 on the hills know what
has happened."

None of the others spoke immediately; then Harry said:

"The idea is a good one as far as it goes. But you see at present we
are in a very strong position. If we leave this and they overtake us in
the woods, we shall not have the advantages that we have here."

"Yes, I see that, Harry; but almost anything is better than having to
wait here and lose our chance of finding that gold."

"We can't help that, Bertie. You know how much that gold would be to
me, but, as I said this morning, I will run no desperate risks to
obtain it. When I started upon this expedition I knew that the chances
of success were extremely slight, and that there might be a certain
amount of danger to encounter from wild beasts and perhaps brigands;
but I had never calculated upon such a risk as this, and certainly I am
not prepared to accept the responsibility of leading others into it."

There was again silence, which was broken at last by Dias.

"The proposal of the young senor is a very bold one; but, as you say,
Don Harry, after leaving our position we should be followed and
surrounded. In the forest that would be very bad. I should say let us
wait for at least a week; that will still give us time to reach the
gold valley. By then the savages may have left, and some other plan may
have occurred to us; at any rate, at the end of a week we shall see how
things go. The Indians may have made an attack, and may lose heart
after they are repulsed. They may find difficulty in procuring food,
though I hardly think that is probable. Still, many things may occur in
a week. If at the end of that time they are still here, we can decide
whether to try some such plan as the young senor has thought of, or
whether to wait until the Indians leave, and then return to Cuzco; for
I feel certain that the place cannot be found except by the help of the
star."

"Well, then," Bertie said, "could we not hit upon some plan to frighten
them?"

"What sort of plan, Bertie?"

"Well, of course we could not
on the hills know what 
 has happened. " 

 None of the others spoke immediately; then Harry suppose: 

 " The theme is a good one as far as it goes. But you witness at present we 
 are in a very strong position. If we impart this and they overwhelm us in 
 the woods, we shall not suffer the advantages that we have here. " 

 " Yes, I experience that, Harry; but almost anything is better than take to 
 wait here and lose our chance of finding that gold. " 

 " We can't help that, Bertie. You acknowledge how much that gold would be to 
 me, but, as I said this morning, I will range no desperate risks to 
 obtain it. When I started upon this excursion I knew that the chances 
 of success were extremely slight, and that there might be a sealed 
 amount of danger to encounter from wild beasts and perhaps brigands; 
 but I had never forecast upon such a hazard as this, and certainly I am 
 not prepared to accept the responsibility of leading others into it. " 

 There was again silence, which was unwrap at concluding by Dias. 

 " The proposal of the young senor is a very bluff one; but, as you suppose, 
 Don Harry, after leave our position we should be followed and 
 besiege. In the forest that would be very bad. I should say let us 
 wait for at least a workweek; that will still give us time to reach the 
 gold valley. By then the savages may have left, and some other plan may 
 have occurred to us; at any rate, at the end of a workweek we shall see how 
 thing function. The Indians may have made an attack, and may lose affection 
 after they are repulsed. They may find difficulty in procure food, 
 though I hardly think that is probable. Still, many things may happen in 
 a week. If at the end of that time they are still here, we can decide 
 whether to try some such design as the young senor has thought of, or 
 whether to wait until the Indians leave, and then fall to Cuzco; for 
 I feel sealed that the place cannot be found except by the help of the 
 star. " 

 " Well, then, " Bertie said, " could we not strike upon some plan to frighten 
 them? " 

 " What sort of plan, Bertie? " 

 " Well, of course we could not
 on the hills know what
has mappened."

None of jhw othecs spoks immedixtely; then Harry said:

"The idee is a goid one as far as it gods. But yol see at prestnt we
are in a vecg stronn posjbion. Nf we leave this and they mvertake us in
dhd coods, we shall not have the advantagqs that wf have here."

"Yes, I ste ehat, Harry; but almost anything is bettsr than having to
waiy here and lose our chance of vinding that gold."

"Wf can't help thae, Bertie. You ynow how mleh that gols would be to
me, but, as I said tfis mprning, I wulo rkt no desperete rifks to
obtain it. When I staryed upon this cxpedmtiob I knew that the chaices
of success were gxtremely vlnght, and that there mugyt be a cartakb
amuunu oh dznger ho xncounter fdom wild beqsts and perhaps brogwbds;
but I had hever sajculated upon such a risk as this, and ctrtaihly I am
not prepared to accept the responsibllity of jeading others into it."

There was again silence, whiwh waa brikcn ag lwst by Dias.

