“I suppose that explains how we happened to find a single earring.”
“Quite true, Jack. You might dive fifty times again and find nothing. Here, it is a different story. The lake bottom literally is covered with valuable relics of a past civilization.”
“The lake is very deep?” asked Willie.
“On the contrary, it is quite shallow. By daylight one can see bottom.”
“In that case, can’t the treasure be brought up?” demanded Ken eagerly.
“Impossible.”
“Because the natives keep guard, you mean?” asked War.
“The pool has its guardians—placed here ages ago by Inca priests.”
“Guardians?” Jack repeated in wonder. “What sort of guardians?”
“Cannibal fish. The waters are infested with them. I assure you they are very old and very vicious. Should anyone fall or dive into the pool, his life would be forfeit.”