第14章

"I've never been to Peru," Tom remarked shortly before lunch."What sort of country is it?""Quite a wonderful country," Mr.Titus answered."I have been very much interested in it since my brother and I accepted this tunnel contract.Peru seems to have taken its name from Peru, a small river on the west coast of Colombia, where Pizarro landed.The country, geographically, may be divided into three sections longitudinally.The coast region is a sandy desert, with here and there rivers flowing through fertile valleys.The sierra region is the Andes division, about two hundred and fifty miles in width.""Is that where we're going?" asked Tom.

"Yes.And beyond the Andes (which in Peru consist of great chains ofmountains, some very high, interspersed with table lands, rich plains and valleys) there is the montana region of tropical forests, running down to the valley of the Amazon.

"That sounds interesting," commented Mr.Damon.

"It is interesting," declared Mr.Titus."For it is from this tropical region that your quinine comes, Mr.Damon, though you may not have to go there to straighten out your affairs.I think you can do better bargaining with the officials in Lima, or near there.""Are there any wild animals in Peru?" Tom inquired.

"Well, not many.Of course there are the llamas and alpacas, which are the beasts of burden--almost like little camels you might say, though much more gentle.Then there is the wild vicuna, the fleece of which is made into a sort of wool, after which a certain kind of cloth is named.

"Then there is the taruco, a kind of deer, the viscacha, which is a big rat, the otoc, a sort of wild dog, or fox, and the ucumari, a black bear with a white nose.This bear is often found on lofty mountain tops, but only when driven there in search of food.

"The condors, of course, are big birds of prey in the Andes.You must have read about them; how they seem to lie in the upper regions of the air, motionless, until suddenly they catch sight of some dead animal far down below when they sweep toward it with the swiftness of the wink.There is another bird of the vulture variety, with wings of black and white feathers.The ancient Incas used to decorate their head dresses with these wing feathers.""Well, I'm glad I'm going to Peru," said Tom."I never knew it was such an interesting country.But I don't suppose we'll have time to see much of it.""Oh, I think you will," commented Mr.Titus."We don't always have to work on the tunnel.There are numerous holidays, or holy-days, which our Indian workers take off, and we can do nothing without them.I'll see that you have a chance to do some exploring if you wish.""Good!" exclaimed Tom."I brought my electric rifle with me, and I may get a chance to pop over one of those bears with a white nose.Are they good to eat?""The Indians eat them, I believe, when they can get them, but I wouldn't fancy the meat," said the contractor.

Luncheon over, the three travelers departed with their baggage for the Chicago Limited, which left from the Pennsylvania Station at Twenty- third Street.As usual, Koku attracted much attention because of his size.

The trip to San Francisco was without incident worth narrating and in due time our friends reached the Golden Gate where they were to go aboard their steamer.They had to wait a day, during which time Tom and Mr.Titus made inquiries regarding the first powder shipment.They had had unexpected good luck, for the explosive, having been sent on ahead by fast freight, was awaiting them.

"So we can take it with us on the Bellaconda," said, Tom, naming the vessel on which they were to sail.

The powder was safely stowed away, and our friends having brought their baggage aboard, putting what was wanted on the voyage in their staterooms, went out on deck to watch the lines being cast off.

A bell clanged and an officer cried: "All ashore that's going ashore!"There were hasty good-byes, a scramble on the part of those who had come to bid friends farewell, and preparations were made to haul in the gangplank.

Just as the tugs were slowly pushing against the Bellaconda to get her in motion to move her away from the wharf, there was a shout down the pier and a taxicab, driven at reckless speed, dashed up.

"Wait a minute! Hold that gangway.I have a passenger for you!" cried the chauffeur.

He pulled up with a screeching of brakes, and a man with a heavy black beard fairly leaped from the vehicle, running toward the plank which was all but cast off.

"My fare! My fare!" yelled the tax~cab driver.

"Take it out of that! Keep the change!" cried the bearded man over his shoulder, tossing a crumpled bill to the chauffeur.And then, clutching his valise in a firm hand, the belated passenger rushed up the gangplank just in time to board the steamer which was moving away from the dock.

"Close shave--that," observed Tom."That's right," assented Mr.Titus.

"Well, we're off for Peru!" exclaimed Mr.Damon, as the vessel moved down the bay.