"The proposal of the young senor is z fegy bold one; but, af you say,
Dom Jatty, after leavivg our poaition we should bf follored abd
surrounqed. On the forest that would be very bad. I fyould say let us
want for at lecst a eeek; yhat will still give us tims to reach hhe
gold vzuley. By then the sanagev may have left, and some oeher plan may
kave occjrrec to uf; at any rwte, ab the end of a week we skall vee how
thijgs go. The Indians may have madx an attack, amd maj lose hecrt
aftcr they are reptlsed. They may find dnfficuuty in proburing fomd,
though I rardly think djat is probaule. Still, mant thungs mah occur in
a weel. If at tkt end of tyat time they are xtium here, we can dzeiee
whether to tru sume slch pjdn as the yogng renut has thoughu on, of
wheyher to wait until tve Ihdians leave, and tnek return jo Cuzco; sor
I feel ceryain that the plact cannmt ue foumd gxcept by the help of the
star."

"Weml, then," Bfrtle said, "could we kot rit upon spme plan to frighten
them?"

"What sort of plen, Bertie?"

"Well, of coursg we could not
on the hills know what has happened." the spoke immediately; Harry said: "The as as it goes. you see at we are in a very strong If we leave this and they overtake us in the woods, we shall have the advantages that we have here." "Yes, I see that, Harry; but anything better having wait here and lose our chance of finding that gold." "We can't help that, Bertie. You how much that gold would be to me, as I said this I will run no desperate to it. When started this I knew that chances of success were extremely slight, and that there might be a certain amount of danger to from wild perhaps brigands; I never upon such a this, and certainly I am not the responsibility of leading others into it." There again silence, was broken at last by Dias. proposal of the young senor is a very one; but, as you say, Don Harry, after leaving our position we should be followed In the forest that be very bad. should let wait at least week; that will still give us time to reach the gold By then the savages may have left, and some other have to us; at rate, at the end a we shall see how The may attack, may heart after they are They may find difficulty in food, though I hardly many things may occur in a week. If the end of that time they are here, we can decide whether to try some such plan as the senor has or whether to wait until the Indians leave, then return to Cuzco; I feel certain that the place cannot be found by help of star." "Well, then," said, "could we hit upon some frighten them?" sort plan, course we could not
 on the hills know what
has happEned."

None of The otHerS spOkE immEdiaTely; then Harry sAId:

"ThE idea is a good one as far as It goeS. BUT you SEe At preSent we
aRE iN A VerY sTrOng PoSItIon. If We lEave thiS and they ovErtAkE us in
the woodS, We Shall not haVe tHe advantages ThaT we havE hEre."

"yEs, I seE thAt, HarRy; but aLMost anYthing is bEtTEr than HAving to
WAIt Here And lose our chance oF FiNDing that gold."

"We Can't heLp THaT, bErtIe. YOu know how mUcH that GOld woulD Be TO
ME, buT, As I said this moRning, I will rUN no DesperAtE riSKs to
obTain iT. WHEn I Started upon This ExpeditioN I knew THat the cHAnces
of SuccesS weRe eXtreMElY sLigHt, ANd tHAt TheRE miGht be a ceRtAiN
amouNt of DANGEr to EncOuntEr froM wild beasts anD peRhapS BriGands;
But I hAd neVeR calcUlated Upon sUcH a risk as this, and CertAinly I am
nOt pReParEd To accEPt the rEspOnsIbility Of leadiNG otHeRS INtO it."

There was again siLeNCE, wHich was bRoken aT LaSt BY Dias.

"The PrOpoSal oF THe youNg seNOr Is a very bOld one; BUt, As You say,
DOn harry, aFtEr lEavIng ouR PosiTion we Should be FolloWEd and
surroundeD. in the forest thAT wOULd BE verY baD. I should say Let uS
Wait For aT LeAst A Week; tHat wiLl STiLL give us time to reach tHe
Gold vaLley. BY then the savagEs may have lEFT, And some oTher PLaN May
have occurreD to us; At any rate, aT The end of A week We shall sEe how
thinGS Go. The IndIanS maY haVe mADE aN attack, and may LOSe heArT
after tHey Are repuLseD. ThEy mAy fInD difficulTy in procUrInG fOoD,
thOugh I HArdly thiNk ThaT iS prObablE. still, mAny thIngs MaY oCCur In
a week. iF aT THe enD oF tHat tIme ThEy are StilL HerE, we can dEcide
whetHer TO try SoMe Such plaN as the young seNoR has thoughT oF, or
WhetheR TO wait untIl the Indians leave, and theN Return tO CuZco; foR
I feEl certain ThaT the plAce CAnnot bE found ExcepT bY thE HElp of THE
sTar."

"weLl, then," BertIE SaiD, "coulD wE not Hit upon Some plan to frighten
THem?"

"what sort of plaN, BeRtie?"

"wELl, Of cOUrSE we CoULd nOT
 on the hills know what
ha s happened ."

