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〃There； I'm better now；〃 went on Mr。 Damon； when Tom had given
him a glass of water。 〃Bless my paper weight！ The drug concern will have
to vote me an extra dividend for what I've gone through。 〃Well； I'm here；
anyhow。 How is everything？〃
〃Fine！〃 cried Tom。 〃We'll soon be off for Peru！〃
They talked over plans and made sure nothing had been forgotten。
Their railroad tickets had been secured by Mr。 Titus so there was nothing
more to do save wait for train… time。
〃I've never been to Peru；〃 Tom remarked shortly before lunch。 〃What
sort of country is it？〃
〃Quite a wonderful country；〃 Mr。 Titus answered。 〃I have been very
much interested in it since my brother and I accepted this tunnel contract。
Peru seems to have taken its name from Peru； a small river on the west
coast of Colombia； where Pizarro landed。 The country； geographically；
may be divided into three sections longitudinally。 The coast region is a
sandy desert； with here and there rivers flowing through fertile valleys。
The sierra region is the Andes division； about two hundred and fifty miles
in width。〃
〃Is that where we're going？〃 asked Tom。
〃Yes。 And beyond the Andes （which in Peru consist of great chains of
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mountains； some very high； interspersed with table lands； rich plains and
valleys） there is the montana region of tropical forests； running down to
the valley of the Amazon。
〃That sounds interesting；〃 commented Mr。 Damon。
〃It is interesting；〃 declared Mr。 Titus。 〃For it is from this tropical
region that your quinine comes； Mr。 Damon； though you may not have to
go there to straighten out your affairs。 I think you can do better bargaining
with the officials in Lima； or near there。〃
〃Are there any wild animals in Peru？〃 Tom inquired。
〃Well； not many。 Of course there are the llamas and alpacas； which are
the beasts of burdenalmost like little camels you might say； though much
more gentle。 Then there is the wild vicuna； the fleece of which is made
into a sort of wool； after which a certain kind of cloth is named。
〃Then there is the taruco； a kind of deer； the viscacha； which is a big
rat； the otoc； a sort of wild dog； or fox； and the ucumari； a black bear with
a white nose。 This bear is often found on lofty mountain tops； but only
when driven there in search of food。
〃The condors； of course； are big birds of prey in the Andes。 You must
have read about them； how they seem to lie in the upper regions of the air；
motionless； until suddenly they catch sight of some dead animal far down
below when they sweep toward it with the swiftness of the wink。 There is
another bird of the vulture variety； with wings of black and white feathers。
The ancient Incas used to decorate their head dresses with these wing
feathers。〃
〃Well； I'm glad I'm going to Peru；〃 said Tom。 〃I never knew it was
such an interesting country。 But I don't suppose we'll have time to see
much of it。〃
〃Oh； I think you will；〃 commented Mr。 Titus。 〃We don't always have to
work on the tunnel。 There are numerous holidays； or holy…days； which our
Indian workers take off； and we can do nothing without them。 I'll see that
you have a chance to do some exploring if you wish。〃
〃Good！〃 exclaimed Tom。 〃I brought my electric rifle with me； and I
may get a chance to pop over one of those bears with a white nose。 Are
they good to eat？〃
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〃The Indians eat them； I believe； when they can get them； but I
wouldn't fancy the meat；〃 said the contractor。
Luncheon over； the three travelers departed with their baggage for the
Chicago Limited； which left from the Pennsylvania Station at Twenty…
third Street。 As usual； Koku attracted much attention because of his size。
The trip to San Francisco was without incident worth narrating and in
due time our friends reached the Golden Gate where they were to go
aboard their steamer。 They had to wait a day； during which time Tom and
Mr。 Titus made inquiries regarding the first powder shipment。 They had
had unexpected good luck； for the explosive； having been sent on ahead by
fast freight； was awaiting them。
〃So we can take it with us on the Bellaconda；〃 said； Tom； naming the
vessel on which they were to sail。
The powder was safely stowed away； and our friends having brought
their baggage aboard； putting what was wanted on the voyage in their
staterooms； went out on deck to watch the lines being cast off。
A bell clanged and an officer cried：
〃All ashore that's going ashore！〃
There were hasty good…byes； a scramble on the part of those who had
come to bid friends farewell； and preparations were made to haul in the
gangplank。
Just as the tugs were slowly pushing against the Bellaconda to get her
in motion to move her away from the wharf； there was a shout down the
pier and a taxicab； driven at reckless speed； dashed up。
〃Wait a minute！ Hold that gangway。 I have a passenger for you！〃 cried
the chauffeur。
He pulled up with a screeching of brakes； and a man with a heavy
black beard fairly leaped from the vehicle； running toward the plank which
was all but cast off。
〃My fare！ My fare！〃 yelled the tax~cab driver。
〃Take it out of that！ Keep the change！〃 cried the bearded man over his
shoulder； tossing a crumpled bill to the chauffeur。 And then； clutching his
valise in a firm hand； the belated passenger rushed up the gangplank just
in time to board the steamer which was moving away from the dock。
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〃Close shavethat；〃 observed Tom。
〃That's right；〃 assented Mr。 Titus。
〃Well； we're off for Peru！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Damon； as the vessel moved
down the bay。
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CHAPTER VIII
The Bearded Man
Travel to Tom and Mr。 Damon presented no novelties。 They had been
on too many voyages over the sea； under the sea and even in the air above
the sea to find anything unusual in merely taking a trip on a steamer。
Mr。 Titus； though he admitted he had never been in a submarine or
airship； had done considerable traveling about the world in his time； and
had visited many countries； either for business or pleasure； so he was an
old hand at it。
But to Koku； who； since he had been brought from the land where
Tom Swift had been made captive； had gone about but little； everything
was novel； and he did not know at what to look first。
The giant was interested in the ship； in the water； in the passengers； in
the crew and in the sights to be seen as they progressed down the harbor。
And the big man himself was a source of wonder to all save his own
party。 Everywhere he went about the decks； or below； he was followed by
a staring but respectful crowd。 Koku took it all good…naturedly； however；
and even consented to show his great strength by lifting heavy weights。
Once when several sailors were shifting one of the smaller anchors （a
sufficiently heavy one for all that） Koku pushed them aside with a sweep
of his big arm； and； picking up the big 〃hook；〃 turned to the second mate
and asked：
〃Where you want him？〃
〃Good land； man！〃 cried the astonished officer。 〃You'll kill yourself！〃
But Koku carried the anchor where it ought to go； and from then on he
was looked up to with awe and admiration by the sailors。
From San Francisco to Callao； Peru （the latter city being the seaport of
Lima； which is situated inland）； is approximately nine hundred miles。 But
as the Bellaconda was a coasting steamer； and would make several stops
on her trip； it would be more than a week before our friends would land at
Callao； then to proceed to Lima； where they expected to remain a day or
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so bef