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TableofContents

TitlePageCopyrightPageCHAPTERI-TheMonkeyMysteryCHAPTERII-ABitofJudoCHAPTERIII-StrangeCancellationCHAPTERIV-CuriousAssistantCHAPTERV-APerilousRideCHAPTERVI-TheConManCHAPTERVII-AnotherChallengeCHAPTERVIII-SpanishDisguiseCHAPTERIX-WoodenClueCHAPTERX-TheShutteredBalconyCHAPTERXI-TheCityofGoldCHAPTERXII-TheBoySpyCHAPTERXIII-ElGatoCHAPTERXIV-AlpacaAnticsCHAPTERXV-TelltaleFileCHAPTERXVI-SacredStonesCHAPTERXVII-ASmugglerCHAPTERXVIII-PhonyChemistCHAPTERXIX-DesertMummyCHAPTERXX-AnImpostor’sStory

THECLUEINTHECROSSWORDCIPHER

TOLD against the fascinating background of South America, this Nancy Drew mystery-adventuremakesexcitingreading.LovelyyoungCarlaPoncewholivesinPeruinvitesNancyandherfriendsBessandGeorgetovisitherandsolveher“monkeymystery,”whichpromisestoleadtoafabuloustreasure.Theclueiscarvedonanintriguingwoodenplaquethatissooldmostofthecrosswordcipherisobliterated.

WhenanotoriousgangheadedbyElGato(TheCat)stealsthepricelessrelic,Nancy’shopesofsolvingthemysteryarealmostshattered.Butthedaringyoungdetective’sabilitytothinkfastandactquicklyresultsintherecoveryoftheplaque.

Nancy’s determined efforts to decode the crossword cipher take her to the magnificent,awe-inspiring Incan ruins at Cuzco and Machu Picchu. Through clever deductions,perseverance, and dangerous adventures, Nancy and her friends help to capture a ring ofvicioussmugglersandgoontomakeanastoundingarchaeologicaldiscovery.

“Oh,I’mgettingsomewonderfulclues!”Nancycalled

Copyright©1995,1967bySimon&Schuster,Inc.Allrightsreserved.PublishedbyGrosset&Dunlap,Inc.,amemberofThePutnam&

GrossetGroup,NewYork.PublishedsimultaneouslyinCanada.S.A.NANCYDREWMYSTERYSTORIES®isaregisteredtrademarkofSimon&Schuster,

Inc.GROSSET&DUNLAPisatrademarkofGrosset&Dunlap,Inc.eISBN:978-1-101-07745-0

2008Printing

http://us.penguingroup.com

CHAPTERI

TheMonkeyMystery

“THISiswhatIwantyoutosolve,Nancy.Icallitmymonkeymystery.”The speakerwas beautifulCarla Ponce fromLima, Peru. She had large dark-brown eyes,

shoulder-lengthblackhair,andoliveskin.HervisitorwasattractiveNancyDrew,fair-skinned,blue-eyed,andtitian-haired.Bothgirlswereeighteen.Carlapointedtoaroundwoodenplaqueaboutfifteeninchesindiameterwhichhungonthe

wallofherbedroom.Thewoodwasveryold,butthecarvingonitfairlyclear.“It’s an outline of amonkey with part of his tail cut off,” said Nancy, “and several lines

spreadfromonesideofhimtotheedgeoftheplaque.Youthinkthisdesignmaybeacluetosomegreatsecret?Perhapsatreasure?”“Yes. The plaque has been in my family for three hundred years,” Carla replied in her

delightfulSpanish-accentedEnglish. “But itdisappeared.Then,about twentyyearsago,myfatherfoundit inmygreat-grandfather’strunk.Butnobodyhaseverbeenabletofigureoutthesignificanceofthecarving.”AsNancygazedatthewalkingmonkeywithitsarchedback,Carlatooktheplaquefromthe

wallandlaiditreversesideuponatable.“Thissideisevenmoreintriguing,”shesaid.Downthecenterwasaseriesofgouged-outspaceswithtwosimilarcrossingsets.Radiating

from the middle was a spiraling group of lines which extended to the very outside of theplaque.“Thisisfascinating!”Nancyremarked.“Oh,Carla,I’dlovetoworkonyourmystery.ButI’m

alittleembarrassedeventotrywhenothershaveworkedonitforsomanyyears.”Carla gave Nancy an affectionate squeeze. “From what I have heard of cases you have

solved,Iamsureyouwillfigureoutthisone.Whatbothersmeisthatiftheplaqueisacluetoatreasureburiedlongago,bythistimesomeonemayhavefoundit.”“We’llhavetotakethatchance,”saidNancy.“ThefirstthingI’dliketodoisexaminethis

undermymagnifyingglass.Howaboutcominghomewithmetodinnerandbringingalongtheplaque?”“Thatsoundswonderful!”saidCarla.“Iwilltellmyaunt.”While inRiverHeights,Carlawas livingwith an aunt and uncle. She had just graduated

fromsecretarialschoolandwouldreturntoLimainafewdays.ThetwogirlswentdownstairstospeaktoMrs.Renshaw,afriendoftheDrews.“I’mhappytohaveCarlagowithyou,”shesaid,“butIdon’twanthertocomehomealone.

Shehadabadscareonenight.Mr.RenshawandIwilldriveovertogether.”“Oh,thatwon’tbenecessary,”Nancysaidquickly.“MyfatherandIwillbringherback.”Mrs.Renshawlookedrelieved.“IprobablyshouldexplainwhyI’mconcerned.Carlarecently

hasbeenfollowedseveraltimes.”“Youmeanbyaman?”NancyaskedMrs.Renshawnodded.“Thereismoretothestorythanthat.”“Ohplease,Auntie,”Carlaprotested.“Iamsureyouworryunnecessarily.”Herauntcontinuedwiththestory.“OnlyyesterdayCarlareceivedaverystrangemessagein

themail.Itwasasheetofpaperontowhichletterscutfromnewspaperheadlineshadbeenpasted.Themessagewas,‘Cuidadoconelgato.’”Carlaexplained,“Itmeans,‘Bewareofthecat.’”“Howstrange!”saidNancy.“Wecannot figure it out,”Carla said. “Myaunt andunclehaveno cat and there is not a

bothersomeoneintheneighborhood.”

Nancy lookedoff intospace.Havingsolvedmanymysteries,beginningwithTheSecretoftheOldClockandrecentlyTheMysteryofthe99Steps,herthoughtsimmediatelyflewtotheideathatElGatowasaperson.To herself she said, “Hemay be theman who has been following Carla and someone is

tryingtowarnheragainsthim.”Aloudshesaid,“Carla,couldElGatorefertosomethingatyourhomeinLima?”Carla said that thePonceshadno cat and shewasat a loss to explainwhat thewarning

meant.“Iamnotgoingtoworryaboutit,though,becauseIshallbeleavingforhomesoon.”“Goodidea,”saidNancy.ShesuggestedthatthegirlsstartfortheDrews’.Theysaidgood-bytoCarla’sauntandwent

outside.TheRenshawhousestoodonaslopeoverlookingtheMuskokaRiver.Thegirlsgazedtoward the water as they walked to Nancy’s convertible. Carla was clutching the plaquetightly.Inthedrivewaysheskiddedonsomeloosegravel,andwhiletryingtoregainherbalance,

letgooftheplaque.Itflewthroughtheair,landedontheedgeoftheslope,thenbeganrollingdownrapidly.Carlagaveacryofdismay.“Oh,Imustn’tloseit!”Instantly Nancy took off after the fast-disappearing object. Though the way down was

precarious, she had almost caught up with the plaque when it bounced off a stone. Themomentumsent theancientpieceofwoodsailing through theairand into thewater, sometwelvefeetbelow.“Mypreciousheirloom!”Carlacriedout.“Itwillbelost!”WithinasecondNancyhadkickedoffherpumpsandmadeashallowdiveintotheriver.She

surfacednotfarfromtheplaque,whichalreadywasbeingsweptalongbytheswiftcurrent.Withstrongstrokessheovertookit.Graspingtheplaquefirmly,shemadeforshore.WhenNancyreachedtheriverbank,Carlaexclaimed,“Oh,howcanIeverthankyou!Iam

terriblysorryIdroppedtheplaque.Wewillgobacktothehouseandyoucanputonsomedryclothes.”“I’llbeallright,”Nancyinsisted.“It isn’tfartomyhome.I’llkeepthewindowsofmycar

closedsoIwon’tcatchcold.”FifteenminuteslatershewaspullingintotheDrews’circulardriveway.Thefrontdoorwas

opened byMrs.HannahGruen, the pleasant,middle-aged housekeeper,who had helped torearNancysincethedeathofMrs.Drew.ShewasdelightedtohearthatCarlawouldstaytodinner.“Wehavesomethinginterestingtoshowyou,”saidNancyassheledthewaytothedining

roomand laid theplaque on the table.Carla explained its origin to thehousekeeper,whileNancyranupstairstochangeherclothesandgetthemagnifyingglasswhichhadservedhersowell insolvingothermysteries.Assoonasshereturned,theyoungsleuthgazedthroughtheglassatthemonkeysideoftheplaque.“Iseesomethingdownhereinthecorner,”sheannounced.“It’saword—perhapsaname.It

spellsA-G-U-I-L-A-R.”“Oh!”Carlacriedout.“Thatwasthenameofanancestorofours.Hewasagreatartist.I

neverknewhisnamewasonhere.”“Thenhemusthavecarvedthesefigures,”saidNancy.“Whatbecameofhim?”“HedisappearedfromLima,”Carlaanswered.“Nooneeverheardofhimagain.”Nancycouldnotdetectanythingfurtherwhichshehadnotseenbefore.Nowsheturnedthe

plaqueover.“Umm!”shemurmured.“Iseesomethinghere.”“Whatisit?”Carlaaskedeagerly.“Thecentercarvingsarepartsofwords,”Nancydeduced.“Icanbarelymakeoutsomeof

the letters reading from the top down. They seem to be part of a crossword puzzle.Here,Carla,seewhatyoucanmakeoutofit.”ThegirlfromLimatooktheglassandgazedthroughit.Excitedlysheexclaimed,“Thefirst

fourlettersdownaremono!ThatisSpanishformonkey.Icannotmakeoutanythingelse.The

markingsaretooindistinct.”

“Mypreciousheirloom!”Carlacriedout.“Itwillbelost!”ThoughNancy felt shehadmadeastartonsolving themystery, she realized therewasa

longwaytogobeforediscoveringitsrealsignificance.HannahaskedNancytosetthetable.Dinnerwastobeearlybecausethehousekeeperhada

datetoattendanearbymovietheaterwithafriend.A fewminutes laterMr. Drew came in. He was a trim, handsomeman and a successful

lawyer.AftergreetingCarlaandhearingaboutthemystery,hesmiled.“Iknewitwouldn’tbelong before Nancy would become involved with some enigma. This one sounds like a realchallenge.”“Ibelievethecluetoit,”saidNancy,“isinthecrosswordcipher.”Later,whenitwastimeforCarlatogohome,shesuggestedthatNancykeeptheplaqueand

workonit.Nancy’seyestwinkled.“Youhavealotoffaithinme,”shesaid.“I’llhelpyouallIcanbefore

yougobacktoLima.Butpleasedon’tbetoodisappointedifIdon’tsucceed.”SuddenlyCarla’sbeautifulbigbrowneyeslightedup.“Nancy,Ihaveanidea.Willyouand

yourfriends,BessandGeorge,cometoSouthAmericawithme?Thenyouwouldhavemoretimetoworkonthemystery.”

“I’msureI’llneedit.Thisisamarvelousinvitation.Thankyou.Whendoyouleave?”“Dayaftertomorrow.”Nancylookedinquiringlyatherfather,butbeforehecouldspeak,Carlawenton,“Evenif

therewerenomystery to solve, Iwould love tohave youall visitme.Peru is a fascinatingplace.WehaveancientIndianruins,Spanishpalaces,exoticthingstobuyandeat.Docome!”“Itcertainlysoundsexciting,”saidNancy.“I’dlovetoaccept.Whatdoyousay,Dad?”Mr.Drew lookedathisdaughterwithamusement inhiseyes.“Howcould I refuse?AndI

hopeBessandGeorgecangoalong.”Nancypromisedtocallthegirlsearlythenextmorning.PresentlysheandherfatherleftthehousewithCarla.TheytookthePeruviangirlbackto

theRenshaws,andaftertalkingwiththemafewminutes,theDrewsdrovehome.“I’mgoingtoworkonthatplaquealittlemorebeforeIgotobed,”saidNancy.“Butfirst,

canIgetyousomethingtoeatordrink,Dad?”“Nothanks,”hesaid.“I’dliketotakealookatthosestrangemarkingsmyself.”Theywalkedintothediningroomandturnedonthelight.Bothstoppedshort.Theyhadleft

theplaqueonthetable.Nowitwasgone!

CHAPTERII

ABitofJudo

“CARLA’spreciousplaque!”Nancyexclaimed.“Itmusthavebeenstolen!”Assheberatedherselfforleavingtheobjectinplainsight,Mr.Drewsaid,“MaybeHannah

putitaway.”“No,Dad.Hannah left thehouse first and I know theplaquewas righthereon the table

whenyouandIwentout.”Thelawyerpattedhisdaughterontheshoulder.“ThisismoreofamysterythanIthoughtit

wasgoingtobe.IsupposeitwilldelayyourtriptoLima.”“Oh,howcanItellCarla?”Nancysaid,acatchinhervoice.“ButI’llhavetodoit.”Asshestarted for the telephone,her fathersaid, “Perhapsweshouldcall thepolice first.

Butbeforewedothat,let’slookaroundandseeifanythingelsehasbeenstolen.”HeandNancyexaminedthedrawerofsilver-ware.Nothingwasmissing.Theysearchedthe

roomsdownstairsandthoseonthesecondfloor.Nothingseemedtohavebeenstolen.Nancyandherfatherwereabouttotelephonethepolicewhentheyheardakeyinthefront-

doorlockandforamomentthetwotensed.TheywererelievedwhenHannahGruenwalkedin.“Hello,”shesaidcheerfully. “Themoviewasexcellent.Youmustsee it.”Asshenoted the

glumfacesofheremployerandhisdaughter,sheasked,“Issomethingthematter?”“Oh,Hannah,theplaquehasbeenstolenfromthedining-roomtable!”Nancytoldher.Thehousekeeper, insteadof lookingshocked, remainedcalm.“I’msorry Iupsetyou,”she

said. “During intermission I got toworrying that youmight not have put the plaque away.SinceCarlawasfollowedandreceivedthatstrangenoteaboutacat,Ihurriedhomeandhidtheplaque.”Shewentdirectlytothebottomdrawerofthedining-roombuffetandpulledtheobjectfrom

beneathapileoftablemats.Mr. Drew sat down in a chair and burst into laughter. “Hannah, you’re wiser and more

sensiblethaneitherofus.HereI’malawyerandNancyhasquiteareputationasanamateurdetective,andyou’retheonlyonewhothoughtofhidingthisvaluableoldobject.”HislaughterwassocontagiousthatNancyandHannahjoinedin.Finallythehousekeeper

said,“Ithinkthiscallsforalittlecelebration—amidnightsnack.Howaboutchocolatefrostedapple-saucecakeandglassesofmilk?”“Soundsgood,”saidNancy.“I’llhelpyou.”Thefamilylingeredforhalfanhour,watchingthelatenewsonTV,thenwenttobed.Nancy

sleptsoundlybutwasupearly,determinedtoworkonthecrosswordcipher.UsingaSpanishdictionary,shetriedtofigureoutwhatthemissinglettersmightbe,butfinallygaveup.Nancy had just gone into the kitchen to start breakfast when Hannah Gruen came

downstairs. By the time everything was ready, Mr. Drew appeared. Nancy told him of herfruitlessattempttosolvethecipher.Hesaidwithasmile,“Butyouwon’tstopworkonityet!”“Noindeed,”Nancyreplied.Afterthelawyerhadleftforhisoffice,shewenttothephonetotellBessMarvinandGeorge

Fayne of Carla’s invitation. Both girls were thrilled and said they would come as soon aspossibletogetmoredetails.Georgeadded,“Imaybealittlelate.Youknowthisismymorningforajudolesson.”Nancylaughed.“Besuretolearnsomethingthatwillbeusefulinourdetectivework!”Georgechuckled.“Youmeanliketossingavillainoffacliff?”TwohourslaterBessandGeorge,whowerecousins,arrived.Bess,ablondwithattractive

dimples,wasslightlyoverweightandalwaysbeingteasedaboutit.Hersloganwas,“I’llstartdietingtomorrow.”George was the antithesis of her cousin. She was an attractive brunette with a slender

figure,andwasinterestedinmanysports.Thetwocousinswereintriguedbytheancientplaque.Bessgiggled.“Ilovethatmonkeyon

it—he’ssoniceandawkward.”“I’m more interested in the other side,” said George. “I wish all those letters weren’t

missing.”Nancywasabouttohandherthemagnifyingglasswhenthefrontdoorbellrang.Shewent

toanswerit.Amanaboutthirtyyearsoldstoodontheporch.“AreyouMissDrew?”“Yes.” At once the stranger turned back one side of his coat. Pinned to the liningwas a

badge,saying,“Detective,RiverHeightsPoliceDepartment.”“MayIcomein?”heasked.AsNancyadmittedhim,hesaid,“Myname isHarryWallace. Ihaveacourtorder for the

plaque which you have.” From a pocket he produced a piece of paper to confirm hisstatement,butdidnothandittohertoread.BessandGeorge,overhearingtheconversation,walkedintothehall.Besswascarryingthe

plaque.“ButIdon’tunderstand,”saidNancy.“Whywouldthepolicewantthisprivateproperty?”HarryWallaceshrugged.“HowshouldIknow?WhenIgetanorderIjustcarryitout.Give

metheplaqueandI’llbegoing.”Nancy’ssuspicionswerearoused.Shedidnotliketheman’slooksnortheabruptmannerin

whichhewasdemandingtheplaque.Lookinghimstraightintheeye,shesaid,“I’mnotgivingthistoyouwithoutfurtherproof.

PleasesitdownwhileItelephoneChiefMcGinnis.”Wallace’seyesflashed.“Younglady,”hesaidangrily,“you’reentirelytoofreshforyourown

good.Yougivemethatplaqueandnobacktalk!”ThenextinstanthegrabbeditfromBess’sarmsandmadeadashforthefrontdoor.Hedid

notgetfar.George,quickasaflash,steppedforwardandwithaneatfliptossedhimoverhershoulder.Helandedbackwardonthecarpetandlaythereinutterastonishment.Bessbegantogiggleandpickeduptheplaque,whichhadfallentothefloor.ButNancywas

worried. Shemight be in trouble over what had happened. Suppose theman really was apolicedetective!She helped Wallace up and escorted him to the front door. He went out meekly, saying

nothingmoreabouttakingtheplaquewithhim.After thedoorwasclosed,Georgeremarked, “Well, therewasn’tanycliff,but Ihopeyou

likedthewayItossedthatvillainoutofourlives.”Besslookedscared.“Hemaytakerevengeinstead.”Nancysaid,“WallacemightevenbethemanwhohasbeenfollowingCarlarecently.”“Andsentthatwarningnoteabout‘thecat’?”Bessqueried.“Couldbe.”NancyimmediatelytelephonedherfriendPoliceChiefMcGinnis.Aftertellinghimwhathad

happened,BessandGeorgesawNancynoddingherheadinagreementasshelistened.Finallyshe said, “He’s about thirty, dark-complexioned, has close-cut black hair, and is extremelythin.”Presently the young sleuth saidgood-byandputdown thephone.Turning toher friends,

Nancy said, “HarryWallace is a phony.He’s not on the detective squad. ChiefMcGinnis isgoingtoputoutanalarmforhimatonce.Bytheway,George,”shesaidwithagrin,“thechiefthanksyouforusingalittlejudoonthatimpostor.”“Hypers!” George cried, rubbing her hands together gleefully. “The first villain in this

mystery.Iwonderhowmanymorewe’llencounter.”

Bessquicklyspokeup.“Ihopehe’stheonlyone.Iwanttohelpsolvethecrosswordciphermystery,butIcangetalongwithoutpeoplelikehim!”LaterthatdayBessandGeorgetelephonedNancytotellhertheyhadreceivedpermission

fromtheirparentstogotoLima.Carlawasoverjoyedwhensheheardthegoodnews.“Wewillhaveamarveloustime,”shepromised.Fortunately,Nancyandthecousinshadpassports.Mr.Drewmadethearrangementsforthe

flight.Thegirlswould leaveearly the followingmorning fromRiverHeightsand fly toNewYorkCity.FromtheretheywouldtakeajetlinertoSouthAmerica.“WithHarryWallace at large,” he said, “I think it would be best if you girls leave River

Heightsunobtrusively.”“Howcanwedothat?”Nancyasked.“By staying at the airport motel tonight. Bess’s and George’s families can drive them

separatelyandshouldbe sure they’renotbeing followed.Carla’sunclecan takeher to themotelandyou—”Mr.Drewgrinned.“IbelieveNedNickersoniscomingherethisevening?”Nancyblushed.NedwasaspecialfriendwhoattendedEmersonCollege.“Yes,Nediscomingtohavedinnerwithus.He’llbegladtotakemetotheairport.”Thetall,good-lookingfootballplayerarrivedatsixo’clock.Afterwarmgreetingshesaidto

Nancy,“Soyou’retakingoffagaintosolveanothermystery.Can’tyoufixthingssoIcouldgoalong?”Nancysmiled.“IwishIcould.NowIhavetodependonGeorgeandherjudototakecareof

troublemakers.”ShehadalreadypackedforthetripandwasfreetospendtheentireeveningwithNeduntil

itwastimetojoinherfriendsatthemotel.Hetriedhishandatdecipheringthepuzzleontheplaquebutfinallygaveup.“Ifyoucansolvethisone,andkeepoutoftroublewithCarla’spursuersand‘thecat,’”he

remarked,“yououghttogetavoteofthanksfromthePeruviangovernment!”Nancylaughed.Atteno’clockshesaidgood-bytoHannahGruenandherfather.Thehousekeeperbegged

Nancytobecarefulandthelawyersaid,“Noinstructionsfromme,mydear,butyouknowthatIwishyousuccessandI’llbelookingforwardtoyourreturn.”WhenNancyandNedreachedtheairportmotel,hecarriedhertwobagsintothelobby.One

containedtheplaqueandNancysaidthatshewouldcarrythatsuitcase.“I’llchecktheotherone.”AsNedbidhergood-byandlookedstraightather,Nancydetectedawistfullookinhiseyes.

Hesaid,“Mythoughtsarerepetitionsofyourfather’sandHannah’scombined.”Hetookbothherhandsinhisandadded,“Youwillcomebacksafely,won’tyou?”Hekissedher.“Ipromise,”Nancyanswered,andwaiteduntilhedroveoff.Thenaportercarriedherbags

totheroomwhichshewouldsharewithCarla.ThePeruviangirl, aswell asBessandGeorge,werealready there.Bess teasedNancy. “I

thoughtmaybeyou’dchangeyourmindaboutgoingtoPeruwhenNedshowedup.”Nancysmiled.Shedidnotreply,becauseatthatmomentthetelephonerang.Carla’sheartsank.“Oh,somebodyhasfoundoutwhereweare!MaybeElGato!”Nancyanswered thephone,disguisinghervoice.Amanat theotherendof the linesaid,

“Policeheadquarterscalling.IsthisMissDrew?ChiefMcGinniswantstotalktoyou.”Nancydidnotadmitwhoshewasbutmerelysaid,“Pleaseputhimon.”The next instant Chief McGinnis’s familiar voice said, “Nancy, I want you to come to

headquartersimmediately.It’sveryimportant.”

CHAPTERIII

StrangeCancellation

WHENNancytoldhercompanionsaboutChiefMcGinnis’srequest,Georgeremarked,“Maybethey’vecaughtWallace.”Bessadded,“Isupposeyou’llhavetogotoheadquarters,Nancy.Buthowareyougoingto

getthere?Wehavenocar.”“Ataxiwilldo,”Nancyreplied.“Carla,Ithinkyou’dbettercomewithme.Afterall,youknow

moreaboutthiscasethanIdo.”The two girls reached headquarters fortyminutes later. ChiefMcGinnis had the prisoner

broughtintohisoffice.“Isthisthemanwhocametoyourhouseandpretendedtobeapolicedetective?”thechief

askedNancy.“Yes,heis.”HarryWallace’seyesflashed.“Ineversawthisgirlbeforeinmylife!”heshouted.Nancywenton,“Hetriedtostealavaluableantiqueplaque.Itbelongstothisyounglady.”

