Treasure of the Incas

A. Henty G.

Description

British military officer Harry Prendergast is head over heels in love with the beautiful Hilda Fortescue. But there's just one catch: Hilda's family is extremely wealthy, and her father will only give his blessing to suitors who can provide Hilda with the luxurious lifestyle she's used to. Crushed, Harry begins desperately concocting plans to secure a fortune -- a quest that sends him into the mysterious ancient ruins of Peru.

Sujets

• Adventure (Guyana)
• Adventure

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 octobre 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781776672653
• Langue: English

Extrait

THE TREASURE OF THE INCAS
A STORY OF ADVENTURE IN PERU
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G. A. HENTY
 
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The Treasure of the Incas A Story of Adventure in Peru First published in 1903 Epub ISBN 978-1-77667-265-3 Also available: PDF ISBN 978-1-77667-266-0 © 2015 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
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Preface to the Original Edition Chapter I - How it Came About Chapter II - The Start Chapter III - At Lima Chapter IV - A Street Fray Chapter V - Among the Mountain Chapter VI - A Tropical Forest Chapter VII - An Indian Attack Chapter VIII - Defeat of the Natives Chapter IX - The Signal Star Chapter X - A Fresh Start Chapter XI - Brigands Chapter XII - Prisoners Chapter XIII - Letters from Home Chapter XIV - The Castle of the Demons Chapter XV - Investigations Chapter XVI - The Search Begins Chapter XVII - At Work Chapter XVIII - Disappointment Chapter XIX - The Treasure Chapter XX - Home
Preface to the Original Edition
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The mysterious loss of a large portion of the treasure of the Incas hasnever been completely cleared up. By torturing the natives to whom thesecret had been entrusted, the Spaniards made two or three discoveries,but there can be little doubt that these finds were only a smallproportion of the total amount of the missing hoards, although foryears after their occupation of the country the Spaniards spared nopains and hesitated at no cruelty to bring to light the hidden wealth.The story of the boat which put to sea laden with treasure ishistorical, and it was generally supposed that she was lost in a stormthat took place soon after she sailed. It was also morally certain thatthe Peruvians who left the country when the Spaniards became masterscarried off with them a very large amount of treasure into that part ofSouth America lying east of Peru. Legends are current that they foundeda great city there, and that their descendants occupy it at the presenttime. But the forests are so thick, and the Indian tribes so hostile,that the country has never yet been explored, and it may be reservedfor some future traveller, possessing the determination of my twoheroes, to clear up the mystery of this city as they penetrated that ofthe lost treasure-ship. It need hardly be said that the state ofconfusion, misrule, and incessant civil wars which I have described asprevailing in Peru presents a true picture of the country at the periodin which this story is laid.
G. A. HENTY.
Chapter I - How it Came About
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Two men were sitting in the smoking-room of a London club. The room wasalmost empty, and as they occupied arm-chairs in one corner of it, theywere able to talk freely without fear of being overheard. One of themwas a man of sixty, the other some five or six and twenty.
"I must do something," the younger man said, "for I have been kickingmy heels about London since my ship was paid off two years ago. Atfirst, of course, it didn't matter, for I have enough to live upon; butrecently I have been fool enough to fall in love with a girl whoseparents would never dream of allowing her to marry a half-paylieutenant of the navy with no chance in the world of getting employedagain, for I have no interest whatever."
"It is an awkward case certainly, Prendergast," the other said; "andupon my word, though I sympathize with you, I cannot blame Fortescue.He is not what you might call a genial man, but there is no doubt thathe was a splendid lawyer and a wonderful worker. For ten years heearned more than any man at the bar. I know that he was twice offeredthe solicitor-generalship, but as he was making two or three times theofficial salary, he would not take it. I believe he would have gone onworking till now had he not suddenly come in for a very fine estate,owing to the death, in the course of two or three years, of four menwho stood between him and it. Besides, I fancy he got hints that in thegeneral opinion of the bar he had had a wonderfully good innings, andit was about time that younger men had a share in it. What his savingswere I do not know, but they must be very large. His three sons are allat the bar, and are rising men, so there was no occasion for him to goon piling up money for them. But, as I say, he has always had thereputation of being a hard man, and it is practically certain that hewould never allow his daughter to marry a man whom he would regard asnext door to a pauper. Now, what are you thinking of doing?"
