The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-25
Copyright by Frank A. Munsey.
CHAPTER I.
AN UNEQUAL COMBAT.
TINE narrow trail wound up /


mountain side like a brown
ribbon, writing in and out
among the huge bouIders and cIumps
Of sturdy timber. now skirting the
verge of a sheer precipice, anon fol-
lowing the dry bed Of some torrent.
Far above toward the azure arch
lowered the snow clad peaks Of the
Andes; below, the depths Of the YER
dant valleys were almost in the haze
Of distance.
The tinIzle Of a silver b5u was all
that disturbed the silence OF the day.
Around a rugged spur of the noun
tain came pack train. the like OF
which can be seen nowhere but in
the Peruvian Andes.
First appeared the awkward, camel
like face Of the leading pack animal
a great llama, with a silver bell fast
ened TO a strap about its throat BY
the odd creatures side trotted half
naked Indian lad, with the leading
strap in his hand Then one by one
followed nearly a dozen smaller Ia
mas, each with a pack strapped on
its back. Two Indians walked beside
them. while the rear of the procession
was brought up by three individuals
dressed in the half native, half Eu-
ropean costume of white travellers
Two were young men. both sturdy
of limb and OF pleasing presence; the
other was a short, ''squatty" fellow
with fabby cheeks and little, twink
ling, pig-like eyes. almost hidden In
LAYERS Of flesh. He was well along
toward fifty and when he removed his
broad brimmed hat TO wipe his per
spring forehead, showed a well de-
veIoped bald spot on top.
This tramp hits you where you
live. ell, Fitch?" Iaughingly inquiries
one Of the younger men, a brown
haired, sunny faced fellow.
Him getting too hold for it, HI
am, Mr. Kinsale,'' replied the short
man, putting ike an asthmatic don
key engine This trading business IS
too bloomin' Inactive an that's no
lie. HFd better be back in Lunnon
than ere in this blessed ole. Hit
was sorry day for Bob Fitch Wen
e leaved a civilized country for
'eathen land"
and yet you've been at It the bet
ter part of ten years?" queried Kin
sale It should think you'd have
gone back before"
'Gone back, is it2" cried Fitch,
with a flourish of his huge bandanna.
IF Hrd made money enough dye
think HID stay ere? Him not such
a bIoomin' fool"
Haven't made money enough IN
trading all these years TO pay your
passage home, eh?" said Kinsale,
with a twinkle III his eye. Most Of
YOU traders make two or three hun
dred per cent. on the gimcracHs you
sell the natives"
Tut, tut! never believe hall you
ear. sir" said Fitch, with an answer
ing grin. but after mans been
told e can get gold for the pickin'
hup. e don't want to go back to is
hold friends an neighbOEs with just
comfortable living"
Want TO cut dash, do you?"
We'll. Hi was told Hrd get rich
ere remarked Fitch drIly. HI
don't want to diseppoint them as
told me. sir"
What you want is TO find some Of
those old treasure caves Of the Incas
that Keeth was reading about last
night
IF I'd been trading among these
mountains for ten years I'd have had
look for some Of them" said the
third man, with gravity.
He was a tall bIack-haiTed man Of
twenty-five or so. well built and ath-
letic. and with a sharp. penetrating
eye. He was so dark that he made
an excellent foil for KinsaIe's blond
face.
That's hall nonsense, sir, declared
the trader, with some emphasis.
Them yarns are just to play hoff on
strangers. Nobody but Dago would
believe EN-"
Then you don't believe in the
treasures Of the Incas?" queried Kin
sale
Not Hi" cried Fitch, with en-
phasis. They say these ere Hin .
juns." and he pointed contemptu-
ously at the haif-uaked llama driv-
ers, was once a great nation, an
'ad hall sorts o treasures. Nonsense. .
Hi says. Where's it hall gomez"
History tells US that Pizarro's con- /
questadors got a good share of it," /
remarked the dark man
"'E was another Of these Dagoes. /
I suppose" said Fitch. who might be +
rather shaky on history, but had al
the average EDgushman's contempt /
for the conquerors of Peru.
proba bly, lied about it,.
oh, get out.' said Kinsale. "Pi- F..
zarro and his companions found dead (
loads Of treasure"
You can't convince Mr.. Fitch. !