poor
reputation for speed. Paul and the sailor transferred their capture to
the boat and in a short time the ugly animals were turned over to the
scientific ministrations of the cook. About ten o'clock next morning
they put into a little bay, bound in by rocks and well hidden, on the
shore side of the island of Pachacamac. There they passed several days,
and many fruitless attempts were made with floating torpedoes to
destroy the steamer Pilcamo. They worked only at night time and laid
under the friendly shelter of the rocks during the day.

It was their custom during the daytime to explore the ruins of the
ancient Inca buildings, the island having been the site of their temple
and used also as a place of burial; for their strange tombs are numerous
there. One of the crew was an expert in locating those Inca tombs.
By sinking a pointed rod in the sand he could easily tell when a grave
was below and after some laborious digging, the oven shaped top of the
tomb was exposed. With a heavy pick an opening would be made through the
sun burnt brick, and instantly a rush of foul air assailed the
nostrils, though the bodies had been buried there for perhaps thousands
of years.

When a hole large enough was made, Paul and the expert sailor would drop
through it into the oval space below. There they invariably found
several mummies seated in a circle, with their heads on the knees around
which their arms were clasped. Some of them were encased in wicker
work, others in cloth made of alpaca wool in brilliant colors and
gorgeous with curious designs. The bodies were wonderfully preserved. In
the center of these weird circles were found earthenware vessels
containing petrified corn. As the sun streamed in lighting up the awe
inspiring groups, whose history runs beyond all knowledge of the present
day, one could but think of the deep and wonderful secrets which the
grave conceals.

Paul gathered many curious things of prehistoric workmanship and only
regretted that the limited quarters of the sloop prevented his taking
all he desired. He was so deeply interested in excavating the tombs,
however, that regardless of his inability to carry more relics, he
prosecuted the search in the hope that he might discover something that
would throw mote light on the habits, customs and peculiarities of the
strange race. It struck him, however, that laborious digging through the
hot sand was not the best method of r