The Treasure of the Incas A Story of Adventure in Peru

as they occupied arm-chairs in one corner of it, they were able to talk freely without fea

urse, it didn't matter, for I have enough to live upon; but recently I have been fool enough to fall in love with a girl whose parents would never dr

official salary, he would not take it. I believe he would have gone on working till now had he not suddenly come in for a very fine estate, owing to the death, in the course of two or three years, of four men who stood between him and it. Besides, I fancy he got hints that in the general opinion of the bar he had had a wonderfully good innings, and it was about time that younger men had a share in it. What his s

erchantman, it would not improve my position in the eyes of the parents of the lady in question. Now, you have been knocking about all over the world, I do wish you would give me your advice. Wh

Spanish, d

n, and in and out of its ports, and as time hung heavily on our hands, I got up the languag

d not speak for

ht of South America

w that I have ever thought of

was agai

and came home when the war broke out between Chili and the Spaniards. I have been more in Peru than in Chili, and as Peru was still in the hands of the Spanish, it would have been impossible for me to go there again as long as the war lasted. Knocking about as I did, I heard a grea

as the source of all the misfortunes that have fallen upon their race. With an Englishman whom they knew and trusted, and who, as they also knew, had no wish whatever to discover gold mines, they were a little less reticent. I never asked them any questions on a subject in which I had not a shadow o

dition is that a portion of it was carried off by sea in a great canoe, which was never heard of again and was believed to have been lost. I am not for a moment supposing, Prendergast, that if you went out there you would have the most remote chance of discovering what the Spaniards, ever since they landed there, have been in vain trying to find, and I certainly should not think of recommending a mad-brained adventure, but undoubtedly there are many rich gold mines yet to be foun

said enthusiastically; "though I don't know h

laces. He was with me all the time I was out there. I saved his life when a puma sprang upon him, and he more than once hinted that he could make me a rich man, but I had no inclination that way, my income being sufficient for all my wants. Still, on the chance that he is alive-and he was about thirty when he was with me fifteen years ago, so it is probable that he is still to the fore-I will give you a letter to him telling him that you are a dear friend of mine, and that I trust to him to do any service he can for you just as he would have done for myself. Had it not been for that I should never have mentioned the matter to you. These old mines are the dream of every Peruvian. They have been searching for them ever since the conquest of the country, and as they have failed, it is absurd to think that an Englishman would have the slightest ch

ns. It is just the life that I should enjoy thoroughly. As you say, the chance that anything will come of it

hat three hundred millions have been produced since the first occupation by the Spaniards. Quicksilver is also very abundant; copper and lead are found too, but there is not much

t. On his return to his rooms he was astonished to find the candles alight and a strong smell of tobacco pervading

he maid said you were dining out, and I suppose th

rt? I thought I had got you off

s she rammed us, knocking a hole in our side as big as a house, and we had just time to jump on board her. Our old craft went down two minutes after the skipper, who was of course the last man, left her. The other fellow had stove his bow in. Luckily we were only about a couple of miles off Dungeness, and though she leaked like a sieve, we were able to run her into the bay, where she settled down in two and a half fathoms of water. As soon as it was light we landed

You are certainly an unlucky beggar; this

on heard from fellows who had sailed with him before that he was a tartar; and what was worse, they said he was in the habit of being drunk two nights out of three. However, that has nothing to do with

e. Thank God that no harm has come to you, that is the principal thing. Now, sit down

d there is no doubt that, when you have got the middle

id. "I will light up too. Now shut yo

or fully ten minut

at business of mine

sat, was not visible to his brother. Then wit

ortable business wasn't it?-surly old

arry said wrathfully, "if you make fun of it; and

ell when I was here last week, and gave you no end of sympathy. Go ahead, old fellow; I da

more to say to yo

tell me what you said to her or she said to you, because you told me all that ten days ago, also what her tyrannical old father said. But really seriously I am awfully sorry about it all, and if there is anything that I can possibly do for you

tie," Harry said sternly, "but I have not r

ly; "hit me as hard as you like, under th

hing for anoth

" he said at last, "and I

! I will be as se

of going away

d in his chair and had a

ng by Harry's rather gloomy fa

I am goin

there for, Harry?" t

ersonal objection to me, but that if I was in a position to give his daugh

ie n

sand to one against it. Of course I said that if there was even a possibility I would try it. Well, you know he was in Peru for some years. He says that the natives have all sorts of legends about rich mines that were hidden when the Spaniards came first, and that it is certain that, tremendous as was the amount of loot they got, a great part of the Incas' treasure was hidden away. Once or twice there had been great finds-in one case two million and a half dollars. It is believed that the secret is still known to certain Indians. When he went out there he had a muleteer, whose life he saved when he was attacked by some beast or other, and this man as much as hinted that he knew of a place whe

