The Project Gutenberg EBook of Under the Andes, by Rex Stout

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Title: Under the Andes

Author: Rex Stout

Posting Date: August 3, 2008 [EBook #546]
Release Date: June, 1996

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK UNDER THE ANDES ***

Produced by Judith Boss. HTML version by Al Haines.

UNDER THE ANDES

by

Rex Stout

CONTENTS

Chapter

I. THE SWEETHEART OF A KING.
II. BEGINNING THE DANCE.
III. A MODERN MARANA.
IV. ALLONS!
V. THE CAVE OF THE DEVIL.
VI. CAPTURED.
VII. THE FIGHT IN THE DARK.
VIII. THE DANCE OF THE SUN.
IX. BEFORE THE COURT.
X. THE VERDICT.
XI. A ROYAL VISITOR.
XII. AT THE DOOR.
XIII. INTO THE WHIRLPOOL.
XIV. A FISHING PARTY.
XV. THE RESCUE.
XVI. THE ESCAPE.
XVII. THE EYES IN THE DARK.
XVIII. A VICTORY AND A CONVERSATION.
XIX. AFLOAT.
XX. AN INCA SPEAR.
XXI. THE MIDST OF THE ENEMY.
XXII. THE BEGINNING OF THE END.
XXIII. WE ARE TWO.
XXIV. CONCLUSION.

Chapter I.

THE SWEETHEART OF A KING.

The scene was not exactly new to me. Moved by the spirit of adventure,
or by an access of ennui which overtakes me at times, I had several
times visited the gaudy establishment of Mercer, on the fashionable
side of Fifth Avenue in the Fifties. In either case I had found
disappointment; where the stake is a matter of indifference there can
be no excitement; and besides, I had been always in luck.

But on this occasion I had a real purpose before me, though not an
important one, and I surrendered my hat and coat to the servant at the
door with a feeling of satisfaction.

At the entrance to the main room I met Bob Garforth, leaving. There
was a scowl on his face and his hand trembled as he held it forth to
take mine.

"Harry is inside. What a rotten hole," said he, and passed on. I
smiled at his remark--it was being whispered about that Garforth had
lost a quarter of a million at Mercer's within the month--and passed
inside.

Gaudy, I have said it was, and it needs no other word. Not in its
elements, but in their arrangement.

The rugs and pictu