OnpurposeNancyhadnotintroducedCarlabyname,hopingthatperhapstheprisonerwouldgivehimselfawaybyidentifyingher.Theman became sullen. “I’m not going to talk,” he said. Turning to ChiefMcGinnis, he

added,“Youhavenorighttoholdme.Ihaven’tdoneanythingwrong.”AgainNancyspokeup.“Ifyouneedanywitnesses,Chief,Ihavetwofriendswhowerethere

atthetime.”Atthis,HarryWallaceseemedtochangehismindabouttalking.“Oh,allright,”hesaid.“I

didn’trecognizeMissDrewatfirst.ShelookeddifferentwhenIsawher.”ChiefMcGinnisstaredattheprisonerhard.“Thenyouadmittryingtostealtheplaque?”“No,Idon’t,”HarryWallacereplied.“Thatplaquebelongstome!”“What!”Garlacriedout.“Itdoesnot!”Theprisonermadeonemoreefforttoclearhimself.“I’manimporterinNewYorkCity.Ibuy

articlesfromallovertheworld.ThatplaquewassoldtomeinSouthAmerica. Itwastakenfrommyshop.EversincethenI’vebeentryingtotraceit.FirstIfoundoutMissPonceherehaditrightinRiverHeights.AndthenIlearnedshegaveittoMissDrew.”TherewerefaintsmilesonthefacesofNancyandChiefMcGinnis.Theprisonerhadindeed

givenhimselfaway.Theofficersaid,“I’mafraid,Mr.Wallace,thatyouhavetrippedyourselfupwithyourstory.Nowsupposeyoutellthetruth.”Theprisonerrefusedtosayanotherword.NancywhisperedtoCarla,“Isthisthemanwho

hasfollowedyouseveraltimes?”“Ithinkso,butIcannotbeabsolutelysure.”Nancywalkedforwardandwhisperedthisinformationtothechief.Sheadded,“MissPonce

also received an anonymous warning note. Maybe Harry Wallace sent it. The note was inSpanish.Translated,itsaid,‘Bewareofthecat.’Doesthatmeananythingtoyou?”Beforeanswering,ChiefMcGinniswenttoabookcaseandpulledoutaloose-leafledger.He

ranhisfingersdowntheindex,thenturnedtoapagenearthebackofthebook.“Hmm!”hemurmured,beckoningNancytotakealookatthenotation.She leanedoverhisshoulderandread that therewasamysteriousman inPeruwhowas

knowntothepolicethereasElGato.Hisnameandwhereaboutswerenotknown,buthewaslistedasa“wantedperson.”ChiefMcGinnisturnedtotheprisoner.“Thingswillgoaloteasierwithyouifyoutelluswho

ElGatois.”Startled,HarryWallacejerkedhisshouldersuncomfortablyandbegantospeak,thendosed

hislipstightly.Afterafewsecondshesaid,“Youtryingtopinsomethingelseonme?Idon’tknowwhatyou’retalkingabout.”Theofficerorderedtheprisonertakenaway,tellinghimhecouldhavealawyerofhisown

choosingorthecourtwouldgetoneforhim.Wallacesaid,“I’llletyouknowtomorrow.”Hefollowedtheguardoutoftheroom.Nancyandthechiefdiscussedthecasea fewminutes longer,withCarla lookingonwide-

eyed.Finallyshesaid,“Oh,Iamsosorrytobesuchalotoftrouble.”ChiefMcGinnisgaveherafatherlysmile.“Wewillprobablyendupthankingyouforhaving

thepoliceoftwocontinentslookingforthismysteriousElGato.Ihope,Nancy,thatyousolvethemysteryofthecrosswordcipherandhavetimeforsomefunonyourtrip.”Heshookhandswithbothgirls.Thentheywentbacktotheirwaitingtaxi.When they reached themotel, Bess andGeorgewere eager to hearwhat had happened.

AfterNancyandCarlahadtoldoftheepisodeatheadquarters,Georgesnorted,“IfthatHarryWallaceisanimporter,thenI’llbetacookiehe’sasmuggler!”Bessgaveaninvoluntaryshudder.“Alreadyeverything’sgettingcomplicated.”Thefollowingmorningthegirlshadbreakfast intheirrooms,thenhurriedtothecheck-in

counter at the airport. At noontime they arrived inNewYorkCity andwent directly to theapartmentofNancy’s aunt,MissEloiseDrew.Shewasdelighted to see themandhappy tomeetCarla.Thefourgirlsbriefedheronthemysteryandtheirplans.“They soundvery intriguing,”MissDrewcommented. “Since yougirls aregoing toLima,

youmight be interested in the Peruvian exhibits here inNew York. There are some at theMetropolitanMuseumofArt,othersattheMuseumofNaturalHistoryandaspecialexhibitatthe Gallery of Modern Art. On the other hand, perhaps Carla would prefer doing a littlesightseeinginNewYorkCity.”“I think Iwould,” she said. “I have seen very little of it and this city is such an exciting

place.”AuntEloisehadasuggestion.“SupposeItakeCarlawithmeandyouothergirlsgotothe

exhibits.TheywillgiveyouagoodideaofthehistoryandcustomsofancientPeru.”After luncheonNancy, Bess, andGeorge set off. At theMetropolitan theywere fortunate

enoughtojoinagroupwithaguide.Duringhislecture,hesaid,“TheIndiansofancientPeru,particularlytheIncas,hadareligioninwhichtheyworshipedthesun,thinkingofitasagod.“Theyalsohadasuccessionofhumanrulers,calledtheInca,whoweresupposedtohave

receiveddivinepowersdirectly fromthesungod.Asyou lookat theexhibits, youwillnotethatthedecorationsonmanyofthemillustratethisfact.”Thethreegirlswereintriguedbythevariouseffigies,mostofthemmadeofclay.Manywere

hunched-up figures, seatedwith theirkneesnear theirchins. “Thiswasalso theposition inwhichtheyusuallyburiedtheirmummies,”theguideexplained.Theyoungvisitors stayed so longat theMetropolitan that theyhad timeonly to visit the

specialexhibitattheGalleryofModernArt.HerealltheancientobjectsfromPeruweregold.Theyincludedvariouskindsofjewelry.Manyofthenecklacesandearringswerestuddedwithturquoiseorothersemipreciousstones.“Goodness, what are those things over there?” Bess asked. “They look like golden

Halloweenmasks.”Thegirlswalkedtothecasesandreadthecardsonthewallbackoftheseobjects.“Funerarymasks,”Nancysaid.Amanstandingnearbytoldthemthatthemaskwasnotputoverthemummy’sfacebutlaid

downjustabovethehead.“Nobodyhadfiguredoutwhy.”SuddenlyGeorgechuckled.“Lookatthatmaskoverthere.Itlooksjustlikeallama’sface.

Doyousupposesomeonehaditmadeforhispetllamathatdied?”Themangrinned.“Perhaps,orelseforsomeimportantpersonwholookedlikeallama.”TheobjectintheexhibitwhichinterestedNancymostwasalargepairofhandsandarms

made of solid gold. The stranger explained that these were gauntlets, probably worn by apriest at a religious ceremony. The pieces had one imperfection—the fingernailswere darkandcorrodedlooking.“Thosenailsweremadeofsilver,”themansaid.“Theytarnished,thendisintegrated.”

Besshadbeenstaringatonethumbnailwhichhadnotdisintegrated.Sheremarked,“SomeoftheoldIncasmusthaveworntheirnailsmightylong.”Nancyglancedatherwatchandtoldtheothergirlsitwastimetoleave.Theythankedthe

manforhishelpandhurriedfromthebuilding.Whenthegirlsreachedtheapartmenthouse,AuntEloiseandCarlahadjustarrived,sothey

allrodeupintheelevatortogether.AsMissDrewunlockedherdoor,thetelephonebegantoring.Shehastenedtoanswerit.“Oh,Hannah,”shesaid.“It’sgood tohear fromyou.Thegirlsgot inall rightand they’re

goingtoleaveinalittlewhile.”Therewasapause,thensheexclaimed,“What?Yousaytheairlinecalledandsaidthegirls’

flighthasbeencanceled?”Nancy and her friends stared unbelievingly. Nancy went to the phone to talk to Hannah

Gruen.ThehousekeeperreiteratedwhatshehadtoldAuntEloise.“Amancalledfromtheairlinetosayyourflighthasbeencanceled.Hegavenoreasonbut

askedthatIgetintouchwithyouatonce.I’vebeentryingtodosoforthepasthour.Youmusthavebeenout.”“Yes,wewere,”Nancyanswered. “Oh, this isdreadfulnews!”Shegavea sigh. “Well,we

maybeseeingyousoonerthanweexpected.”AfterNancyhadputdownthephone,shesuddenlyfrowned.Finallyshesaidtotheothers,

“This might be a hoax. There’s no reason to cancel a flight today. The weather’s perfectSomethingmighthavecausedadelay,butnotacancellation.I’mgoingtocalltheairlineandfindoutwhat’sgoingon.”Shespoketo themanat theticketcounter, then listenedtohisreply.Nancysaid,“Thank

youverymuch.Weweretoldtheflighthadbeencanceled.I’mgladit’snottrue.”Everyonewasrelievedtohearthis,buttheywonderedwhothemanwasthathadcalledthe

Drews’house.Nancysaid,“Itcouldn’thavebeenWallace,becausehe’sinjail.Hemusthaveanaccomplice.”“Someone,”saidAuntEloise,“doesn’twantyoutogotoPeru.Maybeit’sbecausehehoped

tostealtheplaquebeforeyoucouldleavethecountrywithit.”Nancyhadadeterminedlookonherface.“Well,thistimehe’sgoingtofail.ButI’dliketo

knowwhoheis.”When the girls said good-by toMiss Drew, she begged them to take every precaution to

avoiddanger.TheyallpromisedandNancygaveherauntanextrahugofassurance.Itwaslatemorningthenextdaywhenthegreatjetlinerlandedatthehugeandattractive

Limaairport.Bessexclaimed,“Ican’tbelieveI’mhere,andthisfarfromhomesosoon!”Asthegirlswentthroughthecustomssection,Carlacaughtsightofherparentsthrougha

glass partition. She blew thema kiss and then pointed out Senor andSenora Ponce to theothergirls.Theywavedandsmiled.Finallythebaggagewasclearedthroughcustomsandthegroupsetoffinthelargefamilyautomobile.Carla’sparentsproved tobedelightfulpeople.Bothwere tall, handsomebrunets.Señora

andCarlaresembledeachother.Whentheyreachedtheresidentialsection,theNorthAmericanvisitorswereimpressedby

thelargehomesandbeautifulgardens.Thetree-shadedboulevardswerewideandmostofthelawnshadtallironfencesaroundthem.ThePonces’ownhomewasextremelyattractive.Insidethefrontfencewasalovelygarden.

Ononesidestoodaveryoldandgnarledevergreentreewhichroseabouttwentyfeetintotheair.WhenNancyadmiredit,SenorPoncetoldheritwasaqueñar.Totherightofthewalkleadingtothefrontdoorwasagildedlife-sizestatueofanalpaca.

“He’shandsome!”Bessmurmured.SeñorPonceexplainedthatitwasaduplicateofagoldenalpacawhichoriginallyhadstood

inthegreatsquarebeforetheTempletotheSuninthecityofCuzco.“Iamsorrytosaythatwhen the Spanish conquistadores came and conquered the Incas, they demanded somuchgoldthattheircapital,Cuzco,wasruined.Oneofitsancientnicknameswas‘TheCityofGold.’”A delicious luncheon was served in the beautifully furnished, Spanish-style dining room.

Afterward,NancyunpackedtheplaqueandCarlaexplainedwhatthegirlshadlearnedaboutitsofar.“Thatisveryfine,”SenoraPoncecommendedthem.”Carlaandhermother,usingNancy’smagnifyingglass,poredovertheindistinctmarkingsof

the crossword cipher. Nancy, Bess, and George listened to Senor Ponce’s story about theplaque.“Itwaslostinthefamilyforseveralgenerations,”hesaid.“Then,amazingly,theplaquewas

foundamongmygrandfather’seffectsafterhedied.Bythistimeitwasinsuchwornconditionthatnoonecoulddecipherthemessage.”Nancyasked,“Doyouthinkthatperhapsmanyyearsagosomeonedidfigureitout?”“I do not think so, or else the storywould have been known,” he answered. “Allwe ever

heardwasthatayoungIncaIndianhadcometothehomeofoneofmyancestorsandhandedhim the plaque. The Indian could not speak Spanish so they learned nothing from him. IpresumeheknewonlytheQuechualanguageusedbytheIncas.”ThetelephonerangandSenorPonceexcusedhimself.Bessremarked,“Whatafascinating

story!”Theothersagreed.Carlasuggestedthatthevisitorsmightliketoseetherestofthehouse.Thegirlsstoodup

and began to walk around, admiring the many art objects. The Ponces had exquisite oldpaintingsfromSpain,andseveralornatelycarvedchestsandtables.“Thisislikeamuseum,”Georgeremarked.Finallythevisitorsreturnedtothelivingroom.AstheywalkedinwithSenorPonce,Carla

washoldingNancy’smagnifyingglass.Suddenlysheexclaimed:“Oh,IthinkIhavejustfiguredoutpartofthismystery!”

CHAPTERIV

CuriousAssistant

EVERYONEcrowdedaroundCarlaasshepointedtotherestoftheverticallineofletters.“Ithinktheyspellcola.InSpanishthatmeanstail.”Nancy’s face broke into a broad grin. “Then the twowords down aremono cola-monkey

tail!”“That’sright.”SeñorPoncenodded.“Butwhatisthesignificance?”Noonecouldanswerthequestion,buteachwasthinkinghard.“Probably,” Bess suggested, “for some reason Señor Aguilar couldn’t give the monkey a

wholetail,sohecarvedtheword‘tail.’”“Thatsoundsreasonable,”Carla’sfatherremarked.“Maybe,”saidGeorge,“thismonkeyhadaspecialkindoftail.Tofindtheanswer,Isuppose

we’llhavetoconsultbooksthattellaboutallsortsofsimians.Doyouhaveanysuchbooks?”“Ithinkso,”SenoraPonceanswered.“ButIbelieveallmonkeyshavelongtails.Onlyapes

andbaboonsdonot.”Herhusbandsaid,“Nancy,youhaven’texpressedanopinion.Whatdoyouthink?”Theyoungsleuthrepliedslowly,“Sincethisplaquesaysmonkeytailandpartofthetail is

cutoff,Ibelievethatfactissomekindofacluetothemystery.”“Youmean,”Carlaasked,“ifwecanfigureoutthesignificanceofthetail,itwillleadusto

somethingvaluablethatourancestorAguilarhidordidinasecretplace?”“Yes, I do. I also think possibly the kind of wood the plaque is made of may have some

bearingonthemystery.Doyouknowwhatkindofwoodthisis,SenorPonce?”Nancyasked.Carla’sfathershookhishead.“Totellthetruth,Inevertookthetroubletofindout.”“Whocouldtellus?”“ThebestpersoninLimatoaskisSenorJorgeVelez.Hehasashopandfactoryandamong

otherthingshemakesbeautifulhand-wroughtwoodentrays,plaques,bowls,saladforks,andspoons.Iamsurehewillrecognizewhattheplaqueismadeof.Inanycase,Iknowyougirlswillenjoylookingaroundhisshop.”Carla’smotheradded,“Youmightliketomakesomepurchasestotakehome.”Nancywaseagertovisittheplaceatonce.SeñoraPoncesaidthattheshopwasnotopenat

thishour.OnThursdaysSeñorVelezwasthereonlybetweenfourandseveno’clock.The plaque was wrapped carefully and the four girls set off just before four o’clock in

Carla’s sports car. She proved to be an excellent driver as she skillfully wound in and outamongtheheavytrafficofthebusinessdistrictuntilshecametoSenorVelez’sshop.“It’saquaintoldSpanishbuilding,”Bessremarked,admiringtherococodesignaboveand

aroundtheheavydoorframe.Whenthegirlsentered,twomenweretherearrangingattractivepolishedbowlsonshelves.

One of the men, who said he was the proprietor, was about fifty years old. He had finelychiseledfeaturesandworeasmallmustacheandapointedbeard.Hishair,combedstraightback,waswavyandslightlylong.The girls introduced themselves. Señor Velez bowed and said, “I am very happy tomeet

you.”HeintroducedtheothermanasLuisLlosa,hisassistant,whowasaboutthirtyyearsold.He

wassurlylooking,thin,dark,abitstoop-shouldered,andhadhairyarms.Hiseyeswereshifty.BothmenspokeEnglish.Nancyunwrappedtheplaqueandshowedit toSenorVelez.“Canyoutelluswhatkindof

woodthisismadeof?”

He examined the plaque carefully, even taking a tiny sliver from the edge and holding itunder a light. Presently he said, “This is very old and veryunusual. Theplaque ismadeofarrayáneswood.Thereisonlyoneplaceintheworldwhereitisfound.”“HereinPeru?”Carlaasked.Señor Velez shook his head. “It comes from a forest of arrayánes trees at the end of a

peninsulaagooddistancefromhere.TheplaceisintheArgentine.”“TheArgentine!”Nancyexclaimed.Secretlyshehadthoughtofgoingtothesourceofthewood,hopingtofindacluethereto

themystery.Nowtheideavanished.“ExactlywhatpartoftheArgentineisitin?”CarlaaskedSeñorVelez.TheshopownersaidthatthepeninsulastretchedintoLakeNahuelHuapi.“Ifyougirlscouldpossiblymanageit,youshouldvisitthearrayánesforest.Itisthoughtthat

thesetreesarethedescendantsofprehistoriconesandareunlikeanyothersonearthtoday.“Theyaremostunusualtolookat.Theplaceisagovernmentpreserveandnowadaysnoone

isallowedtotakeanywoodfromthere.Isupposethatwasnotarulewhenthisplaquewasmade.”Carla began to tell Señor Velez about the mystery surrounding the object. As she was

speaking,NancynoticedthatLuisLlosahadedgedcloser.Hehadanotebookinhishandandwas making a sketch of the plaque. Somehow she did not trust this man, and when hereversedtheplaquetothesidewiththecipher,shegrabbedtheancientpiecefromhim.“Thisisprivateproperty,”shetoldhimfirmly.George,too,hadnoticedwhattheassistantwasdoing.Withalightningmoveshereached

across the counter andgrabbed thenotebook.She toreout thepagewith the sketchon it,thenlaidthebookbackonthecounter.LuisLlosaglaredatthegirl,hatredinhiseyes.HemurmuredsomethinginSpanishunder

hisbreath,putthenotebookintoapocket,andhastenedintoabackroom.TherewassilenceuntilSenorVelezspoke.“Sometimesmyassistantisovercurious,”hesaid

apologetically.Nancywasembarrassedbythesituationandquicklychangedthesubject.“Doyouexport

yourproductstotheUnitedStates?”sheasked.“Yes,” the craftsmananswered. “Manyof themgo toplaces in your country, especially to

NewYorkCity.”OnahunchNancyaskedifheevershippedanythingtoHarryWallace.“No,Ithinknot.Butletmelook.”SeñorVeleztookanaccountbookfromalockeddrawerinadeskandquicklyturnedtothe

W’s.“HarryWallace’snameisnotlistedhere,”hesaidfinally.Thegirls lookedover thehandmadearticles in the shopandmadea fewpurchases, then

left.When they reached thePonces’home,Carlahung theplaqueon thewallwhere ithadalwaysbeenbeforeshehadtakenittoRiverHeights.“FromthetimeIwasatinychild,Ialwayslovedthemonkey,”Carlaremarked.“Bytheway,

doyougirlsfeellikedoinganymoresightseeing?”Bessanswered,“IfyoumeanamItired,I’mnot.”The otherswere enthusiastic to seemore of Lima andNancy added, “I’m sure you have

museumshere.Doyouthinkwemightvisit themandsee ifwecanfindsomeobjectwithamonkeyonit?Itmightgiveusacluetowhyourmonkeyhasn’tawholetail.”Carla said that among themuseums therewere two in the citywhich specialized in pre-

Columbianartobjects.“Ibelieveoneofthemisclosedatthishour,butIknowtheownerattheotherone.Helives

nearbyandevenifit’sclosedhewillletusin.It’stheMuseoRafaelLarcoHerrera.”Whenthegirlsarrived,theyfoundthemuseumopenandtwoothervisitorsthere,amanand

awoman. Themanwas a portly, red-facedNorth American.Hewas brandishing a cane topointoutthevariousobjectstothewoman,apparentlyhiswife.

Shekeptsayingtohim,“Icanseethethings.Youdon’thavetopointouteverything.Youmightknockoneoftheseancientfiguresofftheshelf.”Eachtimeshesaidthishelookedatherwithasupercilioussmile.“Don’tbesobossy.Iknow

whatI’mdoing.”As thegirlswalkedupanddown thevariousaisles,marvelingat thehundredsofancient

bitsofpottery,theywatchedintentlyforanywhichmighthavethedesignofamonkeyonit.Therewerejugsofallkinds,someplain,othersshapedlikeanimalsordecoratedwiththem.Displayedinglasscasesweremanyinterestingpiecesofjewelry.PresentlyBessexclaimed,

“Comehere,girls!Didyoueverseesuchhugeearringsinyourlife?”“Theymustweigha ton,”Georgeremarkedasshegazedat thehugedisksofcopperand

turquoise.As thegirlswenton, theycouldhear thevoicesof thecouplenot faraheadof them.The

womanwasstilladvisingherhusbandnottokeeppointingwithhiscane.Nancy and her friends suppressed giggles. Carla, in the lead, entered another narrow

passagewaywheretheshelvesonbothsideswerecrowdedwithvaluable,ancientpottery.Themanandhiswifestoodgazingaround.Theydidnotseemtonoticethegirls’approach.SuddenlyCarlacriedout,“Iseeamonkeyjug!”Nancy, directly behind her, stared at an upper shelf to which Carla was pointing. At the

sameinstant,themanaheadofthemsuddenlyswunghiscaneupward.Thetipofitstruckthemonkeyjugwhichteeteredforamoment,thenfelltowardCarla’shead.Thenextseconditwouldcrashtothefloorandbesmashedtobits!

CHAPTERV

APerilousRide

INaflashNancyleapedforwardandcaughtthefallingmonkeyjug.Everyonebreathedsighsofrelief.

Thefirstonetospeakwasthewifeofthemanwhohadswepttheancientartifactfromtheshelfwithhiscane.“WhatdidItellyou,Charlie?”shehalfscreamed.“Thatcaneofyourswillbethedeathofme!”Shetriedtotakeitfromherhusbandbutheheldontightly.

Thefracaswasstoppedbyaguardwhohadcomeontherun.Politelybutfirmly,heaskedthecoupletoleave.“Charlie”suddenlylookedsubduedandfollowedhiswifetothedoor.

Aftertheyhadleft,thegirlsburstintogiggles.Bessremarked,“IfIhadahusbandlikethat—”

“Orawifelikethat—”Georgeadded.Nancy was still holding the monkey jug. The guard reminded her that objects were not

supposedtoberemovedfromtheshelves.QuicklyGeorgetoldhimwhathadhappenedandthemanpraisedNancyforherfastaction.“Gracias,”shesaid.The others noticed that she had been turning the clay object around in her hands. The

animal’sheadprotrudedfromthefrontofthejug,butitstailwasmerelypaintedon.“Doyougetanycluefromit?”CarlaaskedasNancysettheancientjugbackontheshelf.“Not really,” the young sleuth answered, but she asked the guard if there were any

significancetoportrayingmonkeyswithincompletetails.Heshruggedandsaidhehadneverheardofany.

Thefoursomefinishedtheirtourofthemuseum,thenwenthome.Whilewaitingfordinner,whichwasservedlateinSouthAmericanhouseholds,NancyandherfriendssatdowntotalkwithCarlaandherparents.

Afterhearingwhat thegirlshaddone thatday,SenorPonceaskedNancy, “Haveyouanyideasabouthowyouwillproceedwithsolvingthemystery?Whatwouldyouliketodonext?”

Nancy’seyessparkledandshesaidmischievously,“Oh,yes.IknowwhatI’dliketodo,butit’simpossible.”

“Nothingisimpossible,”saidherhostwithasmile.“Tellmewhatisonyourmind.”“Atriptothearrayánesforest.”AtthisannouncementBessandGeorgeblinked.Theirfriendwasreallyreachingfar!Totheirsurprise,Nancy’srequestdidnotseemtoupsetSenorPonceonebit.Grinning,he

toldthegirlsthathiscompanyownedaprivateplanewhichwasflyingthenextdayintotheArgentine.

“Asamatteroffact,itwillgoveryclosetothepeninsulawherethoseunusualoldtreesare.”Hewentontosaythattheexecutivesofhiscompany,includinghimself,weregoingtothe

beautifulHotelLlao-Llaotoattendathree-dayconferenceandgolfmatches.“Theplanewill flytoBarilocheandthegroupwillmotorfromtheretothehotel.There is

plentyofroomintheplaneforyoufourgirls.Howwouldyouliketogo?”Thevisitorswerealmostspeechlesswithdelight,butfinallyNancysaid,“Oh,SeñorPonce,

thatwouldbemarvelous!Yousaythearrayánesforestisnotfarfromwherewe’llbestaying?”“Thehotelisonthesamelakeandyoucanrentaboatforanexcursiontotheforest.”“Father,” said Carla, hugging him, “you are a darling.” As he looked startled at this

unfamiliarremark,sheaddedquickly,“ThatiswhatthegirlsupinRiverHeightssaytopeoplewhodonicethings.”

Herfatherlaughedandsaid,“IthinkwePeruviansshouldadoptthephrase.Ilikeit.”

Senor Ponce told the girls that the group from his company was leaving the followingmorning,soheadvisedhisdaughterandherfriendstobereadyearly.HethoughtitmightbeagoodideaforNancytotaketheplaque.

AsBesswaspreparingforbed,sheremarkedtoGeorge,“There’sbeensomuchexcitementsincewelefthome,IfeelasifIwillburst!”

Georgegrinned.“Well,mydearfatcousin,thatmightbeonewaytolosesomeweight!”Theflightthefollowingdaywasadelightfulonewithbreath-takingscenery.Snow-capped

mountains, a profusion of lakes, and verdant farmland with hundreds of cattle grazingstretchedformilesandmiles.

Barilochewasaquaint, interesting town. Ithadbeen settledby theSwiss,whohadbuilteverythingtoresemblethearchitectureintheirhomeland.

In less than half an hour the group arrived by car at the Hotel Llao-Llao. It was a longramblingbuildingonveryattractivegroundsandstoodonaknolloverlookingthewater.

