 be a very expensive
job. We might as well risk losing our baggage, and even our guns. The
great thing will be to reduce the weight as much as possible. Four
cotton beds take up a lot of space, and I think in any case I should
have bought new ones at Lima; at any rate they can go. The blankets and
ponchos we could, of course, carry behind us. So that practically there
are only the two tents, cooking utensils, and the stores, which will
not weigh many pounds, to carry, and with our clothes the whole will
make a ridiculously small load even for one mule. We had better get rid
of the pickaxes and shovels, they would fetch pretty nearly as much
here as we should give for new ones at Lima.

"Thus, then, with Donna Maria riding one of the mules, there would be
our five selves and three led mules, of which only one would be laden.
That would offer no great temptation to plunderers; and as we shall all
have guns across our shoulders, they would see that it would not be
worth while to interfere on the very slight chance that the one laden
mule might be carrying anything valuable."

"I agree with you, senor. Our appearance would be that of a party of
travellers who have been exploring the old ruins, or, as has been done
before, endeavouring to ascertain whether the rivers on the east are
navigable down to the Amazon. Besides, the bulk of the people here do
not forget what they owe to Englishmen, and the fact that you are of
that nation would in itself secure good treatment for you among all
except desperate men."

Accordingly they started the next morning. Maria rode, in Amazon
fashion, on a mule between her husband and Harry. Bertie followed with
Jose, to whose saddle the three baggage mules were attached in single
file. They were undisturbed on their journey. Three or four times they
were hailed by men on the rocks above as they went through difficult
points of the pass. The reply of Dias, that the two gentlemen with him
were Englishmen who had been exploring the ruins and doing a little
shooting among the hills, generally satisfied them. One or two,
however, who enquired what the mule was carrying
be a very expensive 
 job. We might as well risk losing our baggage, and even our gunman. The 
 big thing will be to reduce the weight equally much as possible. Four 
 cotton beds accept up a lot of space, and I remember in any case I should 
 have bought modern ones at Lima; at any rate they can fail. The blankets and 
 ponchos we could, of course, carry behind us. So that practically there 
 are merely the two tents, cooking utensils, and the stores, which will 
 not count many pounds, to carry, and with our clothes the whole will 
 make a laughably small warhead even for one mule. We had better get rid 
 of the pickaxes and shovels, they would bring pretty nearly as much 
 here as we should give for new ones at Lima. 

 " therefore, then, with Donna Maria ride one of the mules, there would be 
 our five selves and three led mules, of which only one would be laden. 
 That would offer no great temptation to plunderers; and as we shall all 
 suffer guns across our shoulders, they would visit that it would not be 
 deserving while to intervene on the very slight chance that the one laden 
 mule might be carrying anything valuable. " 

 " I agree with you, senor. Our appearance would be that of a party of 
 travellers who have been exploring the old ruins, or, as has been suffice 
 before, endeavouring to ascertain whether the rivers on the east are 
 navigable down to the Amazon. Besides, the bulk of the people here do 
 not forget what they owe to Englishmen, and the fact that you are of 
 that state would in itself secure good treatment for you among all 
 except desperate men. " 

 Accordingly they started the following morning. Maria rode, in Amazon 
 fashion, on a mule between her husband and Harry. Bertie followed with 
 Jose, to whose saddle the three baggage mule were attached in single 
 file. They were undisturbed on their journey. Three or four times they 
 were hail by men on the rocks above as they went through difficult 
 item of the crack. The reply of Dias, that the two gentleman with him 
 were Englishmen who had been exploring the ruin and doing a small 
 shooting among the hills, broadly satisfied them. One or two, 
 however, who enquired what the mule was carrying
 be a very expensive
job. We oight as well rnwk losmng our baggage, and even our guns. The
great vhint wilo be to reduce the weieht as mubh as poswiblt. Four
cotton beds take up a lot lf s'are, and I think ln any case I should
have tojgkt new ones at Lima; at any rate they can go. Tje blankets anq
ponbhjs ws could, of course, carry behind us. Ao that practically yhere
are only the two tentd, colking utensils, and the stores, whisy will
not wekgh many pounds, to carty, and with our clothes the whold wilk
make a rieixullosly small liad enen for one mmke. We vad betyer get rid
of bhe pmckazes and shovels, they xould fetch pretty ngarly as mgck
here as we should gice for tew mnes qt Uimz.

"Tius, then, aiti Donna Marja riding obe of the mules, thete qould be
our fjve sejvqs and three led mules, of which only ont woumd be laden.
That would odfer no great temptatlon to pltnderers; and as we shall all
have guns across our vhoulvefs, uhcn wojod see that it would not be
worth while to interssrt ok the very slighb chance that the pnf kwden
mule mighj be caxdyjng anything valuahle."

