第28章

"But I am positive that somewhere in this vicinity is the lost Peruvian city of Pelone," he said."Every indication points to this as the region, and the more I study the plates of gold, and read their message, the more I am convinced that this is the place spoken of.

"But we have been over many mountains, and in more valleys, without finding a trace of the ancient civilization I feel sure once flourished here.There are no relics of a lost race--not so much as an arrow or spear head.But, somehow or other, I feel that I shall find the lost city.And when I do I shall be famous!""Mr.Damon and I will help you all we can, Tom said."As soon as I get ready the next blast I'll have a little time to myself, and we will go with you on a trip or two.""I shall be very glad to have you," the bald-headed scientist remarked.

Tom's second blast was even more successful than the first, and enough of the hard rock was loosed and pulverized to give the Indian laborers ten days' work in removing it from the tunnel.

Then, as the services of the young inventor would not be needed for a week or more, he decided to go on a little trip with Professor Bumper.

"I'll come too," said Mr.Damon."One of the sub- contractors whose men are gathering the cinchona bark for our firm has his headquarters in the region where you are going, and I can go over there and see why he isn't up to the mark."Accordingly, preparations having been made to spend a week in camp in the forests of the Andes, Tom and his party set off one morning.Professor Bumper's Indian helpers would do the hard work, and, of course, Koku, who went wherever Tom went, would be on hand in case some feat of strength were needed.

It was a blind search, this hunt for a lost city, and as much luck might be expected going in one direction as in another; so the party had no fixed point toward which to travel.Only Mr.Damon stipulated that he wanted to reach a certain village, and they planned to include that on their route.

Tom Swift took his electric rifle with him, and with it he was able tobring down a couple of deer which formed a welcome addition to the camp fare.

The rifle was a source of great wonder to the Peruvians.They were familiar with ordinary firearms, and some of them possessed old-fashioned guns.But Tom's electric weapon, which made not a sound, but killed with the swiftness of light, was awesome to them.The interpreter accompanying Professor Bumper confided privately to Tom that the other Indians regarded the young inventor as a devil who could, if he wished, slay by the mere winking of an eye.

Mr.Damon located the quinine-gathering force he was anxious to see, and, through the interpreter, told the chief that more bark must be brought in to keep up to the terms of the contract.

But something seemed to be the matter.The Indian chief was indifferent to the interpreted demands of Mr.Damon, and that gentleman, though he blessed any number of animate and inanimate objects, seemed to make no impression.

"No got men to gather bark, him say," translated the interpreter."Hasn't got any men!" exclaimed Mr.Damon."Why, look at all thelazy beggars around the village."

This was true enough, for there were any number of able- bodied Indians lolling in the shade.

"Him say him no got," repeated the translator, doggedly.

At that moment screams arose back of one the grass huts, and a child ran out into the open, followed by a savage dog which was snapping at the little one's bare legs.