Bob guessed that meant a “show-down.” Carlos was correct. Because of
the presence of Mr. Austin and the other two, detailed questions were
taken up, books examined with great care, and matters gone into very
thoroughly. There was an attempt to hedge, a postponement proposed, but
Jim’s father quietly announced that he wished the business concluded at
once. He was ably backed, so they went on, and finally, the election
of officers began. At the count it was found that the Alonzos were out
of power. That started a violent harangue, accusations true and false,
and so many pairs of fists hammered the great table that it jumped as
if spooks were under it. Politeness was thrown to the winds, and it
was hard for the three boys on the balcony to keep quiet. They longed
to leap in and take a part in the fray, but restrained themselves
manfully, for Mr. Austin had told Jim that they must not interfere
unless there was actual danger. At last it was over, the meeting was
closed, and five of the assembly left the place with faces which were
black with anger, and feet that stamped heavily all the way down the
terrace to their waiting cars. Then Carlos threw open the door, and
the fathers smiled at their sons’ eagerness.
“You got away with it, didn’t you, Dad!”
“We did, my boy. I almost forgot that you were out there. What do you
think of business meetings?”
“This one looked to me like a warm party. Do you believe that those
fellows are responsible for the attacks on you?”
“Yes, I do. Before they knew that I was here, they telephoned Mr. De
Castro urging that everything be taken up tonight. That pleased us
greatly, and when we came into the room, the pair of them looked at me
as if they thought I were a ghost. They thought they had everything
their own way and it maddened them to be taken so by surprise,” he
answered.
“We turned on them the surprise elements of the meeting,” Mr. De Castro
smiled, then added, “You boys are not aware that it is nearly morning
and time young heads were on pillows.”
“I’m happy that it is over, my father, but I am sure that you will
need to be cautious. The Alonzos are not going to take kindly to
their defeat,” Carlos declared solemnly. He kissed his father quite
naturally, to the surprise of the Texas boys, then Jim remembered that
these people were more demonstrative than in northern countries. Not
to be outdone he kissed his own father, and Mr. Austin accepted the
salute, then turned and embraced Bob.
“Frolicking frogs, but I’m glad you could get here,” Caldwell declared,
and didn’t even flush at the demonstration.
“I am particularly grateful to you two for getting me here. Now, as
Peter says, it is time heads, both young and not so young, were on
pillows,” Mr. Austin told them.
“Shall we stay over tomorrow?” Jim wanted to know.
“I think probably it will be necessary for me to stay several days, my
boy. Things we took up tonight need to be carried through and I should
not care to leave all the responsibility to my friends.”
“That is splendid. We shall pay the visit to Amy-Ran,” Carlos declared
with delight. “It will be a pleasure to show you something which is
magnificent.” It did not take long for the household to quiet down
for the balance of the night. Before they finally turned in, Bob was
frowning seriously.
“I say, Buddy, Carlos seemed to think that his father may have a mess
on his hands with those fellows. They must be just as sore at Dad,” he
said finally.
“Reckon they are, but I heard Dad and Mr. De Castro discussing that
this afternoon and they agreed that if the Alonzos failed to put
through their scheme they will be mighty careful. They are influential
men, that is, I mean prominent in a number of ways, and if it came out
that they tried to put over something underhanded, they would all be
ruined. There is plenty of evidence against them so that anything that
went wrong could be pinned on them hard and fast,” Jim explained.
“I see. Then they’ll be more likely to do, their utmost to see that
nothing serious happens,” Bob remarked.
“Exactly. Dad and Mr. De Castro have them where they want them. They
are hog-tied good and plenty.”
“Fine. Good-night.” The Flying Buddies went to sleep with contented
minds, satisfied that the job they had undertaken was well done. It
was late when they awoke, but the household was stirring quietly, and
the De Castro family were radiant over the successful outcome of the
meeting. As soon as they could get on their way, the three boys set
out for Amy-Ran, young Carlos in the seat with Jim and Bob in the rear
cock-pit where he crowed over his step-brother because he could observe
without interruption the world over which they would travel.
