He and Joe’s father and Mr. Wallace fairly ate the youths up in their happiness at seeing them alive and well.
“You came through all right, I see,” laughed Mr. Lewis, after the first few remarks were over. “What kind of a time did you have? And the treasure—did you find any?”
“Look,” returned Joe and showed them the box of gold beads.
The men cried out in astonishment. Unlike Karl Sutman, they had expected the youths to return without having found anything of value.
“You were successful, all right,” observed Mr. Holton. “Tell us about your adventures.”
While the men listened intently, the boys related their experiences from the time they had left Cuzco with Dr. Rander.
When at last they were finished, the naturalists shook their heads gravely.
“It was all very interesting, but at the same time it was dangerous,” said Bob’s father solemnly. “Afterward we wished you fellows hadn’t gone.”
“But they came through all right—and brought us a white condor at that,” beamed Mr. Lewis. “No doubt this is the only condor real we’ll see. We did shoot two of the more common kind, though.”