CONTENTSCHAP. I. HOW IT CAME ABOUT II. THE START III. AT LIMA IV. A STREET FRAY V. AMONG THE MOUNTAINS VI. A TROPICAL FOREST VII. AN INDIAN ATTACK VIII. DEFEAT OF THE NATIVES IX. THE SIGNAL STAR X. A FRESH START XI. BRIGANDS XII. PRISONERS XIII. LETTERS FROM HOME XIV. THE CASTLE OF THE DEMONS XV. INVESTIGATIONS XVI. THE SEARCH BEGINS XVII. AT WORKXVIII. DISAPPOINTMENT XIX. THE TREASURE XX. HOMEILLUSTRATIONSIT DID NOT TAKE LONG TO TRANSFER THE SACKS INTO THE BOAT.AN INDIAN SPIES THE EXPEDITION.THEY SAW APPROACHING A PEASANT WOMAN SITTING ON A MULE.HARRY DROPPED THE BARREL OF HIS RIFLE INTO THE PALM OF HIS LEFT HAND.Map of Peru[Illustration: MAP OF PERU]THE TREASURE OF THE INCASCHAPTER IHOW IT CAME ABOUTTwo 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 them wasa man of sixty, the other some five or six and twenty."I must do something," the younger man said, "for I have been kicking myheels about London since my ship was paid off two years ago. At first, ofcourse, it didn't matter, for I have enough to live upon; but recently Ihave been fool enough to fall in love with a girl whose parents wouldnever dream of allowing her to marry a half-pay lieutenant of the navywith no chance in the world of getting employed again, for I have nointerest whatever.""It is an awkward case certainly, Prendergast," the other said; "and uponmy word, though I sympathize with you, I cannot blame Fortescue. He is notwhat you might call a genial man, but there is no doubt that he was asplendid lawyer and a wonderful worker. For ten years he earned more thanany man at the bar. I know that he was twice offered the solicitor-generalship, but as he was making two or three times the official salary,he would not take it. I believe he would have gone on working till now hadhe not suddenly come in for a very fine estate, owing to the death, in thecourse of two or three years, of four men who stood between him and it.Besides, I fancy he got hints that in the general opinion of the bar hehad had a wonderfully good innings, and it was about time that younger menhad a share in it. What his savings were I do not know, but they must bevery large. His three sons are all at the bar, and are rising men, sothere was no occasion for him to go on piling up money for them. But, as Isay, he has always had the reputation of being a hard man, and it ispractically certain that he would never allow his daughter to marry a manwhom he would regard as next door to a pauper. Now, what are you thinkingof doing?"