“Why not?” said Bob. “I’d like to be a captain in this man’s army. These Incas look like fine material for soldiers, and with our military school knowledge we ought to be able to drill them in modern tactics.”
“And with our knowledge of radio and other modern inventions and discoveries,” supplemented Jack, “we would be invaluable. We could rise to high positions in the state.”
“What,” exclaimed Frank, “and stay here all our lives?”
“Well, why not?”
“Oh, he wants to go home to Della,” said big Bob, mentioning the name of his sister, with whom Frank was in love.
Frank flushed, but did not reply.
“I’m not keen on staying here forever, either,” said Jack quickly; for his thoughts more and more during their South American stay had turned to Senorita Rafaela in her Sonora mountains, and Bob’s reference to Frank and Della had brought her again to mind. “Just the same, this would be a paradise of a place in which to live if it were brought in touch with the outside world.”
“So you think you’d get to be a big gun here and then open the Enchanted City to civilization?” asked Frank.
“It might be done,” said Jack.
“Well, after seeing that religious ceremony, I doubt it. The Incas would not want to give up their supreme power, and they know they would have to do that if their country were opened up. Chile or Argentine would absorb the country.”