Inthecenterofthehotelwasalobbyandfromthisranawidecorridorthefulllengthofthebuilding.Therewereshopsalongeithersideofoneend.Directlyaheadwasa large loungeandaglassed-inporchoverlookingthegolfcourse.

Roomson the second floorwere assigned to the girls. A broad stairway led upward. Thegirlswalkedinsteadoftakingtheelevator.

NancyandCarla’s roomoverlooked the lakewhichstretched formilesandmiles.Not farfromthehotelwasadockwherepowerboatscouldberented.

“Look!”Bessexclaimed,pointingdowntoaroadwaywhichledalongthefootoftheslope.Anoxwaspullingacartonwhichsatasleepy-lookingdriver,holdingthereinsloosely.“Iwanttotaketheirpicture,”saidBess,andmadeadashforhercamera.Bythetimeshe

haditset,theoxcarthadmovedaroundabendandwaslosttoview.“Betterlucknexttime,”Georgetoldher.ThegirlsunpackedandNancycarefullylaidtheplaqueinthebottomdrawerofherbureau.

Overitsheputawrinkle-proofdressandacoupleofsweaters.Georgepokedherheadinthedoorway.“Let’stakeawalk,”shesuggested.“Thislookslike

aninterestingplacetoexplore.”“Andweshouldmakearrangementsforsomeonetotakeusinaboattothearrayánesforest

tomorrow,”Nancyadded.The girls changed into slacks, locked their doors, and hurried downstairs. Bess’s camera

swungfromastrapoverhershoulder.“Maybetheoxcartwillcomeback,”shesaidhopefully.Firstthegirlswenttotheboatdockandmadearrangementsforthenextday’strip.They

weretoldtherewouldbeseveralotherpassengers.“Ihopeitdoesnotrain,”themansaiddolefully.“Itlooksasifitmight.”“We’llgoanyway,”Nancyreplied.“Hastalavista.Beseeingyou.”Onthewaybacktothehotelthegirlssawtheoxcartparkedonthesideoftheroadway,but

thedriverwasnotinsight.Bessdecidedthiswasagoodchancetotaketheanimal’spicture.Assheandtheothersapproachedtheox,theynoticedaboyofaboutfourteenseatedonthehill-side nearby. A man was talking to him, but as soon as he saw the girls, the strangerhurriedaway.

“Hmm!Heactsasifhe’safraidofus!”Georgeremarked.Besswasabouttosnapapictureoftheoxcart,whentheboyarosefromtheembankment

andsaidtoNancy,“Yourideox?Youhavepicturetakenonox?”As Nancy demurred, Bess said she thought this was a grand idea. “Please climb up. The

picturewillbeawonderfulsouvenirofourtrip.”“Oh,allright,”Nancysaid.With George’s help she gave a little jump and landed squarely on the back of the ox.

Instantlytheboy,whowasholdingastickinonehand,gavetheanimalahardslapwithit.Thebeaststartedoffabruptly,nearlythrowingNancytotheground.

Sherealized,toherdismay,thattheoxhadbeenunhitched.Sheclungtightlyto itsneck,

yelling,“Whoa!Whoa!”atthetopofherlungs.Theothergirlswereaghast.Theystartedrunningafter theanimal,whichdespite its size

andclumsinesswasmakinggoodspeed.Bess, though fearful, followedhercousin,whoyelled,“We’ll runupthishillandcut them

off!”SheandGeorgeransidewaysup theslope, thendownagainseveralyards in frontof the

poundinganimal.“DojustwhatIdo!”Georgecommanded.Thetwogirlswavedtheirarmswildly,crossinganduncrossingthem.Theyspreadtheirfeet

farapartandswayedfromsidetoside.Theox,frightenedbythegestures,pulledupshort.Nancyclimbeddown inahurry. “Thanks,girls.Boy,whata ride!Barebackox-riding isn’t

oneofmyfavoritesports!”“Whatdowedowiththisbeast—leavehimhere?”Georgeasked.As if inanswer toherquestion, thedrivercamerunningdown the road.Hespokeonlya

littleEnglish,but thegirlsgatheredthathewasblamingthemforhavingunhitchedtheox.Theydenieditvehemently,butwonderedwhohaddoneso.Wasittheboy?Orcouldithavebeenthemanwhohadrunoff?

Nancyyelled,“Whoa!Whoa!”“Wehadbettergoaskthatboy,”Carlasuggested.Theywalkedbacktothecart,buttheladwasgone.Whenthedriverarrivedleadingtheox,

theytoldhimabouttheboyandaskedifheknewwhohewas.“Maybehefromcaddiehouse,”themansaid.“NameTomásRivero.”Georgewasangry.“Ithinkweshouldgotothatcaddiehouseimmediatelyandfindoutifthe

manwesawputTomásuptothatmeantrick.”Theothersagreedandsetofftofindout.Whentheyreachedthecaddiehouse,themaster

confirmedthat theboyworkedthere.“Tomás leftearly today.He lives inBariloche,but I’mafraidwedon’thavehisaddress.”

Nancy told the caddie master what had happened. “When Tomás comes again, will youpleaseaskhimabouttheman?”Thecaddiemasteragreedtodoso,andthegirlsreturnedtothehotel.

When Nancy entered her room, she noticed that the bottom drawer of her bureau wasslightly open. Knowing that she had closed it tightly, the young sleuth immediately becamesuspicious.

Shefairlyleapedacrosstheroomandyankedthedraweropen.Nancygaspedindismay!

CHAPTERVI

TheConMan

“WHAT’Sthematter?”GeorgeaskedNancy.“Theplaque!It’sgone!”A look of utter dismay spread across Carla’s face. She said something in Spanish, then

addedinEnglish,“Whatwillwedo?Nowwecanneversolvethemystery!Oh,thatmonkeyiswhatyousay—ajinx.”

The next moment she flung herself on a bed and began to weep. Bess threw her armsaroundthegirlandtriedtocomforther.

“We’reallterriblysorry,”shesaid.“ButI’dliketobetNancywillfindtheplaque.”“I’mcertainlygoingtotry,”Nancyreplied.“ThefirstthingIshalldoisgodowntothedesk

andreportthethefttothemanager.”Theclerkondutytookher intothemanager’sofficewhereapleasant-lookingman,Senor

Diaz,wasinchargeatthemoment.QuicklyNancytoldherstory.“Iamverysorrytohearthis,”themansaid.“Theplaquesoundsmostunusual.Itseemslike

astrangethingforanyonetosteal.Whatwouldbethemotiveforsuchatheft?”“Idon’tknow,”Nancyanswered,“buttheplaquehasbeeninthePoncefamilyforhundreds

ofyearsandtheywillbegreatlyupsettolearnithasbeenstolen.”“MissPonceiswithyou,isshenot?”themanasked.“Doessheknowaboutthis?”Nancynodded.“Sheisupstairscryingovertheloss.”SeñorDiaztappedhisdeskwithapencil.“Onethingissure.Somebodywithakeygotinto

theroom.Thiswouldindicateachamber-maidoraporter.However,Iassureyou,MissDrew,thatIcanvouchfortheabsolutehonestyofallouremployees.”

Nancysaidshedoubtedthattheplaquewouldbeofinteresttothem,anyhow.Morelikelyithadbeenstolenbyanintruderwithaskeletonkey.

“Then itwillbeveryhard to tracesuchaperson,”SenorDiazsaid.Hewalkedout to thelobbywithNancy.“Ishallinvestigatethematterimmediately.Canyougivemeanycluesatallastowhothethiefmighthavebeen?”

TheyoungsleuthtoldhimthatinherhometownofRiverHeightsamanhadtriedtostealtheplaque.“HeclaimedtobeanimporterinNewYorkCity.”ShealsomentionedLuisLlosa,thecraftsman’sassistantwhohadcopiedsomeofthemarkingsontheplaquebeforehehadbeenstopped.

Outofthecornerofhereye,Nancynoticedawomanlisteningintentlytotheconversation.In a moment she approached the young detective and asked, “Is there a monkey on theplaque?”

Surprised,Nancysaid,“Yes.”“I’mMrs.Smith,”thewomansaid.“Ihavejustcomefromoneofthegiftshopsinthehotel.

Onthewallisaplaquewithamonkeyonit.”Nancydoubted that it couldbeCarla’sproperty,but she thankedMrs.Smithandhurried

towardtheshop,withSenorDiazfollowingher.Asthetworushedin,Nancystoppedshort.Shecouldhardlybelievehereyes.Theplaqueon

thewallwasindeedthevaluableheirloomofthePoncefamily!ShetoldthistoSenorDiaz,andthenaskedtheshopowner,SeñoraVioletta,howshehad

obtainedtheplaque.“Inaratherunusualway,”thewomanreplied.“Lessthanhalfanhouragooneofthehotel’s

guests,SeñorManuelSanchez,broughtitin.”“Butwhydidhebringithere?”Nancyasked,perplexed.“Tosellit,”theshopowneranswered.“SeñorSanchezsaidthathehadbroughttheplaque

tothehotelbecausehehadhadanorderforthisantiquepiecefromacollector.ThemanwasfromtheUnitedStatesandwasstayinghere.ButwhenSeñorSanchezarrived,thebuyerhadalreadyleft.”

Nancywasintriguedbythisseriesoffalsehoodsandencouragedtheshopownertogoon.Thewomansmiledandasked,“First,wouldyoumindtellingme,señorita,whyyouareso

interested?”“Because,”Nancyreplied,“thisplaquebelongstoafriendofmineandwasstolen.”Señora Violetta gasped. “Oh dear, oh dear!” she exclaimed. “I have done something

dreadful!”“Pleasetellthewholestory,”SenorDiazurged.Afrightened lookhadcomeoverthewoman’s face,butshewenton,“SeñorSancheztold

methathedidnotwanttobothertakingtheplaqueallthewayhome.HewonderedifIwouldbeinterestedinbuyingit.”

“Andyoudid?”Nancyasked.Theshopownershookherhead.“AtthetimeSenorSanchezwashereacustomerwalkedin.

Sheisanavidantiquecollectorandrecognizedtheplaqueasavaluablecurio.“Hearingthathewantedtoselltheplaque,sheaskedhimhowmuchhewantedforit.When

hesaidahundredandfiftydollars,sheboughtitandgavehimcash.Inturnshehandedmetendollarsasmycommission.”

SeñorDiazaskedwhythecustomerhadnottakentheplaquewithher.“Shedidnotwanttobothercarryingtheplaqueuptoherroomjustthen,”SenoraVioletta

replied,“andaskedmetokeepitovernight.”NancyaskedwhatManuelSanchezlookedlike.Thewomandescribedthemanashavingred

hairandsmallfeatures,andwearingablack-and-whitecheckedsportsjacket.AtonceathoughtcametoNancy.Themanshehadseentalkingtothecaddiehadworna

black-and-whitecheckedcoat!Hishathadbeenpulleddownsofar,shehadnotnoticedthecolorofhishair.Itwasquitepossiblehehadunhitchedtheox,andbribedtheboytoslapthebeastwithastickifNancyoroneoftheothergirlsshouldgetonitsback.

“Arunawayoranaccidentwouldkeepus fromourroomsforsometime,”Nancythought.“ThiswouldgiveSanchezachancetogotomybedroom.Helethimselfinwithaskeletonkey,huntedfortheplaque,andtookit.”

Nancy figured that he probably had quickly made detailed drawings or even takenphotographsoftheplaque.Then,worriedaboutanalarmoverthetheft,hefeltitbesttogetridofthestolenproperty.

“Prettycleverofhimtohavethoughtofthegiftshop,”Nancysaidtoherself.“Andwhatasurprisehe’sinforwhenthemanagementquestionshim.”

ShesaidtoSeñorDiaz,“WhatisthenumberofSeñorSanchez’sroom?You’regoingtohavehimarrestedatonce,aren’tyou?”

Themannodded vigorously. As hewent to the desk to look in the guest register, SeñoraViolettahandedNancytheplaque.

“Iamsureyourfriendwillberelievedtoseethis.AndIcertainlyhopethepolicecangetbackmycustomer’shundredandfiftydollars.”

“Ihopesotoo,”saidNancy,andhurriedoff.Whenshereachedthedesk,SeñorDiazhadjustfinishedcheckingtheguestlist.Heturned

toNancyandsaidinaworriedvoice,“NoManuelSanchezhasbeenregisteredhere.”Nancypanicked.Thethiefhadvanishedandnodoubthadallthenecessaryinformationto

solvethemysteryofthecrosswordcipherbeforeshecoulddoso!Theyoungsleuthclimbedthestairwayandwascalmagainbythetimesheopenedthedoor

toherbedroom. “Goodnews!” she cried outhappily, andpresented theplaque to the tear-stainedCarla.

“Oh,Nancy,wheredidyoufindit?”NancyquicklyrelatedthestoryandtoldofherworryaboutManuelSanchezhavingallthe

informationhewanted.“HemustbeanaccompliceofLuisLlosaandHarryWallace.”

Georgesaidwithdetermination,“Let’sseetoitthatwebeatthatgangattheirowngame!”JustbeforedinnertimetwopoliceofficersarrivedtoquestionCarlaandtheothergirls,as

wellastheshopowner.TheyhadalsonotifiedthewomanwhohadpurchasedtheplaquefromSanchez,and reported that shewasveryangryabout thewholeaffair.Shewasdemandingthatthehotelgiveherbackthehundredandfiftydollarsshehadspent.

“Ofcourseyouarenotconcernedinthatpartofthecase,”oneoftheofficerstoldthegirls.“WewillletyouknowifweapprehendSanchez.Canyoutellusanythingthatmighthelpsolvethismystery?”

Nancy revealed her suspicions that there might be a liaison between Sanchez and LuisLlosa.ShealsomentionedthatthetwopossiblyhadsomeconnectionwithHarryWallaceofNewYorkbecauseoftheirinterestintheplaque.Theofficersthankedherandleft.Nowordcamefromthepolicethatnightorearlythenextmorning,andCarlawasdiscouraged.

Tryingtobecheerful,Besssaid,“ThathorribleSanchezisprobablythousandsofmilesfromherebynow.Andgoodriddance.Thenhewon’tbotherusagain.”Allthegirlsbegantofeelasenseofrelief.

Nancydecidedtotaketheplaquetothearrayánesforestandshowthecarvingstotheguardthere.Shemightgetacluefromhim!

Atteno’clockthefourfriendswentaboardthelaunch.Ithadacabintoaccommodateabouttwentypeopleandanopenaftdeck.Thepilot’scompartment,whichopeneddirectlyfromthecabin, was reached by a short ladder. The day was cloudy and cool, with beautiful cloudsscuddingthroughthesky.

ThecrowdonboardwasjollyandthegirlssoonbecameacquaintedwithadelightfulcouplefromEngland.Thehusbandwasacamerabug likeBess,andthe twosnappedpictureafterpictureofthemanysnow-cappedmountainsoneithersideofthelake.

Afterthelaunchhadbeencruisingforabouthalfanhour,itbegantoslowdown.Finallytheenginesstopped.Afteralongwaitthepilotlefthisseatandcametocallbackintothecabin.“Singasolina,”heannounced.

“Nogas!”severaloftheAmericansexclaimed,andCarlaadded,“Whatwillwedo?”Abroadgrincameoverthepilot’sface.HerattledoffsomethinginSpanish.Carlaturnedto

thegirlsandtranslated.“Hesaid,‘Whowouldliketoswimtoshoreforhelp?’”

CHAPTERVII

AnotherChallenge

ATthepilot’sfacetiousrequest,manyofthepassengers inthecabinofthelaunchbegantolaugh.OtherswereangrythattheywerestrandedinthemiddleofLakeNahuelHuapi.“Thereisnoexcuseforthis,”saidonewoman.“Wemayhavealong,longwaitbeforehelpcomes!”anotherburstout.AlthoughNancysaidnothing,insideshewasfumingwithimpatienceandthinking,“Thisis

theonlyboatgoingtothearrayánesforesttoday.Ifitdoesn’trun,we’llneverbeabletomakethetrip,becausewehavetoflybacktoLimatomorrow.”George was mumbling, “We may miss an important clue to solving the mystery of the

crosswordcipher.”The Englishman, with whom the girls had made friends, suddenly stood up. He walked

forwardandclimbedtheladderintothepilot’scompartment.Hiswife,Mrs.Horace,toldthegirlsthathewasanengineer.Shesaidhethoughtsomethingotherthanlackoffuelmightbethetroublewiththelaunch.“Oh,Ihopehe’sright,”saidBess.“AndIhopehecanfixit,”Georgeadded.Carlasighed.“Fromtheverybeginningofthiscasewehavehadnothingbutsetbacks,”she

saiddolefully.Nancypattedherfriend’shand.“We’llgetoutofthis.”Presently theengineercalled toCarla,askingher tocome to thepilot’scabin. “Thisman

speaksverylittleEnglish,”hesaid.“Wouldyoumindtranslatingforme?”CarlasaidshewouldbegladtodosoandrapidlytoldthepilotthattheEnglishmanwasan

engineerandwouldliketomakeaninspectionoftheengines.Thepilotshruggedandtoldhimtogoahead.Theengineroomwasunderthepilot’scompartment.Adoorledbelow.It began to rain and peoplewho had been on the aft deck crowded into the cabin. They

askedwhatwascausingthedelay.“Iwishweknew,”Mrs.Horacereplied.Nancy and her friends watched as Mr. Horace examined wires and pipes. Presently he

requestedCarlatotranslateforhimagain.“TellthepilotthatI’msurethelaunchisnotoutoffuel.Ithinkthefuellineisclogged.Can

hecleanitouthimself?”Whentheskipperheardthis,abroadgrincrossedhisfaceandhesaidrapidly,“Yes,Ican

cleanit.”Atoncehewenttowork.Shortlythepassengerswererelievedtoheartheenginessputter,

thenstartupwithasteadythrob.“Olé!”criedtheSpanishpassengers.“Yeah!”theEnglish-speakingonesshouted.ThefirststoponthetripwasVictoriaIsland.Herethetouristsclimbedahilltoadelightful

hotel,wheretheyhadatastylunchwhichincludedhugeslicesofhomemadebread.AsBessreachedforherthirdpiece,Georgegrabbedhercousin’sarm.“Noyoudon’t!”she

said.MeeklyBessputthesliceofbreadbackintothebasketandfinishedhersalad.Soonafter

lunch,thetravelersassembledatthedockandoncemorestartedoff.Therainhadslackenedtoadrizzleandbythetimetheyreachedthepeninsulathesunwasshining.“Doesn’ttheforestlookenchanting?”Besssaid,gazingtowardthepinkish-yellowgrowthof

treesahead.

Thegirlshurriedfromthedock,butbeforeenteringtheforest,stoppedtoexaminealargeroundplaquenailedtoatree.“Oh,couldthisbeaclue?”Carlaaskedexcitedly.ThecircularpieceofarrayáneswoodwasalittlebiggerthanthePonces’plaque.Therewas

aninscriptiononitwhichCarlatranslated:“‘Treesareman’sgoodfriends.Donotwoundthem.’”“Howpoetic!”Bessmurmured.Asthegirlsskirtedthebeach,whichwascoveredbylooserocksandstonesofvarioussizes,

theylookedintentlyintothemostamazingwoodstheyhadeverseen.“It’slikeafairyland!”saidNancy.The enormously high trees grew straight up, but not as single units. Several trunks rose

fromacommonbaseandeachoneinturnhadmoreupwardbranchinglimbs.Thetreeshadnobark.Georgeranherhandoverthewood.“Umm,smoothassatin.”“It’s thecolorof evergreenwood,”Nancy said, “but these treesdon’thaveneedles.”She

gazedatthethick,small-leafedfoliagewhichgrewhighoverhead.“It’ssopeacefulinhere!”Bessmurmuredasshesteppedoveratreerootwhichhadgrown

aboveground. It trailed for some distance, then disappeared into the ground near anothertree.“Howstrange!”Oneofthetouristsnearher,whohadoverheardtheconversation,said,“Iunderstandthat

theserootsrunalongwayandstartforminganewtree.Probablythere’sanetworkofrootsunderthisforest.”Nancygazedall around. “Actually,” shesaid, “these so-called treesaremore likegigantic

bushes.Maybetheyoncewerebushesfordiplodocusestofeedon.”“Diplo-who?”Bessasked.“Plant-eatingdinosaurs,”Nancyexplainedwithasmile.Georgegrinned.“Can’tyoujustseeoneofthemrubbinghimselfonthisnicesmoothbark

andreachinguptoeattheleaves?Buttellme,didtheyhavethosemonstersinSouthAmericaaswellasNorthAmerica?”Nancylaughed.“Youcan’tproveanythingbyme,”shesaid.Presentlythegirlspassedasmallattractivelogcabinwheretheyassumedtheguardforthis

governmentpreservelived.Nancysuggestedthatonthewaybacktheystopandtalktohim.Some twenty minutes later they rapped on the cabin door. It was opened by a pleasant

middle-aged man. When Nancy told him she would like to ask a few questions about theforest,heinvitedthegirlsinside.Theyintroducedthemselvesandtheguardsaid,“MynameisRomero.WhatcanItellyou?”NancytookCarla’splaquefromitswrappingandshowedittohim.Heexaminedthecuriowithinterest.“Thisisveryold.Toobadthemarkingsaren’tplainer.

Haveyouanyideawhattheymean?”“No,andthat’swhyIbroughtitalongtoshowyou.Weunderstanditismadeofarrayánes

woodand isabout threehundredyearsold.Haveyouany recordshere to showwhomighthavebeeninthisvicinityatthattime?”Romeroshookhishead.“Iimagineitwasprettywild,butwhetherornotanybodyeverlived

hereIhaveneverheard.”CarlasaidshehadanancientancestorbythenameofAguilarwhopresumablyhadcarved

theplaque.“Noonehaseverfiguredoutitssignificance,butnowwegirlsaretryingtodoso.”Theguardshowedinterestandaskedifshecouldtellhimanymoreaboutherancestor.“Hewas supposed to have been an excellent artist and an adventurer,” Carla replied. “I

supposehetraveledaroundagreatdeal.”Romerosaidthatheknewofonepersonwhomightpossiblyhelpthegirls.“Buthedoesnot

live around here. He is an oldman—a full-blood Inca Indian who lives in Cuzco, Peru. HeknowsmorestoriesandlegendsaboutthehistoryofallofSouthAmericathananybodyIhaveeverheardof.”

NancyrealizedthatCuzcowasmanymilesfromLima.CouldthisIndianofferenoughhelptomakeatripthereworthwhile?Asifinanswertoherunspokenquestion,Romerowenton,“EvenifMaponhnicannothelp

youonyourmystery, yougirlscertainly shouldvisitCuzcowhileyouare inSouthAmerica.Someof theoriginalwallsof theruinedcityarestill standingandnearby thereareseveralothergreatruins—afortress,inparticular.”“I’dlovetoseeitandalsomeetMaponhni,”saidNancy.“Ihaveahunchhecanhelpus.”TheguardsaidheknewtheoldIndianwouldbegladtoseethem.Withatwinkleinhiseyes,

Romeroadded,“Maponhniwillprobablysaytoyou,‘Munanki!Imaynancaskianqui?”’“ThatisnotSpanish,”Carlasaid.“Whatdoesitmean?”Romerolaughed.“ItistheoldIncalanguage,Quechua.Itmeans,‘Hello!Howareyou?”’Thegirlsrepeatedthephraseseveraltimes,thenNancyaskedhowtheyshouldreply.“Youwillsay,‘Hucclla,yusulpaiki.’”Thevisitorsgroaned.“I’llneverbeabletolearnthat,”Bessdeclared.“Whatdoesitmean?”“Itmeans,‘Good,thankyou,”’andCutimunaikicamameans‘Good-by.“’WhileNancyandCarlaweretryingtomemorizethethreephrases,Georgewalkedaround

thecabin.Ononewallshenoticedabunchofknottedstringsofvariouscolorstiedtogetherandsuspendedfromseveralnails.Sheaskedwhatitwas.“Thatiscalledaquipu,”Romerosaid.“ItwasthewaytheoldIncaskeptrecords.Theydid

nothaveawrittenlanguageorawayoffiguring.Iwillshowyouhowthisworks.”Heexplainedthatthedifferentcoloredcordsstoodforvariousthings.“Forinstance,ared

stringcouldindicatethekingandtheknotsonthatparticularstringmightindicatehowmanywivesandchildrenhehad.TheoldIncarulersandtheirnobleswerepolygamists.”“Butthecommonpeopleweren’t?”“No.Eachlaborer,calledapuric,wasallowedonlyonewife.”Georgereachedupandcountedtheknots,someofwhichweresingle,othersdoubled,orin

groups. “Itwould be beyondme,” she said, “to figure this out. I guess that old king had amightybigfamily.”Theguardtoldthegirlsthatscholarswerestillworkingonthepuzzleofthequipu.Ifthey

couldlearnthemeaningoftheknots,theymightfigureoutsomeofthehistoryoftheIncaswhichwasnotyetknown.At thatmoment thegirls heard a boat horn andknew theywerebeing summoned to the

launch.Theythankedtheguardfortheinterestingvisitandsaidtheymusthurryoff.As theywere leaving,Romero said, “While you are inCuzco, be sure to go on toMachu

Picchu.ThatisevenmoreofamysterythanCuzco.Nobodyknowswhatitlookedlikewhenitwasacity.Thatisanotherpuzzleforyoutosolve,MissDrew.”Nancysmiled.“Anotherchallenge!”shesaidgaily.Bessgroaned.“Nancy,youhaveenoughchallengesalready.”Thegirls saidgood-by to theguardandhurriedoff through the forest.The launch’shorn

soundedagain.As they approached the beach, George suddenly pointed ahead and shouted, “Look out,

everybody!”Hurtlingtowardthemwasalargestone!Astheyducked,therockwhizzedoverheadandhit

atreewitharesoundingthud.ThenextmomentitricochetedandstruckNancyastingingblowontheback.Stunned,she

teeteredforamoment,thentoppledover!

