Secrets of the Andes

or th

y stood staring for several seconds before either seemed

y airplane?" gaspe

ther l

ate." He turned to the stranger. "This," he went on, addressing the youth, "is Mr. Karl Sutman, who is going to take several members of the e

lows," the aviator gre

Mister--" Bob began,

laughed. "I don't care for that 'mister'

," said Joe with a smile

a feeling of friendliness which was noti

e about?" asked Bob. "This airplane stu

huckled the aviator. "That is if you ginks

e in on it," Bob assured him. "But-" he hes

ming expedition, he at once looked me up and offered to take part of us in his monoplane. All that he'll charge will be for the gas

proudly. "The monoplane I own is one of the fastest and most efficient machines

h," smiled Joe. "T

mapped out carefully, taking into consideration the possibility of having to land at any time. Norfolk, Virginia, would be the last large American city they would see. From there they would proceed south over the Bahama Islands and Cuba, and then on to the north coast of South America. At Bogotá, Colombia,

eir imaginations had been captivated by the prospects of a unique air t

g his father, "Bob and I will be

He did not have any to

will have to give their consent, you kn

optimism that he was far from feeling, "especially i

"I've already made reservations on a steamship.

fellows"-referring to Bob and Joe-"like to come with

Joe at once. "We want

t care to go again. The boys and Mr. Wallace, however, desired to see the m

to leave at once. They could get a lunc

e others asked that they leave an hour later. "Exci

the field, just off the cement runway. There, before their eyes, was

ll over with pride. "Just been complet

e machine to examine

ted Joe. "Got an air-cooled moto

nd it as accommodati

en he had opened the door and stepped into the ca

an airplane as in a bus," laug

by Karl as a convenience to members of the expedition. A wide glass window separated the pilot's cockpit from the passenger section, and the two were connected by a teleph

like to go up for a short ride?" the aviator

er!" came from Bob

hop in. Be sure t

ths and Mr. Wallace took places in the ca

e roar of the motor, and then the

or several hundred feet, then gradually le

and his friend had never been in a monopla

dropping away from us," Bob said. "We'll probab

ion between the pilot's and passengers' quarters. As a result

ome, they heard Karl's vo

he aviator asked. "Th

ugh the transmitter. "It's a hundred

ssed the continent in a huge tri-motor monoplane. But neverth

reached, and then the 'plane shot ahead t

ive minutes when Karl's voice was

ing famili

ringly. "We're right above our h

hum said. "They're

reached, and their direct

including the United States Capitol, the White House, and other government b

here?" queried Joe, his keen

he atmosphere isn't any too clear, though

o," remarked Bob. "Wonderful whe

then headed back to the airport, as the

an ever to be among those of the expedition who would trav

r, when he and his friends had returned home. "W

sing his voice, "the chances are that nothing will happen. Any more, airplane accid

you mean

he naturalist answered. "There

ggested Mr. Wallace, who had been induced to spe

and was actually bent on going. After all, his judgment had seldom failed him, and most likely would not now. Then, too, she was somewhat o

and knew him to be an excellent airplane pilot, besides being a resourceful, well-thought-of citizen. In the end, Joe's parents consented to the youth's going, especially when they

were delighted

r with us, though," said Bob. "We all

inded him, and then added: "Wonder i

hough, declared he would not be without companions, for he was acquainted with several members of other divisions

you to go in the airplane," Joe's father said to Mr. Wallace, "becaus

o the delight of Bob and Joe. Since their first meeting with the natur

of suits, caps, goggles, and other provisions. Aviator's togs, the young men knew, would not be strictly necessary, as it was a

u, boys," Mr. Holton called, when the chu

x. A minute later, when they saw its co

n Picture Corporation!" cried Bob happily. "It got here ju

ditions. The youths took moving pictures of the strange lands they visited, and so pleased the film company that they were given the opportunity of aga

you've photographed," Mr. Holton told them. "If you do this we

and Mr. Wallace and Bob and I saw that movie in Chicago, but it's still all not quite clear. I

do know, though, that the Incas maintained a socialistic state, in which everyone was forced to work on a given piece of land without

ession insuranc

ist said with a smile. "At any ra

and birds in Peru?" asked

bird that flies. We naturalists wish particularly to investigate reports of a species of condor that is pure white in color. Whether we'll find it we have yet to see. But there are other birds and animals that we feel sure

s district often to get minor articles that they would need on the trip, and

hey arrived at that place they found that an expert mechanic had just completed a thor

then, with sincere farewells, the youths, Mr. Holton, and Mr. Walla

e last farewell and promise to be careful, the monoplane rolled heavily

e excitedly. "Off for