Secrets of the Andes

ra

uick!" Bob Holton's voice was unsteady a

rake pedal to the floor and waited breathless

m carried the car on at a sickening pace. Despite the fact

lves and the washout was not great enough. In but a few seconds

idly as possible, the chums jumped from the car and roll

sped on, reached the edge of the rive

The sun continued on its downward path, the faint wind played through

reaking the silence, "we sure

him. "That was about the closest shave I've ever had.

cars go over this road, and it would not be excep

aid Bob, getting to his feet and br

hed unwi

olen," he grunted. "Come on," he went on, "let's go over to t

ly moving water. It had rained in torrents two d

mily. "But"-his face lighting suddenly-"it's

bile. But how are we going

ighway, I guess," Joe answered. "

nt a delightful week-end in Virginia. Their accident came upon them in a rather

s he and his friend walked back up the road, "we w

," returned Bob with a gr

mped from the doomed automobile. With one last look at

walk," grunted Joe, "especially wh

olton, "because on the Sahara and in Brazil we often hiked,

d their legs like pistons. Despite their serious predicament, th

, while others on the trees were almost ready to fall. There was a

ride with somebody?" asked Joe, as

ook hi

rangers," he returned. "Too many stick-ups and robberies. Still we might se

ody before night? It's three o'clock now, and we may have to do

h only an occasional farmhouse looming up from behind

ugh highway. Although they had done their best, they had found it difficult t

zing far down the highway. "We'll surely fi

oe. "It'll be here before long.

gnaled the driver. But the latter appeared to pay no attention

er. Their faces clearly showed

ob. "So many innocent-faced crooks walk the

rst you don't succeed, try, try again.' According to that, we-- Loo

at the car was coming to a stop. At a motion from the

asked. He was a short, fat man

b. "We had an accident with

hey? Not hu

came unexpectedly on a spot where the bridge was

n't it? And the mach

with a chuckle. "Though we m

ing his cud of tobacco to the other side of h

ary," Joe said with a smile. "The i

himself. Only recently the youth had read

d on a varied conversation. It was at l

n a slowly moving freight train halted them

oe, as he gazed far down the track at the seemi

forward wonderingly. "Did you h

g from one of those freight cars."

left the automobile and ran down the track, s

e. "Sounds like a young boy. In

l they were opposite the box car. It was easy to kee

room for the youths to clamber up into the car. Their efforts w

e, glancing about at the s

reply came fro

y objects that filled the car. At last they were within a few feet of the corner. But i

id Bob, and for the next few minu

opening sufficient fo

who's here," mu

rough the passage, their eyes

rew back with a