CHAPTERVIII

SpanishDisguise

FORTUNATELY,Nancywasnotunconscious.Sheadmittedtofeelingwoozy,butdeclaredshewouldbeallrightinalittlewhile.Carlasaidshewouldrunaheadandhavethepilotwait.“Tell him I’ll be there in a few minutes,” Nancy called. She managed a wan smile. “We

wouldn’twanttobelefthere.”George,havingmadesurethatNancywasnotbadlyhurt,haddasheddownaslightslopeto

thebeach.Hopingtospotthepersonwhohadthrowntherock,shelookedupanddown.Noonewasinsight.“Maybehe’shiding,”Georgesaidtoherself.“I’llhidetoo,andifhethinkswe’veallgone,he

maycomeout.”Shegrinned.“I’llusealittlejudoonhim!”George slippedbehindabigarrayánes treeat theedgeof thebeachandwaited.Noone

appeared,butpresentlysheheardamotorbeingrevvedup.Shesteppedfromhidingtoseewhowasintheapproachingboat.Two men were pulling out of a small cove in a motorboat. Their backs were turned to

George,butsheinstantlyguessedthatoneofthemwasManuelSanchez.Hehadredhairandworeablack-and-whitecheckedsportsjacket.“I’llbetIdidpickupaclueafterall,”Georgethoughtassheclimbeduptheslopetorejoin

herfriends.CarlahadreturnedandsheandBesswerejusthelpingNancytoherfeet.“Didyoufindoutanything?”CarlaaskedGeorge.“Ithinkso.”Whenshetoldaboutthemanwiththeredhairandblack-and-whitesportsjacket,theothers

agreedthatheprobablywasSanchez.Bessexpressedherworries.“Nancy,thatmanisdeterminedtoinjureyou.Oh,whydon’tthe

policecatchhim?”“I’msuretheywill,”Nancysaidquietly.Thegirlswalkedslowlytothelaunch,wherethepilotandMr.andMrs.Horaceexpressed

concernoverNancy’saccident.“I’mgladitwasnoworse,”thewomanadded.The girls said nothing about whom they suspected of having thrown the rock. But they

wouldcertainlytellthepolice.ThepilotmadeastopatVictoriaIslandagain,where,hesaid,hispassengerscouldspend

anhourortwo.Thegirlsimmediatelywentuptothehotelandengagedaroom.Theyhadteaserved, andCarla got in touchwith the police. As soon asNancy had finishedher tea, theothersinsistedthatshecrawlintothebed.“Andgotosleep,”Bessordered.Nancywasonlytoogladtodothisandwithinsecondswassoundasleep.Theotherstiptoed

outandwaitedon the first flooruntil tenminutesbefore sailing time.Then theyawakenedher.“ThatwasjustwhatIneeded,”Nancydeclared.“I’vecompletelyrecovered.”WhentheyreturnedtotheHotelLlao-Llao,NancysoughtoutSeñorDiazandaskedifthere

hadbeenanyreportonManuelSanchezorthecaddieresponsiblefortherunawayincident.“Ihaveheardnothing,”hereplied.“Iamsorry.”Asitneareddinnertime,Nancysaidtotheothergirls,“ImustconfessIdon’tfeellikegoing

tothediningroom.Ifyou’llallexcuseme,I’llhavesupperinmyroomandgettobedearly.”Georgegrinned.“That’s themostsensible thingI’veheardyousay ina longtime.Youdo

justthat.”“CarlacandressinGeorge’sandmyroom,”Besssaid.

CarlagatheredupsomeclothesandtheysaidgoodnighttoNancy.Thethreegirlsdressedandwent downstairs to dinner.On theway to their assigned table, theypassed a long onefilledwithmen.Mr.Poncewasamongthemandasanofficerofthecompanywasseatedatthehead.“Areyouallhavingagoodtime?”heaskedthegirls.“Andwhere’sNancy?”Thetriohesitatedtotellhimwhathadhappened.FinallyGeorgespokeup.“Nancydoesn’t

giveupeasily,butsheconfessedtobeingverytired.”Carlaadded,“Sheisgoingtohavedinnerinherroomandgotobedearly.”“Thatisprobablyagoodidea.Well,havefunontherestofyourstayhereandIshallseeyou

tomorrowforourtripback.”The girls went on to their table. Here they learned from thewaiter that the first course

wouldbesmorgasbord.WhenCarlasawallthefoodondisplay,sheexclaimedoverthequantity.“IfItakeevenone

littletidbitofeachofthesedeliciousthings,Iwillnevereatanymoredinner!”Thegirlsbegantohelpthemselves.CarlaandGeorgedidnotfilltheirplates,butBesstook

threekindsoffish,chickensalad,vegetablesalad,andhalfamelon.Theothersteasedher,butsheignoredthem.WhenBesswasservedalargedishofcream

soup, roast beef, potatoes and vegetable, as well as dessert—a rich cake topped with icecream—shebegantofalter.“Oh,IknowI’mgoingtoburst!”shesaid,afterswallowingthelastmouthfulofdessert.Georgelookedathercousindisapprovingly.“Ifyouhaveatummyachetonight,enjoyitby

yourself!”Besswassilent.Afterdinnerthegirlswanderedintotheloungeandsatdowntotalk.Carlawasquietforawhile,thenshesaid,“IhavebeentryingtothinkofsomewayIcould

helpNancysolvethemysteryandIhavejusthadwhatyoucallabrainstorm.TellmeifyouthinkIamcrazytotryit.”Carlaoutlinedaplanshehadinmind.InoneofthegiftshopsshewouldbuyalargeSpanish

shawlandafan.“IhaveadresswithmethatislikeaSpanishdancer’s,”shewhispered.“Icouldfixmyself

uptolooklikeanentertainerandinthatcostumeIcouldtrytolocateManuelSanchez.”“How?”BessandGeorgeasked.“Inthebasementofthishotel,”Carlaexplained,“thereisaverylargecasinowherevarious

gamesareplayed. It isnot runby thehoteland isopen toanyonewhowants tocomeandplay.”“Yes?”BesspromptedasCarlapaused.“ItispossiblethatManuelSanchezwillcomethere.IfIcanplaymypartright,sohedoes

notrecognizeme,Imightbeabletotalkwithhimandlearnsomethingworthwhile.”“Andturnhimovertothepolice,Ihope,”Georgedeclared.“Ofcourse.”Bessremarkedthattheschemesoundedveryrisky,butGeorgewasinclinedtothinkthatit

mightwork.“We’dbetterkeepaneyeonyou,though.BesscantakethefirstwatchandI’lltakethesecond.”Carlaagreedtothisprotectionandwentofftopurchaseashawlandafan.Theothertwo

girlswentuptotheirroom.WhenCarlaarrivedwithherpurchases,Besssaid,“IhopeNancy’sasleepsoyoucantiptoe

inandbringyourbagacrossthehalltoourroomwithoutherhearingyou.”Carlawasabletoaccomplishthisquietly.“Ithinkitwouldbebest if Ichangemyclothes inthefirst-floorpowderroom,”Carlatold

BessandGeorge.“Thennoonewillrecognizemeasthesamegirlwhowentin.IwillputthisSpanishdressinashoppingbagwiththeseotherthings.Bess,whenyoucomedowntofollowme,donotspeak.Pretendyouneversawmebefore.”“Allright.Howmuchtimedoyouwant?”

Carla said tenminuteswoulddo.Besswaitedexactly tenminutes, thenwalkeddown thestairs.Shestoppedtolookinvariousshopwindowsalongthecorridor.Presently Carla emerged from the powder room and Bess could not help gasping in

amazement.“Whatatransformation!”shethought.ThePeruviangirllookedutterlybewitching.Herhairwaspiledhighonherheadandatall

Spanishcombatthebackcompletedthecoiffure.Overitallwasabeautifulblacklaceshawlwhichhunginapointdowntheback,almosttothebottomofCarla’sgaySpanishdress.Theothertwoendsoftheshawlwereshorterandlaygracefullyonhershoulders.Carla’seyebrowshadbeenheavilydarkened.Shehadattached long, curlingblack lashes

whichgaveheraflirtatiouslook.The“Spanishdancer”seemedabouttenyearsolderandverysophisticated.“Oh,oh!”Bessthought.“I’dreallybetterkeepaneyeonCarlaorthisSpanishbeautywillbe

kidnappedbysomedashingcavalier!”Carlawalkedupthehall,ablackbeadedpurseheldnonchalantlyinonehand.Reachingthe

doorwhich ledtothecasino,sheopened itandstarteddownthestairway.Besshadturnedandfollowedatwhatsheconsideredanunobtrusivedistance.Atthefootofthestairs, thegirlsshowedfreeadmissionpasseswhichCarlahadobtained

earlierfromthedesk,afterrevealingherplantoSeñorDiaz.The brightly lighted casinowas filledwithmen andwomen,most of them at the gaming

tables,others justmillingaround.EveryonestoppedtolookatCarlaandshereceivedmanyinvitationstocomeandplaythegames.Toeachoneshereplied,“Thankyou,no.IamlookingforSeñorManuelSanchez.Haveyou

seenhim?”Person after person said No. But finally a dark-haired man, who extended the same

invitationandreceivedthesamereply,said:“Olé!Sanchezdidnottellmehehadadatewithsuchagorgeousgirl.”Besswassurprised that themanhadreplied inEnglish.Hewenton, “My friendSanchez

couldnotcometonight—hehurthisarmthisafternoon.”Bess’s heart began topound.ManuelSanchezhadprobably injuredhimselfwhenhehad

throwntherockatNancy!The dark-haired stranger said to Carla, “If you wish, I will take you to Sanchez and his

sister.”Besswassuspiciousoftheman.Ontheotherhand,hemightnotbeinvolvedinSanchez’s

crookedschemes.Inanycase,shehopedCarlawouldnotaccept.Toherdismay,thePeruviangirlsaidshewouldbehappytogoalong.“WhereisSeñorSanchez?”Carlaasked.“Youwillsoonfindout,”thedark-hairedmanreplied.“Comewithme.”He ledCarlaout a sidedoorof the casinoandheaded through thehotelgrounds for the

shore. Bess was extremely worried. She followed along the path as closely as she dared,wishingGeorgewerewithher.The stranger led the way directly to the dock, where a motorboat rocked gently on the

water.HetookholdofCarla’sarmtohelpherintoit,butatthispointsherefusedtogo.Heheldon.“Getinthatboat!”thedark-hairedmansaidfirmly.“YouarenofriendofSanchez,butIam

goingtofindoutwhoyouare!”AsCarlastruggledtofreeherself,Bessscreamedloudlyandranforward.

CHAPTERIX

WoodenClue

AsBesscontinuedtoscreamloudly,themanwhowasendeavoringtoabductCarlaletgoofher.Hejumpedintothewaitingmotorboat.Bessnoticedforthefirsttimethattherewasapilot,butitwastoodarkforhertoseehis

features.Thecraftroaredoff.“Oh,Carla!”shecriedout,runningforwardtoherfriend.“Didhehurtyou?”“Hepinchedmyarmprettyhard,butotherthanthatIamallright,”Carlaanswered.HerSpanishcostumewasaskewandherhairdisheveled.As the twogirls turned towalk

backtothehotel,theywereamazedtoseepeoplerunningfromvariousdirections.“Whoscreamed?Whogothurt?”amanasked.BesstriedtoexplaininEnglishandCarlainSpanish.“Wheredidthosemengo?Iwillgetthem!”saidayoungman.Bess pointed down the lake. Themotorboatwas already out of sight. “It’s hopeless,” she

said.Bythistimeoneofthehotelportershadpushedhiswaythroughthegroupandaskedwho

themenwere.“Wedon’tknow,”Bessreplied.Then,onahunch,sheadded,“Didyouseeamanaroundthe

hotelwhohadredhairandworeablack-and-whitecheckedsportsjacket?”“Yes,Idid.Itwasyesterday.Hewasonthesecondfloor.Idonotknowhim.”Suddenlythe

porterrecognizedBess.“Themanyouspeakofstoodbythedooracrossthehallfromyou.”“Whatwashedoing?”Carlaasked.“NothingwhenIpassedby.”Afterafewmorequestionsandanswers,thegirlslearnedthatthestrangerhadbeenthere

aboutthetimetheplaquemusthavebeenstolen.Theporteralsosaidthatlaterthesamered-hairedpersonhadbeenmetonthegroundsofthehotelbyamanwholivedinBariloche.“Doyouknowthisman’sname?”Bessaskedexcitedly.“ItisFredericWagner.Heownsamotorboatandhemighthavetakenthered-hairedman.”BessandCarlalookedquestioninglyateachother.Bothhadthesamethought.Wasthepilot

of thekidnapper’smotorboat thissameFredericWagner?Andwasheperhaps theonewhohadtakenSanchezawayfromthearrayánesforest?Thecrowddispersed,assuredofthegirls’well-being.BessandCarlareturnedtothehotel.

TheyfoundNancyawakeandGeorgetalkingtoher.AsCarlatookoffherSpanishcostume,Besstoldthestoryofwhathadhappened.Nancysatstraightupinbed.Shereachedforthetelephonedirectoryonthebedsidetable

andbegantorifflethepages.Presentlyshesaid,“Hereitis.FredericWagnerinBariloche.”Georgeaskedwhatsheplannedtodowiththeinformation.“CallSeñorDiazandsuggesthe

getintouchwiththepoliceimmediately.Thisistoogoodaleadnottofollowup.”NancyspoketoSeñorDiaz,whopromisedtopassalongtheinformationtotheauthoritiesat

once.“MissDrew,youareafast-workingdetective,”hepraisedher.Nancylaughed.“Ihavesomeexcellentassistants.Andthistimeallthecreditgoestotwoof

them,MissesBessMarvinandCarlaPonce.”“Well,congratulatethemforme,”SeñorDiazsaid.“AndnowI’lltelephonethepolice.”Thegirlshopedthattheywouldgetsomewordlaterthatevening,butnonecame.Nancysighed.“IhaveastronghunchthatSanchezishidingoutwithWagner,butafterwhat

happened, theyprobablydidn’tgoback tohishome.Thepolicewillhave towaituntil theyshowupthere.”At seven the next morning Nancy’s telephone rang and she jumped to answer it. The

Barilochepolicewerecalling.“IsthisMissDrew?”“Yes.”“Wehavetwomenincustody.OneisFredericWagner.Theotherrefusestogivehisname,

butwethinkitisManuelSanchez.”The speaker requested that the girls come toBarilocheheadquarters as soon as possible

andbringtheowneroftheshopwheretheplaquetransactiontookplace.“I’llinquirewhereshelivesandwe’llallcometogether,”Nancypromised.TheclerkatthedesksaidthattheshopwasnotopenonSunday,butheofferedtocallthe

womanathomeandletNancytalkwithher.Thegift-shopownerwasdelightedtohearthatthepolicehadasuspectincustodyandreadilyagreedtogowiththegirls.“Ihaveacar.SupposeIpickyouupateight-thirty.”“Thankyouverymuch,”saidNancy.“We’llbeready.”Thefourgirlsdressedquicklyandwentdownstairs tohavebreakfast.Byeight-thirty they

wereatthedrivewayentrancetothehotel.SeñoraViolettadroveupandthegirlshoppedin.ShewasaghastuponhearingwhathadhappenedtoCarlathenightbefore.“Youwereverybravetoundertakesuchdetectivework,”shesaid.“ImustadmitIwasveryscared,”Carlareplied.When thegroup reachedpoliceheadquarters, the twoprisonerswerebrought in toChief

Castro’soffice.SenoraViolettapointedtoSanchezandcried,“Heistheman!Heistheonewhosoldthe

stolenplaque!”Thepolicechiefturnedtotheshopownerandthegirls.Pointingtotheotherprisoner,he

asked,“Doyourecognizethisman?”Allofthemsaidtheydidnot.“He isFredericWagner,” the chief said. “Unless youwish to file a complaint against this

man,wecannotholdhim.”At thatmoment apolicemanwalked into the roomand spoke tohis superior.After a few

moments’conversation,ChiefCastrosaid:“Aquantityofarrayáneswoodhasbeenfoundinyourhome,SeñorWagner.Youknowitis

scarceandagainstthelawtoremoveanyfromthatspecialforest.”Wagnermurmured,“Ididn’tgetthewoodfromthere.Igotit—somewhereelse.”“Supposeyoutelluswhere.”ButWagnerrefusedtodothis.“Wewillholdyouuntilyoutalk,”thechiefsaid.HeturnedtoSeñoraViolettaandthegirls.

“Wewilltakefullstatementsfromallofyou.”NancygavedetailsoftherunawayoxandhersuspicionthatSanchezwastheinstigatorof

thenearaccident.Carlatoldabouttheplaquebeingstolenfromherbedroom,andoftheattemptedabduction.

“I thinkWagnerwas the pilot of the boat and the kidnapper is a friend of his andManuelSanchez.”ChiefCastrosmiled.“YougirlshavehadaroughtimeduringyourstayintheArgentine.Do

visitourcountrysometimetohavefun!”“I’dliketo,”Nancyanswered,andtheothergirlsnodded.SeñorViolettatookthegirlstoachurchservice,thenbacktothehotel.Astheywalkedinto

thelobby,SenorDiazhurriedtothemwithawomanwhomheintroducedasMrs.Percy—theonewhohadpaidthehundredandfiftydollarsfortheplaque.Shewasoverjoyedtohearthegoodnews.“I suggest,” saidNancy, “that yougo toheadquarters atBarilocheandput in a claim for

yourmoney.”

“Iwillcertainlydothatandthankyouverymuch,”Mrs.Percysaid.Shesmiled.“YouknowIfellinlovewiththatfunnymonkey.Iamsorrytolosehim.”Nancy and her friends went upstairs to pack. While Carla was folding clothes into her

suitcase,shebroughtupthesubjectofthearrayáneswoodwhichhadbeenfoundinWagner’shome.“Whatdoyouthinkheusesitfor?”“Iwish I knew,”Nancy replied. “Maybe thepoliceherewill beable to findout. I’mglad,

anyway,thatwestillhavetheplaque.”“Andthatallofusareinonepiece!”Georgeadded.Carlasighed.“Thiswholethingissocomplicated.WhenIaskedyou,Nancy,toworkonmy

monkeymystery,Ihadnoideaitwouldturnouttohavesomanyanglestoit.”Nancylaughed.“Ididn’t,either.Butthemorecomplicatedthemysteryis,themorefunitis

tosolve.”Soonafterlunch,SeñorPoncecameforhisdaughterandherfriends.Together,theydrove

totheBarilocheairportwheretherestofhisgroupwaswaiting.Themenwerebusytalkingbusinessanddiscussingthegolfmatches.WhenCarlalearnedthatherfatherhadwonthebigtrophy,shehuggedhim.“Father,thatis

wonderful!Congratulations!”Theothergirls congratulatedhim too.After someurging,heopenedoneofhisbagsand

showedthemasilvercup.HiscompanyawardediteachyeartothebestgolferattheLlao-Llaoevent.Everyoneboardedtheplaneandtheirbagswereputbehindtheluggageharnessjustaftof

thepilots’opencompartment.Assoonasclearancecamefromthetower,thepilottookoff.Fora longtimeNancysatmullingovervariousanglesof themysteries.Butpresentlyshe

becamerestlessanddecidedtowalkforwardforalittleexercise.Whenshereachedthepassenger-loadingdoor,locatedjustbehindthecrews’compartment,

Nancy paused and stood gazingwith interest at the pilot and copilot. Shemarveled at thehugebankofswitches,lights,buttons,anddialsthatalmostsurroundedthemen.Theplanewasflyinghighnowandatcruisingspeed.Suddenly,withoutwarning,thedoornearNancybegantoopen.Thenextinstantitswung

upandoutward.Shefeltherselfbeingsuckedoutoftheplane!Nancymadeawildgrabfortheluggageharnessandclungtightly,butitseemedasifshe

did not have strength enough against the terrific wind to grasp it very long. She froze interror.Othersintheplanehadbeenreading,butinaninstanttheyfeltarushofairandlookedup.

AllwerehorrifiedwhentheysawNancy’spredicament.Señor Ponce and a companion jumped up and grabbed Nancy. But they in turn felt

themselvesbeingpulledtowardtheopening!Twomenrushedforwardandhelpedtopullallthreetosafety.Nancydroppedintoanemptyseat.Shebegantofeelverydizzy.

NancyfeltherselfbeingsuckedoutoftheplaneBythistimethecrewhadbeenalerted.Thecopilotleapedoutofhisseatandstartedback

toseeaboutclosingthedoor.Butatthatmomentitrippedoff.Thenaloudthumpresoundedfromtherearofthefuselage.Theplaneshudderedviolently.“Whatisgoingon?”thecaptainshoutedtohiscopilot.“Thedoor!Itrippedoffthefuselage!”“Itmusthavestruckthestabilizer!”thecaptainconcluded.“Wehavetaildamage!Butwe

stillhavesomecontrolleft!”The pilot ordered his passengers to don their oxygen masks and fasten their seat belts

immediately. They quickly obeyed. After Nancy had taken several whiffs of oxygen, thedizzinessleftherandshewasabletobreathenormally.Nowanewworrytookholdofthepassengers.Theplanebegantoyaw.Everyonesattense

andnervous.Inassteadyavoiceashecouldmuster,thepilotsaid,“IwilltrytomakeittoLima.”

CHAPTERX

TheShutteredBalcony

GRIM-FACED,thepassengersclutchedtheirchairarmsasthepilotdivedtoaloweraltitude.Stillthedamagedplanerolledandtossed.Nancyglancedattheopendoorwayandclosedhereyes.Shefeltill,stillshockedfromher

narrowescape.Sherealizedthateveryoneintheplanewasingravedangerandnevertookhereyesfromthepilot.“He’smarvelous,”shethoughtashemanagedtoholdtheswayingcraftoncourse.Thepassengerswereswungfromsidetoside,thenforwardandbackward.Butthesturdy

planekeptonformilesandmiles.Finallyitbeganadescendingturn.“Youcan takeoff youroxygenmasksnow!” thepilotannounced. “Wewillbebackon the

groundinafewminutes.Ihaveradioedthecontroltowertogiveusimmediateclearancetoland.”Theyawingbecameincreasinglyworseasthecraftnearedtherunway.Withgreateffortthe

pilotmaneuveredintopositionandatlasttoucheddown.Theplanebouncedintotheair,thensettled again. A crash truck and an ambulance followed the plane as it taxied toward theparkingramp.AsenseofreliefsettledoverNancy.EveryonewassafelCarlahadtoldherhowcarefullythe

planesofSeñorPonce’scompanywereinspected,soNancywassurethatthedoorhadbeentamperedwith.Shefeltpersonallyresponsible.“I’m the onewho’s trying to solve amysterywhich several other personsdefinitely don’t

want me to solve,” she thought ruefully. “If I hadn’t taken this case, the near accidentprobablywouldhavebeenavoided.“ButImustn’tthinkaboutthisanymore,”theyoungsleuthtoldherself.“We’resafeandI

shouldbethankfulforthat.”WhentheplanerolledtoastopNancynoticedthatacrowdofpeoplewerewaitingforit.As

thepassengersunfastenedtheirseatbelts,theyallpraisedthepilot.Theyoungmanbrusheditoffwithashysmile.“Flightslikethatkeepmefromgettingboredwithmyjob,”thepilotsaidjokingly.Thenhe

addedsoberly,“ButnowIwanttofindoutwhythatdoorcameoff.”WhenNancy started to get up, she felt as if her legsweremade of rubber. At the same

momentBessremarkedthatshefeltwobbly,adding,“Ineverwanttogothroughsuchathingagain!Oh,Nancy,tothinkwealmostlostyou!”TearsfilledBess’seyes.GeorgeandCarlahuggedNancy.Theysaidlittle,buttheirexpressionsrevealedwhatwasin

theirhearts.Thestairwaywasrolleduptothedoorandthepassengersdescendedtothefield.Allaround

them,menweretalkingexcitedlyinSpanish.Mechanicshurriedtothetopofthesteps,andexaminedtheruinedhingesandboltsonthedoorframe.Presentlyoneof themspokeandCarla translated,“There isnoquestionbut that the lock

and hingeswere deliberately damaged so the doorwould come off while the planewas inflight.”“Howwicked!”Bessexclaimed.SeñorPonce said theymust get homeas quickly as possible.He admitted feeling shaken

himself.TheydroveoffanditwasnotuntiltheywerehalfwayhomethatNancyspoke.“I’msureitwasmyenemieswhodamagedtheplane.Theywillgotoanylengthstokeepme

fromsolvingthemysteryoftheplaque.”“But,Nancy,”Besssaid,“howcouldtheybesurethatyouwouldbestandingbythedoorjust

whenitcameoff?”

“Theyprobablyfiguredtherewasachancetheplanewouldbewrecked.”Nancyshuddered.“WhenIthinkwhatcouldhavehappenedtoeveryone,justbecauseofme—!”After amoment Señor Ponce patted her hand. “Do not chide yourself,my dear,” he said.

