CHAPTER XVI
Just in Time
"Let go!" cried Bob, in his excitement forgetting that the Indianscould not understand English.
The group had completely surrounded the youths, and one man washolding tightly to Bob's camera.
The two chums knew that they had little chance against so many. Butthey fought doggedly to save the moving-picture machines, which werethe only two they had.
With one supreme effort, Bob pushed the Indian nearest him to theground and turned to find an opening in the crowd of natives.
But they were all about him, pushing and grabbing and striking to thebest of their ability. It was plain that they were determined to takepossession of the small boxes that the whites carried.
If it had not been for the necessity of holding onto the cameras, Boband Joe could have put up a good fight, and perhaps driven theIndians away. But as it was they found themselves at a soredisadvantage.
"Help!" cried Joe, raising his voice to a shout. "Help! Help!"
Several seconds later a figure showed itself at the brink of the hilland came toward the fighting group.
"It's Dad!" Joe cried happily. "Now there'll be a fight!"
Mr. Lewis was soon joined by Mr. Holton and Karl Sutman. Like a flashthe three grasped the meaning of the scuffle and rushed to the aid ofthe chums.
They dived headlong into the furious mob, using their fists to greatadvantage. One big fellow Mr. Lewis knocked flat on his back in adaze.
"Here, take my camera," directed Bob, speaking to Karl. "Run as fastas you can back to camp. I want to take a lick at some of thesebeggars."
Karl did as asked and dashed out of the mob for the tents. The lastBob saw of him he was rounding a bend and heading toward themonoplane.
Then Bob faced the man who had grabbed his camera.
"Take that!" the youth snarled, sending the Indian crashing to theground.
The other natives, seeing that they were unable to hold their ownagainst these whites, took to their heels and disappeared in thedistance, kicking up a cloud of dust behind them.
"Well, we licked them." Mr. Lewis was panting for breath. His face wasred from fatigue, his clothes torn and wrinkled.
And the others were no better off. They had put up a game fight,determined to drive away their enemies.
"What was their motive for attacking you?" inquired Mr. Holton, wipinghis face with his handkerchief.
"Beyond us," Joe answered him. "We just looked at them and pointed ourcameras at them----"
"Oh." Mr. Holton seemed to understand everything. "That's all you did,huh? Well, you did enough to excite their anger. Those natives aredecidedly against having their pictures taken. They believe that anyevil which might befall their pictures will come upon them later."
"So that was it?" Bob laughed. "Well, we'll know enough not to try thesame thing again. Anyway, we got several feet of film exposed, andthat's better than nothing."
The adventurers made their way down the hill, to be met by Karl andthe others of the expedition, who had come to learn of their friends'misfortune.
"Quite an encounter," commented Mr. Dunn, when he was told thedetails. "These Indians are bad characters when their anger isaroused."
Back at the camp, the explorers got everything in readiness for theexpedition to depart as soon as Mr. Wallace, Dr. Rust, and ProfessorKelley returned with the mules and guides.
It was nearly noon when Bob caught sight of a long line of mulesheading toward the camp. They were coming slowly and leisurely, butalways closer. Near the rear were the three explorers and two natives,who had been driving the animals.
"I see you met with success," said Mr. Buenagel, addressing Mr.Wallace.
"Success is right!" the naturalist was beaming all over. "Don Chusmenahere"--indicating a small Peruvian who had been conversing withseveral natives--"has generously offered to let us use twenty of hismules. They are all fine specimens, worthy of making the mountaintrip. And the price is right."
The mules were driven up to the camp and herded together in a group.
Mr. Wallace introduced Don Chusmena to the others. The Peruvian inturn acquainted the Americans with the Indians who were to act asguides for the expedition. He assured them that the natives knew everyfoot of ground in the Andes country. One Indian was to lead Dr. Rustand the other scientists who were to search for Inca ruins. The othernative would guide Mr. Lewis and any others that might be in the partyof naturalists.
Both Bob and Joe had decided to stay with the expedition and not flyin the monoplane with Karl Sutman. Mr. Holton, however, intended toaccompany the aviator and Dr. Brown, the expedition's physician. Karland the two men were to fly on ahead and look for Inca ruins from theair, keeping in touch with the others. It was intended that Karl headfor the valley of the Comberciato, where he and Mr. Holton and thephysician would await the others of the naturalist party.
"That leaves you and Mr. Wallace and Dad and I together," remarkedJoe. "I'm sorry your father isn't going with us."
Bob nodded.
"He'll meet us at the Comberciato River, though," the youth said.
"But that won't be until two weeks from now, at least." Joe would havebeen better satisfied if Mr. Holton had intended to go on foot insteadof in the airplane.
Mr. Lewis and Mr. Wallace desired to get their division of theexpedition started as soon as possible. But since it was so late theythought it best to wait until the next morning.
"That'll give us time to look around some more," said Joe, picking upa motion-picture camera. "Come on, Bob. There's a lot to be seenaround Cuzco."
"Be careful boys," warned Mr. Holton. "Don't try to photograph anymore Indians, or you may get into a bigger scrape than the one thismorning."
"Leave it to us," laughed Joe. "We'll be all right."
The youths headed west toward the river Almodena. They resolved tocross it and proceed northward to the Fortress of Sacsahuaman andother Inca ruins.
From the river there was a narrow road that led up the plateau to thehigh hill that overlooked the city. As this hill stood between theboys and the ruins of the fort, which were located high upon anothercliff, they found it almost necessary to climb to the top and thendown the other side.
"Now for the ruins," said Bob eagerly, pointing to the top of the lowmountain that was before them.
The youths had begun the difficult climb to the summit and had roundeda turn in the rocks when they caught sight of an old man climbingslowly up the dangerous ridge.
"Look!" cried Joe in terror. "He's falling!"
The old man's foot had slipped, and he was trying as best he could tobalance himself on a narrow ledge.
His efforts were in vain. The next moment he began to plungehelplessly downward.
With the quickness of a cat, Bob stepped forward and, bracing himselfas best he could, he threw himself against the man. The impact ofBob's heavy body stopped the man's fall and sent him against the sideof the cliff. It bruised his face and shoulders, but he was safe.
After a few moments of resting, the old man looked up, wild-eyed andwhite with fear. There was an expression of intense gratitude on hiswrinkled face as it was turned toward Bob.
"You saved my life!" he cried in excellent English, gazing fearfullybelow. "And I want to reward you. I want to tell you of some Incasecrets--secrets of the Andes!"