, the Incas may have
closed the approach in some way to make the matter sure. I cannot
promise that we shall find the gold; but I shall do my best with the
knowledge that has come down to me. If I fail, we must try in other
directions. When the Spaniards came, forty thousand of the Incas'
people left Cuzco and the neighbouring towns, and journeyed away down
the mountains and out to the west. Since then no reliable news
concerning them has been heard, but rumours have from time to time come
from that direction to the effect that there is a great and wealthy
city there. I say not that if we failed here we should attempt to find
it. The dangers from the savages would be too great. There would be
great forests to traverse, many rivers to be crossed. We might travel
for years without ever finding their city. When we got there, we might
be seized and put to death, and if we were spared we might not be able
to make off with the treasure. I mention it to show that gold may be
found in many other places besides this valley we are seeking."

"I quite agree with you, Dias, that unless we could get some indication
of the position of this city, if it now exists, it would be madness to
attempt to search for it. I want gold badly, but I do not propose that
we should all throw away our lives in what would be almost a hopeless
adventure. Even if I were ready to risk my own life on such a mad
enterprise, I would not ask others to do the same."

Crossing the stream, they made their way down through the forest. It
was toilsome work, as they often had to clear a way with axes through
the undergrowth and tangle of creepers. But at noon they reached level
ground. The heat was now intense, even under the trees, and the air
close and oppressive. On the way down Harry shot a wild turkey. When
they halted, this was cut up and broiled over a fire, and after it had
been eaten all lay down and slept for two or three hours.

"Ought we not to set a guard?" Harry had asked.

"No, senor, I do not think it necessary. Jose will lie down by the side
of the llamas
, the Incas may have 
 closed the approach in some way to make the topic certain. I cannot 
 promise that we shall find the amber; but I shall do my dependable with the 
 knowledge that has fall down to me. If I fail, we must hear in other 
 focus. When the Spaniards came, forty thousand of the Incas' 
 people leave Cuzco and the neighbouring towns, and journeyed off down 
 the mountain and out to the west. Since then no reliable news 
 concerning them has been heard, but rumours suffer from time to time come 
 from that commission to the effect that there is a great and wealthy 
 city there. I state not that if we failed here we should attempt to find 
 it. The dangers from the savages would be excessively great. There would be 
 great forests to traverse, many rivers to be crossed. We might travel 
 for years without ever finding their city. When we got there, we might 
 be seized and put to death, and if we were spared we might not be able 
 to make off with the treasure. I mention it to prove that gold may be 
 found in many early seat besides this valley we are try. " 

 " I quite agree with you, Dias, that unless we could get some indication 
 of the position of this city, if it now exists, it would be madness to 
 attempt to research for it. I want gold badly, but I do not propose that 
 we should all throw away our lives in what would be almost a hopeless 
 adventure. Even if I were ready to risk my own life on such a delirious 
 enterprise, I would not ask others to suffice the same. " 

 Crossing the stream, they made their way down through the forest. It 
 was arduous work, as they often had to clear a way with axes through 
 the undergrowth and tangle of creepers. But at noon they reached horizontal surface 
 ground. The estrus was now intense, even under the tree, and the air 
 near and oppressive. On the way down Harry shoot a wild joker. When 
 they halted, this was cut up and broiled over a ardor, and after it had 
 been eaten all lay down and slept for two or three hours. 

 " Ought we not to set a guard? " Harry had asked. 

 " No, senor, I do not think it necessary. Jose will lie down by the side 
 of the llamas
, thf Incas may have
closed tme approach in some way to maie the mxtter sure. I cannot
promise tiat qe shqll find the gold; but K shall dl my besr wiuh the
knowledge tizt has gjme slwn co me. If I fail, ee must trf in other
direwtkous. When the Spaniards came, forty thotsand og hhe Incas'
peoplg lefu Ctzco and the neighbouring towns, and johrneyed away down
the mountains and out to the aest. Since then no rellable news
cincewbing them har been heagb, but rumouts have from time to time come
frum thct directiob ro hve effect tiat thvre is a greab and waalthy
coty there. I san not thqt if we failed here xe should attempt to find
it. Tve dangers from the sqvagev wogld cw tuo frxat. There wonld be
great forests to traverse, many rivets np be crossed. We midhe travel
for years without ever finding uheir city. When we got there, we might
be seized anf put to qeath, and if we were spared we might not be able
tm makx uff wlth gye treasure. I mention it to show that gold may fs
fpukd in many other places besodfs jhis valley we are szskjng."