Nancysmiledathim.Whenthegirlsreachedthehouse,SeñoraPoncehadheardthestoryonaradionewscast

and expressed her concern. “I immediately called the airport andwas advised not to comethere.AllIcoulddowasstayhereandpray.Youmaybesure,mydears,Ididplentyofthat!”Bess remarked, “This was the most exciting Sunday I’ve ever had,” and the other girls

agreed.Nancy,Bess,andGeorgewenttotheirroomstorestuntildinnertime.Allofthemfellasleep.Later, as theyweredressing,Bess remarked, “Nancy, I’mafraid youhavenot oneor two

enemiesinthiscase,butmany.Weknowofthree.TwoareinjailhereinSouthAmericaandthatawfulHarryWallacewasarrestedbythepoliceinourcountry.Somebodyelsetamperedwithourplane.”Georgespokeup.“Theyaren’tNancy’sprivateenemies,”shesaid.“They’rehostiletoallof

us.”TheremarkmadeBessshudder,andNancyadvised,“Oh,let’snottalkaboutthisanymore.

Ifwedon’tchangethesubjectwewon’thaveanyappetitesfordinner.”Nothingmorewassaidandtheywentdownstairs.WhenNancy learned thatdinnerwasnot ready, sheaskedCarla if shehadanymodeling

clay.“I’dliketotrysomeofitontheplaque.”Carlawaspuzzled,butshewenttogetsome.Nancypressedlumpsofitintothesurfaceof

theplaqueoverthecrosswordcipher.Inafewmomentsshetookitoutandlookedtoseeiftheimprintwouldrevealanyclue.“Girls,comehere!”shecalledexcitedly.“IthinkI’vefiguredoutsomething!”Carlawasthefirsttoreachherfriend’sside.Nancypointedouttheimprintofthehorizontal

four-letterwordatthebaseofthecrosswordcipher.“Ibelieveit’smesa.IfI’mright,thatonlyleavestheonewordnearthetopthatwehaven’t

figuredout.”Everyone wondered where the mesa might be which the Ponces’ ancestor Aguilar had

indicated.“TherearemanytablelandsinPeru,”saidSeñorPonce.“Butonethingcomestomymind.

Part of the story about the Indianwhobrought the plaque tomy familywas that he spokeQuechua. Thismightmean that the tableland referred to here could be the one atMachuPicchu.”“ThatisnearCuzco!”Carlasaidexcitedly.“Father,wewereadvisedtogotoCuzcoandtalk

toanoldIndiannamedMaponhni.”Bess spoke up. “Would the trip toCuzco andMachuPicchu cost verymuch?” she asked.

“I’mrunningalittlelowonfunds.”Carla’sfathersmiled.“Iwouldlikeallofyougirlstobemyguestsonasightseeingtourof

thoseinterestingplaces.Ihaveafeelingyouwilluncoversomevaluableinformationandthatwouldmorethanrepaymeforthetrip.”Nancysaidatonce,“Yourofferisverygenerous,SeñorPonce,butweshouldn’tbesuchan

expensetoyou.”SeñorPoncegrinned.“DoyouknowwhattheQuechuaIndianssaytome?‘CanquiJapac.’”

Hiseyesstilltwinkling,hetranslated.“Itmeans,‘Youarerich.’”EveryonelaughedandGeorgesaid,“I’mgladtohearthat.Sincethatistrue,Iacceptyour

invitation,SeñorPonce.”Theothergirlsacceptedtooanditwasdecidedthattheywouldgothedayaftertomorrow.“It’sgoingtobethrilling,”Besscriedout.“Icannotwait,”saidCarla.“I’veneverbeentothoseplacesbefore.”The following morning Senor Ponce suggested that Carla show her friends more of the

interesting sights in Lima. “I think you would love the Torre Tagle Palace. It is a ratherelaborateMoorish style of architecture. The place is now used by theMinistry of ForeignAffairs,soonlypartofitisopentovisitors.”Carladrove thegirls to theancientpalace,nowhemmed inbybusinessbuildings.Before

going inside,herguestsgazedat theelaboratelycarvedwooden frontofTorreTagle.Whilethey were admiring its lattice-windowed balcony on the second floor, Carla happened toglanceacrossthestreet.Amanstoodthere,hishatpulledlow.“He looks likeLuisLlosa, thatunpleasantassistantatSenorVelez’shandicraft shop,”she

thought.Quietlyshealertedtheothergirls.Astheyturnedtolook,themanstrolledaway.“Iwonderwhathewasdoinghere,”Nancythoughtuneasilyasshefollowedtheothersinto

thepalace.“How grand it must have been to live in suchmagnificence?” exclaimed Bess. They had

pausedinacentralcourtyardsurroundedbyahighbalcony.“Oh,look!”Georgeexclaimed,pointingtoafarcornerwhereanancientcoachstood.“My,howelegant!”saidNancy.Red tieback curtains adorned thewindows, and at the front, some distance ahead of the

closedcompartment,wasthecoachman’sredplushseat.“I’llbetthiswasafour-horsecoach,”saidGeorgeasshehurriedover.“Boy,Iwouldloveto

driveit!”Sheputherhandontheseat.“I’dratherbeapassenger,thankyou,”saidBess.She stepped forward in a stately manner. “I am Isabella, Queen of Spain. Hasten to the

party,coachman,withmykingandme.”Nancylaughed.“Waitaminute,YourMajesty.Howaboutaphotograph?”Besshandedoverhercameraandsaidloftily,“Ioughtnottohavemypicturetakenwitha

lowlycoachman.”Then,asshegiggledandGeorgesnorted,Nancysnappedtheshutter.Carlahadbeenwatchinginamusement.“Come,”shesaid,leadingthewayupthestairsto

thebalcony.“Iwanttoshowyouaspecialroom.”They followed her along the balcony and through a room onto a shadowy porch. It was

screenedfromviewbythegreatwoodenshutterstheyhadadmiredfromthestreet.Carla explained that in olden times thewomen of the aristocracy rarely appeared on the

streets,but they liked towatch thepeoplebelow. “Fromhere theycould seewithoutbeingseen.”Nancywalked to thewindowandpeered through theshutters.Shesummoned theothers

andpointedacrossthestreet.TherestoodLuisLlosa!“Hehascomeback!”Carlawhispered.“Tospyonus,I’llbet!”Bessaddedworriedly.Theothersagreed.Carlashivered.“Ihatetothinkthathewasfollowingus,buthemusthavebeen.”Besssaidabitfearfully,“Whenweleavehere,he’llnodoubtcomeafterus!”“Sowhat?Wecan’tstayhereallday,”Georgedeclared.“I’mgoingtoscarehimoff!”Sheopenedoneof the shutters and leanedout to lookdirectly at LuisLlosa.Heat once

becameillateaseandquicklymovedoff.“Let’sgo”Bessurged.“Allright,”saidNancy.“Butinsteadofgoinghome,I’dliketostopatSeñorVelez’sshopand

checkonLlosa.”Carladrovedirectlythere.Whentheywalkedintotheshop,theownergreetedthemaffably.

Theytoldhimabouttheirtriptothearrayánesforestandtheirfailuretofindacluethere.“That’stoobad,”thecraftsmanremarked.Nancyinquiredifhisassistantwerethere.“No.Idonotknowwhy.Hedidnottelephone.Itisverystrange.Perhapsheisill.”

Carlatoldhimthatthemanwasnotillandexplainedwherethegirlshadseenhim.SeñorVelezsaidhecouldnotunderstandit.Nancysuspected that themanhad taken thedayoff to shadow thegirls. “Butwhy?” she

askedherself.“Ithassomethingtodowiththeplaque,I’msure.”Sherecalledhisattempttocopy the carving, and was more convinced than ever that he had not acted out of simplecuriosity.Senor Velez spoke again. “Luis is a good worker, but he is a very strange and secretive

person.”Theshopownerregardedthegirlsanxiously.“Whyareyouaskingabouthim?Hashedonesomethingwrong?”“Notthatweknowof,”Nancyreplied.Butinthemindsofallthegirlswasthesamegrimquestion:Hadanotherdangerousenemy

beenrevealed?

CHAPTERXI

TheCityofGold

“LET’Sbuysomegiftstotakehome,”Besssuggested.NancywasbroughtoutofhermusingsaboutLuisLlosa.Shesmiled.“That’sagoodidea.”The three girls from River Heights picked out various articles. Nancy purchased an

attractivesaladbowlsetforherfatherandjewelcasesforHannahGruenandAuntEloise.Afterwritingouttheaddresseswheretheyweretobesent,sheaskedpermissiontogointo

theback roomof the shop. Itwashere that thewoodenobjectswere carved.WhenNancycame toLuisLlosa’sworkbench, shepaused.On itwasahalf-finished traymadeofqueñarwood.

Assheglanceddowntothefloor,Nancynoticedanotherunfinishedcarving.Shepickeditup.

“Iwonderwhatthiswasgoingtobe,”shemurmured.SeñorVelezcameintotheroomandsheaskedhimabouttheobject.Hecameover,tookit,

andfrowned.“Idonotknowwhatthisisintendedfor,”hesaid.Thepiecewasabouteightincheslongandthree-quartersofaninchthick,withatubeinside

thecenterofit.“Thisisaboutthesizeandshapeofhandlesofsomeofoursaladforksandspoons,butwe

alwayskeepthemsolid,”SenorVelezsaid.“IfoundthewoodunderLuisLlosa’sbench,soIsupposeit’shis,”Nancytoldhim.Theshopownerfrownedevenmoredeeply.“Nodoubt,butthiswooddidnotcomefrommy

purchases.Itisarrayánes.”“What!”Nancyexclaimed.“Thatisright,”thecraftsmantoldher.“Icannotunderstand.Luismusthavebroughtithere.

Iintendtoaskhimwhenhereturns.”SeñorVelezputthepieceintohispocket.Nancy’smindwasalreadyfilledwithspeculationsaboutLlosa’swork.Shesaid,“Maybehe

intendedtoputsomethinginsidethehandle.”“Perhaps,”SenorVelezconceded.“Butwhat?Iwillcertainlymakehimtellme.”On thewayhomeNancy told the othergirls of herdiscovery. InstantlyGeorge said, “I’m

surehe’suptonogood.”That evening Carla had arranged a delightful party for the North American girls to meet

someofherPeruvianfriends.“ItwaswonderfulandIenjoyedgettingtoknowyour friends,”NancytoldCarlaafter the

guestshadleft.“Andwhatmarvelousdancers!”Bessexclaimed.“Oh,Icouldlivehereforever!”“AndhaveDavedownherefightingduels?”Georgegrinned.BeforeleavingforCuzcothenextday,NancytelephonedSeñorVelez.Shefoundhimupset.

“Myassistanthasnotcomebackandhassentnoword.Icalledhishometofindoutwhy,butnobodywasthere.”

Nancyasked theshopowner ifhehadmissedanything fromhisplaceofbusiness.SenorVelez admitted that he had not thought of checking but would look immediately. “Hold thephone,please.”

Within two minutes he was back. “Luis has taken many of my tools! Oh, it is dreadful,dreadful!SomeofthemareveryoldandIcannotreplacethem!”

“Iamsorry,”Nancysaid.“Youwillreportthethefttothepolice,ofcourse?”“Indeed.Indeed.Andthankyou,MissDrew,foralertingme.”

Bess,George,andthePoncesweresorrytohearwhathadhappened.TheyhopedthatthepolicewouldpickupLuisLlosaquickly.

“Ihopesotoo,”saidNancy.“IamalsointerestedinhowLlosagothisarrayáneswoodandwhathewasdoingwithit.RememberthepoliceinBarilochefoundaquantityofsimilarwoodinWagner’shome.IfeelsurehehasbeensupplyingLlosawithit.”

“Ofcourse,”saidGeorge.“They’repartof thesamegang.Thequestion is,Whatare theydoingwiththiswood?”

Carla’smothersaidshewasmortifiedthattheiroldfamilymysterywascausingsuchafuror.Herhusbandsmiled.“Mydear,”hesaid,“aren’tyoupleasedthattheseevildoersarebeing

apprehended?”“Oh,yes,”SenoraPoncereplied.“ButIwishthegirlscouldhavemorefunandlessworry.”Nancyputtheplaqueinhersuitcase,thenCarla’sfatherdrovethegirlstotheairport.The

planetoCuzcowasanoldtypewhichwasnotpressurized.Afterithadbeenintheairashortwhile,thepilotannouncedthatinordertogooverthe

Andestheywouldhavetoflyatagreatheight,wheretheairwasthin.Thestewardesscametoeachpassenger.Sheunfastenedanoxygentubefromunderthewindowandindicatedthatitwastobeheldnearthemouthtokeepfromfeelingfaint.

Thescenerybelowwasverybeautiful—mountaincrags,forests,andstreamsblendedintoabreath-takingpanorama.Abouttwoandahalfhourslaterthepilotannouncedthattheoxygentubeswerenolongerneeded.TheplanewascomingdownintoCuzco.

ThegirlsfromRiverHeights,seeingthecityfromtheair,wereamazedatitssize.Theyhadexpectedittobemuchsmaller.

“Imaginelivinginthemountainstwelvethousandfeetabovesealevel!”saidBess.“Yes,”Georgereplied.“AndIreadinaguidebookthisisknownasamountaintopvalley.The

peoplewholivedherecenturiesagowerecalled‘valleypeople.’”Whentheplanelanded,thefourgirlsfoundataxiandCarlasuggestedthatthedrivertake

themforaquicktouraroundthecitybeforegoingtothehotel.FortunatelyhespokeEnglishandevidentlywasquiteexperienced in lecturing to tourists.

Hebeganbypointingoutthehugestonesintheoldfoundationsofbuildings.“Theywerebuiltby the Incas. When the Spanish came, they tore down temples and palaces but left thefoundationsandputtheirownbuildingsontopofthem.”

The driver smiled. “The sun god punished them, though. When an earthquake came, theSpanishbuildingsfellover,butthefoundationsremained.”

Next,heshowedthegirlsanarrowIncanstreet.Bothsidesofithadhighstonewallsandthedriverstoppedsothevisitorscouldwalkdownashortdistancetoseethefamoustwelve-sided stone which was part of it. Each girl counted the sides and marveled at the way theancientstonecuttershadtrimmedthisenormousrocktoaccommodatetheonesfittedaroundit.

Theyoungtouristsnoticedthatallthestonesweresoperfectlyfittedthattherewasnotonesingleopeningorcrackbetween them.Notevenanearthquakecoulddamage thisamazingartisanship!

PresentlythedriverstoppedagainwhereamodernchurchhadbeenbuiltontheoldIncanfoundation.“ThiswaswheretheTempletotheSunoncestood,”heexplained.“Beyondit,atthattime,wasabeautifulparkwithtrees,flowers,andgoldenstatues.Atthefarendwasapalace.”

“HowIwish,”saidNancy,“thatIcouldhaveseenthem!”Themansmiled.“IfyouhadbeenanIncamaiden,youwouldhavebeenwearingalong,one-

piecedressmadeof alpacawool. Yourhairwouldhavebeen in longbraids tiedwithmanycoloredribbonsofwool.Youwouldhavewornsandalsandperhapsasash,aswellasalongshawltocoveryourheadandhangfardowntheback.”

“Itsoundsveryattractive,”sheremarked.“Perhapsyouwouldliketobuysuchadressforasouvenir,”theguidesuggested.AllthegirlswantedIncandresses,sohetookthemtoashopwheretheypurchasedcolorful

shifts,twowithzigzaggingpatternsinredandblack,twowithallamadesignwovenintothe

cloth.“Ican’twaittowearmineatapartybackhome,”Besssaid,giggling.Whentheshoppingwascompleted,thedrivertookthegirlstotheirhotelandwarnedthem

to“takeiteasy.”“Youwouldnotwanttogetaltitudesickness,”hesaid,smiling.“Walkslowlywhileyouarehere.”

They thankedhim for theadvice, but as soonas thegirls hadhad lunch,Nancy said shethoughttheyshouldfindtheoldIndianMaponhni.ShelearnedfromthedeskclerkthattheIndianwaswellknownandhedirectedthegirlstotheelderlyman’shome.Itwasonasidestreetandprovedtobeofrathermodemconstruction.

Carlasmiled.“IhalfexpectedthatMaponhniwouldbelivinginastonehutwithathatchedroof. But the Indians who live here today are quite modern. Many of them have transistorradiosandarenolongerisolatedfromtherestoftheworld.”

Nancy knocked on the door and it was opened by a pleasant-looking man, definitely adescendantoftheIncas.Hewasofmediumheight,somewhatportly,andhadlargehandswithsmall wrists. His head was broad, and he had high cheekbones and an aquiline nose. Theman’seyesweresomewhatalmond-shaped, likeanOriental’s,andhisexpressionkindlyandhumorous.

“SenorMaponhni?”Nancyasked.TheIndiangrinned.“Munanki!Imaynancaskianqui.”Nancy’seyestwinkled.“Hucclla,”shereplied.“Yusulpaiki.”Maponhni lookedstunned. InEnglishhesaid,“YouspeakQuechua?Pleasecomein,allof

you.”Nancylaughedandtoldhimthattheyhadheardabouthimfromtheguardatthearrayánes

forest and thathehad taught them thewords. “He said youknowmoreabout Incahistorythananyoneelse.”

“Heflattersme,”theIndiansaid.“ButIwillbehappytoansweryourquestions.”Nancy,whowascarryingtheplaque,nowunwrappedit.Carlatoldoftheancientmystery.“Wethoughtyoumighthelpusfigureoutthecrosswordcipher.”Maponhnistartedtoexaminethemonkeysideoftheplaque.Suddenlyeveryonenoticedthat

alltheobjectsintheroomwereshaking.TheIndianlaidtheplaqueonatable.Whenitnearlyfelloff,Nancygrabbedtheplaque.The

oldmanhadbeguntochantinQuechua.“What’shappening?”Bessasked,lookingaroundfearfully.Carla’sfacewaspale.“Anearthquake!”shegasped.

CHAPTERXII

TheBoySpy

Astheearthtremorscontinued,Maponhnistoppedhischantingandmotionedfortheothersto follow him. Quickly he led theway into the kitchen and said this was an original Incanbuildingwithamodernroof.“Wewillbesafehere,Ithink,”hetoldthem.“Theoldwallsaresturdy.”Fromoutsidecamethecriesofpeopleandthesoundofobjects falling.Thegirls followed

theman’sexampleofsittingcross-leggedonthefloor.Noonespoke.Allweretootensetodoanythingbutwait.Thenabruptlytheshakingstopped.EveryoneheavedasighofreliefandCarlasaid,“Ihopethiswillnotbefollowedbyanother

quake.”Maponhnisaidquietly,“Whoknows?ButIthinkitisover.”Everyonewaseagertogotothestreetandseewhathadhappened.“Becarefulwhereyoustep,”theIndianwarned.Justoutsidethefrontdooraboyaboutfifteenyearsoldwaslyingontheground,swaying

fromsidetosideandmumbling.“You’resafenow,”Nancysaidtohimkindly.Theboy’seyeswereclosedandhepaidnoattentiontoher.Hekeptonmutteringthesame

thingoverandover.“Whatishesaying?”BessaskedtheIndian.Maponhni lookedpuzzled. “He is saying, ‘Oh,Cat, Imust stop.Thesungodhassent this

sign.Yousaythegirlisaspy?...No,no.Goaway,Cat.Iwilldonothingmoreforyou.’”“That’salotofgibberish,”Georgeremarked.“Whatdoeshemean?”“Idonotknow,”Maponhnireplied.He shook the boy, who finally opened his eyes. He looked around dazedly as the Indian

helpedhimtohisfeet,thenquestionedhiminQuechua.Asuddenlookofterrorcameintotheyouth’seyes.Hestaredhardatthefourgirls,gavea

littlecryasifinpain,andranoffdownthestreetasfastashecould.“Shallwechasehim?”Georgeasked.“Yes!”criedNancy.InstantlyMaponhni caught her arm. “No,” he said. “The boy has done no harm and you

shouldnotruninthisrareatmosphere.”“Buthemaybeconnectedwithourmystery,”Carlastated.“Hementioned‘cat’—”“WethinkthisboymaybeworkingforamanwhocallshimselfElGato,”Nancyexplained.

“Heiswantedbyyourpolice.Heintendstoharmus.Theboymayreporttohimwhereweareandwhatwe’redoing!”“IamsorryIstoppedyou,”Maponhnisaid.“Nowitistoolatetofindtheboy.”NancyaskedtheIndianifhehadeverheardofasinistercharactercalledElGato.“No. And I did not recognize the boy who mumbled those strange words. I know every

IndianinCuzco,”hetoldthegirls.“Thisboyisastrangerhere.”“Then,”saidCarla,“hemighthavebeensenttoCuzcobyElGato.”Nancyagreed,butsaidthatperhapstheearthquakehadfrightenedhimsomuchhewould

notdoanymoreworkforElGato.SheexplainedtoMaponhniaboutCarlahavingreceivedtheanonymousnote:Bewareofthecat.“Thatisnotgood,”hesaid.“Yougirlstakecare.”The group went back to the house and once more the Indian looked at the plaque. He

studieditforalongtime,thenfinallyconfessedthathecouldmakenothingoutofeitherside.“Icantellyousomething,though,whichmayhelpyou,”hesaid.“WhenIwasalittleboyI

heardmygreat-grandmothertellastorywhichhadbeenhandeddowninherfamily.Itmightconcernyourancestor,SeñoritaPonce.“The storywas about a fine Spanish artist-adventurerwho came first to Cuzco and then

wenttoMachuPicchu.Hewaswellreceivedbythepeoplethereandenjoyedhiswork.Butafterawhiletheymadehimaprisoner.Wedidnothearwhy.“Idonotknowhowlonghewasthere,”Maponhnicontinued,“butitseemsthatheandan

Indiancompanionescaped.Theymadetheirwayhere.“TheIndianknewanIncapriest.Hesecretlybefriendedthem.Butwhenthepriesttriedto

questiontheSpaniardaboutwhyhehadbeenaprisoner,theartistrefusedtotellanything.Shortly afterward, he and the Indian disappeared. Nothing more was ever heard of them.Yearslater,whentheIncapriestwasdying,heconfessedtohelpingtherunaways.”“DidthestorytellwhattheSpaniard’snamewas?”Nancyasked.“Aguilar,perhaps?”Maponhnishookhishead.“ThenameIheardwasnotSpanish,butQuechuan.Ihaveeven

forgottenwhatthatwas,butprobablyanametheIndiansgavehim.”“Why,”Carlamused, “would the artist refuse to answer theCuzco priestwho befriended

him?”All the girls surmised that itmight be because theman had discovered a secret hewas

afraid to tell. Or was he trying to keep some special information to himself until he couldcontacthisfamilyinLima?“Maybe,”Carlasaidthoughtfully,“thismanwasAguilar.”“It’squitepossible,”saidNancy.“Afterall, thereweremanyadventurersat that time,but

myguessisthataEuropeanartistinthesepartswasunusual.”Maponhni nodded. “You say you think this plaque indicates something valuable like a

treasure?Whatdoyouexpecttofind—Incagold?”“Whoknows?”Georgereplied.“Areallyfabulousobjectmaybeburiedsomewhere.Allwe

havetodoisfindthespot.”Maponhni advised them to spend a day or two at the ruins of Machu Picchu. “What

destroyedthecity isagreatmystery. Iguessyouknowthat.Maybeyourtreasure isburiedthere.”ThegirlsthankedtheIndianforhishelp.Beforetheyleft,heaskedifhemighttakethem

thenextdaytoseetheruinsatSacsahuaman.“Theyarejustoutsideoftownandanamazingsight.Sacsahuamanwasoriginallyafort.”Thegirlssaidtheywouldlikeverymuchtogoandwouldbereadyatteno’clock.ThefollowingmorningMaponhnicametotheirhotelwithhiscarandtheystartedoff.When

theyreachedtheruins,thevisitorsstoodinawe.“Howmagnincent!”Nancyexclaimed,gazingatthehighzigzaggingstoneworkthatformed

thefrontofthefortress.Maponhni said thewide three-tieredwall,made entirely of huge limestoneboulders,was

sixtyfeethighandeighteenhundredfeetlong.“Someoftheserocksweightwohundredtonsandwerebroughtherewithouttheaidofany

kind of machinery.Men tumbled them end over end, using strong, slender tree trunks forleverage.”“Howdidtheworkmengetonerockontopoftheother?”Bessasked.Maponhnisaidthatgreatmoundsofdirtwerepiledupandthestonesrolledupthemand

put intoplace. “Then themoundwouldbemadehigherso thenext rockcouldberaised toposition.”“It’s a fantastic piece of engineering,” Nancy remarked. “I’d like to climb up and look

around.”Theothersdecidedtotryitalso.“Goahead,butbecarefull”theIndianwarned.“Iwillwaithere.”While they had been talking, a car had driven into the far side of the grassy area. It

continued in a huge semicircle and stopped near the end of the fortress wall, about five

hundredfeetfromthegirls.Atfirsttheythoughttherewasonlythedriver,butsuddenlyamanarosefromtherearseat

anddisappeared behind the last jog of thewall.Hewas carrying something half under hisjacket,asifheweretryingtoconcealit.“Whatwasheholding?”Carlaasked.“Itlookedlikeabigcan,”Nancyreplied.Thegirlshuntedfortinywornplacesintherocksasfootholdstopullthemselvesuptoward

the first level of the fortress. Nancy reached it ahead of the others and hurried along thewalkway.Eagertogettothetop,sheclimbedtothesecondtierandwassoonoutofsightoftheothers.“Whataplaceforasiege!”Nancythought,gazingaround,thenshewalkedforward.Neartheendofthewallshestarteddownwardinaslantingdirection.Whenshewasabout

twenty feet from the ground she heard a noise above her. She looked up just in time toglimpseaman’slegdisappearingaroundtheadjoiningbendinthezigzagwall.SuddenlyNancygaspedinastonishment.Onalargerockaboveherwasthenewlypainted,

crudefaceofabright-redcat!

