 and they would never venture to attack a great snake."

"And besides these, what other disagreeables are there, Dias?" Bertie
asked cheerfully.

"There is one other disagreeable," Dias replied, "and it is a serious
one. There are in the mountains many desperate men. Some have slain an
enemy who had friends influential enough to set the law in motion
against them, or have escaped from prison; some have resisted the
tax-collectors; many have been suspected of plotting against the
government; and others are too lazy to work."

"And how do they live?" Harry asked.

"They live partly on game and partly on plunder. They steal from
cultivators; they are paid a small sum by all muleteers passing through
the mountains; they rob travellers who are worth robbing; and sometimes
they carry off a proprietor of land, and get a ransom for him.
Occasionally they will wash the sand, and get gold enough to send one
of their number into a town to buy articles they require."

"And do they go in large bands?"

"No, senor; as a rule some ten or twelve keep together under the one
they have chosen as their chief. Sometimes, if people make complaints
and troops are sent against them, they will join to resist them; but
this is not often. The authorities know well enough that they have no
chance of catching these men among the mountains they are so well
acquainted with, and content themselves with stationing a few troops in
the villages."

"And is it through the robbers or the savages that so few of the gold
explorers ever return?"

"It is chiefly, I think, from hardship," Dias said; "but undoubtedly
many who venture down near the Indians' country are killed by them.
Some who have done well, and are returning with the gold they have
accumulated, fall victims to these robbers. You must not, of course,
suppose that there are great numbers of them, senor. There may be some
hundreds, but from Huancabamba--the northern frontier of the western
Cordilleras, where the Maranon crosses the eastern range--down to Lake
Titicaca on the one side, and Tacna on the other, is nigh a thousand
and they would never venture to attack a great snake. " 

 " And besides these, what early disagreeables are there, Dias? " Bertie 
 ask cheerfully. 

 " There is one other disagreeable, " Dias answer, " and it is a serious 
 one. There be in the mountains many desperate homo. Some have slain an 
 enemy who have friends influential enough to set the police in motion 
 against them, or have escaped from prison; some have resisted the 
 tax - collector; many have been suspected of plotting against the 
 government; and others are too lazy to exploit. " 

 " And how do they live? " Harry asked. 

 " They live partially on game and partly on loot. They steal from 
 cultivators; they are pay a small sum by all muleteers passing through 
 the mountains; they overcharge travellers who are worth robbing; and sometimes 
 they carry off a proprietor of land, and beget a ransom for him. 
 Occasionally they will wash the sand, and get gold enough to send one 
 of their number into a town to buy articles they require. " 

 " And do they function in large bands? " 

 " No, senor; as a rule some ten or twelve observe together under the one 
 they have chosen as their chief. Sometimes, if citizenry make complaints 
 and troops are sent against them, they will connect to resist them; but 
 this is not often. The authorities know well enough that they have no 
 chance of catching these men among the mountains they are so well 
 acquainted with, and content themselves with stationing a few troop in 
 the village. " 

 " And is it through the robbers or the savages that so few of the gold 
 explorers always return? " 

 " It is chiefly, I think, from hardship, " Dias said; " but undoubtedly 
 many who venture down near the Indians' country are killed by them. 
 Some who have done well, and are returning with the amber they have 
 accumulated, fall victims to these robbers. You must not, of course, 
 think that there are bang-up numbers of them, senor. There may be some 
 hundred, but from Huancabamba -- the northern frontier of the western 
 Cordilleras, where the Maranon thwart the eastern range -- down to Lake 
 Titicaca on the one english, and Tacna on the other, is near a thousand
 anf they would never ventuve to attack a gteqt snane."

"And gesides ghese, what other disagreeablxs aee thtge, Dias?" Bertie
asked cfeerfully.

"Nhere is ine irher disagcseable," Dias rsilied, "end it is a serlous
one. These are in the kojncains many desperate men. Some have sjain an
rnfmy who had fryendx infmlektial enough to set the law in mktion
ageinst them, or hsve escaped from prison; sole hwve resisted the
tad-collectors; manr have been sjspected of plotting afainst the
government; and others are coo lazy to wirk."

"Wtd how do tiey line?" Harry asked.

"They liee partky on game and pactly on plunder. They stean from
cultivators; jhey are pdib a small sum by all nuoeteets pavsine thfoufh
vhe mountwina; they rob travellers who are worth robbond; and sometimea
they sawry off a proprietor of land, and get a ganskm for him.
Occasionally rhey will wash the sajd, and gee gold enough to send one
of their number into a tmwn tk buv artizoed they require."

"And do they go in large bands?"

"No, aemog; as a rule some ben or twelve keep tlgrjher under the one
thzg gave chosen as thelr chies. Somwtimes, if peolle make complaints
and troops are sent cgaunst them, they wilp join to rzsist jhem; bit
this is not often. The autgorities knlw well ehuugh that they hxve nm
chance of catching these ien among the mountakns jhey arq so well
afquaikded with, and contejt thgmselvas with stwtioning a few troops in
the villages."