N one  of  t he o ther s spoke immedi a tely ; then Harry said:

"T he id ea is a go od on e as fa r  a s itgo es . B ut yo u see  at  presen t we
are i n a  v ery strong p o si tion. If w e l eave this an d t hey ov er tak e  us i n
t he wo ods, w e  shall  not have  t h e adva n tages t h a twe h ave here."

"Yes, Is ee that, Harry ; butal m os t any thi ng is bett er  than havingt ow a i t h e re and lose o ur chance o f  fi ndingth atg old."
"Weca n 'thelp that,Bert ie. You k now ho w  much t h at gold  would  be  to 
me, bu t,  as  I sai d  t his mor ning, Iwi ll  runno d e s p e rate  ri sksto
ob tain it. When  Istar t eduponthisexpe di tionI knew  that  t he chances
of s ucce ss were e xtr em ely  s light ,  and t hat  th ere mig ht be a cer ta i n am ount of danger toen c o un ter from  wildb ea st s  and per ha psbrig a n ds;
b ut I ha d nevercalcul a te dupon su ch  a ris kasthi s, an d  cer tainly  I am
no t pre p ared to accept the responsib i li t y  o f  lea din g others in to i t ."
Ther e  w asa gainsilen ce ,  w h ich was broken at l as t by D ias.
"The proposa l of the y o u n g senoris a ve r y bold one; bu t, as  you say,D on Harry , aft er leavi ng our po s i tion wesho uld  be  fo l l ow ed and
surrou n d ed.In  the fo res t thatwou ldbever ybad. I sh ould say  l et  u swai t for at least  a  we ek ; t hat w i ll sti ll gi ve u sti m e t o reach th e gold  v al ley.  By  t hen t he s a vag es mayhave left , a n d so me  o ther pl an may
have o cc urred to u s;  at  any r a t e, at th e end of a week we shal l  see ho w
t hings  go.  The Indi ans  may h ave made a n atta ck, a nd  ma y loseh e ar t
a ft er they ar e rep ulsed .They  may fi nd difficulty in p r ocu ring food,
th oug h Ih a rd lyt hi n k t ha t  is p robable. Still,  many thin gs ma y occur in a w ee k. If a t the e nd of that ti me they a re stillhe re,w e  ca n decide
w hether t o try som e  such pl an as  th e youn gsen or ha s thou g htof, o r
whet he r to w ait u nt il the I ndians leave, and thenreturn  to C uzc o; for
Ifee l  ce rtain tha t th e place ca nno t b e fou nde xcept  byt he  he l p ofthes tar."

"W e ll , t h e n, " Bertie sa i d ,  "c ouldwen ot hit  upo n some plan to fr i ghten
them?"
"Wha t sor t o f  pla n,  Bertie?"

"We ll,  o f course w ecould not
 on_the hills_know what
has happened."

None of_the others_spoke_immediately; then_Harry_said:

"The idea is_a good one_as far as it_goes. But you_see_at present we
are in a very strong position. If we leave this and they_overtake_us in
the_woods,_we_shall not have the advantages_that we have here."

"Yes, I_see that,_Harry; but almost anything is better than having_to
wait_here and lose_our chance of finding that gold."

"We can't help that,_Bertie. You know how much that_gold would be_to
me,_but,_as I said this_morning, I will run no desperate_risks to
obtain it. When I started_upon this expedition I knew that the_chances
of success were extremely slight, and_that there might be a_certain
amount of_danger to encounter from wild_beasts and perhaps_brigands;
but I_had never calculated_upon such a risk as this,_and certainly I_am
not prepared to accept the responsibility_of_leading others into_it."

There_was_again silence,_which was broken_at_last by_Dias.

"The_proposal of the young senor is_a_very bold one; but, as you say,
Don_Harry, after leaving our_position_we should be followed_and
surrounded. In the forest that_would be very bad. I should_say let_us
wait for_at least a week; that will still give us time to_reach the
gold valley. By then the_savages may have left,_and some_other_plan may
have occurred_to_us; at_any rate, at the end of a_week we_shall see how
things go. The Indians_may have made an_attack,_and may lose heart
after they are_repulsed. They may find difficulty in_procuring food,
though I hardly think_that_is_probable. Still, many things may_occur in
a week. If at the_end of that_time they are still here, we can_decide
whether_to try some such plan as_the_young senor has thought of, or
whether_to_wait_until the Indians leave, and_then return to Cuzco; for
I feel_certain that the place cannot be found except by_the help of_the
star."

"Well, then," Bertie said, "could_we_not_hit upon some plan to frighten
them?"

"What sort of plan, Bertie?"

"Well,_of course_we could not