CHAPTERXIII

ElGato

THEcatagain!“MaybethatmanwhopainteditwasElGatohimself,leavinghisinsigne!”Nancythought.Shetriedtopeeraroundthecornerofthezigzagwall,butcouldnotdosowithoutlosingher

balance.“IwishIcouldseehim!”shefumed.Wonderingifhemighthavereturnedtohiscar,Nancyturnedtogazebelow.Thedriverwas

stillthere,buttheothermanwasnotinsight.Nancychangedherpositionto lookupwardagain.Shesawanarmpoke itselfaroundthe

corner.Thearmdisappearedforasecond,thenreappeared.Thistimethehandwasholdingabucketwithredpaintdrippingoverthesides.

Nancywaspuzzled.“Isthemangoingtoaddtohispicture?”shethought.Asshestoodfascinatedbytheprospect,thehandsuddenlyswungupward.Withgreatforce

thehiddenfigurethrewthebucketofredpaintdirectlytowardher.Nancyknewthatshehadtomoveinahurry,buttherewasnoplaceshecouldrunfromher

precariousposition!Shemustjump!Hopingto landonthesoftgrassbelow,Nancyleapedoffthesideofthefortress. Itwasa

long jump. She took it gracefully, but landed with bone-jarring impact and sat down,breathless,withoutmoving.Thecannowlayinaredgooeymassnotfarfromher.

“Oh!”shesaidaloud,hurtingallover.Moments later,Nancyheardacar’smotorstart.Turningherhead,shesawthebackofa

manashesteppedintotherearoftheautomobile.Hecrouchedonthefloorsoshecouldnotseehim.Thecarspedoffalongthefarsideofthefortressgroundsanddisappeared.

“Nancy!” The cry came from George, who was running at top speed toward her friend.“Whateverhappenedtoyou?”

BessandCarlafollowed.AllwereanxiousaboutNancy.Inaweakvoicesheassuredthemshewouldbeallrightinafewminutes.Thenshetoldherstoryandpointedupward.

“El Gato!” Carla exclaimed. “To think he followed us way out here! We are not safe anyplace!”

BesssaidshewasthankfulthemanhadnotharmedNancy.“ButI’msurehemeanttoandthere’snotellingwhathemaytrynext.”

Shehadnochoicebuttojump!Nancyagreed.“Thecatpictureisawarning,Ithink,andmayhaveothersignificance.”Assheremainedwhereshewasandwatched,herthreefriendsclimbeduptolookatthered

catface.Theyexamineditcloselybutcouldfindnocluetowhatitmightmean—besidesbeingawarning.Besssnappedapictureofit,sayingthatNancycouldstudythephotoandperhapsseesomethingwhichtheyhadmissed.

Carefullytheymadetheirwaydownagain.BythistimeNancyfeltbetterandall thegirlswalkedbackslowlytotheircar.Maponhniwasshockedwhenheheardwhathadhappened.

“If Ihadknownthat, Iwouldhavetakentheman’s licensenumber.ButmaybeIcanhelpyouanotherway.IwillaskaboutthismanatshopsinCuzcowherepaintissold.Perhapsheboughttheredpainttheretomakethecatontherock.”

TheguidesuggestedthatthetriptoMachuPicchubepostponeduntilthenextday.Carlathoughtthiswasagoodidea.Butsheinsistedthattheyasktheclerksatthehotelnot

to tell anyone the girls were staying over. When they reached the hotel, Carla made herrequestandthemenpromisedtokeepthesecret.

Thegirlswentupintheelevatortotheirrooms.IthadbeguntorainandBesssaidshewascold. There was a heater in the room and she not only turned it on, but also closed thewindows.

George,meanwhile,hadbeenreadingasigntackedtothedoor.Itgaveadvicetotouristson

whattodoandwhatnottodointhishighaltitude.“Itsayshere,”shetoldhercousin,“thatoneshouldrestwiththewindowopenandusethe

heatingsystemaslittleaspossible.”Besssighed,turnedofftheheat,andopenedthewindowsagain.“I’ll justhavetofreeze,”

shesaid.George chuckled. “Here’s something else for you, Bess. It says eat light meals!” As Bess

madeaface,hercousinwenton,“Andifyoufeelterrible,callroomserviceandawaiterwillgiveyouoxygen.”

AbouttwohourslatertherewasaknockonNancy’sdoor.SheopenedittofindMaponhnithere.

Hedidnotcomein,butsaid,“Ifoundtheplaceintownwheretheredpaintwassoldtoastranger.Wouldthisdescriptionfitanybodyyouknow:darkhair,small,shiftyeyes,andveryhairyarms?”

TogetherNancyandCarlacriedout.“LuisLlosa!”“Whereishefrom?”“Lima,”Nancyreplied.“WesuspecthemaybethemanwhocallshimselfElGato.”BessandGeorgehadcomeintothehall,andBessasked,“ButhowintheworldcouldLuis

Llosahavetracedushere,orhavelearnedweweregoingtothefortress?”Georgeansweredthequestion.“Aslipperycharacterlikethatprobablyhasawayoffinding

outeverythinghewantstoknowaboutpeoplehe’s trailing. Itwouldn’tsurprisemeifLlosashowsupatMachuPicchu.”

“ThenI’mnotgoingthere,”Besssaidwithdetermination.“Hemighttrytoharmus!”Maponhnismiled.“MydearMissMarvin,”hesaid,“youmustnotmissMachuPicchu.Itis

oneofthegreatruinsoftheworld.IwillalertthepoliceheretobeonthelookoutforthismantoseethathedoesnottakethetraintoMachuPicchuandIwillgowithyou.”

Besslookedrelieved.“Good,andIhopetheycatchhim!Allright,I’llgo.”Shechuckled.“IfLuisLlosaisinCuzco,maybeI’dbesaferatMachuPicchu.”

ThenextmorningthegirlssetoffwithMaponhni.Nancycarriedtheplaqueinhersuitcase.The touristswere intriguedby theone-car trainwhichwasmore likeanoversized trolley

car.Itclimbedsteadilyupfromthecity,thensuddenlystoppedandwentbackwards.“Iwonderwhatiswrong,”saidCarla.A passenger across the aisle from her explained, “Nothing is wrong. This railroad has a

coupleofswitchbacks.”WhenCarlalookedpuzzled,themanadded,“Itwouldbeimpossiblefor this train toclimbstraightup themountain,soatcertainpoints it runsbackwardsonaswitchforashortdistance.Thenitgoesforwardagainupthegradeonstillanothertrack.Bydoingthisafewtimes,theengineercanreachgreatheightsquicklyandwithoutstrainonthemachinery.”

“Isee,”Carlareplied,althoughshewasnotsuresheunderstood.During the two-hour trip the trainwound inandoutamongthemountains,manyof them

snow-capped, with corn growing at their base, where it was warm. Farther on, the trainfollowedavalleyalongthewindingUrubambaRiverandcrossedseveralbridgesoverit.

The engineer made a few stops at stations. There were thatched Indian cottages nearby.Bright-eyedchildrencrowdedaroundthevisitorsandgladlyacceptedpackagesofhardcandywhichthegirlshadbroughtalong.

“They’readorablechildren,”saidBess,“andtheylookhappy,butcertainlypoor.”“Yes,”Nancyagreed.“Don’tyoulongtodosomethingforthem?”FinallythetrainreachedthelittlestationatMachuPicchu.Buseswerewaitingtotakethe

travelers up the mountainside to the hotel which stood near the ruins. On the way the skysuddenlycloudedoverandinmomentsrainbegantofall.

“Oh dear!” Bess complained. “We’ve come all this way and now we won’t be able to seeanything!”

Maponhnismiledknowingly.“Hereinthemountainsthereismuchmist,butusuallyitdoesnotlastlong.Sometimesitturnstorainandthenlikemagicthesunissuddenlyoutagain.Do

notworry.Weshallseetheruins.”Whentheyreachedthehotel,Nancywassofascinatedbythescenerythatshedidnotwant

to go inside. Far below, the Urubamba River looked like a snaking piece of brown ribbon.Above were mountain peaks and here and there she glimpsed the terraced flower andvegetablegardensusedbytheancientIncas.

“Don’tstandthereintherain,”Georgesaidtoher.“You’llgetsoaked.Let’sregister.”Nancywentinsidewiththeothersandtheywereassignedrooms.Thedeskclerktoldthem

that lunchwouldbe served in a short time.Since therewere somany visitors, itwouldbenecessarytohavetwosittings.“MissDrew,willyourgrouppleasecometothefirstone?”

“YoubetIwill,”Bessspokeup,laughing.“I’mstarved.”Georgegavehercousinawitheringlook.“Don’tforgettheinstructionsonthehoteldoorin

Cuzco.‘Eatlight.’”BessalwaysmadealittlefaceatGeorgeinreturnforsuchareprimand.“Ihavetokeepup

mystrengthtoclimb,”Bessdefendedherself.Thegirls hurriedupstairs tounpack andNancyput theplaque in a bureaudrawer. Then

theymetMaponhniinthediningroomatatablenearalong,openwindow.Georgesatwithherbacktoit.

TheIndian’sbrighteyeswatchedthegirlsintentlyasthefirstcoursewasserved.Itwasatypicalnativedish—hugekerneledcornonthecobservedwithalargesliceofSwisscheese.

AsBesslookedatherportion,sheasked,“Maponhni,doweputthischeeseonthecornoreatitseparately?”

“Eatitanywayyoulike,”hereplied.Bessbrokeoffapieceofthecheeseandlaiditonthekernels.Shewasabouttotakeabite

whensheglancedthroughthewindow.Hereyesgrewlarge.“George!”Besscried.“Lookout!Thatbeastbehindyouisgoingtobite!”

CHAPTERXIV

AlpacaAntics

AsGeorgejumpedupanddashedawayfromtheopenwindow,Maponhnibegantolaugh.“Your ‘beast’ is really very friendly,”he said. “It is analpaca—agrass-eatinganimal—and

gentle.”Toprovethishesteppedtothenexttablewherepartofaplateofsaladhadbeenleft.The

Indianpickedupalettuceleafandhelditouttothealpaca.Theanimalnibbleditquickly.Georgetookanotherpieceandextendedittothealpaca.Shechuckled.“I’msorry,oldboy,

butwedon’thappentoservegrassinthisdiningroom.”TheremarkmadeBessgiggle.Gettinguphercourage,shetooofferedapieceoflettuceto

theanimal.When thegirls stopped feedinghim, their reproofwasan indignantna-aah,na-aah!Atthatmomentawaitercameinwithatrayoffood.Heset itdown,wenttothewindow,

andclappedhishands.InSpanishhetoldthebeasttogoaway.Lazilythealpacawalkedoff,itssheep-likeheadhelddisdainfullyaboveitslongneck.“Ohgirls!Hisfamily!”Carlaexclaimed.Ontheroadwayjustbelowthehotelstoodafemaleandtwobabyalpacas.“Aren’ttheydarling?”saidBess.“Imusttakesomepicturesofthemlater.”Maponhni told the girls that alpaca fleece was valuable. “Generally it is white, but

sometimeshasgrayorbrownhairmixedin.Thewoolissoftenoughtobeusedforclothing,andisveryexpensive.”“Isthatthefinestwoolthereis?”Georgequeried.TheIndianshookhishead.“Thewoolfromthevicuñaisthefinestintheworld.Theanimal

looksverymuchlikethealpaca,butisalittlesmaller.Itsfleeceissoftandsilky.“InIncantimesonlyroyaltyandaristocracywereallowedtousethiswool.Itissaidthatthe

Incahimself,rulerof thewholenation,hadthefinestkindofgarments,mostof themmadefromvicuñawool.Butafterthefirstwearing,theyweredestroyed.”“Whatadreadfulwaste!”Georgeexclaimed.“Iagree,”saidMaponhni.“Furthermore, thoseprecious thingswere lost forall time.Had

theybeensaved,wecouldhaveenjoyedlookingatthem.”The Indianmentioned that a third animal in Peruwhose fleecewas usedwas the llama.

“He’slargerthantheothertwo.”MaponhnisaidthatthellamahadbeenabeastofburdeninPeruformany,manycenturies.

“Itswooliscoarseandgreasy,andisusedmostlyforheavyblankets,sacks,rope,andhaltersforthebeasts.Ofcourse,clothfortheverypoorpeoplehasbeenwovenfromitsinceancienttimes.”“Theyprobablyusedthehidestomakesandals,”Carlasuggested.“I’llbet,”Georgesaidwithagrin,“thatthoseoldIncasworethesoftleathernexttotheir

skinsotheywouldn’titchfromthepricklywool!”The others laughed. By the time they had finished lunch, the rain had ceased and Bess

urgedthegrouptogooutsidesoshecouldtakesomesnapshotsofthealpacas.Aftertakingacoupleofpictures,BesshandedthecameratoNancy.“Pleasesnapapictureofmeseatedon thealpaca,”shesaid. “Anddon’t letanybodyslap

himsohe’llrunaway!”NancytookthecameraandBesswalkedforward.Sheswungherselfupontothebackofthe

animal.“Ready!”shecalledout.Instantlythealpacabentitskneesandsatdownintheroadway.“Oh,youmeanoldthing!”Bessscolded.Sheslappedtheanimalgently.“Standup!”

Whenthealpacadidnotobey,Nancylaughinglysnappedthepicture,anyway.Maponhniwalkedforwardandwithachucklesaid,“MissMarvin,youmustweighmorethan

ahundredpounds.Thatisthelimitofaburdenanalpacawillcarry.Hecannotbecoaxed.Youmayaswellgetoff.”Shegrinned,butdidnotrevealherweight.Shegotofftheanimalandinstantlychangedthe

subject.“I’mreadytogotakepicturesoftheruins.”Nancyherselfwaseagernotonlytoseethegreatarchaeologicalwonder,buttohuntfora

cluetothemysteryofthecrosswordcipher.Fromthehotel,Maponhniledthewayupapathtoanadmissionstandwheretheypaidasmallfee.Thentheybegantheclimb.To their left themountainside rose steeply andwasanamazing sight of endless series of

three-tofive-footstone-facedterraces.Theyvariedfromfifteentothirtyfeetinwidth.Running up alongside the terraces were many stone stairways. From them branched

alleywaysbetweenstonehutsinvariousstatesofruin.Maponhniexplainedthatoriginallythedwellingsstoodfromeighttotenfeetinheightandhadthatchedroofs.“Archaeologistsbelievethattheworkerslivedononesideofthecity,thearistocracyonthe

other. They think this because one sectionwas better built and had larger rooms than theother.Attheverytopstoodafinebuildingthatwaslikeaconvent.TheChosenVirginsoftheSunlivedthere.Thesemaidensspenttheirentiretimeinreligiouswork,likethenunstoday,anddidalotofweaving.”Bess looked to her right,where the ground fell steeply to the river. “Itwould be easy to

tumbledownoutofthiscityanddropallthewaytothewater,”shesaidwithashudder.“Don’tlookdown,”Georgeadvised.Thegirlsfollowedtheirguideashewoundinandoutofthenarrow,ancientstreets.Nancy

triedtoimaginewhattheplacehadlookedlikewhenitwasaflourishingcity.She entered one building which was larger than any of the others she had seen. It had

severalconnectingroomsandNancyconcludedthatthismighthavebeenthehomeofahighofficial.Bythetimeshereturnedtotheentrance,hercompanionswereoutofsight.Thinkingthey

hadgonedownthesteepflightofstepsnearby,shewentafterthem.WhenNancyreachedthefoot, theotherswerenotaround,soshewalked forward to theedgeof thepathandgazeddowntheprecipitousdropatthejungle-likevalley.As she contemplated the gorgeous view with mountains in the distance, Nancy became

aware of a thudding sound behind her. Turning, shewas horrified to see a huge bundle ofthatch rolling at fast speed in her direction. Should it hit her, she would be swept off themountainside.Justbeforeitreachedher,Nancygaveamightyleapandhurdledthebundle.“Oh!”shecriedoutasthethatchtumbledovertheedgeanddisappeared.Asshestoodtrembling,Nancyheardaman’svoiceandlookedofftoonesidetoseewhohe

was.AnIndianworkmanwasbusyputtingthatchonaroofofoneofthestonehutswhichwasbeingrestored.Hepointedupthesteps.“Señor!”hecalledout.Nancy looked there but could see nothing. She wondered whether the bundle had been

accidentallydislodgedbysomeone,orthrownonpurpose.Theworkmankeptonpointingexcitedlyandcalling,“Señor!”Nancywasconvincednowthathehadseensomeonethrowthebundle.Runninguptohim,

sheasked,“Whowasit?Whatdidhelooklike?”TheworkmanraisedhishandsinahelplessgesturetoindicatehedidnotspeakEnglish.“Español?”Nancyasked,thinkingshemightmanageafewsimplephrasesinSpanish.Againthemanshookhishead.SheassumedhespokeQuechua.ShewouldfindMaponhni

and bring him back to question the workman. “Maybe he can get a clue to the señor thisman’stalkingabout.”Nancyhadalonghuntbeforeshewasabletolocatetheothers.ImmediatelyBesshugged

herfriend.

“Nancy! We’ve been looking for you because we wanted to go after that dreadful LuisLlosa!”“Whatdoyoumean?”“Wesawhimamongtheruins!”saidCarla.UponhearingofNancy’sadventure,theothersweresurethatLlosahadtossedthebundle

ofthatchinherdirection.“Ifhe’shere,we’llfindhim!”Georgevowed.“Comeon!Let’sseparateandtrackhimdown!”

CHAPTERXV

TelltaleFile

BessandGeorgeandCarlahurriedoff.BeforeNancybeganhersearchsheturnedtoMaponhni.“Willyougobackandtalktothat

workman?IthinkhespeaksQuechua.Findoutwhattheseñorhementionedlookedlike.”“Iwilldothat.ThenIwillstartasearchtooforthisLuisLlosa,”theIndianpromised.Bythistimeseveralgroupsoftouristshadarrivedtoseetheruins.Aseachgirlcameupona

group,sheaskedifanyonehadseenamanwhoansweredthedescriptionofLlosa.Noneofthemhad.

OnoneofthestairwaysBessencounteredayoungman.Hestoppedclimbing,butinsteadofansweringherquestion,hemotionedforhertositonthestepswithhim.

“Thankyou.Iwillstand,”Bessreplied.In broken English the stranger told her he was a Peruvian. “You are beautiful girl from

NorthAmerica,”hesaid.“Ilikeyou.Wemakedatemaybe?”In her own mind Bess decided that he was the last person in the world with whom she

wantedtomakeadate.Shedidnotanswerbutrepeatedherquestion.“Haveyouseenamanwhoisthinanddarkandhasshiftyeyes?”

Theyoungmanbegantolaugh.“Youforgetaboutthatone.Tonightwemakedate?”Besswas furious. She turned away and began to climb the steps. The Peruvian laughed.

“Oh,youafraidofme?YouareAmericangirltheysayischoosy?”“I certainly am,” Bess said with dignity, and hurried up the steps with the speed of a

frightenedalpaca.Heradmirerdidnottryto follow.BythetimeBessreachedthetopstep,shewaswindedandhadtositdown.

“George was right. I shouldn’t have eaten all that corn and Swiss cheese,” she beratedherself. Then she thought wistfully, “Why couldn’t he have been one of the nice youngPeruvianmen—liketheonesCarlaintroducedusto!”

Bessremainedquiet,evenaftershehadstoppedgasping.Shecouldvaguelyheartwomentalkingsomewherenearher.Themenwerecomingcloser.Inafewmomentswhattheyweresayingbecameverydistinct.AtfirstBesspaidnoattention,thinkingtheyweretouriststalkingaboutagroupofgirls.

Butsuddenlyshewasshockedwhenoneman,whosoundedlikeLuisLlosa,said,“YoutellNancyDrewsheisanuisanceinPeru.Shemustgohomeatonce!”

Bess’sheartbegantopound.Therewasnoquestioninhermindbutthatthevoicebelongedto Luis Llosa. What should she do? Should she let the man know she had heard him anddemandanexplanation?

“Buthemightharmme,”washersecondthought,“andthenIcouldn’twarnNancy.”Nevertheless, Bess decided to be courageous. She got up and looked around for the two

speakers,butcouldseenoone.BessranupanddownafewoftheancientalleywaysbutcouldnotfindLuisLlosa.

“ImustalertNancy!”shethought.Trying to find her proved to be hopeless. Bess called Nancy’s name several times but

receivednoanswer.PresentlyanotherthoughtcametoBess.SupposeLuisLlosawasonhiswaytothehotelto

steal thepreciousplaque!ProbablyheknewthatNancyhadretrieved it fromthegiftshop.Bessfiguredthattheganghadnotbeenabletodecipheranymorethanthegirlshad.

“I’llbet theydon’twantNancy tokeep theplaque for fear she’ll solve itsmysterybeforetheycan.I’dbetterhurrybackandstopLlosafromgettingit!”

Bess ran practically all theway to the hotel. She obtained the key toNancy andCarla’sroom,quicklyranupthestairs,andletherselfin.Thenshelockedthedoorandimmediately

dashedtothebureaudrawerwheretheplaquehadbeenplaced.Itwasstillthere!“Thankgoodness!”Bessexclaimed.Shesatdowninachairtocatchherbreathandwait.Minutespassed.Noonecame.Bess

wasbeginningtothinkthatherhunchhadbeenwrong,whensheheardfootstepsinthehall.Theystoppedinfrontofthedoor.

Bess held her breath and listened. No key was inserted into the lock, but the doorknobturned.Thensheheardascrapingsound.

“Someone is tryingto jimmythedooropen!”shethought.“Oh,whatshall Ido?”Shewasafraidtokeepstillbutmoreafraidtocryout.

TenselyBesswatchedthedoor.Presentlya long, thin filecamesliding throughthecrack.Withinmomentstheimplementprotrudedintotheroomabouttwoinches.

Bess’smouthwasdrywithfright.“Inanothermomentthatintruderwillgetin!”shethoughtwildly.“Andnotelephonehere!”

Asuddenideacametoher.Shecrossedtheroomsoftly,grabbedthefile,andgaveitahardyank.Thewholetoolcamethroughthecrack!

Instantlysheheardangrymutteringsinthehall.Someonekickedthedoor,thenrandownthehall.Besswassoamazedandrelieved thatshe floppedonto thebed, still clutching thefile.

Inthemeantime,theothergirlsandMaponhnihadcontinuedtohuntthroughtheruinsandquestionpeopleaboutthemysteriousseñor.FinallyGeorgeencounteredabroad-shoulderedwomanwithadeep,huskyvoice.

Inresponsetothegirl’squery,shelookedhardatherquestioner.“Idon’tknowwhatgirlsarecomingtothesedays.Alwayschasingaman.Isthisoneyou’reaftersomebodywhowantstogetawayfromyou?”

“Ohno,”Georgesaidquickly.“It’snothinglikethat—”Thewoman interruptedher. “That’swhatallgirls say,but Iknowbetter.You’reafterhim

andyou’redeterminedtofindhim.”Georgesmiled.“You’reright,butmyinterestinfindinghimisbecausehe’sathief!”Thewoman’seyesbulged.“Athief!Well,whydidn’tyousaysointhefirstplace?”Georgefeltliketellinghershehadhadnoopportunity,butrepeatedheroriginalquestion.

“Pleasetellmeifyousawhim.”“Yes,Idid,”thewomanreplied.“TheLimapolicearelookingforhim,”Georgetoldher.Thewomanpointedinthedirectionofthegirls’hotel.“Themanwasheadingdownthere,”

shesaid.“Ifyouwanttocatchhim,you’dbetterhurry.”Georgethankedher,andastheyoungsleuthhastenedaway,thewomancalled,“I’msorryI

saidwhatIdidtoyou.”Georgewavedatherandsmiled.Uponreachingthehotel,Georgegotthekeytoherroomandwentupstairs.Assheunlocked

thedoor,BessopenedtheonetoNancy’sroom.“Oh,George,I’msogladtoseeyou.Somethingdreadfulhappened.”Sheheldupthefileand

pouredoutherstory.Her cousinwas amazed. “You sure came through that time,”George said. “By theway, I

hurriedbackherebecauseawomanupattheruinstoldmeLuisLlosawasheadedthisway.Probablyhewasthepersonwiththefile.”

“I’msurehewas,”Bessreplied.“Andthankgoodnesshehaslefthere.”“Whatdoyoumean?”Georgeasked.BessexplainedthatshehadlookedoutthewindowandhadseenLuisLlosadriveoffashort

timebeforeinaprivatecar.“ThiswastheonlyreasonIdaredunlockthedoorandcomeintothehalljustnow.”Besswentontotellthebitsofconversationshehadoverheardintheruins.“Iwonderwho

themanwasthatLuisLlosawastalkingto.HemaystillbearoundandharmNancy!”“You’reright,”Georgeagreed.“Wemustwarnher.”

ShetookthefilefromBessandwalkedtothewindowinNancy’sroomtoexaminethetoolcarefully.

“IsupposeLlosa’sfingerprintsareonit,”shesaid,“butoursarealso.”Aninstantlatershesaidexcitedly, “Look!There’sanameonhere—Velez. I’llbet this filewasstolen fromJorgeVelez’sshop!”

BothgirlsweresurethatitwasoneofthetoolsLuisLlosahadstolenfromhisemployer’sworkroom.

Georgetossedthefileonthebureau.“Let’sgo!”sheurged.“WemustfindNancy.”Suddenlythesunlightoutsidefadedanditbegantorainhard.At the samemoment Carla came into the room. “I justmade it,” she said. “Maponhni is

downstairs. He said we were going to have a downpour. By the way, the description thatworkmanintheruinsgavehimoftheseñormatchesLuisLlosaperfectly.”