"I quite agree wlth you, Dias, that unltss wr could get some indication
if the positpon if this city, if it now exists, it eould be madness to
attempt tu sezrch for it. I want gkud badly, but I du npt propose that
we should all throw awey oux lives kn wnat wotld be almlst a hopeless
adventure. Fven nf I fere ready to risk my own life on such a mad
enterprise, O found not afk otmers to do the fame."

Crossing tke streai, theh made thepr way doxn through tre forest. It
wdd toilsome wmrk, as trey ifteb had tu clear a way woth axes nhxough
the yndergrowth and takgle ur creepers. But cu nion they reachec ldvej
ggouid. Thq heat was nof ingenrr, evev under the greex, and the air
close atd olpressive. On the wsy down Hatry shot w wild turkey. When
they halted, tjis wes cut up amd froiled over a fire, and after jt had
beej ewten all lay dowk anq slept fox two or three hours.

"Ought we not to set e guard?" Harry had asked.

"Bo, senor, I do not tkikk it necessery. Jofe will lhe down by the side
od the llamas
, the Incas may have closed the some to make matter sure. I find gold; but I do my best the knowledge that has come down me. If I fail, we must try in other directions. When the Spaniards forty thousand of the Incas' people left Cuzco and the neighbouring towns, and away the and to the west. Since then no reliable news concerning them has been heard, but rumours have time to time come from that direction to effect that there is great and wealthy city there. say that if failed we attempt to find The dangers from the savages would be too great. There would be great forests to traverse, many to be might travel years ever their city. When there, we might be seized and and if we were spared we might not able to off with the treasure. I mention to show that gold may be found in other places besides this valley we are seeking." "I quite agree with you, Dias, that could get some indication the position of city, it exists, would be to attempt to search for it. I want gold badly, but do not propose that we should all throw away our what be almost a adventure. Even if I ready risk my own life a enterprise, ask to the same." Crossing the they made their way down the forest. It was had to clear a way with axes through undergrowth and tangle of creepers. But at they reached level ground. The heat was now intense, even under the and the and oppressive. On the way down Harry shot wild turkey. When they this was cut up and broiled over a fire, after had been all lay down slept for two three hours. "Ought to set guard?" had I do not think it necessary. will down by the side of llamas
, the Incas may have
closed the aPproach in sOme waY to MakE tHe maTter Sure. I cannot
proMIse tHat we shall find the gold; bUt I shAlL Do my BEsT with The
knowLEdGE ThaT hAs ComE dOWn To me. IF I fAil, we muSt try in othEr
dIrEctions. When tHE SPaniards caMe, fOrty thousand Of tHe IncaS'
pEopLE left cuzCo and The neiGHbouriNg towns, anD jOUrneyeD Away dowN
THe MounTains and out to the wESt. sInce then no reliAble neWs
COnCERniNg tHem has been HeArd, buT Rumours HAvE FROm tIMe to time come
fRom that direCTioN to the EfFecT That thEre is A gREat And wealthy
cIty tHere. I say nOt that IF we failED here we Should AttEmpT to fINd
It. the DaNGerS FrOm tHE saVages wouLd Be Too grEat. THERE WoulD be
GreaT foreSts to traverse, ManY rivERs tO be crOssed. we miGhT travEl
for yEars wItHout ever finding TheiR city. When We gOt TheRe, We migHT
be seiZed And Put to deAth, and iF We wErE SPArEd we might not be able
To MAKe Off with tHe treaSUrE. I MEntion it To ShoW thaT GOld maY be
fOUnD in many oTher plACeS bEsides tHiS valleY wE arE seEking."

"i QuitE agree With you, DIas, thAT unless we could GEt some indicatIOn
OF ThE PosiTioN of this city, If it NOw exIsts, IT wOulD Be madNess tO
aTTeMPt to search for it. I wanT gOld badLy, but i do not propose That
we shouLD ALl throw aWay oUR lIVes in what would Be almOst a hopeleSS
adventuRe. EveN if I were Ready to riSK My own lifE on SucH a mAd
eNTErPrise, I would noT ASk otHeRs to do tHe sAme."

CrosSinG thE stReaM, tHey made thEir way doWn ThRoUgH thE foreST. It
was toIlSomE wOrk, As theY Often hAd to cLear A wAy WIth Axes thrOUgH
THe unDeRgRowtH anD tAngle Of crEEpeRs. But at Noon they rEacHEd leVeL
gRound. ThE heat was now inTeNse, even undEr The Trees, aND The air
clOse and oppressive. On the waY Down HarRy sHot a wIld tUrkey. When
TheY halteD, thIS was cuT up and BroilEd OveR A Fire, aND AfTer It Had
been eatEN All Lay doWn And sLept for Two or three hours.

"OugHT we Not to set a guarD?" HaRry hAD AsKed.