"I agtee wirh you, segor. Pur appearance would be thar of a party if
travellers who hcve been expuorimg thr old ruins, or, as has bzen dohe
before, enfeavourinf to ascertain whdthvr tve rivers on the east are
nwvigable vown co the Aoazom. Besiqes, the bupk of the people here do
jot flrcet what tjey owe to Englishmen, and the fert that you ate mf
tvat natijn womld in itself sqcure good trectment fjr yoj among alm
except desperate ien."

Accordinglf they startev the nexe moenint. Maria fode, in Amazon
gashion, ou a myle between her huxbavs and Harry. Bercne followed with
Jpse, to wjoxe vaddle the tvree baebage oules wtxe ctgachrd in single
file. Thef wede undisturbed on yhcir journgy. Three jr four times they
were hailed bj men on the tochs above as they went through sifficult
ooikts of the pafs. Tme rgply of Diax, that the two gentlemen with him
were Eiglishmen who had been wxploring the ruins snd doing a littje
shootinc among the hills, geberally satisfied them. One or two,
howevsr, who enqulred what the mule was carrying
be a very expensive job. We might risk our baggage, even our guns. to the weight as as possible. Four beds take up a lot of and I think in any case I should have bought new ones at at any rate they can go. The blankets and ponchos we could, of carry us. that there are only the two tents, cooking utensils, and the stores, which will not weigh many to carry, and with our clothes the whole make a ridiculously small even for one mule. We better rid of pickaxes shovels, would fetch pretty as much here as we should give for new ones at Lima. "Thus, then, with Donna Maria one of there would our selves three led mules, only one would be laden. That great temptation to plunderers; and as we shall have guns our shoulders, they would see that would not be worth while to interfere on very slight chance that the one laden mule might be carrying anything valuable." "I agree senor. Our appearance would that of a of who been the old or, as has been done before, endeavouring to ascertain whether the on the east are navigable down to the Amazon. Besides, of people here do forget what they owe Englishmen, the fact that you that would good for among all except desperate Accordingly they started the next Maria rode, in Amazon her husband and Harry. Bertie followed with Jose, whose saddle the three baggage mules were in single file. They were undisturbed on their journey. Three or four they were men on the rocks above as they went difficult points of the The reply of Dias, that the two gentlemen with were who had exploring the ruins doing a little among the hills, them. One two, who mule was carrying
 be a very expensive
job. We mighT as well risK losiNg oUr bAgGage, And eVen our guns. The
gREat tHing will be to reduce the wEight As MUch aS PoSsiblE. Four
coTToN BEds TaKe Up a LoT Of Space, And i think iN any case I sHouLd
Have bought neW OnEs at Lima; at Any Rate they can gO. ThE blankEtS anD
PonchOs wE coulD, of couRSe, carrY behind us. so THat praCTically THErE
are Only the two tents, coOKiNG utensils, and thE storeS, wHIcH WIll
Not Weigh many pOuNds, to CArry, and WItH OUR clOThes the whole wIll
make a ridICulOusly sMaLl lOAd even For onE mULe. WE had better gEt riD
of the picKaxes aND shovelS, They wouLd fetcH prEttY neaRLy As MucH
hERe aS We ShoULd gIve for neW oNeS at LiMa.

"ThUS, THEn, wiTh DOnna maria Riding one of thE muLes, tHEre Would Be
our Five SeLves aNd threE led mUlEs, of which only onE wouLd be laden.
thaT wOulD oFfer nO Great tEmpTatIon to plUndererS; And As WE SHaLl all
have guns acrosS oUR ShOulders, tHey wouLD sEe THat it wouLd Not Be
woRTH whilE to iNTeRfere on tHe very SLiGhT chance ThAt the oNe LadEn
mUle miGHt be CarryiNg anythiNg valUAble."

"I agree with YOu, senor. Our appEArANCe WOuld Be tHat of a party Of
trAVellErs wHO hAve BEen exPloriNg THe OLd ruins, or, as has been dOnE
beforE, endeAvouring to ascErtain whetHER The riverS on tHE eASt are
navigable Down tO the Amazon. bEsides, thE bulk Of the peoPle here do
NOT forget wHat TheY owE to eNGlIshmen, and the fACT thaT yOu are of
ThaT nation WouLd iN itSelF sEcure good TreatmenT fOr YoU aMonG all
eXCept despErAte MeN."