“Thatvillain!”Georgecriedoutindignantly.“Andlistentothis!”SheandBesstoldthestoryofthethreattoNancyandshowedCarlathefile.Carlawasamazed.“Bytheway,whereisNancy?”sheinquired.Georgesuggestedthatsinceallthetouristswerecomingbackbecauseoftherain,Nancy

mightbedownstairstalkingwithsomeofthem.Thegirlslockedtheirdoorsandwenttothefirstfloor.

People were milling about the lobby and the lounge of the hotel. Nancy was not amongthem.ThegirlsfoundMaponhniseatedonachairinacornerofthelounge.Whenheheardthat Nancy had not returned and was told the other events of the afternoon, he becamealarmed.

“ThismanLuisLlosa—afterhedroveoff,hecouldhavesneakedbackonfootandfoundMissDrewintheruins!”

“Yes,”Carlaagreed.“Anddonotforgetthemanhewastalkingto.Ohdear,whydidIevergetNancyintothisdreadfulmess!”

“There isonlyone thing forus todo,”Georgesaidgrimly. “Wemustallgobackand findNancyatonce,rainornorain!”

CHAPTERXVI

SacredStones

THEworriedsearchers,wearingraincoatsandhats,hurriedup theroadway that led to theruins. As soon as they reached themass of devastated buildings, all of thembegan callingloudly:

“Nancy!Nancy!”Theonlysoundsweretheechoesoftheirownvoices.Bess was on the verge of tears. “Oh, I just know something dreadful has happened to

Nancy!”Georgelookedathersternly.“Nancyhasaknackofgettingoutoftightspots.Let’skeepour

thoughtsoptimistic.”“You’reright,George,”Bessadmitted,andtriedtolooklessgloomy.Maponhniandthegirlswenton,callingouteveryfewminutes.Therewasstillnoresponse

fromNancy.Carlawas veryquietbut theothers could see shewasalarmed.Finally she said, “Maybe

NancywasaprisonerinLuisLlosa’scarwhenhedroveaway.Perhapsweshouldgobackandreportherdisappearancetothepolice.”

ForthefirsttimeMaponhnispokeup.“Whenwewereupherebefore,wedidnotgodowntheothersideofthispeak.Isuggestwelooktherebeforewegiveup.”

Theothersfollowedhimupthesteepinclinetothetop,thenlookeddownthefarsideofthemountain.

“Theresheis!”Bessshoutedwithjoy.“Andshe’sallright!”Downthegrassy,bush-strewnslopewasapicturesquesight.Fourpoleshadbeenerected

and a poncho stretched across the top of them. On the ground underneath the shelter satNancyandanelderlyIndian.Shewasbusywriting,apparentlytakingdownwhattheoldmanwassaying.Sheseemedtobeunawareofherfriendsatthesummit.

As quickly as they could,Maponhni and the girlsmade theirway down thewet, slipperymountainside.

Georgecalledoutinaloudvoice,“Nancy!”This time she looked up. “Oh, I’m getting some wonderful clues!” Nancy called back.

“Maponhni, I’msogladyoucame.ThismanspeaksonlyQuechua. I’vebeentrying towritedownthewaythewordssound.”

Whentheothersreachedher,Nancyintroducedhercompanion.HisnamewasPansitimba.Thenewcomersacknowledgedtheintroductionandgavetheirownnames.

ThenBesssaidtoNancy,“Ifthismandoesn’tspeakEnglishorSpanish,howintheworlddidyougethimtotalk?”

Nancygrinned.“Isaidtohim,‘Munanki!Imaynancaskianqui?’Remember?‘Hello!Howareyou?’”

Theotherssmiled,andCarlaasked,“Thenwhatdidyoudo?”“Isaidtohim,‘DidyoueverhearofamannamedAguilar?’”Sherelatedthatuponhearingthenamehehad lookedatherstrangelyandhadbegunto

talkveryfast.“HekeptrepeatingAguilarsooften, I finallydecidedtotrywritingdownall thewordsas

bestIcouldandaskMaponhnitotranslatethem.”Pansitimbahadsaidnothingtothenewcomers,butuponhearingthenameAguilaragain,he

begantotalktoMaponhni.Oneofthefirstthingshesaidwas:“Warmccatecachaussua.”

“Wow!That’samouthful!”Georgeremarked.“Whatdoesitmean?”Maponhniwasgrinningbroadly.“Itmeans,”hesaid,thenpaused.“Itmeans,‘Isthatgirla

spy?’”“Ohgoodness!”exclaimedCarla,andtheothergirlslaughed.Theirguidequicklyexplainedthegirls’missiontotheelderlyIndianandhetoosmiled.For

several minutes after that the twomen talked. Pansitimbamade various gestures with hisarmsandpointedtotheruins,withMaponhninoddingunderstandingly.Finallyhetranslatedtheconversationtothegirls.

“ThereisalegendinPansitimba’stribethatanancestorofhishadbeenaspecialservanttoaSpaniardnamedAguilar.Somehowhehad learnedaboutMachuPicchuandcameheretoseeit.”

MaponhniwentontosaythattheseancientIndians,whohadneverseenawhiteman,hadthoughtAguilaragod.Thiswaspartlybecausehewaswhite,butmostlybecausehewasaverygoodartist.Hehadbroughtpaper,paints,andbrusheswithhimandmadefineportraitsoftheIncarulerandthecityofficials.

“ButafterawhiletheybecameafraidofAguilarbecauseheknewsomuchandtheprieststhoughthemightgaincontrolofthepeople,sotheymadehimaprisoner.”

“Howsad!”Bessputin.Maponhnismiled.“Aguilarwasverycleveranddidnotremainaprisonerlong.Hegotout

andfledfromthisplace.Pansitimba’sancestor,theservant,wentwithhim.Nooneeversaweitherofthemagain.”

“Whatafascinatingstory!”saidNancy.Carlanodded.“NowweknowthattheartistMaponhnitoldusaboutreallywasAguilar.”Nancyagreedandsaid,“Maponhni,willyouaskPansitimbaifthestorymentionsatreasure

inconnectionwiththeSpaniardorhisservant?”Thequestionwasputandthereplytranslated.Themanhadheardofnone.“Askhimalso,”saidNancy,“ifthereisalegendinhistribeaboutwhathappenedtoMachu

Picchu.”Before the old Indian could answer, there was a sudden terrific downpour and with it a

stronggustofwind.Thepolesandponchowentsailingthroughtheair.Pansitimbagroaned.Hewasnolongeragileenoughtorunafterthem.

“I’llgetit!”criedGeorge,realizinghowprecioustheman’sshelterwastohim,andtookoffaftertheponcho.

Thetentpoleshadfallentothegroundandwererollingdownthesteepmountainside.Theothergirlsdashedafterthepoles.

Theponchowasbeingtossedincircles,makingitdifficultforGeorgetograbit.Fortunately,asuddendowndraftbroughtthegarmentnearher.Stretchingupherarms,shecaughtholdofoneendandheldontightly.

Inthemeantime,theothergirlswerescramblinghitherandyontorescuethepoles.Nancygrabbedtwoandeachoftheothersretrievedone.

AsCarlaglancedatNancyagain,shesaid,“Youaresoaked!Wemustgorightbacktothehotelsoyoucanchangeyourclothes.”Shesmiledmischievously.“Youhaveahabitofgettingallwetonmyaccount.”

Nancygrinnedandsaidifoneofthegirlswouldjustlendheradrysweatershewouldbeallright.“IwanttoheartherestofPansitimba’sstory,”shesaid.

“Itmaybealongone,”Besswarnedher.“Whydon’tweinvitePansitimbatothehotel?Itwouldn’thurthimtodoalittledryingouttoo.”

When the invitationwas extended to the oldman, he smiled appreciatively but declined.NancyaskedMaponhnitotellhimthegirlsverymuchwantedhimtocome.

“Iwould like to showhim the plaque.Maybe he can figure out somethingwe have beenunabletodecipher.”

Aftertheguidehadtranslatedthemessage,Pansitimbaaccepted.Thegroupwalkedslowlytothehotel.Nancyimmediatelywentupstairs,changedherclothes,anddriedherhair.Before

coming down again, the young detective wrapped the plaque in a sweater and brought italong.

By the timeshereachedthe lounge,Pansitimba’shairandclothingseemedtobedryandsheurgedhimtogoonwithhisstory.

“YouareinterestedinknowingwhyMachuPicchubecamearuin?”Maponhniasked,andallthegirlsnodded.

After a lengthy conversation between the two Indians,Maponhni said, “There is anotherlegend inPansitimba’s tribe.Not longafterAguilarhad fled fromMachuPicchu, abandofSpanish explorers and some Indians who had been converted to Spanish ways came andsacked thecity.Therewasadreadful time.Theycarriedoff themaidensandnearlyall thewomen,buttheykilledmostofthemenandthrewtheirbodiesintotheriver.”

“Howutterlyghastly!”Bessmurmured.Maponhniwenton, “Nothingwas left, so therearenopicturesor carvingsorartifacts to

showwhatthisgloriouscityoncelookedlike.”Nancy spoke up. “One thing I cannot understand iswhat happened to all the rest of the

largestoneswhichtheIndiansmusthaveusedinbuildingtheirhousesandtemple.”Maponhni put the question toPansitimba. The elderly Indian shrugged and replied, “It is

saidthatafterwardpeoplecamehereandtookthestonesaway.Sincethiswassupposedtobea sacred city and a refuge, they no doubt thought having one of the stones in their homewouldbringthemgoodfortune.”

WhenPansitimbafinished,NancyunwrappedtheplaqueandhadMaponhnitellhimaboutit.

“Pleaseaskhim,”Nancyrequested,“ifhecansupplythemissingletters.”Pansitimbastudiedthemafewminutes.ThenMaponhniaskedNancyforasheetofpaper

andapencil.She took them fromherpurse.Slowlyandpainstakingly,Pansitimbabegan tocopythelettersfromtheplaqueontothepaper.Whenhehadwrittenmonocolaandmesa,thegirlsheldtheirbreath.

Wasthemysterywordnearthetopofthecrosswordciphergoingtobedecipheredatlast?

CHAPTERXVII

ASmuggler

“THEfinalword,”Carlacriedout,“ischina!”“Whatdoesitmean?”Nancyaskedquickly.Carla said that in Spanish it stood for many things—Chinese, china, porcelain. “It even

meanspebbles.”“Pebbles!” Nancy repeated. She looked off into the distance and then said, “Perhaps we

shouldlookforamesaofpebbles.”“Withamonkey’stailonit!”Georgeadded,grinning.Theothers laughed, then therewasaprolonged silenceas thegirls tried to figureout in

whichsenseAguilarhadusedchina.DidthemesahaveChineselivingonit,orwasitperhapsaspotwhereporcelainwasmade?SuddenlytheoldIndiansaidsomethingtoMaponhni.Theguideinturnbecameexcitedand

thetwomentalkedatarapidrate.Thegirlslookedatoneanother,puzzled,butpresentlyMaponhniturnedtothemandsaid,“I

thinkPansitimbahassolvedyourmysteryforyou.HaveyoueverheardoftheNascanlines?”Carlaspokeup.“Ihaveheardofthem,butIreallydon’tknowanythingabouttheplace.”Maponhniexplained. “About twohundredmiles southofLima there is adesert—apebbly

mesatwelvehundredfeetabovesealevelandfiftymilesfromtheocean.“In ancient times—andnooneknowshow longago—people there scratchedgiant figures

into theearth.Thesedesignscanstillbeseenandarenamedfor theNascanpeoplewhosepotterywasfoundnearby.IhaveneverbeentotheNascansite,butIhavebeentoldthatfroma plane you can see everything. There are lines like on your plaque and figures of manythings,includingmonkeys.”Nancywassoexcitedshefeltasifherhearthadsuddenlystoppedbeating.“That’sit!”she

exclaimed.“Oh,thisissimplymarvelous!HowcanweeverthankPansitimbaforgivingusthisclue?”MaponhnitranslatedthemessagetoPansitimba,whomerelysmiledandshookhishead.He

wantedthemtoknowhewasaveryreligiousandphilosophicalmanwhonevertookearthlyrewardsforhelpingpeople.Bess’s eyes suddenly became dewy and shemurmured, “It is a privilege tomeet such a

person.”WhenthiswastranslatedtoPansitimba,helookedembarrassedandturnedtoleave.“Wait!”saidNancy,andinvitedPansitimbatoeatwiththem.HeshookhisheadandMaponhnismilinglysaidthattheoldIndianwastooshytogointo

thediningroom.Hewasnotusedtoeatinginthisfashionandalsohedidnotlikethekindoffoodtheyserved.“I’msorry,”Nancysaid.“Beforehegoes,Jwouldliketoknowsomething.Pansitimbaseems

tohaveremarkableeyesight.Evenathisagehewasabletoreadthingsontheplaquewhichwecouldnotseethroughamagnifyingglass.”“I can answer that,” Maponhni replied. “Many Inca Indians in these mountains have

inheritedamazingsight.Pansitimbacanseetinythingsatcloserangeandspotsmallobjectsandreadsignstwo-thirdsofamileaway.”ThegirlswereastoundedtohearthisandGeorgesaid,“I’dlikeademonstration.”TheywalkedoutsidewithPansitimba,andMaponhnisaidsomethingtohiminQuechua.At

oncePansitimbalookedfaroff.ThenhespoketoMaponhni,whotranslated:“Our friend sees a condor seated on top of a tree. I cannot see it.Can you?”Hepointed

downtowardtheriver.

Allthegirlsconfessedtheycouldnotseeanythingbutdensegrowth.AfewmomentslaterPansitimba proved to be right. A huge condor rose into the air andwinged itsway up themountainside.“That’sfantastic!”Bessburstout.“Oh,whatIwouldn’tgivetohavesightlikethat!”MaponhnitranslatedandPansitimbasmiled.Thenheturnedoncemoretoleave.Nancycalledout,“Cutimunaikicama.”Pansitimba turned around and gave her a big smile for saying good-by to him in his

language,andrepeatedthephrase.ThegirlswerereadyearlythenextmorningtoleaveMachuPicchu.Duringtheridebackto

Lima,firstbytraintoCuzco,thenbyplane,theyfeltitbestnottotalkaboutthemysteryinpublic.EachgirlkeptasharplookoutforLuisLlosabutdidnotseehim.“AreyougoingtocallthepoliceassoonaswegettothePoncehome?”GeorgeaskedNancy.Sheshookherhead.“ThefirstthingIwanttodoisgotoSenorJorgeVelez’sshopwiththe

file.Wemustfindoutdefinitely if itbelongstohimandalsowhetherhehasheardfromhisassistant.”AssoonastheplanelandedinLima,thegirlssaidgood-bytoMaponhniandpaidhimforhis

excellentservices.Hehadtraveledallthewaywiththemtodosomeshoppinginthecity.Carlahailedataxiandgavetheaddressofthecraftshop.SeñorVelezexpresseddelightat

seeing the girls again, but his face clouded when they told him of their adventures andsuspicions.He identifiedthefileatonceandsaidLuisLlosahadnotreportedforwork,norhadheevercommunicatedwiththeshop.“Señor Velez,” said Nancy, “you have already told us that nothing seemed to bemissing

excepttools,buthaveyoulookedinyourworkbenchesanddeskstoseeifanyotherarticlesaremissing?”The shop owner admitted he had not.He headed first for the spotwhere Luis Llosa had

worked. The girls followed him to the back room andwatched as he pulled open first onedrawer,thenanotherofthetablethatstoodagainstaninnerwall.AstrangelookcameoverSeñorVelez’sface.“Everydrawingofminehewasusingisgone,”

hereported.“ApparentlyLuistookthemall.”Nancy’ssharpeyeshaddetectedanunusualbackpanel inoneof thedrawers.Sheasked

theshopownerifhewouldmindifsheinvestigatedit.“Noindeed.Goahead.”Nancypulled thedrawerall thewayoutandset iton topof theworkbench. Itwasquite

evidentthatthespaceinthisdrawerwaslessthaninthatofsimilarones.Atthebackalargesectionofwoodhadbeennailedinasiftoreinforcethedrawer.Suspicious,NancyaskedSenorVelezforthefilewhichtheyhadbrought.Whenhehandedit

toher,shewedgedthefilealongsidetheextrapieceofwoodandprieditforward.Amomentlaterthesection,whichwashollow,pulledfree.Underneathlayseveralletters.NancypickeduponeoftheenvelopesandsawthatitwasaddressedtoLuisLlosa,evidently

athishomeinLima.“Look!” she exclaimed, pointing to the sender’s name and address in the upper lefthand

corner.“HarryWallace!” Carla cried out. “The importer who tried to take the plaque from your

home,Nancy!”AsGeorgetoldthestorytotheshopowner,Nancypulledoutoneofthelettersandunfolded

it.Theotherscrowdedaroundhertoreadit,andexpressedastonishmentatthecontents.Thesalutationwas“DearElGato”andtheletterstatedthattheshipmenthadarrivedokay

andacheckwasenclosed.ThenoteendedwithpraiseforElGato’sclevernessinhandlingtheorder.NancyturnedtoSenorVelez.“DidyouknowLuisLlosa’snicknamewasElGato?”“Icertainlydidnot,”themanreplied.“He’sonthepolice‘wanted’list,”Nancysaid.“Ishallcallheadquartersatonce,”declaredSeñorVelez.

Whilehewentoff todothis,Nancyexaminedeverydrawer inLuisLlosa’sworkbenchforadditionalsecretcompartments.“Maybewecanfindoutwhathewasshipping.”Theothergirlshelpedherpulloutthedrawersandsetthemontopoftheworkbench.Each

wasexaminedthoroughly.Nancynoticedthatthebottomofonewasthickerthanthatoftheothers.“Maybethismeanssomething,”shesaid.Againusingthefile,shemanagedtopryuppartofthewoodenbottomandfoundthatthere

wasanotherbeneathit.Betweenthetwopiecesofwoodlayamatchingsaladforkandspoon.“Theyaremadeofarrayáneswood!”Bessremarked.“AndI’llbetthehandlesarehollow,”Georgeadded.Nancywasalreadyexperimentingtoseeifshecouldunscrewoneofthehandles.Shedidso

withlittleeffort.Peeringinside,thegirlscouldseeaquantityoffinewhitepowder.Just then two police officers arrived and Senor Velez led them into the workroom. He

introducedthegirlsandexplainedtheirpartinsolvingthemystery.Nancy held up the spoon handle and showed it to the officers, “I believe El Gato is a

smuggler,”shesaid.One of the officers took thewooden implement and smelled the contents. “I amnot sure

whatthisis,”hesaid.“Iwilltakeittothepolicelaboratoryforanalysis.”

HehadbarelyfinishedspeakingwhenGeorgehappenedtoglancetowardanopenwindow.

Shesawaheadrisingupoverthesill.ThensherecognizedthefaceofLuisLlosa!BeforeGeorgecouldcryout,hishandcameupandhehurledabombwitha lighted fuse

intotheworkroom.

“Onthefloor,everybody!”Georgescreamed.Instantlythewholegroupdivedandlaystill.ThebombhitLlosa’sworkbenchandexploded.

Bitsofshatteredwood,potsofvarnish,andcansofpaintflewinalldirections.Everyoneintheroomwaspeltedwithdebris.As soonas thingsquieteddown,Nancyand theothers cautiouslygot to their feet.Velez,

excited,begantospeakhalfinSpanishandhalfinEnglish.Georgepointedtothewindowandsaid,“LuisLlosathrewthebomb.”Thetwoofficersdashedfromtheroomandtheothersheardtheshopdoorslam.“Didanyonegethurt?”Nancyasked.Fortunately, the homemade bomb had not been a powerful one and its victims in the

workroomhadsufferedonlyminorcutsandbruises.Bess,however,wason thevergeofhysterics. “Nancy, thatbombwasaimedright inyour

direction!Ifyouhadn’tducked,itwouldhavehityou.Oh,Nancy,youmighthavebeenkilled!”Nancywasprettysoberherself.Shedoubtedthatthebombcouldhavekilledher,butLuis

Llosacertainly intended that itdoagoodbitofdamage.Shedecided thathehadhoped todestroyalltheevidenceagainsthim.“Llosamusthavefollowedusfromtheairportandhadthebombwithhim.”“Oh, Ihopethepolicecatchhim!”Carlasaidnervously.“Noneofus issafewhilehe isat

large.”

ShetoldSenorVelezthewholestoryof thecatwarningshehadreceivedandtheredcatfacepaintedontherockatSacsahuaman.“It is a dreadful business,” the craftsman said.Hepickedup the spoonhandlewhich the

officerhadlaiddown.“Iwonderwhatthiswhitepowderis.”Hesprinkledasmallquantityintothepalmofhishand,raisedittohismouth,andstuckout

histonguetotestit.“Oh,pleasedon’tdothat!”Nancyadvisedhurriedly.“Thispowdermaybepoison!”

CHAPTERXVIII

PhonyChemist

SEÑORVELEZtookNancy’sadvice.He laid thewoodenhandlewiththesuspiciouspowderbackontheworkbench.Nancywalkedoverandnowunscrewedthehandleofthefork.It,too,containedthepowder.“IwonderhowmuchofthisstuffLuisLlosashipped,”shesaid.“Assoonasthepolicereturn,

IthinkweshouldaskthemtogetintouchwiththeNewYorkpoliceandthecustomsofficialsthere.”“You mean,” said George, “that they should investigate Wallace’s importing activities?”

Nancynodded.Justthenoneofthepoliceofficersreturned.HesaidtheyhadnotcaughtLuisLlosa.“Perhapsheisatthisaddress,”saidNancy,andshowedthepolicemantheletters.“The address on the envelopes is not the one he gavemewhen he came towork here,”

observedSenorVelez.“Hemusthavemoved.”“ProbablyLlosadoesn’tstayanywhereverylong,”Nancycommented.“Hedoesn’twantthe

policetocatchupwithhim.”“Wewillgethim,though,señorita,”saidoneoftheofficers.HetookthelettersfromNancy.Theotherpolicemanscrewedthehandlesbackontothespoonandfork,thenputthemina

pocketofhisjacket.“IwillhavethesetestedandreporttoSeñorVelezandyouwhatisinside.”Soonaftertheofficershadleft,thegirlstookataxitothePoncehome.Carla’sparentswere

astoundedatthestoryofwhathadhappenedattheshopandinthemountains.“Iamverymuchworriedaboutyougirls,”SeñoraPoncesaid.“Perhapsasecrettrip—”InstantlyNancytoldofherdesiretovisittheNascanlines.Carla’sfathersaidhethoughtthiswasaverygoodidea.“Itwouldbefarsaferforyougirls

to‘disappear’forawhilethantostayhere.Iwillarrangeacampingtriptothedesert.”“Thatwouldbemarvelous,”saidNancy.SeñorPoncesaid thathiscompanyowneda largehelicopter.Hewassurehecouldmake

arrangementstoborrowitforthetrip.“Itisbettertogothatwaythaninaplanebecauseahelicoptercanbesetdownwherever

youwishinthedesert.”The girls were thrilled by the prospect of visiting the extraordinary place. Nancy was

confidentthattheyweregettingclosertothesolutionoftheage-oldmysteryoftheplaque.Señora Ponce told her visitors that several letters had come for them from the United

States.Nancyhad received three—one fromher father,another fromHannah,andone fromNed

Nickerson.Inittheyoungmanaskedhowshewasgettingalongwithherbobtailedmonkey.Nancy laughed at the quip, then suddenly snapped her fingers. “Of course.Why didn’t I

thinkofthatbefore?Thespiralinglinesontheothersideoftheplaqueweremeanttobethemonkey’stail!”Sheimmediatelybegantostudythespirallinesagain.Itdawnedonherthatthetipofthe

tailwasatthecenteroftheplaqueandrightinthemiddleofthecrosswordcipher.“I’m sure that means it’s the most important part of the mystery,” she decided. “That’s

whereweshouldmakeourcampintheNascandesertandstartourdig.Butfirstwemustfindtherightmonkey.”Conversationduringalatedinnerwasconfinedentirelytothecomingtrip.SeñorPoncesaid

hehadbeenabletomakearrangementswiththegovernmentandhisowncompanyforarealsafari.

“SeñoraPonceandIaregoingalongwithyougirls.WehaveneverseentheNascan linesand I think it is high time thatwe do so.Our pilotwill be ErnestoMonge and his copilot,Canejo.”Carla’smothersmiled.“Iofferedtotakemycookandthefood,”shesaid,“butthecompany

has arranged everything. Therewill be a steward, namedRico,whowill act as camp cookalso.”“Oh,thissoundssoexciting!”Bessremarked.Georgecouldnotresistteasinghercousin.“Youmeanthetrip,ortheyoungmen?”BesswrinkledhernoseatGeorgeanddisdainedtoanswer.Theotherslaughed.ThenSeñorPoncesaid,“Itwillbehotinthedesertsowewilltakepolesandawningtops.