"Well, sir, Miss Fortescue has agreed to wait for me for two years, andof course I am eager to do something, but the question is what? I cansail a ship, but even could I get the command of a merchantman, itwould not improve my position in the eyes of the parents of the lady inquestion. Now, you have been knocking about all over the world, I dowish you would give me your advice. Where is there money to be got? Iam equally ready to go to the North Pole or the Equator, to enter theservice of an Indian prince, or to start in search of a treasure hiddenby the old bucaneers."
"You talk Spanish, don't you?"
"Yes; all my service has been in the Mediterranean. We were two yearsoff the coast of Spain, and in and out of its ports, and as time hungheavily on our hands, I got up the language partly to amuse myself andpartly to be able to talk fluently with my partners at a ball."
The elder man did not speak for a minute or two.
"You have not thought of South America?" he said at last.
"No, Mr. Barnett; I don't know that I have ever thought of one placemore than another."
The other was again silent.
"I don't think you could do better anywhere," he said slowly. "It is aland with great possibilities; at any rate it is a land where you couldbe understood, and of course it would be folly to go anywhere without aknowledge of the language. I was, as you know, five years out there,and came home when the war broke out between Chili and the Spaniards. Ihave been more in Peru than in Chili, and as Peru was still in thehands of the Spanish, it would have been impossible for me to go thereagain as long as the war lasted. Knocking about as I did, I heard agreat deal from the natives (I mean the Indians). I gathered from thema number of their traditions, and I am convinced that they know of anynumber of gold mines that were formerly worked, but were blocked upwhen the Spaniards invaded the country, and have been kept secret eversince.
"The natives have never spoken on the subject at all to the Spaniards.If they had, they would have been flogged until they revealed all theyknew—that is to say, they would have been flogged to death, for notortures will wring from an Indian anything he knows about gold. Theylook upon that metal as the source of all the misfortunes that havefallen upon their race. With an Englishman whom they knew and trusted,and who, as they also knew, had no wish whatever to discover goldmines, they were a little less reticent. I never asked them anyquestions on a subject in which I had not a shadow of interest, but Icertainly had some curiosity, not of a pecuniary kind, because thematter had always been a riddle as to the hiding-place of the Incas'treasures. And from what I learned I should say it is absolutelycertain that a great portion of these escaped the search of theirSpanish tyrants.
"Whether the men who were employed in the work all died withoutrevealing the secret, or whether it had been trusted to a chosen few, Iknow not; but the natives believe that there are still a few among themto whom the secret has been passed down from father to son. Anyhow, allhad heard vague traditions. Some said that part of the treasure wascarried hundreds of miles inland and given over to a tribe of fiercesavages, in a country into which no European can enter. Anothertradition is that a portion of it was carried off by sea in a greatcanoe, which was never heard of again and was believed to have beenlost. I am not for a moment supposing, Prendergast, that if you wentout there you would have the most remote chance of discovering what theSpaniards, ever since they landed there, have been in vain trying tofind, and I certainly should not think of recommending a mad-brainedadventure, but undoubtedly there are many rich gold mines yet to befound. There are openings for trade, too; and I can give youintroductions to merchants both in Chili and Peru. It is not a thing Ishould recommend to everyone, far from it; but if you want to combineadventure with a chance, however small, of making money, I don't knowthat you can do better than go to South America. You are fitted for nocalling here; your income, counting your half-pay, would suffice tokeep you out there, and a couple of years of such a life would do youno harm."
"It is just what I should like," the young man said enthusiastically;"though I don't know how I should set to work if I did find a mine."
"You would have to bring home specimens, with particulars of the widthof the lode. Of course you would crush pieces up and wash themyourself, or get your Indian to wash them; that would give you anapproximate idea of the percentage of gold. If it were rich, I couldintroduce you to men who would advance money for working it, giving youa share of the profits. They would send out a mining expert with you.He would verify your report, and then you would take up the concession.I don't know whether there have been any changes in the regulations,but there is no difficulty in learning how to proceed from one or otherof the men to whom I will giv