could understand English or Spanish. And the aviator +knew not one word of Quichua. + +"Suppose we take turns watching it," suggested Mr. Holton. "I'll take +the first watch of, say, two hours. Bob, you can take the second, and +so on until we can make some other arrangements." + +"And while Dad's staying here with the 'plane," began Bob, "I'd like +to look around a bit. Anybody want to go with me?" + +"Sure." Joe was anxious to see the sights in this strange land. + +"Don't be gone long, boys," cautioned Mr. Lewis. "We all want to be on +hand when the train arrives from Mollendo." + +The chums walked south over a level plain, hoping to see something of +interest before long. + +They had not long to wait. In a little open grassy stretch beside a +wall of rock was a herd of ten or twelve llamas, grazing peacefully. +These animals were about 4 feet high, with long necks and a head like +that of the camel. + +"Let's go up and see them," said Bob, moving over to the herd. + +"Better not," warned Joe. "They might be dangerous." + +"Dangerous? Those things dangerous? Wait a minute and I'll show you +how peaceful they are." + +Bob had walked up to the foremost black animal and now began to stroke +its woolly back. + +Then an unexpected and unpleasant thing happened. The llama turned +suddenly on Bob and spat violently in the youth's face. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +Attacked by Indians + + +Bob shook his head to rid himself of the sickening saliva. He wiped +his face with his handkerchief, with his hands, with anything he could +find. At the same time he stepped out of reach of the treacherous +animal. + +When he had completed rubbing, he turned sheepishly to Joe. + +"Guess I learned my lesson," he said quietly. "But who'd 'a' thought +it of the brutes?" + +"Isn't wise to do anything unless you know what you're doing," Joe +reminded him. + +"I've a notion to go over and wring its neck!" snorted Bob, glancing +at the llama, which had resumed its grazing as if nothing had +happened. + +"Better not," Joe warned him. "You might not be able to do it. And the +Indian that owns them might come out." + +"Let him come!" Bob was confident that he could manage both the llama +and the Indian. + +He decided to let the matter drop, however, and continue the walk +about the plateau. + +As the youths hiked farther, they passed the grassy region and came to +a higher slope that was dotted with occasional patches of cacti, thorn +bushes, and stunted trees. The Australian eucalyptus, a small tree, +was abundant. + +"Can't raise anything here," remarked Bob. "Almost as bad as it is on +the Sahara Desert." + +The chums made a wide circuit about Cuzco, coming in sight of the +monoplane from the opposite side. + +"You're just in time to stand guard," Mr. Holton told Bob. "And while +you're doing that, the rest of us will look around a bit. We've all +been busy studying maps of the Andes." + +The adventurers took turns watching the airplane and seeing the +country all during the remainder of that day. If it were able to +follow schedule, the train from Mollendo, bringing the others of the +expedition, would arrive the next afternoon. + +At that time all the air travelers but Mr. Lewis were in the railroad +station waiting. Mr. Lewis had remained at the field to guard the +'plane. + +"It's coming," said Mr. Wallace, and a minute later the train pulled +up and stopped. + +Dr. Rust and the other scientists stepped off, to be met by the +naturalists and the youths. + +"I think it might be wise," began Mr. Holton, "to establish a +temporary camp here near Cuzco, perhaps in the field by the monoplane. +Is everyone with me in this?" + +Professor Allan nodded. + +"I am in favor of it," he said. "Until we make further preparations +for our work in the mountains it would be wise to put up our tents +there." + +At the field they found Mr. Lewis waiting for them. He also agreed to +follow Mr. Holton's suggestion. + +Four tents were pitched in a semicircle beside the airplane. The +expedition's supplies were placed systematically inside, and then +began a discussion about the coming exploration. + +"We who are after Inca ruins have decided to set off for the region +near Mount Panta," Dr. Rust said. "In our opinion, there is an +opportunity to find wonderful Inca remains in this section. Most +likely we will stay within twenty miles of that mountain for three or +four weeks. Where we will go then we will have to decide later." + +"Now of course you archæologists want to know as nearly as possible +where we naturalists will be," began Mr. Holton. "I don't know whether +everyone will agree," he went on, "but I know of a place that +supposedly abounds with wild creatures. And I would suggest that we +head for that spot." + +The others looked at him inquiringly. + +"This morning while I was out scouting around I came across an +American who was just returning from a hunting trip in the Andes," Mr. +Holton resumed. "He informed me that the valley of the Comberciato is +teeming with wild game. According to his estimate, that's about a +hundred miles from here, northwest. It----" + +"I've heard of it, too," cut in Mr. Wallace, his face beaming with +scientific enthusiasm. "Why not go there? We'll probably find it worth +our while." + +"I'm willing," came from Joe's father. + +"Then let's call it settled," Mr. Holton said. "We'll start out as +soon as possible." + +"Here's where Mr. Sutman and his airplane come in," remarked Professor +Allan. "By the use of the 'plane, we can keep informed as to the +whereabouts of the other division of the expedition. It will prove a +valuable asset to our equipment." + +Bob and Joe and Mr. Dunn took it on themselves to go back to the +railroad station and have the many boxes of food and supplies removed +to the camp. The scientists had purposely left them in charge of the +agent until after deciding the course of the expedition and had +carried only the lighter bags and cases to the camp. + +The railroad agent, when asked of a means of transporting the boxes, +pointed outside to a large cart drawn by a mule. Walking lazily at +the side was an Indian. + +"He will do it for you," the railroad man said in poor Spanish. + +Then, knowing that the Americans could not speak the Quichua language, +the agent called to the native and asked if he would be willing to +take the boxes. + +The Indian merely nodded and went into the building after the first +load. In all, there were about seventy-five cases, and he knew it +would be necessary to make several trips. + +"That mule doesn't look any too willing to pull the load," observed +Joe with a laugh. "Be funny if he'd stop still when only about halfway +there." + +When the cart was loaded with about fifteen or twenty of the boxes, +the Indian called for the animal to pull ahead. But the stubborn mule +refused to budge. + +"Now what will he do?" mused Joe, looking at the impatient Indian. + +He soon saw. The native removed five boxes and carried them back into +the station. Then, with the cart lighter, he again attempted to make +the mule move ahead. + +But apparently it was still too much of a load, at least for comfort. + +"That crazy donkey just doesn't want to go, that's all." Mr. Dunn had +been taking in the incident with a great deal of interest. + +The Indian was becoming impatient. He had apparently removed all he +was going to from the cart and intended to resort to force. + +Walking to one side, he pushed with all his strength on the balky +animal, at the same time saying something in Quichua that the whites +guessed was not pleasant. + +Slowly, very slowly, the mule struggled forward, snorting as if in +rage. Gradually he quickened his pace, but never exceeded a walk. + +"At this rate it'll take us the rest of the afternoon to get +everything in camp," muttered Bob, amused and yet angered at the +stubborn beast. + +The youth guessed fairly right. The sun was almost ready to sink below +the horizon when the last box was unloaded from the cart, after five +trips had been made to carry all of the supplies. + +"Too late to do anything tonight," said Mr. Lewis, as the Indian, +mule, and cart disappeared over the plateau. "I suppose we'd better +take it easy, anyway. We'll have some busy days ahead of us." + +Early the next morning the explorers were up preparing for the +mountain journey. + +"The first thing now is to get mules," said Mr. Wallace. "And," he +added with twinkling eyes, "they'll have to be faster than the one +that carried our stuff last night." + +"You forgot." Dr. Brown, the physician, was moving up to Mr. Wallace. +"The first thing isn't to get mules," the doctor continued with a +smile. "Medical attention always comes before anything else." + +"That means a physical examination?" asked Bob. + +"Yes. And it also means vaccination against smallpox and typhoid +fever. Those two diseases are very common in this part of Peru." + +Dr. Brown had attended to everyone but the youths and Mr. Wallace. But +it did not take long to finish with them. + +"Now as I was saying," began Mr. Wallace, "the next thing is to get +mules. And I know where we can find them. I inquired yesterday and +found that a wealthy Peruvian who lives at the edge of Cuzco can let +us have as many as we need. He will also see that we get native +guides." + +"Don't forget that we need about twenty-five mules--for both parties +of the expedition," Professor Allan reminded him. + +"I haven't," the naturalist returned. "We can get as many as we need. +Suppose we do it now." + +Mr. Wallace, Dr. Rust, and Professor Kelley set out at once to get the +pack animals. + +Meanwhile, Bob and Joe took movie cameras and walked leisurely up the +hillside, intending to photograph anything that would come before +them. + +The boys had not gone far when they came upon a large group of Indian +men, dressed in short, coarse trousers, hand-woven shirts, and +brightly colored blankets. On their heads were the flat "pancake" hats +which are common in this region. + +"Here's a good chance to take movies," said Joe happily. He had +brought the camera to his shoulder and pointed it toward the Indians, +turning the crank steadily. + +Suddenly the natives rushed angrily at the youths and made a grab at +the motion-picture cameras. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +Just in Time + + +"Let go!" cried Bob, in his excitement forgetting that the Indians +could not understand English. + +The group had completely surrounded the youths, and one man was +holding tightly to Bob's camera. + +The two chums knew that they had little chance against so many. But +they fought doggedly to save the moving-picture machines, which were +the only two they had. + +With one supreme effort, Bob pushed the Indian nearest him to the +ground and turned to find an opening in the crowd of natives. + +But they were all about him, pushing and grabbing and striking to the +best of their ability. It was plain that they were determined to take +possession of the small boxes that the whites carried. + +If it had not been for the necessity of holding onto the cameras, Bob +and Joe could have put up a good fight, and perhaps driven the +Indians away. But as it was they found themselves at a sore +disadvantage. + +"Help!" cried Joe, raising his voice to a shout. "Help! Help!" + +Several seconds later a figure showed itself at the brink of the hill +and came toward the fighting group. + +"It's Dad!" Joe cried happily. "Now there'll be a fight!" + +Mr. Lewis was soon joined by Mr. Holton and Karl Sutman. Like a flash +the three grasped the meaning of the scuffle and rushed to the aid of +the chums. + +They dived headlong into the furious mob, using their fists to great +advantage. One big fellow Mr. Lewis knocked flat on his back in a +daze. + +"Here, take my camera," directed Bob, speaking to Karl. "Run as fast +as you can back to camp. I want to take a lick at some of these +beggars." + +Karl did as asked and dashed out of the mob for the tents. The last +Bob saw of him he was rounding a bend and heading toward the +monoplane. + +Then Bob faced the man who had grabbed his camera. + +"Take that!" the youth snarled, sending the Indian crashing to the +ground. + +The other natives, seeing that they were unable to hold their own +against these whites, took to their heels and disappeared in the +distance, kicking up a cloud of dust behind them. + +"Well, we licked them." Mr. Lewis was panting for breath. His face was +red from fatigue, his clothes torn and wrinkled. + +And the others were no better off. They had put up a game fight, +determined to drive away their enemies. + +"What was their motive for attacking you?" inquired Mr. Holton, wiping +his face with his handkerchief. + +"Beyond us," Joe answered him. "We just looked at them and pointed our +cameras at them----" + +"Oh." Mr. Holton seemed to understand everything. "That's all you did, +huh? Well, you did enough to excite their anger. Those natives are +decidedly against having their pictures taken. They believe that any +evil which might befall their pictures will come upon them later." + +"So that was it?" Bob laughed. "Well, we'll know enough not to try the +same thing again. Anyway, we got several feet of film exposed, and +that's better than nothing." + +The adventurers made their way down the hill, to be met by Karl and +the others of the expedition, who had come to learn of their friends' +misfortune. + +"Quite an encounter," commented Mr. Dunn, when he was told the +details. "These Indians are bad characters when their anger is +aroused." + +Back at the camp, the explorers got everything in readiness for the +expedition to depart as soon as Mr. Wallace, Dr. Rust, and Professor +Kelley returned with the mules and guides. + +It was nearly noon when Bob caught sight of a long line of mules +heading toward the camp. They were coming slowly and leisurely, but +always closer. Near the rear were the three explorers and two natives, +who had been driving the animals. + +"I see you met with success," said Mr. Buenagel, addressing Mr. +Wallace. + +"Success is right!" the naturalist was beaming all over. "Don Chusmena +here"--indicating a small Peruvian who had been conversing with +several natives--"has generously offered to let us use twenty of his +mules. They are all fine specimens, worthy of making the mountain +trip. And the price is right." + +The mules were driven up to the camp and herded together in a group. + +Mr. Wallace introduced Don Chusmena to the others. The Peruvian in +turn acquainted the Americans with the Indians who were to act as +guides for the expedition. He assured them that the natives knew every +foot of ground in the Andes country. One Indian was to lead Dr. Rust +and the other scientists who were to search for Inca ruins. The other +native would guide Mr. Lewis and any others that might be in the party +of naturalists. + +Both Bob and Joe had decided to stay with the expedition and not fly +in the monoplane with Karl Sutman. Mr. Holton, however, intended to +accompany the aviator and Dr. Brown, the expedition's physician. Karl +and the two men were to fly on ahead and look for Inca ruins from the +air, keeping in touch with the others. It was intended that Karl head +for the valley of the Comberciato, where he and Mr. Holton and the +physician would await the others of the naturalist party. + +"That leaves you and Mr. Wallace and Dad and I together," remarked +Joe. "I'm sorry your father isn't going with us." + +Bob nodded. + +"He'll meet us at the Comberciato River, though," the youth said. + +"But that won't be until two weeks from now, at least." Joe would have +been better satisfied if Mr. Holton had intended to go on foot instead +of in the airplane. + +Mr. Lewis and Mr. Wallace desired to get their division of the +expedition started as soon as possible. But since it was so late they +thought it best to wait until the next morning. + +"That'll give us time to look around some more," said Joe, picking up +a motion-picture camera. "Come on, Bob. There's a lot to be seen +around Cuzco." + +"Be careful boys," warned Mr. Holton. "Don't try to photograph any +more Indians, or you may get into a bigger scrape than the one this +morning." + +"Leave it to us," laughed Joe. "We'll be all right." + +The youths headed west toward the river Almodena. They resolved to +cross it and proceed northward to the Fortress of Sacsahuaman and +other Inca ruins. + +From the river there was a narrow road that led up the plateau to the +high hill that overlooked the city. As this hill stood between the +boys and the ruins of the fort, which were located high upon another +cliff, they found it almost necessary to climb to the top and then +down the other side. + +"Now for the ruins," said Bob eagerly, pointing to the top of the low +mountain that was before them. + +The youths had begun the difficult climb to the summit and had rounded +a turn in the rocks when they caught sight of an old man climbing +slowly up the dangerous ridge. + +"Look!" cried Joe in terror. "He's falling!" + +The old man's foot had slipped, and he was trying as best he could to +balance himself on a narrow ledge. + +His efforts were in vain. The next moment he began to plunge +helplessly downward. + +With the quickness of a cat, Bob stepped forward and, bracing himself +as best he could, he threw himself against the man. The impact of +Bob's heavy body stopped the man's fall and sent him against the side +of the cliff. It bruised his face and shoulders, but he was safe. + +After a few moments of resting, the old man looked up, wild-eyed and +white with fear. There was an expression of intense gratitude on his +wrinkled face as it was turned toward Bob. + +"You saved my life!" he cried in excellent English, gazing fearfully +below. "And I want to reward you. I want to tell you of some Inca +secrets--secrets of the Andes!