At the camp, the boys found their fathers and others awaiting them.
“What do you think of the ruins?” asked Mr. Holton, as the chums came up.
“We don’t know much about them,” returned Joe. “But there’s something else we want to tell you.”
While the men listened, Joe told of seeing the old man climbing up the steep hill and of Bob’s saving his life when he fell. He told of the secret treasure that the stranger said was in the Andes, and of the old man’s desire for the two youths to accompany him in the mountains. He finished by saying that he believed it might be worth while to go.
“Perhaps you’re right,” came from Mr. Holton. “It might pay you to go with him. Do you think he can be trusted?” Mr. Holton had great faith in the judgment of his son and Joe.
“Don’t know why not,” said Bob. “He seemed so glad that he had not fallen down the cliff that he was happy to tell us about the treasure.”
“There isn’t a chance of his being crazy, is there?” asked Karl Sutman, who was also listening to the conversation.
“Oh, of course there’s a chance,” replied Bob, “but I’d be willing to bet anything that he isn’t.”
“We can go with him, can’t we?” queried Joe, glancing especially at his father. “We may find treasure, after all.”
“I see no reason why you shouldn’t,” came from Mr. Lewis. “Of course you’ll be careful. And there’s very little danger of getting lost, with all the native huts scattered about. What do you think, Howard?”