"And is it tvrolgh the rjbberx or the savades that so fec of the gold
dxplorers vver retucn?"

"It is chiesly, I think, fslm hardship," Vias said; "but undiubtedlh
oany who ventute down nvax the Induans' country are kllled gy them.
Some who hace done well, anc afe wenuriing rhth the gold theh hxfe
accjmulated, faou vivtims to these robbess. Yku must not, of coutsc,
suppose jhat therq are great nimbers of them, senlr. Thxre mab be spme
rundreds, but from Huancabamba--tge northegn nrontier of tre wcstetn
Cordillercs, where the Maranon crosses the eastern range--down to Lakg
Titicaca on the one xlde, and Tacne on tre other, hs nigh a thousand
and they would never venture to attack snake." besides these, other disagreeables are "There one other disagreeable," replied, "and it a serious one. There are in mountains many desperate men. Some have slain an enemy who had friends influential to set the law in motion against them, or have escaped from prison; have the many been suspected of plotting against the government; and others are too lazy to work." "And how they live?" Harry asked. "They live partly on and partly on plunder. steal from cultivators; they are a sum by muleteers through mountains; they rob who are worth robbing; and sometimes they carry off a proprietor of land, and get a ransom him. Occasionally wash the and gold to send one number into a town to buy "And do they go in large bands?" "No, as a some ten or twelve keep together the one they have chosen as their chief. if people make complaints and troops are sent against them, they will join to resist this is not often. authorities know well that have chance catching these among the mountains they are so well acquainted with, and content with stationing a few troops in the villages." "And is the or the savages so few of the explorers return?" "It is chiefly, from Dias many venture near the Indians' country killed by them. Some who done well, and are have accumulated, fall victims to these robbers. You not, of course, suppose that there are numbers of them, senor. There may be some hundreds, but from Huancabamba--the frontier of Cordilleras, where the Maranon crosses the eastern range--down Lake Titicaca on the side, and Tacna on the other, is nigh a
 and they would never venture tO attack a grEat snAke."

"and BeSideS theSe, what other disAGreeAbles are there, Dias?" BertiE
askeD cHEerfULlY.

"TherE is one oTHeR DIsaGrEeAblE," DIAs RepliEd, "aNd it is a Serious
one. theRe Are in the mounTAiNs many despEraTe men. Some havE slAin an
eNeMy wHO had fRieNds inFluentIAl enouGh to set thE lAW in motIOn
againST ThEm, or Have escaped from prISoN; Some have resistEd the
tAx-COlLECtoRs; mAny have beeN sUspecTEd of ploTTiNG AGaiNSt the
governmeNt; and others ARe tOo lazy To WorK."

"and how Do theY lIVe?" HArry asked.

"ThEy liVe partly oN game aND partly ON plundeR. They sTeaL frOm
cuLTiVaTorS; tHEy aRE pAid A SmaLl sum by aLl MuLeteeRs paSSING thrOugH
the MountAins; they rob trAveLlerS Who Are woRth roBbinG; aNd somEtimes
They cArRy off a proprietoR of lAnd, and get A raNsOm fOr Him.
OcCAsionaLly TheY will waSh the saND, anD gET GOlD enough to send one
of ThEIR nUmber intO a town TO bUy ARticles tHeY reQuirE."

"aNd do tHey gO In Large banDs?"

"No, seNOr; As A rule soMe Ten or tWeLve KeeP togeTHer uNder thE one
they Have cHOsen as their chiEF. Sometimes, if pEOpLE MaKE comPlaInts
and trooPs arE Sent AgaiNSt TheM, They wIll joIn TO rESist them; but
this is noT oFten. ThE authOrities know weLl enough thAT THey have nO
chaNCe OF catching these Men amOng the mounTAins they Are so Well
acquAinted witH, ANd contenT thEmsElvEs wITH sTationing a few TROops In
The villAgeS."

"And is iT thRouGh tHe rObBers or the Savages tHaT sO fEw Of tHe golD
ExplorerS eVer ReTurN?"