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +The Old Man's Tale + + +At once Bob and Joe were breathless with interest. They had often +heard of Inca secrets but had thought them nothing more than myths. +Now, as this strange old man stood before them, the youths wondered if +there might have been some truth in the fantastic tales told of Inca +mysteries. + +The old man hesitated for several minutes, staring off into space. +Then, when the youths were becoming impatient with the long silence, +he continued, speaking in a low voice. + +"Far, far away, in the heart of a huge mountain, is a narrow tunnel +that leads to a large cavern of Inca secrets." Again the stranger +hesitated, looking below at Cuzco. + +"Why doesn't he hurry?" thought Joe, almost saying the words aloud. + +Finally the old man continued. + +"This cave is so large that it occupies the entire mountain," he went +on. "It is lighted with a strange brilliance, that comes mysteriously +from the outside. But ah! The Incas were marvelous inventors. They +could do many things that we Americans cannot do." + +"Then you are an American?" inquired Bob quickly. + +The old man nodded. + +"I spent my early years in the United States," he explained. +"Graduated from college and set out to be a scientist. Then I became +interested in Inca ruins and came here to look for them. My entire +lifetime I have spent in these mountains, looking for ruins and +treasure." + +"Treasure?" cried Joe. "Is there treasure here?" + +"Undoubtedly there is," was the answer. "In fact I believe I have +found some." + +The young men were all excitement. + +"Tell us about it!" begged Joe. + +"I am not certain that I have found any," the stranger said. "But I +came across a sort of bin that is covered with a heavy stone block. +Alone I am not able to lift it off. I firmly believe that in the bin +is something valuable. This is in that cave I told you about." He +stopped and glanced about; then, satisfied that no one else was near, +he continued: "It is a long, hard journey to this wonderful place. +There is a secret trail, that is known only to myself. And to add to +that, there is a single entrance to the cave. It cannot be opened +until you press a hidden button." + +He stopped a moment and gazed thoughtfully at the young men. + +"You saved my life," he went on, looking at Bob gratefully. "For this +I will gladly give you half of any treasure in the bin, if we can find +any. Will you make the trip with me?" + +For a few moments the youths said nothing. They wondered if there was +really any treasure in the bin. And they wondered, too, if it might be +possible to locate still more in the near-by mountains. + +"I am willing to go," said Bob at last. "It won't put us out any, I'm +sure. I think we can arrange it some way. Maybe Dad----" + +He got no further, for at that moment the old man raised a hand for +silence. + +"Of course your dad is all right," he said conclusively. "But I do not +wish to take anyone but you and your friend here with me. Even your +father might without thinking tell someone about this secret, and then +we would lose everything. And I want no one else to know." + +"Then," began Bob, "you want only Joe Lewis here and myself--my name +is Bob Holton--to go with you?" + +"You are right," came the reply. "And my name is Rander--_Doctor_ +Rander. I would be much better satisfied if only we three went." + +"I think it can be arranged," Bob told him. "What direction do we have +to go?" + +"East. Almost straight east from Cuzco. But of course there are many +roundabout paths that we must follow, and much of the way is over no +trail at all." + +"We'll let you know a little later, if that is all right," said Bob. +"Where can we get in touch with you?" + +Dr. Rander explained that he was staying in a little adobe hut at the +other edge of Cuzco and that he had a sufficient number of mules to +carry the provisions needed. + +"How soon do you want to start?" inquired Joe, who was anxious to make +the trip. + +"I am ready any time," the old man said. "If you wish, we will start +tomorrow." + +Bob explained that they would talk it over with their fathers and call +on their friends that night. With this, the youths headed back to +camp, not desiring to lose more time even in seeing the ruins at the +top of the hill. + +"What do you think of it?" asked Bob a little later, as he and his +friend came in sight of the monoplane. + +"I think a lot of it," Joe answered. "Why, it will be wonderful!" + +"Don't be too sure that we can go," Bob reminded him. "It all depends +on what our dads think. If they're afraid to let us leave the +expedition and start out with this Dr. Rander, why, I suppose that +will end it all. And the old man won't let anyone else go with us." + +"Funny he'd tell us about that secret, isn't it? If he had kept still, +he'd have had all the treasure for himself. But then, I suppose he was +so glad you saved his life that he was more than willing to let you in +on it. Then, too, he's not sure of finding it." + +At the camp, the boys found their fathers and others awaiting them. + +"What do you think of the ruins?" asked Mr. Holton, as the chums came +up. + +"We don't know much about them," returned Joe. "But there's something +else we want to tell you." + +While the men listened, Joe told of seeing the old man climbing up the +steep hill and of Bob's saving his life when he fell. He told of the +secret treasure that the stranger said was in the Andes, and of the +old man's desire for the two youths to accompany him in the mountains. +He finished by saying that he believed it might be worth while to go. + +"Perhaps you're right," came from Mr. Holton. "It might pay you to go +with him. Do you think he can be trusted?" Mr. Holton had great faith +in the judgment of his son and Joe. + +"Don't know why not," said Bob. "He seemed so glad that he had not +fallen down the cliff that he was happy to tell us about the +treasure." + +"There isn't a chance of his being crazy, is there?" asked Karl +Sutman, who was also listening to the conversation. + +"Oh, of course there's a chance," replied Bob, "but I'd be willing to +bet anything that he isn't." + +"We can go with him, can't we?" queried Joe, glancing especially at +his father. "We may find treasure, after all." + +"I see no reason why you shouldn't," came from Mr. Lewis. "Of course +you'll be careful. And there's very little danger of getting lost, +with all the native huts scattered about. What do you think, Howard?" + +"Like you," Mr. Holton replied. "After all, Bob and Joe are able to +take care of themselves. If Karl will stay in the vicinity of Cuzco +until they get back, it will ease matters some. Or, if the boys will +be gone too long, Karl can come on with the rest of the expedition to +the valley of the Comberciato, and then return later to pick up Bob +and Joe in Cuzco." + +"I'll be glad to do it," Karl Sutman said, and so the matter remained +settled. + +That evening Bob and Joe went to Dr. Rander's hut at the edge of +Cuzco. The old man seemed glad to see them, offering them the best +chairs he had. + +"Now about the secrets," he began, after he had closed the door and +made sure that no one was near. "First of all, we must keep it +strictly to ourselves. If, while on our way, anyone should ask why we +are going into the mountains, we must not tell them." + +"For one thing, we're going to take movies of the country," said Joe, +and then explained this in full to the old man. + +The youths spent all evening at the old man's hut. When at last they +were ready to leave, they had agreed on one thing: They were to start +early the next morning. + +As they walked silently back to the camp, gazing up at the starlit +sky, Bob and Joe wondered what would be their adventures for the next +few weeks. Would they actually come into possession of valuable +treasure? + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +Starting Into the Mountains + + +Early the next morning the youths were up getting ready for the long +journey into the unknown. They had all their possessions packed when +Dr. Rander came with mules and provisions. + +He was introduced by Bob and Joe to the other members of the +expedition, who, particularly Mr. Holton and Mr. Lewis, recognized him +as a capable explorer. + +The youths made arrangements for Karl Sutman to meet them in a town +called Pasaje, at the end of a sufficient time. The aviator was to +have his monoplane ready to take the youths to the locality occupied +by other divisions of the expedition. + +"Now do be careful and don't take any chances," warned Mr. Holton, +after additional boxes of food had been strapped on the backs of other +mules. "Remember, slow traveling with safety is far better than rapid +going with danger." + +"We'll be all right," Joe assured him, as the mules were being placed +in line. "And Karl will fly us to your locality in due time. Don't +forget that you are to be careful too." + +With fond farewells, Bob and Joe and the old man drove the mules +toward the rim of mountains that skirted the eastern horizon. They +rounded a high hill and lost sight of their relatives and friends. + +For some time the youths were silent with their thoughts. Who knew +whether they would ever see those dear ones again? Even at best, there +were untold hardships and dangers in the mountains that lay before +them. Would they be able to meet any crisis? + +It was some time before the boys resumed their natural peace of mind. +But when they did, they were eager to take in all the sights of this +wonderland. + +There was a wide trail that led eastward from Cuzco. Over this the +pack train went at a slow but steady gait that promised to eat up the +miles sooner than it might be thought possible. + +"Wonder if we'll see any big game?" remarked Bob, as he and Joe walked +near the rear of the pack train. "I'd like especially to bag one of +those white condors Dad was talking about. You think there are any?" + +"Possibly," replied Joe. "But if there are, it isn't likely that we'll +see one." + +The three adventurers followed a well-beaten path to the town of +Puquiura, which they found nothing more than a group of native mud +huts. + +"Not much life here," observed Joe, as the caravan of pack animals +passed on through the village. + +"I suppose this is typical of all the towns in these mountains," came +from Bob. "Just a bunch of dirty mud dwellings." + +Led by Dr. Rander, the Americans wound around a narrow trail that +reached steadily upward. They were making fairly good time, and if +nothing prevented, they expected to arrive at a much larger town +before noon. + +"I think I'll try riding my mule," announced Bob, who, along with his +friends, had been walking beside the mounts. + +"Better watch out," cautioned Joe. "Those little animals are +treacherous sometimes." + +Bob called to Dr. Rander to wait for him. Then, pulling his mount out +of the line, he placed his foot in the stirrup and threw his leg +across the sturdy little mule's back. + +But just then something happened. The animal wheeled about, and, +throwing its hind feet high in the air, it leaped forward with a snort +of resentment. + +"Help!" cried the amused and yet worried Bob. + +"What do you want me to do?" inquired Joe, taking in the scene with +interest. + +"Grab hold of his tail! Do anything!" Despite his serious predicament, +Bob could not help laughing, although he was angered. + +"Get hold of his tail, huh? Not much." Joe intended to derive as much +amusement as possible from his friend's plight. + +All joking was cast aside a moment later when, at an unexpected +moment, the mule gave a quick turn to the left and threw Bob to the +ground. The youth caught the fall with his arm, and so escaped injury, +but his anger was as strong as ever. + +"I'll fix you, you----" + +Bob did not finish the words, for at that moment the mule leaped +forward and galloped off at a rapid pace. + +"After him!" Bob cried, dashing ahead as fast as his legs would carry +him. + +A more amusing sight could hardly be found. Joe's laughter mingled +with the sound of rapidly moving hoofs, and even old Dr. Rander joined +in the merriment. + +"Think he'll catch him?" queried Joe, as pursuer and pursued vanished +behind a heavy cloud of dust. + +"I believe so," the old man returned, straining his eyes to make out +the figures ahead. "The mule will soon tire of such fast running. He +isn't used to it." + +Dr. Rander was right. Five minutes later Bob appeared from around a +hill leading the now calm animal. There was a smile of triumph on the +youth's face as he faced his friends. + +"Now that everything has worked out all right, suppose we forget that +anything happened," grinned Bob, as he placed the mule back in the +line. + +"You going to try riding him again?" asked Joe with a laugh. + +"Not on your life. I value my hide too much for that." + +They set forward, heading for the distant high peaks, which were +always visible. + +An hour of steady climbing brought them to a high plateau, which was +bordered by mountains. From this elevation the explorers could command +a good view of Cuzco, which seemed but a miniature city in the +distance. + +"I don't feel so well," groaned Bob, whose face was becoming pale. "I +can't get my breath without wheezing. And my stomach seems out of +order." + +Dr. Rander happened to be near when Bob complained, and lost no time +in attending to the youth. + +"You probably have _soroche_, or mountain sickness," he said, noting +that Bob's pulse was unusually rapid. "Do you think you can keep on to +the next town?" + +"Sorry, but I'm afraid I'll have to lie down somewhere." The stricken +Bob was visibly becoming worse with every minute. + +"Wonder if I'll have another touch of mountain sickness?" mused Joe, +as his friend stretched out on a blanket that Dr. Rander had spread on +the hard ground. + +There was nothing to do but wait for the youth to recover. The old man +explained that often patients remained ill for several days, and that +there was a possibility of Bob's sickness being lengthy. + +In view of this, they thought it best to make camp and prepare to stay +as long as necessary. There was no use making arrangements to continue +the journey until Bob's condition improved. + +"Here, take this pill." Dr. Rander held a little white tablet and a +cup of water. "It will make you well sooner than anything else." + +But it was not soon enough for Bob. All the remainder of that day he +moaned on with a splitting headache and terrible nausea. It was worse, +he said, than sea sickness, of which he had experienced a touch on his +first ocean voyage. + +The next morning, although still weak, Bob was greatly improved. The +ill effects had gone, and once more he had an ambition again to get to +the trail. + +But Dr. Rander protested. + +"You are not strong enough yet," he said. "We'll wait till noon and +see if you're improved sufficiently by that time." + +By the time the sun was directly overhead, Bob was his old natural +self again. He was overly anxious to make up for lost time. + +Lunch over, the explorers again took to the trail, driving the staunch +little mules along at a rapid pace. + +"Now lead me to those secrets of the Andes!" said Bob, as Cuzco faded +from view. + +At length the adventurers came to another town, which Dr. Rander +called Cameras. They would much rather have encircled the settlement, +but as there was no other trail, they passed on through. + +"Let's leave the mules here near the edge of town," suggested Joe. +"I'd like to go back to that little store that we just passed. Might +be able to get something we can use cheap." + +"I'll go with you," said Bob. + +Dr. Rander announced that he would stay with the mules and catch a +short rest. He cautioned the boys not to stay too long. + +The store that Joe referred to was nothing more than an adobe hut +filled with curios of the Andes. They purchased a few articles as +souvenirs and started back to the edge of town, where the old man was +waiting. + +Suddenly there came the sound of rough voices, and a moment later a +dozen shots rent the air. