“So that when we found it we’d assume we’d made a terrible mistake!” Willie exclaimed. “Maybe he had the translation in his pocket all the time!”
“We were chumps not to have searched him,” asserted War.
Mr. Livingston smiled. “An interesting speculation,” he commented. “Off hand though, I can’t imagine why Captain Carter would want the translation. For that matter, had he asked to see it, I certainly would have shown it to him. We’re all supposed to be working together to find Burton Monahan. So a motive for the theft seems to be lacking.”
“I guess so,” Jack admitted reluctantly.
“Bear in mind that we’re saddled with Captain Carter for the duration of the trip.”
“And it’s poor policy to stir up bad feeling before we’re even on our way.”
“Exactly, Jack,” the Scout leader agreed. “We must do our level best to get along with the captain. He’s not the man of my choice. But if he once gets the idea that we’re unfriendly or watching him, he could cause us a peck of trouble.”
Chapter 3
PATH TO ADVENTURE
During the next few weeks, the entire Scout organization buzzed with the news that Ken, Jack, Willie and War were to set off on a great adventure.
Younger Scouts eyed them enviously. Belatedly, there was a rush by boys over 14 to join the Rovers. Applications readily were accepted, but the newcomers quickly learned that the trip to Peru was a closed expedition except for those who had proven their ability to endure real hardships.