“If that had struck us we’d have been smashed to pulp,” muttered Joe with a shudder.
“Think of something more pleasant,” smiled Bob. “The treasure, for instance.”
That afternoon the three were struggling along the narrow path when suddenly Bob caught sight of something up on a high shelf.
“Look,” he said, pointing up to the flat stretch. “Inca ruins as sure as I’m born.”
“You are right,” Dr. Rander assured him. “That building is an ancient temple, where the Incas worshiped the sun god.”
“Sounds interesting,” Joe said eagerly. “Why can’t we go up there and explore the place?”
“Can if you want to,” the old man replied. “I have been up, but I will go again with you. Wait until I tie the mules.”
It was a difficult climb to the shelf. All were gasping for breath when they finally reached the ruins.
Those ruins the youths found interesting. The building was partially intact, being constructed of huge stone blocks cemented together with mud. It was shaped like a pyramid, the sides sloping up to form a point at the top. The entire north end was in ruins, but the other sections looked as if they had been built but recently.