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Koku pushed his way through as easily as a bull might make his way
through a throng of puppies about his heels； and as Tom； Mr。 Titus and the
giant were entering the hotel corridor； the chauffeur of the taxicab called
out with a laugh：
〃I say； boss； don't you think you ought to pay double rates on that
chap；〃 and he nodded in the direction of the giant。
〃That's right！〃 added some one in the crowd with a laugh。 〃He might
have broken the springs。〃
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〃All right；〃 assented Tom； good…naturedly； tossing the chauffeur a coin。
〃Here you are； have a cigar on the giant。〃
There was more laughter； and even Koku grinned； though it is doubtful
if he knew what about； for he could not understand much unless Tom
spoke to him in a sort of code they had arranged between them。
〃Sorry to have hastened your departure；〃 began Mr。 Titus when he and
Tom sat in the comfortable hotel rooms； while Koku stood at a window；
looking out at what to him were the marvelous wonders of the New York
streets。
〃It didn't make any difference；〃 replied the young inventor。 〃I was
about ready to come anyhow。 I just had to hustle a little；〃 and he thought
of how he had had to send Mary's present to her instead of taking it
himself。 As yet he was all unaware of the commotion it had caused。
〃Did you get the powder shipment off all right？〃
〃Yes； and it will be there almost as soon as we。 Other shipments will
follow as we need them。 My father will see to that。〃
〃I'm glad you hit on the right kind of powder；〃 went on the contractor。
〃I guess I didn't make any mistake in coming to you； Tom。〃
〃Well； I hope not。 Of course the explosive worked all right in
experimental charges with samples of the tunnel rock。 It remains to be
seen what it will do under actual conditions； and in big service charges。〃
〃Oh； I've no doubt it will work all right。〃
〃What time do we leave here？〃 Tom asked。
〃At two…thirty this afternoon。 We have just time to get a good dinner
and have our baggage transferred to the Chicago limited。 In less than a
week we ought to be in San Francisco and aboard the steamer。 I hope Mr。
Damon arrives on time。〃
〃Oh； you can generally depend on him；〃 said Tom。 〃I telephoned him；
just before I started from Shopton； and he said〃
〃Bless my carpet slippers！〃 cried a voice outside the hotel apartment。
〃But I can find my way all right。 I know the number of the room。 No！ you
needn't take my bag。 I can carry it my self！〃
〃There he is！〃 laughed Tom； opening the door to disclose the eccentric
gentleman himself； struggling to keep possession of his valise against the
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importunities of a bellboy。
〃Ah； TomMr。 Titus！ Glad to see you！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Damon。 〃II
am a little late； I fearhad an accidentwait until I get my breath；〃 and he
sank； panting； into a chair。
〃Accident？〃 cried Tom。 〃Are you？〃
〃Yesmy taxicab ran into another。 Nobody hurt though。〃
〃But you're all out of breath；〃 said Mr。 Titus。 〃Did you run？〃
〃No； but I walked upstairs。〃
〃What！ Seven flights？〃 exclaimed Tom。 〃Weren't the hotel elevators
running？〃
Yes； but I don't like them。 I'd rather walk。 And I did carried my
valisebellboy tried to take it away from me every stephere you are；
sonit wasn't the tip I was trying to get out of；〃 and he tossed the waiting
and grinning lad a quarter。
〃There； I'm better now；〃 went on Mr。 Damon； when Tom had given
him a glass of water。 〃Bless my paper weight！ The drug concern will have
to vote me an extra dividend for what I've gone through。 〃Well； I'm here；
anyhow。 How is everything？〃
〃Fine！〃 cried Tom。 〃We'll soon be off for Peru！〃
They talked over plans and made sure nothing had been forgotten。
Their railroad tickets had been secured by Mr。 Titus so there was nothing
more to do save wait for train… time。
〃I've never been to Peru；〃 Tom remarked shortly before lunch。 〃What
sort of country is it？〃
〃Quite a wonderful country；〃 Mr。 Titus answered。 〃I have been very
much interested in it since my brother and I accepted this tunnel contract。
Peru seems to have taken its name from Peru； a small river on the west
coast of Colombia； where Pizarro landed。 The country； geographically；
may be divided into three sections longitudinally。 The coast region is a
sandy desert； with here and there rivers flowing through fertile valleys。
The sierra region is the Andes division； about two hundred and fifty miles
in width。〃
〃Is that where we're going？〃 asked Tom。
〃Yes。 And beyond the Andes （which in Peru consist of great chains of
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mountains； some very high； interspersed with table lands； rich plains and
valleys） there is the montana region of tropical forests； running down to
the valley of the Amazon。
〃That sounds interesting；〃 commented Mr。 Damon。
〃It is interesting；〃 declared Mr。 Titus。 〃For it is from this tropical
region that your quinine comes； Mr。 Damon； though you may not have to
go there to straighten out your affairs。 I think you can do better bargaining
with the officials in Lima； or near there。〃
〃Are there any wild animals in Peru？〃 Tom inquired。
〃Well； not many。 Of course there are the llamas and alpacas； which are
the beasts of burdenalmost like little camels you might say； though much
more gentle。 Then there is the wild vicuna； the fleece of which is made
into a sort of wool； after which a certain kind of cloth is named。
〃Then there is the taruco； a kind of deer； the viscacha； which is a big
rat； the otoc； a sort of wild dog； or fox； and the ucumari； a black bear with
a white nose。 This bear is often found on lofty mountain tops； but only
when driven there in search of food。
〃The condors； of course； are big birds of prey in the Andes。 You must
have read about them； how they seem to lie in the upper regions of the air；
motionless； until suddenly they catch sight of some dead animal far down
below when they sweep toward it with the swiftness of the wink。 There is
another bird of the vulture variety； with wings of black and white feat