“You’ll have to pilot the return trip,” Jim declared.
“Suits me,” the young fellow laughed. Carlos had a map of the country
and pointed out the section of the mountains to which they were going,
and presently the “Lark” was soaring gracefully over the city. The
course was set and the Texans both thrilled with wonder at the beauty
of the Andes rolling under them. It took half an hour to reach the
point and Carlos shouted they had gone far enough, then Jim circled
again, picked out a flat stretch of high table land and glided down.
The plane lighted easily, the three climbed out, and the Sky Buddies
gasped in awe at the magnificence of their surroundings, while young
De Castro smiled with gratification at their admiration.
“This is almost inaccessible from below,” he announced. “Only a few
white people have ever been able to get up here.”
The place where they stood was about half an acre wide, seemed to be
of solid rock, which ended abruptly a few rods ahead, and as they had
landed, Bob had noticed that the sides were perpendicular and seemed to
drop in jagged formation at least a thousand feet. From the elevation
they got a gorgeous view of sharp cliffs, lower hills, the plain, and
finally the sea stretching into the horizon. Behind them was a small
lake, which lay like a glittering blue jewel in a deep bowl. The
plateau was in the shape of an S, and after they had stood staring some
time at the scene, Carlos touched Jim’s arm.
“We shall leave the plane here and I’ll show you something more
astounding than this.”
“Hadn’t we better block the bird?” Bob suggested, but there were
neither logs nor rocks available.
“I’ll raise the wheels and let her rest on the floats. They clutch
the surface like a tire and if it should blow up much we’ll have to
get away quickly,” Jim decided. Presently that was accomplished, then
Carlos led them cautiously along the narrow S until at last they were
near the further end where they paused again.
“Gee, look at these sentinels. Don’t they look like something built up
here,” Bob exclaimed as he saw a giant rim of smooth stones which rose
like a wall close by them.
“They were brought here, but no one knows how,” Carlos told them.
“How do you know they were brought here?” Bob demanded.
“When you examine them you can see that the rock is much different from
any around this part of the country, and also you can see that they
were set in, like a foundation. There is a story that the conquerors
who came here found an unfinished temple. The stones are fine quality,
such as the ancient temples to the Sun God were made of, but these were
so firmly planted and high up, that they could not be hauled down or
destroyed. Where they could, the conquerors wrecked the temples and
used the stones in their own buildings but some of the walls of the
temple of Lake Titicaca are still standing. There isn’t a crack in them
where they were joined,” Carlos replied.
“Must be a great piece of work,” Bob remarked.
“It is and no one knows how it was done. So many of the Indians were
killed that their amazing skill was lost in a few years.”
“Some of them were fine jewelers--they knew a lot of things--I’ve read
about Lake Titicaca and the temple there,” Jim said quietly.
“There is a difference of opinion as to whether that was the emerald
temple, or this place here. Once when I was a little fellow I came up
with some other boys, but we didn’t hang around very long. We had to
do some dangerous climbing, throw ropes ahead and haul ourselves that
way. The land hereabouts belongs to what is left of one of the tribes
and cannot be taken away from them, but as far as I have ever heard,
only one very old Indian woman is ever around. A funny thing happened
the time I came, I was scared out of my wits, and I went along that
wall pressed as close as I could get because I was sure that I’d fall.
I felt one of the stones move and it slid open. When I reached my
companions I told them about it and we all came back but I couldn’t
find the place. They laughed at me, of course, but just the same I’m
positive it moved.”
“Remember where it was?” Jim asked.
“Perhaps we can move it,” Bob added. Carlos led the way he had taken as
a youngster but although they pressed hard all the way, every section
remained firm and unmoved as the mountains themselves.
“Everybody has told me that it was my terrified fancy and I suppose it
was, but I’m not gifted with a very lively imagination,” Carlos said.