AcCordiNGly theY starTed tHe NeXT moRning. MaRIa RODe, in amAzOn
faShiOn, On a muLe beTWeeN her husBand and HaRry. bErtiE fOlLowed wiTh
Jose, to whose SaDdle the thrEe BagGage muLES were attAched in single
file. They weRE undistUrbEd on tHeir Journey. ThRee Or four TimES they
wEre haiLed by MeN on THE rockS ABoVe aS tHey went thrOUGh dIfficUlT
poiNts of thE pass. The reply of DiaS, ThaT the two gentleMen With HIM
wEre eNgLIshMeN Who HAD been exploring tHe ruins and DoINg A little
shoOTinG aMong the Hills, geNeralLY satisfIed them. OnE or two,
howEvEr, whO ENquIred what thE mule was Carrying
 be a very expensive
job.We might a s wel l r isk  l osin g ou r baggage, and even  our guns. The
great t hingwi l l be to  redu ce thew ei g h t a smu chas po ssibl e.Four
co tton bedstak eup a lot ofs pa ce, and Ithi nk in any ca seI shou ld 
ha v e bou ght  newones a t  Lima;  at any r at e  theyc an go.T h eblan kets and
ponchosw ec ould, of cours e, car ry be h i ndus.  So that p ra ctica l ly ther e 
a r e onl y  the two tent s, cookingu ten sils,an d t h e stor es, w hi c h w ill
not wei gh m any pound s, toc arry, a n d withour cl oth esthew ho le  wi ll mak e  a  ri d icu lously s ma ll  load  eve n f o r on e m ule.  We h ad better get  ri d
of the  pick axesandsh ovels , they  woul dfetch pretty ne arly  as muchher easwe  shou l d give  fo r n ew ones  at Lim a .
"T h u s ,then, with Donna M ar i a  r iding on e of t h emu l es, ther ewou ld b e our f ives el ves andthreel ed  m ules, o fwhichon lyone  woul d  beladen. 
That wo uld o f fer no great t e mptation to p l un d e re r s; a ndas we shall  all have  gun s  a cro s s our  shou ld e rs ,  they would see tha tit wou ld no t be
worth wh ile to int e r f ere on t he v e ry slight chancethatthe one la d en
mulemight  be carr ying anyt h i ng valua ble ."
"I  ag r e ewith you, sen o r . Ou rappeara nce  wouldbetha t o f a  p arty of
t raveller swh oha vebeene xploring  t heol d r uins, or, as  hasbeen  d on e 
be fore, e n de a v ouri ng  t o as cer ta in wh ethe r  th e river s on theeas t  are 
n av igabledown to the A ma zon. Besid es , t he bul k of the p eople here do
not forge t  what t hey  oweto E nglishmen , a nd the  fa c t that  you a re of 
t hat n ation w ou ldin  itself se c u regoodtr eatm ent for  you among all
exc e ptdesperate men ."
Acc o r di ngl y  t h eyst a rte d the next mornin g. Maria r od e ,in Amazonf ash io n, on a  mule b etwee n  her hu sband and  Harry. B er tief o llo wed with
J ose, towhose sad d le th e  t hreebag gage m ul eswereattach e d i n sin gle
fi le . They  were  u ndisturb ed on their journey. Th ree or  four  ti mes theywer e  ha iled by m en o n the rock s a bov e asthe y  went  thr o ug h d i fficu lt
p o ints of t h epas s .  T he reply of D i as,  that  th e  two g entl emen with him
wer e  Englishmen wh o ha d bee n e x plor in g the ruins an d d oi n g  a littl eshooting am ong thehi l ls, g eneral ly sat isfiedt h em .  One o r tw o,however,who  e n quiredwh at the mu le w as  carry ing
 be_a very_expensive
job. We might as_well risk_losing_our baggage,_and_even our guns._The
great thing will_be to reduce the_weight as much_as_possible. Four
cotton beds take up a lot of space, and I think in any_case_I should
have_bought_new_ones at Lima; at any_rate they can go. The_blankets and
ponchos_we could, of course, carry behind us. So_that_practically there
are only_the two tents, cooking utensils, and the stores, which_will
not weigh many pounds, to carry,_and with our_clothes_the_whole will
make a ridiculously_small load even for one mule._We had better get rid
of the_pickaxes and shovels, they would fetch pretty_nearly as much
here as we should_give for new ones at_Lima.

"Thus, then,_with Donna Maria riding one_of the mules,_there would_be
our five selves_and three led mules, of which_only one would_be laden.
That would offer no great_temptation_to plunderers; and_as_we_shall all
have_guns across our_shoulders,_they would_see_that it would not be
worth while_to_interfere on the very slight chance that_the one laden
mule might_be_carrying anything valuable."

"I agree_with you, senor. Our appearance_would be that of a party_of
travellers who_have been_exploring the old ruins, or, as has been done
before, endeavouring to_ascertain whether the rivers on the_east are
navigable down to_the Amazon._Besides,_the bulk of_the_people here_do
not forget what they owe to Englishmen,_and the_fact that you are of
that nation_would in itself secure_good_treatment for you among all
except desperate_men."

Accordingly they started the next morning._Maria rode, in Amazon
fashion, on_a_mule_between her husband and Harry._Bertie followed with
Jose, to whose saddle_the three baggage_mules were attached in single
file. They were_undisturbed_on their journey. Three or four_times_they
were hailed by men on the_rocks_above_as they went through difficult
points_of the pass. The reply of_Dias, that the two gentlemen with him
were Englishmen who_had been exploring_the ruins and doing a_little
shooting_among_the hills, generally satisfied them. One or two,
however, who enquired_what the_mule was carrying