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +A Terrible Sight + + +"What's going on?" cried Joe Lewis, as a chorus of voices mingled with +the sound of rifle shots. + +"Some trouble somewhere," returned Bob. "Wonder----" + +He did not finish, for at that instant there came another shot, and a +bullet whizzed by his ear. + +The youths lost no time in hiding behind a small mud hut, although +they knew a bullet could probably penetrate it. But at least it +offered temporary shelter, and that was what they wanted. + +"Look!" cried Bob, gazing cautiously around the corner of the hut. +"There are soldiers in uniform. What do you suppose they're doing?" + +They were soon to see. + +The troops, which numbered about thirty, were firing at something that +the boys could not see from their places at the side of the hut. + +"I'm going to take a chance and get out in the open where I can see +something," said Joe. "Come on. If we're careful and don't get in the +way of the shooting, we'll be all right." + +Carefully the chums edged around the side of the dwelling and peeped +out at the street. Then they drew back quickly, as a score of shots +rang out. + +What the youths saw was forty or fifty natives scattered out to escape +the fire of the soldiers. Each held in readiness an old rifle, which +he discharged at intervals. + +"Must be a revolution," observed Bob. "Perhaps those natives have +offered violence to the governor of the town, and the troops have been +called to settle the matter." + +Bob could not have come closer to the facts. + +"The soldiers are winning," said Joe. "They're better trained and have +more efficient guns." + +Although the troops appeared to gain the upper hand, the fighting +continued with as much fury as before. + +A sudden fusillade of bullets coming dangerously near Bob and Joe +prompted the boys to make a dash toward the end of the town, where the +mules and Dr. Rander were probably waiting. + +"Let's get out of here," suggested Joe. "We'll get hit if we don't." + +"All right. Wonder if Dr. Rander is still where we left him?" + +The chums were greatly surprised when, a few minutes later, they saw +that the old man was not in sight. But the mules were tethered to a +stout post, and this gave the boys hope. + +"Chances are, he's gone to see what the shooting's about," Bob said. +"Wish he'd come back. He's likely to get killed if he stays around +there close." + +The youths were beginning to worry when Dr. Rander appeared up the +road, glancing occasionally over his shoulder. + +"Quite a commotion, wasn't it?" he said when he had come nearer. "But +the soldiers drove them away." + +"What was it, a revolution?" inquired Joe. + +"Yes. An Indian told me that the people in the town were turning +against their prefect. Didn't like his rule, and wanted a change. But +the soldiers soon fixed them." + +"Is the fighting over?" Bob had not heard a rifle shot for several +minutes. + +"Yes. The soldiers forced the citizens to throw away their weapons." + +"And that reminds me," laughed Joe. "We'd better be getting our rifles +out, because we may see some game before long. I'd like to get a shot +at a condor." + +"Condors live only in high mountains," explained Dr. Rander. "We +won't see any for many days, if at all." + +But although the adventurers did not catch a glimpse of these huge +birds, they saw occasional small animals, such as rabbits and +chinchillas. Once Joe took a shot at one of the latter creatures, but +his aim was not steady and he missed. + +At noon that day they came to a small adobe hut, from which hung a +green wreath. + +"What does that stand for?" asked Bob innocently. "Is somebody dead?" + +For the second time since the youths had known him, old Dr. Rander +burst out in laughter. + +"Hardly," he said finally. "A green wreath means that bread is for +sale." + +Joe almost choked with laughter. + +"That's a good one on you," he said to his chum. "It's a wonder you +didn't go and gather flowers and offer them to the bereaved family." + +Bob grinned. + +"You'd probably have asked where the corpse was," he said. "Or +maybe----" + +"We can stop here for a meal," Dr. Rander interrupted. "It is best to +save our provisions as best we can, because later on we won't be able +to find any native huts." + +Inside the mud building, the three were waited upon by a huge Indian +woman, whose hard face inspired no trust from the explorers. But they +were glad when she spread before them a bountiful meal of potatoes, +roast mutton, and a drink which the youths guessed was intoxicating. + +"None of that brown liquid for me," came from Bob, looking with +suspicion at the huge clay cup that contained the beverage. + +"Me either," echoed Joe. "Too big of a risk." + +The old man, however, drank freely of the beverage and seemed pleased +with its flavor. Whether he knew of its ingredients the chums did not +know. + +As soon as the meal was over, the three again took up the journey, +keeping a sharp lookout for anything that might prove of interest. + +They found something before they had gone another mile. + +Coming up the trail at a slow, leisurely gait was a large donkey, on +the back of which rode an Indian man, woman, and two half-grown +children. But something else amused the chums more. In pouches secured +to the mule's sides were two other Indian children, their faces sober +as they looked upon the whites. + +"Where's a movie camera?" demanded Bob quickly. "I'm going to take a +chance with them. They can't do anything to us." + +"Here." Joe had removed a camera from his pocket and was turning the +crank and exposing several yards of film. "This ought to be +interesting on the screen," he said. + +Much to the youths' surprise, the Indians did not protest at having +their pictures taken. They merely stared at the whites in wonder. + +"Maybe they haven't seen a camera before, and don't know what it's all +about," was the opinion expressed by Joe. + +A little later they came to a flat field, which was being cultivated +by an Indian with a team of oxen and a crude wooden plow. It was an +interesting sight. The slow animals drew the improvised instrument +steadily through the hard soil, while the sober Indian watched +closely. + +"More movies," sang Bob, bringing out his camera. "Every little bit +counts." + +Again they were surprised to see that this Indian displayed no +indignation at the whites taking pictures. Perhaps after all Joe was +right and the Indians in this section were not familiar with a camera. + +The adventurers had been driving their pack animals ahead all +afternoon when suddenly they rounded a bend and came to a narrow +river. + +"Look!" cried Joe quickly, pointing ahead. "What's that on the bank? +Why, it's bones!" + +Dr. Rander had heard. + +"Llama remains," he explained. "Looks like llamas have picked this +spot to die on." + +Scattered thickly over the river bank were scores of white bones, +which undoubtedly were those of llamas. + +"I knew elephants occasionally have a cemetery, but that any other +animals do I had not the slightest idea," said Joe. + +More movies were taken, and then they set about to devise a means to +cross the river. + +"We'll have to ford it," announced Dr. Rander, who had been waiting +for the chums to walk on up to the head. "I don't think it is so deep +as to cause us trouble." + +Although the weather was warm, Bob and Joe chose to put on their hip +boots, to escape the chill that might otherwise result. + +They found that Dr. Rander was right. The river was barely three feet +deep and was comparatively calm. So they had little difficulty in +driving the mules across. + +From the opposite bank two trails branched off up the mountainside. +The one that was most difficult to follow, Dr. Rander chose. + +"From here our going will be more arduous," he told the young men. +"The mountains are steeper, and more obstacles will stand in our +way." + +Bob had followed the pack train to a height where he could command a +good view of the surrounding country when suddenly he cried out in +pain. + +"My foot!" he groaned, when the others rushed to his side. "Something +bit it." + +"What was it? A snake?" Joe demanded anxiously. + +"Let me have a look at it," the old man said, tying the foremost mule +to a gnarled tree. + +When Bob removed his legging and sock, he found a large red scratch, +and the flesh about it was already badly swollen. It pained severely +and throbbed so violently that the boy could hardly hold his foot +still. + +"Not a snake," Dr. Rander told him. "Rather a poisonous insect--they +are common in the Andes." + +The old explorer bathed the foot in water from a canteen and treated +it with antiseptics, wrapping it up firmly. + +"Now until that heals some you'll have to ride your mount," Dr. Rander +said. "Don't take no from him for an answer. Get on him and make him +carry you forward." + +While Joe and the old man held the mule securely, Bob mounted and with +drawn reins held the animal at a standstill. + +"Hurrah!" yelled Joe. "You've made him give in." + +"Not altogether," Bob said. "But I think I can manage to stay on." + +At the end of two days of riding the mule, Bob was convinced that the +animal was not really as balky as he had at first supposed. Over high +hills and rocky paths he carried his rider, until at last Bob's foot +became well enough for him to walk. + +"I'll sort of hate to do it," laughed the youth, when they were camped +under a high overhanging rock. + +"I know," said Dr. Rander. "But there isn't much choice in the matter. +After all, our mounts are not to be ridden except in such an emergency +as this. They tire too easily when on the rocky trails, and it isn't +best to put much of a load on them." + +On, on the little party plunged, into the heart of the mountainous +region. On every hand they saw something to hold their interest. + +They had been on the trail about four days when they saw something +that was indeed unusual. + +Moving leisurely up the narrow path were eight or ten large Indians +carrying an old organ. Ropes were tied tightly around the instrument, +and to these the Indians held with a death grip. + +Where they were taking the organ, the whites could only guess. Perhaps +it belonged to a plantation owner, who wanted a musical instrument in +his house. + +Suddenly, unexpectedly, one of the Indians cried out in fright, and +then there came other cries. + +"The organ's slipping!" shouted Joe. "It's going over the cliff! And +oh!"--he gasped for breath--"it's taking one of the Indians with it!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +Difficulties of the Trail + + +The sight that the explorers beheld was unpleasant to the extreme. +Scarcely had Joe uttered the cry of horror when the organ suddenly +fell, pushing one of the natives over the cliff. + +The man screamed in terror and then disappeared into the depths below. +It was thousands of feet to the bottom of the abyss, and instant death +was almost certain. + +Bob drew back from the brink with a shudder. Joe and Dr. Rander gave +cries of repugnance. The other Indians screamed hoarsely, uttering +something that only Dr. Rander understood. + +The natives ran wildly down the trail, scowling and making gestures. + +"Terrible!" muttered the old explorer, when they had disappeared +around a turn. + +"What did they say?" inquired Joe, who had been struck by the Indians' +attitude of anger. + +"They intend to kill the man who wanted the organ," Dr. Rander told +him. "They blame the Indian's death on him." + +"Well, of all things!" exclaimed Joe indignantly. "Isn't there +anything we can do about it?" + +The old man shook his head. + +"When they set their minds on anything there's no use trying to change +them," he said hopelessly. + +"We might warn the man whom they intend to kill," suggested Bob +Holton. + +"Don't know who it is," Dr. Rander returned. "And the Indians wouldn't +tell us." + +Bob and Joe all during that day felt that something could have been +done to prevent the natives from killing the plantation owner, or +whoever it was that was getting the organ. They were not a little +vexed at Dr. Rander for treating the matter so lightly. + +"But then," said Bob hopefully, "maybe the Indians didn't get away +with it." + +Ten minutes later the youths forgot about the incident. They had been +struggling over an exceedingly rough stretch when they suddenly came +to another river, much wider than the one they had seen several days +previously. + +"Have to ford it, I guess," said Joe Lewis. "No other way across." + +Again the boys put on their hip boots, and again they plunged into the +water, driving the mules before them. The going here was difficult, +as the current was rather strong, and the mules had to be watched more +closely. + +They were about halfway across when the old explorer cried out in +fright. + +"Help!" His voice was wild with terror. + +"What is it?" demanded Joe, who was nearest him. + +Then the youth saw. Dr. Rander was rapidly sinking into a hole. +Already the water had reached his chest, and he was going down +rapidly. + +Joe at once put thought into action. He dashed over to one of the +mules, opened a bag, and began searching about for a rope. + +Frantic with the delay, the youth worked his hand like a machine, +feeling in every corner of the bag. What if he could not find the +rope? + +But fortune was with him. In another bag on the opposite side of the +mule he found the rope. Luckily it was not tangled. + +Joe was almost afraid to turn for fear Dr. Rander would be gone. His +heart gave a leap as he saw that the explorer's head was still above +the water. + +"Here, get hold of this," Joe called, throwing the rope over to the +old man. "Now come on, Bob. Let's pull." + +This last was unnecessary, as Bob was already on the spot waiting to +catch hold of the rope. + +"Steady, now!" + +Slowly the youths pulled their friend out of the heavy mud, which +oozed ominously as it released its victim. Once it seemed as if the +old man would have to release his hold, but he managed to hang on +desperately. + +At last, when he was completely out of the mud, he moved over to his +young companions and gazed at them gratefully. + +"You did wonderful," he commended. "Many people would have acted more +slowly--and I would have gone under." + +"Wonder if there are any more treacherous places like that?" Bob +scanned the chocolate water closely, as if by instinct to detect any +dangerous spots. + +"We'll have to risk it," Joe said. "It might be well to spread apart, +so if anyone gets caught, the others can come to his rescue." + +"Good suggestion," praised Bob. "I'll get away over to this side." + +But if there were any more mud holes the explorers failed to come +across them, and finally reached the other side safely, driving the +mules before them. + +On the bank Dr. Rander took off his mud-soaked clothes and replaced +them with dry ones. Then, after a short rest, they resumed the +journey. + +"Who's coming?" Joe strained his ears to make out the source of +footsteps. + +Then, rounding a growth of stunted trees, appeared a long caravan of +small llamas, which were heavily loaded with what was probably +firewood. Beside the curious animals walked two Indians, wearing the +common "pancake" hats. + +Luckily there was enough room for both cavalcades to pass freely, and +they experienced no difficulty. + +The natives stopped for a few minutes and conversed with Dr. Rander, +who spoke Quichua freely. Then they started down the trail, driving +the llamas at a rapid pace. + +"Funny animals," observed Bob when they had gone. "I was afraid all +the time one or two would come at me and spit in my face, like the one +back at Cuzco." + +Joe laughed. + +"As long as you don't bother them, I guess they're all right," he +said. "But from what I've heard, they don't like to be played with." + +"Don't I know it!" grinned the other youth. + +Before long they saw the origin of the llama caravan. Set back from +the path was a large mud hut, about which played several Indian +children. Another man and a woman came out to meet the adventurers. + +Again Dr. Rander stopped to converse in the Quichua tongue. But not +for long. He was anxious to lose no time in getting to the secrets. +Even at best it would require many, many days. + +"Hope we don't have any trouble from now on," said Joe, as he followed +the old man up a steep slope. "But I suppose we will." + +Bob nodded. + +"Exploring has its difficulties," he said. "It will be funny if we +don't have any more things happen to delay us." + +That evening they camped in a little valley between two high peaks. +All were glad to rest their tired limbs after such an arduous day over +rocky paths. + +At a small gurgling spring but a short distance away they drank freely +and filled their canteens to capacity. Then, refreshed and ready to +prepare the meal, they were about to head for the tent when Dr. Rander +noticed something coming at them. He turned about quickly, his face +white with fear. + +The youths saw the danger and ran toward the mules as fast as they +could. + +Advancing toward them was a heavy swarm of green jungle flies, whose +bite all knew to be poisonous as well as annoying. If the flies +attacked the explorers, the result would be marks and red, swollen +scratches that would disappear only after several weeks of patient +treating. + +"The mosquito nets--quick!" cried Dr. Rander, opening a pack and +fumbling about nervously. "We must have them! That swarm of flies is +so large that there won't be anything left of us!" + +But the adventurers were not quick enough. Before they could get out +the nets the buzzing flies were upon them, biting their faces and arms +severely. The little insects even penetrated the heavy clothing in a +determined effort to satisfy their thirst for blood. + +"This is awful!" groaned Bob, working feverishly to find a net. + +Scarcely would they put a hand into the packs when they would have to +remove it and slap away the flies, the marks of which already pained +severely. + +At last Joe found the pack that contained the nets, and lost no time +in distributing the latter among his friends and himself. + +"Now let them come," challenged Bob, facing the swarm angrily. "I +guess it won't do 'em any good now." + +But even with the protection afforded by the closely woven nets, the +menacing little creatures bit the explorers' arms and legs most +annoyingly. + +Relief did not come until dark. The blackness of the night served in +some