“Thank you very much,” Jim said politely.
“Next time we come to Peru we’ll not forget,” Bob added. He was thinking at the moment that if men and boys could get a peek at the place they would turn their talents toward something which would keep them out of jails. It seemed strange that anyone should risk freedom, liberty and the respect of his fellows by breaking laws which were made for the general good of all in order to get possession of something which did not belong to him. They were very thoughtful as they drove home and when the Flying Buddies stood on the broad piazza overlooking the beautiful land, Jim drew a deep breath.
“Tough luck, isn’t it?”
“What?”
“Those fellows held in there until we could come and look them over. Imagine being on that platform, made to stand up, turn around, put their heads up and down, show their hands and walk before a thick curtain. Of course they knew that someone, or maybe a dozen people were back of it examining them as if they were bugs under a glass, and whoever those people were would recognize them again no matter where they saw them, and know that they were men branded by the police.”
“I was thinking of things like that too,” Bob nodded soberly.
“Probably they will be let go, but they must have some sort of bad record, or they wouldn’t be rounded up like that, and I suppose whenever a crime is committed, they stand the chance of being hauled in again.
“Uneasy lies the head—”
“Go on, you’re mind’s wandering. Their heads do not wear crowns,” Jim interrupted.
“I was going to wax into poetry myself and say, uneasy lies the head that gets a man into difficulties, but it doesn’t sound so good at that,” answered Bob ruefully. “Here’s the mail and a package.” They accepted several items from the servant who had just appeared. One was a message from the Central Laboratory saying that some agricultural experiments were ready if Caldwell was interested. If the Flying Buddies would bring the “Lark” to Amy-Ran Fastness the new radio could be installed while the development was under observation. The package was from Don Haurea himself and contained some electrical and chemical instruments and compounds for Jim’s special attention, for Austin was taking a very advanced course from the Laboratory in Texas. During their absence from home he had continued his studies, and since the return was delayed for a while, Don Haurea had some of his scientific men forward things which could be tried out without elaborate equipment.