"Well, if you consider that a settlement, I must say that I am going to make good more than my share and the shares of Ralph and Tom."
"We don't want you to make it good," insisted George.
"But you can't help yourself in that. The cave in the Tuolos' country has something in it that will make you wonder as much as the treasure you have here, and it will be fully as interesting to get at and recover as anything you have experienced here."
"When do you think we ought to start for the west?" asked Harry.
"Day after to-morrow will see everything ready. We shall then have all the ammunition sufficient to last us until we can reestablish the plant, and as the new wagon is ready, it should not take us more than a day, with all the help we have, to load and apportion the different loads among the warriors."
"Then why can't we take to-morrow for the expedition to the cave?"
"That will suit admirably," he replied.
On the following morning the boys had the yaks yoked up, and taking with them a number of the copper vessels, and a quantity of the ramie cloth, drove over to the side of the hill opposite the Cata[p. 48]ract house, so as to reach the land entrance of the caverns.
"It is not desirable to have any here know of our visit nor our purpose. It would not make any material difference, as the treasure there is of no value to them; but our motives will be misunderstood," remarked John.
Under the circumstances John and the four boys were the only ones in the party.