“Let him come!” Bob was confident that he could manage both the llama and the Indian.
He decided to let the matter drop, however, and continue the walk about the plateau.
As the youths hiked farther, they passed the grassy region and came to a higher slope that was dotted with occasional patches of cacti, thorn bushes, and stunted trees. The Australian eucalyptus, a small tree, was abundant.
“Can’t raise anything here,” remarked Bob. “Almost as bad as it is on the Sahara Desert.”
The chums made a wide circuit about Cuzco, coming in sight of the monoplane from the opposite side.
“You’re just in time to stand guard,” Mr. Holton told Bob. “And while you’re doing that, the rest of us will look around a bit. We’ve all been busy studying maps of the Andes.”
The adventurers took turns watching the airplane and seeing the country all during the remainder of that day. If it were able to follow schedule, the train from Mollendo, bringing the others of the expedition, would arrive the next afternoon.
At that time all the air travelers but Mr. Lewis were in the railroad station waiting. Mr. Lewis had remained at the field to guard the ’plane.
“It’s coming,” said Mr. Wallace, and a minute later the train pulled up and stopped.