Therewill be several sets sowecan sleepunder someof themandmoveothersaround toplaceswherewemightwanttodigfortreasure.”Nancy toldofher theoryabout the tipof themonkey’s tailbeing themost likelyspot.All

agreedthatitwasanexcellentdeduction.“We’lltakealongplentyofdiggingtools,soeveryonecanmakeasearch,”SenorPoncesaid.Ashorttimeafterdinnerwasover,thepolicetelephonedareportonthecase.SeñorPonce

spoketothemandafteralongconversationcametotelltheotherswhathadtranspired.“Thepowder in thehandlesof thewooden forkandspoonwasquinine.Quantitiesof this

drugwere smuggled into theUnitedStates for amost peculiar reason. It seems there is adishonest chemist up there who owns a small laboratory and factory. He was producing acertainwonder-drugpillforapharmaceuticalcompanyandbeinghandsomelypaid.“Themedicine, however, proved to be very expensive to produce, so this chemist began

substituting quinine for one of the costly ingredients. The quininewas smuggled intoNewYorkbyHarryWallaceandsenttothechemist.“After Wallace had removed the powder from the forks and spoons, he sold the rare

arrayánespiecesatahighprice.Therestof theshipment,madeat theVelezcraft shopbyLlosa,was fashioned from the commonqueñarwood and sold in regular channels at a fairfigure.”“Whataneatracket!”Georgeexclaimed.Nancyasked,“DidLuisLlosagetthequininehere?”“Probably,”Carla’sfatherreplied.“TheLimapolicebelievethatLuisLlosastolehissupply

ofitfromvarioussourcesinSouthAmerica.”“Idon’tseewhyhewenttothetroubleofgettingarrayáneswood,”Georgeremarked.“He

couldhaveusedsomethingeasytobuy.”“We’ll have to find out about that later,” Nancy replied. “Señor Ponce, were the other

articlesintheshipmentsstolenfromVelez’sshop?”“I’mafraidso,”herhostanswered.“Howdidthepolicelearnaboutthewonder-drugracket?”Georgeasked.Senor Ponce smiled. “Thanks to Nancy Drew,” he said. “They contacted United States

authoritieswhopickedupHarryWallace,outonbail.Hewasatthereturnaddressgivenonthe envelopes she found. After a surprise inspection of the chemist’s place, he also wasarrested.”“DidtheyfindLuisLlosa?”Bessasked.“No,” Señor Ponce replied. “The police learned that he was only boarding at the Lima

addressontheenvelopes.Hehadnotbeenthereinaweek.”Bessburstout,“Nowthathispalshavebeencaught,maybehe’llgetscaredandrunaway.

Thenhewon’tbotherusanymore.”Georgescoffed.“Don’tbesilly.He’llbemadderthaneverandkeepafterus.”NancywasinclinedtoagreewithGeorgeandwonderedwhatLuisLlosawoulddonext.She

hopeditwouldbenothingtodelayorruintheirtriptotheNascanlines.“Therewill be one other passenger I did not tell you about,” Señor Ponce said. “He is a

governmentofficialwhoisanarchaeologist.HisnameisDr.Benevides.”

Soonthegroupsaidgoodnighttooneanother.Theyweretobeupearlytomakethetrip.ThenextmorningSeñorPoncedrovethemalltotheairfieldandtherethegirlsmetthemen

whowouldbetheirtravelingcompanions.Theywerehandsomewithcharmingmanners,andallspokeEnglish.NancyandGeorgenotedhowBess’seyessparkledandtheywinkedateachother.Nancythoughtaffectionately,“ForBesstheexpeditionisasuccessevenbeforeitstarts!”ThehelicopterrosegracefullyandsetoffforthepebblydesertinsouthernPeru.Twohours

later the pilot, Ernesto, announced over hismike that theywere nearing theNascan lines.ImmediatelythePoncesandtheir friendscrowdedtothevariouswindowsandgazedbelow.Thecopilot,Canejo,camebacktojointhem.“Ohmygoodness!”Besscriedout.“Lookatthatgiant!”Shepointedattheoutlineofamanetchedinthegroundbelow.Canejotoldheritwaseight

hundredfeettall.“There’safish!”Georgeexclaimed.“Ahighwayisrunningrightthroughthemiddleofit!”Canejo explained that this was the Pan-American Highway which had been built before

present-daypeoplerealizedthatamongthemarkingsonthedesertthereweregiantfigures.“I see a monkey stretched out on his back,” Carla called out. The copilot said that this

particularfigurewastwohundredandsixty-twofeetinheight.“It is a marvelous bit of work,” said Señora Ponce. “This is not like the monkey on our

plaque,though.”Thewholegroupwasfascinatedbythelonglinesthatlookedlikeroadways.Manyofthem

interlocked.Therewerealsoseveralspiralsandhugefiguresofbirds.“This isthemostamazingthinginarchaeologyIhaveeverbeenprivilegedtosee,”Señor

Ponceremarked.Dr. Benevides agreed wholeheartedly. “The entire project is such a mystery. Everyone

wonderswhythoseancientIndiansmadetheirfiguressogigantic.”Nancysmiled.“MayIventureaguess?”sheasked.“Pleasedo,”thedoctorsaid,smiling.NancytoldhimabouttheirtriptoMachuPicchuandtheelderlyIndianwhohadremarkable

eyesight.“Hecanseesmallobjectstwo-thirdsofamileaway.IftheancientIndianswholivedaroundherehadthatkindofvision,theycouldeasilyseethegiantfiguresfromfaraway,andenjoyeddoingtheirartworkonagrandscale.”Thearchaeologist lookedatNancywith interest.“That isaverysensible theory,”hesaid,

“andoneIhavenotheardanybodyexpress.Iunderstandsomescientiststhinkthatthiswholeareawasagreatagriculturalcalendarfortheuseoffarmers.OrpossiblyithadsomethingtodowiththeNascanreligionofthetime.”Before Dr. Benevides had a chance tomake any further comment, Bess gave a shriek of

delight.“Look!”shecriedout.“There’sourmonkeywiththespiraltaill”

CHAPTERXIX

DesertMummy

EVERYONEinthehelicoptergazeddownatthemonkeyfigure.Itlookedexactlyliketheoneontheplaqueandthespiralingtailmatchedperfectly.Nancywasthrilled.“Oh,I’msurethatfigurewascarvedlongagobythePonces’ancestor

Aguilar!”shethought.WhenNancy told theothersher idea,everyoneagreed,andCarla said, “Iwant to see it

again!”Thepilotcircledtheareaseveraltimes,thenaskedSeñorPonceifhewishedtoland.Beforehehadachancetoanswer,Georgecriedout,“There’sagiantcatfigure!Catsremind

meofLuisLlosa.”Ernestolookedbackforamoment.“DidyousayLuisLlosa?”heasked.“Yes.”ThepilotsaidthatwhenhewasattendingaPeruvianflyingschoolseveralyearsbefore,one

ofthestudentstherewasnamedLuisLlosa.“Hehadacattattooonhisupperarm.”Hislistenerswereextremelyinterested.“Pleasetellusmore,”saidNancy.“Luiswasaverygoodparachutist,butasamanhewasatroublemaker,”thepilotreplied.

“Finallyhewasexpelled.Ihaveneverheardwhatbecameofhim.Doyouknowthisperson?”“Yes,wedo,”Nancyanswered,andtoldErnestothestory.“Ifyoueverseeorhearofhim,

pleasegetintouchwiththepoliceimmediately.”Ernestopromisedtodoso,thenatasignalfromSenorPoncehelandedhishelicopterclose

tothespiral-tailedmonkey.Thestepswereloweredandeveryonegotout.“Oh,it’shot!”Bessexclaimed.Dr. Benevides told her that the temperature in this desert varied little. She would soon

becomeadjustedtoitswarmth.“Sometimesintheearlymorningthere’saslightmisthere,butneveranyrainorwind.”Thearchaeologist’spredictionthatthegroupwouldsoonadjusttothewarmairprovedto

betrue.Thepolesweresetupandthecanvascanopiesputinplace.Thenthediggingtoolswereunpacked.Thegirlsexpressedtheireagernesstostartwork,butSeñorPoncesuggestedthattheyeatlunchfirstandstayundertheshelterofthecanvaseswhilethesunwashigh.“Youwillhaveplentyoftimetosearch,”hesaid.“Thesungoestobedlatehere.”DuringtherestperiodDr.Benevides,thePonces,andtheirfriendsdiscussedwheretostart

the dig. The desert figures had been etched into the ground by removing the top layer ofpebbles and piling them along the edges of the wide paths. The two sides of one of themonkey’sarmswereasfarapartasanarrowstreet!AlthoughNancyfeltthatthetipofthetailwastheplacewhereatreasuremightbefound,

Dr.Benevidesaskedthemtostartdiggingintheareawherethetailstartedtospiral.“I believe that since themonkey is on one side of theplaque andmost of the tail on the

other,thisfacthasrealsignificance.PerhapsAguilarintendedtoindicatethatthecluetothemysteryisatthejoiningofthetwo.”Becauseofthedistancebetweenthetwopathsoutliningthetail,hehadthesearchersstart

digginginseparateplaces.Workbeganwithawill.Exceptforthenoiseofthetoolsastheyhitthestonyground,therewasnotasound.The upper layer of pebbles was about two inches deep and below this lay a stratum of

brownish-white stone. Because of the terrain it was evident that if Aguilar had hiddensomethinghere, itwould not be buried very deep.After going downa couple of feet, eachdiggerwouldmovetoanewposition.Hourafterhourwentbywithnoresults.“Thisisdiscouraging,”Besscomplained.

Atsixo’clockSeñorPoncedecidedthattheyshouldceasediggingfortheday.Justthenhisdaughtercriedoutexcitedly:“Come,everybody!Ihavefoundamummy!”“Amummy!”hermotherexclaimed.EveryonehurriedtoCarla’sside.Shehaduncoveredonlythehead,whichwasratherwell

preserved.Quickly themenhelped tounearth the restof theclothedbody from its shallowgrave.Becauseofthedry,evenclimateithadnotdisintegrated.Meanwhile,Dr.Benevidesstudiedtheface.“ThisisnotthemummyofanancientIndian,”he

said.“Hebelongstothewhiterace.”TheclothingofthemanintheshallowgraveprovedtobethatofaSpanishexplorer.“Whoeverburiedhimdidacarefuljob,”thearchaeologistremarked.During the past few seconds Nancy had been thinking hard. Finally she said, “Do you

supposethiscouldpossiblybethemummyofyourancestorAguilar,SeñorPonce?”The others were startled by the suggestion, but agreed it was quite possible. Aguilar’s

Indian companion who had delivered the plaque to the Ponce family could havemade theburial.“Perhaps we can find some identification,” Dr. Benevides suggested. He kneeled on the

groundandverycarefullyunbuttonedthejacket.Heturnedbackoneside.Apaperstuckoutofaninsidepocket.“I’malmostafraidtotouchthis,”hesaid.“Itmaycrumble.”“Wemusttakethatchance,”saidSenorPonce.Dr.Benevideswasusedtoworkingmeticulouslyondigs,andthegirlsmarveledatthedeft

wayheliftedthepaperoutwithforceps.Totheonlookers’amazement,thewritingonit—inSpanish—wasstilllegible.Carla’s father read it, thensaidquietly, “This isanhonorabledischarge fromtheSpanish

armyto—”hepaused,thenfinishedwithacatchinhisvoice,“toRenatoAguilar.”Everyonelookedatthemummywithreverence.NoonespokeuntilSeñorPoncesaid,“We

willreinterthebody.Perhapsitcanberemovedfromherelater.”Whenthebriefceremonywasover,thegrouppickeduptheirtoolsandwalkedbacktothe

tents.SoonRicohadsupperready.“AndIamhungry,”declaredSeñorPonce.“Thedesertairhasgivenmeanappetite.”Later,whenthegirlswerepreparingforbed,Nancyremarked,“Iammoreconvincedthan

ever that Aguilar came here to bury his treasure. He did not dare entrust it to his Indianservant because he might have been attacked by bandits and the object—whatever it is—stolenfromhim.”George nodded in agreement. “I doubt thatAguilar thought itwould take so long for his

familytofigureoutthecrosswordcipher.”Nancysmiled.“Wehaven’tfigureditoutyet.”“Butinthemorning,”saidBess,“wewill!”Thecamperswereawakeearlyandassoonasbreakfastwasoverthesearcherswalkedto

newdiggingpositions.Beforetheyhadachancetoreachthespots,theybecameawareofanapproachingplane.Itwasflyinglowandslowly.Astheywatched,aparachutistjumpedfromit.Inafewmomentshischutebillowedoutand

hedrifteddowntolandnearthecamp.“Whatdoeshewant?”Georgeasked.Within seconds, another chutist dropped from the plane; then, one by one, severalmore.

When all had hit the ground they quickly unharnessed themselves and hurried toward thecampers.Theleaderwasathin,heavilybeardedmanwithbushyblackhair.Inadeepvoicehesaid,“I

amsorrytodisturbyou,butinthenameofthePeruviangovernmentyouareunderarrest.GetintothecopterandmymenwilltakeyoubacktoLima.”Nancy and her companionswere stunned. ImmediatelyDr. Benevides said, “Butwe have

permissionfromthegovernmenttodighere.”

“The permission has been canceled,” the bearded chutist said. “Now do not make anytrouble.Leaveeverythinghereandgetinthecopter.”Nancyhadbeenwatchingthebeadyeyesoftheleaderandstronglysuspectedthathemight

be Luis Llosa in disguise. She edged toward the pilot and his copilot, and whispered hersuspiciontothem.Instantlytheylungedforwardandseizedtheintruder.“Now,”saidErnesto,“we’llseeifyouhaveacattattooonyourarm.”“Andmaybethathairandbeardwillcomeoff,”addedCanejo,reachingtowardthewhiskers.“Leave that man alone!” barked one of the suspect’s companions as they closed in

belligerently.Atthesametime,theirleaderjerkedfreeandswungablowatErnesto.Instantlytheother

chutistsleapedonthepilotsandRico.SeñorPoncewas yelling at the top of his voice for everyone to calmdown. “Wewant no

trouble!”hecriedout.Anotherchutist,averytall,heavy-setman,pickedNancyupinhisarmsandracedtoward

thehelicopter.Therehewhirledandcalledout:“YouwilldowhatIsayorIwilltakethisgirlawayasahostage!”

CHAPTERXX

AnImpostor’sStory

“OH,Nancy!No!No!”Bessshrieked.“Don’tletthemtakeyouaway!”“Theywon’t!”Ernestocried.TheparachutistshadnotcountedonthestrengthofthemeninNancy’sgroup,norGeorge’s

knowledgeofjudo.ErnestodashedtoNancy’srescue.Withastingingblow,thepilotknockedoutthebigfellowwhowasholdingher.BythistimeLuisLlosa’sdisguisehadbeenyankedoffandhestoodclean-shavenandshort-

haired.Oneofhiskhakishirtsleeveswasripped,revealingacattattooonhisarm!Hestoodaloneforamoment,panting,whileCanejowenttohelpsubduetheintruders.SuddenlyLlosastartedtorun.Besswhisperedtohercousin,“Gethim!”Georgedidnothesitate.ToLlosa’suttersurprise,sherushedupandusedoneofherjudo

holdsonhim.Hewentheadoverheels—andevenSeñoraPonce,startledasshewas,hadtosmile.AsNancycamerunningbacktotheothergirls,Ernestojoinedthefightagain.Itwasabout

even,withneithersidewinning.Then, suddenly, Luis Llosa got up from the ground and called out, “I give up! Cut the

fighting!”ThemeleestoppedandthesmugglerfacedthePoncesandtheirfriends.“Iwantallofyoutostandbackandlisten.Wemeannoharm.Allwewantistogetoutof

here.MyfriendsandIwilltakethecopterandsendsomeonebackforyou.”“Thenerveofhim!”Georgeburstout.“He’safraidwe’lloverpowerhim,”Nancythought,“andturnhimovertothepolice.”QuicklyshesteppedforwardandaddressedLuisLlosa’scompanions.“Doyouknowthatthis

manisasmugglerwantedbythepolice?Thathe’sathief?”“It is true,”Carlaspokeup. “Andhe triedseveral times to injuremy friend.”Sheputher

handonNancy’sarm.LuisLlosa’seyesblazed.“Donotbelievewhatshesays!”heshoutedtotheotherchutists.But by now his so-called friends were backing away from him. One of them declared he

knewnothingaboutanyofthis.“Llosatoldusifwewouldcomealong,hewouldshowuswhereagreattreasurewasburied

inthisdesert.Hesaidhewasagovernmentofficial.”“Heisnothingofthesort!”Georgeretorted.“He’sElGato!”Llosagazed fromone toanotherofhisgrimlysilentcompanions, then lookedbackat the

othergroup.“IseeIamcornered,”hesaidbitterly,realizingthattherewasnoonetohelphim.“Iwilltell

mystoryandthenleave.”Nancysuppressedasmile.“That’swhatyouthink,”shemurmuredtoherself.ShehadnoticedErnestogoingtothehelicopter.Whenhehadclimbedinside,shewassure

hewasgoingtoradiothefederalpolicetocomeandpickuptheintruders.“Iadmit,”saidLlosa,“tobeingElGato,headofasmugglingring.”HeturnedtoNancywith

asneeronhisface.“Thankstoyou,severalofmymenareinjail.”ShemadenocommentexcepttoaskifSenorJorgeVelezwasentirelyinnocent.LuisLlosa

assuredherhewas.Carlaasked,“Whydidyouusethearrayáneswoodandwheredidyougetit?”Llosasaidthatthesmallpiecesofithadbeentakenregularly—butunobtrusively—fromthe

forestbyWagnerandshippedtohim.“Since it looked very different from the otherwood used for the salad forks and spoons,

WallacecouldidentifyiteasilyinNewYorkwhenheopenedtheshipments.Besides,itwasacleverwaytosendthequinine.”LlosarevealedthatWallacehadaskedafriendwhohadvisitedhimatthejailtophonethe

messageaboutthegirls’canceledflight.AnditwasSanchezwhohadthrowntherockthathitNancy.“Whatabouttheplaque?”sheasked.“Howdidyoubecomeinterestedinthat?”ThecapturedmansaidhehadoverheardSenorPonceandSenoraPoncetalkingaboutthe

plaqueinarestaurant.Theyhadsaiditmightleadtosomethingvaluableifdeciphered.ThecouplewerealittleconcernedthattheyhadlettheirdaughterCarlatakeitwithher,butshehadwantedtheplaquetoremindherofhome.“WhenIlearnedthatthegirlhadgonetoRiverHeights,IwrotemyfriendHarryWallaceto

getit.Everythingseemedtobegoingallrightafterhescaredherbysending“thecat”note.Andhefollowedherafewtimesandeavesdropped.“ThatishowheknewshetooktheplaquetoMissDrew’shouse.WhenWallaceheardshe

wasagirldetective,hehadtothinkupsomewaytogettheplaquesoshecouldnotfindoutitssecret.”Llosaadmitted thatSanchezhadbeenable tomakea sketchof it at theHotelLlao-Llao.

“Buthehadsomebadluckthere.ThatstupidshopownerhungitonawallandofcourseMissDrewdiscoveredit.”“WhowasthemanwhotriedtokidnapCarla,”Nancyasked,“andwhydidhedoit?”“HewasWagner’s friend,RamonRuiz,”Llosaanswered. “Sanchezsenthim topicka few

pocketsatthecasino,butwhenthegirlstartedaskingquestionsaboutSanchez,hethoughtitwouldbeagoodideatotakeheralongandfindoutwhatshewasupto.“Heistheonewhotamperedwiththeplanedoor,”Luisadded,andexplainedthatRuizwas

apettycrookwhoworkedasapart-timemechanicattheBarilocheairport.“BeforeSanchezwasarrested,hegaveRuizorderstoloosenthedoor’shinges.ThepolicecanpickRuizupanynightatthecasino.“Ihadevenworse luck,” the smugglerwenton inawhining tone. “Ihiredan Indianboy

from a mountain village to follow Miss Drew in Cuzco, but he was frightened off by theearthquake.AmanatMachuPicchufailedmetoo.”Luisstoppedspeakingandtherewassilenceforafewmoments.Thentheprisonerglaredat

Nancyandsaid,“Tobeoutwittedbyagirl—!”Besstossedherhead.“It’stoobadyoudidn’tfindoutatthestarthowcleverNancyis.You

wouldhavesavedyourselfalotoftrouble.”Asecondlaterthewhirringofahelicopter’srotorscouldbeheard,andinafewminutesthe

craft landed.Several federalpoliceofficerssteppedoutandLlosaandhiscompanionswerehustled aboard. His “friends” were still declaring their innocence, but the police said thiswouldhavetobeproved.Afterthehelicopterwasamerespeckinthesky,Nancyandherfriendsoncemoreturnedto

thoughtsofunearthingatreasure.Dr.Benevides,concludingthathistheoryofwheretolookhadbeenwrong,smilinglysaidthatthistimeNancywastohaveherway.Theywoulddigintheareaatthetipof themonkey’stail.Themenstartedthework,butwhentheyhadgoneabout as deep as they thought something might be buried, Señor Ponce handed Nancy atrowel.“Ifthereisanythinghere,youshouldhavethehonorofuncoveringit,mydear,”hesaid.Nancytriednottoappearovereager,butherheartwaspoundingwithexcitement.Dropping

toherknees,shebegantotakeouttheharddirtlittlebylittle.In moments Nancy was sure that she had hit something other than stone. She began

workingalittlefasterbutstillverycarefully.FinallyNancysaid,“Thereissomethinghere”Theotherscrowdedaroundasshepickedupanarchaeologist’sdustingbrushandsweptit

overafour-inch-squaresection.“Gold!”Besscried.

Everyoneoffered tohelpNancy,whonowwassmilingbroadly. “I think thePoncesshouldhavethehonorofuncoveringwhateverwasburiedherebytheirancestorAguilar,”shesaid.Carlaandherfatherpickeduptools.SenoraPoncewatched.Finally a solid-gold box about eighteen inches long, eight incheswide, and twelve inches

highwasunearthed.The lidwassealed tightand it took thesearchersawhile,usingaveryfinechiselandhammer,togetthetoploose.“Nancy,thisisreallyyourfind,”saidSenorPonce.“Youopenit.”Theyoungdetectivedemurred.“Itbelongstoyou,”shesaid.Carlasettledthematter.“Supposethethreeofusraisethelidtogether.”Theotherswatchedtenselyasthiswasdone.“Itisatreasure!”SeñorPonceexclaimed.Thereweremurmursofexcitementandawewhentheonlookerssawthecontents.Bessblinkedhard.“I’msohappyIcouldcry!”Inside the box were several solid-gold objects of Inca design. The largest one was of a

monkeywithaspiralingtail.“Thisisapricelesscollection!”Dr.Benevidesexclaimedexcitedly.Onebyonetheobjectswere liftedoutandexamined.Nancyhadnoticedfoldedpapers in

thebottomofthebox.“MayItaketheseout?”sheaskedSeñorPonce.“Indeedyoumay.”Therewere two“papers.”CarefullyNancyunfolded the firstone. Itwasa largedrawing.

Shehelditupforeveryonetosee.“Buildings,”Bessremarked.“Wherearethey?”Nancywasstaringintentlyatthedrawing.

Inalowercornershedetectedfadedwriting.Aftercarefullyscrutinizingit,sheexclaimedexcitedly,“ThisisadrawingofMachuPicchu—

thewayitmusthavelookedbeforeitwassacked!”“Howmagnificentitlooksontopofthemountain!”SenorPonceburstout.“And look!”Georgecried. “Here isaportraitof the Incarulerat the time,sonof thesun

god!”Dr.Benevideswasbesidehimselfwithdelight.“Thisisthemostamazingandvaluablefind

ofthecentury!”hesaid.Everyone began to talk at once. Did these priceless objects and drawings belong to the

PoncesortothePeruviangovernment?Carla’s fathersaid firmly,“Nomatterwhomtheybelongto, I think theyshouldbeshared

withtheworld.Thesedrawings,inparticular,shouldbekeptinafireproofmuseum.”“Icanassureyou,”saidDr.Benevides,“thatisexactlywhatthegovernmentwillwant.”“PoorAguilar!”saidBess.“Hemusthaveknownhewasdyingandwouldnevergethome

again.Thatwouldexplainwhyhecarvedtheplaqueforhisfamily.”“Ithinkyou’reright,”Nancyreplied.Shegazedoutoverthedesert,tryingtoimaginethe

long-ago events. “Maybe after he and the Indianhadburied the treasure, theymade camphere.Aguilar’sstrengthwasgone,buthemanagedtocarvetheplaquebeforehedied.”SeñorPonceagreed.“AndheputthemessageincodesothatifrobbersattackedtheIndian,

theycouldnotlearnaboutthetreasure.”“Probably,” Carla added. “Since the Indian did not speak Spanish, he could not explain

anythingtothefamily.Hecouldonlyleavetheplaquewiththem.”“HowpleasedAguilarwouldbe,”SeñoraPoncesaidsoftly,“toknowthathismessagehas

beendecipheredatlast!”Whentheexcitementdieddown,Nancybegantofeelratherpensive—afeelingshealways

hadwhen amysterywas completely solved. Shewas hoping that another challenging casewould come along soon. And it did, when Nancy had the opportunity to solve The SpiderSapphireMystery.

“Onethingweareforgetting,”Carlaspokeup,“isthat if ithadnotbeenforNancyDrew,this treasure probably neverwould have come to light.” She turned to her new friend andhuggedher.“Youarethemostwonderfulgirlintheworld.Nancy,youhaveactuallysolvedathree.hundred-year-oldmystery!”AsNancyblushedat thepraise, themenshookherhand,butSeñoraPonceand thegirls

embracedher.“Ididn’tdoitalone,”shesaid.“Alotofcreditgoestomyveryspecialfriends.”Besssmiled, thenbegantoexaminethedrawingofMachuPicchu.Aminute latersheput

onefingeronacertainspot.“Nancy,”shesaid,“thisiswhereyoualmostlostyourlife.”Georgelookeddisapprovinglyathercousin.“ForPete’ssake,Bess,whycan’tyouthinkof

somethingcheerful?”“Likewhat?”“Like—like every time I see a monkey with a spiraling tail, I’ll think of Nancy and her

mysteryinPeru!”