“When it was open what did it look like?” Bob inquired.
“It only opened a little way and all I could see was a flat place
beyond with some flowers. I raced off to get the other boys, then
couldn’t find it. Come along further and see the different parts.” He
led the way and soon they were walking through a series of unfinished
sections, some roofed and others open to the sky. The stone of the
mountain formed the natural flooring, but here and there were huge
inlaid pieces which still bore strange markings. On some of the stones
were designs so weather-beaten that they could not be made out, and
quite a number of them were highly colored. Suddenly they heard a soft
sound behind them, and whirling quickly they were confronted by a very
tall woman whose dark face was as wrinkled as a black walnut, and whose
hands rested on the gnarled head of a heavy stick. She stood perfectly
quiet, her eyes traveling from the top of Carlos’ head to the tips of
his toes, then she turned her gaze on the two Texans. Bob felt the hair
on his back chill as if he were leaning against a block of ice, but Jim
had no fear under the close scrutiny.
“Put forward your hands, all of you,” she ordered, and they obeyed. The
two emerald rings on the fingers of the Flying Buddies gleamed in the
sunlight. She glanced from one to the other, then into their faces.
“Go in peace,” she said, then turned about and disappeared behind a
partition. Carlos whistled softly.
“Guess we’d better not stay around,” he remarked firmly. Jim and Bob
exchanged glances.
“I do not believe that she will mind our looking at the place if we are
careful not to disturb anything,” Bob suggested because by that time he
was sure there was nothing to be afraid of and he very much wanted to
inspect the marvelous monument that stood so sturdily as a reminder of
its clever builders.
“We’ll be mighty careful,” Jim added, but as they walked forth,
Carlos was no longer leading. He was perfectly contented to follow,
and although he glanced hither and yon, they did not see the ancient
guardian again. It took some little time to tour the whole place and
finally they came to the end where they stopped to catch their breaths.
“Whew, it’s like something one reads about,” Bob declared softly.
“This high ledge dropping straight down to goodness knows where, and
this wild S-plateau studded with spires of the Andes. No wonder the
original owners have been allowed to remain in possession. A white man
couldn’t do a blame thing with the place.”
“I suppose that tourists and mountain climbers come up occasionally,”
Jim added.
“Very few. Some years ago there was a half-breed guide who used to
bring people. He had rigged a sort of basket and ropes out of fibre,
very strong, but two parties were killed because the stuff rubbed on
the sharp rocks and broke. The last time, the guide himself took a
header into the canyon, and since then everybody gives Amy-Ran a wide
birth. As it does not belong to the province of Peru, the government
forbade travelers visiting it. Only once in a while a few boys will
climb up, but I remember when I came it was even harder to get down
than up, and I had no inclination to make a second attempt. When I saw
the plane I thought it would be an experience for you to come, and
besides I wanted to try that wall again,” said Carlos.
“Glad you brought us,” Jim assured him.
“Satisfied about the opening?” asked Bob.
“Sure. I must have been scared. I suppose I passed one of the ordinary
openings, and imagined I felt the stone move behind me. Want to--”
he paused abruptly as a sharp hissing sound reached his ears, and an
instant later a long rope was coiled about him, dragging him to the
ground.
The Flying Buddies recognized the sound and jumped aside in time to
get beyond the reach of the lariat, and whirled about. The rope was
fastened around a low stone, and two men, one large and burly, while
the other was smaller, leaped at them with vicious snarls. They dodged
aside as fast as their feet could take them, but after a moment the
bigger man had Bob clutched about the waist while in another second
Jim and the other fellow were struggling fiercely. Carlos rolled and
struggled with his bonds, but he was helpless. Caldwell’s assailant
made short work of the young fellow. One sharp jab on his jaw and
he was stretched out unconscious, then the big chap sprang to the
assistance of Jim’s opponent. He dodged in swiftly, his great fist
coming down like a sledge hammer, but Austin was able to duck so the
blow grazed his shoulder. With all the strength and speed he could
muster, Jim leaped back. He was conscious that the edge of the great
cliff was within a few inches of his feet and that a misstep would send
him into the abyss below. Crouching he kept his eyes on the two who
leered wickedly as they came on, inch by inch, but as they drew close,
Jim sprang forward and lighted on his feet a yard beyond them. Then he
dared to glance over his shoulder quickly, and backed toward the great
wall of the ancient temple.
