At that moment two men from the airdrome came running out and demanded an explanation of what had happened.
Briefly Mr. Holton told them, stressing the fact that the aviator had not waited to land.
“He ought to have his pilot’s license taken away from him,” growled Karl Sutman, when the naturalist had concluded.
The men from the airdrome were greatly angered at the strange aviator for not being cautious in landing. They addressed him in no gentle terms as he lay on the ground.
Karl’s monoplane had been only slightly injured in the accident, but it was enough to require an hour of patient labor to make the repair.
The possibility of the other aviator doing damage to Karl’s machine prompted the tall young man to ask that it be kept under watch near the airdrome.
“Now suppose we walk on into Lima,” suggested Mr. Holton, after the ’plane had been rolled over to a safe place.
At the edge of the field was a wide street that led directly into the city. This the travelers followed and before very long came to the business district. In front of the huge cathedral they stopped to view the crowds through the cluster of palm trees that was before them.
“Quite a bit of life here,” observed Bob, as his eyes followed the busy swarm of people. “Lima must be a place of considerable importance.”