The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 1 — page 61: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A PERUVIAN PARADISE. 61 Jose had would be a matter of great difficulty, and at Keeth’s suggestion they constructed a stout raft and set sail upon it, supposing that the stream would turn out to be a branch of the Huallaga, and that they would reach some settlement upon its banks. It proved, however, to be a branch of an entirely different river, and after sailing for three days and nights they entered a stream so broad that Fitch declared it to be one of the main arms of the Amazon. And he was right, though it. was not until nearly a fortnight that they arrived at a trading station where his opinion was verified. Being already so far from the Pacific coast, they decided to follow the _ current to the east, and after purchasing a large ‘‘ wood skin’’ and plenty of arms and ammunition, and hiring a member of an interior tribe fora guide, they pursued their way down the great river. Four months after making their escapé from the Incas’ cave they arrived at Santarem, where they were able to get passage in a sailing vessel to Para, and from that city took steamer for New York. It was nearly eight months from that eventful morning when Imozene was the intended victim of the Incas’ awful sacrificial ceremony, that the steamship reached New York quarantine. Hight months’ daily intercourse with her companions, and proper habiliments which had been obtained for her at one of the Amazon river towns, had changed her appearance wonder- fully. She had learned to speak English, too, with a most charming accent, and Keeth, who had cabled his sister from Para, was not at all doubtful as to the impression Imozene would make when she came aboard to welcome them. ES The bars of gold had been exchanged for drafts in Santarem and Para, and after negotiating for the sale of most of the uncut gems which they had brought with them, Fitch and Jose Rodriguez sailed for Liverpool, the former to dazzle the eyes of his Cockney relatives, and the Spaniard to return to his native country. Ford Kinsale and Keeth bought homes near: each other close to New York. Kinsale once in a while talks about going back to Peru with a larger party and exploring the Incas’ cave further, and seeing if something cannot be done toward reopening and working the abandoned mines of the ancient tribe. It would mean wealth untold, but nevertheless Keeth always does his best to discourage such suggestions. He cannot forget old Inzalkl’s warning, or the prophetic vision he himself beheld while under the priest’s hypnotic influence. And then, Ford doesn’t talk near as much about journeying to the uncivil- ized portions of the globe as he did. Keeth’s sister, who finds that she is no longer so necessary to her brother’s comfort now that he is married, has consented to give more of her attention to Ford, which satisfies him far better than anything the field of exploration has to offer. W. Bert Foster. THE END. COMIC DOOLKS (S@)