manner to cause the flies to leave, although a small few remained +threateningly. + +"Oh!" muttered Bob, trying in vain to bend his wrist. "They sure fixed +us up plenty good. Our---- My gosh! Joe, look at yourself in a mirror. +And you, too, Dr. Rander." + +The three were indeed a sorry-looking sight. Their faces were so +swollen that their eyes were hardly visible, and their hands and arms +were no better off. + +"And how it hurts!" Joe was almost frantic with the stinging pain. +"It's a good thing the sun went down when it did, or there would have +been nothing left of us," he added. + +All were too bruised and tired to prepare a meal, but necessity forced +them to do so. But not until Dr. Rander produced a large tube of a +special salve, which he applied freely to the swollen parts. + +"This will relieve the pain," he told the youths. "In the morning +we'll be a little better, but it won't be for a week that the sores +will disappear completely." + +Dawn found the adventurers scarcely aware that they had been bitten, +although the scars were still there to tell the story. + +"Let's forget all about that unpleasant encounter," suggested Joe +optimistically. "Suppose we take everything that happens purely as an +adventure." + +"Now you're talking!" Bob patted his chum on the back. "We came here +for adventure, and we mustn't kick when we get it." + +Along toward noon Bob was lucky in bringing down a wild duck, which +flew from a jungle not far away. Roasted over a fire, it proved good +eating, despite the fact that it was tough. + +Dinner--for that was what the youths called the noon meal when they +were on exploration trips--over, they took it easy in the shade of a +group of stunted trees, which grew almost straight out from the +mountainside. + +"Trail's pretty bad," observed Joe, his eyes on what could be seen of +the narrow path as it circled up the peak. "But I suppose it's nothing +to what we'll find it later on." + +Which proved fairly accurate, as they later observed. At times the +trail was so rough and rocky that it was with greatest difficulty that +the mules were able to clamber up the steep elevations. On one +occasion it was necessary for the mules to jump up a three-foot rock, +which obstructed the trail dangerously near a five-hundred-foot drop. + +"Steady, now," cautioned the old man, helping the youths unload the +mules. "If we make a misstep, it will prove our finish." + +None of the explorers did, fortunately. But one of the mules was not +as lucky. It was the last animal in the line and had been carrying +only trifles that were not of necessity to the explorers. + +The other mules had safely jumped to the top of the rock and were +grazing on the thin patches of grass that grew on the mountainside. + +"Hurry, now," came from Joe. "Let's get this last fellow up." + +Scarcely had the words left his mouth when the unfortunate animal lost +its footing and, balancing for a moment at the edge of the canyon, +plunged helplessly over the brink. + +"Gone!" Dr. Rander could hardly believe the fact. + +Bob and Joe had watched the accident tensely, unable to render any +assistance to the terrified mule. At last they climbed up on the rock +with a resolution to take matters as they were. + +"Talk about adventure," said Bob with a grim smile. "I guess we're +getting plenty of it." + +"Just wait," murmured Joe meaningly. "This won't be anything to what's +coming, or else I'll miss my guess." + +"I sincerely hope nothing else will happen today," Dr. Rander said. "I +wish to get beyond this short range of mountains before nightfall." + +They later saw that traveling was so slow that it would be impossible +to do this. But they were well on the other side of the peaks when +darkness overtook them. + +"Now to make camp," sang Bob, tethering the foremost mule to a stout +crag. + +"Wait," called Joe, who was just out of sight around a turn. + +"What for?" + +"Because--I've found something. Come here." + +Bob and Dr. Rander went around the bend, where Joe was waiting for +them. + +"It's a cave," explained the youth. "A big cave. Let's see what's in +it." + +"Better be careful," was the old man's warning. "It isn't unlikely +that some snake has its lair here." + +They went in cautiously, Joe holding his flashlight and Bob his +revolver. How far the opening extended they had not the slightest +idea, for the light beam did not reach the other end. + +Suddenly Joe shrank back, as his light rested on something not thirty +feet ahead. + +"Bats!" he cried. "Vampire bats! And they're coming toward us!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +Danger at Hand + + +Turning on the moment, the three ran toward the entrance of the +cavern, never looking behind for fear of seeing the ugly creatures +dangerously near. + +"They're coming!" panted Bob, as he heard the flapping that told that +the bats were flying nearer. "And I do hope we can get out in time!" + +They reached the entrance of the cave and dashed out, but not before +one of the creatures had inflicted an ugly bite on Dr. Rander's leg. + +Once out of the dark opening, the adventurers felt fairly safe, even +though several bats followed them. + +"We can at least fight them off out here," said Joe. "And that was +something we couldn't have done in the cave." + +The several bats fluttered about ominously, keeping close to the +ground. Their faces were of peculiar shape, closely resembling that of +a bulldog. What interested Bob and Joe was that the creatures could +run very rapidly over the ground. + +"Usually bats can't make much speed except in the air," remarked Bob, +remembering something his father had told him. "Their legs aren't +ordinarily made for walking." + +"It's different with these vampires, though," came from Joe. + +Dr. Rander thought it best to proceed farther before making camp, in +order to protect the pack animals from the bats. He well knew that it +is not uncommon for mules and llamas in this region to be attacked by +bats. People, however, are usually safe from their bites. + +That night the mules were molested only slightly by a few of the bats +that followed the expedition. But aside from a few swollen places, +they were none the worse for their experience. + +"It's a wonder one of us hasn't a place or two to show that the bats +were around," remarked Joe, after, the morning meal. + +"We have." Bob glanced at the old explorer. "At least Dr. Rander has." + +That person had been treating the wound in his leg and watching it +closely to see that infection did not set in. The right kind of care, +he said, would cause the sore to heal quickly. + +Again up the difficult trail the explorers went, after having broken +camp and attended to the mules. + +"Wouldn't be funny if we'd meet anything here," said Bob with a +shudder. "The path is so narrow that it's all we can do to get by +ourselves." + +"No," Bob agreed. "And there's no way of telling----" + +He did not finish the sentence, for at that moment there came a +commotion from around a turn. To the travelers, it sounded like +rapidly moving hoofs. + +The noise increased. Then the three shrank back as they saw advancing +toward them a line of galloping vicugnas, which were small animals +resembling llamas. + +Joe groaned hopelessly. + +"Either we or they will have to go off the cliff," he said tensely. +"There isn't room for both of us." + +The animals came nearer at a rapid pace. Apparently they were greatly +frightened from some cause or other. Whether something was chasing +them the travelers did not know. + +"We must save the mules!" cried Dr. Rander anxiously. + +"I have an idea, if it will work," said Bob. + +The other looked at him hopefully. Well they knew that if the pack +animals were to plunge over the edge of the peak, the three would be +faced with the possibility of starvation. + +There was not a moment to lose. Whatever they did must be done +quickly. + +Bob moved over to the head of the pack train. Joe and Dr. Rander +remained near the middle of the line, intending to frighten the +vicugnas and prevent the pack animals from becoming panic-stricken. If +necessary, they would shoot the vicugnas to prevent them from coming +around the trail. But unless forced they did not wish to do this for +fear of scaring the mules. + +In front of the foremost pack animal Bob stood with a thick rope, +which he had formed into a lasso. When the first vicugna came near, +the youth swung the loop out from the side of the mountain and made a +perfect throw over the animal's head. + +Bob gave the rope a quick pull and then let go. The impact brought the +vicugna to the ground with a thud. Its followers, trying in vain to +check themselves, stumbled over their fallen leader, several of them +falling over the cliff. The others remained on the trail with +difficulty. + +"Fine work!" praised Joe, walking around the mules to his friend. "If +you hadn't thought of that, I guess we'd have had to shoot them. I +didn't know you knew anything about a lasso." + +"I don't. That is--very little. But I thought I'd try that and see if +it would work. If it didn't, I was going to shoot them. They had to be +stopped some way." + +"What do you suppose made them come around the trail so fast?" asked +Joe. + +Dr. Rander expressed the belief that the vicugnas had been frightened +by a puma or some other animal. + +"Otherwise they would not have made that wild dash," he said. +"Whenever you see a stampede of animals, you may know that there is +some reason for it." + +The explorers forced the remaining vicugnas to turn back and follow +the trail in the direction from which they had come. When the last +animal had disappeared around the bend, Dr. Rander urged the mules +ahead, and they again took up the journey. + +"I don't suppose the puma or whatever it was will frighten those +vicugnas back again, will it?" Joe was a bit worried as they labored +around the rough trail, which was even narrower than before. + +"We'll hope not," the old man said. + +"If the puma's there, maybe we can get a shot at it," suggested Bob. +"I'd like to bag one for Dad and the others." + +But if there was one of these huge cats in the vicinity, it did not +make its presence known. Perhaps, as Joe mentioned, it had left for +another locality. + +So closely did the youths look about that they did not notice the +wall of rock that appeared suddenly before them. Only Dr. Rander's +voice served to rouse them. + +"Here we come to the first secret," he asserted, pointing to a small +opening in the wall of rock. + +"So soon?" asked Bob wonderingly. "Why, I thought----" + +"It is a tunnel," explained the old explorer. "One that was made by +the Incas. As far as I know, I am the only person who is aware of its +existence." + +At once the boys were aflame with interest. + +"And--and we must pass through it?" Bob peered at the narrow opening, +which seemed no different from many other crevices they had seen. + +"Yes. There is no other way to reach the cave of gold. At least not +from this direction." + +The adventurers got through the opening easily, but the mules +experienced more difficulty. And they did not at all like the idea of +plunging into a dark tunnel. + +But finally they were forced through by Joe, who had gone back +outside. Then, with the aid of flashlights, the party proceeded to +thread their way in the narrow passage. + +"How much of this is there?" asked Joe, when fully five minutes had +passed. + +"At least a mile more," Dr. Rander returned. "It is very long." + +But if it were a mile, it seemed to the youths like several times that +much, for in the damp, odorous tunnel the time passed very slowly. + +"Will we ever reach the other side?" Joe was tiring. + +At last the passageway became light, and then an opening loomed up and +let in the fresh air of the outside. + +"Hurrah!" Joe was delighted. "But--where are we?" + +On all sides of the travelers were towering peaks more lofty than any +they had yet seen. Some of the mountains were narrow and pointed, with +snow at their summit; others were merely huge rounded mounds of rock. +All were magnificent, inspiring thoughts of grandeur. + +The youths and the old man were on a narrow shelf that was perhaps +five thousand feet above what looked like a tiny winding ribbon of +water. It passed in and out among the mountains, stretching far out of +sight in the distance. + +"That is the Apurimac River," pointed out Dr. Rander, following the +boys' eyes. "It turns on northeast and finally comes near Mount +Panta----" + +"That's where Dr. Rust and the other archæologists are," interrupted +Bob, and then added: "Wonder if they found any Inca ruins?" + +"There are many that we know nothing about," the old explorer said. +"Peru and the Andes literally teem with fascinating ruins. Perhaps +there are more treasures, too." + +Bob resolved to venture a bold question. + +"How did you come to find this treasure cave?" he asked Dr. Rander. +"If you don't mind telling us." + +"Not at all. It might interest you to know that I first found that +very tunnel that we just passed through." Dr. Rander pointed to the +entrance into the passageway, from which they had emerged. "I happened +to be camped not far away from that crevice in the mountainside that +we first saw. It seemed no different from other cracks, and at first I +thought nothing of it. But when I lingered about awhile I saw that +near the top the rocks were smoother than I usually found them. This +made me wonder if the opening were natural or man-made. My curiosity +got the better of me and prompted me to go through and see if I could +find anything unusual. Then I discovered the tunnel." + +He paused, apparently finished. + +"Then what? Is the cave near us now?" Joe was breathless with +interest. + +"The treasure, you mean? No. It is many miles from here. Look,"--he +pointed around the mountainside--"see that winding trail? That is a +secret known only to us. It alone can take us to the place we're +after." + +Joe sighed submissively. + +"The old Andes are too much for me," he said. "I had no idea they were +as large and vast as this." + +"You will see even more wonderful sights," Dr. Rander told him. "And +before we go many miles farther." + +Indeed the boys found much to hold their interest. The awe-inspiring +cliffs, the stupendous rocky crags, the foamy river below, the +breath-taking heights--all these held a certain fascination for the +two youths. They found themselves absently bending their efforts too +much on seeing the sights and not enough on making out the dangerous +trail. + +"Be careful here," Dr. Rander warned, as Joe almost slipped and fell. +"It surely would not do to roll down this steep slope." + +"That would about put an end to everything for me," said Joe with a +grim smile. + +The trail curved on up the mountainside until it reached a high +pointed crag, which had been visible for several miles. Then it +gradually circled around until it reached the base of the mountain. + +"What's that noise?" demanded Bob Holton, stopping quickly to listen +to a deep rumbling sound that increased with every moment. + +Dr. Rander looked up. Then his eyes opened wide with terror. + +"It's an avalanche!" he cried hoarsely. "Tons of rocks are coming down +at us!