By that time Carlos was yelling at the top of his lungs, and Austin
wondered vaguely why he did it. The sound of his voice echoed and
re-echoed eerily through the ancient temple and seemed to die off in a
moan among the cliffs of the Andes. Vainly the boy looked for a weapon,
a rock or a club, but the winds of the ages had swept the spot clean,
and he had only his bare hands with which to defend himself. The two
had whirled and were coming upon him again, then suddenly the smalled
man paused.
“Come on, give the bunch of them the works. They got it coming to
them, the blasted butt-ins,” he snarled. “Shut that howling trap,” he
indicated to Carlos whose throat must have ached with his efforts.
“All right, Boss. I was in favor of doing that right along,” the big
fellow sneered and quite calmly the pair drew guns from their pockets.
As the small man got his ready, something dropped from his holster. It
looked like a piece of torn paper, but the chap did not know that he
had dropped it. Austin had his back to the longest section of the wall,
the other two boys were a short distance away.
“This guy won’t know what hit him,” the big fellow growled maliciously.
“Shut the other one up first,” came the order.
“Say, what have we done to you fellows?” Jim demanded.
“If you don’t know, we ain’t taking time to enlighten you, see,” the
big fellow snarled. Their guns were raised deliberately, and although
Jim thought of running, he was sure it would not help matters. He faced
the two men and his fists clenched.
“You are a pair of cowards,” he taunted them. “Go on and shoot.”
“Blast you, I will.” The gun was pressed close to his chest and the boy
saw the man’s fingers grip over the trigger. He held his breath for the
explosion, but none came. There was an odd little click repeated four
times, then the fellow stared at the weapon. In a second it flashed on
Jim’s mind that the gun must be empty. He gave a short laugh, jumped
forward so hard that he knocked the fellow on his back, his head
struck the rock and he lay still, but as he fell his gun flew from
his hand, struck the stone wall, and there was a violent explosion,
followed by a shriek from his companion who seemed to have found his
own weapon equally useless. He dropped in a heap, blood spurting from
his side and arm. The turn of events were so startling that Jim could
only stand staring in wonder, then his eyes fell on Bob and Carlos, who
had been startled into silence.
“I’ll get you loose and you can help me with Buddy,” Austin said
mechanically. He cut the rope that bound De Castro, and the two turned
their attention to Caldwell, who moaned slightly, and moved his arm.
“He’s not dead,” Jim shouted.
“No. Let me help him.” The voice was calm, and a tall man stooped over
the prostrated young fellow. Jim watched anxiously and a moment later
Bob was being raised to his feet. “Feel better?”
“Sure--I feel all right--I say, _Corso_, how in the name of perforated
parachutes did you get here,” the boy bellowed.
“We found a way,” the man laughed.
“We wished to explore this so famous Amy-Ran,” came a second voice and
Jim whirled.
“Yncicea--you here and Corso--Gosh but we are lucky, and gee, it’s
great to see you close again.”
“Yes, Jim Scout, you are lucky. Our apologies for not being more prompt
to assist you,” the youngster grinned.
“What did you do to their guns?” Jim demanded softly.
“That is something I have not learned yet, Jim Scout, but when you are
in the laboratory again, ask my esteemed father. You have been having
some troublesome adventures,” he added so softly that Carlos could
not overhear. “You may introduce us to your companion as friends from
Vermont.”
