“But this is a particularly mysterious kind of a mystery,” replied Mr. Havens. “I’ll tell you all about it some other time.”
CHAPTER XXII.
TWO RUNAWAY BOYS!
A great camp-fire blazed in one of the numerous valleys which nestle in the Andes to the east of Lake Titicaca. The three flying machines, the Ann, the Louise and the Bertha, lay just outside the circle of illumination. It was the evening of the fourth day after the incidents recorded in the last chapter.
The Flying Machine Boys had traveled at good speed, yet with frequent rests, from the mountain cone above the Peruvian mines to the little valley in which the machines now lay.
Jimmie and Carl, well wrapped in blankets, were lying with their feet extended toward the blaze, while Glenn was broiling venison steak at one corner of the great fire, and, also, as he frequently explained, broiling his face to a lobster finish while he turned the steaks about in order to get the exact finish.
The millionaire aviator and Sam sat some distance away discussing prospects and plans for the next day. While they talked an Indian accompanied by Ben came slowly out of the shadows at the eastern edge of the valley and approached the fire.
“Have you discovered the Mystery of the Andes?” asked Havens with a laugh as the two came up.
“We certainly have discovered the Mystery of the Andes!” cried Ben excitedly. “But we haven’t discovered the mystery of the mystery!”
“Come again!” shouted Jimmie springing to his feet.
“You see,” Ben went on, “Toluca took me to a point on the cliff to the south from which the ghost lights of the mysterious fortress can be seen, but we don’t know any more about the origin of the lights than we did before we saw them.”