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +The Deadly Snake + + +Over their shoulders the youths glanced up the mountainside and to +their horror saw that the old man was right. + +Far up the slope was a great mass of stones and earth, rolling down in +a heavy cloud of dust. Every second saw the accumulation nearer and +larger. In but a brief time it would be upon the little group below. + +"We must do something--without delay!" Dr. Rander's voice was cool and +resolute. "The mules--they must be pushed out of the way!" + +Acting on the instant, Bob and Joe and the old man worked like madmen +to drive the pack animals over to a flat shelf that was but a few +hundred feet away. Even this did not offer absolute safety, for the +mass of rocks and earth might change its course and plunge down on the +shelf. + +"We'll have to take a chance," Bob panted. "Most likely over here +we'll be out of the danger zone." + +The flat stretch offered the only place of refuge. If the avalanche +should change its course, the adventurers and their pack animals would +surely be crushed. + +There was a moment of fearful waiting, a brief period when the hearts +of all stood still, and the huge mass of rocks roared past and on down +the mountain slope. + +"Thank goodness!" breathed Dr. Rander. "A narrow escape if there ever +was one." + +Their eyes followed the plunging stone heap until, with a dull thud, +it struck the bottom of the abyss, far below. + +"If that had struck us we'd have been smashed to pulp," muttered Joe +with a shudder. + +"Think of something more pleasant," smiled Bob. "The treasure, for +instance." + +That afternoon the three were struggling along the narrow path when +suddenly Bob caught sight of something up on a high shelf. + +"Look," he said, pointing up to the flat stretch. "Inca ruins as sure +as I'm born." + +"You are right," Dr. Rander assured him. "That building is an ancient +temple, where the Incas worshiped the sun god." + +"Sounds interesting," Joe said eagerly. "Why can't we go up there and +explore the place?" + +"Can if you want to," the old man replied. "I have been up, but I will +go again with you. Wait until I tie the mules." + +It was a difficult climb to the shelf. All were gasping for breath +when they finally reached the ruins. + +Those ruins the youths found interesting. The building was partially +intact, being constructed of huge stone blocks cemented together with +mud. It was shaped like a pyramid, the sides sloping up to form a +point at the top. The entire north end was in ruins, but the other +sections looked as if they had been built but recently. + +"Let's go inside," suggested Bob, looking at the dark opening that +once no doubt was closed by a door. + +The others agreed, and, led by Bob, entered the building. As the +windows were large and there was no covering over them, the +adventurers could easily see about. + +They were in a large room, over which was an unusually high ceiling. +Several stone implements were scattered about; what they were doing in +a temple, the boys could not guess. + +"Perhaps this was meant for a storehouse or some other kind of +building," thought Bob, but did not say so. He did not wish to +conflict with Dr. Rander's opinion. + +But aside from these few stone objects, there was nothing in the +building that was of particular interest. Whether the structure had +been deserted by the Incas, or whether someone had robbed it of its +former contents, the youths did not know. Surely, if Dr. Rander was +right in his belief that he alone knew of this trail, no one had been +here. + +They explored the building eagerly in search of anything else that +might have escaped their view before. + +"Ouch!" cried Joe, slapping his leg. "What was that that bit me?" + +"Oh, I should have told you," began the old man with a smile. "There +are fleas here." + +"What th----" Joe was perplexed. "Fleas? What do they live on? There +isn't anything in these ruins----" + +"That is out of my knowledge," Dr. Rander said. "I never have found +anything yet that they might eat. Unless it would be other fleas." + +There was a general laugh. + +"Whatever it is, it's enough to keep them alive," observed Bob, +scratching his arm. "At least as long as we stay they'll be able to +secure a good living." + +"Suppose we get out and don't stay any longer," was the suggestion +made by Joe Lewis. "There isn't anything here----" + +"What's that?" cried Bob suddenly, interrupting his friend. + +Bob had heard a peculiar noise that caused him to turn about. + +Again it came, a hideous hiss that made them jump in alarm. + +"Snake!" pronounced Dr. Rander, and an instant later a long slim body +unwound itself and made slowly toward the three explorers. + +"It's poisonous, all right," observed Bob, noting the peculiar shape of +the reptile's head. + +"And we haven't a gun!" moaned Joe ruefully. "What will we do?" + +"You mean we haven't a rifle, but we have a gun." Bob produced his +revolver, which he aimed carefully at the horrible staring eyes. + +"I won't dare miss!" he thought, and then pulled the trigger. + +The report of the pistol mingled with a sickening swishing noise as +the snake lashed about in its death struggle. + +"You got him, all right." Joe felt a refreshing feeling of relief +creep over him. + +Bob nodded. + +"Let's get out of here," he said in a determined voice. "There's no +telling how many more of these creatures we may see if we don't." + +"I should have brought the movie camera," laughed Joe, as they +descended the hill. "That would have made a peach of a picture." + +"I'm glad you didn't," came from Dr. Rander. "Because the sight of +those ruins might have inspired some scientists to come over this +trail. And the secret treasure cave might be known to them--if they +could open the hidden door." + +Dr. Rander, however, had not protested to the youths' taking movies of +the region they were passing through, even though there might be +danger of someone from the United States coming in search of other +ruins and treasure hideouts. + +"I could not say anything against your doing that," he had told them. +"Especially since you were engaged by the motion-picture house." + +So they had exposed film whenever they thought it advisable and were +well pleased with the results so far. All told, they had already +cranked off more than a thousand feet of film, and fully expected to +use that much more. + +"These scenes ought to be interesting, too," remarked Bob, untying the +foremost mule. "I believe the Neuman Motion Picture Corporation will +be well satisfied with them." + +"Let's hope so," Joe said. "The money we get from doing this is no +small sum." + +The next day they plunged into a region that was wilder and more +dangerous to penetrate than any they had been in before. The rugged +Andes reached up on all sides of them, often forming narrow valleys +that were shut off from the rays of the sun. + +"Sure is cold tonight," remarked Joe with a shiver. + +They were camped beside a small spring that was fed by an underground +stream. Darkness had fallen, and with it had come the chill of the +Andean night. + +Joe was resting peacefully beside the warm blaze of the campfire when +suddenly he caught sight of two small fiery lights coming slowly at +him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +Descending Rapidly + + +Joe's first impulse was to get to his feet and utter an exclamation of +alarm. But he knew that this sudden movement might cause the creature, +whatever it was, to rush at him. + +His rifle lay at his side for just such an emergency as this. +Thankfully Joe raised the gun, took aim, and fired between those two +lights, which had now taken the form of eyes. + +Bang! The shot broke the stillness of the night and sent Bob and Dr. +Rander scurrying over to their friend. They had been on the opposite +side of the fire and had not noticed Joe's movements. + +"What is it?" Bob was all excitement. + +"Don't know," his friend replied. "Let's see." + +The sound of the gun had not been followed by any other noise. +Evidently Joe's aim had been true, killing the creature instantly. + +Bob produced a flashlight, which he turned in the direction in which +his friend had fired. + +"Why--it's another snake!" exclaimed Dr. Rander. "A bola. It isn't +poisonous, but it is a good thing you got it. There is no way of +knowing what it might have been." + +With the aid of the flashlight they examined the reptile closely. Its +head was almost shot off, making it useless as a specimen. + +"I'd like to have it for Dad and the other naturalists," remarked Bob. +"But as it is, guess it's no good for anything." + +"You should have been more careful in shooting it," teased Dr. Rander. +"Now if you had aimed at its body instead of its head----" + +Joe smiled. + +"A snake has eyes in only one place," he said laughingly, "and the +eyes are the only part of it you can see at night. Now if this fellow +had worn a badge to signify that he was a member of the Royal Order of +Andean Reptiles, maybe the fire shining on it would have given me a +good place to take aim at." + +"Probably wouldn't bother with him anyway," said Bob. "After all, +we're out to find the treasure." + +Nothing happened that night to disturb their slumber. They awoke the +next morning eager to continue the journey. + +"Today we should come to the big secret," Dr. Rander told them during +breakfast. "If all goes well, we should get there this afternoon." + +Bob was restless. + +"Let's hurry and get going," he urged, untying the mules. + +Farther over the rocky trail the three adventurers trudged, keeping a +sharp lookout for anything unusual. + +Always in the distance were massive snow-clad peaks, which on this +morning were enshrouded in a heavy mist. Usually they were plainly +visible, especially through the high-powered binoculars that were +carried by Joe. + +Gradually the path spiraled down the steep slope until it passed +through a narrow valley, which was green with a variety of luxuriant +vegetation. So dense were the plants that they almost formed a jungle. + +"Look at this," cried Bob, moving over to a vine that was laden with +large red berries. "Wonder if they're good to eat?" + +"Yes." The old man had broken off a branch and was eagerly partaking +of the fruit. "They are wild cherries, or tomatoes, as some call them. +There is nothing better for taste." + +"Right you are!" agreed Joe, after he had eaten several of the +berries. "They're fine!" + +They picked a sackful of the fruit to have at the noon meal. Then they +resumed the journey. + +At places the trail was overgrown with weeds and grass, making it +difficult to follow it. But Dr. Rander had been through this region +before and did not hesitate long in picking out the right branch. + +"I don't see how you can remember the way," Joe told him, when he had +pointed out one of three branches, each of which was almost parallel +to the others. + +The old man laughed. + +"I can't afford to forget," he said. "All that treasure is something +that is worth too much to be forgetting where it is. If it should +happen, though, that I should get turned around, I have a rough sketch +map of this region that I made at the very start." + +On the other side of the valley was a steep slope that was entirely +devoid of vegetation. Look about as the youths did, they could see no +path. They were beginning to wonder when Dr. Rander broke the silence. + +"From here there is no trail," he explained. "We'll have to cut our +way through the hard places and climb over large rocks. It won't be +easy, but we will be rewarded." + +"No trail, huh?" thought Bob. "Here's where the fun begins." + +It was far from fun, in the usual sense of the word. The three labored +over short, steep elevations, rocky precipices, narrow ridges, pulling +the sure-footed mules behind them. At last, when they finally reached +a high ledge, they sat down to get their breath. + +"Whew!" gasped Joe, wiping the perspiration from his brow. "I don't +want much of that. Wonder how old Dr. Rander stands up under such a +strain?" + +"Hardened to it, I suppose," was Bob's reply. "Since he left college +he's been nothing else but an explorer." + +The old man had been at the back of the line, attending to the last +pack animal. There was a smile on his face as he approached his young +friends. + +"We've made unusually good time," he said, sitting down beside them, +"and we can afford a rest." + +"We earned it, all right," came from Joe. "How much more of this is +there?" + +"A long stretch," Dr. Rander responded. "Several miles, to say the +least. Of course," he added, "it would not be long if we could go in a +straight line. But over mountains and around cliffs the going is much +different." + +"I'll say it is!" Joe was still panting from the difficult climb. The +high altitude required an unusual amount of wind. + +Fifteen minutes later they were ready to continue. The mules had been +coaxed ahead over the dangerous ledge. + +"Getting darker," observed Bob Holton. "Wonder if it's going to rain?" + +Dr. Rander looked up anxiously. Sure enough, heavy clouds were forming +above the mountain tops, hiding the sun from view. + +"It would not be well for us to be caught in a storm here," the old +explorer said. "We must seek shelter somewhere. It certainly looks as +if a storm will be upon us before long." + +They looked about for some place of refuge, such as a cave or +overhanging rock. But luck was not with them that day. They had +searched an hour under a sky that was rapidly becoming darker when +suddenly a terrific hailstorm struck them. + +"Quick!" gasped Joe, who was almost frantic. "We must find some +place!" + +"We're not finding it," returned his chum, who was taking the danger +more lightly. "And I guess there's nothing we can do but stay out here +in the open and endure it." + +But a few minutes later Bob had become as serious as his friend. Hail +as large as marbles was falling with a terrible velocity, striking +the explorers' faces dangerously. One lump caught Joe squarely on the +nose, causing him to utter a cry of pain. + +"This is awful!" he moaned, holding his hand in front of his eyes. + +How long the storm would last they had not the faintest idea. Even Dr. +Rander could express no opinion. + +Doggedly they fought off the hail, which bruised and cut their faces +and bodies. They wondered how the mules were standing it. Could the +animals endure the terrific onslaught? Or would they become +panic-stricken and plunge off the steep cliff? + +After what seemed like hours, the hailstorm suddenly subsided and the +sky began to lighten. Ten minutes later the surrounding mountains bore +no evidence of the disturbance. + +With the adventurers, however, it was a different matter. Their faces +were cut in many places, and their clothing was torn. A more +miserable-looking trio could hardly have been found. + +"Get out the ointment," directed Bob. "We'll sure need plenty of it." + +"The mules came through all right," observed Dr. Rander. "Cut and +bruised, but nothing more." + +"It's funny," began Joe, looking up at the sun, which was now in full +view. "That was a very queer storm. It came quickly and ended the +same way." + +"Hailstorms are rather common in this part," explained the old man, +getting out a box of antiseptics and first-aid remedies. + +Their numerous wounds were treated with a soothing salve. Then, after +looking over the mules, they moved on around the mountainside. + +At a huge notch in the rocky slope they stopped to examine a curious +formation that puzzled them. It was a long sloping slide, running +gradually down the mountainside. From all appearances it was as smooth +as glass. + +"I don't know whether this is natural or man-made," said Dr. Rander. +"I never have been able to find out. But," he went on, "what concerns +us is that we'll have to slide down to the foot of the mountain." + +"What!" Bob's surprise was beyond words. "Do you really mean that?" + +"Every word of it," was the old man's reply. His little eyes twinkled. +"Don't you think much of the idea?" + +Bob laughed. + +"It was so sudden that I hadn't given it a thought," he answered. +"But"--gazing far down the smooth slope--"it looks rather inviting. +Will you go first?" The youth was not fully convinced that Dr. Rander +was in earnest. + +"If I go, one of you will have to stay with the pack animals," the old +man said. "I don't think they had better try it," he added with a +laugh. + +Bob and Joe looked puzzled. + +"I don't understand," said the latter, hesitating. "Do you mean that +some of us will slide down this slope and some stay with the +mules--leave them here, I mean?" + +"Oh, no," smiled Dr. Rander. "One of us will have to take the mules +down the trail. We could all go that way, but as it is very long, this +offers a short cut that you fellows can take. That is, if you want to. +When you get to the bottom you can wait until I get down the trail +with the pack animals." + +"Where is the trail?" Bob secretly wondered if Dr. Rander had suddenly +changed his mind about sharing the treasure with them and was using +this means to evade them. He did not think the old man treacherous, +but he wanted to be on the safe side. + +"Over there." Dr. Rander pointed to a narrow path that circled down +the mountainside. + +"Suppose," Bob began, "you and Joe go down the slide while I take the +mules down the trail. I don't like the looks of that glassy slope." + +"All right. I'm no longer young, but I still like sport. Here I go." + +The next moment he was sliding rapidly down the polished incline. + +When he was halfway down, Bob and Joe burst out in laughter. The sight +of the old man doing such a thing as this with so much enjoyment +aroused the youths' sense of humor. + +"If he likes it so much, maybe I will," chuckled Joe, sitting down at +the edge. + +"Good luck," called Bob, as his friend let go his hold and passed +swiftly down. + +It was an unusual sensation to Joe, as he shot down the curving slide. +When younger he had often played on the slides in parks. But this was +something entirely different. To shoot down a tall mountain at a rapid +pace, on the straightaways and around curves, was indeed novel. + +When over halfway down, the youth felt himself gradually lose +momentum, and he knew that the slide was flattening out. Too steep a +descent, especially near the bottom, would be dangerous. + +At last he came to a stop beside Dr. Rander, who had been watching the +descent. + +"How did you like it?" the old man asked. + +"All right. Got rather warm, though. Wonder if it thinned my trousers +any? No, I guess not. Too smooth, I suppose." + +Fifteen minutes later Bob came in sight leading the line of mules. He +laughed as he caught sight of them. + +"Any worse for your experience?" the youth asked with a chuckle. + +"Do we look it?" smiled Joe. "We enjoyed it." + +As the sun was almost directly overhead they decided to remain at this +spot for the midday meal. All were extremely tired and hungry. + +Bob prepared dinner, using water they had brought with them in +canteens. As a dessert they feasted on the delicious wild cherries +that they had picked that morning. + +"Now let's get going," urged Joe, when the meal was over. "I'd like to +see that treasure." + +Farther into the wilds they plunged, with not the faintest suggestion +of a trail to guide them. + +"No trace of any vegetation here," observed Bob. "It's a good thing we +stopped where we did, or the mules probably wouldn't have had anything +to eat. There were a few stunted bushes and other plants back at the +foot of the slide." + +An hour of climbing brought them to a place where a tall peak +obstructed their view. + +They trudged around and then suddenly found themselves at the bank of +the roaring Apurimac River. + +"On a little farther," Dr. Rander said, urging the mules to ascend the +difficult slope. + +At last they came to a place where a high rock protruded far over the +river. Here the old explorer called a halt and pointed up the side of +a mountain. + +"In that little notch up there is the entrance to the treasure," he +said. "As I said before, there is a huge cave that occupies the entire +mountain. There we will find the treasure, if there is any." + +The youths' hearts beat rapidly. They could hardly believe that at +last they were nearing the great secret. + +"But," hesitated Bob Holton, "how are we going to get across this +roaring river?" + +"That," the old explorer returned, "will be the most difficult part of +our entire journey. Come. Let me show you." + +They followed him to the edge of a high rock that protruded far out +over the seething rapids. + +"Look there," he said, pointing to something. + +Stretching from the rock across the river to another protruding crag +was a heavy metal wire, which, strange to say, showed not the +slightest trace of rust. + +"That cable was put there by the Incas," Dr. Rander said. "It is +hundreds of years old, but still looks as if it had been built but +yesterday. It is coated with some secret preservative, which prevents +it from rusting through." + +"Interesting," remarked Joe. "But what about it?" + +The old man replied at once. + +"We must cross the river by hanging from the cable with our hands," he +said quietly. + +Joe's heart sank. Secretly he felt that if he were to undertake the +dangerous venture he would meet with tragedy. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +The Big Secret + + +"Careful, now." + +Dr. Rander was slowly and dangerously hanging from the heavy wire with +his hands, working his way steadily across the roaring rapids below. +If he were to fall, it would probably seal his doom, even though the +youths held one end of a stout rope that was tied securely around his +waist. + +"Think he'll make it?" Bob looked on anxiously, half expecting to see +the old man let go and plunge into the seething water below. + +Slowly but surely he swung across, holding on with a grip of steel. It +seemed remarkable that a person of his age could withstand the arduous +tasks connected with exploration. But no doubt he was hardened to an +eventful outdoor life of adventure. + +"He's over," cried Joe happily. "Made it all right. Didn't even +threaten to let go. Now I wonder if we can do as well?" + +The youths had yet to see. + +Joe was next to swing across. He walked over to the cable and gazed +doubtfully first at the boiling stream below, then at Dr. Rander on +the opposite cliff. + +"Go ahead," said Bob. "Might as well get it over." + +"Yeah. But I wish it weren't necessary to do this. I suppose, though, +that I can do it if Dr. Rander can." + +Joe sat down on the edge of the cliff, took hold of the heavy wire, +and slowly let himself down. + +For a brief moment it seemed as if his arms would be torn from their +sockets, for, although he was not heavy, the strain was very great. + +"I've got to make it!" he told himself, gritting his teeth. He refused +to think of what might happen if he were to plunge into the roaring +rapids below. + +"Don't let go, whatever you do!" Bob, on the rock, was holding the +rope tightly, ready to pull his friend to safety if the latter should +be forced to release his grip. + +Joe swung across with a certain determination that was luckily with +him in every emergency. He did not look below for fear of becoming +frightened. + +At last, when he felt that he could stand no more of this torture, +the youth felt his foot touch rock, and he knew that he was safe. + +"Hurrah!" cried Bob Holton, waving his arms in the air. "Now here I +come." + +Bob would find the feat more difficult, since he was heavier than +either of the two who had crossed. But usually when he set his mind on +doing a thing he was able to do it. + +But first he walked over to the mules, which had been tethered +securely by Dr. Rander, and got out a stronger rope, which he tied +around his waist and shoulders. A small weight he fixed at the other +end, and then moved back to the edge of the rock. + +"Here. Catch this," he called, and threw the rope over to Joe on the +other side of the river. + +When everything was in readiness he slowly lowered himself until he +could grasp the wire that stretched across the stream. Then, setting +his nerves for the trying task, he let his feet drop. + +For one awful minute Bob's heart stood still. Then he got a grip on +himself and swung easily across to the other side. + +"That was fine!" praised Dr. Rander. "You never flinched. Now let's +hurry up the mountain to the treasure." + +"Do you suppose the mules will be safe over there?" queried Joe +anxiously. "We couldn't take any food with us across the river. If +anything should happen to them----" + +"There is no danger," the old man assured him. "Probably no one has +been in this section for years and years." + +Notwithstanding this, the young men were still worried. They realized +that they would be in a grave predicament if anything should befall +the provisions. + +This anxiety gradually wore off, however, as they neared the treasure +cave. + +"Hard climb, but nothing will stop us now," smiled Joe happily. + +"You will be amazed when you look upon the wonders in the cave," Dr. +Rander told them. "It will exceed your wildest dream." + +"How did they all get there?" inquired Bob. + +"I do not know. They were placed there by some wealthy Inca--perhaps a +king--for safe keeping. It might have been that this was at the time +of the Spanish invasion, and that the owner was later killed by the +conquering troops. At any rate, the secret remained as such until I +accidentally found it." + +"You sure were lucky," remarked Joe. "Perhaps it wouldn't have been +discovered at all if you hadn't located it." + +At a point near the ledge, the mountain grew so steep as to make +climbing a very arduous task. A single misstep would have meant a +horrible plunge into the roaring rapids below. + +At last they came to the top of the ledge, before the notch cut in the +mountainside. + +"See that dark entrance?" asked Dr. Rander. "That is a tunnel that +leads to the cavern. Come." + +The youths followed the old man into the opening, which was made light +by the latter's flashlight. The passage seemed to lead steadily +upward, probably into the peak of the mountain. + +"Do you suppose this tunnel was constructed?" asked Joe, after five +minutes had passed. + +"I believe so," Dr. Rander returned. "When we get farther on, you will +think so too." + +Fifteen minutes of walking brought them to the end of the tunnel. From +all appearances there was nothing but natural rock before them. + +"Watch," said Dr. Rander, moving over to the end of the cave. + +He reached up and pressed a mysterious button. Then he stepped back +and waited. + +Suddenly the youths gasped in awe, as they saw the huge stone wall +slowly swing inward. As it made an opening, a beam of natural light +flashed into the cave, making the use of a flashlight no longer +necessary. + +"Huh! That's funny!" muttered Joe. "Must be an entrance to the outside +somewhere." + +"If you can find it, it is more than I can do," laughed Dr. Rander. + +The opening grew larger, and the light brighter. When the ponderous +stone wall had swung away to the utmost, Bob and Joe followed the old +man through the entrance. + +As they did so their eyes opened wide and their jaws dropped at the +sight that lay before them. Ahead was a great stone room, fully fifty +feet square, in which were scores of objects carved from stone. +Statues of men, birds, llamas, pumas, and many other animals were all +about. Ears of corn, plows, chairs, pottery--all these and many more +objects were carved out of stone. + +It was a wonderful collection, one that would delight the eye of any +archæologist. Bob and Joe inspected the various objects with interest, +knowing that Dr. Rust and his fellow scientists would give a great +deal to know of the existence of this place of wonder. + +"All this is very interesting," remarked the old man. "But what we +really came after was treasure--if there is any." + +"Yeah. Where is the place where you said it might be?" Bob was anxious +to look for something still more valuable than the stone objects. + +"I will show you." + +Dr. Rander stepped over to one corner of the large room, where was a +huge statue of a man, perhaps an Inca king. + +"Now look closely," he said, when the youths had followed him. + +The old man walked up to the statue and stood directly in front of it. +Then he waited. + +At that moment something happened that caused Bob and Joe to gasp in +wonder. Slowly, surely, the statue sank into the floor until it +disappeared from sight. Directly below the resulting opening was a +ladder, which led down into another gigantic room. + +"Well, of all things!" cried Joe in utter amazement. "That sure is a +secret if there ever was one." + +"Let us go down." Dr. Rander was making his way down the ladder, +motioning for the youths to follow. + +They did and soon found themselves in a huge cavern cut out of solid +rock. Here were more stone objects similar to the ones in the room +above them. + +"This way," pointed out the old man, walking over to one side of the +cave. + +"Wonder where the light comes from?" pondered Bob. "It's from the +outside, all right, but how does it get in?" + +Dr. Rander bent over and pressed something in a crack in the floor, +straightening up a moment later. + +Again the youths were filled with amazement. A huge stone block swung +away on unseen hinges, leaving an opening perhaps four feet in width. + +"Now we must use flashlights," Dr. Rander said, stepping inside. +"There is no opening to the outside, apparently." + +The beams of the electric torches revealed the fact that they were in +another cave. + +"Over here," explained the old man, "is a sort of bin cut out of the +rock. It is covered with a stone that I cannot lift. But I feel sure +that all three of us can." + +"Let's have a look at it," said Bob. + +Together they heaved on the stone block with all their strength. +Before long they saw that their efforts were not in vain. The stone +was slowly slipping from the top of the bin. At length it fell to the +floor with a dull thud. + +The explorers turned the beams of the flashlights into the opening, +looking about eagerly. + +"Here's something," announced Joe, bringing out a small iron box. + +"Open it," directed Dr. Rander. + +Joe did--and then cried out in wonder as he saw its contents. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +Another Hidden Wonder + + +"Gold!" cried Joe happily. "Gold beads, as sure as I'm alive!" + +"And scores of them, too," observed Bob. "Bet they're worth hundreds +and hundreds of dollars." + +They examined the little objects with interest, joyful that at last +their efforts had been rewarded. The beads still shone brightly, +although they had been in the cavern for hundreds of years. That they +were really gold, no one doubted in the slightest. + +"Who put them here?" asked Bob Holton, when they were ready to leave +for the outside, the jewel box in their possession. + +"The Incas," returned Dr. Rander. "Perhaps it was an Inca king. At any +rate it was someone who was wealthy." + +They looked about for any other treasure that might be in the room, +but found none. At last they left the cave, closing the stone door +behind them. + +Led by Dr. Rander, they climbed the ladder, and then passed through +the great room that was filled with the stone statues. + +"We must hurry before it gets dark," said Dr. Rander, closing the +secret stone wall by pressing the hidden button. "It will not do to +cross that river at night." + +"Bad enough in the daytime," added Joe, as they made their way through +the dark tunnel. + +When at last they reached the outside they saw that they had but a few +minutes before the sun would sink from sight. + +Down the steep slope they climbed until at last they reached the cliff +which protruded over the roaring river. + +"How are we going to get the jewel box across?" asked Joe. "It isn't +large, but it's too big to put in our pockets." + +"Use a rope, I suppose," was the answer from Bob. "We'll tie it +tightly across somebody's back." + +This suggestion was followed, and before long the three were on the +other side of the rapids. They were relieved to find that the mules +were resting peacefully. + +"I don't like the idea of crossing that river any more," said Bob with +a frown. "But I would like to go over to the secret cavern again +tomorrow." + +"What for?" demanded Joe. + +"I have two good reasons," his friend answered. "First, I would like +to take some movies of the place. And the other one is that I'd +like to make a detailed map to give to Dr. Rust and the other +archæologists. They'll appreciate it, all right. Be tickled to death +to know that we found all those Inca remains." + +The next morning they did as Bob wished and once more swung themselves +across the boiling rapids, coming to the opposite side safely. + +Motion pictures of the secret cavern and its contents were taken, and +then a reliable map was made of the region, including the exact +location of the mysterious buttons that moved the large stone doors. + +Although Bob was assisted by his friends, he did not have everything +completed until noon. + +With one last look at the mountain of secrets, the three turned and +retraced their footsteps to the river. + +"Last time across," said Joe with a sigh of relief. From the start he +had feared the dangerous swing from the cable. + +No harm befell them, however, and they reached the other side ready to +start the journey to Pasaje, where Karl Sutman would be waiting with +his airplane. + +"Good old Karl," said Bob affectionately. "It will be fine to see him +again. And Dad and the others. I hope they're all right." + +"With you on that," came from Joe quickly. + +"It will take us many days to get to Pasaje," Dr. Rander put in. He +intended to go with the youths to that town, where he wished to remain +for several days. + +"Wonder if we'll see anything more of interest?" Joe was anxious to +observe all that was worthwhile. + +"There are other secrets I will show you," explained Dr. Rander. "But +as far as I know there is no more treasure." + +They decided to rest the remainder of that day, for all were tired +from the strain. On a little shelf beside the roaring Apurimac they +made camp. + +"Now lead us to more secrets," said Bob the next morning, when they +were ready to resume the journey. + +"I will," returned the old man. + +He kept his promise. Late that afternoon they had been following a +narrow trail that curved with the river when Dr. Rander stopped and +pointed up to a tall peak. + +"Beyond that is a little hidden valley," he told the youths. "In it is +a tall tower that was built by the Incas. As far as I know, I am the +only person who has ever found it." + +"Sounds interesting," said Joe. "Can we go there?" + +"Yes. Follow me." + +He tied the mules securely and then began the dangerous ascent of the +high peak, Bob and Joe at his heels. + +After a half-hour of struggling they reached the summit, which was +covered with a thin coating of snow. + +"Now, look down," the old man said. + +Far, far below, on the other side of the mountain, was a narrow valley +that was green with tropical vegetation. It appeared much lower than +might be expected. + +"Look away over to your right," directed Dr. Rander. "See that tall +tower?" + +"Why--why, yes!" Bob was struck with wonder. "Let's go down and see +it. Have you ever been there?" he asked the old man. + +"Not close," was the reply. "I have only looked at it from a distance. +Lack of time prevented me from going over there." + +"We haven't a great deal of time," said Joe. "But I wouldn't miss +taking that in for hardly anything." + +He led the way down the steep slope, which required not a little +caution. A single misstep would have meant a terrible fall to the +bottom of the cañon. + +An hour of careful climbing and their feet touched the green grass +below. The tower, they observed, was several hundred yards in the +distance. + +"Probably we will find other ruins near," remarked Joe Lewis, as they +walked toward the corner of the narrow valley. + +"Where there is one there is likely to be two," smiled Dr. Rander. +"And maybe you're right." + +When they came nearer they saw that the tower was at least a hundred +feet high. It was built of small blocks of stone, carefully fitted +together. Near the base was a heavy growth of vines and creepers, +which wound around the tower up to a height of twenty feet. + +"Here's a door," called Bob, who had gone around the other side. +"Let's go in and see what we can find." + +With the aid of small flashlights they entered the structure and +looked about. + +Everywhere were cobwebs and other evidences of age, showing that it +had not been occupied for hundreds of years. In one corner was a +narrow winding stairway, which evidently led to the top. + +"Shall we go up?" asked Joe. + +"Sure. Why not?" Bob was already halfway up the first flight. + +The others followed him, winding slowly up the narrow stairs. They +wondered a little if it might be safe to venture up into this +time-worn structure. + +After what seemed like hours, they left the last flight of stairs and +turned to go out on the top floor. + +As they did so, they saw something that was horrible and disgusting. