Dr. Rander, however, had not protested to the youths’ taking movies of the region they were passing through, even though there might be danger of someone from the United States coming in search of other ruins and treasure hideouts.
“I could not say anything against your doing that,” he had told them. “Especially since you were engaged by the motion-picture house.”
So they had exposed film whenever they thought it advisable and were well pleased with the results so far. All told, they had already cranked off more than a thousand feet of film, and fully expected to use that much more.
“These scenes ought to be interesting, too,” remarked Bob, untying the foremost mule. “I believe the Neuman Motion Picture Corporation will be well satisfied with them.”
“Let’s hope so,” Joe said. “The money we get from doing this is no small sum.”
The next day they plunged into a region that was wilder and more dangerous to penetrate than any they had been in before. The rugged Andes reached up on all sides of them, often forming narrow valleys that were shut off from the rays of the sun.
“Sure is cold tonight,” remarked Joe with a shiver.
They were camped beside a small spring that was fed by an underground stream. Darkness had fallen, and with it had come the chill of the Andean night.
Joe was resting peacefully beside the warm blaze of the campfire when suddenly he caught sight of two small fiery lights coming slowly at him.