"nO, sENor, i dO Not THInk it necessary. JOse will lie DoWN bY the side
of THe lLaMas
, the Incas may have
close d the appr oachinsom ewayto m ake the matter sure . I cannot
promise tha t wesh a ll f i nd  thegold; b u tI sha ll  d o m yb es t wit h t he
know ledge that  ha scome down to me . If I fai l,we must tryinotherdi rec t ions.  Wh en th e Span i ards c ame, fort yt housan d  of the I nc as'people left Cuzco an d  the neighbour ing to wn s ,a n d j our neyed away  d own
t h e mount a in s a ndo ut to the wes t. Since th e n n o reli ab len ews
co ncern in g  th em has been  hea rd, but r umours have fr o m timeto tim e c ome 
fro m  t ha t d ir e cti o ntot heeffect t ha tthere  isa g r eatand  wea lthycity there. I  sa y no t  th at if  we f aile dherewe sho uld a tt empt to find
it . Th e dangers  fr om  th esavag e s woul d b e t oo grea t. Ther e  wo ul d b egreat forests to t ra v e rs e, manyrivers to  b e  crossed .Wemigh t trave l
fo r  y ears wit hout e v er  f indingth eir ci ty . W hen  we g o t th ere, w e mightbe se i zed and put to death, and if we w er e  spa red  we might n ot b e  abl e
to ma keo ff wi th th et re a sure. I mention itto  showthatgold may be
f ound in ma n y other pl aces be s ides this vall ey we  are seeki n g."

"Iquite  agree w ith you,D i as, that  un les s w e c o u ld  get some ind i c atio nof thepos ition o f t his  ci ty,  i f it nowexists,it  w ou ld  be  madn e ss to
at te mpt  t o s earch for it . I w antgo ld bad ly, but Id o  not  p ro pose  th at 
we s houl d  al l throw  away our  li v es i nwh at woul d be almost a  h opeless
ad ve ntu re. Ev e n  if I we re ready to risk my own life on  su ch amadenterpris e,I woul d n o t askothers  to d othe s ame." Cr oss in g the stre a m , t hey m ad e th eir way  down through thef ore st. It
was to ils omew o rk , a s  t h eyof t enh a d to clear a wa y with axe st hr ough
the u n der gr owth an d tangl e ofc reepers . But atnoon they  r each e d  le vel
ground . The he at was no w  inte n se , eve n u nder t he  tr ees,and th e  ai r
clo se and  o ppress ive.On  the way  down Harry shot a wild  turke y. Wh enthey halt ed, thi s was cut  upand broile d o ver  a fi re, and a fter it  ha d 
been  eat e n all lay do wna n dslept for t w o orthree  ho u rs.

" Ough t we not to set a guard?" Harryhada s ked .
" No,se nor, I do notthi nk i t necess ar y. Jose wil l lie do wn by th e side 
of th e llama s 
, the_Incas may_have
closed the approach in_some way_to_make the_matter_sure. I cannot
promise_that we shall_find the gold; but_I shall do_my_best with the
knowledge that has come down to me. If I fail, we must_try_in other
directions._When_the_Spaniards came, forty thousand of_the Incas'
people left Cuzco and_the neighbouring_towns, and journeyed away down
the mountains and out_to_the west. Since_then no reliable news
concerning them has been heard, but_rumours have from time to time_come
from that direction_to_the_effect that there is_a great and wealthy
city there. I_say not that if we failed_here we should attempt to find
it. The_dangers from the savages would be_too great. There would be
great_forests to_traverse, many rivers to be_crossed. We might_travel
for years_without ever finding_their city. When we got there,_we might
be seized_and put to death, and if_we_were spared we_might_not_be able
to_make off with_the_treasure. I_mention_it to show that gold may_be
found_in many other places besides this valley_we are seeking."

"I quite_agree_with you, Dias, that_unless we could get some_indication
of the position of this city,_if it_now exists,_it would be madness to
attempt to search for it. I want_gold badly, but I do not_propose that
we should all_throw away_our_lives in what_would_be almost_a hopeless
adventure. Even if I were ready_to risk_my own life on such a_mad
enterprise, I would not_ask_others to do the same."

Crossing the_stream, they made their way down_through the forest. It
was toilsome_work,_as_they often had to clear_a way with axes through
the undergrowth_and tangle of_creepers. But at noon they reached level
ground._The_heat was now intense, even under_the_trees, and the air
close and oppressive._On_the_way down Harry shot a_wild turkey. When
they halted, this was_cut up and broiled over a fire, and after_it had
been eaten_all lay down and slept_for_two_or three hours.

"Ought we not to set a guard?" Harry_had asked.

"No,_senor, I do_not think it necessary. Jose will lie down by the_side
of the llamas