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +A Narrow Escape + + +Lying about on the stone floor were at least ten human skeletons, +which were white with age. They were in no fixed positions, but were +scattered aimlessly over the dusty floor. + +Bob was the first to break the silence. + +"Wonder how they got here?" he asked. + +"Perhaps they are the remains of soldiers who guarded this tower," was +the opinion of Dr. Rander. "Here," he went on, "look at this. It's a +dagger--made of stone." + +"You might be right," commented Joe. "But then, it's possible that the +dagger belonged to someone who came up and murdered those who were +here." + +The explorers examined the skeletons for several minutes before going +to the edge and looking down on the surrounding valley. + +"Can see quite a distance," observed Bob, peering out at a distant +mountain. + +"Yes," agreed Joe. "There----" + +At that moment he was interrupted by a cracking noise, which seemed to +come from the tower. + +"What's that?" cried Dr. Rander excitedly. + +But when it was repeated, there was no doubt in their minds as to the +origin of the strange noise. + +"It's the tower!" exclaimed Bob fearfully. "I hope I'm wrong, but I'm +afraid it's going to fall. Hurry! Let's get down to the ground." + +The three lost no time in scrambling down the stairs. They reached the +bottom in safety, and then dashed outside, Dr. Rander displaying +remarkable agility for his age. + +Then something happened that filled them with terror. With one last +creak, the old tower leaned slowly to the south, poised for a brief +moment, and went crumbling to the ground. There was a report like that +of a cannon, followed by a heavy cloud of dust and small particles of +rock. + +The explorers' hearts were beating like trip hammers; their faces were +red with excitement. + +"Thank God that we escaped in time!" breathed Dr. Rander. "A few +seconds more and we would have been caught beneath tons of rock!" + +"And what a death!" muttered Joe with a shudder. "I don't want to even +think of it." + +They sat down on the ground to relieve themselves of the terrible +strain. Especially did the old man show signs of exertion. At first +the youths half expected to see him fall with heart failure, for he +was terribly exhausted. + +The rest, however, did him good, and before long he was apparently no +worse for the horrible experience. + +"Funny that tower should collapse just at this time, isn't it?" said +Bob. "I suppose, though, that it was ready to go at any time, and our +weight proved too much for it." + +"That probably explains what happened," came from the old man. "If no +one had found it, perhaps it would have remained intact for many years +yet." + +They put in no more time here, but turned and went back to the peak. + +Very difficult it was to scale the steep slope, but at last they +reached the top and descended to the other side. + +"The mules are all right," observed Bob. "Suppose we get going without +delay. I'd like to get to Pasaje as soon as possible. I'm getting +anxious to see Dad and the others of the expedition." + +"It will still take time," Dr. Rander told him. "There are many miles +of difficult travel before us." + +And difficult it was. Although the adventurers had previously found it +hard to make progress through the rugged mountains, they now +experienced even more hindrances. + +Unfortunately, Dr. Rander was not overly familiar with this section +and often made mistakes in pointing out the best course of travel. + +It was not uncommon for the adventurers to come upon heavy forests at +elevations of fifteen thousand feet. This surprised Bob and Joe, who +did not expect to see trees growing at such high altitudes. + +"There really is no such thing as the 'tree line' in the Andes," +explained the old explorer. "In fact, it is possible to find forests +at unusually high altitudes." + +As they trudged on they came to more wild-cherry plants, the fruit of +which they ate hungrily. It was refreshing to have fresh fruit after +eating nothing but dried goods. + +As much as possible they followed the banks of the Apurimac River, for +Pasaje, their destination, is situated just above the point where the +stream branches. + +As they went farther, the mountains became more lofty, and snow on the +summits was more common. They never climbed high enough, however, to +come in contact with it. + +Suddenly, upon hearing an unusual noise, Joe glanced around, and then +gasped in apprehension. + +"One of the mules is stuck in mud!" he cried. "Quick! We must do +something at once!" + +Without delay the old man turned about, walked back to one of the pack +animals, and secured a long heavy rope. Then he moved on to the rear +of the line, where one of the mules was struggling to free itself from +the black bog. + +"Bob, you had better come to the rescue," he said, after a moment of +pondering. "You're pretty good at lassoing, as you showed us several +days ago on that narrow ledge. Won't you try it and see what you can +do?" + +"Where will I throw the rope, over the mule's head?" + +"Yes. Tighten it around the animal's neck." + +"But--won't it choke?" + +"Not for a few minutes. There is no other way to pull the mule out. If +we go too close we'll get caught ourselves." + +"All right, then. Here goes." + +Bob took the rope, made a loop, and stepped as near as he thought +possible with safety. + +"If I miss my aim, I can't help it," the youth said, as he threw the +lasso. + +Joe cried out happily as he saw that the loop went directly over the +mule's head. Dr. Rander's face also lightened. + +All three pulled on the rope with all their strength, but their +efforts appeared to be in vain. The treacherous bog had engulfed its +helpless victim too tightly. + +"We've got to get that animal out!" cried Joe, redoubling his efforts. +"There's a lot of valuable supplies on its back." + +But how? They were doing all they knew of. If that were not +sufficient, the mule would have to go down. + +"We're losing steadily," observed Bob grimly. "But I guess we can't +help it." + +Despite their furious efforts to draw the beast to safety, it was +sinking rapidly. Already its body was nearly under. In but a brief +time its head, too, would be engulfed. + +But the adventurers kept up doggedly, determined to win the battle +even though defeat was staring them in the face. + +With one last effort, they gave the rope a new stronger pull. But it +was not enough. The weight of the mule and its burden was too much, +and the animal's head slid horribly into the oozing mud, to disappear +forever. + +Bob slumped down on the grass. + +"We lost," he murmured gravely. "Now we're one pack animal short." + +"And there were quite a few valuable objects in the pack, too," added +Joe, "not to say anything about losing the animal." + +"Have to get along some way," Dr. Rander said. "There is no use in +thinking anything more about it." + +"Wonder what the mule thought about when he went under?" mused Joe. +"It must have been terrible." + +They resolved to follow the old man's suggestion and forget the loss +as best they could. After all, it was lucky that one of them had not +been the victim. + +Again they took up the journey, this time keeping a closer lookout for +other bogs. But Dr. Rander did not know this region any too well, and +could not guide them as surely as he would have liked to. + +In the fascinating mountains the time passed rapidly. It was two days +after they had lost the mule when Dr. Rander pointed to something in +the distant sky. + +"That's a condor," he said, his eyes trying to make out the flying +form more clearly. + +"It is at that," affirmed Bob, looking through his binoculars. "And +what's more, it's white. A _condor real_, as sure as I'm standing +here!" + +"Let's see," said Joe, and took the glasses his friend handed him. + +A few moments of observing and he nodded, giving the binoculars to the +old man. + +"You're right," Joe said to his chum. "And oh! Wouldn't our dads and +Mr. Wallace like to be here now! A white condor! One of the creatures +they wanted most." + +"Maybe we can get it for them," muttered Bob, grasping a shotgun. "Do +you suppose there's a chance?" + +"Not unless it flies nearer," returned Dr. Rander. "Even then the bird +would probably fall to the bottom of the cañon, and that would mean a +dangerous descent." + +"I'm going to see, anyway," Bob persisted, following the soaring form +through his powerful binoculars. + +"Look what I've found," called Joe, who had climbed down to a narrow +ledge several yards below the others. + +"Why--it's a nest," exclaimed Bob, upon descending to the shelf. "And +look at those eggs. Sure are whoppers. Say," he cried suddenly, "I bet +I know everything now. This belongs to that white condor. Look. +There's a white feather. See it?" + +"You're probably right," said Dr. Rander, moving down to the ledge. +"Let us look about more. We may find something else of interest." + +But all searching was stopped a second later when Joe happened to +glance up. + +"The condor!" he cried fearfully. "It's coming at us!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +Fighting Desperately + + +There was not a moment to lose. With the huge white condor swooping +down upon them, the explorers knew that they must act quickly. +Unfortunately their rifles had been left on the trail above. Before +they could secure the weapons the huge bird would be upon them and +would probably use its terrible claws and beak to great advantage. + +"My knife is all we have to defend ourselves with," said Joe, watching +the large form advance toward them. "But I'm going to use it." + +The condor came on swiftly. It circled around a few times near its +nest and then rushed madly at the little group of adventurers. + +Now it was barely ten feet away and coming with deadly aim. In but a +brief moment it would be in a position where it could work deadly +havoc with its sharp claws. + +Joe had his long hunting knife in readiness now, waiting for an +opportune moment. Then it came. + +The huge white bird was soaring directly above its human enemies. As +it dropped lower, Joe lunged forward and plunged the sharp knife +through one of the long, thin legs. + +Uttering a curious sound, the condor darted away, circled around for a +brief period, and then flew at the explorers with a new determination. + +One of the horrible claws shot out and caught Joe's arm, the impact +knocking the knife from the youth's hand. It went hurtling to the +bottom of the abyss, far below. + +Joe was weaponless, helpless! + +New horror crept over him when he suddenly felt himself leaving the +ground. Not fifteen feet away was the edge of the cliff! Vainly he +tried to escape from the clutch of that formidable claw. + +Meanwhile, Bob and the old man were not inactive. They knew that it +would only be a short time before their friend would be carried over +the brink of the cliff. And that must be prevented at any cost. + +Looking wildly about, Bob caught sight of a rock about half as large +as a brick. Almost frantic, he picked it up, and with desperate +strength he sent it crashing into the condor's body. + +The force was terrific, and for a moment it seemed as if the condor +were going to drop. But it righted itself and carried the helpless +Joe still farther toward the rocky edge. + +"I'm going to try something," blurted out Bob, his face red with an +awful fear. "You run up to the mules and get a rifle--quick!" he said +to Dr. Rander. + +As a last resort, Bob hurled his hundred and eighty pounds at Joe's +feet, and caught hold with a grip of steel. He wondered if the huge +bird could lift both himself and his friend. If it could.... + +At that moment Dr. Rander scrambled down the rocky slope with a rifle, +which he aimed unflinchingly at the condor's body. The next moment the +gun barked. + +With a terrific fluttering of its heavy wings, the bird sank slowly to +the ground. It touched the hard soil, and then with a convulsive +twitch it lay still. + +For almost a minute there was silence among the little party of +adventurers. They were panting furiously, and their wide eyes had not +yet lost their look of terror. Perspiration was streaming from them, +making their faces shine gruesomely. It had been one of the narrowest +escapes they had had so far. + +Finally Joe wiped his face and looked at Bob with intense gratitude. +Then his eyes fell on Dr. Rander, whose rifle was still warm from the +timely shot. + +"I don't know how to thank you," he said warmly. "If you hadn't been +so plucky, I would probably be lying in a broken mass at the bottom of +the gorge right now. It was simply wonderful!" + +"Forget it!" Bob disclaimed any praise offered him. "The only thing +now that matters is that you're alive." + +"Thank Bob for that," the old man said. "If he had not thrown himself +at your feet you would surely have gone over the cliff." + +"But it was your shot that finished the job," protested Bob Holton. +"Even with the weight of both of us the condor was slowly dragging us +toward the brink." + +"I'm afraid my bullet would have been too late if you hadn't done what +you did," persisted the old man. + +"All right. Have it your own way." With a laugh Bob dropped the matter +and stooped over to examine the huge white bird. + +It must have had a wing spread of over ten feet. Later measurements +showed that this was accurate. But what impressed the youths most was +its pure white feathers, which looked as clean as if they had been +recently washed. The terrible claws and long sharp beak next caught +the youths' eyes, and their respect for the power of this monstrous +bird was increased. + +"Quite a specimen," observed Joe. "And speaking of specimens," he went +on, "why can't we skin it and take it with us? Our dads and Mr. +Wallace would sure be tickled. The white condor! Boy! I can just see +them giving cries of delight." + +"Nothing to prevent us," returned the other youth. "We may find it +hard to place in our mule train, but we'll manage some way." + +Bob secured a long knife, and with a skill that he learned while on +other hunting trips he cut the bird's skin open down the breast. A few +minutes more and the task was completed. + +Without the weight of the body, the skin was light, and they had no +difficulty in tying it over the back of one of the mules, which +appeared not to notice the extra load. + +With one last look at the spot where Joe had almost met his death, +they turned and drove the pack animals ahead on the remainder of the +journey to Pasaje. + +But now they were more anxious than ever to reach their destination +and fly with Karl Sutman to the place where their fathers were +hunting. With every minute they longed still more to reach the town +they were approaching. + +"I hope nothing further comes up to stay us," remarked Bob, as they +descended a steep slope. "Somehow I've had enough excitement for a +while." + +"So have I," said Joe. "But of course there's no way of telling what +we may meet in these mountains." + +The next day they found themselves in a wide valley, which was covered +with a heavy growth of dense vegetation. Tree ferns were quite +prominent, growing in large clusters that dotted the valley. Bright +flowers were also numerous, some of them unusual in shape and form. + +And with this heavy vegetation came several varieties of wild animals, +among them being foxes, lizards, guinea pigs, and a host of birds. The +youths could easily have shot some, but they did not wish to lose time +in doing so. + +"I believe we are getting close to Pasaje now," announced the old man, +as he led the way around the winding Apurimac River. + +Notwithstanding this, they traveled all that day without coming to the +town. Camp was made at a clearing near the stream, supper was +prepared, and then all retired, knowing that the following day would +witness their coming to their destination. + +Early the next morning the young men saw something that thrilled them +with delight. They had been breaking camp and were almost ready to +resume the tramp when suddenly their keen ears caught the sound of a +motor. Looking up, they plainly made out an airplane in the sky above +them. + +"That's Karl!" cried Joe joyously. "I wouldn't be afraid to bet +anything that it is." + +"I sure hope you're right," came from Bob. "Gee! Won't it be swell to +see him again?" + +"Of course there's a chance that he won't see us," said the other boy. +"But I believe he will. He'll be looking around for us closely. Maybe +that's why he's here now." + +Bob started, as an ominous thought struck him. + +"Do you suppose anything's happened--to our dads, I mean?" he asked in +a tense voice. + +Joe's face darkened. + +"I--I hadn't thought of that," he replied solemnly. + +They watched the airplane closely, expecting at every moment to see it +head downward. + +Then it came. + +"Hurrah!" Bob was overjoyed. "Karl sees us, all right. And it's Karl, +too," he observed, as the monoplane came closer. + +As the machine flew closer it circled around the little group below, +rapidly flying lower. When within a hundred feet of them, its cabin +window opened, and Karl's face was thrust out. + +"Hello, up there!" shouted Bob, and received an answering greeting. +But the noise of the 'plane's engine made it impossible for the +adventurers to understand the aviator's words. + +While the three were still gazing up at the huge monoplane they saw +something that caused them to look all the closer. They made out +Karl's arm reaching out of the cockpit. Then they saw something white +drop toward the ground. + +"It's a small parachute," observed Joe, his heart beating rapidly. +"Wonder what's tied to it?" + +As there was no wind, the object fell in a straight line, the +parachute opened and began to float slowly above the onlookers. Before +long it came to the ground within fifteen feet of them. Karl had +certainly aimed accurately. + +"Hurry!" cried Joe. "Let's see what it is. Maybe something's happened +to our dads or the others." + +He picked up the parachute, at the end of which was attached a small +box. Opening it, the youth found a folded paper. + +"Quick!" murmured Bob. "Let's see what he has to say." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +Almost a Tragedy + + +Rather nervously Joe unfolded the paper, hastily read it, and then +gave a sigh of relief. + +"Nothing wrong," he told his friends. "Take a look." + +"H'm," observed Bob. "He only says he's going to land in a level field +about a mile from here, and that he'd better take us up with him from +there, instead of waiting till we get to Pasaje. No other place near +to land on. Closes by saying everything is all right." + +"So he wants us to go up with him now," mused Joe. "Doesn't want to +wait till we get to Pasaje. I hate to do that. I don't like to leave +Dr. Rander till we get to the town. It doesn't seem right to come with +him all this distance and then go off and leave him here in the +mountains." + +"Don't worry about me," said the old explorer quickly. "I have been +through these mountains alone many times. I can manage the mules all +right. And the town can't be far away." + +"We'd go with you anyway," Bob told him, "only Karl says there isn't +another landing place near." + +Without loss of time the three continued toward the level spot on +which the aviator had landed, at length coming in sight of the +monoplane. + +Karl rushed out to meet them, his face bright at finding that all were +alive and well. + +"You old rascal!" cried Joe, shaking the young man's hand warmly. + +"How'd you know we were here?" asked Bob, who was also very glad to +see the aviator. + +"I saw you," Karl Sutman explained. "I thought I'd take a short flight +over this section to see if I could locate you." + +"You did, all right." Joe was delighted. "Found us away out here in +the wilds." He hesitated a moment and glanced at Dr. Rander. But the +latter had already been introduced to Karl Sutman, and needed no +introduction by the youths. + +There was one question in the aviator's mind that he could wait no +longer to ask. + +"The treasure you were searching for--did you find any?" he inquired. +"And the Inca secrets, too. How about them?" + +Bob smiled happily. + +"We did," he answered. "Found both the treasure and the secrets." + +When shown the little box of gold trinkets, Karl gasped in +astonishment. + +"Is that all you found?" he demanded. "I thought there might have been +some gold statues, or the like." + +"If there were we couldn't locate them," Joe said. "We considered +ourselves lucky in finding what we did. They are worth many hundreds +of dollars, maybe thousands." + +"Dad and Mr. Lewis and the others--are they all right?" Bob was +anxious to learn if any misfortune had befallen his father and +friends. + +"They're still hunting for specimens," returned the aviator. "Mr. +Wallace fell down a mountain and hurt himself slightly, but he's about +all right now. And you should see the large collection of birds and +animals they have." + +"We have something that may interest them," declared Joe, and showed +Karl the huge condor, at the same time telling about his narrow escape +from death. + +"Wow!" Karl exclaimed when the youth had finished. "And Bob and Doc +Rander came to your rescue, did they? Good for them." + +It was later decided that Bob and Joe accompany Karl at once in the +monoplane to the Comberciato River, where the chums' fathers were +collecting specimens. The old man explained that he did not mind going +on alone to Pasaje, where he had business. + +"But before you leave," Dr. Rander began, "I want to divide the +treasure with you fellows," addressing Bob and Joe. + +"Don't give us half," Joe said pleadingly. "After all, it was your +efforts that located the secret mountain cavern." + +The old man held up a hand for silence. + +"You forget that I owe my life to you," he reminded them. "If it had +not been for your coming to my rescue, I would not be here to enjoy +the treasure." + +"But----" began Joe. + +"Say no more," Dr. Rander silenced him. "Half of the gold is yours." + +He spent the next half-hour in dividing the treasure, giving the boys +a good share. They thanked him warmly, then turned to Karl Sutman. + +"Can we get started before long?" asked Joe. "I'm anxious to see +everybody." + +"Sure." The aviator was willing. "Let's get your stuff loaded in the +'plane." + +They worked steadily until noon, at which time everything that +belonged to the youths was packed in the supply compartment of the +monoplane. + +After the meal they bade Dr. Rander an affectionate farewell and +stepped into the cabin. Karl started the engine, and then, with a roar +and a rush, they started rolling over the field. + +The old man waved as they left the ground and headed toward the north. +The last the air travelers saw of him he was getting the pack animals +ready to finish the journey to Pasaje. + +"I suppose we've seen the last of him," remarked Bob, as they left the +ground. "We may hear from him later, though. He has our addresses." + +"Rather an odd character, isn't he?" said Joe. "Seems strange that +he'd want to remain in these mountains all his life." + +During the next few hours Karl sent the airplane ahead over mountains +that were more rugged than any the youths had ever seen before. He was +steering the machine near Mount Panta and the locality in which were +Dr. Rust and the other archæologists when suddenly he found himself +almost unconsciously entering a heavy cloud. + +A second later, when he realized what he had done, the aviator saw +that it was too late. Already the 'plane was in the midst of a heavy +opaque atmosphere of white. + +"I was a nut for getting in a place like this," Karl said through the +telephone. "And there's no way of getting out now only to go on +through it." + +Karl well knew that they were in grave danger of crashing into the +side of some lofty peak. They were in a region of tall mountains, and +some high summit might easily loom up before them. + +For the next few minutes the youths' hearts were in their mouths. They +knew that Karl was an excellent pilot, but they also knew that he +could do nothing if sudden tragedy might come upon them. + +"What's that?" cried Bob quickly. He had seen something that looked +like a huge black mass directly before them. + +Joe sat on the edge of his seat, expecting every moment to feel a +terrible crash and then.... For the first time he wondered what death +was like. + +Cries of relief came from the youths as they saw that instead of +crashing into the black mass, they were passing through it. + +"As if a million pounds were lifted off my back," gasped Joe. "I +thought we were goners sure." + +"Would be if that were a mountain," Bob said. "As it is, we're no +worse off than before. It's a lot darker, though." + +Karl sought to pass out of the cloud by gaining altitude, but he soon +saw that this was useless. Still, he thought it best to fly higher. +There was a limit to the height he could safely reach, however, for +neither himself nor the youths were using oxygen, and the high rare +air was not sufficient to supply enough necessary to the human body. + +"I'll have to trust to luck, I guess," he said through the telephone. +"We may make it all right." + +"Karl didn't say that any too hopefully," remarked Joe. "Do you +suppose he really fears disaster?" + +"It seems like it." Bob was terribly worried. He did not have much +hope of getting out unharmed. + +Then suddenly the air travelers received a surprise. The cloud that +had a few seconds before been so heavy and dense quickly thinned out +until it passed from view. Once more the blue sky was visible. + +The explorers could hardly believe their eyes. Had they actually +emerged from what seemed like certain disaster? It was some time +before anyone spoke. + +"What do you think of that one?" Karl Sutman's voice was the first to +break the silence. "Couldn't have been much worse suspense, could +there?" + +"We didn't see that we had much chance," said Joe gravely. "And when +we saw that black mass----" + +"We're out of it now, though," the aviator said. "So why not dismiss +it from your mind?" + +He was put out to think that the monoplane was several miles off its +course, but he refused to let that worry him, since they had had such +a miraculous escape. + +It did not take long, however, to make up for the lost time, for the +young pilot well exceeded the hundred-and-fifty-mile-an-hour cruising +speed of the monoplane. + +As best he could he kept the machine as near the mountain tops as was +safe, so as to make it unnecessary to use oxygen. Getting out the +masks and tanks would require much time, and that was what they did +not want to spare. + +"There's Mount Panta," observed Joe, his eyes on a massive peak. "Why +can't we stop and see the archæologists--for only a few minutes, I +mean? I suppose they're still looking for Inca ruins in this region, +aren't they?" + +"Yes and no," laughed Karl. "I mean this: they're still searching for +ruins, all right, but not in this part of the Andes. I stopped to see +them just before I flew after you fellows, and they told me they were +going to leave for another section over to the east." + +"Wish we could have got in touch with them," said Bob. "We have +information about Inca secrets that would make them jump up and down +with joy. Maybe we can tell them later, though." + +A half-hour of flying from Mount Panta brought them within sight of +the Comberciato River, along whose banks somewhere the youths' fathers +and Mr. Wallace were staying. + +Suddenly Bob and Joe cried out in delight. + +"Dad! Mr. Lewis! Mr. Wallace!" said Bob happily. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +The Horrible Beast + + +The joy of Bob and Joe at seeing the naturalists was certainly great. +After those strenuous weeks in the mountains, the youths had been +growing anxious to be with their fathers and Mr. Wallace again. Now, +as they viewed the men waving at them from below they were overly +anxious to land. + +There was a wide open place directly under them, and to this Karl sent +the monoplane. When finally it came to a stop, Bob and Joe dashed out +and ran to meet their fathers and the scientist from Chicago. + +"Boys!" cried Mr. Holton, too joyful for words. + +He and Joe's father and Mr. Wallace fairly ate the youths up in their +happiness at seeing them alive and well. + +"You came through all right, I see," laughed Mr. Lewis, after the +first few remarks were over. "What kind of a time did you have? And +the treasure--did you find any?" + +"Look," returned Joe and showed them the box of gold beads. + +The men cried out in astonishment. Unlike Karl Sutman, they had +expected the youths to return without having found anything of value. + +"You were successful, all right," observed Mr. Holton. "Tell us about +your adventures." + +While the men listened intently, the boys related their experiences +from the time they had left Cuzco with Dr. Rander. + +When at last they were finished, the naturalists shook their heads +gravely. + +"It was all very interesting, but at the same time it was dangerous," +said Bob's father solemnly. "Afterward we wished you fellows hadn't +gone." + +"But they came through all right--and brought us a white condor at +that," beamed Mr. Lewis. "No doubt this is the only _condor real_ +we'll see. We did shoot two of the more common kind, though." + +"Did you get many specimens?" inquired Bob. + +"Come and see for yourselves," smiled his father and led the way to +the naturalists' camp. + +"Great Scott!" cried Joe, surprised at seeing such a vast number of +wild animals and birds. "This region must teem with all sorts of +animal life." + +"It does," returned Mr. Wallace. "And that reminds me. We were going +out in search of a black 'spectacled' bear this afternoon. We'd like +to have you go with us, if you will." + +"Will we?" cried Joe. "Does a cat miaow?" + +The naturalists had everything in readiness for the bear hunt. They +had but to eat a lunch and then they would be ready to start the hunt. + +Mr. Lewis had heard reports from natives that one of the huge animals +had been seen in a dense woodland beside the river. To this spot the +party went, rifles in readiness. + +When they entered the jungle they were met with total surprise. Beside +an opening in the hillside was the bear, crouching low for a charge! + +There was only a moment to act. + +"Shoot!" cried Joe fearfully. His rifle had been dashed from his grasp +by a protruding tree bough. + +Bob had taken a position a number of yards from the others. He had +intended to search another part of the jungle. The youth was holding +his gun in readiness now, looking for a chance to take aim. + +Then he thought the time had come to fire, and pulled the trigger. + +Bang! The rifle spoke, but the bear had suddenly turned, and the +bullet missed. + +With a snort of rage the huge beast turned on Bob, showing its +terrible teeth savagely. + +Bob saw the danger and was hurriedly trying to work the bolt on his +rifle. But unfortunately the mechanism had jammed. + +Helpless, the youth would be at the mercy of those terrible teeth and +claws! Already he could imagine the horror of what would follow. + +Bang! Bang! Two rifles barked, and each bullet found its mark. Another +shot and the huge bear fell dead, almost at Bob's feet. + +"Whew!" gasped Karl Sutman, holding his smoking rifle. "Another narrow +escape to add to you fellows' already long list." + +"We're piling 'em up thick and fast," said Bob. He could laugh, now +that the danger was over. + +They made their way back to camp, after having cut off the great skin. +It was at once placed in preservative. + +"One more prize specimen to add to our collection," said Mr. Wallace. +"I'm betting that Bob and Joe will prove a valuable asset to the +expedition during the next few weeks. They're both good shots, and +they have plenty of courage." + +Indeed the youths tried to justify themselves of this tribute, and +were successful in doing so. During the eventful days that followed +they collected many specimens for the scientists, including about +every form of life they could see in this wild region. Often they made +long excursions into the adjoining mountains in search of new wild +creatures, and usually found them. Taking moving pictures also +occupied their time. + +But although the naturalist party was meeting with success in its +search for fauna, the men did not wish to remain here too long, for +other duties at home prevented it. Especially was Mr. Wallace anxious +to get back to Chicago. + +It was arranged one day that he and Bob and Joe go with Karl Sutman in +the monoplane back to the United States, preceding Mr. Holton and Mr. +Lewis, who would arrive later by steamship. The youths' fathers took +it on themselves to attend to getting the specimens on muleback to the +coast, where they would be loaded on the vessel. + +The four leavetakers were given an affectionate farewell by Mr. Holton +and Mr. Lewis, who expressed hope that their sons and friends would +arrive in the United States without mishap. + +On the way to the coast the air travelers stopped to see Dr. Rust and +others of the archæologist party. Bob informed them of the Inca +secrets he and his friend had found, and gave them the map he had made +of the region. The scientists' delight far exceeded the boys' +expectations. They literally mauled the youths in their intense +enthusiasm. + +When the chums, Mr. Wallace, and Karl climbed into the cabin, the +scientists gave them a royal send-off, wishing them a safe journey. + +And safe it proved to be. Karl's ability as a pilot was greatly +appreciated as they flew toward the United States, which they reached +without incident. + +"Now to get home," said Bob, as he and Joe and Mr. Wallace hailed a +taxi. The naturalist intended to spend another day or so with the boys +before boarding a train to Chicago. Karl Sutman left them at the +airport, promising to get in touch with them within the next few days. + +At their homes Bob and Joe and their friend were given a profound +welcome by Mrs. Holton and Mrs. Lewis, who were desirous of knowing +about their experience. + +"We had a wonderful time," said Joe, as they all sat in the Lewis +living room. "And we met with adventures aplenty. There's nothing +quite like exploration, especially when you're looking for ancient +secrets." + + + + + * * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + +The four books in this series have been transcribed in the same +manner. This means that in some books, table of contents and or/list +of series names have been added. + +Except in cases of obvious typographical errors, archaic and +inconsistent spelling has been retained. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43268 *** |