“All right.” It was done in a moment, and Carlos thought the “tourists”
had merely happened along at a timely moment, heard his yells and
hastened to their assistance. He thanked them with great politeness,
and urged them to pay a visit to his home. It did not occur to him to
inquire how they got there and they made no attempt to enlighten him.
“Gee, I wish we were staying on while you are here,” Bob said
cordially. “But we probably have to start Dad home day after tomorrow.”
“We are leaving, tonight,” Corso told them. Just then they heard an
angry snarl, turned quickly in time to see the small man lower himself
over the edge of the cliff and disappear from sight. The other chap had
not moved, and now Corso went to him but there was nothing he could do.
“I saw that fellow drop this,” Jim picked up the piece of paper. It
was the same sort that he had found in the old room dug from the root
cellar at the Gordon’s ranch, and he whistled as he examined the piece.
There were a number of dim lines, like some old-time diagram, and only
a part of one word--“an” was left. Quietly the boy handed it to Corso.
The man looked at it, then smiled.
“This is the part he should not have lost,” he announced as he tucked
it into his pocket. “Thank you.”
“Think he’ll get down?” Bob asked.
“He may and we will do nothing to injure him while he is trying,” Corso
told them.
“We should throw a rock down on him,” Carlos declared hotly. “I wonder
who the fellow is.”
“I believe that he is the last of a gang which was apprehended in Texas
a few months ago. At that time he escaped--”
“Well, he’ll dash his brains out going down that cliff without a rope,”
Carlos declared. “I know what it means to get to the bottom.”
“Expect we better spread our little wings and fly, my brother,” Bob
proposed.
“We’ve lingered here quite a while,” Jim agreed. “Hope we meet you
again, Yncicea and you too, Corso.”
“It will be a pleasure.” The Flying Buddies were anxious to get away
before Carlos became too inquisitive about their touring friends, so
the three hurried along the wild-S and finally reached the “Lark.” They
piled into the cock-pits, waved to the two who were still standing by
the ancient rocks of Amy-Ran, then the motor roared, the plane lifted,
circled, leveled out, and started back to the plantation.
“Is it what you would call the completion of a--”
“The end of a perfect day,” Bob laughed gayly, then added, “Only it
isn’t the end, it’s only the middle.” Soon the outlines of Cuzco began
to roll toward them, and selecting the broad drive of the De Castro
plantation, the Sky Buddy began to bring the “Lark” down. He gave a
happy sigh as she touched the ground, then, his eyes turned toward the
north.
“It’ll be great to get home,” he said to Jim, who had leaped out of the
rear cock-pit and was standing under the shelter of the broad wing.
“You bet,” Austin nodded.
THE END
Transcriber’s Note:
Spelling and variations in hyphenation have been retained as
they appear in the original publication. Punctuation has been
standardised. Changes have been made as follows:
Page 14
forward to joining His Flying Buddy _changed to_
forward to joining his Flying Buddy
Page 30
demise of her Highness were sad ones _changed to_
demise of Her Highness were sad ones
Page 44
no entrance er exit _changed to_
no entrance or exit
Page 56
put in quckly _changed to_
put in quickly
Page 59
partiton of wide planks _changed to_
partition of wide planks
Page 70
Coudn’t you get _changed to_
Couldn’t you get
Page 88
“Yet, sir,” Carl agreed _changed to_
“Yes, sir,” Carl agreed
Page 103
note the late arrvals _changed to_
note the late arrivals
Page 108
move whch he knew _changed to_
move which he knew
Page 116
they found is was equipped _changed to_
they found it was equipped
Page 157
Forida has any number of _changed to_
Florida has any number of
Page 159
white tipped-billows beneath _changed to_
white-tipped billows beneath
Page 171
Jamacia Island lay half hidden _changed to_
Jamaica Island lay half hidden
Page 213
them woud not be concluded _changed to_
them would not be concluded
Athough he scanned _changed to_
Although he scanned
Page 227
books examined wth great care _changed to_
books examined with great care
Page 242
there was a violent exposion _changed to_
there was a violent explosion