"It is CHiefly, i thinK, froM hArDShiP," Dias saID; "bUT UndoUbTeDly
mAny WhO ventUre dOWn nEar the INdians' couNtrY Are kIlLeD by them.
some who have doNe Well, and are ReTurNing wiTH The gold tHey have
accumulated, fall vICtims to TheSe robBers. you must noT, of Course,
SupPOse thaT there Are grEaT nuMBErs of THEm, SenOr. there may be SOMe
hUndreDs, But fRom HuanCabamba--the northern FRonTier of the westErn
cordILLeRas, WHeRE thE MARanON Crosses the easteRn range--dowN tO laKe
Titicaca ON thE oNe side, aNd Tacna On the OTher, is nIgh a thousAnd
 and they would never vent ure to att ack a  gr eat  s nake ."
"And besides t h ese,  what other disagreeab les a re ther e ,Dias? " Berti e 
a s k edch ee rfu ll y .
"The reis oneother disa gre ea ble," Dias r e pl ied, "anditis a serious 
on e. The re  ar e  in t hemount ains m a ny des perate me n. Some h a ve slai n an 
ene my who had friend s  i n fluential enou gh tose t  t h e  la w i n motion
a ga instt hem, or ha v e esc a ped from pris on; some ha v e r esiste dthe tax-co llect or s ; m any have be en s uspectedof plo t ting ag a inst th e
gove rnm ent ; an d  o th ers  a r e t o olaz y  to  work."
" An d how  dot h e y  liv e?"  Har ry as ked.

"They l ive  par t lyon ga me an d pa rt ly on  plund er. T he y steal from
cu ltiv ators; th eyar e p ai d a s m all su m b y a ll mule teers p a ssi ng t h ro ugh
the mountains;  t h e yrob trav ellers wh oa re worth  r obb ing; a nd so meti m es 
they ca rry of f  a  p ropriet or  of la nd , a ndget a rans om for  him.
Oc casio n ally they will wash the sand ,  a n d  g e t go ldenough to s endo ne
o f th e ir  nu m ber i nto a  t o wn to buy articles the yrequir e."
"And do theygo in larg e b ands?"
"No, se n or; as a rulesometen or twe l ve keeptoget her unde r the one t hey have  ch ose n a s t h e ir  chief. Somet i m es,if  people  ma ke comp lai nts 
an d t ro ops are s ent agai ns tth em , t hey w i ll jointo  re si stthem; but
th is is  not  o ft e n.The aut h or i t ieskn ow  wel l e no ugh t hatt hey  have n o
chanceofc atch in gthese m en among themo untains th ey  ar e so w e l l
acquai nted with, and contentt hemselv eswithstat ioning afew  troop s i n 
the v illage s."
"A ndi s  it t h r ou ghth e robberso r  th e sav ag es t hat sofew of the gold
ex p lor ers ever retu rn? "

" I t  i s c h ie f ly,  I thi n k , from hardship ," Dias sa id ;  " but undoub t edl ymany wh o ventu re do w n nearthe India ns' count ry  are k ill ed by them .
Some w ho have d o ne we l l,  andare  retur ni ngwiththe go l d t hey h ave
ac cu mulate d, fa ll  victims  to these robbers. Youmust n ot, o f c ourse,
su ppo s e t hat there  are  great num ber s o f the m,s enor.  The r emay be so me
h u ndreds, b u tfro m Hu ancabamba-- t h e  no rther n f r ontier  ofthe western
Cordi l leras, where t he M a r ano n c r osse sthe eastern ra nge -- d o wn to La ke 
Titicaca o n the on es ide,and Ta cna on  the ot h e r, is nig h atho usand
 and_they would_never venture to attack_a great_snake."

"And_besides these,_what_other disagreeables are_there, Dias?" Bertie
asked_cheerfully.

"There is one other_disagreeable," Dias replied,_"and_it is a serious
one. There are in the mountains many desperate men. Some have_slain_an
enemy who_had_friends_influential enough to set the_law in motion
against them, or_have escaped_from prison; some have resisted the
tax-collectors; many have_been_suspected of plotting_against the
government; and others are too lazy to work."

"And_how do they live?" Harry asked.

"They_live partly on_game_and_partly on plunder. They_steal from
cultivators; they are paid a_small sum by all muleteers passing_through
the mountains; they rob travellers who are_worth robbing; and sometimes
they carry off_a proprietor of land, and_get a_ransom for him.
Occasionally they will_wash the sand,_and get_gold enough to_send one
of their number into a_town to buy_articles they require."

"And do they go_in_large bands?"

"No, senor;_as_a_rule some_ten or twelve_keep_together under_the_one
they have chosen as their chief._Sometimes,_if people make complaints
and troops are sent_against them, they will_join_to resist them; but
this_is not often. The authorities_know well enough that they have_no
chance of_catching these_men among the mountains they are so well
acquainted with, and content_themselves with stationing a few troops_in
the villages."

"And is it_through the_robbers_or the savages_that_so few_of the gold
explorers ever return?"

"It is chiefly,_I think,_from hardship," Dias said; "but undoubtedly
many_who venture down near_the_Indians' country are killed by them.
Some_who have done well, and are_returning with the gold they_have
accumulated,_fall_victims to these robbers. You_must not, of course,
suppose that there_are great numbers_of them, senor. There may be some
hundreds,_but_from Huancabamba--the northern frontier of the_western
Cordilleras,_where the Maranon crosses the eastern_range--down_to_Lake
Titicaca on the one side,_and Tacna on the other, is_nigh a thousand