d excitedly, "and I should think

to keep on getting fresh outfits for you, the idea has come int

all by yourself you would get down in the mouth. Now, I should be able to keep you going, pat you on th

o so; but though I am going to try, I don't expect for a moment that I shall succeed. I feel that really it would be a comfort to have someone with me upon whom I could rely i

enticeship. I should think they would be rather glad, for they always build and never buy ships, and it will take them six months to replace the Stella. Besides, it will do me a lot of good. I shall pick up Spanish-at le

sible, to draw upon my capital beyond three or four hundred pounds. I believe living is cheap out there, and if I buy three or four mules I shall then have to pay only the wages for the muleteers, and the expenses of living. Of cour

added with a laugh: "the fact that you should have adopted a plan like t

lad was full of fun and mischief, but he knew that he had plenty of sound sense, and would be a capital companion, and the fact that he had been three years at sea, and was accustomed to turn his hand to anything, was all in his favour.

l, H

ing officer. I am ten years older than you, and besides I am a lieutenant in the King's Navy, while you are only a midshipman in the merchant se

ry, it could no

perfect right to put a veto upon any wild expedition of this sort. Lastly, I should hope, although I don't say that this is ab

w that I have always been favourably reported upon. Old Prosser told me so himself when he said that I should have a rise in my pay this voyage. As to Mr. Barnet

take care of myself, without having the bother of looking after you. However,

d better go to Mr. Ba

n your worst suit of clothes when you were wrecked, and I can see that they have not been improved

had no time to pick and choose, wit

city in that state. I will see about getting you some more clothes when we get back, for I cannot have you coming here in these in broad daylight. Here are th

ome an officer, and I don't think that many captains care about having lads who have just got their certificate. They have not the same sense of responsibility or the same power of managing. Then, too, Bertie will certainly have a good deal of knocking about if he spends a couple of years in South America, and the knowledge he will gain of Spanish will add to his value with any f

l that I was worth for the sight of a white face and the sound of an English voice. As to the fact that it is possible that the lad might catch fever, or be killed in an affray with natives, that must, of course, be faced; but as a sailor he runs the risk of shipwreck, or of being washed overboard, or killed by a fallin

rtainly would be a cheery companion, and I should say that he is as hard as nails, and can stand as much fatig

fully two thousand pounds by the time he comes of age, it would enable him to buy a share in any ship that he might, when he passed his last examination, command; but I will myself draw a cheque for a hundred pounds, which will help towards meeting expenses. I feel myself to some extent responsible for this expedition.

I thought you would be far better travelling and hunting for treasure in Peru, than staying here. Even if you fail, as I feel is almost certain, in the object for which you go out, you will have plenty to occupy your thoughts, and not be dwelling continually upon an attachment which in all probability will not turn out satisfactorily. I do not suppose t

of thing I should like, and I quite feel myself that it would be good for me to have plenty to think about; and now that you have consented

ans-men who have estates and live upon them, and who are good masters. But as to the politicians, there is no principle whatever at stake. It is simply a question of who shall have the handling of the national revenue, and divide it and the innumerable posts among his adherents. But these struggles will not affect you largely. In one respect they will even be an advantage. Bent upon their own factious aims, the combatants have no time to c

The discovery of a fresh mine means employment to a large number of people, and the increase of the revenues by a royalty or taxation. English explorers who have gone out have never had any reason to complain of interference on the part of the authorities. You will find the

ir condition no better off under them than it was under the Spaniards. Once they find out that you are English they will do all in their power for you. It is to Cochrane and the English

ngs Harry met his brother,

replace the Stella; at any rate, at present they had no vacancy, and would gladly give me permission to travel in South America, and would find me a berth to finish my apprenticeship when I returned. More than that, they said that as I had always been so favourabl

course I will take

does Mr. B

it would be a good thing for me to have you with me in case of illness or anything of

hought anything of th

have no doubt he felt it i

to his place in the country between voyages, I have al

ngs, Bertie, that didn't seem quite in acc

fellow who has been away from England for a year to wa

ve expected that he would, for example, risk breaking his neck by climbing up to

as never before watched so regularly by the people of the villag

Mr. Barnett told me that the rec

that makes the fixing of a straw-hat upon a weathercock a penal offence. It did no end

things too, I think,

tricks played by Mr. Midshipman Harry Prendergast, and, as I heard them from your lips, I cannot doubt but

it until we arrive there, and can take the advice of people at Lima whether we had better travel in European clothes or in those worn by the Peruvians. Of course saddles and bridles and all that sort of thing we can buy there, and we shall want a small tent to u

ery few of our ships have accommodation for passengers, bu

rst. They can refer me to the skipper if they like