Secrets of the Andes Page 5

  CHAPTER V

  As Guests of the Naturalist

  "What is the surprise?" inquired Joe Lewis anxiously.

  "This: I made arrangements for a movie to be shown--purely for our ownbenefit," the naturalist explained. "It deals with Peru and theAndes."

  "The region we're going to explore!" cried Joe, delighted beyondwords. "Why, that will be wonderful!"

  "I've never seen it," Mr. Wallace said. "But the chances are it willbe good. Perhaps we had better go before long. It is to be shown ateight o'clock, and we haven't a great deal of time to get down there."

  "Where?" inquired Bob.

  "To the museum--in the auditorium," was the response.

  Mrs. Wallace asked that she be permitted to go also, and the othersconsented at once. The wonderful civilization of the ancient IncaIndians she knew not a little about.

  At the museum they found several score people waiting for the movie tobe shown. There was a friendly gathering for a half-hour or so, atwhich Mr. Wallace introduced a number of scientist friends from themuseum and Chicago universities.

  Then the lights were switched off and the movie was projected. Itproved everything and more that Bob and Joe had expected, showing thefascinating country of Peru.

  The shy Indians with their flat "pancake" hats, the curious llamas andalpacas, the magnificent heights of the mighty Andes, the many oldruins of the Incas--all these and more were depicted on the screen.

  It was very inspiring, especially to the boys and Mr. Wallace, whowere delighted that before long they would be able actually to visitthose wonderful places.

  During the drive home the naturalist's conversation was directedchiefly about this inspiring country, his excitement being almost likethat of a small boy. But if the naturalist was impressed, the youthswere still more. They longed for the great day to come when they wouldleave for the wonderland of Peru.

  It was so late when they arrived at the Wallace residence that theyouths and their hosts decided to retire at once.

  "I'm not going to the museum today," announced the naturalist the nextmorning at breakfast. "There is so much that has to be done in the wayof preparing for the coming expedition that I won't have time foranything else."

  "If there's anything Joe and I can do for you, we'll be glad to doit," said Bob. "Our preparations won't begin until we get back toWashington."

  The young men proved to be of valuable service to the scientist. Theirprevious experience in preparing for exploration ventures enabled themto offer valuable suggestions to Mr. Wallace, even though the latterhad made numerous trips for the good of science.

  The vast resources of the great metropolis enabled them to findanything that the naturalist needed in the way of outdoor equipment.All that day and half of the next were spent in the business district.

  "Now if you fellows like sport, as I do, what do you say about alittle target practice?" Mr. Wallace asked them, after the noon lunch.

  "What do we say?" Joe was overjoyed. "Lead us to it!"

  In the extreme rear of the lawn was a large rifle range. Here, withthe guns that Mr. Wallace generously furnished, they took turnsexercising their skill at the trigger. Bob easily placed himself abovethe others by striking the very heart of the bull's-eye.

  "I thought I was a fair shot," smiled the scientist. "But you have mebeat by a mile."

  "Just happened that I hit it, I guess," Bob said modestly.

  But when he again was able to send a bullet almost directly over thefirst one, the others knew that it did not just happen.

  "Wonderful to be such a shot," remarked Mr. Wallace. "I suppose it hasbeen the secret of your emerging unharmed from the unknown, hasn'tit?" he said laughing.

  "Trying to kid me, are you?" smiled Bob. "Joe and I may be green, butanother expedition or two will make us full-fledged explorers. Atleast we hope so."

  Mr. Wallace grinned.

  "That's what we all think," he said. "But the fact is, we never do getto be what you call full-fledged explorers. I've been on a good manyexpeditions, but I don't know much even now. To me it's interestingthat I got my start in scout work. The Boy Scout organization is oneof the greatest on the globe."

  "So did we, to a certain extent," said Bob. "Although the fact thatour dads are explorers perhaps accounted for a still earlierinterest."

  The youths and the naturalist spent the better part of the afternoonon the rifle range. Then they went to the house, where in Mr.Wallace's extensive library they read still more about Peru and theAndes.

  That evening they spent quietly, for the next day they were to starton the trip to Washington. The naturalist's friend, with whom theywere to drive to the East, was to come after them early the nextmorning.

  And early it was. Too early for the youths and Mr. Wallace, who hadbarely finished breakfast. But they were packed and ready, and so lostno time in getting their belongings together.

  The friend, whose name was Wilson, was a newspaper man, oftentraveling East in the interest of his profession. He was good-naturedand talkative, at once taking a liking to Bob and Joe.

  When everything was in readiness, Bob and Joe and the men took theirplaces in Mr. Wilson's automobile and, with a warm farewell to Mrs.Wallace, started down the driveway.

  Soon the youths would be home--and on their way to the mysteriousAndes!